Seasons of Love

I hope that 2012 will be filled with 525,600 minutes of love for all of you out there in Blogland!

ZooLights 2011

I was happy to share this Chicago tradition with my sister and brother-in-law, but WOW was it crowded!  I have only gone one other year, on New Year's eve, and it was much quieter at that time. 

From Our House To Yours...

A Blessed Christmas

A few last words to Santa.

The Walnut Room, Macy's on State Street.

Baking for Santa in one of her summer hats that she pulled out!

Santa loves Margaux!

Presents for Jasper too, of course!

Toddler Pocahontas...so adorable!

Socker Bopper with Aunt Susie!

Our Christmas Eve was on the 23rd this year, and our Christmas Day was on the 24th, due to the fact that I had to work on the 25th.  Santa can be very accommodating about coming early if you just ask him nicely.  Sue & Dennis were able to come down again this year, and my nephew Drew came over for the weekend.  We had a nice, relaxing time and Margaux had tons of fun being the center of attention with all of her new toys!  We had a yummy meal and I enjoyed staying in my p.j.s all day and watching Christmas shows by the fireplace.  I need to keep Christmas in my heart all year long! 

Clear-ly Prater Christmas

The Prater (Clear) ladies: Aunt Kimmy, Margaux, Grandma P., Anna and Abby

She even played Santa for a little while!

While in Mason for the funeral, we went ahead and did a little Christmas with Patrick's parents, his sister and family and his brother Jim + family.  We have a difficult time getting the Prater family all together for the holidays, but hopefully one of these years we can pull it off again. We loved seeing everyone and Margaux relishes all of the attention she gets from Abby and Anna!

Up North Christmas

Joy.  Pure joy.

Making snow angels is instinctual in children.  She flopped right down and got to work without us even showing her what to do!

So glad there was a little bit of snow for her to play in.

G&G Byard with the youngest grandchildren and all of the great-grandchildren, minus Dominik, who had already gone home.  They have eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren...so far.

Once again, my job dictated my holiday whereabouts.  I worked on Christmas day.  The good thing is that I know my holiday schedule for the year and my family always plans accordingly, which is mighty generous!  We went up north the weekend before Christmas to celebrate.  It was too quick of a trip, but it was wonderful to see everyone.  Margaux always has a blast with her cousins!  Thanks to everyone for the beautiful gifts.  We hope to make it up there again soon!

Farewell

Great Grandma Preisinger and Margaux, January 2009

Patrick's grandma passed away the week preceding Christmas this year. (Joanne's mom.)  Elizabeth was 95 years old.  She was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother.  Additionally, she was a U.S. Army veteran, a nurse and someone with an eye for beauty and the drive to make things happen.  There was an Honor Guard send off at her funeral, which was nice.  She was Patrick's last living grandparent and she was a really neat lady.  She will be missed.

So Long, Miss Marlene!

Margaux was new to the Kindermusik program at Bucktown Music this fall and she loves it so much in large part due to her teacher, Marlene.  She is a very nice girl with a lot of patience with the kids and a sweet singing voice.  Today was the last day of class until after the new year, and when class resumes we will have Jessica (owner) as a teacher and I know she is wonderful as well!  We will see you in upper levels, Miss Marlene!  Thank you!

Santa Trolley Express

I guess The Little People freaked her out a little bit.

They meet again!

This past weekend while I was working, Patrick and Margaux went to the Santa Trolley Express event in Oak Park.  The kids made magic reindeer food, boarded the trolley to have snacks/see Santa & Mrs. Claus/The Little People and then returned to the starting to point to play and receive a little gift bag.  Very cute event!  The holiday season is so much more special for us now that we have a little one!



I'm 4-0 And I Don't Care!

There is apparently some confusion as to whether Andy Rooney actually wrote this, or if he featured it from another author. I don't care, I just think it's brilliant! 

Andy Rooney says:
As I grow in age, I value women who are over forty most of all. Here are just a few reasons why: A woman over forty will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, “What are you thinking?” She doesn’t care what you think.
If a woman over forty doesn’t want to watch the game, she doesn’t sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do. And, it’s usually something more interesting.
A woman over forty knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, what she wants and from whom. Few women past the age of forty give a hoot what you might think about her or what she’s doing.
Women over forty are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won’t hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get away with it.
Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it’s like to be unappreciated.
A woman over forty has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women friends. A younger woman with a man will often ignore even her best friend because she doesn’t trust the guy with other women. Women over forty couldn’t care less if you’re attracted to her friends because she knows her friends won’t betray her.
Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over forty. They always know.
A woman over forty looks good wearing bright red lipstick. This is not true of younger women. Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over forty is far sexier than her younger counterpart.
Older women are forthright and honest. They’ll tell you right off if you are a jerk, if you are acting like one! You don’t ever have to wonder where you stand with her.
Yes, we praise women over forty for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it’s not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of forty-plus, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some twenty-two-year-old waitress.
Ladies, I apologize.
For all those men who say, “Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free,” here’s an update for you. Now 80 percent of women are against marriage, why? Because women realize it’s not worth buying an entire pig, just to get a little sausage.

First published September 2007

Via http://www.divinecaroline.com/22323/34969-andy-rooney-forty#ixzz1g4Ty1kCU

Junior Tumble Bees Finale Recital

 Here she comes, out of the gate!

The magic parachute!

Miss Shaunda & GoGo

Today was the tumbling and ballet recital/finale party and it was adorable.  Miss Shaunda does a nice job with the little girls.  Margaux is looking forward to taking a dance class after the new year.  We are looking at a combo ballet/tap/tumbling class.  It's great to see little ones moving their bodies AND having a blast!

Dank Artistry

 Sarah's

 Heather's

 Joanne's

I finally ordered one for myself!

I love silver jewelry and I love shopping on Etsy.  I am so thrilled to have found Dan Kemp's shop, Dank Artistry, where I purchased the above spoon bracelets + a few more not pictured that I will be giving as Christmas gifts.  I love spoon jewelry and Dan's work is beautiful and of high quality.  Each piece is listed with the name of the antique spoon company/design with a little bit of a background story, which is neat.  He is also quirky and super friendly in his customer service communication.  Turn around time is fast, fast, fast!!!  Check him out on Etsy.com!

"Gnome" For The Holidays

I saw this little guy while out shopping today, and I decided he needed to come home with me!   

A Most Festive Weekend

They meet again!  Lunch With Santa at Cheney Mansion in Oak Park, IL.

Checking out the holiday windows at Macy's on State Street.

Glass ornaments at Christkindle Market in Daley Plaza.

We are having a lot of fun with the Advent Calendar activity!

'Tis The Season

The gingerbread choo-choo train that she made with Daddy while Momma was at work.

I was unable to find the perfect Advent calendar, so I got together with my friend Bex and we crafted this kind that you string up on the fireplace.  Love it!  Hers turned out really cute as well.

This is before I hung our stockings by the chimney with care.  They are up now, tucked behind the envelopes.  A totally cutesy theme...MVP loves it! 

Each year Margaux gets a personalized ornament, starting with the one that Bex & Heather got for her when she was born.  This year she perused Etsy with me and chose her own!  :)