Recovery

I am happy to report that post-surgery recovery is going well. The doctor gave me a good report Friday and I am finally able to breath out of my nose again! It will be a few more weeks before things are back to "normal," whatever that means? I am hoping that I get to say goodbye for good to my constant sinus troubles, but that is still yet to be determined.

Below are the beautiful flowers my mom and dad sent to make me feel better! As you can see Phoebe really liked them a lot!

This always makes me feel better...

Lauren keeps an updated Picasa web album of Lilli (my very adorable niece) and when I am feeling like I need a pick me up, I always browse through the pictures! This new one from Lauren is a particular favorite!! Lilli and Lauren are going to be taking swim lessons soon, so Lilli was trying on her new suit! Is she cute or what?!!

Happy New Years

This New Years I decided just to enjoy the night with my family. I really don't love New Years, there is all this hype to watch a stupid ball drop in NYC and then it is all over after some fireworks or banging pots and pans (does anyone do that anymore?). So as a family we decided to go out to eat and then play games at home to bring in the new year. We also bought some fire works.. but ended up setting them off on New Years day around 8:00 instead of New years eve at midnight (it was raining).

So new years eve we went to Casablanca a Moroccan restaurant near my parent's house. We had been there before, and my parents go there so frequently the owner knows them. It is truly a unique experience if you ever get a chance to go to a Moroccan restaurant and like ethnic foods. It is a 7 coarse meal, and every coarse is unique and really good. You sit on benches with cushions on them and eat off a communal tray with your hands (no utensils until the couscous comes out). And if the evening wasn't exciting enough at that, there are belly dancers that come out periodically to dance for tips! They are actually really good too.

C for Christine

Christine LOVES sparklers!

Daniel's Swirl

A for Allison

The Fireworks

Eating with our hands!

Group shot. The waiter did a nice job taking several angels of pics for us!

Our friendly and talented waiter!

Daniel and I

More food!

Moore Family Christmas Time

This year we had the wonderful privilege to actually spend some time with both families over Christmas break. We are taking full advantage of the school schedule that we are both on, knowing that in the very near future, things will be different. So after our funLundstrom family gathering we drove back to Indiana, picked up our lovable kitty, Phoebe, and headed out to Warminster, PA (North East of Philadelphia) for some Moore family time (pun intended)!

The car ride was long, but it was so worth it to see my family! Phoebe thoroughly enjoyed her time in what we are now calling her "vacation home." Daniel and I made it to PA just in time to overlap with Lauren, Ray and Lilli for about 12 hours. I am glad we at least got to see them, even though it was short lived. The first night we arrived we had 'Christmas' and then ourtraditional wing night. Every time we are all together, we plan a night to cook hot wings in my dad's deep fryer . Wing night also usually includes some sort of game or movie. We decided to play our new game "What's yours like" which was a lot of fun!

The next morning the James packed up and left for home, but the rest of us enjoyed a few more days of fun together. Per usual we did lots of shopping, watched a few movies and played games.

Phoebe trying to enjoy the car ride

Lilli was anxiously awaiting our arrival!

As you can see, Lilli loved her first wing night!

We always sit on the floor in the living room on wing night.

S'mores by the fire

Sinus Surgery

In case you aren't aware, I am getting endoscopic sinus surgery Thursday. It is my second go at sinus surgery and I am hoping this is a more successful round than the last. So, if you think of me, pray for me Thursday and the few days after!

Lundstrom Christmas

This Christmas, after skiing in Michigan, Daniel and I drove out to Rockford, IL. The whole Lundstrom Clan was able to make it, even the new baby Wade (Nate and Natalie's second son). It was so fun to see everyone, we haven't all been together since 2 Christmases ago. This was also our first time seeing Finley (Emily and Ben's second daughter) and Wade. It was fun to have all the kids around on Christmas morning, especially becauseKaija and Jack are at really fun ages. We sort of had a white Christmas . It snowed Christmas night and there was a fresh blanket of snow the day after Christmas. Saturday the adults all went into Chicago to eat atSalpicon, a gourmet Mexican restaurant (really amazing food). Sunday we played lots of games and relaxed.

Daniel, Jack and Nate

Kaija and her new cousin

I love this picture.

Finley is warming up to Jill.

Ben helping Kaija out with a Christmas present

Lundstrom Christmas Pictures

Daniel and Finley (Emily and Ben's Second girl)

Sledding the day after Christmas

Jack (Nate and Natalie's first son) is enjoying the snow, but on solid ground.

Natalie, Wade (Nate and Natalie's second Son) and I on Christmas Morning.

Finley and I enjoying the snow

More Christmas morning pictures.
I love this little guy, he is only 3 weeks old here.

Kaija in her new fairy dress.
She requested wings and a real magic wand after opening the dress.

Daniel and his parents on Christmas day

Daniel loves holding Finley

Jack loves his new fire station.

Finley and her favorite ball.

Nate, Jack, Natalie and Wade

Baby Wade

Daniel and I on Christmas Morning

Winter Retreat!

Daniel and I took our second annual winter retreat a few days before Christmas. We spent Sunday through Wednesday in Boyne Falls, Michigan at a ski resort. It was very cold and snowy but really fun. We enjoyed waking up and hitting the slopes all day! It was our first time skiing together, my first time skiing since high school and Daniel's first time skiing since who knows when, since he is normally a snow boarder. The debate is still out about who is the better skier, but we do know that I like to speed down the hill while Daniel likes to make a controlled decent. On Tuesday night we went to this restaurant in Boyne City called the Red Mesa Grill. The food was really really good! The first of many very good meals we had on our Christmas break. The food had a Mexican flavor, but wasn't your typical tacos and burritos.

Happy I made it down the slopes safely!

You can't see him, but Daniel is coming down the hill,
way up towards the top

Read to hit the slopes!

Some of the condos on the slopes.

Most of the places had ski in and out access.

View from the ski lift

The sun coming up over the mountains

The living room of the condo