Hotel Hines

Peyton and Robert watching the Michigan State Bowl Game on Jan. 1, 2009! ...and my 1st attempt at french braiding...Peyton's hair is long enough to do it!!!!
You could call us 'Hotel Hines', especially after this last 6 rounds of company in 6 weeks! Robert and I have always had lots of company since we moved in with one another some 10 years ago (WOW!). In our crammed, 2 bedroom apartment in Atlanta, we hosted many a visitor - friends from high school, college, his sisters with hubbies, and 3 sets of parents. In Charlotte, we hosted the same with the addition of Atlanta friends. And now, here in Chicago, we are hosting the same individuals, with the addition of our NC friends! Friends and neighbors are always saying, "Company again? - wow!".

We our so very blessed and lucky to have so many friends (and our dear parents in TX, MI, and CA) that take time out of their busy schedules, spend their money, and make the effort to come see us - thank you to all. And please, Hotel Hines is always open; we LOVE the company...just call a day before to make sure we have "rooms available" (and that the house is clean!)! :o)

I have also included some pics with the start of the new year - Peyton with her teacher Mrs. Anweiler, her classmates Marissa and Sarah, Peyton sporting her new CA Hello Kitty outfit (quite sassy!), and last but not least, a silent video of one of our snow falls in early January (view from our deck off backyard). Enjoy!

Old Friends, Good Times, New Memories

Aunt Jenn reading to Vincent, Alex and Peyton before rest/nap time



Vincent, Sarah Kate and Peyton being silly!

Some of our oldest and dearest friends, the Andersons, came to see us in between Christmas and New Year's. Jenn and I go WAY back to the Disney college-program days (internship at Disney World). We met through one of my Disney roomies (thanks Dana!) back in Jan. 1994 and have been the best of friends since, even living together for a few years in Atlanta. We both started dating Robert and Glenn about the same time back in late '97/early '98 - the rest is history for both of us. Four kids later (3 for them and 1 for us), we all have a great time together - even our firsts, Vincent & Peyton, were born just 4 days apart!

They were here the 28th through the 1st and we were BUSY! The kids played wildly non-stop. We were hoping to go sledding but the rains a few days prior had other plans - NO snow! Monday Peyton and I took them to Gymquest, an open gym with big foam pits, swings, ropes, giant blow-up slides and climbing apparatuses, trampolines and such. Jenn and I were also able to sneak off to Party City this day while kids napped/rested. We stocked up on party favors for the upcomign New Year's party we were having on Wed.

Tuesday Robert was off and we headed into the city. We originally planned to go to Shedd Aquarium but quickly found out that the whales, penguins, and dolphins were 'on vacation' due to renovations....what? that's the whole reason to go to an aquarium - whales, dolphins, and penguins, OH MY! So we thought fast in the COLD and walked over to the Field Museum, where I was pleasantly pleased!

Four's a Crowd - Alex, Sarah Kate, Vincent & Peyton trying to stay warm!


The Hines take a photo with Sue, the T-REX...Peyton wasn't so sure!



There we found a great hands-on interactive lab for preschoolers. We met Mr. McFeely from Mister Roger's Neighborhood, who was there to read stories (great timing for us!) and pass out (FREE) signed books and tapes! We also got to see Sue, the infamous T-Rex, giant elephants, walk the world, visit the Caribbean (SIGH....), and see beautiful expensive gemstones from all over the world (Robert was digging this, you know!). With 4 kids age 4.5 to 14 mos., we didn't even see half of the place, but we all had a great time! From there, we headed to the Rainforest Cafe for a late lunch - always entertaining with great food!


Alex, Peyton and Vincent listening to Mr. McFeely reading; Below: Peyton with Mr. McFeely - quite the character!



Peyton in the Caribbean and Glenn 'walking around the world with the kids!



Alex and Peyton visiting the elephants at Rainforest Cafe~

Sarah Kate happy that she's finally eating - her favorite hobby!



Wed. the kids played most of the day while Glenn and Robert (when he got home about 1pm from work) worked on a major project in the master bedroom (thanks, Glenn; it looks GREAT!). Jenn helped me tidy up and prepare for the party, with another couple, the Campises, and their 2 kids. We know Chris and Tammy from Atlanta and have always remained close. Nice that we now live just an hour away and get to see them monthly. They, too, have a son Peyton's age, Connor; they play really well together (other son is Carter and he is 19 mos.).

The kids played and played from 5pm til about 9pm. The kids made their own pizzas for dinner, had their own countdown New Year's party, ate personalized cookies made by Peyton, had a PJ party and all read bedtime stories together. Finally, by 9:30pm, we had all 6 kids down and out (Connor even slept in Peyton's room for a sleepover!)! Then the 6 adults got to eat their dinner (scrumptius tenderloin, Robert!) and play, too! Nothing too crazy but very fun. 3 of the fuddy-duddies only made it to 12:10 am, while 3 of us (me, Chris & Tammy) made it to 1:30pm, complete with the giggles....that was me of course!

Kids playing Vincent's game of Hullabaloo~New Year's Eve

Eating their pizzas they made:

Making pizzas!


Celebrating the New Year (about 7:30pm)!

The finale PJ Party - 2 little ones already in bed asleep!


The Andersons were out of the house and on their way back to KY by 9:30am (before heading back to NC) and the Campises gone about 10:45am - what a great way to ring in the New Year - with dear old friends making new, fond memories!

Chris, Tammy, Robert, Jennifer with Glenn and Jenn in front seated

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

As usual, I'm behind - story of my life these days. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and I wish everyone healthy and happy wishes for the New Year!

December was a busy month for us (isn't each month?) with a visit from my Mom and JD (aka Grammie and Popi), Holiday parties, lots of sledding in the backyard and the neighbhood's BIG sledding hill, Breakfast with Santa at Robert's hotel (annual tradition he does for his employees and their kids), Peyton's show at dance class, a trip to MI for Christmas including meeting our Peyton's newest cousin Carson born 12.13.08, home to host the Andersons from NC (Jenn, Glenn, Vincent, Alex and Sarah Kate), and a big New Year's celebration with an additional couple and their kids (Chris, Tammy, Connor and Carter)! What a great time we all had! The following slide show represents some of the highlights from the past month or so - Enjoy!

Never a big fan of resolutions, I have 'decided' to make more of an effort in keeping up-to-date on our blog, sending/returning emails, making/returning phone calls, and such. I apologize to everyone for falling behind on my friend/family duties this last year; I aim to be better in the New Year - power of positive thinking, right??!!!

the lost videos...

In changing my blog, I remembered some of the videos I have taken over the last several months and wanted to share them. The first two are from Peyton's Fall Program in October. Just imagine a room full of 3 and 4 year olds singing this - it was hysterical and too cute!


This next one is from Peyton's last Sat. of soccer. It was cold that day...who knew it would sleet the following weekend?!


Stay tuned for more. Right now my camera with video/sound isn't working, so we'll have to go with soundless video for a bit on the old one. Hoping to get it repaired before Friday's Christmas program at school...wish me luck!!

Already December????

Okay, so I'm still behind...what else is new??!! November was a busy month with a trip to MI for a Michigan State game (Robert's Alma mater) with our friends Jenn & Mark Trenkle (we met way back in Atlanta), being sick and trying to get well (all of us at one time or another - tis the season!), the Ringling Bros. and Barnum Bailey Circus with our old friends (again we met in Atlanta)- Chris & Tammy Campise, playdates, preschool, Thanksgiving here with the Trenkles (Peyton got Zach to dress up as a Princess - she strikes again!), and getting ready for Christmas and my parents upcoming arrival. Enjoy the slide show of our November festivities....

Happy Holidays!!

Catching up...

Now that Christmas is upon us, I realized I didn't really put any pictures up of Halloween yet! Oh, time goes so fast, it scares me. I mean, has it really been a year since Robert, Peyton, and I flew out here to check it all out? And that we have lived in our house for 8.5 mos., and that my baby is about to be 4 years old and 6 mos.???? Unbelievable - all of it!


Robert's 37th Birthday - October 26...it sleeted with gail force winds this day!

Some pictures from Halloween, where we actually started out with no underclothes and flip-flops! Half-way through we had to come home to get shirt, pants, and socks/shoes for Peyton, and a heavy jacket for Mommy! And for those that asked, 2 pictures of Halloween decorations in our neighborhood. They don't do the houses justice, especially the ones with the lights - WOW!

Our Princess Fairy Tinkerbell Peyton....

I'm SCARED!!!!

See the upcoming forecast for this week.....just mid-November, not even really true winter yet......YIKES!!!!

http://weather.aol.com/forecast/todays/us/il/plainfield/id/60544;jsessionid=D08DF707C881289F82AECCEA30114963

I told Robert his company should have included a clothing allowance the 1st year with all the new winter-wear we are having to buy to be prepared...and stay WARM!!