Amelia's first snow

Amelia had her first taste of snow today. Sadly she woke up at 5am with a slight fever and difficulty breathing because of a stuffy nose. Thankfully our hotel is next to Walgreens. I took off on foot, in the dark in search for meds. I walked outside to a white blanket of snow. I couldn't believe it!!! SNOW!! I texted the family as I ventured my way to the store. I was not dressed for the occasion at all! I got the goods and headed back to the room. Mom was awake, so once Ame was medicated and back to sleep, mom and I headed outside. We thought we'd get a cup of Joe, but it got really cold standing in the drive through of a coffee place. Ame slept till 9:30am. Once she was ready for breakfast we headed down to the lobby, we're we've spent a lot time hanging out with the family. I went outside and made Amelia her first snowman and Aunt Stella got a plate to put it on. She wasn't sure what to do at first, it was sooo cold. Grandpa gave it a coffee creamer hat and Aunt Elly gave it a Kashi heart. The lobby is decorated for Christmas. It has a double sided fireplace! The Ilini Basketball team spent the night. Uncle Russ chatted with the coach as he was getting his breakfast. Later we trecked our way to Crackle Barrel for a fried chicken dinner. Amelia had snowflakes hitting her face. We're on the bed now. Amelia is fast asleep, I'm here blogging and the family is in the lobby playing cards. I'm hoping our girl breaks her little fever and is able to fight this cold.

Family

Today was a beautiful day to celebrate the life of Grandma Inez. The sky had rolling clouds with a pale pink glow. The Lord surrounded us with his whisper of the wind. The service itself was so special. So many people came to bid her farewell and support the family. It's been fun catching up with everyone. Seeing how fast the kids have grown and how fast time flies by. We head home Tuesday. I'm looking forward to seeing my honey and prepare for the holidays! It's be unheard of that our house is without a Christmas tree!!!!!

Good-bye Grandma...still hasn't hit me.

Tomorrow we say our good-byes to Grandma, even though it really feels like one of our last holiday trips, Easter, and we've just landed, met with the family and tomorrow we'll head over to Grandma's for a family party. They'll be Easter eggs hidden all around the back yard filled with jelly beans and money:) The smell of the Kraft factory will linger into the backyard, as the Illini train passes by slowly. Ah, but the beautiful purple lilacs in full bloom, filling the air with its sweet scent. We'd be filling our tummies with Tang, pop corn or chocolate oatmeal cookies. Grandpa would be handing out his fancy strawberry shortcake bottles. His old insulin bottles. There would be kids running around, lots of laughter and love. Grandma wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Life was meant to be shared, to be fun and to be full song and dance. Boy was Grandma the best mascot! She loved others with all her heart and she had no problem in telling you that. "I don't know why, I love you like I do, I don't know why, but I do." She made sure you were having fun, playing cards, like UNO, snacking on orange sherbet or sneaking in an Orange smoothie cocktail) Boy did Grandma love to dance and sing. Beware...she had no problem in telling you if you had rhythm or not. She'd stand there on the dance floor waiving her hands back and forth, reaching her pouty nose face at you with this big ole smile and sing along to the song. In fact, she closed out the bar on a cruise ship with Straty and I.

I expect to see Grandma in one of her fancy outfits with her beads and flashy ear rings. Oh I'll never for get her walking off the plane and she was covered in purple from head to toe!!!! Purple rain coat, hat, shirt, pants, even shoes had purple on them!!!! Grandma was a classy lady! Her smile was contagious. Her soft cream skin with those little purple veins. I loved holding her hand! I loved to snuggle up to her. Gosh so many memories are gushing through my head as I sit here typing. Grandma's heart is soooo big. She always loved others, even when her greatest love passed on. One of my fondest memories of her recently, which was years ago, was sitting in her new home with hubby Paul. We all sat on the couch, holding hands and singing away. Straty and I got the LOVE lecture every grandparent gives. I also saw that glow in Grandma. She was so happy and full of love. She kept her spirits high after loosing yet another love. She was always positive about life to me. It's hard to think that tomorrow I won't be going to a holiday gathering, but I'll be going with so many other family members and friends to bury one of the greatest ladies in my life. Yes, there will be tears. Tears of sadness and tears of Joy. You can't help but smile when you think of Grandma Inez. You can't help but start to hummm "Let me Call you Sweetheart" or "You are My Sunshine" or "I don't know Why." and you can't help but realize how much you're going to miss her, and how much she impacted your life. I know there's big one happy party in heaven since she got, and believe me she's there. She sparkled through a window Saturday night, as if fireworks were going off in heaven. I knew it was her. Miss you already Grandma.

Christmas was in the air in Haddonfield today.

Nelson and Susan it was wonderful seeing you!

Burek is so yummy!!!! Hercules is precious!!!

Hang'n in Jersey....Vito's Pizza!!!

YEAH BABY DUNKIN DOUGHNUTS!!! YUMMY

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

I am thankful for life. For each day the good Lord gives. For Freedom and Praise. I'm so thankful for my baby girl, whom I get a chance to see her firsts in life! I love her so much. I'm so thankful for my teammate husband. There's no-one else I'd rather grow old with. Thank you hubby for working so hard so I can take care of our girl and furry babies. For our family and their support. We're so fortunate to have the chance to live closer to them! Love you. For friendships near and far. Thank you Father!

We have had a wonderful visit in New Jersey! We've gotten to visit with Jeff and Barb and their lovely three children. We went to see Nelson and Susan's warming home and had a fabulous dinner at a French Thai place in d'hood:) Nelson and I played in the streets of danger! It was like old times. I wanted so badly to steal Susan's fall decorations, but Nelson made sure I left empty handed. We drove to cousin Stephanie and Voit's house, where Auntie Desy and Uncle Al were also visiting. They have a beautiful French decor home. The history of their home is sooooo cool. The track they live on used to be surrounded by a horse race track. Their house was a men's viewing building. They had a balcony on the second floor where back then you'd watch the race horses. They have a huge fireplace...oh I could go on. Thank you for a yummy lunch. Oh and Thanksgiving! I still got my Gingerbread Late!!!! Auntie Cynthia arrived as we were heading to Haddonfield for photo taking of Amelia. She went with us. It was a wonderful morning sipping late, enjoying the brisk cold air and walking through a beautiful historical town. Amelia was a perfect model, posing in front of Christmas decorate store fronts. After taking about 100 photos, we headed back home for an amazing Thanksgiving dinner prepared by Mom. YUMMY! Thank you mom for such a great Thanksgiving feast. Uncle Jimmy came for Thanksgiving too! What a great day. I love the East Coast, especially during fall/winter. The historical buildings are so much fun to photograph. We hope to come out during Greek Easter.

Tomorrow Amelia and I head to Chicago for Grandma Inez's funeral Saturday. I'm kinda nervous. Straty and I made such a perfect traveling team!!!!! I hope Ame does great. She's such a wonderful girl.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone....now get your trees up, your lights hung, the poinsettias planted, the spirit of Christmas is here! BELIEVE

New Jersey

I'm sitting here at the computer in the dining room, listening to the Hadj family in the other room. They're a hoot! It's a shuffle conversation...it started with places to take Amelia during Christmas as she gets older, to prices of homes, to Straty and ice cream and running 5k turkey trot, to Thanksgiving, friends, religion, "Everyone likes me"....mom is reading parts of the news paper, while Straty is watching football and dad is at the computer finishing up a stamp collection society newsletter. Amelia is sound asleep in bed. She didn't nap at all today!!! We went to Haddonfield!!!! I LOVE the ole town and the big German looking churches. I had to buy another photo disk for my camera. Now my computer is full and a digital disk for my camera. I think I have a problem with taking too many photos. I wish I could share the ones I took today!!!! Soon! Does anyone know what a start up disk on a MAC? Anyway, the leaves are on the ground and I can hear the rain tapping on the sky lights in the family room now. It's chilly, ok, bone chilling cold: high 20's low 30's. Burrrrr. We're having a wonderful time. Jeff and Barb with their three adorable kids came over for a feast mom prepared. Tomorrow we visit with Nelson and Susan. Wednesday we see more family and Thursday it's stuff our bellies day!!!! Friday Amelia and I head to IL for Grandma Inez's furneral, while Straty attends his 20th HS reunion. It's a busy trip, but lots of fun!!!!