Saturday - December 10

I was off to Brenda's before 8 to help with breakfast she hosted for our Monday Night Friends.   It was lovely and delicious and a great time was had by all!

 

Back home for a short time and then Mark and I delivered a bunch of gifts to the Campbell's for our Christmas celebration tomorrow.    Brought the boys back here for  about 45 minutes.    Anne and Patrick picked Liam up at 2;50 and off to hockey (3:30).    We arrived just as game started with Connor.    Liam's team (red) won 4-1.    We brought the boys back with us for a sleepover.    Swimming was first on their list, so.....the snow has started and it's darn cold!!!

 

Tomorrow was to be the Sublettian Christmas luncheon (27 had made reservations) but canceled cause of the awful weather predicted for tonight and tomorrow.    Bummer as this is always such a fun outing, but no one should be venturing out on the bad roads...

 

 

Wrapping gifts for Mom's birthday (Monday)

 

Brotherly love in the pool

 

We had pizza and salad delivered to our room, Liam did his homework and we just had a nice

cozy evening in our suite watching some Christmas shows.    

 

Connor has a 7 AM hockey game tomorrow, so.....nighty night!

 

Our happy girl in orange is getting so big!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday - December 9

A very fun and productive day!    Feeling pretty good right now about getting ahead of the game with Christmas preparations!!!!   Wrapped the last of the gifts today (tah dah....it's only the 9th)!    Now onto the cards......

 

Started this chilly day going to 8:00 Mass and met Claire and then we were off to Coffee Hound for breakfast and good visit - been way too long!!!

 

Had a few errands and then met Lee and Donna Noonan (my favorite therapists) at the new McLean County Orthopedics.   Donna gave me a tour of this phenomenal place - unbelievable with every type of exercise equipment, 2 pools, and every bell and whistle imaginable.    Also a big track for walking/running as this facility is a 5* workout place for whoever wants to stay healthy and in shape!

 

Tonight we took Donna Rae to dinner at Baxter's - what a festive place with fabulous food and a great visit with our dear friend.

Just realized I did not publish the blog last night?    The ole brain is on overload!

Have a great weekend!

 

 

 

Thursday - December 8

Burrrrrrr....we just got "home" from a great dinner and visit with friends, Don and Sheila at the Ozark House.     So fun to catch up and now happy to be back in the warm elements.   It was very cold and windy today.   More cold temps and snow coming our way this weekend!    UGH!

 

We went to 8:00 Mass at Holy Trinity for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.    Then we met Larry and Roz at the Fort Jesse Café for breakfast.    Had heard good things about this fairly new place - it was packed and well worth the wait....

 

My chicken 'n Waffles - yum!

 

We ran a few errands and then spent the afternoon catching up on e-mails, wrapping a few more gifts and enjoying the fire.  

 

Ryan and crew are in Key West tonight after several days out of touch while they were

in the Dry Tortugas.

 

 

Wednesday - December 7

Thinking of those who gave their lives 75 years ago today - the anniversary of Pearl Harbor....

We remember so well our visit to Pearl Harbor in March of 2012 when Ryan returned from his 7 month deployment in Afghanistan on the USS Stennis

 

Nice sunny, cold day and once again, we nomads got plenty of fresh air running around.   We had 9:00 dentist appointments and then a bunch of errands.... we crossed off lots of things on our list.  

 

Nice cozy afternoon in our suite with a bit more wrapping and sorting thru some clothes (what's going back to storage and what will go with us to FL)    While at storage, I grabbed my heavy winter coat as it's going to be sooo cold and snowy this weekend!!!

We just got "home" from a wonderful night with the folks from the Prairie Aviation Museum for their volunteer appreciation night.   

Dinner was delicious, enjoyed seeing some old friends (4 couples who are big Blue Angel supporters) and met many others.     I cannot describe the surprise and shock when a video with music was played before dinner showing Ryan thru the years - it was very well done and brought tears to this Mama's eyes.    They had a table displayed with more pics of Ryan and, the #5 jet and Fat Albert.   There was a large easel covered with a blue cloth.     Our friend David Wilson put together the video and said they had a gift for us but unfortunately, since we don't have a home or obviously, no walls, we'll just have to put in storage for a while.   And then they unveiled the sign that I had shown you earlier about Bloomington - hometown to Ryan Chamberlain,.    Oh my......    Hope to have some pics soon.

So it's been quite a night and we enjoyed sharing our experiences as Blue Angel parents these past 4 years.    This Mama is on a real high right now!!!

 

 

 

 

Tuesday - December 6

Blustery out there today - "wind was raw" as my Dad used to say....

 

Mark was off at 8:30 for a dermatologist appointment and then ran some errands.    I set up "wrapping central" , turned on the fireplace and Christmas tunes and made some waves with several packages that have been arriving daily.

 

We worked on and off on the program we are giving tomorrow night.   It's dinner at the Ozark House with members of the Prairie Aviation Museum followed by us sharing  our

"4 years as Blue Angel parents".

 

We had lunch at CJ's and then went to the mall for a few gifts.....tah dah....the sun came out for a little bit around 2:00.     As we were out and about, I was thinking, we were just scurrying indoors and hustling to be where it's warm, versus this past weekend in FL as we gals slowly strolled in the warm sunshine listening to the music at a very leisurely pace!

 

Wrapped a few more presents this afternoon, made some dr. appointments for next spring and got several other odds and ends taken care of.

 

BIG news for Miss Maeve today....she rolled from her back to tummy!   Yeah....

 

So proud of herself, but thinking "I really don't want to be on my tummy - darn, all that work and this is where I end up"!    Ha......way to go, Sweetie

 

And Luke helps Daddy put in a new battery!