Merry Christmas from Chicago!

We drove in at 2 am to Chicago - it was totally worth seeing the girls' faces!
We exchanged gifts, played play-dough, sang Christmas carols, Emily played piano, and read books.  It's been a relaxing day.

Merry Christmas from Lake Zurich!

Merry Christmas from Pete, Emily, Alaina, and Addie. While this tree may be a bit undersized in comparison to the massive window we have in our living room, we have a special place in our hearts for what is affectionately called "the Charlie Brown tree". It is the tree that Pete and I bought our first Christmas together when we lived downtown. We have talked about replacing it, but can't seem to find anything we like more :)
We can't wait to see many of you when we visit the UP the day after Christmas! Much love and many Christmas blessings to you all!

Drumstick Dash

This year there will be a large number of us running & walking the Drumstick Dash!

The race benefits Wheeler Missions which helps to feed those who are hungry in Indianapolis.

Happy Thanksgiving To Everyone!

Our Anniversary Dinner

We were given a very generous gift from our parents and my Gram and Poppy for our 3rd anniversary this week- a babysitter and a night out! Pete and I were so excited for a chance to have a date!

Pete found a beautiful restaurant only a few minutes away called Barrington Country Bistro. We had a great babysitter come over and off we went (dressed up too...haha). BCB has an amazingly fresh menu with most of the ingredients coming from very local farms.

After deciding what we were ordering, we had a beautiful bottle of Castle Rock Pinot Noir. Our appetizer was a wild boar sausage with black trumpet mushrooms and a date-mustard sauce. It was so flavorful, and I wish I hadn't sent the bread basket back because we both wanted to get the last little bit of sauce :)

Pete picked a "salade lyonnaise" with arugula, endive, a poached egg, lardons, fresh croutons, and a warm shallot-bacon vinaigrette. I had a bean medley with baby field greens, amazing parmesan, and a beurre noisette vinaigrette.

Hungry yet? ;)

For our main dish, I decided on a venison leg filet accompanied by braised leeks, chestnuts, and a blueberry reduction sauce. Pete had beef cheeks with a parnsip puree. If you haven't had beef cheeks before (I had not before last night) you should try it if you get a chance! It was such a tender, and flavorful, piece of meat.

I am who I am....so we got dessert!

A very thin apple tart with fresh vanilla ice cream and caramel was the perfect end to our meal.

Ahhh....I can't wait to go back to BCB!

Love you all!
Emily Ann

Christmas - An All Day Affair

We began early and ended late.  The girls were up by 7 (late I know for some kids but early enough for me).  Alaina was so excited she didn't know what to do.  Santa had been to our house and left two giant bags of presents for each of the girls; they had been good this year - listening and obeying their parents, using their manners, and tinkling in the potty!!

Alaina loved her new kaleidoscope

Ms. Addie discovered she loves peppermint!

We enjoyed giving and receiving presents.  Ooohhh la la - new cowgirl boots for me!  Dad is dawning his new running jacket.  I love his smile - Addie Jane has the same exact smile! 

Tender moments between Emily Ann and Addie Jane (and Lilly the frog too!).

Alaina playing with Angelina Ballerina.

 Amazing wrapping job. Dad was surprised that we gave him the helicopter he had his eye on!

Alaina was playing with her new kitchen pot on her own in the kitchen.  When we looked in on her she had on Papa's hat.  It was so darling.  We asked her what she was doing and she said, "I'm Papa-Man!".

Pete and Emily Ann laughing hysterically at "Papa-Man"

Mom was busy as a bee all day - cleaning up wrapping paper, handing out gifts, and lovin' on the girls!

Christmas Eve

(Double Click to Enlarge)

Playing with Blocks
Dinner at Picanos
A Visit with Steve
Haute Chocolate Pots
Church at Genesis
Visiting with Family

Dimples

Oh she is so sweet.
We had a great time visiting this weekend.
Lots more pictures to come. Soon.
But for now - I'm pooped!

Happy Birthday Pete & Joy

I agree with Debbie - Happy BIrthday - Much Love to both of you.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Joy and Peter, Happy Birthday to you. Wishing you both a geat day for two great people.

Love, Debbie

Tender Moments

Memorial Weekend in Indianapolis

(Alaina's monkey cupcake) 

This just in from the news desk.  Pete, Emily Ann, Alaina, and Addison are having a great time this weekend in Indianapolis with Emily's Parents.  Pete and Paul (Donnelson) are at the races and the ladies are at home whipping up some of their own fun.  Here are some pictures of the girls!

As A Bee

This past week was busy. 

The trainer at LA Fitness worked me a bit too hard this week and I could hardly move my legs.  My quads are still cramping up from all of the lunges.  Literally.  I think that I am going to try a new trainer.  I can't work out so hard that I have to wait more than a week to workout again.

School was busy preparing for finals next week.  The end and start of a semester is always a bit hectic.  Kids start to panic because their grades are about to be final.  BHS also had the variety show this week and I sang Blackbird by the Beatles with one of my colleagues,  Margine.  It was a hoot.   Before the show one of my favorite former students stopped by.  She is headed to London for several months in a travel abroad program.  I'm really proud of her.  She is going to really spread her wings there.  SS - if you are reading this - know that I really mean it - I am proud of you. 

Me & Margine  (Love that Guitar)

SS & Me

We had a late night rehearsal on Thursday for the upcoming live worship recording.  It was a lot of fun.  It's always really hard for me to get to sleep after rehearsal - my adrenaline is really pumping - so I was up tooooooo late on a school night. 

Friday evening I headed back to Chicago to see the Sweet PEAA's!   I have been enjoying my time just holding Addison (she's a snuggler) and playing with Alaina.  Emily Ann is really recovering well and both Pete and Emily are really loving their time with Addy.  We went house hunting today in Lake Zurich but it was a bust.  I forgot how tiring house hunting is.  It's surprising to see what is out there on the market.  Pete and Emily could use your prayers to find a house that is "perfect for them"!

Here are a couple of shots - not a lot of pictures from today as we were house hunting.  Hope to rev up my camera tomorrow before I leave.

Three Beautiful Girls

Emily Ann,
How is little Addison doing? Is she a good sleeper? What is her favorite activity? How do she and Alaina relate to each other? And.....how are you feeling? Hopefully, everything is going well. Pete, you must feel like a million surrounded by three beautiful girls. We are thinking about all of you. Love, Carol

Motherhood

I just ran across a whole batch of photos that I mysteriously missed the first time.  I am so glad that I found this one!

What an amazing week!

I wanted to thank you all for your prayers the last few months for my health and Addison's as well. We could not have made it to 39 weeks without the help of our family! Pete and I feel so blessed that we were given such gifts of love and time away from husbands/work/etc.

Addison is just a picture of health and we could not be happier that our family is finally together after much anticipation. Alaina is adjusting to her new role as "big sister" very well, and likes to tell everyone which things around the house belong to Addy.

A big "thank you" to Emily and Paul for supplying lots of Nana time since Thanksgiving. Also, to Tracy who was "sick" enough to come visit for the birth and to take beautiful pictures to capture the moments together. It is always nice to have Aunt CC around--Alaina gets so excited.

My mom is staying with us this week while Pete gets back to work. The week following my sister is bringing up her computer and will work from our house so that I have help with Alaina. The last week of January, Pete will stay home from work again to give me one more week of healing before I have to try this by myself.

I am feeling better everyday regarding the pain, but still get tired very easily. I'm doing my best to help out with Addison and interact with Alaina without picking her up. That's been difficult on both of us since she doesn't understand why I can't lift her and I want desperately to be active in her day.

Please pray for continued healing, that we continue to have showings on the house, and that we are able to convey to everyone just how grateful we are for the amazing love they show us everyday. Sometimes in families such as ours, where the bonds are so strong, we forget that not everyone is so blessed.

Thank you to everyone again.
Love you all dearly.
Emily Ann

Take hold of my right hand

Before Emily Ann went in for surgery I felt compelled to share this verse with her.  I wrote it on a little piece of paper for her to take with her to the hospital.  A few days later my friend Mary Grace posted the same verse on her facebook page the day she went in to be induced.  She delivered a healthy baby boy.  Then, we prayed this verse for one of our clients who is losing her house to foreclosure, has 2 small children and a disabled mother.  Anyhow, with the verse "coming up" so often - I thought it might be an encouragement to you too!

Isaiah 41:13
For I am the LORD, your God,
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.

Dad, You Woke Me Up!

It has been such a pleasure to watch my younger brother grow up to be a dad.  Pete was always a bit on the wild side - he loves adventure.  As a kid if Pete was given the choice between safety and adventure he would always choose adventure.  Now that he has a family I know he makes the best decisions for his wonderful wife and perfectly precious girls.  However, he still doesn't mind the adventure of waking up his girls in the middle of a siesta.  Here's a picture to show you how Addison already feels about this!
Double click on this photo to see it up close!

The First Time I Ever Saw Your Eyes

Beauties

Emily Ann was really amazing.  By the end of the evening she was up for short spurts moving around.  Alaina was able to lay next to her on her bed for a little snuggle time and a round of "Row Row Row your boat"!  Everytime Alaina saw a picture of her Mama she would say "I love you"! 

Emily looks stunning even post surgery.  With her permission I am posting this picture!  Believe me, there are many more very beautiful pictures of Em and Addy!

Mom, Dad, and Addy's First Pictures

Straight from Pete's cell phone.

Aren't these two ladies lovely?

Good thing Pete has two pinkies!

Alaina has one and Addison has the other!