Happy New Year!

Meanwhile...the parents were away watching the Utah Jazz get creamed by the San Antonio Spurs. Booo.

San Antonio Food Bank

The girls were super excited to go to Six Flags over break so I made a deal with them that if they would volunteer with me at the food bank for a few hours, I would drop them off at Six Flags, sans parents, and they could stay until dark. They thought that was a deal!

This was so random - we found a package of sweet crisps from the Corner Bakery. Who in their right mind doesn't eat sweet crisps? They are pretty much my favorite thing in the whole joint, someone I know (me) even eats an entire bag on their birthday every year.

Ry and Laney

Mads and Hannah. Madison chose to sit down inside the large box and sort food. Too bad she didn't see the busted syrup jar or loose macaroni noodles.

Christmas morn' 2011

Rylee, reading the letter from Cammie the Elf. She found us in San Antonio!

All of Madison's gifts were wrapped in Justin Bieber blue and Rylee's in Justin Bieber's green & red.

Guess who we saw?

While Christmas shopping, we saw JUSTIN BEIBER!! The girls were so excited!

Christmas cookies and more

As tradition would have it, we held our 4th annual Christmas cookie decorating party, only this year Madison opted out. Something about being too old for that? These girls are so much fun, and are such good girls, I'm always so proud of my girls for the good friends that they choose.

Too bad I didn't take any pics of the final product cause these cookies were beauties! My idea of pretty, martha-esc Christmas cookies that the girls could take home quickly turned into the more frosting, sprinkles and candy the better. Easter maybe?

...meanwhile, Madison and her cute friend Kaily were playing with makeup and taking self-portraits
and Sadee was staying far away from the chaos, sleeping peacefully on the couch like a good little cat.

First and second days of school 2011

 Beautiful 6th and 8th graders...watch out Bush Bulldogs!

Home Sick

Today I am feeling homesick - for my St. Charles home. It may sound silly to call it home because we only lived there 3 years, but once your friends become like family, it feels like home. I still can't figure out how to load these pics in order so this is what I don't miss:

just looking at this picture makes me shiver.

what this pic doesn't tell you is that with the wind chill, it's -20 degrees!

my snuggie

And WHAT I DO MISS:

hanging out in downtown Chicago

wearing sweats (not too sure what Steve is doing...)

my bff's. this is just a few of the great friends I left taken from one of our bunco nights. I miss these girls (and more not pictured).

my home - especially at christmas time.

the girls friends. they were such a huge part of our life and i didn't realize how much i would miss them all.

mads picks her friends wisely and had a few great friends who i love!

my a-day girls. seriously the sweetest, happiest bunch of girls ever. i had the best time leading them in so many activies for 2 years.

our YW. again, such a great group of girls and fun, happy leaders who made YW and girls camp fabulous for maddie.

mads & halina

ry, claire, livvy, jessie, & lunas

i also miss:

-movies with steve during the day in the theater room

- bi-weekly 3 hours lunches with susan

-trail walking with emily and our dogs

-antique shopping in quaint geneva and st. charles

-great neighbors who i could count on

-crafting with friends

-our 'station' workouts with steve, girls and makayla

I am grateful for the fun friends we have already met and got close to in san antonio. i'm sure that in 3 years, I'll grow to really love this place too...it just seems so long away.

Annual beach trip

Steve claims the Oregon coast is a 'fake beach', and wonders how others can enjoy it in their parkas and wetsuits...but enjoy it we do! We have gone every summer since the girls were born - either to Cannon Beach or if we also need to do a little shopping to Lincoln City. This beach is in Lincoln City near Taft, where we once had a little house a few block from the inlet. I loved to see that nothing has changed, especially all the sea lions lounging in the sun. The girls had such a great time (Jace didn't want to be the only boy and stayed home - I can't blame him!) stalking all the crab fishermen (if that's what they're called or crabmen?) and playing with the sweet seaweed.

Maddie holding the crab, I think in '04?

How cute is this? See, we loved these crabs then too!

Algae braclets?

Ava was so cute and brave. She was holding the crabs, identifing the gender and guessing whether or not it was small enough for the people catching it to keep it!