CHICAGO SKYLINE

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What a beautiful city!  We talked about how "mid-western" it was and how comfortable we felt, which was true, but it was just such a beautiful skyline.  This was taken, I believe

from our hotel window.

We stayed just off the center of the city, but still within easy walking distance even in the semi-blustery weather.  This is the Chicago River and was right outside our hotel.

The buildings, the river, the skyline, the lights, the golden glow of the city at night.

The mix of old and new architecture was interesting.

And, if it was this interesting in the dead of winter, imagine how it is in the summer.

I know so many people who have raved about it over the years and I can

certainly see why.

Winter Garden at night.

On Friday morning, we took a bus tour of the city.  It has become one of our best travel tips in recent years.  It was a pretty day and the tour was good.  There is an architectural boat tour in the

summer that everyone raves about.

More to come...

SUBURBAN YARD ART

Thought before we went to the big city we would take a little tour of the "hood"

One afternoon, after everyone was gone, I took the dogs for a quick walk and ended up walking the neighborhood twice to take pictures.  The first one I took was of the pig...it was just so funny. 

 Then I started looking around...

This is what I saw-

Enjoy:-)

All within a block of home :-)

A Bit More Christmas

Here are a few more pictures from Christmas.  I took LOTS more, but mostly they are

variations on the same shot, some fuzzy, some people with no heads, some lopsided...

You get the idea :-)

Dad got some cool stars made.

Artemis gets a little encouragement from Mom.  She didn't really need too much as

she got the hang of the gift "thing" pretty quickly.

I am so sad this is fuzzy, but it was too cute to leave out.  There was lots of dancing!

Artemis and G'Pa Rockwell having a little moment during the annual "Extreme Gifting"

event at Uncle Kurt and Aunt Denise's

"Really, Jared?  THIS is what I am getting paid?"  

(Notice those rockin' boots!)

Christmas Evening and Keith and Artemis are discussing some of the finer

points of the new blue cook pot.

I don't know what Artemis and Adam are looking at, but whatever it is, it must

not be food as Jonas is not remotely interested.

Saturday after Christmas Denise made arrangements for the party room at Panera

and we gathered again.  Andy and Gayle joined us.

Laura's Family

There is never enough time to get all the visiting in and catch up on all the news,

 but it sure is fun trying.  And, no one had to cook or clean up for this one! 

Finally!  Room to bring out the horse and go for a ride!!

                             

                                                                           

...and a little purse shopping at DSW,

next stop Chicago...

A BAKER'S DOZEN IN RANDOM ORDER

Goodness, it has taken a while to get this blog up!  I lost a couple days to

being under the weather and another couple waiting for a new power

cord to arrive.  And then there is the ongoing project of getting the

house back in order.  But, here is a first installment.

As the title says, no order.

Maggie:  Please can I go home with you?

Eleftheria:  Not in this lifetime!

Christmas Morning and the stocking is empty!

Wouldn't this make a great Christmas card?

Well, Yiayia is tired...

T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house, 

not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse...

Look at all those stockings!

Christmas Morning on the stairs...it's tradition!

So, I took 3 photos of Artemis and Papou and their crocs.  

I cut Papou's head off in all three (sorry honey)...

I wish everyone could have seen Artemis' reaction

to getting those shoes.  She knew instantly that

they were just like Papou's.  The child is obviously

brilliant!

Everyone was home for some part of the holiday.

 It was so much fun to have you all here.  I you look closely at Keith, you will see that

he is suppressing a smile - enjoying both being away from his own home and loving

the chaos of extended family life.

LeAnna, and Adam wistfully thinking that they would love

to stay longer, expecially since the weather was unseasonably warm.

LeAnna, as you can see, is especially sad to have missed today's

weather:  2:00pm - 28*, 9:30 - 6*.

Christmas Evening on the steps.  I love you all.  Thank you for sharing your

time with us.

A brief snuggle moment.  It makes my heart happy.

I find that being a grandmother is the very best job ever.

Who's in charge?

More latter.  Love You.

Mom