news from chicago: Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Warning - this post is long and full of lots of stories and photos.

Michael took the red-eye from LA and landed Friday at 7am. He took the L into the city and I went to pick him up and left James and Doug at home. To Michael's dismay, I informed him that he would be unable to go back to our place and sleep as he had been promised but instead had to come with me to the Honey Baked Ham store to pick up dinner for Christmas Eve. He's such a trooper. Didn't even mind :) We had a successful mission out to the burbs and even had breakfast at McDonald's which neither of us eat at on a regular basis at all. We actually couldn't remember the last time we had (we think high school) but Mike hadn't eaten since the night before so I felt it was a necessary stop :) We got back home and after saying hi to Doug and James, Mike crashed until 3pm when James got up from his nap.

Friday night we decided to take Michael to Bricks and we had such a great time. A friend of ours Jamie works there and she was on Friday night and it was great to see her! She even gave us the cd that the place was putting out that year. The owner is really into funk and just really cool music and the cd is full of great music - Christmas music from James Brown to Toots and the Maytals to Jerry Garcia and David Grisman. Good stuff all around. We got back home, put James to sleep and just caught up enjoying each others' company and of course, Doug's marvelous cider :)

Late Friday night my folks got in town but they went right to the hotel and came over bright and early Saturday morning! James was so excited :) We actually didn't take any photos until right before Mass on Christmas Eve - James and Doug and I rolled out some cookie dough to make cookies for Santa. I wanted to bake them off before Mass and then have him decorate them after while we made dinner. I went with store bought because I was worried about him eating the dough - not a proponent of anyone eating raw eggs - and it was a good thing I was worried because James did eat the dough. A lot of it.

We got back from Mass and while dinner was cooking, James, Doug and Liddy decorated the cookies (and ate lots of frosting)

Post dinner and bath - nice and squeaky clean :) James wanted to leave Santa his favorite sippy cup full of milk with the cookies. How thoughtful :)

Our family photo of Christmas 2011

Christmas morning! James was really good this year!!

Liddy and Mike Mike got James a shopping cart!

We put together the shopping cart because James opened a cash register from Santa and opening presents hit a stand-still after that. He was asking everyone if he could open the cash register - saying please and looking at each of us with these huge beautiful eyes. We finally caved and we stopped for some cinnamon rolls. But then we had to figure out how to jump start opening again ... Thanks to Doug thinking of the shopping cart and putting presents inside of it - Christmas present opening got back on track!

After we opened presents, we cooked a big brunch of bacon and eggs and toast (and I got to use my British toast holder!!!!) and enjoyed relaxing after our marathon Christmas morning (3 hours!). Before and while James napped, we talked to our family in New York and wished everyone a Merry Christmas.

We also got a start on cooking Christmas Dinner.

The Chef

After dinner we opened our presents in our stockings - Mike Mike gave us train hats with lights on the bills

The day after Christmas we had a wonderful treat! Erica and Serge came over along with Mr. and Mrs. Donnelly and Mrs. Ozbek visiting from Texas and England respectively. It was so much fun to get everyone together. My parents and the Donnellys have known each other ever since Erica and I met at SMU. We had a full and happy and lively house! James was completely "on" and was in entertaining mode :) I am so upset I don't have any photos from this visit. But you'll just have to use your imaginations - everyone looked beautiful and handsome and we all were witty and delightful :)

After dinner, Mike, James and Mike Mike playing with the new tracks and trains that James and Doug put together

Eating Cuties and playing with Uncle Michael

James LOVED being around Michael. James calls Michael "Mimal" - it's adorable. James kept going in for leg hugs and snuggling with Mimal.

This was Michael's last night - he left in the middle of the night to get back to LA.

We had so much fun on Mike's last day. James wanted to take everyone for cupcakes at Sweet Mandy B's and we got in the car to go, got there and then started walking but .... a construction guy said, "Hey you guys better cross the street here." Then we told him we were going to Sweet Mandy B's and he told us, "No you're not, that's where we're doing construction."

I think we all were disappointed. I couldn't believe how well behaved James was. It was just like a complete look of shock on his face. We all said we were sorry that it was closed and I was trying to think of something else to do and then....YOLK! I asked him if he wanted to go to Yolk with everyone and he said YES! So we drove back home, parked the car and walked up to Yolk for lunch. It couldn't have worked out any better. I called Doug at work and told him what happened and you know what? Doug went out during lunch and bought cupcakes from Crumbs to bring home for everyone! James was so excited because of this:

The M&M Cupcake

The next day it was just James, me, and my parents and we went up to the Botanic Gardens to check out the Wonderland Express. It's this exhibit of trains in beautiful displays. It's a smaller version of the train garden they have during the warmer months. Mike Mike bought us tickets to go and we had a blast.

At the gardens

Showing Liddy the rose garden and where he plays in the summer. It was a bit cold - 27 degrees. We were all bundled up :)

Walking in to the show

These two were completely mesmerized by the trains

On the way out, I got this shot of James and Liddy and Mike Mike on the bridge

After Liddy and Mike Mike had to go home, we all treated ourselves to a little bit of Junior's Cheesecake. Is there anything Cheesecake and raspberry sauce can't solve?