we had a holly jolly christmas this year

Three nights in Woodstock, two nights in Chicago and much fun (and not nearly enough time) with family and friends. It was good to be "home".

In case of a water landing, we're counting on Charlie to tell us what to do.
Christmas Eve adorableness.
The assembled crew digs in to Grandma's famous beef stroganoff.An Eskimo kiss for Uncle Chris.
Christmas morning! The gifts where Mommy and Daddy and Santa Claus hit home runs? An 100th anniversary edition copy of the Wizard of Oz (Charlie's newest and biggest obsession to date), and a small stuffed octopus that Charlie has named Pizza (and a small stuffed gingerbread girl doll from the Longs that she has named Dorothy per her previously mentioned obsession).
Old school fun with a barrel of monkeys.
Charlie shows Pizza around her new doll house.
The four cousins (and Pizza).
Or, should I say the four goofballs?
Cousin Riley went above and beyond the call of duty in making necklaces for Charlie. He'd finish one, she'd demand another so she could be "fancy". The kid has a future in sweatshop management. Notice that Pizza and Dorothy also needed to be fancy.
Charlie works the runway.Post-Christmas, in Chicago, Charlie found a blue lollipop more exciting than Macy's Nutcracker windows.
We took Charlie to the Field Museum for the first time and wished we had more time to spend there - more fantastic than I remembered. Prior to our visit, Charlie claimed that she was afraid of the dinosaurs. This photograph notwithstanding, she showed no fear at all.
Posing in front of the Palmer House's Christmas tree with Grammy and Grandpa.
Once back home, Charlie began planning for our next big trip!
A happy, healthy, and peaceful New Year from our family to yours.