Halloween Happenings

Halloween 2011

DUCT TAPE GIRL

PRINCESS OF THE PEACOCKS

MAD HATTER SKULL

OUR CHEERLEADER

I served fresh hummus with feta cheese, kalamata olives, red pepper, cucumber 

and dill.  

 

 

 

                   I loved seeing the witch hat on my Nora Flemming platter!

Beautiful Cookies created by our friend Jill

December 24, 2010

Christmas Eve morning began by sleeping in till 8:00am followed by an 11:30 brunch at our house.  We were joined by our neighbors Patti & Mike Maher and their grandchildren Sean and Bridgett.  We had a tasty sausage & egg casserole, cinnamon buns and even mimosa to start our Christmas Eve out right! We spent the day catching up and by relaxing at the house.  Mike & Dave joined all the kids on the rink for a day of ice skating.  We all had a GREAT time with eachother!

By 3pm I had the garlic roasting for the mashed potatoes and was preparing appetizers & desserts for Christmas day.  Our friends and former students of Dave from about 15+ years ago, Bogdan and Fernando joined us for a ham dinner at the house about 5:30.  We all had a great time and enjoyed the company of one another.  We didn't even have time to clear our plates and we were off to our 7pm Christmas Eve service.

Christmas Eve Service at St. Leonard Church

 

Elaina's First Day of Preschool

I was able to go with Elaina on her first day to Building Blocks Preschool in Riverside.  She was hesitant, but eager to go like her older siblings!

She will go to preschool on Tuesday and Thursdays from 9:00-11:30.

So this year ALL 4 kids are in school!  Can you say "Wa Hooo!!!"  It's a little bittersweet, they are all growing up and I officially have no more "babies" in the house!

Our Final Goodbye

Our Final Goodbye!

We loved living here for the last 11 years. In Oct. of 1997, Dave bought this house from his mother, Patricia.  His father, Raymond, built this house for his parents in 1953. Dave even brought me here on our second date! ( I knew this would be my house someday too!) We loved living in Berwyn, loved our neighbors & friends.

I got ready for my wedding day in this house.  We had so many good memories as newlyweds. We ripped out carpets, painted the walls, stripped off wallpaper, Actually, my dad stripped and hung wallpaper, painted and repainted a lot over the 11 years. I tried my hands at gardening and Dave at just about everything else! I brought all 4 of my children home from the hospital to this house.  We celebrated many birthdays, Easters, Christmases and had many celebrations here. We shared so many memories here and we are thankful for every year we spent in our home! Goodbye 3543 Home Ave. Thanks for the memories!

Noelle's First Communion at St. Leonard

Today we celebrated Noelle's First Communion at St. Leonard church.  It truly was a perfect day to celebrate God's love and His many gifts to us. 

  Today was a day for David and me to reflect on how you are growing and changing.   It was also day for us to be reminded that we all need to continue to grow and change in Christ as we are being stretched and challenged.

You are absolutely beautiful and we are so proud of the young lady you are becoming!

Before we know it,   Elaina will be making her own first communion!

Aunt Barb, Uncle Rich, Jack and Lucy came to celebrate the day with you

First Day of School

Hard to believe that summer is over and we are back to Hollywood school. 

4th grade with Mr. Bookler

Our Kindergarten star with Miss Becker!

3rd grade with Miss Mrazek

We all walked a half mile for the first day!

With 13 boys and 5 girls, Landon is sure to have a fun year! 

Fun with Fresco

Leah loves Fresco so much & takes great care of him too!

Today we were out enjoying our "regular" dog sitting client named Fresco! We cannot get enough of him.   Every other week or so Fresco is able to stay with us for a few days at a time.  The kids never get enough of him & he is SUCH a good dog!

Even Maddie got to join in the fun of dog sitting Fresco!

Even our little Elaina joined in for some fun.  She created some fun chalk painting out on the driveway.  Every time I look out my kitchen window I get to see some wonderful colors!

Cake Decorating 101

Today Leah and Noelle had a 3 hour cake decorating class at JoAnn Fabrics.  Once they baked their 2 layer cake, they got to pick out their own colors and decor.  After they carefully transported their own cakes home, we were able to share with the kids from the neighborhood! We had a bake-off taste-off.  It was decided that they were BOTH beautiful and delicious!