Here come the photos!

 My friend, Dolly, and I enjoyed a late breakfast together at Fork 'n Knife, getting caught up in person with each other's lives. We communicate via the Internet primarily, given the miles between us but it's the face to face meetings that are the most fun. We have been friends since she came to First German in the 4th grade and then again at MLHS. Such fun we had as young teens at her family's home in Mishicot, and at their cottage in Door County. We had children one day apart from each other, at different hospitals but still together!

Since Justin's visit was going to be shorter than mine, we made efforts to see and do as much as possible before he left for FL. On the Monday after CHRISTmas, Boxing Day, we went to see my mom's sister, Marie, who turned 90 last year. Her daughter, Barbie, came over as well, and made sure we had sodas to drink. Auntie lamented not having one single cookie this season, so at Justin's urging, we baked her some and delivered them the next day. We had such a fine visit with Auntie Marie when she came to FL for Justin's confirmation in 2002. She loved everything, especially the noisy frogs!

My sister, Lori, is holding that darling Angelo on CHRISTmas Day as we gathered for our celebration and gift opening. Angelo stole the show, and those with cell phone video features got footage of Angelo learning how to play catch. Oh, how we laughed!! Mom got the Scooby Doo ball in our white elephant gift exchange and he adopted it. David sat down in front of Angelo and began rolling the ball to him. He caught on and rolled it back to David. The game grew to three or four people, with video cameras capturing the whole thing. How cool it was to be witness to one of Angelo's "firsts" in his life!!! Justin fell in love with him, too, which I expected would happen.

Angelo has become quite a crawler and when the pathway is blocked by people's legs, he gets to a wall or table to pull himself up. He is going to get around the barricade if it's the last thing he does! Alayna is trying to keep up with him in this photo...a good job for the young among us!

 Here his mama, Lisa, is helping Angelo open the book set Justin and I gave him for CHRISTmas. She told me that he really enjoys the books, thinking they taste awfully good! In the foreground is a nutcracker that Grandma K gave to Angelo, which he was charmed by.

Later on CHRISTmas Day, the fun continued in the Community Room in Mom's building, with the family gathering to watch the Packer game together. It was so much better for us to watch down there than in Mom's apartment so that she could watch what she wanted and not have to worry about us being jammed in her living room and cheering. What a great game it was, and needless to say, the Packers won!!! I am sporting a Packer stocking hat in an effort to encourage the team, but sadly, it makes me look fat!