A quick look back at Christmas

Well, since we were all sick as can be right after Christmas, I never got around to posting Christmas pics.

So here goes nothing.

First off, here is our tree. Worst. Tree. Ever. Since we were already at Costco we went all mainstream and got our tree from there.

Long story short - 3.5 hours later, after dad had dragged this tree out to the alley and we went up to our local garden to get our tree, we were back in business. And at school I made the angel to put on top... bonus.

Okay, fast-forward to Christmas Eve at Nana's. I got this awesome computer...

And Mae got one too. Thing was, after Mae opened up her computer she spent the next 25 minutes on it. See the presents behind her? Not interested, just rocked the computer. NERD ALERT! She did end up getting on this horse a little while later.

Got some awesome pics Mae and then some more with the cousins.

I've been telling you for years Eli is just a straight baller.

We left apples and a cookie for Santa and carrots for the reindeer, which were a big hit. Then Mae and I came down together and opened gifts.

Um, yeah, chapstick was a huge score, been asking for that since before Thanksgiving. Ah, the simple things.

We got mom this pancake shaper that does Sesame St. characters.

Mom, however, probably didn't need it. Did I ever tell you she is a professional. Requests Christmas morning were flying out the window - WREATH! PRESENT! SNOWFLAKE!

PRESENT! SNOWFLAKE! CHRISTMAS TREE!

SANTA HAT! ANOTHER SNOWFLAKE! CANDY CANE!

See what I mean.

And now back to our regularly scheduled nerd alert.

Spent the next three weeks puking, coughing, sneezing, ear infecting, the whole bit. But we're better now and getting set for BIRTHDAY WEEK!!!

Dad's Day

Father's Day started out pretty well with some DAD pancakes for breakfast.

Then it was time to give him his cards we made for him. Mae went first...

And Mae gave Dad one of her vintage Mabel Jane signature kisses for Father's Day.

Next up was me. First I gave him the cards I made him...

And then I gave him the gift I made him to wear all day, a pretty sweet necktie that I could've actually sold to Nordstroms to sell on their tie rack, but I decided to skip the easy money and instead give my Dad something he could wear on his special day.

Later, while everyone was getting ready to go to the pool, I drew pictures for him all over my arms and legs. Rainbows, sunshines. I even wrote FINLEY MABEL BEST FRIENDS.

We headed out to Nana's later in the day and got a couple more good shots in with dear old Dad.

Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there.

Giving Thanks

Okay, so Thanksgiving weekend rocked it out with visitors in town - Nonie, Grandma & Grandpa and Uncle Jim & Aunt Deb. I'll cut to the chase.

Uncle Jim and I made pancakes...

And then the next day he made me one that looked like a whale (jackpot!)

Speaking of whales, we hit up the Shedd Aquarium twice! And one time we saw this awesome show and this singer lady came up and shook my hand. I tried to tell her she had way too much makeup on but she couldn't hear me over her boisterous voiceterous.

No, I did not go out and cut this tree down, then tie it to the roof of my 1985 station wagon with the wood paneling and then drive it home. Aunt Debbie brought me this mini Christmas tree and we decorated it.

We did Zoo Lights up and we did 'em good. Highly recommend it to all you Chicagoan readers.

Back to the kitchen, Nonie and I made a cake, then cut it up and ate it.

And last but not least, four generations of Ames/Lammels/Skertich girls.

And if that's not enough, CLICK HERE for more.