So much Snow, Let's go Sledding!

We have had lots of snow and it is still sitting on the ground for like the last 3 weeks.

We went sledding at the fairgrounds back on Jan. 10..here are pics from that day. I just took pics from top of the hill. The boys went sledding, I just watched. I got too cold! I need better boots and gloves. I was numb after an hour.
Trent got his old sledding tube from his parents house.

Ethan got pretty tired from walking up the hill. I'm sure I would be exhausted, too!
Found him sitting down and then laying down in the snow...just taking a little rest he said.

Click to play a video of the boys going down the 'big' slide...




The next day I found a cool green saucer sled so now we have a better sled for Ethan.

We went to see Jack Hanna at SPT. It was a good show, interesting. We saw around 12 animals and he showed around 4 mini video clips. He was a good presenter and you can tell he truly loves animals and his job.

BoDeans concert at Rialto

So Trent and I went to see my fav, The BoDeans, on Dec. 28 at The Rialto in Joliet.
It was part of our Christmas gift from my parents. Thanks Mom & Dad!
It had been awhile since I had seen them, like 3 years I think! This was the 13th time I've seen them in the concert, yea...I really love them!
We went with friends, Dave & Mary, who also are big fans.

We went extra early to get dinner before the show. We found this awesome bar & grill across the street from the theatre called Chicago Street Pub. We got there at the perfect time to get one of the last tables. Dave and Mary were so shocked to run into friends of theirs in the bar! We were all from CP.

Dave and Trent with their 312 beer. Trent really liked it, too bad we can't get it out here.
So excited to take pics and video of the show. Not the best seats, since we were up in the balcony but it was a smaller venue under 2000. The theatre really was beautiful with all the marble and intricate ceiling carving details.

The reason why I love going to BoDeans concert.. and my fav song...



Great show

Our actual view from our seats...

We may see them in March when they have an acoustic show in Valpo.

Our New Year's was pretty uneventful. Just stayed home and made up my fun appetizer meal of potato skins, mozzerella nuggets, chicken fingers, carrots, mini tacos, and Friday's quesadilla rolls.

I was off work, of course, on Jan. 1 and I took Jan. 2 off so it was a nice 4 days off. I took my time taking down all the Christmas decorations. It took like 4 hours just to take down my tree, but I was watching a movie as I was doing it. Our outside lights and decor are still there.

It is super cold out here today. It is negative 12 right now. Seriously negative 12, that is not the wind chill either! I told E that this is the coldest day he has ever seen in his lifetime. They called off school today due to the cold weather. On Wed. we had a bunch of snow so they dismissed hs and middle school early. Ethan still had afternoon kindergarten, though.

Ethan has 5 days at home now. He already had Friday & Monday off. Tomorrow he is going to cousins' house, so he'll have fun time there.

Christmas Recap

We had a wonderful Christmas this year.

I told Ethan to wake me up before going downstairs, he got up at 6:30! HE usually rises around 7:30am.

He checked to see if Santa ate his cookies...

Opened his stocking

Then started opening his gifts from Santa first

I asked him if he had a nice Christmas and got everything he asked for (like the scene in A Christmas Story) He said, yes, most of it. I was so proud that he wasn't complaining about not receiving a Wii. He had added that to his Santa list.

Then I noticed there was another gift hidden behind the chair, wrapped the green Santa paper!
It said to: Ethan & Family

He got his Wii.

Doesn't it look like he is saying "Wii" here?
Ethan picked out a cardigan sweater for me in my purples, I really like it.

Trent is really liking his Guitar Hero flannel pants that Ethan got for him. HE has never worn pj pants. But I think that is because he has never owned any! He thinks they are so soft and comfy.
We had to be at my parents house for breakfast waffles by 9-9:30. I think we got there at 9:30. It wasn't too rushed. I just brought my cookies.

For breakfast we had our traditional waffles made by my dad. My mom made up sausage, bacon, apple slices, blueberries, raspberries.

My mom's display in the great room..

My parents with their grandkids

Our friends The Conards came over and had gifts for the kids. So nice to see them.

Amanda with her awesome brunette Barbie with purple outfits from me, of course.

My Dad opening up my gift - a new Old Man on the Bicycle shirt

Matthew acting like his sister's new American Girl Doll...

my mom told me to take this pic of the 2 of them with their bows...

My sister and I got each other the exact same sweater...

My mom got both of her sons-in-law a case of beer! So surprising and funny

Ethan lost a tooth on Christmas while eating, too! This is #6.

Christmas Eve at T's parents

We went to Trent's parents house for a Christmas party on Christmas Eve around 3:30.

We had our appetizer meal. I brought potato skins, taco dip and chips, and my cookies.

Everything was so nice and we had to put up another table for everything.

Meredith and Derrik with Ethan in the vest they got for him.

We drew names this year. I had Meredith - got her towels from Restoration Hardware. Dale drew me and got me a Kohls gift card.

Of course, I had to make a photo calendar for T's mom. She wanted me to make one for Dale this year, so I made a duplicate one for him. It is always her favorite.

We did the Yankee Christmas/Grab bag thing there this year. A $10 gift. It didn't really turn out right. Maybe it was because only 7 people were there. I ended up with one of the gifts we brought as did Trent. And poor Meredith got stuck with what she brought, but just kept it. I thought it would be fun and silly, like on my side. But it doesn't seem to work with a smaller amount of people maybe. I won't be suggesting it next year. Trent was the one that actually suggested it for this year.

Ethan got such neat things. He had asked Santa for Rhino Rampage and I had told Derrik that would be a good game to get for him.

When he opened it up he said, "OH no, I'm going to get 2 of these."

We were like, why do you think that?

He said, "I told Santa that I wanted Rhino Rampage and he is bringing me one tomorrow."

That kid, so funny. For some reason he really believes that everything he asks for he gets...that won't last forever.

I love that Trent and his brother played the game with him, it was a highlight.

It was still icy out that night. It was scary walking up and down their driveway. We parked in the street on purpose. We always bring Ashton with us to their house and he slipped big time walking down their driveway.

Cheryl always gets our dog a gift and honestly gets so much enjoyment out of watching him sniff it to death and try to open it up.

It was a nice family get together. We are so blessed.Came home around 8:30 and finished up wrapping the rest of the presents and was in bed by 1am, not bad for me.