DECEMBER 22nd
We decided to drive to Chicago this year from Canada, it only took us 11 hours from our house to Nana Sandy's and Papa Jim's house. We only had a small section on our drive where it started to snow but other than that it was smooth sailing.
DECEMBER 23rd
Today was a lazy day with just some last minute shopping and hanging with Jim's Mom and Hubby. While eating breakfast we saw Mr. or was it a Mrs. Possum. Samantha loved seeing this and took at least 20 pictures and 2 videos, I thought I would just share one picture with you. This little guy came up on the deck to get the bread that was thrown outside for the squirrels. Sorry squirrels you were too slow.
DECEMBER 24thThis morning we awoke to an ice storm. The roads were not that good and there was talk of canceling Christmas Eve dinner. But, it got warmer and the roads got better and everyone got in their cars and drove on up. Every year I look forward to Christmas Eve since the Flemming Family sure know how to have a good time!! Love this tradition. Jim has 5 brother and sisters and all have kids, so there is a house full! Another tradition is Jeff with his surprise meat, we have had rabbit, pheasant, venison, duck, and this year was lamb. Jim's mom makes a ham and a turkey with LOTS of other food. One that all her kids talk about is her layered jello, they all count it every year and complain that there isn't enough layers. It used to be called 7 layer jello but this year she made it with 11 layers, right up to the brim but her kiddos wanted 12. They do love picking on her about this! Her house smells so yummy and she makes fabulous food, no one will ever go hungry on her watch!!! Jim's sister brings her famous cookies, we all put in requests for our own stashes too. On this night Santa comes and visits us and hands out presents for all the good little boys and girls. The little ones in the family get really excited about this which makes Christmas that much more exciting!!
Jeff cutting the very yummy lamb
Jim's sister Christine and Jim's niece Marissa
Samantha excited to see her cousin, Marissa.
Jim with his niece Maddie
Samantha and Maddie looking out the window since we heard bells that tell us Santa is coming. They were running to all the windows looking outside.
Little Pierce, he is such a cutie pie. Love his smile!
More of Jim's nieces, Britty and Miranda.
Maddie and Samantha
Jim's mom, Sandy and his sister, Christine.
Marissa and Pierce
Santa arrived and started handing out presents! Maddie isn't sure about Santa opening her present!
Samantha posing with Santa
Samantha loved helping Santa read the labels since he forgot his glasses at the North Pole.
Everyone opening presents
Jim getting caught with that thing in his hand, no not the beer. Every year the family gets in a paper fight with the wrapping paper. It has calmed down over the years since something almost got broken one year. It used to be that Sandy found them in her tree and every where else, even a month later she would still be finding them in her living room.
Samantha opening a present
There are so many of us that when the presents are open you can't see the floor!
This is Brice playing with his brother's present.
Samantha with one of her new games for her DS. She was all about Dogs this year!!
Krissy, Sue, Jeff and Christine
Brian, Britty, Miranda and Hayden. These are some of the older cousins.
Jim with Pierce
The younger cousins. Pierce in front, then Maddie and Brice, and in the back is Samantha. They didn't know where to look since all of us were snapping our cameras.
Samantha so happy we finally got up and was ready with our stockings.
Samantha so please with herself for getting us up before the sun.
Very excited that she got the Wii.
What did you get?
All presents open by 6:30AM so let's play a game. Rules followed, NOT!
Aren't these the cutest socks, I remember them as a kid and Santa brought some for Samantha.
Another new game.
Jeff cutting the very yummy lamb
Jim's sister Christine and Jim's niece Marissa
Samantha excited to see her cousin, Marissa.
Jim with his niece Maddie
Samantha and Maddie looking out the window since we heard bells that tell us Santa is coming. They were running to all the windows looking outside.
Little Pierce, he is such a cutie pie. Love his smile!
More of Jim's nieces, Britty and Miranda.
Maddie and Samantha
Jim's mom, Sandy and his sister, Christine.
Marissa and Pierce
Santa arrived and started handing out presents! Maddie isn't sure about Santa opening her present!
Samantha posing with Santa
Samantha loved helping Santa read the labels since he forgot his glasses at the North Pole.
Everyone opening presents
Jim getting caught with that thing in his hand, no not the beer. Every year the family gets in a paper fight with the wrapping paper. It has calmed down over the years since something almost got broken one year. It used to be that Sandy found them in her tree and every where else, even a month later she would still be finding them in her living room.
Samantha opening a present
There are so many of us that when the presents are open you can't see the floor!
This is Brice playing with his brother's present.
Samantha with one of her new games for her DS. She was all about Dogs this year!!
Krissy, Sue, Jeff and Christine
Brian, Britty, Miranda and Hayden. These are some of the older cousins.
Jim with Pierce
The younger cousins. Pierce in front, then Maddie and Brice, and in the back is Samantha. They didn't know where to look since all of us were snapping our cameras.DECEMBER 25th
Enter Samantha
Samantha says "Mommy, Santa came and you asked me to wake you when I woke up!"
Mommy sits up and looks at the time, 2:30AM.
Daddy says "What time is it?"
Daddy says "What time is it?"
Mommy says "You don't want to know!"
Daddy sits up to look at the time and says "Samantha it is 2:30 in the morning, go back to bed!"
Samantha says "I am not tired!"
Mommy says "Go get your stocking and open that and let us sleep."
Exit Samantha
Enter Samantha around 4:30-5:00
Samantha says "Come on get up"
Daddy says " Is Nana awake?"
Samantha says "I think so."
Daddy says "Go ask Nana how to operate her coffee machine."
Samantha says "I am not making coffee."
Daddy says "Do you think Nana would let you touch her coffee machine. G0 ask her, that way she will get up."
Exit Samantha
Enter Samantha minutes later
Samantha says "I knocked on her door and she said "Samantha, go back to bed!""
Daddy says "Go separate the presents and let us sleep until 6:00AM."
Exit Samantha
Enter Samantha
Samantha says "It's 6:01AM"
Mommy and Daddy finally get up!!
Samantha so happy we finally got up and was ready with our stockings.
Samantha so please with herself for getting us up before the sun.
Very excited that she got the Wii.
What did you get?
All presents open by 6:30AM so let's play a game. Rules followed, NOT!
Aren't these the cutest socks, I remember them as a kid and Santa brought some for Samantha.
Another new game.Later in the day we headed over to Brother Bill's house for some more fun.
Bill with his nephew, Ray.
Jim with Danielle and Britty
Adam with his girlfriend, Laura.
Mike with his Niece, Maddie, dancing to the music.
Jim and Samantha dancing to the music.
Danielle and Miranda
Let the dancing begin, Jim and Brian having fun.
Jim and Danielle
Hanging and listening to the music
The older cousins dancing
Brian up on the coffee table dancing and jig.
Three boys on the coffee table and the top was bending in but it didn't break!
Krissy learning a new line dance.
DECEMBER 26th
Jim and I
Mike and Pam
After the Concert, Jim and I had to go over the river and through the SNOW to Rockford. While we were in the concert it snowed a lot and the roads weren't good. We made it to the Rockford Ice Hogs game at the end of the first period, just in time to get food before everyone else got up to get theirs. Samantha loves her cousin Maddie, they are a year apart but Maddie is such a petite little thing that you forget that she is only a year younger.
DECEMBER 27th
Bill with his nephew, Ray.
Jim with Danielle and Britty
Adam with his girlfriend, Laura.
Mike with his Niece, Maddie, dancing to the music.
Jim and Samantha dancing to the music.
Danielle and Miranda
Let the dancing begin, Jim and Brian having fun.
Jim and Danielle
Hanging and listening to the music
The older cousins dancing
Brian up on the coffee table dancing and jig.
Three boys on the coffee table and the top was bending in but it didn't break!
Krissy learning a new line dance. Another night of the Flemming Family having a great time.
Songs were sung, dancing was done and a LOT of alcohol was consumed!
DECEMBER 26th
Jim and I went and saw Trans-Siberian Orchestra and left Samantha with her Uncle Bill and Aunt Krissy. We met Jim's brother Mike and his girlfirend, Pam, at the arena. If you ever have the chance to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra, I recommend you do. The light show they put on with their music is amazing. Below are some pics from the night.
Jim and I
Mike and Pam
After the Concert, Jim and I had to go over the river and through the SNOW to Rockford. While we were in the concert it snowed a lot and the roads weren't good. We made it to the Rockford Ice Hogs game at the end of the first period, just in time to get food before everyone else got up to get theirs. Samantha loves her cousin Maddie, they are a year apart but Maddie is such a petite little thing that you forget that she is only a year younger.
DECEMBER 27thThis morning we met Jeff and Hayden for breakfast at 9:00am. The place that we went to was PACKED, I guess no one wanted to cook after all the cooking over the last couple of days. We were suppose to leave Rockford by 10:00am but with breakfast running late, we didn't leave until after noon. From Rockford we drove back towards Chicago to have lunch with Carol (Jim's step-mom), or should I say late lunch/early dinner, we met her around 1:30. When we were getting ready to go to Lou Malnati's (BEST PIZZA EVER) for lunch, we decided to call the two college kids that are in the area to take them out for a free lunch. Only one was up and she JUST woke up, to be young again!! We had a fabulous lunch catching up with Carol and being able to talk to Britty more.
After our lunch we drove Carol back home and then headed out to Game Works, Samantha LOVES this place. We met some of Jim's friends there. It was so nice to see the ladies and kids this time since we usually only see the guys. I had a great time talking to Theresa and Sue and hearing about their families. I am so amazed at how big the kids have gotten since I haven't seen them in a year and a half, how quickly time flies. Even Jim's brother, Bill, was able to meet us there with his family.
The Zels' Family, Tim, Sue and Alexander.
Maddie
Samantha with a crazy guy in the picture......oh wait that is Dave!
Samantha and I, self portrait
Dave and his little girl, Morgan.
Part of the Fiorenza Family, Dave, Morgan and Theresa.
I finally got a picture of the other part of the Fiorenza Family, Zach.
And right when we were packing it up to leave, Maddie played this game and hit the JACKPOT!!! Way to go Maddie!!!!
And time at the game room wouldn't be complete if Jim didn't play against someone in the football toss. Yes, he won!
After our lunch we drove Carol back home and then headed out to Game Works, Samantha LOVES this place. We met some of Jim's friends there. It was so nice to see the ladies and kids this time since we usually only see the guys. I had a great time talking to Theresa and Sue and hearing about their families. I am so amazed at how big the kids have gotten since I haven't seen them in a year and a half, how quickly time flies. Even Jim's brother, Bill, was able to meet us there with his family.
The Zels' Family, Tim, Sue and Alexander.
Maddie
Samantha with a crazy guy in the picture......oh wait that is Dave!
Samantha and I, self portrait
Dave and his little girl, Morgan.
Part of the Fiorenza Family, Dave, Morgan and Theresa.
I finally got a picture of the other part of the Fiorenza Family, Zach.
And right when we were packing it up to leave, Maddie played this game and hit the JACKPOT!!! Way to go Maddie!!!!
And time at the game room wouldn't be complete if Jim didn't play against someone in the football toss. Yes, he won!DECEMBER 28th
I forgot my camera, so sad! Today we went shopping and then to visit Jim's friend Chris and his family. Jim and Samantha played ping-pong since the Thompson's just got it from Santa this year. Samantha and I played the drums together on Rock Band, while Stephanie sang. I am pretty sure I couldn't have done the drums without Sam. Sam also sang the lyrics to some songs, while Justin played guitar and Stephanie played the drums. Jim and Samantha spent the night and I went back to Bill's to get a good night sleep for our drive home in the morning.
Got up the next morning and drove home.
MY WHIRLWIND IS COMPLETE!!
It was so great seeing everyone while we were in town and I am looking forward to seeing everyone again next time we are in.
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