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....