Christmas 2007

Here are a few pictures I took Christmas Eve at the Shell House. If Lou and/or Ang have some on their camera, they can add them later.




Laura, Ruben, and Chiquita drove up so we got to see Ruben before he continued on to Puerto Rico the next day.


They got to spend time with Jackson and Audrey, too.


We did a low-key gift swap.


And we had a nice dinner. Afterwards, Jackson even got a Santa cookie.

Christmas morning!

Here's the evidence... Santa was here!


Here's Lou giving his grumpiest, groggiest, bedheadiest look. Audrey doesn't seem to mind.


Here's Jack opening his Lightning McQueen Mack truck.


It was such a nice day we all went for a walk after.


Jackson was a little worn out from all the excitement - he crashed!

Western Springs Christmas

A few more shots from the Shell family Christmas...

Highlights from our Iowa Christmas

We celebrated Christmas in Iowa at the Hotel Fort Des Moines this year. Bella and Jack had lots of fun, and we were able to meet our new nephew Noah.


We stayed in a suite with lots of room to spread out.


Jackson got to open one of his presents early.


Grandpa Ron liked it so much, he had to play with it too.


Audrey got some new things to chew on.








We went downstairs to breakfast every morning - Jack enjoyed his chocolate milk, and Grandma Jean enjoyed not having to cook!


Here's a pic of us with little Noah. He's a keeper!




Bella and Jack got to do lots of chasing and giggling of course.






We were hit with a snowstorm on Saturday, but we were safe and sound in our hotel, and we walked around Des Moines' skywalks.

Merry Christmas - Part 3

Courtesy of Saturday Night Live
(although they had YouTube pull a different video I wanted to post so they may ultimately pull this one or the last one, too...if that happens let me know)

Merry Christmas - Part 2

Note: this isn't necessarily for children.



Courtesy of Saturday Night Live.

Merry Christmas!!!

Note: this isn't necessarily for children.



Courtesy of MadTV from a few years ago.

Christgiving 2007

Here are a few pictures from Renz's Christgiving trip to Chicago. I didn't take any pictures during dinner, sorry.


Uncle Renz got to exchange some gifts with little Jackson and Audrey, since he doesn't get to do that often in person.


As long as some presents were being handed out early, Mom/Nana got an early gift from Pop/Boompa...some fancy wind-chimes.


Renz got some gifts, too. This is the only time it's acceptable to think "What a crock!" at Christmas.


Finally, Renz and I got to do some retro-gaming on my new toy, a used X-Box.

Next weekend...Happy Festivus!

More Christgiving

Just wanted to add a shot of Larry with Audrey. She enjoyed meeting her Uncle - look forward to seeing you again soon!

It wouldn't be Christmas...

without Grandma Shell's candle holders.

Christmas 2006 (Pt. 2?)

These were photos taken with Grandma Lee's camera.

This was the meager assembly of gifts prior to the arrival of the evening's guests.


The "pile" had grown considerably by the time all had arrived.

Before we sat down for our Christmas Eve meal, we all attacked the gifts ...


Livy got so warm, Aunt Bee had to help her "strip" down for action.


Jack begins to attack the package which held his Thomas The Tank Engine play tent.


Grandma Lee watches the "unwrapping" with the joy of a mother and grandmother.


While Livy goes strong, Jack begins to "run out of gas" and needs the help of his mother to unwrap the various "Thomas" engines and cars from "Nana" and "Boom-pa".


This beautiful floral arrangement was a created by Bee and given as a gift to Lee.


And finally, while the president huddled in Crawford, TX with his advisers, chewing over the direction to take in Iraq, Gracie was enjoying a good chew on a Christmas gift toy image of "Dubya" himself. I hope his left leg ached him!!

Christmas 2006 (Pt. 1?)

There are probably a lot of pictures worthy of being posted, so I'll just post a few of mine. Lou may want to make a follow-up post with some that he took with his camera.

Christmas Eve 2006 was another fun night in Western Springs. Sarah, Tom, and Olivya were vising from Wisconsin, and Grandma Mary was back in town from visiting in California. Lou, Angela, and Jackson came from LaGrange and Leighton and Sabine came from Berwyn.


The Christmas tree hasn't had a haul like this under it in a while.


Livy and Jack hadn't seen each other in a while, so they got to hang out with the family.


We all got to open up our presents early this year, before dinner.


Then we all sat down to a meal of pierogies, fish, and potatoes that was, in Jack's words, "dee-licious."


We wrapped up the evening with a nice stroll through the neighborhood to see the decorated houses and luminaries lining the streets.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.