Entries Tagged as 'doug'

Christmas Dinner at Aunty Gail’s

December 28th, 2010 · No Comments


Cory, Miko, John


Kenji, Hideto and Derek playing the super-old pinball machine


Tickle fight with Tommy


Dallas & Rachelle. I don’t know why I’m so squinty. Wine?


As you can see, the kids were really focused on eating dinner (Tommy & Kenji)


Mitch & Hideto


Cory, Chris, Aunty Laura, Scotty, Krystyn, Hideto. In the front: Danny & Caroline.


Chris won the prize for figuring out how to fold up the chairs.


Aunty Glenna and Uncle BB


Trying to assemble for a family photo.


This always takes a while.


Getting closer…..


Almost there….


Made it! (Photo by Heather)
Back: Jeff, Heather, John, Kyle, Miko, Dallas, Chris, Caroline, Danny, Chris, Aly, Brad, Amanda, Cory.
Middle: Uncle Neil, Kate, Aunty Gail, Kenji, Aunty Peggy, Derek, Aunty Laura, Hideto, Uncle BB, Aunty Glenna.
Front: Doug, Naoko, Tommy, Mitch, Ben, Winnie, Rachelle


Dallas, Hideto, Cory


Kenji


Tommy


Some of the older kids help facilitate the gift exchange.


Derek, Chris, Mitch


Gift exchange in full swing.


Amanda and Brad. Brad got bacon popcorn that we brought.


Danny got Spam in the gift exchange.


Mitch & Chris


Tommy & Kenji


Dallas with his rice. (Photo by Heather)

On Christmas day we always go to Dallas’s Aunty Gail’s house out in Mount Prospect, IL. Every year Aunty Gail makes beef tenderloin, mashed potatoes, corn, green bean casserole and her mom’s lettuce/mayo/crab/pea salad. It never varies. Dessert varies because other people always bring different desserts, but Aunty Gail always makes her signature cookies. Now, I’m not complaining that it doesn’t vary, because it’s not like I’m eating steak and potatoes every night! And dinner always tastes super good.

After dinner all of the adults have a $10 gift exchange. There were a lot of people participating in the gift exchange this year. 25, I think, but it wasn’t very crazy at all. Not compared to some of the other years. We’re going to have to kick it up a notch next year. This year I came out with some votives and Dallas got a big bag of rice. Actually, he got something else and traded for the rice. He always wants that rice gift that Aunty Gail puts in every year.

This year it was amazing to see all the kids in the family. .. and more on the way!

Previous Christmases at Aunty Gail’s:
- 2009
- 2008
- 2007
- 2006
- 2005

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Doug & Naoko’s Labor Day Party

September 7th, 2010 · No Comments


Doug & Naoko’s House


Naoko and her friend in the kitchen


Guys standing around the grill: Matt, Danny, Sal, Doug


Grilling steak and fish for tacos


Hanging around in the living room: Jen, Claire, Kim, Chris, Mitch, Mia


Playing with Kenji (He’ll be 2 in December)


The new kitchen is so huge. Naoko is such a wonderful cook and baker. She must love it. (Aly’s friend, Aly, Aunty Glenna, Cory, Naoko)


Aunty Glenna & Uncle BB


Naoko surprised them with a cake for their 29th anniversary


Mrs. Hughes friend, Mrs. Hughes, Aunty Laura, Uncle BB, Danny, Caroline

On Sunday we went to Doug and Naoko’s house for a Labor Day barbecue. Doug and Naoko just moved to Palatine a few months ago. They’ve got two boys, Tommy and Kenji, and another baby on the way so it was time for them to get out of their small condo, I suppose. They did a lot of work to the house before they moved in and the house is big and gorgeous. Lots of open space. And I love their 3 seasons screened in room. The house is classic, yet modern at the same time. And I’m sure the kids will love all the outside space.

Naoko surprised Uncle BB and Aunty Glenna with a rose and a cake for their 29th anniversary. Aunty Glenna told me that they were like us and knew each other for 6 years before they got married, so really they’ve been together 35 years. Which is kind of funny because in a few days I’ll be 35 years old. I’m sure that did not make her feel old at all!

Doug & Naoko like to have a Labor Day party every year. Here are some photos from years past:

- 2005: we played a lot of horseshoes
- 2006: Jordan brought fresh smoked salmon from Alaska. He’d just been on a trip there.
- 2007: No Party?
- 2008: Lots of kids
- 2009: Also celebrated Aunty Gail’s retirement. One more photo from that year.

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Happy Hour at Bull & Bear

January 26th, 2010 · No Comments

On Friday night a bunch of people from my team went out for happy hour at Bull & Bear, a bar around the corner from our office. Aimee, who is officially the PM of HH, called ahead to reserve a tap table for us. I’ve been to Bull & Bear before, but only to the bar area. This table area was new. Here’s how it works:

Each table has two beer taps, one Bud Light and one something else. Ours was Bud Light and Stella. Some of the other tables had different kinds of Goose Island beers. The waitress gets you glasses and starts the meter and then you are free to help yourself to all the beer you want. There’s a computer with a screen that displays how many ounces of each beer that you have poured. It’s a pretty cool concept. Dangerous. We had so many people we were kind of all mingling in front of the table and the table was serving as our own private bar. I can imagine people sitting at the table and just drinking glass after glass without even the delay of wait staff going to get your drinks. Also, we wondered how many people had gotten totally bombed and put their mouths under the taps! I’m sure there’s the obvious reason for this, but just seeing how many ounces you’ve poured without a dollar amount attached is pretty useless. 72 ounces? No idea how much that bill is.

After just about everyone left I somehow thought it was a good idea to go with Ryan and Doug to O’Leary’s Public House. I grabbed some grub and had one more beer. It was a nice surprise to see a Green Bay Packers flag hanging in there!

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Kenji’s First Birthday

December 10th, 2009 · No Comments

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Kenji

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Rachelle & Kenji

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Doug, Dallas & Matt

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Kenji’s Thank You Note

Before going to Jess’s 30th birthday party on Saturday night, we went to Kenji’s first birthday during the day. How much he has grown since the little peanut I held last year at Christmastime! Kenji is a bit more reserved compared to his big brother Tommy who runs around and is super open with people and outgoing. Kenji’s better one on one and if he sees mommy Naoko, then your gig is probably up!

Naoko, of course, made the most delicious meal. I remember a hot reuben dip that was delicious. Also, she made eggplant parmesan and meatballs for about 30 people. So, so yummy. You can always count on Naoko for super good food! For dessert she made cake – yellow cake with strawberries and bananas in between the layers. She also made a homemade twinkie train where each car of the train is a homemade twinkie cake. Kenji got his own cake to himself. It took him a while to figure out what to do, but soon he was digging in there eating the cake and frosting like it was nobody’s business!

For take-homes we all got these personalized thank you notes (that matched the party invitation) attached to a bag of chocolate chip shortbread cookies and some smores treats. I don’t know how Naoko finds the time to do all of this with two little kids to chase after, but it sure is cute! Martha Stewart, that one!

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Labor Day Party Photo

October 22nd, 2009 · No Comments

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Schaumburg, IL

Just came across this photo that was taken earlier this year at Doug & Naoko’s Labor Day party (and Aunty Gail’s surprise retirement party. I thought Heather, Dallas’s cousin’s wife, took it, but she’s in the photo, so I’m not sure who did. This is most of the people at the party. You can see me, in the back, tip-toeing and still shorter than the 13-year-old behind me.

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