Jump Zone

On Mom's day off, we went to the Jump Zone with the cousins.

Abby and Ryan had fun in the Sesame Street jumpy.


And Jack was flying in the jumpy that looked like a bumble gum machine.


Abby and Ayden went down the big Spider Man slide.


Ryan, Logan (visiting from FL), Abby with Ryleigh, Matthew, Ayden and Jack


Ryan, the red-nosed kid. He took a spill out of the jumpy and got a strawberry on his nose!

A Visit from Santa

When we got home from Gram/Poppy's house, Santa visited our house! And Ryan got some presents from Mom & Dad too.

Here's a baseball lamp for Ryan's big boy room, which we're going to paint this winter. Dad didn't think this was a very exciting gift for a little boy, but Ryan seemed to like it.


And a remote control car from Santa!


And more Thomas stuff from Santa!..... he tore off the paper in a blur!

Merry Christmas!

We traveled over the river and through the sleet to Gram & Poppy's house for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Uncle Chris, Aunt Leslie and Cousin Sarah came for Christmas Eve. We opened presents and Gram made a big dinner.

Ryan was excited to get the Thomas Roundhouse from Gram/Poppy! Now all the trains have somewhere to take a night-night.

And he got some new pants! He wanted to try them on immediately.

And there were lots of treasures in his stocking - including Stanley, a new train!

And Madge...a truck which can carry trains on her bed (yes, it's a girl truck!). Ryan actually misplaced Madge before we left Gram and Poppy's house and even though Dad looked high and low, we had to leave her there. But Gram to the rescue - she located Madge the next day!

Christmas Day was quiet and relaxing. Dad built another gingerbread train and the North Ridge Depot to go with it!

More Christmas Fun

Visiting Santa at Fox Valley Mall

Making cookies with Mom.

These sprinkles are fun!

We better try one and make sure they're ok.....

Building a gingerbread train with Dad.

Christmas at Uncle Jeff/Aunt Steph's house before Grandma/Grandpa went to Arizona. Grandma, Grandpa, Great G'ma Sheila, Great G'ma Murr, and Alex were there. Alex has a Lionel electric train that's really cool!

Polar Express at Blackberry Farm

Ryan was so excited to ride on the Po-wa Eh-spres. Blackberry Farm was lit up with all sorts of Christmas lights, including the train! We even got a gold ticket that the conductor punched. Dad found it ironic that we had to wait in line for an hour to take one loop on the train, but on an 80 degree summer day, you can ride as many times as you want. Ryan endured the wait and enjoyed the ride on the Polar Express.

Here's the line leading to the station to catch the train.


Here comes the train! - it's decorated for Christmas!


Dad and Ryan on the train.

Tiger Club Christmas Party

No tears this year!....when all the cousins saw Santa, I mean. Last year most of them were at the age where they were scared of Santa. Things went much better this year.

Here's Jack, Ryan, Abby & Matthew

The Springborn family...Angie, Abby & Doug

And the Anderson family....Sarah, Jack, Matthew and Josh

Twain!

Thanks to the Andersons, who gave him his first train set, Ryan now loves TRAINS ('twian'). When you ask what he'd like for Christmas, the only thing he lists is twain. Well then, in keeping with that theme....

Last weekend we rode on the Naperville Jaycees Santa Train. We sang Christmas carols all the way to Brookfield, switched tracks and came back to Naperville. Santa was on the train too!


Mom's friend Angie and her family (sons Tyler & Luke and husband Steve) were on same car as us!....here they are with Santa. Uncle Jeff, Aunt Steph & Alex were on the train too, but on the car in front of us.

And his Christmas 'jams this year are Thomas too. Here he's saying, "Thanks Gram & Poppy!" for sending these great PJs.

Stay tuned...one more train activity planned for December :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kim & Ryan's weekend....
Uncle Chris was unable to get Friday off so that he and Tonya could come to Chicago, so Gram, Poppy, Mom, nd Ryan headed to Michigan to celebrate Thanksgiving at his house. Tonya & Chris made a great meal for their first Thanksgiving - all the traditional fixins. On Saturday, the entire family went to Bronner's Christmas store in Frankenmuth (wow-what a place!!) and then to Zehnder's for a chicken dinner. Frankenmuth looked great - decorated for the holiday season!
Pictures are still on my Mom/Dad's camera....will update later.

Jason's weekend.....
Jason had to work all Thanksgiving weekend. So he stayed home and prepared Thanksgiving dinner for the crew at work on Wed night (turkey on the grill) and went to the Springborn gathering for dinner on Thursday.
On Friday, he and his co-workers decorated his truck for the light parade in Naperville. At the end of the parade, they flip the switch on the big tree downtown

ISU vs. UIC

On the Monday before Thanksgiving, the Redbirds were playing at the UIC Pavilion. This was Ryan's 1st basketball game. ISU got a slow start, but was victorious in the end! Ryan liked all the activity - the band, cheerleaders and of course the big basketball players.

Scrapbook Weekend

In November I survived my first scrapbook weekend....ALL scrapping, ALL weekend! The room was open at the hotel Friday night from 5 - 2 a.m, Saturday 8 a.m - 2 a.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. We stayed at the hotel and all meals were provided. I had so much fun I'm going again in March!

Jessica hard at work....

And Angie too....

Happy Halloween!

Left most of my pics on a memory card at my parents house, but here's a couple. Will add more later.

The Management team at work dressed up as Drill Sergeants. That's me on the right. Now, GET TO WORK!!!!!


My parents came for the weekend. We carved pumpkins on Friday night.

BOO! at the Zoo

The weekend before Halloween, our ferociously friendly Dragon went to Boo at the Zoo with Miss Flower (Ryleigh), Miss Giraffe (Abby) and Mr. Cowboy (Ayden). The bears were munching on pumpkins and there were tons of carved pumpkins with zoo-themed designs. The weather was a bit chilly (brrrr!), but we dressed warm and had a great time.

Pumpkin Days at Blackberry Farm

Ryan was excited to go to 'Back-berry Fuhm' today, mostly to ride the train. The place was decked out in Halloween decorations.



This was their 'pun-kin' batch. Ryan had to line up the pumpkins before he chose his.


Once he chose the best one, then he painted it.




On the merry-go-round.


These ducks were silly - they had their bums in the air.

Nice view of a tree and reflection from the train ride.