I posted this on FB, but seriously, I can't believe how different air travel is for us now. Gone are the days of strollers and diaper bags and car seats. Now the kids carry their own toys and roll their own carry on bags.
Sheesh - how big are they anyway?
Biggest landmark in, Park Ridge, Big Daddy's hometown - the Pickwick (Big Daddy dates himself by calling it the building where Siskel and Ebert walk in at the beginning of their old tv show, but it's known in our family as that building where they film the Disney show Shake It Up. They don't really film it there, they just show it on the show. :-) Our kids saw their first ever movie here. Princess and the Frog!
We arrived on Christmas Eve Eve and had dinner at the country club.
They were offering sleigh rides - so much fun!
But COLD! That wind!
On actual Christmas Eve I took ML and a niece shopping so that the kids would be (mostly) out of the house while 2 kids slept and the adults got ready for dinner. We picked up some boots for my niece and some last minute shopping for my MIL.
The kids had a ton of fun down in the family room with a puppet theater. This is JR doing the 'commercial' during the 'intermission' for the puppet show. He demonstrated a 'toy truck shaver, perfect for that little boy who likes to imitate his daddy." I thought that was pretty clever!
My in laws passed out a few Christmas Eve gifts. I love this picture of my MIL smiling in the midst of the chaos. She loves her family!
ML and her Grandpa Owens.
Christmas morning dawned bright and early and Santa was good to us!
Some of us (cough, cough) couldn't handle all the fun and had to regroup mid morning.
Isn't this neat? My MIL doesn't have a mantle, but has a natural stone fireplace. She needed a way to hang stockings, so she had these wood hangars custom made - I think they are amazing! She's been using them as long as she's been in the house - 45 years!
Christmas afternoon, it was time for even MORE presents at the aunts and uncles gift exchange.
What? More??? LOL
It was a fabulous visit! Didn't get to do any touristy stuff this time, but we are looking forward to that the next time! Hope your Christmas was merry and bright!
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