Downtown Chicago...again!

We just can't get enough of this fantastic city! Even in the winter! I brought Madison and her good friend Brittany and Rylee and her good friend Claire to spend the night downtown. My girls are at such a fun age and they are such fun-seekers that it makes everything that much sweeter.

In the lobby at the hotel. The girls got all fancied up and we walked over to Grand Lux for dinner. Apparently, dinner was the most fun for them all because we had a little battle over who could take dessert off of who's fork the fastest!

Thursday night at the Chicago Art Institute is free, and I definitely wanted to take advantage of this because we have yet to go. I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I had to ask a musuem employee if this Van Gogh painting was the real deal (of course it is dummy, it's in a museum with guards!). Last year I taught Rylee's 4th grade class all about this painting and the symbolism behind it (the walls which are closing in, disorganization, etc.) and so I was so shocked to see the original painting!

We attemped to go up to the top of the Willis Tower, but it was super cloudy/drizzly and visibility was 0...ZERO! We were so bummed.

Of course we had to visit Ed Debevics. And let me tell you, it didn't disappoint! Lots of booty shaking going on!

What a fun 2 days! We took the train home on New Years Eve, just in time! :)

Sledding!

When life gives you snow, you go sledding. Unless of course your the momma and you don't enjoy freezing, then you stay home by the fire with a good book and let the poppa take the kids sledding. Thanks babe.

Christmas 2010

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Christmas eve service

For the past 2 years we have gone to the Marklund home on Christmas eve to help the sweet, sweet residents there open the enormous amounts of Christmas presents they receive from the community. With just 3 hours of our time, this really is the highlight of the season for me, and I wish we did more like this.

This year a few family's from the ward came - including fav's the Thompson's!

Our Christmas card pic, thanks to Sagie!

Seriously, how beautiful are they? No, no not Sadee and Zowee...Madison and RYlee!

We're hoping Sage doesn't catch on when we invite her to Thanksgiving each year, but boy are we grateful for her photography skills! WE LOVE YOU SAGIE!

Thanksgiving 2010

We were able to uphold tradition again this year and both Teish and Kara, and Mike, Sage and the boys came out this year for Thanksgiving. We had such a great time, as we always do. It really is such a great mix of relaxing, sight seeing, game playing, movie watching, boy kissing (the little ones), etc. I can't wait for the year when we can all be together.

The rest of this post is rated PG - I know this is iffy but it sums up Becketts affection for Kara. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with her beautiful, blonde locks. :)

The Bean

Millenium Park Ice Skating Rink.

Porter has a mild obsession with dinosaurs so naturally the Field Museum was our first stop. This is Sue. She is very old.

Madison and Rylee flanking Elle...I mean Kara. :)

I am so thankful for my family; Steve, Mads, Ry and my sisters and brother. I love, love them and spend my years looking forward to their too short visit.

Doesn't Dad look pretty?

Madison's masterpiece!

HA HA HA HA! Who knew Steve would make such a pretty girl? He may just kill me for this.

Pierce Boys

My sistas have skills! Sagie took this picture of 2 of my 3 favorite nephews, whom I adore. Someday we will all be close enough to watch each others kids grow up, have Sunday dinners together, go to the movies when are husbands are out of town (or even if they're in town), borrow eggs on a Sunday, ask for a dog sitter, get mani's and pedi's together, and celebrate manaws birthday together. I think maybe I'm feeling a little sister/home sick. :(

Halloween 2010

I love these pictures of Madison, the ghost. Do notice her pink bow; she's not just any ghost, she's a stylin one!

Scary!

Rylee with her bff's Jessie and Claire. The funniest thing about Rylee costume (80's girl) was that we found most of her costume in retail stores like Claire's and H & M! They really are back!

Posers!

We have done this candy exchange every year and I remember doing the same thing as a kid (when we snuck out to go trick-or-treating 'cause Mom wouldn't let us!)

Thanks to the Simmons for letting us stay warm at their house and for the awesome chili and cornbread!

The Eyeball

Can you believe this beauty didn't win anything? Nada. We entered this pumpkin eyeball in Ferson's annual pumpkin decorating contest after we were inspired by Chicago's own eyeball. Rylee (ahem...me) spent 1 hour painting multiple coats of white, 30 min. dyeing the noodles (aka veins) red, 1 hour glueing said noodles and 30 more painting the retina for a grand total of 3 hours on this bad girl! Oh well, it made for a cute porch decoration.

It was a cool sight (pun intended) to see, but in such a weird, scary area that we didn't want to stay too long.

Can you see the eyeball reflection in Steve's glasses?

On the train, headed into Chitown. Thought I would try out Kara's tounge-on-the-side-of-the-mouth pose!