After Christmas Visit and Medieval Times

My niece and her crew returned for a visit! It was suppose to be a whole slew of them...my two other nieces and my nephew were coming for the new year. They were both on 2 different planes...one took off the other was cancelled with no other flights available. We had tickets to the Bulls game that LUCKILY I purchased insurance on. I never do that but I thought weather can be finicky and there were a lot of tickets. 

While it did put a damper on the trip as we missed them, this group ventured off to a rainy Chicago....

where we did some shopping. We did some bowling and swimming at their hotel and headed to the Medieval Times!

I had never been, but since we had two horseback riders with us...it was a no brainer!

I was certainly impressed by the horses. 

The food was great (everyone gets the same) and the show was amazing, however, my only complaint was ... give us some utensils! It was all doable with the food choices but it was distracting in the dark and messy even though they give you wet ones and napkins. 

Turned out to be a great trip and hopefully will see the others soon!

The holidays keep going with Valentine's Day around the corner.

Christmas 2025

 This year our Christmas to the song "A Christmas Carol" from the movie Scrooge with Albert Finney. One of my all time favorites. Listen as you scroll along. 

Sing a song of gladness and cheer

For the time of Christmas is here

Look around about you and see

What a world of wonder this world can be 

Sing a Christmas carol

Sing a Christmas carol 

Sing a Christmas carol

Like the children do

And the joy and beauty

Oh, the joy and beauty

That a merry Christmas 

can bring to you.

Merry Christmas!

We Love Visitors!

For a whole month I had to keep quiet that her cousin and her mom, aunt and oma were coming for a visit! 

I had mentioned all day that a Christmas gift was being delivered. When they pulled up, I quickly asked Amelia if she could go to her room so she wouldn't see us bring the "large" present in. Amelia's reaction, as we all tiptoed into the house and I said "you know, come on out, you are just going to have to open this one early"...was spectacular! I posted a video on Instagram of the frenzy.

First up we headed to the Christkindlmarket in Aurora! While the crowds were ridiculous and the lines for food were even more so, we had a great time! 

After a train ride into downtown Chicago, we headed to one of my favorites for lunch...The Berghoff. 

Santa was there! 

Did all the fun Chicago sites and some Christmas shopping as well!

Before the long weekend was over and it was time to say goodbye and see you in the summer!

Getting back to our regular Christmas schedule, Amelia finished up her ink wash painting that I used for our Christmas card. 

It is looking very much like Christmas!