Bradley Braves

Sunday the Ewalds took Griffin and me to the Bradley vs. SIU basketball game.  It was my first Bradley game at the Civic Center.  It was a great game and Bradley came out with a huge win.

Paula, Kathleen, Griffin and Rudy

Adorable Babies and Dear Friends

Our Christmas weekend in Morton was jam packed.   There were so many friends and family that we wanted to see but just not enough time.   Thankfully we did get to see the Parkers for a little bit on Saturday night and the Keens for a little bit on Sunday.   The Parkers were visiting all the way from their home in AUSTRALIA so we knew we couldn't miss this chance to see them.   

Kate, Maeve and Kathleen

Maeve Parker and me

me, Jim Parker and the Parker's awesome popcorn machine!   Popcorn is my favorite snack and Jim Parker is my new favorite person for making me an unbelievable fresh batch of popped popcorn.   Thanks Jim Parker!!!

Griffin and Moses

Eric and Moses Keen

Moses Keen

A Sur and Ewald Christmas Celebration

Saturday Rudy and Paula hosted the extended family for a Christmas celebration.  There was so much great food - soups, snacks and delicious desserts....lots and lots of desserts!  We had a great day laughing together and playing many games.  Here are a few of the many pictures I took that day.

The Sur and Ewald families enjoying soups galore!

Aunt Lisa, Aunt Linda and Aunt Rita

Stacey and Aunt Deb

Aunt Rita and Griffin

Christmas with the Ewalds

We celebrated Christmas with the Ewald's on the 26th.   It wasn't the same without Sydney and Kathy, but we still had a real nice time together.  We had a great dinner, opened gifts and then spent the next couple hours playing games in true Ewald fashion.

Kathleen, Griffin, Marcus, Paula and Rudy

Griffin, Marcus and Kathleen

Griffin and Kathleen

Rudy and Paula

Fog and Canceled Flights

Griffin and I spent the first couple days of Christmas with my side of the family and the last couple of days with his side.   We had big plans for a full weekend together, but sadly the weather had different plans.   While Marcus, Rudy, Paula, Griffin and I were in Morton - Kathy and Sydney were in Michigan.  Their flight on the 26th to Peoria, IL got cancelled due to weather and there weren't going to be any other flights that weekend.  We were all very sad and disappointed, but we all cheered up when Rudy went out to the store to buy a video camera so we could see Kathy and Sydney via web cam!   It was great to see and hear them through the computer - we are so thankful for Skype!   

Since I don't have any pictures of Sydney opening gifts with us on Christmas - I asked Marcus if I could use a couple from their Christmas in Michigan.  Here are a couple shots of Sydney below with Kathy's side of the family.  

Kathy and Sydney at the Bacon's house (Kathy's sister and brother-in-law)

Sydney opening Christmas gifts

Marcus, Kathy and Sydney

A Rockin' Christmas

Christmas Eve was spent at Meredith (my sister) and Terry's house.  We had a great time with just our immediate family spending the evening together.  We had a fabulous dinner and enjoyed watching Matt and Jack open gifts.   Jack is just getting to the age where he is starting to understand Santa and presents.   He was very excited and was happy to leave out milk and cookies for Santa.   Once the kids went to bed we opened more gifts and then watched some old home movies.  It was neat to see videos of Christmas where Ricky (my brother) and I were the ages of Matt and Jack.   So many fun memories.

Sadly I don't have any pictures from Christmas Eve but I do have lots of pictures from Christmas day.   Christmas day was spent at my Aunt Mary and Uncle Greg's house.   There was more great food and a fun grab bag game, but the highlight was the family playing Rock Band.   Almost everyone was brave enough to take a turn at it.  We had a singer, drummer and a guitarist.   I just wish I had taken some videos too - it was hilarious!   

 

My cousin Dan and me 

My cousins Chris and Kevin.   My Aunt Debbie

My brother Ricky

Griffin on drums and my brother Ricky on guitar

My cousin Dan with my Grandpa and Grandma

The Ewalds

Aunt Mary, Grandma, me, my Mom, Aunt Debbie

Grandpa's 85th Birthday Party!

Today we celebrated my Granpda's 85th birthday at my Aunt Debbie and Uncle Ray's house.  We had a great time playing games, talking, and enjoying fabulous food and desserts!  We can't wait to see everyone again on Christmas.    

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Grandpa, Aunt Debbie and Grandma

The peppermint frosted birthday cake that my Mom made for Grandpa's birthday

Griffin and Terry

Jack playing Golden Tee

Griffin playing Simpson's Pinball

Matt playing at the pool table

Da Bears!

Yesterday Griffin and I went down to Chicago for the Bears game.  It was extremely cold, but very fun.   We got the tickets as a wedding gift and it was perfect timing since we just had our 3 month anniversary.   

I wanted to take some pictures of us at the game but it was just too cold.   I had on 3 pairs of socks, 5 pairs of pants/leggings, 4 shirts/sweaters, 2 scarves, 2 jackets, 3 pairs of gloves, 2 hats and a blanket!   So the only picture I have from the day is of the mug that my hot chocolate came in that Griffin so sweetly bought for me.    

GO BEARS!

No more Chandler Bing!....well almost

If you have ever seen the TV show "Friends" and you have met my husband - you'll know that Chandler and Griffin are sometimes very much alike.   They are both funny, witty, smart and charming.  Neither one likes the Thanksgiving meal and both have Foosball tables instead of a real eating table.  Well today that all changed!   Well, not all of it but the Foosball table part did.    

The Foosball table was ceremoniously moved down to the basement and we have a brand new beautiful dining room table in our dining room.   I am sure every once in awhile we'll miss having the Foosball table in there - but the room does look so much better with a real table.  This will be a table that we will have forever.  It will grow old with us.  We can't wait to host dinner parties and family dinners....this table will be well used.  (Although not yet - I am too afraid to bring any food or liquid anywhere near it yet!)     :)

Here are some pictures of the table, although it looks much better in person!

A shot of the side chairs

A shot of one of the two end chairs

Decorating for Christmas

Yesterday Griffin and I spent the evening decorating the house for Christmas.  We put on a Christmas movie, put the tree together and enjoyed watching the snow fall outside.    Our Christmas tree has a couple new ornaments this year and it is so exciting to watch our collection grow.  Every year we decorate the tree it is a chance to remember - each ornament is a memory.  We have some from college, some from vacations, some from family and friends and some that we purchased together.   I love to see our ornament collection grow.

Our Willow Tree nativity

Trying to get a picture of the tree with the lights turned on

Our Christmas tree

One of our first "The Ewalds" ornament - from my sister Meredith

Thanksgiving

Griffin and I spent Thanksgiving with family in Chicago.   It was a busy couple of days - but full of fun, family and GREAT food.   Thursday we spent the day with my family at my parents' house.   My mom has made Thanksgiving dinner every year for as long as I can remember.   This year she cooked two turkeys, tons of potatoes, stuffing, gravy, and everything else you can imagine.   She prepares for weeks for this one day and the end result is certainly a reflection of all that hard work.  Then Saturday we went to Marcus and Kathy's house to spend Thanksgiving with Griffin's family.     Kathy did a fabulous job with the meal.   I ate until I was full and then ate some more.   The food was so good it was hard to stop eating.

Our nephews and niece were their usual cute selves.   Below are some pictures from the weekend.

Matt "cooking"

Jack

Griffin and Kathleen

Sydney enjoying pita chips and dip

Sydney and her grandma Paula