Boxing Day

We don't really celebrate Boxing Day, but does sound so much more interesting than "The Day After Christmas!"  We headed to one of our favorite spots that is nice and close: The Marine Corps Museum!  First, we took advantage of the crazy weather and took Mimi and Bampa (and Daddy and Jackson, for that matter) for the walk along the trail by the museum to complete a Whereigo cartridge (a Whereigo is a type of cache that is an interactive scavenger hunt asking for information along the way leading you to the final ending spot).  Everyone enjoyed the beautiful walk and fun cache :)

Then, we headed inside and straight for the fishing area!

Check out that little face peeking over the top of the Jeep!

Not quite tall enough...

I think this captures their personalities PERFECTLY!

Christmas with Mimi and Bampa 2015

There was a nice visitor who took a picture of all of us :)

Reading one of his new books before the grown-ups escaped for one last dinner out together!  

Christmas 2015!

Merry Christmas morning!

Santa had to include a note with Jackson's Star Wars Lego, because he noticed Jackson already received last night the same Lego he had all ready to deliver to Jackson!  He promised to work out a switcheroo soon...

He also brought a special Lego box full of Lego minifigs...

...and UNO!

Santa brought Graham the Paw Patroller!!!

A fun gag gift from Larry: Abe Lincoln Chia Pet!

Santa brought Daddy an "Arrested Development" book

Our whole family got "Star Wars Trilogy 1-3" from Santa :)

Everest to ride in the Paw Patroller

The promise of more Alton Brown foods and an Alton Brown Dinner Party!

Mimi and Bampa's big present from us and Larry, Michelle and Madelyn: our favorite picture from our November photo shoot made into a canvas!

Dad's present for Mom was a puzzle that when assembled showed a map of Chicago with various activities highlighted--this is a staycation trip to celebrate their 40th anniversary this year!!!

In the midst of opening presents, we enjoyed a yummy brunch and continued on to our tradition of Chinese food for dinner and a movie date with Mom after that!

As always, we LOVED having special visitors for Christmas and enjoying lots of our favorite things together :)

"Star Wars" and Christmas Eve

Two VERY excited boys to go see the new "Star Wars" movie...in 3D!!!  I was there too :)  Graham hung with Mimi and Bampa while we went to the movies.  It was SO good, and Jackson just loved the whole thing :)

Graham and Jackson helped Josh make Grandpa Ronnie's special fudge recipe :)

We opened presents from some long-distance cousins before naptime on Christmas Eve :)

Graham was quite pleased with his pile of presents

I can't believe I didn't take any pictures of our dinner!  We made a delicious dinner and invited Jason, Teresa, Jackie, Katey and Izzy to join us.  It was a really fun night of good food and friends :)

Meadowlark Walk of LIghts

For the past few years, I have heard really good things about Meadowlark's Winter Walk of Lights during the holiday season.  We decided to try it out this year!  It was a super fun evening as an early Christmas present for my mom, and we went to dinner first at one of our favorite restaurants, SweetWater Tavern.

I think we all oohed and aahed as we walked outside into the gardens.  It was a true wonderland of lights!

We know three of those carolers ;)

SO FUN!

We had awesome seats to watch this great lightshow!  There were lots of Adirondack chairs lined up on the lawn, so we got comfy and enjoyed the show :)

One Graham a-dancing!

These two had the best time copying the lit-up animals!

Bampa got in on this one too!  I think it was a frog?

Jackson loves nutcrackers, so he had to post like one!

We all had an amazing time trying out something new, and this outing will be added to our regular list next year :)