Cousin Matthew's COMINNNNGGGGG!!!!!

OK...admittedly, we ALL get a little excited when we see family...because it's always wayyyyy too long between visits. You might say that the time between visits for the kids, I and Matthew was ummmm...about an eternity. I'm pretty sure that if Matthew had said he would be any where under a 4 hour driving distance...we would have traveled to see him. Soooo, we hiked ourselves to the city...and just so that it shouldn't be a TOTAL waste (Insert Humor and a belly chuckle here....) we took Bree for her annual American Girl shopping spree. As you can see....she was TOTALLY devastated at the end (more humor). THEN, we met Dan and Matthew at THE Ginos East for Chicago Deep Dish Pizza. (We figured they needed the REAL Chicago experience.) Oprah's featured it...it's been named THE best in Chicago...... Meeee....not really a big fan of pizza any more. It was SOOOOO great catching up with Matthew and Dan though that the meal really didn't matter much.

Hard to believe the little boy that we left years ago is now driving a car. HOLLY MACK....we're getting shhhhhh....old!! Don't say it TOO loud or someone will notice. Well, the resulting conversation of seeing Matthew and not having nearly enough time with him.....we're convinced we need to get to Atlanta to visit family way more often. Now if we could just move Atlanta a littttlllleeeee closer to Chicago we'd be good!!

It's ALLLLL about how ya celebrate BABYYYYY!

Sooooo, we came, we opened presents, and we went back to bed. Wellllll, Rob and I anyway. But, not until Rob cooked his traditional red and green pancakes for the kids...and I took some candids of play time.

To the left, you see AJ playing his new Wii games. Let me tell you, I was VERY skeptical about this Wii thing...but as a parent, I LOVE IT!! Gone are the days where the kids sit mindlessly and exercise nothing but their fingers. This game is TOTALLY interactive and requires them to move!! Add the Wii Fit board, and you can do Yoga and Skiing. It's completely amazing. It teaches core control and balance. Highly recommended investment for the entire contemporary family! We ALLLLL LOVE IT!! Now my little Boo (We have called Bree "Boo" since she was a toddler because, back then, she was just always SO teeny tiny and quiet.) Anywhoooo...Boo has a new "favorite" treat when momma gets coffee...Starbucks Hot Cocoa with Whipped Cream. So, one morning this week, I snuck out and surprised her when she woke up. Hey...nothing goes finer with your Gator Santa Cap in the morning!! (Should be the next Starbucks comercial!!)

Let the Opening Frenzy Begin!!

So, the usual gift frenzy began. As previously stated, this year, we weren't able to do it up like usual because of the whole financial aspect of things.... So everyone got one "coveted" gift and bunch of "littler" stuffsssss. The main AJ's main gift was a lap top...which is acknowledgeably...a pretty NICE gift in rough times...but he really needed one for school soooo, the rest of us had a little sacrificing for the cause type dealio. Bree received a shopping spree to be seen in the next post. Rob received Gator stuff (He's SOOO hard to buy for!! UGH.) I received clothes and a gorgeous purse. I feel rather compelled to mention....that the dog...well she was just happy to be with us. I'm relatively certain that, at this point, we could do ANYthing to the dog and she'd just lay there, content to get the attention and love.

Mommy, you make the BEST cake.....

Well, a quiet vacation does not always equal sitting around and doing nothing...especially when you're me who doesn't know HOW to sit and relax (Not to worry...at this age, I've learned to accept and embrace my hyperactivity.) One morning...ohhhhh...about 5am I decided to surprise Rob with a cinnamon chocolate khalua cake. Just as I placed the completed cake in the oven to bake, a bleary-eyed Bree woke. Well, it started with an "Oops, I accidently got my finger dirty in the bowl" thing...and ended up with an "Oops....I accidently got the spoon and bowl in my face" thing. What a photo op! Needless to say...the cake got high marks with all who tasted it.

Our Christmas Break

We can't ever say that the Holidays are a boring time in our lives. Between mine and Rob's wedding anniversary, Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa traditions at home, we are usually well booked into the New Year. This year was no different...except we chose to forgo ANY traveling due to the economy and our personal finances. Nonetheless, our vacation has been amazing...just us. Sometimes the quiet times, are the best times. Happy 21st Anniversary my honey...I would have NEVER guessed that my love for you would have or could have grown stronger as the years rolled on...but indeed they did.

SNOW DAYYYYYYY!!!! Time to be CRAZY SILLY!

Friday, December 19th, 2008...the phone calls began at 4am. IT IS A SNOW DAY! First the middle school called, then the high school. The phone calls didn't stop until 6:30am. What's the point of calling a snow day if ya don't let anyone sleep through it? In any case, it was the last day before holiday vacation so, everyone excited for the early break. Rob stayed home from work. In the end, we got about 8 inches of new snow fall...and are expecting more this evening. Both of the kids went with friends to sled down the hill. Then Bree, Rob, Zoe and I went out back and acted silly. For those who have expressed concern that I never take time to play with my schedule...I posted photos of me to alleviate those concerns. We had a blast!!

Happy Everything Y'All!!

In our house, we take the opportunity to celebrate our family's diversity. The holidays for us, are a time to be grateful for our family and all that had a hand in bringing us together and keeping us there. We hope to model true acceptance and tolerance for the opinions and lives of others, unconditionally. I haven't read a bible yet that suggests that man has the knowledge to pass judgment on his fellow man...regardless of whether they believe like you or not. Admittedly, I'm sort of confused as to where the whole conservative notion of present day religiosity even came from.

The 1st Snow is Always Magical!

It seems that every year since we moved to the Chicago area, our first, real snow occurs on December 1st. December 1st, 2008 and it didn't disappoint. It always amazes me how the first few snowfalls are just SOOO magical...changing the leafless bushes of mere twigs into the most gorgeous snow covered mounds. I find myself sitting on the front doorstep just watching the snow fall and glistening on the ground....and then I realize that my tushy is absolutely freezing and I need to get inside!!

WE ARE TRULY THANKFUL!

This year, we decided to have a VERY relaxed Thanksgiving...just the 4 of us. Well...AJ felt compelled to get dressed in his Middle School Graduation outfit from 2 years ago. His pants came up to his knees and his shoes barely got on his feet. Nonetheless, he was bound and determined to wear the outfit until I couldn't stand seeing him limp around the house any longer. I made him peel the pants and shoes from his body right in the kitchen. Still determined, AJ wore his pajama pants and dress shirt to dinner. I just KNOW that one day this story will be fodder for bribery...and a good laugh for our future daughter-in-law.

True to our tradition, we went around the table and reflected on the things we are most thankful for this year. Of course, we all said our family and our health. But this year, we were ALL grateful to have a new, African American male role model in Barack Obama AND....we were particularly grateful that daddy still had his job. We hope upon hope that THAT continues well into the future.

I tried to cut down on my cooking duties...due to the work and finances...but, in going around and asking everyone what one thing they absolutely thought was necessary...we didn't end up cutting down much. We had a fresh turkey that I brined and roasted as our tradition. AJ needed to have my cornbread and oyster stuffing. Bree needed my sweet potato casserole and cranberry sauce. Rob and I needed the green bean casserole. Everyone needed my homemade garlic cheese biscuits. It was lovely and we ended up deciding to halve what we could and freeze it to go with the ham for Christmas.