Christmas Eve

We then spent Christmas Eve with my in-laws and neices and nephews. We are a bigger family this year with the weddings of Margaret and John Kelly. The more the merrier! It seems like yesterday that we had to pack along a nuch of diapers, bottles, a baby monitor and the works for when Johnny and Ali were just babies. Now instead of spending time packing up the truck for Hinsdale, we spend it with Ali selecting the perfect dress and explaining to Johnny why he has to wear the fancy pants. Ha! And my homemade Limmoncello. And it was at last time to say goodbye to "Tito," the elf. Thank God.  I cannot tell you how many times I found myself racing him around in the morning after he had been forgotten the night before. He spent the last month fishing, riding plastic horses, getting into cookies...I need to boost my creative reserves for next year.

Her Legacy Will Live on.

Ellie Kate "EK," was that very special girl who touch the lives of so many people she had never even met. She was born with a rare terminal genetic disease called NKH for short. Her parents (met and got to know  her incredible mom, Ryan, in 2007)  have been her champions for her seven years here as she has been in and out of the hospital. She loved music and to smile. And when she was called to go home, she did so surrounded by her brothers, sister and parents. I cannot imagine a worse heart break than that of losing a child. But I do believe EK is now free from pain and dancing above as she watches over her brothers and sister. This collage was created by her grandfather.