Then sledding

Nice conditions at Humboldt Park. Light snow and temps in the upper twenties. The quad set the distance record. Natalie took her first runs alone and LOVED it (two thumbs up!). Elliot was even nice enough to haul her back up the hill at the end of the day. Grandma Bonnie got some sweet runs in too.

Christmas Eve

Bean and Bonnie joined us for fun today. We started with cookie making. Decorating went well with sprinkles all over the floor and mouths filled with red dye number two.

Round two was marshmellow holly wreaths made with corn flakes. This is a classic midwestern dish handed down from Great Grandma Maxine. Let's just say they taste a lot better than they sound.

Santa at the grocery store

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Last minute blind folded Xmas shopping with the kids.
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Glitter!!

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Princess play date

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Excitement at the museum of science and industry

Zoe is a blur of enthusiasm
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Crazy Saturday

First, we (the fam + Bonnie, Larry and Sue) hit the Winter Pagent at Redmoon. The kids sat on their own down in front. After the show, E. B. led the charge to invade the stage and mess with the props.

After that show, we headed to Elliot's first piano recital. It was held at the Gorilla Tango Theater which was pretty cool.

After a terrific, nuanced (at least according to his grandmothers) performance, the whole crew (along with Zoe, Amy and Tim) headed over to Margie's Candies for sundaes. They were epic.

After that came an early Christmas gift exchange and pizzafest since Larry and Sue are headed to Montana on Tuesday.

What a day!

New additions

We got a new electric piano. It turns out D. D. Kitty is interested in learning too.

Also, the Hahns sent over a sweet incense burner from Germany. The Smoking Man was a big holiday hit right out of the box.

Natalie as a Norwegian princess

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First game of pinball at Rainbo holiday party

Ms. Wang reading in Chinese

Christmas approaches

Got the tree, trimmed it, and put up the outside lights today.

Today's snow looks pretty sweet.

Dad's birthday

Jules and Mom brought the late 1970s/early 1980s to our house on Wednesday night. Beef fondue with dipping sauces made from Heinz 57 sauce, ketchup and other things adults seldom eat any more. It was a ton of fun.

Elliot loved it while Nata opted for a warm hot dog.

The Leaper

This will have to end soon. The boy feels like he's made of stone lately.

The Holiday Season continues to ramp up.

Cruised downtown to enjoy sunny, slightly less cold weather. Hit the Christkindlmarket. Then headed over to Millennium Park and the Modern wing of the Art Institute.

We ended the adventure with a stop at La Pasadita for tacos.

Highlights: our thermos of hot chocolate, horsies, getting to look out of the front window of the El train headed downtown.

Thanksgiving #2 - Chez Schuerr

Nata helped Grandma Sue make cranberry relish. Then, the cousins and their kids came over. It was a fun crazy zoo.

Elliot had his first pistachio, Cool Whip, Jello salad. It was HUGE hit. Nata, as always, crushed the ham.

The basement was home to lots of art projects, soccer games, foosball matches, etc. Fiddler on the Roof was sung and Elliot made his musical debut playing a couple of songs in the traditional family performance-fest that is Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanksgiving

It ends with the traditional Feats of Strength contest pitting E.B. against Grandpa.

Nata's First School pic

Some shoddy Photoshop work by Dad and the photo company's watermark vanishes (sort of).

Natter Batter takes a mean pic regardless.

Nov thunderstorms.

Cats at Wrigley

The game went badly but the event was awesome. We brought the kids to check out some of the pre-game stuff. Then Grandma Bonnie took them and we got to hang out with adults (sort of) for 10 straight hours.

Lots of friends came in from all over the country. Fun.

Go cats!

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Elliot school pic

Not sure what happened with Natalie's school picture. The boy looks sharp though.

Garfield park - new path

Zoo goofs

Lincoln Park Zoo. We've missed you.

More smores

Owie and Sue got the soccer Saturday indoctrination today. We finished up the day with smores in the back garden.

The Schuerrs are PI boosters too!