Christmas 2009 in Germany - Part 1

We are going to try being better about uploading photos to the family page here.

Here are some of the pictures from Sabine and my trip to Germany for Christmas.

We flew into Frankfurt and stayed with Sabine's Uncle Carl for a few days.


This is a picture of me in front of the Goethe House in Frankfurt. I posted this to the Facebook page of the Chicago Goethe Institute where I'm taking my German classes.


This is the Christmas Market in Frankfurt.


Sabine with her mom, Traudl, her Uncle Carl, and Carl's wife, Rosuita.


Sabine and I on the observation deck of a big shopping store in Frankfurt.


After driving back to Sabine's parents' house we had an afternoon coffee gathering with some of her family. There were delicious desserts to be had.


We did a little touring around Nurenburg while we were there.


On a tour of underground tunnels where wine and beer was stored, Sabine tried making off with a barrel. ;)


We got to see the Nurenburg Christmas Market, too.


A few days before Christmas we picked up a Christmas tree to decorate.


One of Sabine's presents to her dad was a Chicago Bears cap.


Sabine modeling some of her Christmas presents by the decorated tree.

I'll post more Christmas in Germany photos and then some New Year's in Switzerland photos soon.

Miscellaneous Other Birthday Pics

Here are a few more various birthday-related photos...


Me with my Nurnberg Soccer team gear Sabine's mom and dad sent me.
1. FC Nuremberg


Me and Scott, who flew in from Colorado for the weekend.


A week or two later, Bill and Marion Baker took Sabine and me out for a birthday dinner at Zak's Place in Hinsdale.


Me and Marion with my birthday dessert.


Sabine and Bill.


The four of us.

And finally...while Scott was in town we drove to Highlands for Scott to visit with his mom and dad. They live on Laurel Ave., so while we were there...


...I took a picture of the old Laurel Ave. house.
:)

Leighton's Surprise 40th Birthday Party

I meant to post these birthday party pics here a while ago for all those people not on Facebook. Sabine did a wonderful job planning a surprise birthday party for me. I didn't have the faintest idea about it. When Scott showed up at my doorstep, I then thought that was the big surprise. I'm limiting the posted pics to family. I didn't think I needed to post Berwyn friends here. Thanks again, Bine. It was fantastic.


Here's me and Scott when we arrived at Bodhi Thai and I realized the restaurant was filled with friends and family.


Me giving Jackson a big hug. I was really excited about the party.


The super-chocolatey X-Box birthday cake my friend Maggie made for me.


Lou, Angela, Jackson, and Audrey enjoying some Thai food.


Me with my cousins Geoff and Andrew


Mom, Dad, Uncle Stan, Aunt Dawn, Aunt Maggie, and Uncle Mike.


Me, Ruben, Laura, and Whiteny


Jackson and Audrey coloring with our friend Anne's daughter.


Me with Lou, Angela, Jackson, and Audrey before they left for home. Audrey looks sleepy.


Me and Sabine


Me with Aunt Maggie and Uncle Mike.


Me with Uncle Stan and Aunt Dawn.


Me with Ruben and Laura.


Me with Whitney.


Me with Mom and Dad.


Me and Laura.


Pop playing cane guitar?


Sabine with Mom and Dad.

p.s. I did make prints of these pictures and will be sending them to everybody with thank you cards. :)

2008 Christgiving - Part 2

As promised, here are some of the present pictures from Christgiving...


Audrey got a big fluffy pink poodle as one of her gifts and she really seemed to love it.


In fact, Jackson seemed to like it, too.


Jackson got some cool ink stamp sets with stamps of bugs, farm animals and Africa animals. And he got a Richard Scarry book (I believe it was Richard Scarry's What Do People Do All Day).


Audrey also got some costume jewelry like this tiara...


...and this frilly pink tutu.


Finally, here is a picture of the four sibs. The last time we were all together was in December 2006, in the same pose. Jackson decided to get in on the fun this time.

Now I'm going to try going back to bed. I woke up at 3am and couldn't fall back asleep so I came to tinker on the computer.

Tiki Fun

A week ago, our friend Maggie threw her annual Tiki Party at her house in Berwyn. We helped her build a "beach" next to the garage where everyone who came had their picture taken. It was a blast. She even hired a local band, the Windy City Islanders, to play.



My dashboard Homer got to come, too. He watched over the food table.


"Mmmmmmmm. Potato chips."

Save the Spindle

Sabine and I have been volunteering (more Sabine than me) in the grass-roots effort to save the Spindle (aka the car-kabob, even though there was another sculpture by the same artist by that name) which is in danger of being torn down to make way for a Walgreens. Friday night we went to a little gathering at a local bar which made the YouTube "news". :) It's unfortunately a little dark, and it was taken with a little digital camera (as opposed to a real video camera). Oh, and the website linked to by the title was put together by Sabine.