Come With Me to . . . Sleepy Hollow

An oddity from days gone by. Peculiarly appropriate on this last day of 2012. Such a stark contrast to where we are today . . . .

Our house in not featured in this film, but I noted two neighbors houses (6:34 and 6:40).

Who's that?

Making breakfast?

Yep . . . Ham and eggs.

Quiet, uneventful day of games, reading, and watching movies

Today Sharon drove her Dad, Aunt Myra, and Uncle Lester to Roselle, where they met Aunt Clemantine's daughter, Elaine, for lunch. It has been some time since Sharon and Bruno visited Elaine. And, in fact, the invitation to visit her was Lester and Myra's, who setup the lunch date, but thought Bruno might also enjoy the holiday season visit.

At home, more "puzzling" over the Sistine Chapel until "boredom" inspired the girls to appeal to Laurie  to play a game of LIFE. Although she preferred to continue working the puzzle, she consented.

After the game - of which Arianna won with a tidy sum of $2M - I prepared lunch for the girls and Laurie ventured out to visit a pal.

An altogether quiet, uneventful day of games, reading, and watching movies.

Another round of holiday gift giving

While waiting for the Iowa Kilarskis to join us for a couple days, Arianna breaks open her new drawing tablet. She appears to be intrigued, but time will tell.

Interestingly enough, Laurie and the girls were less interested in exchanging gifts than spilling the 2000 pieces of the Sistine Chapel puzzle onto the dining room table. And so another season of puzzlemania begins . . .

Although Arianna is known to put a piece or two together, at the moment she prefers one of her Christmas books, A Wrinkle In Time.

After a second Christmas dinner -- well sort of (the ham was excluded this evening) -- Sharon and the family are ready to exchange gifts.

Alana and Arianna are patient . . .

As is Jane . . .

Bruno jokes, the girls laugh . . .

Arianna sewed Aunt Laurie a skirt for Barbie . . .

Merry Christmas!

Enjoyable day with family . . .

Arianna still a little sleepy from her late night wanderings . . .

The last couple years, we don't wake Bruno. He was in good spirits this morning . . .

A gift from Arianna, who, as well as her own, wrapped many of Sharon's and Bruno's gifts too . . .

Some gifts from Oma . . .

Pepper looking for her presents . . .

Even Daddy got a gift, despite his being an impatient ogre throughout the year . . .

2139 West Chicago Ave is identified by a puzzle piece shaped like a house. Will Bruno remember the streets surrounding where he grew up?

What a mess . . .

Big hug of thanks . . .

Customary Christmas breakfast of plum pirogi with an added plus: stollen! Compliments of an old school pal . . . Ted Jones.

After Bruno's brother's family arrives, we start all over again . . .

Greg poking around the assortment given to him by Bruno . . .

Arianna showing off her Christmas outfit . . . black and white?

Barb and Bruno opening presents . . .

Linda and Michael . . .

Uncle Lester . . .

What's for dinner?

Turkey, ham, Polish sausage, pierogy, squash, stuffing, peas, beans, cranberries, rolls.

Sharon and Myra share some laughs after dinner: charades . . .

Greg trying to convey something or other . . . much to Arianna's enjoyment . . .

At an imaginative loss . . .

As the sun goes down outside our living room window, Sharon and Aunt Myra enjoy their Christmas . . .