Holiday Recap

We've had a busy past week or so with Sylvie's first birthday and a trip to Chicago for the holidays. To start the festivities, we had some family and friends over for lasagna and cupcakes to celebrate Sylvie's one-year birthday. Below are some pictures. We took most of the footage with our other video camera and haven't gotten around to transferring that yet, but we have a few snapshots.

Bibi, gettin' crazy on the drum before dinner

Taking a break after her birthday cupcake. Yummy!

Here's Sylvie, enjoying her new piano. Requests, anyone?

We then flew to Chicago the morning of the 23rd, narrowly beating a major storm that would have surely grounded us in Boston if we had left any later. We spent Christmas morning with Jenny, John and the kids before heading out to see my mom.

Here's cousin Patrick, helping her open her presents

Uncle John (a.k.a. Elvis) and Patrick

Sylvie's Christmas bling

Sylvie and her cousin Lily

The only picture I have of my sister Jenny that day (in the background)

While we were there, we stayed part of the time at my grandmother's condo, which is right on Lake Michigan. Here are some pictures:

Checking things out

The lake...brrr

During our trip home, we also had the unexpected pleasure of meeting up with my good friend, Mia--Aunt Mia--who was in town from Costa Rica. We went to a cafe for lunch with her and her two nieces.

Mia and Sylvie--parting is such sweet sorrow

Maddie and Rosie (Mia's nieces)

And finally, we had a belated Christmas dinner with the whole family at my sister's house our second to last night there. It was a lot of fun, and delicious, too!

Beau, Sylvie and my mom

Sylvie and Lily in their matching shirts from Granny

My dad ("Pop), Jenny, and my stepmother Gerry ("Gigi")

"Gigi" and Sylvie

John and his mother, Pat

Aunt Carolyn and Patrick

Sylvie and Beau

THE END!