Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

I have had a truly wonderful Christmas this year! It was filled with lots of love and joy from around the country!

In Chicago we definitly have experienced a white Christmas! The pictures below show the view from my office window of the snow and wind that we have been enduring off and on the past few days. This was Dec. 23rd.

On Christmas Eve, we got up and started to shovel. Our cars had been completely blocked in by a wall of snow and ice. Since it had warmed up a bit, Ruben and I got out and cleared the area around our cars. Ruben, of course, works very hard at this! I only shoveled my car, but he shoveled his and my car both! He's so good! :)























I still had to work on Christmas Eve. It wasn't that exciting, and I ended up with out much to do, and no one with me at work. It kind of felt like a waste of time. After work, however, was when the festivities started and I couldn't wait. Ruben and I had plans to go see the play The Christmas Carol downtown at the Goodman Theatre. We decided, though, that since our good friend Sarah would be moving back to Texas on Jan 1, we would give her Rubens' ticket to see the play. It was really great! She's never been to that theater and it gave Sarah and I a really nice memory.











Before the play, I left work and walked around downtown. The pic here is of the Daley Palza. You can see the big Christmas tree and the Picasso scuplture as well as the nativity display. Chicago really is beautiful this time of year!











Here I am walking on my way to the Goodman. I have worked with a few actors that were in the play, and thought I would stop by early and leave them some cookies as well as pick up my tickets.





I made them some wreathe cookies made with Frosted Flakes and marshmellows.

Here are Sarah and I in the audience during the intermission.

Unfortunatly we were not able to take pictures of the beautiful production! Here Sarah is making her "HUMBUG" face at that fact! :)

There was no denying that it was a great play, and a wonderful way to start the Christmas festivites.

Afterwards, Sarah and I parted ways and I went home to open my presents with Ruben!
Canon is excited to see what we got from Mom in the big box. It turned out to be a portable washingmachine! Thanks Mom!



Ruben found some characters that matched the Snow Villiage! Aren't they sweet!

Here's my music playing gift bag from The Hills!

Thanks for the TomTom!

Ruben got me this great silk screen of Picasso.

He also gave me a couple of photos, one of me and Grannie on a road trip and one of canon as a baby. I also got 2 vintage watches! One from the '40s and one the '60s! They are very cool!

It was a really nice Christmas exchange!

Christmas Day!

Santa had come! Stockings are full!

Canon and Nikon were waiting patiently by their stockings until Sarah came over. :)

When Sarah arrived we ate a brunch of sausage egg casarole and pancakes! The pancakes were so good that they were gone before I could get a pic!

After opening our stockings, Sarah and I worked on a final touch for her two hats that she made for her mom and sister. She wanted to knit some flowers. I showed her a really easy pattern and we worked on it together.

Luckily I have the next three days off! I have some time to get ready for some up coming events, like, Rubens' recital and trip to Peru. I'm also taking a road trip to Houston to hang out with Mom during her recovery.

I'll keep you posted!