Happy New Year! Part II

Christmas in Ohio City

As has been our yearly tradition we spend most of the Christmas break in Chicago, but this year, instead of dragging the girls' gifts to Chicago, we had an early Christmas Day.

The girls pose in their new PJs and robes.

Opening a bag full of goodies they have to share.

Val gave the girls a box of princess high heels.

Road Trip!

After "Christmas Day" opening gifts we joined Alta to celebrate her birthday on our way out of town to Chicago. 

 Here Fiona shows off her favorite expression while playing house with Sophie.

Christmas in Chicago included a trip to the Walnut Room at Marshall Field's to see the beautiful tree and magical window displays.

Abi, Tia Diana and the girls visit the Nativity Scene at Daley Plaza.

We spent Christmas Eve at my brother Luis' home, along with my parents, aunt, grandmother, Elaine's parents, her brother's family, aunt/uncle and grandma.  The kids had a great time playing, making art projects and generally running around.  The adults played charades and chatted.

Time for gifts at cousins' house.

The great-grandkids pose with Bisabi (great-grandma).

Christmas Day was spent at the Boyds'.  Joe suggested jamming and the kids sang Christmas carols and shook maracas, while Joe played trumpet, Brian played guitar and Nola played the piano.  I was on camera duty.

Elaine's Christmas gift was organizing a photo shoot of all the cousins and extended Polanco family.  I took a renegade photo of the photo shoot.

What may become an annual tradition, we rode the Metra train to "Toot Toots", a diner in Glen Ellyn that serves the train on a train that arrives at the booth via railroad tracks.  We went last year and Sofia asked to go back this year.

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Nana Boyd sewed matching dresses for the girls and a vest for Brendan.  We set up a makeshift photo session.

We spent New Year's Eve at my parents at an impromptou party.  The kids enjoyed more time with their cousins and all the great food and music.

Fiona dances with my dad.

Just a cute pic of Fiona.  But doesn't she look older?

Papa Joe and Fiona snuggle.

Random Photo

Shortly before we left for Chicago Joe decided Fiona was ready for a "big girl" bed.  I wasn't so sure, but he went ahead and converted the crib to a toddler bed.  Fiona loved it and so far it seems to be going well.

My next post will be "party" pics of Rosy's birthday and Joe's wild bowling bash.

Happy New Year! Part I

Wow, where to begin?  Lots has happened since last year including a visit from my BFF Rosy, Val's birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, Joey's birthday and loads of playdates in between.  I'll have to divide this post into multiple parts because I don't have time to do it all in one sitting.  So, here we go!


Val's 20th Birthday!

                                         Fiona didn't want to share Val's cake with her

                                                 Celebrating with Karina and Val

Rosy!
My BFF Rosy, whom I've known since we were 14 years old, came for a quick winter get-away and got a taste of two rowdy, loud and occasionally whiny little girls.  The girls followed her around all weekend and smothered her with hugs and pleas for her attention.  I think Rosy had a nice time.  We also took her to the Velvet Tango Room and she claims to have had the yummiest cocktail she's ever had.

                                                   Fiona's godmother Rosy came to visit

                  Rosy and Mommy check out the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame

Thanksgiving!

                          

Fiona and Sofia show off their Turkey hats with words describing what they're grateful for including on Fiona's: "sausage". 

Nana and Papa came to visit for Thanksgiving

                                 Crazy Joe ready to carve our free-range turkey.

Christmas!

Right after Thanksgiving we got to putting up our faux Christmas tree and decorating it with Joey's childhood ornaments and now the girls' growing collection.

We started our WinterFest Tradition last year and took the Boyd Grandparents to Tower City for the Fairy Godmother and Soldier Show.  The girls loved it and they also rode the train.

And we strolled by Gingerbread Lane.  Fiona obliged my request for a photo.

Bruce the Talking Spruce posed with the girls.

Random Photos

The night of the "great blizzard" when it took me an hour to go the two miles home.  Poor Sofia didn't get home until 7PM.  Aside from that mess it was a beautiful snowfall.

This photo doesn't do the height of the snow justice.  Especially since I shoveled all of the driveway and sidewalk.

                                          Fiona helped by jumping in my piles of snow.

Tea with the Barcelona Girls

We went to the Beck Center to see excerpts from the "Nutcracker" that included a "tea" beforehand complete with tea, cookies, crustless sandwiches and punch.  A very elegant affair!

Sofia's Christmas PJ Party

Sofia and Baxter share a cot.

Sofia's teacher invited us to attend their Christmas PJ party and insisted that the parents also wear PJs.  It was fun to see other adults in their PJs and slippers and we all watched the old school claymation "Santa Claus is Coming to Town".  We ate cookies and had milk and a parent read "Twas the Night Before Christmas".  It made it hard to go back to work after that.

I think this completes Part I.  I hope to finish this novel soon.