Christmas in Chicago

Dad, me and mom at the Chicago Diner

All the gifts under my beautiful christmas tree (a pine tree branch door hanger set atop a candle holder n the middle of the dining table)

After church

White Christmas in Chicago

Handyman, Dad, keeping busy

Mom helpin prep Christmas dinner

Mom and I cooking

You know me....gotta take pictures of the food... Christmas Dinner

Cashew Cheeze Pesto with tomatoes and crackers

Awesomely colorful brussel sprouts and beets....so cool!

Yummy plate of greens, brussels sprouts, beets, dressing, potatoes, squash and mushroom gravy

Chocolate Chestnut Tart with Coconut Whip Cream

View of the city at dinner

Christmas portrait

Todd, me and Kiley

View from my bedroom on christmas night...you can kinda see the red and green spears on the Sears Tower

On Thursday my parents arrived on the train to visit me for the weekend; a very pleasant comfort for a heartfelt holiday. Their train was 4 hours late but it worked out perfectly for me to go pick them up from the station right after I got off work. We immediately drove up to a cool vegetarian diner up north of downtown to eat dinner. After a great meal in a funky atmosphere we dropped by my store to pick up some last minute groceries and to tour mom around since she hadn’t seen my workplace yet. Friday, I had to work a crazy day at the store, although it was quite enjoyable because of all the holiday excitement and change in tasks. We ran around picking up holiday dinner orders and helped all the last minute shoppers. The lines were huge and the aisles were packed; quite a site. While I worked, mom and dad enjoyed a day of shopping on the Magnificent Mile, walking around downtown and dropping by the Christkindle Markt before meeting me at Lou Malnati’s for an early Christmas Eve dinner of famous Chicago style pizza. We enjoyed our meal in the somewhat quiet restaurant before heading home for an hour and then off to candlelight church service. After church, we attempted to drive around Chicago to see some scenery but the snow and fog made it a little difficult. When we arrived back home, we changed into some comfy jammies and opened our Christmas gifts. Quite a different Christmas than what we are all used to but so thankful to be able to spend it with some family. Christmas day began with a little trip to the gym by my mom and myself before we started the dinner preparations. After working out, we made some coffee, had a little breakfast, made some family phone calls and began the cooking. The kitchen was in full function between the oven, stove, crockpot, and toaster oven. Dad helped out with a few handy man tasks around the house while we took over the kitchen. In the afternoon, my cousin Todd and his daughter Kiley came in from the suburbs to join us for dinner. We enjoyed our dinner, had a great visit, and then finished the evening with a movie and a skype date with Levi and his family. Like every other event or holiday these days, it flew by, just like that. This morning we walked to a diner for breakfast, visited with Sari and then it was back to the train for mom and dad and off to Montana. So happy they were here, and, as usual, it never gets any easier to go our separate ways. I’m so appreciative and very thankful for the effort put forth by my parents to visit, especially knowing the holiday circumstances. I know it isn’t always easy to know where I am or where I’ll be next but I’m always gonna be somewhere accessible. Thank you Mom and Dad! Love ya! Merry Christmas everyone! Wishing you many many blessings now and always.