Round #2 Christmas with all the Iliinois SNOW!

 I'm dreaming of a White Christmas! Just a few days late!!!! 5in. of snow fell in Illinois! Yeah!!!!!!

 Lots of sledding done at Papa and G-ma Jan's house as well as at the Apple Farm!!!!!!

 Spending time playing w/ cousins and opening up Christmas exchange.......cool slime!

 Aunt Kaitlyn with her little angels, and Emily trying to get Aubrey to look at the camera :-)

 I guess Emily didn't have her "camera" smile ready for my shot of the Christmas icing cookies the girls made with G-ma Jan's help, while they were there at Papa and G-ma Jan's house.

 Here we are at the Skate Park for New Year's Eve!!!!! 3-2-1, Balloon drop!!!!!!!!!!!

 New Year's Eve at Kristin's house-lots of balloon fun!

Happy New Year 2018........may it be the best year yet! Full of Love, Peace, Hope and Joy.

2017 Christmas is here and.....

 Had to make Christmas cookies in time to let Santa have a few while stopping through :-)

The stage is set for Santa to come and enjoy some cookies and milk! Hailey is helping Emily write a note to him.

 Wow!  We enjoyed many smiles, and surprises under the tree. Meet our new animal friends, the BIG DOG(not named yet) and Penelope the Hippo :)

Emily was enjoying her new ribbon and wand-pose for the camera!!!!!!!!

We wanted to share this special picture of our sweet Autumn as she enjoyed laying down in front of the Christmas tree.  We put her to rest December 15th, as she was frail and had a stroke the night before. She was our pride and joy, and we miss her dearly, but we know she is in a happy place now.  Rest in Peace.
We hope everyone has found some Peace this holiday season, and taken a moment to appreciate all the gifts of love, happiness and innocence of the Christmas season.  It is a humble time, as we remember that Christ was sent to save us and make us whole again in God's eyes. Merry Christmas!!

Happy Halloween 2017

                      Happy Halloween!!!!!!!

                                                       SPOOOOOOKKKY!!!!!!!

                                   Cleopatra was the Queen of the evening at this school party :-)

                      Emily and friends...............

Hailey was a character from the Percy Jackson series of books.........Lots of candy and lots of spooky fun.........Happy Halloween!!!!!!

Florida Fall Trip-2017

                               A view from our deck at The Blueberry Cottage at Waterside Inn.........

 Great weather contributed to these photos-one in the daytime over the pool, and sunset! Beautiful!

                                        We enjoyed seeing the Shell Museum on the Island..........

 The shelling on Sanibel was AMAZING thanks in part, to Hurricane Erma that clipped Sanibel and Captiva Island-it caused only minimal damage w/ some down trees and some homes.  Glad it was not more destructive.

 Here is just a sample of the incredible shells that washed up on the beach this time-there were more conchs(live) to count, and it was just facinating to walk along the beach and see so many there! We promised we would leave all LIVE shells in their habitats and take only the empty ones :-) Hailey found a Lightening Welk, but had the mollusk in it, so we put it back.

                                        Shark's Eye, or Cat's Eye-whichever, it was pretty to find!

Thanks Sanibel for a wonderful time-we were truly blessed to see all the beauty it has to offer visitors!!! 

Hailey's Last Volleyball Game

 What a great job!  They won their last game of the season-and in the 3rd game-good fight to the finish!!!!!!!!!!!!

 As part of the last game, there was an 8th grade recognition ceremony, and then the JV girls gave their coaches some flowers and cards saying THANKYOU!!!!!!!!!

We had a great time this year getting to know the sport of Volleyball-we'll be back next year, hopefully to play varsity! Go Greenwaves!!!!!!!!!!!