Chicago--December, 2010

While Bonnie and Dug travelled to Mexico with Dug's family a few days before Christmas, we spent the time with Dugan and Sage in Chicago. One of the highlights of our time together was visiting Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. A special exhibit of "Christmas Around the World" included more than 50 Christmas trees beautifully decorated by members of Chicago's ethnic communities. The grand 45 foot tree dwarfs all of the others.

It was fun for us to admire the Swedish Christmas tree, which Tina told us later from looking at the photos, was quite authentic. Of course, we had to pose for a picture in front of the Swedish tree by asking a person walking by to take our picture. We will publish a few of the other beautiful ethnic trees below.

On our second day in Chicago we woke up to find the house and Bonnie's car covered with a fresh snowfall.

Dick and Dugan got busy shoveling the steps and the front sidewalk.



One of our at home creative projects was for Dugan and Sage to make a gingerbread train--a unique and different activity.

When the time came to munch on the gingerbread train, Sage chose to eat the headlight, and Dugan ate the cowcatcher. Dick selected a part of the engine, and Judy chose a part of the caboose. What a fun time that was!

AN INTERRUPTION...Iggy steals Sagie's slipper that Judy brought from Australia and runs outside with it. When Dick, Dugan and Sage pursue her, she playfully races all over the snowy yard.

At last the kids trick Iggy into dropping the slipper by throwing a treat to her. and they grab the slipper. Nakama stands at attention watching all of the commotion!

Dugan and Sage made a poster to welcome home Bonnie and Dug. Then they could get ready for Santa and his reindeer.

 Dugan and Sage are ready to go outside to sprinkle oats and sparkle dust on the snow to attract the reindeer to come down to stop at their house.

Sage is carefully making a dish of food for Santa's reindeer--oats and carrots. Dugan and Sage had baked Christmas cookies for the family and placed some of these on a plate for Santa. They also prepared hot chocolate for the jolly old man.

 Many boys and girls have a difficult time sleeping on Christmas Eve, but Dugan and Sage finally drifted off into dreamland before Santa arrived at their house. They would awaken on Christmas Day to a sparkling white Christmas!