7 hours

Starting point: Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Stopped for gas and diet coke at 3:45 p.m. From Bussee Road to I-355: One hour and 10 minutes. From I-355-to I-55 (about 30 miles) - 3 hours. From I-55 at Weber Road to Veterans Parkway (including one pitstop and dinner): 3 hours. Sigh of relief at pulling in driveway, not getting stuck and getting in warm and dry snowflake pajamas: priceless.

Dollar Store

Where else in the world can you buy things for one dollar? (Okay maybe China...). But right here in Bloomington we have not one but TWO Dollar Trees. Here's what I scored on my visit last Sunday:

- wide leopard stretch belt

- 1 pair leopard print tights

- 2 soft and dri gel deodrants

- 2 Hawaiian tropic body lotions

- 1 giant gallon of water

- 1 copy of the Sunday Jan. 27 Chicago Tribune

- 1 copy of the Sunday Jan. 27 Bloomington Daily Pantagraph

What an amazing bargain!!!! Never say a dollar can't buy you anything! (Or that $9 can buy you even more!)

What a Difference a Week Makes

First photo: New Years Day 2008 - temperature was 1 degree and there was 5 inches of snow

Second Photo: shoes worn on January 6, 2007 - temperture was 65 and there was NO SNOW (and because it is January, unfortunately I do not have a good pedicure, either!...Sorry, Amy!)

Gotta love Mother Nature and her sense of humor!!

A Toast to 2008!

We're a day late in posting this while we were playing with the camera to get a family portrait. We finally got one good one while my nose was not too red from this silly sinus thingie. Rita is not too crazy about the camera so that was kind of interesting too...anyway....

Happy New Year!! Nothing better than having a clean slate with a new year. We wish the best to all of our wonderful friends and family.

Now...if I can just remember to sign everything 2008......

Ho Ho Ho

The Frenzy known as the Kraft Holiday Season is finally winding down. It was great fun and quite exhausting. Highlights include:

- Kraft Christmas where one of my relatives when asked if he wanted another piece of cake dipped his hand in the pan and scooped it out (so much for THAT cake!)

- Dalton Scantlebury had his first Chrismas and entertained us by trying to eat his book.

- Emily served as an awesome Sous Chef and assistant event planner including dipping of the chocolate coated pretzels, wrapping presents and general event preparation assistance

- Sangria and baked cheese ruled the day again at the annual Chrismas Eve Open House including an appearance by "Santa" Tom Stokes and family

- Dan made it through his first semi single Christmas with great aplomb - including fabulous new Cub jackets, paint ball guns and cell phones for the kids

- Brother Jim looked clean and merry and bright too...even sharing photos of his first grandchild! (YIKES!)

- We all were entertained and humbled by Father Ric's sermon at mass -- and there was no fighting

- Rita enjoyed her new bed and bag of bones

- Snow continued to fall off and on throughout the week

- The Kraft Cousins took off for a night out and sang Irish/German bar music and rap tunes while sampling the best Irish beers!

- We enjoyed living through Aunt Amy's adventures in China on her blog

- We're sadly living through Uncle Dewey Lynn's illness

- Friends and family made it all worth it!

Merry Christmas - we love you and hope yours was bright too!

Baby it's cold outside

In the winters of my childhood, we built snow forts and played amongst the building high drifts of our farm. Nowadays, the drifts are more often ice...which is beautiful though not quite as fun as when I was little. Rita, my little Texas born hot blooded lab hound LOVES the snow..but is not so sure about skiding on the ice.....

Bringing them to the Dark Side

I'm a bit unconventional...okay a lot unconventional. So in trying to stay above the fray I am always looking for something fun and different for holiday and birthday presents. Plus, I am not above pure bribery to bring the children over to my southern, 80s's rock and country, tex mex loving ways. Last night I took three of the kids to see the Sugarland CMT Country Tour with Little Big Town and Jake Owns. It was an almost three and a half hour event, which ended up in a southern rock version of ZZ Top songs. Awesome!!! Jess and Em are already seasoned concert attendees....now I have brought Tommy along to the dark side. It was fun despite the 26 degree weather...southern country rock does live on!!