Life on earth

This house is around the corner from our apartment. It features Santa Claus in a helicopter, Santa Claus on a rocking horse--electronically rocking back and forth--and a 10-foot tall Santa who waves from the front yard. And 30-foot drummer boys on either side of the porch, lit up in lights. And Mickey and Minnie Mouse riding a sleigh on the roof. I stop and stare. Tis the season...to be seen from space.

Neil Young and wheat products.

I'm making bagels and listening to Cowgirl in the Sand. To my gluten-free friends: I'm sorry for doing this--but oh man, fresh bagels? Fresh bagels!

And then they look like this:

we finally had a snow day!

Top of the Sears Tower, last weekend

Last weekend Lev's sister was in town. We had a lot of fun and did some touristy stuff downtown. Being a tourist in your own town can be illuminating. For example, we discovered that Chicago is a giant, lumbering, and somewhat dilapidated place. With an extremely tall building (the Sears Tower, or "Willis Tower," as the elevator operators kept insisting that we call it). I took a terrible photo of Levy and his sister at the top of the building. Because, as many of you know, when the backlight is much brighter than the light in front of your subjects....this happens:

catch-up

So I know that Thanksgiving was over a week ago, and now it's like, "who cares," right? BUT we had a wonderful time. And we went to the aquarium on Sunday. And this is my life from the last couple of weeks, in pictures...xoxo.

this is the door to the Shedd Aquarium. For real!

She was feeding the BEST whale.

kissies.

Thank you.

Yesterday my mom and I made Thanksgiving dinner while Levy and my stepdad built a computer. It was a nice contrast--I could stroll into Lev's office and see what he made and he could come into the kitchen and see what we were working on. Both projects were labor-intensive and paid off. 

Because it's Thanksgiving...a list of everything for which I am grateful.

I'm thankful for my husband, and that we are having an enjoyable, loving, lifelong conversation.

I'm thankful that I have a family who gets along--really gets along

--and that they made the trip to Chicago for Thanksgiving. 

I'm thankful for my wonderful and giving friends. 

I'm thankful for the sun that streams into our living room almost every morning. 

I'm thankful for my street, and the squirrels that like to look at me while I walk down it.

I'm thankful for life. I'm thankful for love. I'm thankful for the happiness that has finally found me.

Pumpkin pie, a yellow mixer, and a cake stand--Thanksgiving!

The morning. Metra tracks.