that weird time inbetween...

christmas and new years... i never know what the date is... the 20something of december... one holiday gone another one just around the corner...

we've been busy- we visited navy pier's winter wonderfest and was pleasantly surprised at the amount of people there (not as many as I thought) and the behavior of my children. jack had a great time on all the rides and inflatables. charlie had a great time people watching and getting himself into all kinds of small spaces... if it weren't for the insane $23.00 parking price tag, the $15.00 for unlimited rides isn't a bad deal. we also ate at mcdonald's and brought our own snacks, so that eliminated us spending $30 on a hot dog.

we went to ikea on thursday and used some christmas money (thanks grandpa art!) and bought me a new desk system for my scrapbook/craft/office area!! yeah! we're planning on using our time next week off before my surgery to put it together, rearrange and paint. yippee! the link for the desk is an example- we modified it a bit and put a spot in there for a computer. i can't wait. i am so impatient.

today we are just hanging around the house, playing in the snow, taking down christmas decorations, grocery shopping... all that good stuff.

christmas day was very nice! santa was good to all of us... if jack had only gotten a smart cycle, a hot wheels track and the belt that came with the pants my dad sent him, he would been a happy camper. and charlie would completely thrilled with 4 rubber balls he opened. next year we're going to tell santa to be choosier in his gifts and send less!
me? i love my new mixer, purse from MomofTwoBoys.com, new Tervis Tumblers with Lobsters on them....and my iTrip so I can listen to my iPod in the car and it'll charge simulatneously. Mike's parents were very generous and gave us a new digital video camera! we were still working on an analog version and it was so cumbersome to digitize the video and upload it... but now it'll be a breeze and it's so light that it won't be a drag to carry around with us.... so cool. so lucky we are.
i think mike enjoyed his gifts too- he got an epoxy kit to redo the floor of the garage and a shop vac- two things he really has been wanting!

enjoy some pictures from the last couple weeks...

Jack on his Smart Cycle!


Jack, with his "shirt like my dad" and "belt like my dad" (belt/pants courtesy of Grandpa Ryan)


Charlie, looking so grown up in the outfit my dad sent him for Christmas


A cake I did for someone at Mike's work for this weekend- fun!