Happy Birthday Griffin!

Today is Griffin's birthday! Yeah! I love Griffin's birthday. If he would let me, I think I would celebrate his birthday all week - and possibly all month. I love having the opportunity to celebrate the day he was born and tell him how much I love him.

This is kinda an old picture - but it is so adorable I had to post it. Happy Birthday Griff! I love you

Ugh. I am a Facebook user.

I finally broke down and joined Facebook. Neither Griffin nor I were ever on Facebook - and never thought we would be - but finally I had to face the fact that I was missing out on too much if I didn't just sign up.

So here I am. On Facebook and totally confused as to how to use it. Hopefully I will figure it out soon.

Dan & Bethany's Wedding - 1/2/2010

Last weekend Griffin and I attended my cousin Dan's wedding. It was a very beautiful downtown wedding. It was a great time. Bethany, the bride, was beautiful. The ceremony was sweet. The food was excellent. And the band that they hired helped in providing a very fun reception.

I wasn't able to get any pictures of the bride & groom, but we did get a couple good family shots.

Griffin & Kathleen

Sisters: Kathleen, Lauren & Meredith

Griffin & Kathleen

Griffin & Kathleen

Johnson family

Terry, Griffin, Ricky & my Dad

Johnson family

another family shot

Grandpa & Grandma Johnson

Christmas 2009 - part 2

Griffin and I were able to spend Christmas with both sides of the family. The 26th and 27th were spent with the Ewalds. Our trip down to Morton on Saturday morning was quite the adventure with all the snow but thankfully we made it safe and sound. It kept snowing non-stop the rest of the day but we didn't mind - we were together inside celebrating the holiday. We took a couple family photos and open up gifts. Sydney was too adorable for words. She received lots of princess items - games, toothbrush, shoes, dress, etc... She should be set for a while!

Then on Sunday we celebrated with the extended family. The snow didn't stop that day either but thankfully everyone made it safe again. We had an array of amazing soups to choose from at lunch and played another game of Left, Right, Center.

It was a busy Christmas for me & Griffin, but we had a wonderful time with all of our family.

The Ewalds - Christmas 2009

Sweet Sydney

Sydney with Grandpa Rudy and Grandma Paula

Marcus, Kathy & Sydney

Griffin & Kathleen

Sydney opening her Princess Memory game

Sydney checking out her sets of Princess dress-up shoes

Learning to walk in those heels with Mommy's help

Now walking like a pro all on her own

Grandpa & Grandma got Sydney Belle's dress from Beauty & The Beast - she loved it!!!

Aunt Rita showing off her new hat (although it is on inside out)

Aunt Anne showing off her new Snuggie

Griffin & Kathleen

A rising game of Left, Right, Center

Christmas 2009 - part 1

Griffin and I got to spend Christmas with both sides of the family. The first couple of days were spent with the Johnsons. We went to Meredith and Terry's house for Christmas Eve and had a wonderful time watching the boys open gifts. They are at that really fun age where they understand a little bit more about gifts and get really excited to tear through that wrapping paper. Matt had so much fun he wanted to open all wrapped presents - even if they weren't for him - but he is just so cute that you want to let him.

Griffin, my brother Ricky and I went in on a gift for the boys. We bought them a tool bench with tools and building materials. They seemed to really enjoy it (after Terry & Griffin spent about 20 minutes putting it together). Matt was hammering away at things and Jack was working with Terry to make different shapes.

Christmas day was very nice. We woke up early to go to Mass with my Dad and then came home and had a wonderful breakfast. The rest of the day was spent with family at my Aunt Mary & Uncle Greg's house.

Superman (aka: Jack) opening up some gifts

Jack & Matt figuring out the tool bench

Griffin helping Jack put the stickers on the tool bench. Matt still hammering away!

Matt really enjoyed the box that the tool bench was packaged in. He played with that box for a long time.

"yeah winter"

On December 22nd, 23rd and 24th we got a steady fall of snow in Milwaukee. Griffin had Christmas Eve off of work but I had to work that day. Here is an email that he sent me at work. I hope you catch the sarcasm. I know I did. :)

"SO...I literally just walked in and sat down on the couch to rest after shoveling the whole driveway. And within 2 minutes the plow went through and loaded up the end of driveway again. So back out to shoveling I go. Yeah winter."

Grandpa's 86th Birthday Party

We were able to celebrate my Grandpa's 86th birthday with a party at my uncle Ray & aunt Debbie's house. We played bingo, had some great food and my Grandpa got lots of Panera gift cards (his favorite place to enjoy a cup of coffee). Griffin enjoyed playing The Simpson's Pinball game with my nephew Matt.

playing some Pinball

family photo

Johnson family photo

Ornament Exchange

Some of us girls got together for an ornament exchange. We went out to dinner and then drew numbers for a grab bag exchange. It was a lot of fun and I got to take home a beautiful ornament for our tree. In next year's picture we'll have to hold up the ornament that we got to keep.

Thanksgiving 2009

This year's Thanksgiving was a busy one. We first celebrated with my side of the family on Thanksgiving day and also on Friday. The food, as usual, was extremely delicious. I don't know how my Mom does it - cooking for that many people! On Friday the boys came over for a visit since they didn't come over for Thanksgiving. Jack absolutely loves his Superman outfit and could not wait to show it off for us. I tried to get better pictures but he moves so fast in the outfit that it was hard to catch a good shot of him. Matt was feeling a little sick so we got some good cuddle time with him on the couch while watching a couple of his shows.

Then on Saturday and Sunday we celebrated Thanksgiving with the Ewalds at Marcus and Kathy's house. Also delicious food! Kathy made a butternut squash soup that was the best I ever had. We tried to take a family photo for the Christmas card but we're having a hard time getting Sydney to smile big for the picture. We realized later that all she wanted was to put on her "pretty" dress and once she got changed she was all smiles. We walked around Naperville a little seeing the decorations and checking out the land that will be the future home for Kathy, Marcus and Sydney - very exciting.

The holiday was busy, but very fun. We were so blessed to get to see both sides of the family. It worked out perfectly.

Superman

Matt & Griffin watching Bob the Builder

Griffin & Matt

Now Kathleen's turn to cuddle with Matt - poor little guy had a cough and a fever

Grandpa Rudy, Grandma Paula & Sydney

Trying to take the family photo while all wearing red - Sydney wanted her pretty dress on though

Another try......

Sydney all smiles now that she has her pretty dress on! And isn't she adorable!?!

Walking around the new neighborhood in Naperville

Sydney kissing the Christmas tree - she loved all the lights and ornaments