Friday, January 12, 2018

The Rest of Winter Break

After we got home from New Year's in Kansas City, William still had another full week and weekend of winter break!  It's good they don't have school because it's SO COLD (single digits at best), but I can definitely see how we would have been a little more stir crazy if we hadn't had the roadtrip.
 
William finally finished the Hoth Attack set from last Christmas.  It's amazing what this piece of "snow" (i.e. fabric batting) did to add to the scene and interest!   
 


We went to the climbing wall at our gym.   This is so much harder for adults than children!  Clearly we have more weight to carry, but I also think it's the weight to strength ratio.   I did try it too but didn't make it very far.  William made it to the top of the kid's wall and made great progress on the regular wall.


 It snowed again.  We went sledding.  I also had to take another picture of our house before the lights and decoration went down.   I love all of the weeks leading up to Christmas when I drive into the neighborhood at night all lit up!  It got less and less festive each night after New Year's.   The combination of bitterly cold weather and no lights is just sad.....how many more weeks until spring??


This bottom picture is part of my commute:  the walk across the Chicago River from my office to the train station.  It's very photogenic - even in the winter. 

Sunday, December 31, 2017

New Years Roadtrip

 We made a quick roadtrip to Kansas City for New Year's Eve.  

On New Year's Eve Eve, we had a fantastic adults only dinner at The Rieger in the Crossroad.  John and I had an amazing cocktail called the Aged Pendergast that was similar to an Old Fashioned.   For dinner we shared short ribs, butternut squash, pasta and fried apple pie with cheddar ice cream.  

 
 

New Year's Eve was a fun trip to see family in Gardner.   Foosball and Mario Kart for the win!  William had so much fun with his cousins!   Back at the Koudeles, William was quite the dog whisperer! 


 

We rang in the New Year at 8:30 for Addie and at 11 p.m. for the rest of us!

Friday, December 29, 2017

December and Christmas!

Post-Thanksgiving through Christmas were busy! 
 
Decorating the house for the holiday!
 Celebrating John's birthday at Top Golf


 Opening the Lego Advent Calendar and decorating the Christmas trees
 

   Winter Party at school





Games and Morton Arboretum Illumination Lights with Uncle Ryan and Tarek





 



 Naperville Christkindlmarket with the guys and Grandpa Roger
 Christmas Eve (prime rib) and Christmas Day (Portillo's) feasts and presents 







Junior Golf Academy at Top Golf (which with degrees in the teens meant mostly foosball indoors instead of golf instruction outdoors)

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Thanksgiving Holiday

William had the day off before Thanksgiving, so he joined me in the city for a few hours at the office and then winter fun at the Christkindlmarket and Marshall Field's.  
 





 
 

On Thanksgiving Day we drove to Indianapolis for family Thanksgiving and fun times!   Lots of food and laughs and games and a trip to the Carmel Christkindlmarket, too!