The Holidays--Part I: Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving 2011 started out with running the Downers Grove Turkey Trot with Poppy, while Daniel and Daddy watched the Macy's parade.  Thanksgiving dinner was at Yia Yia and Poppy's house, which was at FULL capacity this year.  Most of the family came for dinner with a few families joining everyone for a cocktail, or too, dessert, and cognac?!?  It is always a fun and crazy get together with the "Family."  There were at least five 3 and under kiddos eating turkey with us this year and Yia Yia even added an additional table.

The weekend rounded out with the annual Ryba tree lightening ceremony at Gramma and Pappa's.  It was fun seeing Frankie (2 1/2) and Daniel (almost 17 months) join in hanging up ornaments ( I think Daniel probably hung up more than Daddy this year!)  It is really fun watching Daniel interact and start to play with his cousins.  He LOOOVES his big cousins Evelyn, Sammi and Lyssie and at one point they were running circles around the house.

Watching the Macy's parade

Jack-Man!

Cheers!

Uh, who taught Daniel this?

Daniel and Adriana

Daniel and Evelyn

Awww

Ceremonial hanging of the "cyclops baby"

Frankie and Daniel playing

Polar Express 2011

The whole Ryba clan went on the Polar Express to get into the Christmas spirit.  As nervous as Gramma was about how it would turn out, it was such a fun and wonderful experience!  All the kids and ALL the parents enjoyed such a fun trip to the North Pole and back getting the hear the story of the Polar Express and enjoy a visit with Santa.

Waiting for the train, listening to the Christmas carolers

Papa and Gramma with Sammi, Frankie-O, Evelyn, Daniel and Lyssie
Love this picture!

Santa looked very intriguing from afar

...not so much up close....

Now at a safe distance away, Daniel waves and points to Santa

The attempt at a picture with Santa

"I believe!"

Ahhh, juice and cookies!

Evelyn

Sammi and Lyssie

Daniel and Frankie

Such a fun afternoon, and a great way to get into the Christmas spirit!  We will definitely ride the Polar Express again next year!

Our Big Boy with his Big Boy Haircut!

We had to say goodbye to the beautiful blond mullet Daniel grew over the past 17 months.  As cute as it was and as much as Daddy loved combing it every nite, it had to go.  We took Daniel to get a haircut the day before Thanksgiving to kick off the holiday weekend.

Daniel has no idea what is coming...

Even Mommy needs a haircut

Pre-hair cut...all is calm for now...

Uh-oh, the animal crackers are NOT working

My poor baby

Luckily, Colleen was super quick!

Finally, all done and a smile!

My big boy looks so cute!

Family Fun Day in the City

We spent Saturday with a family fun day in the city.  This weekend was the lights festival in Chicago, and with an entertainment schedule that included the Neverland Pirate Band from the Disney channel, I knew we had to make it an all day event!  We headed downtown late morning and made the walk to Pioneer Court to see the Neverland Pirate band from the show, Jake and the Neverland Pirates.  Daniel is quite the fan. At the end of each show, the Pirates sing a song that Daniel and Jack both love to watch, over, and over, and over again.  So much so, that we have to rewind just the ending so he can bop to the music.  Oh boy, does Daniel like to dance to the Pirates...I can't even explain it, it is just so cute.  So we made it down for the 15 minute concert and Daniel even got to meet the band.  Unfortunately the pictures did not come out well.  By then it was noonish, and the parade didn't start until 5:30 so we had a lot of time to kill.  We went to lunch at Fridays which was right by mommy's grad school (wow does time fly) and then spent some time in the Disney store (which was mobbed).  We met up with the Heddens for hot chocolate and to claim our perfect spot for the parade.  I was waiting for Daniel to poop out...he had no nap all day...but as soon as the parade started he got his second wind.  He waved to all the floats and was mesmerized by seeing Mickey/ Minnie, Donald/ Daisy and Goofy/ Pluto (just wait til Disney!). He loved the marching band and "bopped" to the music.  All in all a GREAT day, even despite some of the cranky adults behind us at the parade. Mommy got her workout in holding Daniel for the entirety of the parade.  I think it didn't even take five minutes in the car for Daniel to fall asleep.

"Never say never, no never to the Neverland Pirates!"

Daniel got a little starstruck and shy:)

Yar!!!

The Christmas tree at Bloomingdale's

Gabriella, Matthew and Daniel

Buddies!

Happy Halloween!

Here's Jack as a slice of pizza and Daniel as Yoda

Yia Yia and her boys...I love this picture!

Sooo big!

Our trick or treating this year involved walking across from Yia Yia's to get goodies from Mrs. Drouin, stopping by Auntie Peggy and Uncle Ray's and greeting the trick or treaters in our neighborhood!  By the time we got home, most of the little kids had passed up our house and with no afternoon nap, Daniel had a bit of a meltdown.  By the time Daddy got home, we got a few more "big kid" groups that came by our house who were excited to get HANDFULS of candy...we still had leftovers!