Christmas Celebrations

This year was a year of fun, excitement and wonder. Emily truly made Christmas this year the most fun it has ever been and the true meaning of Christmas was more apparent to me than ever before. We truly are a family blessed by God beyond measure. We did have our moments of sadness when we missed having Ryan and Grandpa Tom here to share the Christmas season. We were most comforted with the knowledge that they were celebrating Jesus' birthday with him in heaven instead of here on earth and were both happy and healthy. Aside from the gifts and all the hoopla the the blessings of family and true friends were by far the best part of this season. Here are a few pictures of the two celebrations, and "mother of the year" here did not take any pictures of Emily opening her gifts Christmas morning. Gary did get it all on video and when I figure out how to upload that I will post it. The pictures I did get of Emily on Christmas morning were of her playing with Molly-dogs toys she got for Christmas :). Enjoy the pictures!

GO BEARS!!

Emily and Sophie are wishing the Chicago Bears...GOOD LUCK tonight!!!

Christmas Past 2004

I was going through some old Christmas photos and here are a few of my favorites from past Christmases...


This is my sisters, nephew Curtis and I warming up in front of the fire place.

Frozen Tundra!!

I don't have to tell most of you that IT IS FREEZING here in Illinois! I just had to post this picture of Gary. When a man wants a grilled steak neither, rain, snow, blazing sun or yes snow and sub zero temps will stop him! The white specs are snow and yes Gary is grilling steaks! I must say they were very tasty.

Christmas cookies are done!

Friday was spent baking Christmas cookies with the help of my little elf Emily. She had so much fun and I loved starting yet another holiday tradition with her. It was a perfect day for cookie baking. The weather was too snowy to be out-doors. We did miss my Mom being with us, the weather kept her from coming over. Gary did manage to make into work on Friday despite the foot of snow we got. He rode into work with a co-worker who lives in McHenry too and has a four wheel drive truck. They made good time and arrived both to work and home safely. The adorable apron and hat Emily is wearing was a Christmas gift from our friends Molly and Sadie Dwyer. Thank you Dwyer family!

Getting ready for Christmas

Go, Go, Go. That is the gear I am stuck in right now. So much to do and one week left to do it in. Will it get done? Yes of course it will, it always does. I made a promise to myself this year. When I start to feel like the walls are closing in on me and I am not getting enough done, I will stop, pray for strength and remember it always gets done. It has worked! I have a peace in me this year that is new and welcomed. I know the Christmas season is not about the "STUFF" and yet that was all I could think about in the past. Too much has happen to our family this past year to live that way, living in the peace that God has to offer is such a better way of life for me. I am glad there is still one week left to enjoy the Christmas season and all the last minute preparations, to enjoy our daughter's excitement that her fourth Christmas season is bringing her. To know we will be celebrating with family and friends and that we all have truly been blessed by God's grace.




Even as life is rushing past beauty shines through! Michigan Ave, Christmas 2004

Happy Birthday Kristin!!

We would like to send a big birthday hello to our niece Kristin Sweeney in Michigan. Today is her 30Th and we hope she has all the many blessings God has to offer today and always. Kristin is an awesome example of God's love and grace and what a Christian is really about. She has inspired us to become better people through our faith and a need to know our God better. We are so very blessed to call her our niece! Have a great day kiddo we love you!!!

Visiting Santa

On Sunday we visited Santa at Spring Hill Mall. Visiting Santa is a time honored tradition in our family, however I do not remember it being so exhausting. Emily did not take having to stand in line very well and my never tiring husband was glad to follow her around the mall looking at all the decorations while my sister Sarah and I held our spots in line. Once we reached Santa Emily made a good impression and was as sweet as can be and had a huge smile on her face. I am not sure she gets the whole Santa thing yet and that's OK with me as long as she gets the true meaning of the Christmas Season. Only 10 days to go, how is every one's shopping coming along? We are almost done with the exception of a few things to pick up. Cookie baking is on the calender for this coming Friday and then I can official say...I'm ready!!!

Happy Birthday Emily

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR BEAUTIFUL, LITTLE GIRL!! Well it is finally here, Emily is 3 today. We love you so very much Emily and give thanks to God every day for allowing us to be your parents.


Emily at 12 hours old.


Emily at 2 1/2 and her first train ride to the city

Thank you Kristin

I am sending a big thank you to Kristin Sweeney for helping me put my blog back in order. It looks better than the original and very festive for the season. Thanks again Kristin.

Side not: Gary made it home from S. Elgin safely in the snow. A one hour and forty-five minute drive at time only doing 25 mph. Thank you God for being with him and seeing him home safe to us.

Two lil' fashion bugs

Here is a cute picture of Emily and our friend Molly. I love the clothes from Children's Place and so does Molly's mom and we both love the great sale prices. The girls have quite a few similar and matching outfits. Molly came today in her new comfy dress and Emily has the same dress. Today they are twins and they are so cute about it. There is nothing sweeter or more innocent than the giggles of two little girls.

Emily's (1st) 3rd Birthday Party

Today we had a family party for Emily's 3rd birthday. The party was originally to be at Aunt Lisa's house and we were to celebrate both Emily's and her cousin Jeremy's birthdays, however Aunt Lisa became very ill Friday night and ended up having short stay in the hospital for stomach pain. I am very happy to report Aunt Lisa is much better and resting at home. We wanted to go ahead with Emily's party (with Aunt Lisa's blessing) because she has attended many, many family birthdays and always asked "is it my birthday too" and sadly we always had to say no not this time. She always was a good sport about it. So now the time has come when it is her day and we just did not have the heart to disappoint her. Gary and I scrambled to get the house ready for 12 people for a party and we managed to pull it off and get most of our Christmas shopping done too!! My wonderful husband was such a huge help, Thank You Gary!! All evening on Saturday as we prepared Emily would say "thank you for my party mom and dad", this just made my heart melt and it was all worth it! Emily loved her party, well most of it...Emily will no time soon want to blow out any candles. The party ended on a somewhat sad/scary note. As Emily blew out her candles she bent over the cake and yes you guessed it her hair caught fire. In this picture you can see the glow of the flame starting to catch her hair.



I don't have to say it but I will, this by far was the most terrifying moment of my life. It all happen so quickly, all I could think was get water on her. I grabbed her, pulled her close to me to smother the flame, ran for the sink and got water on her hair quickly. This was all a matter of seconds. All I could do was scream and then cry and when I saw she was alright cry some more. Gary was filming and has some of it on camera and it is very disturbing to hear it played back. I have not figured out how to up load video yet and I probably will not post this video when I do figure it out. Gary and I agree we should just get rid of that disc. Emily fell asleep in my arms and I held her for two hours after that. Both Gary and I have thanked God a thousand times over for his grace in that this could have turned out horribly different. Emily has one little red mark on her cheek and her hair is a bit uneven on one side, that is easy to fix and the little red mark will probably be gone by morning. Other than that the day was a huge success. Emily had a wonder family party.

Thank you everyone for coming today we love you all!!

Family happenings

It has been over a week since my last posting and life is whizzing by. We are in full swing with the Christmas season. The house is decorated, most of the shopping is done and cooking baking is in the calender for the 19Th. This is a long standing family tradition and I am excited that Emily is old enough to help now. I will be sure to post the pictures. This could prove to be quite an adventure. Here are a few pictures of Emily, Sophie and Gary decorating the house last weekend.





Emily's third birthday is right around the corner. I am having a real hard time with Emily turning three. More so than one or two. I guess it is because of how independent she has become this past year. She has developed a little personality all her own and wants to do it all herself. There isn't anything she wont try to do. For the most part I'm happy about that, other times it scares me to tears. She is learning so much so fast! I am so very thankful that we have been able to work things out so I can be home with her. Time goes by way too fast. So I continue to try and live in the now and not worry too much about tomorrow and enjoy every minute of Emily for as long as God see fit to allow me too.

This is a picture of one of our dress-up days.