Sunday afternoon we had our annual excursion to see The Nutcracker at Clowes Hall.  Britt and Cade neither one had ever been so this year they went along with us.

Since the ballet was over around the same time as the Colts game we figured we should kill some time in Broad Ripple so we had dinner there before going down to the zoo.

The following photos were taken at Christmas at the Zoo.

This was our first year for this and is something I think we’ll start doing annually now.

I know this last photo has nothing to do with Christmas, but this was in the oceans exhibit and I thought it was pretty cool.

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This year seems to be flying by.  It’s so hard to believe we have less than a month before 2010.

Next year will be a bittersweet year as we have two graduations to prepare for.  Our babies are growing up so fast.

The following photos are from Thanksgiving Day with my family at my parent’s home.  My brother and his children were there as well as a cousin and my aunt and one uncle.

Hope you all have wonderful holidays.

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Sunday we had a Christmas gathering for my Mom’s family. Every year my Mom and her siblings take turns having holidays in their homes and this year it was at Uncle Calvin’s. The following photos are some of my favorites of the day.

My brother Scott didn’t shy away from the camera, but of course he didn’t look at me either. This is actually fine by me because I like candids without people looking at me the best anyway

This is my cousin Jeremy’s little girl L.

This is my cousin Rose’s Grandbaby.

My aunt has some of the most amazing holiday decorations and I took a lot of photos of those, but I really liked these stars.

My boys playing around on Aunt Nancy’s piano.

My cousin Jeremy’s other daughters A & J.

J is the sweetest little girl and just loves to tell stories. She’s very imaginative.

My cousin Jarod’s little girl K.

Another photo of K.

. . .and another of L.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season.

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This time of year has always been my favorite, except for crazy traffic and what seems like thousands of people in every store imagineable it is just about perfect.

I love snow and by all accounts think it is just beautiful. I love the way it forms a blanket over the hills and treetops here in our forest known as Ravinia Woods.

My favorite part of winter though is Christmas. I still have one that waits anxiously and excitedly for Santa and I love to see family members that unfortunately we don’t see at any other time of the year. Christmas music plays constantly in our house sometimes even before Thanksgiving.

My other favorite part about the holiday season is going to see “The Nutcracker”. Last year was the first year for me to see this magnificent production. My wonderful husband has decided this needs to be a yearly event for us since I love it so. So tonight is our night and I’m just thrilled beyond belief. How lucky for me to get to see this magical story every Christmastime.

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My Grandma Rose

My brother & niece Lily

Chris took me to see the Nutcracker!! I have wanted to go see this my entire adult life and never managed to make it. He surprised me with tickets and what wonderful seats we had. I can’t wait to see it again next winter. That same weekend we also had tickets to see Chicago in concert downtown and he surprised me yet again, with dinner at Oceanaire. This place has got to be the best seafood restaurant in Indiana.

The following week was my birthday week and we (Chris, Cade & I) met up with one of my best girlfriends Julie and her boyfriend Joe and daughter Hannah. Cade and Hannah are not quite 2 weeks apart in age and have known each other since they were babies. They don’t get to see each other much, but become fast friends every time we get together. Hannah nicknamed Cade Harry Potter last year when he started wearing his glasses and now this year he has started calling her Hannah Montana. Kids are so darn cute.

Well, they pulled a fast one on us weekend option folk at the hospital and are forcing us to cover holidays that don’t fall on the weekends now too. That means this year Chris and I have to work Christmas night. I suppose if I had to pick one it would be that rather than Christmas Eve.

Chris was able to get tickets for he and Cory to see the Colts play on December 23rd, they had a blast, this was Cory’s first NFL game. While they were at the game, Britt, Cade and I went to my Uncle Calvin’s for a Christmas gathering for my Mom’s family. I can’t believe so many people made it this year. I believe I counted 51 in all. We didn’t stay for very long since I had plans for Christmas for my Dad’s family that evening. Definitely not as many people, but a nice gathering nonetheless. Afterwards Cory & Cade headed back to their father’s to spend Christmas Eve with him then came back the following evening to spend Christmas morning with us. Busy, busy, busy not to mention chaotic, but it’s over for yet another year.

I certainly hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday season!!

Britt loved her new boots

Cory with his stocking

Cade loved his new laptop (pretend)

Lily, Britt and Huni

Mom & Dad

Grandma Rose

My Uncle Tim

The newest member of our family, Sophia

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