Chicago

The weekend before Christmas we ventured into the city for the first time.  I figured that Chicago was sure to have an awesome light display.  Public Square in Cleveland always looks so nice with all the light displays that a city as big as Chicago would be incredible.  The lack of light was somewhat of a disappointment, but the day was not a disappointment.  Mostly because we did something I have always wanted to do. (you'll just have to wait and see what that was).

We decided that with the cost of parking and gas it would be almost as cheap to ride the train in and much more relaxing, especially given the busy time of year.  When we woke up to the first snow of the year, Jared was glad he didn't have to drive in it.  It wasn't a lot but sometimes thats more dangerous because people aren't careful.  On the way to the train station, we saw several cars in ditches.

We were lucky to get seats with 2 rows of 3 facing each other both on the way there and back.  Especially since the trains were full and some families had to be separated.  It was a really long train ride though.  Over an hour and a half each way due to all the stops.  Jacob was convinced we were on the polar express and wouldn't believe otherwise.  "But mom, its the same color.."  "Look mom that guy has on a conductor hat and he is punching tickets".  Half way through the trip he leaned back and sighed. "It sure is taking them a long time to bring the hot chocolate!"  ( my kids have a hot chocolate obessions if you haven't guessed by now).   One of the girls asked when our stop was.   I told them Jacob didn't believe it wasn't the polar express so we thought we ride it to the end and see if we ended up in the North Pole.   The look on their face was priceless.   What they didn't know was it was the NW Indiana train and the last stop was the stop at Memorial Park station (where we wanted to be anyway).

As the day progressed, the streets and sidewalks were wet and the girls and I learned that although our brown boots may look cute and stylish, they are NOT waterproof.  We thought our toes would break off.  We actually considered buying handwarmers at a downtown walgreens to stick on our boots.

We saw the Macey's window displays and the giant indoor tree.  We also tried to go to the Kristkindlemart (I'm sure I spelled that wrong).  It is an outdoor German market.  There were food stands as well as handmade crafts and ornaments.  Everything looked so beautiful.  But is was packed!!  We could barely move and had to form a chain holding on to the coat of the person in front of us.  I don't know if it was because it was around lunch, if it was because it was the week before Christmas or if it is always that busy.  It was making me nervous with the kids.  And about 90% of the people walking around were drinking beer.  We didn't get to stay long and I barely caught a glimpse of the beautiful ornaments.

Next we headed to my favorite part of the trip.  Memorial park, home of the famous Bean sculpture, but more importantly, the outdoor skating rink!!!  We waited in a long line, but it was sooo worth it.  Every so often they clear the rink to smooth it.  After they finished before they let us back on, a figure skating group performed.  The girls were entranced.   Everyone did really well.  Jacob did great for being 4 and never having ice skated before.  However, he was not found of falling on the ice.  (when we went roller skating with the YMCA the other day he said he didn't want to go because he didn't feel like getting wet cold pants.  I assured him that didn't happen in rollerskating)

We ate a midday meal at subway downtown.  While Jared was ordering this homeless man that seemed to have lost his mind sat a the table next to ours and kept muttering things that made no sense while staring at us.  It pretty much unnerved me and the kids were freaked out.  We were glad when Jared came back and he left!  The girls loved this sculpture that kept chaning colors.  The made me take a ton of pictures while they posed.

All I can say is um...ok...

Jacob fell asleep on Jared while we were walking back to the train station.

Say what??

I forgot this in my post on Thanksigiving.   Part of our old tradition was all of the cousins getting their picture taken wit Santa.  This is one part that I have not continued.  My kids have seen Santa enough times at church and school each year, as well as personal visits to our home when we lived in Illinois, that I do not see fit to pay an outrageous amount of money on a photo.  My cousin still holds true to this tradition though.  We waited for Santa to get back from his break so Leilani could get her picture taken with Santa.  My kids decided to sit on his lap even though I wasn't getting a picture.

Items asked for between the four of them included: a laptop, a cell phone, an I-pod touch, and a DS among other things.  Even Santa had big eyes.  I think he actually felt really sorry for Jared and I.  He was nice even to explain that he would take their requests under consideration but he and the elves had some other ideas too.  Phew!!!  I knew we were going to have some disappointed kids on Christmas morning.

I love the Santa at Crocker Park, he is the real deal.  Every year he also tells my kids that the need to be better at getting along.  They need to fight less and listen to mom more. This year, he told them when they fight mom loses, and that disappoints him.   LOVE that Santa!!!!!

Christmas Tree

We went on our own tree hunting excursion the weekend following Thanksgiving.  We found a place nearby that seemed similar to our beloved Wilcox farms.  You drove out to the trees instead taking a wagon, but they did have horse carriage rides around the farm for free as well as hot chocolate (also free).   Santa even was visiting the farm so we got to see him again.  We had to make sure we picked a small (skinny) tree since our house is so much smaller this year.  It was a challenge to find a skinny tree that wasn't also short and that didn't have bare spots.  The challenge is half the fun though and we were successful in our quest.  

Sport of all Sorts

Jacob was in a 6 week Sports class at the YMCA from October to December.  He really enjoyed it.  The class was too small for them to break into teams and play but it made for some good one on one learning.  Jacob was really looking forward to basketball so it figures they learned that the week he was in Ohio.  Here are some pictures from flag football week.

Thanksgiving

We went to my parents' house for Thanksgiving.  It was a crazy but fun weekend.  We pulled the kids out of school at lunch so we could avoid the bad Wednesday evening traffic. Tonya and her family had arrived on Tuesday.  Martin was supposed to come but Jenny ended up in the hospital with complications from her gull bladder surgery so they did not make it.  My parents had come to Indiana for grandparents day a week and hald before and had taken Jacob home with them.  He was supposed to get one on one playtime with baby Keltin (Martin's son) since they were coming a week early.  Needless to say we had one very disappointed boy on our hands.  Mom and Dad had been counting on Martin and Jenny being around to watch Jacob while they worked.  Jacob got to spend a day at his friend Tyler's house.  Tyler had lived in our ward in Illinois and moved to the Cleveland area when we moved to Indiana.  My Aunt Karen and her family also came.   We had a fun full house and some crazy fun!   On Thursday Aunt Judy, Uncle Wayne, and my three cousins anad their families came for the day.  Its our tradition.  Growing up we would always meet at Grandma's for Thanksgiving and going shopping on Black Friday.  Our trip always included eating a hotdog place.  I was a brat and would through a major fit about this.  Afterall I was a teenage girl and hotdogs were not cool or healthy.  I would insist that they let me stop and buy a sub on the way.  As the grandchildren grew older and moved away the tradition gradually died off.
Asha lives in Pittsburg now and hosts Thanksgiving for her family.  Several years after Grandma passed away a new tradition was born.  Friday morning the Persauds wake up and drive the two hours to Cleveland.  And what do we do?  You guessed it, we shop and eat hotdogs.  Even last year, I refused to the hotdog and ordered their veggie burger instead.  It left a lot to be desired so this year I decided my revolt had gone on long enough.  I ate two hotdogs!!  We had incredible weather this year.  We spent the day at Crocker Park and even got to see Santa and ride a "train".  The train was really more of a tram but the little boys enjoyed it.  Its always sad when the day draws to a close and the Persaud clan files back in their rented van.  Special thanks to Asha's husband Shane who kindly drives the full sized van.  I know its probably not his vehicle of choice but it keeps them from needing two vehicles.  And somehow he manages to still look cool driving it.
Saturday we made our annual trek to the Wilcox Tree Farm to get mom and dad's tree.  Aunt Karen and family came with us.  I think we took 17 people to go cut down one tree.  We all had a great time and enjoyed the wagon ride and free hot chocolate.  Afterwards, all the local relatives joined us for game day.  I got a call later in the day from Nicholas.  They had spent Thanksgiving in Michigan with some old friends.  They had bad weather on the way out that made for a long trip.  He wanted to break up the return trip and called to say they'd be coming to my parents later that night.

The cousins were thrilled to see Weston.  This is all of them except Keltin....but we look forward to the arrival of Nicole in April!

Before heading home on Sunday, the kids got to decorate the tree

Our family at the tree in Crocker Park

Jacob and Mason (6 months apart in age)

The Persauds stopped at a coffee stand in Crocker Park.  My girls saw they also had hot chocolate and used their own money to buy some.  They thought they looke so cool with their cups of cocoa

I thought I had some pictures of our tree hunting expedition with the Sass family but can't seem to find them.

New calling

So much for thinking that life was going to slow down.  Why do we even fool ourselves into thinking that will ever happen, it never does.  I know I promised I would do better at blogging after the new year, but I had no idea I was going to get a new calling.  When we moved to this ward, I was called as a primary teacher.  About three months later I was released and called to be the primary chorister.  That seemed scary and overwhelming at first, but I LOVED it.  Seriously, its the best calling ever!!!!!   But, unfortunately for me, I barely had the calling for two months.  Mid January I was yet again released and this time I was called to be the Primary President.  But, we still do not have a new chorister so I've been pulling double duty.  Hopefully, that will not last much longer.  Although I was really sad to be released as the chorister after such a short time, I know I needed to have that calling before being called as president.  I've done just about everything else in primary but was always intimidated by the idea of teaching the songs to the children.   If a chorister had called oof sick last minute it probably would have caused a major anxiety attack.  Now, however, I will look forward to getting to help with music once in awhile.