Even More Cousins

I have put up pictures of my kids with their cousins, my husband with a couple of his cousins. Now it's my turn. Here is a couple of my cousins that came to Christmas. I figured I better get a picture of my brother and I with them.
I have so many happy memories of them coming to Christmas dinner when I was a kid, and it was really nice to see them at my home this year.

This girl is COLD!

My man keeps the thermostat set kinda cool to save money. We're used to it by now and dress warm. Poor Kate, she came home from school and just can't stay warm enough. In an attempt to stay warm she came up with this wonderful award winning outfit. pants, two pairs of socks, shirt, sweatshirt and dad's sweater. I think she was even wearing gloves earlier. Nice look.

3 and Counting...

1,2,3, teeth missing. The tooth fairy is going to go broke.

20th Anniversary......sort of

This is my best friend Samantha, I know I have talked about her before. Last Christmas when she came to town in fact. We have known each other since 1990 when she came to school at Purdue. Our mutual friend Melanie decided we would be great friends if we only got to know each other, so she introduced us and the rest is history. We hit it off and became fast friends that has lasted through the years.

She moves a lot with her job, so she only gets to town about once a year, so each Christmas we get together to exchange gifts, eat, laugh and generally have as much fun as we can pack into a few hours.

Yesterday we went had a ball. It makes me very thankful to have such a great friend in my life, I miss her and wish I could see her more often. Maybe I should make a trip to her house for a visit.

My pretty Girl

Kate took this picture of herself. I love it, almost as much as I love her.

Christmas Time

Don't you just love Christmas bulbs hanging from the tree? It so festive and happy, add a little Christmas music and you're set.

Like Mother, Like Son

My parents tell me that when I was a child I did not like to read until second grade that is. Something clicked in my brain and it was fun from that point on. My nose was always in a book.
My boy is evidently the same way. He is second grade and this year they have to do a lot of reading. He loves it! In fact when his class had to do an independent project of reading 4 books, make a poster and presentation of it, he was thrilled. Here he is reading by Christmas tree light while I am decorating. I love to read, and love that he now loves to read to.

Killer Turtle Cheesecake

I made this killer good turtle cheesecake last night for a client of ours for Christmas. Looks yummy huh? They said it was to die for. Yeah!!! Success! I will post the recipe on my cooking blog for you, just go to coleshomecooking.blogspot.com I should have it posted tomorrow sometime. And a, sorry, I don't know how to make a link for you so you will have to actually type it in, but it will be worth it.
The recipe is now up on the cooking blog, so you can go over there and check it out!

They're all angels when they're sleeping

When she was born, my little Jordan was given this pink bear by my best friend Samantha. That and her pink blanket are the two things she will not part with when sleeping. Even though the bear is now dirty, old and will not play music anymore, it is still her favorite.

Oh My Gosh Pizza

Why is this Oh my gosh pizza? Because when we took our first bite it was "Oh My Gosh this is good! My man and I are so past plain ol' pepperoni pizza, we decided to spice it up a little. When I made this tonight, I used tomatoes, mushrooms, red onions and fresh basil. Ohhhhh, I love basil. Is your mouth watering yet? I also made cheesy sticks and garlic bread sticks, and yeah, they were good too.

An older generation of cousins

My husband with his two cousins and sister. Too bad all of his generation of cousins could not be here, but then, we could never fit all of them into a picture.

Cousins

In August my brother came from Seattle WA for a visit with his two boys. This was the first time we had seen his boys and were a little wary of how the cousins would get along, but being kids, it took them all of 2 seconds before they were playing like they had known each other their whole lives. Several days we swam and on this day before we let them get into the pool we had all the kids line up in order of age for a picture. Kate the being the oldest at 19, then down the line, 10, 7, 7, 6, 6, 3.

Inside or out, the kids made up their own fun.

Grandma even got in on the fun in the pool one day.

Going out for pizza

And shooting off fireworks are always on the fun list

The Washington cousins didn't want to leave, and the Indiana cousins didn't want them to go.

I guess we'll have to do this again sometime soon.

Chicago Segway Tour

Fall has appeared here in the Midwest, which means no more hot, humid, sticky gross heat filled days. As such, Lee and I decided to use the 3 hour segway tours that my best friend Samantha gave me for Christmas last year. We went up a couple of weeks ago and had the time of our lives. I so got Lee hooked on Segways now, he finally understands why I fell in love with them in Boston. We are in front of the Buckingham fountain in this first picture.

I love beach, water, boats, yachts etc.... I have an office with lighthouse stuff and beach pictures all over it.

Lake Michigan and us in front of the skyline.

Lee talking with Kate our tour guide on a "leg break".

View of the skyline from what used to be Meg field. Which is now a park, but I don't remember the name of it.

Lee taking a picture of me, taking a picture of him. Classic

Statues in the park. I like to think that this is how I look riding my segway. I love to put up my arms and be free and fly. I also love scaring my husband to death by doing it. Although I don't really know if he was more scared for my safety or the thought of losing the $500 deposit on the segway if I somehow broke it by clowning around.

More of the skyline. The John Hancock building, and the Prudential building.

A light house!

Art.

Lee and me on our segway's. Look Ma, no hands! OK, so I don't look as good as the statues, but I felt like it.

More art. These are made of used car parts.

This had water running down it, and occasionally it would spray water out.

The bean.

The Moo & Oink. My favorite name for a store. "Good food for the soul".

All in all it was a great trip and we enjoyed every minute of it. Thanks so much Samantha for a wonderful day.