Monday, December 31, 2007

A Sick New Year's Eve

Thanks for checking in to see how the Kramer Christmas went. We are truly blessed!

Wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year this New Year's Eve. We'll be tucked tight in our beds come midnight so I'm posting this message now.

Isabella has a nasty upper respiratory infection and I have pneumonia. So-doctor's orders-stay in bed!

Wishing you a wonderful start to the new year!

Friday, December 28, 2007

Our Christmas Story

Merry Christmas! Wow! What a busy and blessed few days. We were so lucky to spend Christmas with our wonderful families (who are way too generous!)! We all were spoiled with presents, savoy foods & desserts and lovin'!

Check out this video of our fun-filled week. But first get some popcorn and turn off your screen-saver because this is a long one-over 20 minutes.

Enjoy!

Monday, December 24, 2007

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Holiday Beginnings

Merry Christmas from the Kramers!

We've had a wonderful start to the holiday season, spending time with friends and family. More memory-making plans are in the works and Christmas is just five days away.

If you've got 10 minutes to spend getting in the holiday spirit, watch our video.
View this montage created at One True Media
Holiday Beginnings 12/20/07


Have a joyous Christmas! We'll be back late next week with new posts and pics.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Weekend pictures

What a great weekend even with Isabella's sudden onset earache!

Kevin's office party was a blast-so many kids, growing families. I remember jut five years ago when the company had only 10 employees. Now it's huge! Movies in all the theatre rooms, food, desserts, a visit by Santa and his elf, presents, friends-what a great time.

The foster family party was exciting, too. Seeing the excitement in the kids eyes was so worth the paper cuts from wrapping paper (kidding). Every child got every gift on his or her list. They won't forget this Christmas! It was at this party that Isabella went from crazy kid to a crying one. She spiked a fever of 104.5 degrees and we headed home thinking we were going to miss the Polar Express.

After taking with the After Hours doctor service we filled her with Motrin and Tylenol and hoped for a miracle. Within three hours, her fever broke and she was acting normal. Weird!

She we went on the Polar Express! What a fun night even with the four screaming 8-year-old kids sitting behind us. Christmas carols, hot cocoa and cookies, the story, elves, a visit to the North Pole, a visit from Santa and a special bell present. Isabella had a blast-until she passed out from exhaustion on the train ride home.

I'm posting a few pics tonight and will get to the hundred others later this week!




Friday, December 14, 2007

First holiday parties of the year

Well, last weekend marked the first of many Christmas parties for the Kramers, and a busy party-filled weekend kicked off last night with the Kent State University Faculty Holiday Party.

You may ask, what, you went to a faculty party? Well, yes, Isabella and I attended the festivities since I have the new role as the official PR/event management agency for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. I've been working with The J School for about six weeks and will continue my work with them through at least June. It's been a fun and challenging experience so far and I look forward to the great events we are hosting to open the brand new school in Spring 2008.

Enough of that and back to the party schedule! Tonight marks the annual STI/AVI Family Holiday Party (Kevin's office party). It's great for the kids because every single one gets a bag full of presents. The big kids (us) enjoy food and drinks. It's a wonderful time.

Then, tomorrow we head back to STI/AVI for the first annual foster family Christmas Party. Every single employee donated money which the company matched to adopt four families. We got wish lists from the kids and bought them a ton. Kevin, Isabella and I helped wrap the gifts last week. Let's just say, these kids are going to remember this Christmas for years. Santa will make a special appearance; we'll have food and cookies (I'm actually baking!) and we'll show Christmas movies and specials in all the movie theater rooms. Can't wait.

Then, tomorrow night we journey on the Polar Express thanks to Aunt Linda's lucky raffle ticket number and her generosity. She gave the tickets to Grandma Sue since she already had tickets for her grandkids. I've never ridden the Polar Express because it's REALLY hard to get tickets. You must enter a lottery in August and then IF your number is picked, pony up $30-$45 a ticket. So this free night will be one to remember. Grandma Sue and Papa Al will join us and Tiffany, Kelsey and Kylie for pizza before we all head off to see Santa! (We'll see how it goes since Isabella is petrified of him!)

I'll post plenty of pics next week!

Now it's off to frost more cut-out cookies...

Sunday, December 09, 2007

2007 NEO Guat Family Group X-mas Party

Adoption has changed our lives! Not only do we have Isabella, but we also have been very lucky to make great friends who have enriched their lives through adoption.

Thus, the NEO Guatemala Family Group!

It was started a little over a year ago by a mom who was waiting to bring her daughter home. Christmas was approaching and she was down much like I was the year prior. She longed for her baby. So she reached out to others in NEO who were in a similar situation. She posted a note on adoption.com asking anyone who was in her situation who wanted to meet to talk and cry and bond, to meet her for lunch. Twelve people responded and the group was born. Now most of the babies are home and we were able to celebrate with all of them at the 1st annual Christmas Party.

I got involved with the group mid last year when I met the "president" online. And now I'm lucky to call her a friend. Thanks so much, Mindy, for such a great day!

View this montage created at One True Media
NEO Guat X-mas Party 12/8/07

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

'Tis the Season for....STRESS

Let me start out by saying that I love Christmas. I love the music, the time with family, the decorations, the scents. But what I don't like is the stress!

It's only Dec. 5 and I'm already stressed out. I can't fit everything in the day that needs to get done. I usually have my Christmas cards and shopping done before Halloween but this year, I'm having a hard time getting it all done. And the thought of baking cookies, making it to all the parties, wrapping all the gifts, signing all the cards....AHHHHH! There's not enough time in the day!

But I'll make it work! 'Tis the season!

Monday, December 03, 2007

Holiday Tradition

We started a new Christmas tradition last year. The family (Gaylord side)-Grandma Mary, Papa Steve, Aunt Julie (and Uncle Chris when he's not at the base), Kevin, Isabella and me-head to Hartville Flea Market for a day of shopping. Aunt Dee Dee, Uncle Ted, Brit (and Bobby) and Jessie joined us for the day.

The market is decorated so nicely with trees and garland and Santa and Mrs. Claus were even there. (Too bad Isabella is petrified of him!). Dinner was delicious! And after seven hours-Isabella was a tired baby!