Bridal Shower for Natalia

Natalia's Bridal Shower

Joe and Natalia's wedding is just a little more than a month away now!  Her mom and I gave a bridal shower for her May 26th along with the bridesmaids.  It was so nice - they received beautiful gifts and should be well on their way to getting their household up and running.  Thank you all for coming and showering them with your love and support.  This is the cake Natalia's mom, Edel, made. It was so delicious!  She should be a professional pastry chef!!   The wedding venue is a farm out in Elburn - a western suburb.  It is so beautiful there.  Here is a picture of them on the farm:

and the path they will walk to say their vows:

I can't wait - love you both so much - again, can't say it enough - we are so blessed!!!

May Birthdays

Happy Birthday Vince and Sarah!

My "baby" celebrated his 22nd birthday last Thursday with his sister-in-law, Sarah!  So fun to have 2 on the same day!  We went to Coopers Hawk and had a wonderful dinner and a little wine-tasting.  They do have some delicious wines to try out.  We had a great time and as always sweet Lilly kept us all smiling - she is such a precious little lamb!  Vince, I pray your year ahead is blessed with love and happiness and I thank the Lord for the wonderful man of God that you have become.  We are so blessed to have you as our son and can't wait to see the future plans the Lord has for you.  And Sarah, we could not be more blessed to have such a beautiful daughter-in-law in every way - I pray the Lord blesses your year ahead with love and happiness, too.  I am so thankful for my wonderful family. 

First Flower of the Season

Just a lazy afternoon after church and dinner - I was sitting on the porch swing soaking up some of the wonderful sunshine and enjoying the 60 degree weather and lo and behold ... I looked down and there was this beautiful little crocus swaying in the gentle breeze ...  C'mon spring - my favorite time of the year!

Fun Fiesta Friday with Lilly

Ken took us to El Torero for some Friday fiesta fun - Lilly had a great time and was so good!  She is a precious little lamb and I love her so!

 

Classic Flourless Chocolate Cake - for my gluten-free family and friends

For my gluten-free family and friends ... I promised I would post this recipe, so here it is!
Very delicious - especially after just baked and still warm ... Bon appetit!

Classic Flourless Chocolate Cake

originally from Gourmet Magazine Nov. 1997

4-oz dark or bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup cocoa powder (pref. dutch process)

Preheat oven to 375F. Line an 8-inch cake pan with parchment paper (or wax paper) and lightly grease.
In a small, microwave-safe bowl, melt together chocolate and butter, stirring with a fork until very smooth.
Pour warm chocolate mixture into a medium mixing bowl with sugar. Whisk to combine. Beat in eggs one at a time, waiting until each has been fully incorporated to add the next, then mix in vanilla extract. Sift cocoa powder into the bowl and whisk until well-combined.
Pour into prepared cake pan.
Bake for 25 minutes.
Allow cake to cool in pan for 5 minutes, then run a knife around the edge of the cake and invert onto a serving platter. Dust with cocoa powder or powdered sugar (or both), if desired. Serve warm or at room temperature. Store leftovers in an airtight container.
Serves 8-10

Lilly is 9 months old today

Can't believe sweet Lilly is 9 months old already.  She is a precious blessing and we love her so!

 

I love being a grandma!

 

So You Thought Winter Was Over

 So this mild winter made you think winter was over ... think again ..

my ride to work this morning - so-o-o-o glad we have 4-wheel drive!

Nurse Natalia

Congratulations to my daughter-in-law-to-be on passing her nursing exams❣ yay❣❣❣

Natalia Litzenberger, RN

♥“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 ♥

Congrats fellow RN❣

Happy Valentine's Day

Here is our sweet pea, Lilly, in her Valentine's Day Picture!  So, so cute ...

It is the best being a grandma!  I can't wait for more grandchildren.  As Ken says, grandchildren are God's consolation for getting old!  I just can't say it enough - she melts my heart with her smile!

Here Lilly is with Uncle Vince just last Sunday - just chillin'!

And I can't forget that in exactly 5 months from today Joe and Natalia will be married!  What a good year!  We are so blessed!

Fun Friday - Bunco Babes Feb 3rd

As the winter drags on, especially through long boring January, it is good to get together with good friends.  We started off the Bunco New Year at JV's this year and had a great time.  It was good to see everyone.  And here is the mandatory group picture with the usual rabbit ears, etc........... miss you Lynn, my dear BFF!

Finally finished! Lilly's Blanket

It took me forever to finish Lilly's cross stitch blanket - a year to be exact!  But here it is .... hope it will be a nice keepsake for her.  Now to finish the matching wall hanging!  My arthritis makes it a painful labor of love, but I love doing it.

Fun Friday

Sarah invited me to go to Barnes and Noble for reading time with Lilly and as you can see the story was a about Clifford - his first Valentine's Day.  Lilly was adorable ~ not that I'm biased or anything!!

 Lilly checked out that big red nose!

Aunt Natalia joined us, too.

and, of course Grandpa gave instructions to get a book - here's Lilly reading her new Peek-a-boo
Valentine's book with mommy.  So-o-o cute!

It was a fun Friday!

January 26, 2012

Thought about Mom all day today as she went home to be with the Lord 7 years ago today - how I miss her.  She would have been so happy when Lilly was born and we finally got another girl in the family.  Am saving your dollhouse for her, Mom!  I know Mom would like that! ...and I was reminded of a favorite poem of hers from Tom called When Tomorrow Starts Without Me: 

When tomorrow starts without me
And I'm not there to see;
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me.
I wish so much you wouldn't cry
The way you did today;
While thinking of the many things
We didn't get to say. 

I know how much you love me
As much as I love you;
And each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too.
But when tomorrow starts without me
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name
And took me by the hand. 

She said my place was ready
In heaven far above;
And that I'd have to leave behind,
All those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye;
For all my life, I'd always thought
I didn't want to die. 

I had so much to live for,
So much yet to do;
It seemed almost impossible,
That I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad;
I thought of all the love we shared,
And all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday
Just even for awhile,
I'd say goodbye and kiss you
And maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized
That this could never be;
For emptiness and memories
Would take the place of me. 

And when I thought of worldly things
I might miss come tomorrow;
I thought of you, and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through heaven's gates
I felt so much at home;
When God looked down and smiled at me
From His great golden throne. 

He said, "This is eternity
And all I've promised you;
Today your life on earth is past,
But here it all starts anew."
"I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last;
And since each day's the same day,
There's no longing for the past."
"But you have been so faithful,
So trusting and so true;
Though at times you did do things,
You knew you shouldn't do."
"But you have been forgiven
And now at last you're free;
So won't you take my hand
And share my life with me?" 

So when tomorrow starts without me,
Don't think we're far apart
For every time you think of me,
I'm right here in your heart.

2011 in "review"

I haven't posted in a while - been on facebook in a while - etc.....  It is amazing how time whizzes by, especially during the holidays.  Its seems like it was just Thanksgiving break and we are already approaching mid-semester break!  Lilly is already 7 months old and it seems like she was just born.  Joe and Natalia have been engaged now for 5 months and have just over 5 mos. until they marry!

The big blizzard February 2nd made us contemplate moving to warmer climates~here is our driveway - can't see it, can you - that is the maibox peaking out at the street.  We were not sorry that we had a snowless holiday this year - for sure!!

 

Cheerleaders and our annual Valentines Day Balloon fundraiser - lots of fun - I miss them!

 April 6th we lost our faithful friend, Kuma.  I still wait to hear his bark when we come home. 

 In April we went to the Bahamas for my nephew Mike's destination wedding.  We had a wonderful time and his new wife, Stephanie, and her family are so nice and fun to be with.

here we are at the Atlantis on Nassau

 spring at the Kramer house - the crabapples were is gorgeous full bloom this year!

 

April 17th Kenny turned 26 - as Grandma Serra used to say "can imagine!"

 April 24th - Easter at our house:

 

Dad & Pete

 

Rob, Linda, Aaron & Nathan

Joe and Ken and their favorite Pretzel Salad

 

Dad, Eve, Wendy & Paul

expectant Sarah and cousin Judy

 

May brought the wedding of nephew Jake to Laurel Fitchner - beautiful wedding, lovely couple!!

and a Baby shower for Ken and Sarah at our house

 

May 31st Sarah turned 26 and Vince turned 21 - my youngest - so hard to believe he is no longer a little boy but a wonderful young man.  For some reason I did not take pictures of either?? Here is Vince standing up at Jake's wedding:

cousin Breanna turned 1 and there was a huge celebration June 5th for her

 

AND June 6th brought the birth of our first grandchild, Lillian Elizabeth Kramer!

and here is the first of my 2 favorite group pictures of the year.  Can you believe they let us all in the delivery room!! So glad they did - and they even helped us take the picture .... way to go nurses - you rock!!

June - the little dress I bought Lilly - she is only a week old here

Father's Day in June

My birthday in June with Lilly at the Botanic Gardens

Lilly's Baptism June 29th with Godparents: Joe and Val

we hosted her party at our house.

July - Lilly is one month old

and her dad is a Sox fan - can you tell??

Sleeping through the fourth of July parade - sirens and all!

AUGUST:

Joe and Natalia at Alex and Rachel Kurz's wedding - Joe was a groomsman

Alex and Rachel - beautiful couple!

In August Ken and Sarah took us to a White Sox game - thanks for the great day together!

and on August 20th Joe proposed to Natalia and she said YES!

September brought Pop's 83rd Birthday

and the "KIDS" at the Bunco family BBQ at Mike and Debbi Passaglia's - a yearly tradition of fun!

Natalia's aunt hosted a wonderful engagement party for Joe and Natalia in October:

and here is my second favorite group picture of the year:

and the funniest pic of the year~the last thing anyone expected was for Natalia to push cake in Joe's face, but she did!  and it was hilarious!!  Look at Aaron and Ken's faces - they were the first to catch it!

 and long-time friend Whittaker Bennett married Emily Fitchner - another wonderful couple!

In November we celebrated Ken's Birthday~Sarah made a great cake with Lilly's help!

and the next day Thanksgiving:

December Bunco Christmas Party:

and in December Natalia graduated from Nursing School~way to go Natalia!!

Joe's Birthday:

a warm hat from Natalia

and then there was the celebration of our Lord and Saviour's birth and the blessing of family ....

I love Christmas

and finally New Year's Eve:

Vince and friend Kevin going to a costume party....

and Lilly wishes everyone a Happy New Year!

Lord bless you in the New Year.  I am so thankful for the many blessings of the past year, for wonderful family and friends and especially sweet Lilly!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:1

Behold, I will do a new thing. Isaiah 43:19a

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6