I have a lot to catch up on!

Thanksgiving!
So, we ended back in November...Let's start with Thanksgiving. We were able to go back to Chicago and spend a wonderful week with Matt's family. Christine and Nancy and I made Thanksgiving dinner for 25 hungry people. It was a riot. We told everyone that we'd eat by 3. Well, the turkey had other plans and we didn't eat until 4. It's really hard to cook when you've go really hungry people hanging over your shoulders!
Auntie Christine taking some time out for snuggling with Matthew while cooking the Turkey.

A couple of things for my family to notice: Rob, check out that big bowl of mashed potatoes! And for Dykstra tradition, I made Rainbow Jello and added an extra plate of butter to the table because you always have to SEE the butter at a Dykstra meal. It was all delicious.

We also got to see cousins Eli, Maggie, and Sophie while we were in Chicago.

Now on to HAWAII!!!

...with the basketball team

Yes, so very romantic! Anyway, we had a fabulous time with the great group of coaches and players and manager that Matt has. My parents were able to come and join us, too. What a blessing. I needed them because Matt got violently ill for two and a half out the five and a half days we were there. Food poisoning? We don't know, all we know is that he was so sick he couldn't even coach one of the games that we were there to play! Oh yeah, I guess we were there to play basketball, I barely noticed. I was having too much fun at the Honolulu (or as Matt would pronounce it: Honoluhoo) Zoo, shopping in the markets, taking in sunsets, and just being with everyone. What a great trip. I really would like to go back, though (Matt, I'm speaking to you) without children, especially ones that need to nap during prime sun-tanning hours! Here's some good sunset pictures of our family on Waikiki Beach:

Okay, that's good for right this minute, I'll be back to continue on with Christmas in Florida!