Happy winter!

It looks like winter has finally arrived here in the Midwest. We had our first (relatively) major snow on Monday, and have been navigating the icy streets ever since. We've been informed that this is just a teaser, so it'll be interesting to see how the rest of the season pans out!

My mom came out to visit last week and the three of us spent Thanksgiving in Peoria with Mike's family. There were 10 of us in total and I will have to jog many miles to work off all the yummy weight I gained.

The Thanksgiving table (we even had place cards!)

My mom enjoying a bourbon slush (my oh my were they good!)

Notice everyone holding a cup?

I think I had already had a couple bourbon slushes by this point, hence the bottle of water.

Me and mom

Joey (Mike's cousin)

Charlotte getting ready for all the food

Charlotte after all the food

After my mom left on Saturday, Mike and I went out and bought our first Christmas tree together...

meet Mabel

a polar bear ornament in honor of the ones suffering from the Greenhouse effect (merry, right?)

a sheep in honor of NZ (can someone get me a tui ornament?)

an apple in honor of NYC

a piggy bought at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC (and also in honor of Annie Bannanie!)

A squirrel in honor of Chicago and our first friends here

This gentleman needs no explanation

Photos from 5:30am Monday: