Mike has been listening to their CD for a couple years now. Friends of ours saw them in concert last year and say that this Christmas show is awesome. They will be going again this year. The concert was on Saturday Dec. 26 so I got tickets for me and Mike to go too (2:00 pm show).
We drive through the snow to the Allstate arena with plenty of time to find our seats - high up in the balcony. Who knew that those would be the best seats? Lets be realistic I got them because they were cheap and on an isle.
Clearly not my kinda music and I'm pretty sure that I would not of enjoyed the concert if not for the showstopping laser, fireworks, flames, strobe lights and huge video screen show. They played for 2 & 1/2 hours. Mike loved it!
We met up with the rest of the concert goer for dinner and Taylor (Stacy and Kory's 8 yr old niece) shows off her drum stick the drummmer gave her after the show. Her Mom had won seats on the floor through The Loop radio station.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
This is just a taste of the show. there were people there from baby (1 yr maybe - clearly they could not get a babysitter this show is too loud for that age) to poeple way up there who had a hard time with the stairs.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Christmas
We started out with our traditional breakfast with the Dup's only this year we added one - That would be Matthew at the table on the end (Boy can that little one pack the food away) and we lost two - Dup had to work and Dave worked all night fighting crime so he was resting up for a long long night.
After spending some play time at Carrie's, Mike drove down to Aurora to pick up Keith for the night I headed home to make some lasagna for dinner.
The kids came over and Kaylyn headed straight for the presents. She can read names now.
She is in preschool ya know. Tall Uncle Bryan helped a little bit.
Bryan and Brian tried out Logan's new transformers. Both agreed that the new ones are WAY more complicated then they need to be.
Here are Mike and I and the boys playing around with Kaylyn's new princess head bands.
The grandkids found the sports Santa hats hanging by the front door and posed for this pic.
Stacy put together for Me and Mike a memory picture book of us and the kids made online through Kodak. Can you say tears?!!!! Loved it!
Christmas day we had dinner at the Dups'. Sharen can cook a ham and of course Dup still makes a tasty mimosa. We broke in the new wine glasses that they got from Carrie and Dave. Bryan joined us later for a movie.
A Merry Christmas!
After spending some play time at Carrie's, Mike drove down to Aurora to pick up Keith for the night I headed home to make some lasagna for dinner.
The kids came over and Kaylyn headed straight for the presents. She can read names now.
She is in preschool ya know. Tall Uncle Bryan helped a little bit.
Bryan and Brian tried out Logan's new transformers. Both agreed that the new ones are WAY more complicated then they need to be.
Here are Mike and I and the boys playing around with Kaylyn's new princess head bands.
The grandkids found the sports Santa hats hanging by the front door and posed for this pic.
Stacy put together for Me and Mike a memory picture book of us and the kids made online through Kodak. Can you say tears?!!!! Loved it!
Christmas day we had dinner at the Dups'. Sharen can cook a ham and of course Dup still makes a tasty mimosa. We broke in the new wine glasses that they got from Carrie and Dave. Bryan joined us later for a movie.
A Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Ceiling
We had our basement ceiling crash last May and have been without some of the tiles since then. I pointed out to Mike it would make a great winter project to get a new one up.
Mike got to work with help from his son and hung the braces. Some more help from the master electrician, brother-in-law Bill, who helped with all the electrical work (OK maybe Mike helped him with the electric). We now have switches at the bottom of the stairs and lights recessed in the ceiling to make the basement bright.
Mike and Bill hard at work.
A couple more days of fitting tiles and finishing the light fixtures the ceiling is done.
Mike let me choose the pattern. This one was a easy choice for me - I think it looks like a quilt.
The basement is very inviting now even to me and I NEVER go down there.
Mike got to work with help from his son and hung the braces. Some more help from the master electrician, brother-in-law Bill, who helped with all the electrical work (OK maybe Mike helped him with the electric). We now have switches at the bottom of the stairs and lights recessed in the ceiling to make the basement bright.
Mike and Bill hard at work.
A couple more days of fitting tiles and finishing the light fixtures the ceiling is done.
Mike let me choose the pattern. This one was a easy choice for me - I think it looks like a quilt.
The basement is very inviting now even to me and I NEVER go down there.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Baking Cookies
Some old traditions need to be repeated and remembered and baking Christmas cookies is one of them. Saturday Sharen and Mom came over to bake some Christmas cookies and spend some time together laughing and telling stories in my kitchen.
Sharen and I had made the dough for 2 kinds of cookies each on Friday so we were ready to bake. We both own Kitcheaides so it was very easy. I did miss using my old fashion mixing bowls though. I have 12 of them.
Mom's favorite cookie is 7 layer so she brought the mixing for it and that was the first pan of cookies in the oven. (I had the oven already preheated and ready to go when they got here at 9:00.
Sharen and Mom put the 7 layers together while I mixed the buttercream frosting fot the cutouts and thumb prints.
Carrie and Mathew showed up and we quickly put her to work.
Mike does what he does best and played trucks with the little one. Matthew loved all the trucks we had.
Cookies went into the oven and out for 2 hours. Some were sent to the garage for cooling down for the frosting - we were all kept pretty busy.
Mom got distracted for a minute - Helllooo Cookies! Focus Mother, Focus!
Bryan and Mary showed up and joined in the fun.
When Bryan and Mary were in Cleveland this summmer they visited the house where "A Christmas Story" (one of Bryan's favorite movies) was filmed. They brought me home a cookie cutter in the shape on a leg lamp.
Here it is decorated by Bryan.
Mother and her twins when all was done.
We had a great time together and more memories were made.
Sharen and I had made the dough for 2 kinds of cookies each on Friday so we were ready to bake. We both own Kitcheaides so it was very easy. I did miss using my old fashion mixing bowls though. I have 12 of them.
Mom's favorite cookie is 7 layer so she brought the mixing for it and that was the first pan of cookies in the oven. (I had the oven already preheated and ready to go when they got here at 9:00.
Sharen and Mom put the 7 layers together while I mixed the buttercream frosting fot the cutouts and thumb prints.
Carrie and Mathew showed up and we quickly put her to work.
Mike does what he does best and played trucks with the little one. Matthew loved all the trucks we had.
Cookies went into the oven and out for 2 hours. Some were sent to the garage for cooling down for the frosting - we were all kept pretty busy.
Mom got distracted for a minute - Helllooo Cookies! Focus Mother, Focus!
Bryan and Mary showed up and joined in the fun.
When Bryan and Mary were in Cleveland this summmer they visited the house where "A Christmas Story" (one of Bryan's favorite movies) was filmed. They brought me home a cookie cutter in the shape on a leg lamp.
Here it is decorated by Bryan.
Mother and her twins when all was done.
We had a great time together and more memories were made.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Making Presents
It has been pointed out to me that a correction is necessary to my last entry. I DO like to spend ungodly amounts of time shopping at JoAnne's and Menard's lawn center, but seriously that can't count as shopping.
I always find that if I can't find the right gift or something special, I end up making presents. Who doesn't like something homemade with love, right? Last year I made two quilts in the final week leading up to Christmas.
This year I knew that I was going to make some presents.
What I didn't realize is that it would be for someone else.
My friend Deanna wanted a bags game for her daughter who plays soccer at Judson University for a Christmas gift. Sewing the bags was the easy part - after a few days of painting I finally finished and can bring the game to bowling tonight and give it to her. I know she is going to love it. Not too bad if I do say so myself.
Now I can get back to sewing MY Christmas gifts.
I always find that if I can't find the right gift or something special, I end up making presents. Who doesn't like something homemade with love, right? Last year I made two quilts in the final week leading up to Christmas.
This year I knew that I was going to make some presents.
What I didn't realize is that it would be for someone else.
My friend Deanna wanted a bags game for her daughter who plays soccer at Judson University for a Christmas gift. Sewing the bags was the easy part - after a few days of painting I finally finished and can bring the game to bowling tonight and give it to her. I know she is going to love it. Not too bad if I do say so myself.
Now I can get back to sewing MY Christmas gifts.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Santa
I'm not a big fan of shopping. It is a little easier when I'm shopping for someone else though. So today I'm going out to try and put a dent in this list.
The line at the mall to see Santa was nuts. Those poor people!
Does anyone remember when you had a Santa in each department store? I think we had 4 to choose from in downtown Elgin when we were little. Ackemann's, Sears, JC Penneys, and Spiess.
Here I am with Sharen sitting on the lap of the Santa that sat at the bottom of the stairs in Joseph Spiess.
The line at the mall to see Santa was nuts. Those poor people!
Does anyone remember when you had a Santa in each department store? I think we had 4 to choose from in downtown Elgin when we were little. Ackemann's, Sears, JC Penneys, and Spiess.
Here I am with Sharen sitting on the lap of the Santa that sat at the bottom of the stairs in Joseph Spiess.
That's me on the right!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Wedding Planning Part I
I'm not sure how many trips there will be before August 14, 2010, but I'm hoping LOTS!
We had a great time on our first trip down to the Murphey's for some wedding planning. Lloyd and Maryellen were gracious hosts and opened their loving home full of family pictures to Mike and me.
We drove down on Friday and stayed with the Murphey's that night. Saturday morning after a wonderful breakfast Mary, her Mother and ME (I was so excited to be included) head out to a list of bridal shops to find the perfect wedding dress.
I promised my niece Carrie that I was going to be the perfect mother-in-law so I started out just standing back and taking pictures. That of course didn't last long and I was bringing dresses to Mary to try on. She looked amazing in them all - and I'm not just saying that - even a Mother of one of the other girls said so too.
Maryellen said very little. I'm pretty sure the whole experience was overwhelming for her.
I was going to post a picture right here, but she hasn't decided on THE dress and I didn't want to spoil it just in case.
Saturday afternoon we tasted the food at the banquet hall.
After deciding on a number for the reception Mary and Bryan signed on the dotted line, gave them a deposit, and booked the hall.
Mike and I stayed at the Days Inn across the street on Saturday night to check out the accommodations for the outa towners and then blocked some rooms for that weekend.
We met up with the Murphey's again at the church where Bryan and Mary will be married for mass Sunday morning. Mike and I both liked the church.
The girls headed out to David's Bridal to see more dresses. I wanted to see the dresses that Mary had tried on before and liked. So many decisions. Small Straps? Strapless? Halter? Silk? Taffeta? Satin? Lace? Plain? Beads? Empire waist? Mermaid? No Train? Cathedral Train? Long Veil? Lace Vail? Blush Vail? Full slip? Not to mention the colors. Ivory? Buff? Cream? Pearl? White? Yow!!!!
I told her the dress that she wants to leave on or the one that she wants to try on, again and again, is THE dress and I can't wait to find out which one she chooses.
We had a great time on our first trip down to the Murphey's for some wedding planning. Lloyd and Maryellen were gracious hosts and opened their loving home full of family pictures to Mike and me.
We drove down on Friday and stayed with the Murphey's that night. Saturday morning after a wonderful breakfast Mary, her Mother and ME (I was so excited to be included) head out to a list of bridal shops to find the perfect wedding dress.
I promised my niece Carrie that I was going to be the perfect mother-in-law so I started out just standing back and taking pictures. That of course didn't last long and I was bringing dresses to Mary to try on. She looked amazing in them all - and I'm not just saying that - even a Mother of one of the other girls said so too.
Maryellen said very little. I'm pretty sure the whole experience was overwhelming for her.
I was going to post a picture right here, but she hasn't decided on THE dress and I didn't want to spoil it just in case.
Saturday afternoon we tasted the food at the banquet hall.
After deciding on a number for the reception Mary and Bryan signed on the dotted line, gave them a deposit, and booked the hall.
Mike and I stayed at the Days Inn across the street on Saturday night to check out the accommodations for the outa towners and then blocked some rooms for that weekend.
We met up with the Murphey's again at the church where Bryan and Mary will be married for mass Sunday morning. Mike and I both liked the church.
The girls headed out to David's Bridal to see more dresses. I wanted to see the dresses that Mary had tried on before and liked. So many decisions. Small Straps? Strapless? Halter? Silk? Taffeta? Satin? Lace? Plain? Beads? Empire waist? Mermaid? No Train? Cathedral Train? Long Veil? Lace Vail? Blush Vail? Full slip? Not to mention the colors. Ivory? Buff? Cream? Pearl? White? Yow!!!!
I told her the dress that she wants to leave on or the one that she wants to try on, again and again, is THE dress and I can't wait to find out which one she chooses.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Been Busy
or maybe just lazy - but I haven 't been online for a week. (Doesn't help with unemployment. They like you to LOOK for work.)
Anyway I have been busy. The house is all decorated. I switched things up this year and moved some things around with a mixture of some of Dar's things thrown in here and there. Mike says the house looks good.
I love Christmas ornaments! I have a bunch and usually I rotate the bulb ornaments that we had on the tree when I was growing up and the ones that I collected or made through the years. This year I put them ALL on the tree. It took me awhile, but I had the time so here it is. I stopped counting at 200 ornaments.
I wanted very much to have some ornaments from Darlene, but last year when her and Keith were taking down the tree they decided that they weren't going to put it up anymore so they threw the tree out completely decorated, so she had no ornaments in her Christmas decorations.
She did have this cute little golfer, that is now guarding my golf tree in the family room.
She also had these tacky string of fake poinsettias that lit up - One I put on the mantle and the other is strung along the hot tub.
Anyway I have been busy. The house is all decorated. I switched things up this year and moved some things around with a mixture of some of Dar's things thrown in here and there. Mike says the house looks good.
I love Christmas ornaments! I have a bunch and usually I rotate the bulb ornaments that we had on the tree when I was growing up and the ones that I collected or made through the years. This year I put them ALL on the tree. It took me awhile, but I had the time so here it is. I stopped counting at 200 ornaments.
I wanted very much to have some ornaments from Darlene, but last year when her and Keith were taking down the tree they decided that they weren't going to put it up anymore so they threw the tree out completely decorated, so she had no ornaments in her Christmas decorations.
She did have this cute little golfer, that is now guarding my golf tree in the family room.
She also had these tacky string of fake poinsettias that lit up - One I put on the mantle and the other is strung along the hot tub.
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