MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We have had a wonderful year:

Dillon grew A LOT and was potty trained. Aaron graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law. Dillon turned three but talks like he is 15. Aaron spent all of June and July studying for the Illinois bar and he passed!! I brought another little soul into the world on June 29--Wesley Hobbs Chandler. We moved to Chicago in August. Aaron started his first job as an attorney.

We've been blessed to make wonderful new friends and keep in touch with our old ones too. We pray all is well with all of you and wish you the best for the coming year! 2009 here we come! Happy Holidays!

Our Thanksgiving Meal

Everyone helped with the prep Dillon was so excited about the big turkey. But he kept asking where its head and eyes were.

The kid table

The big table We were so lucky to have our friends the Goodes and the Wilsons and my sister Richelle with us on Thanksgiving. Thanks for coming to our house guys. We love and miss you!

Circus

The day before Thanksgiving we were able to go (with our holiday guests) to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Aaron's firm has a suite at the United Center (where the Bulls play) so we had great seats.

Before the circus we went to Giordano's for Chicago style pizza.

Check out that cheese!

Watching the circus with Aunt Richelle Dillon was captivated by the horses, elephants and clowns. My favorite part of the whole night was watching Dillon laugh at some silly clown who kept losing his hair and hitting his head on the microphone.

Erika (holding Katie), me, and Maile at the circus. Such great friends!

Making a house a home

Now that we have lived here for almost 4 months I've finally gotten around to decorating a little. For a while I felt like it wasn't worth putting anything on the walls when we might move from this place in as little as a year. But when I refinished that dresser I felt somewhat inspired and suddenly I wanted this place to look good. It also helps that we are hosting Thanksgiving--that has given me the motivation to be a little homemaker. We've spent some money on my little projects, but I've been as frugal as possible. Here are some of my finds/additions to our place: Our old table wasn't Thanksgiving worthy so we splurged and got a new dining table at a furniture clearance outlet. We also found a mirror to go above the fireplace. Both of them were 60% off so I felt pretty good about these purchases!!!

I got really excited about decorating Wesley's room. My sweet friend Erika made this quilt for Wesley and I patterned the rest of the room around it.

I was really proud of myself for creating a little picture frame that ties the whole room together.

Our owners were pretty creative in their paint choices so I've tried to find colors that coordinate but could also work with other common colors. I'm still making adjustments to both boys' rooms.

Dillon is an Awesome Kid!

Wesley's Trick with Daddy

Wesley's Four Month Photo Shoot

Wesley's Four Month Photo Shoot (continued)

Halloween 2008

Lots of Halloween fun this year! I repeated our costumes from 3 years ago, but it just worked out so well.

Carving a jack-o-lantern with Daddy! Two dalmations ready to collect candy! Ward Halloween party

Cruella and her puppies

Family photo shoot--Aaron came late so he didn't get to paint his face, etc. Can you see his tail?

Halloween continued

Wesley really enjoyed Trick or Treating

Cruella and what our friends referred to as "Twin Falls Lawyer" Is anyone surprised that Aaron was one of the winners?!

Trick or Treating with friends

Pretty cute little Lucky

Big day in the life of my lawyer

Yesterday was a monumental day for Aaron. He was sworn into the Illinois Bar and given a license to practice law. Our sweet friends watched Dillon so we could get a little more out of the experience. And we celebrated afterward by going to lunch. It was really fun to then have Aaron home for the rest of the day. He really is a lawyer now. He is going to court next week and will really get to address the judge!! I'm so proud of my hubby!

He was sporting his new cuff links and tie from my sisters. Well done ladies! Watch out...he's got a license to sue!

Wesley and I spent most of the time in the aisle, but I was still really glad we were there to support Aaron.

Fall swimming

A couple weeks ago we took a trip to Wisconsin Dells (famous for indoor water parks) for a great weekend with our little family and some friends here in Chicago.

We attempted a family photo shoot and, as always, it was a challenge to get everyone looking somewhat decent. (don't you love Wesley's little Yoda ears?!) Wesley chillin' in the hotel. Playing in the pool. We all enjoyed a relaxing ride on the lazy river. We all had a blast and are so grateful our friends invited us along. We topped off the weekend with a little outlet shopping!