Merry Christmas from Family Values

                                       

Each day this week Family Values is releasing a new holiday greeting video

     Happy Holidays from Family Values

I love this group of people, what a gift to be part of this project

Christmas Eve, Christmas morning and Christmas Day

On Saturday before we headed downtown Callahan and Katie exchanged their gifts. What I love about the picture above is how Callahan just stares at the pendant he got her. He picked it out himself. I think he really understood the power of giving.

Saturday:

You can see the pendant on Katie. My 3 boys, Katie and Alexis spent hours at the kitchen table playing board games. They said they had a blast

Christmas Eve is spent in Long Grove. Karrick wanted to play Santa and pass out the gifts

Being the only little guy, Karrick totally makes out on the gifts

Cousins that had their braces put on a week apart. Ummm.....check out Callahan's check bones. Amazing cheekbones on the kid

Alexis joined us at grandma's for Christmas Eve. It was really a good time had by all. Alexis is modeling the outfit TJ got her. He also gave her a cool  scrapbook with most of the shots I took of her and TJ in the last 2 years. It turned out really cute. Made Alexis cry

Christmas Day was spent at my dad's with my family, aunt and cousins. I really didn't take any pictues...was exhausted by then. Callahan woke up at 6am went downstairs and read one of his new books (Santa went semi green this year and didn't wrap everything) When he was done he woke up Karrick...Aarrgh! Really?! So of course we all had to get up at 7am. I think this will be that last year Karrick believes.

 I love Christmas and I love my family. It truly is a special magical time of year. After 4 staright days of Christmas cheer I am ready to move on

A weekend away

 Saturday morning Tim and I left the boys and headed downtown for our annual hotel/shopping weekend. We got a suite at The Avenue...we stayed there last year too...gotta go with the Groupon. We had a 1 bedroom suite overlooking Michigan Ave.

We spent more time walking and site seeing then actual shopping-didn't really plan it that way. Tim and I walked up and down Michigan and State Street. State Street was a mob scene! The lights everywhere were stunning

It was just a wonderful 2 days and got us super excited to go home and celebrate Christmas

Both shots are from out bedroom window

Just some fun shots

Can't wait until Summer to do it again-summer style

Thanksgiving weekend

Thanksgiving was just wonderful. My brother Jim and sister-in-law Karen out did themselves hosting the entire family for a long weekend. Karen cooked tirelessly for everyone.

It was a giant pajama party with my family. Karen cooked a vegan and traditional meal which was just outstanding.

The beauty of the cabin never gets old...one is always in awe being there

million dollar view

Lots of time watching movies, hiking, board games, pool, video football, hot tub soaks and just sitting around talking. On Friday most of us hit the quaint town of South Haven for some shopping

The cousins

Easter Sunday

Grandma had the barn and other buildings painted  a firehouse red, which will add a nice pop to my location shots

The day started with the Easter egg hunt in our backyard. All 56 eggs were hidden, after a long search only 52 were located. There was some concern that maybe Patrick had an early breakfast to which I replied "Patrick doesn't eat eggs, he's  never eaten an egg. Guess what Patrick was yakking up in Long Grove...EGGS !

I stand corrected

Callahan found his Easter basket hidden in Rose

What Cal failed to realize was Rose was part of his basket. The engine needs work, so who better than Callahan to fix and keep it. I can see it now...picking Karrick up in a golf cart from school..ahhhhhh

Grandma needed an updated mobile...enter "Lollie" seen below. There is a lot of ground to cover for grandma, so Lollie is her girl

 egg hunt

A nice soccer game with the brothers

My little cutie cashing in his eggs from the hunt.
 A haircut is in the immediate future for all 3 of my boys...the tired Justin Bieber look is a casualty of  laziness and a scheduling conflict. #1 priority this week