Final Visits

I know it's taken me a long time to post about our trip, but you'll see there was a lot of activity! I love long visits to Indiana since we have so much family and many friends; I want to see everyone as much as possible. Even when we leave, I wish we had more time. My last night there, Mom, Milo and I met Kathy and family for a relaxing dinner out with adorable children acting like angels.

The last morning, April and I took the boys to the Children's museum. Milo and Emmet were great playmates. I am sure they would be BFF's like his mom and I if we lived closer. It was the perfect plan to get Milo tired for the flight making him a sleeping angel on over half the flight home. These flights were the easiest of my life. I actually read 100 pages of Freedom each direction! Thanks to Milo being tired each way and his portable DVD player. It was a great trip, and I miss everyone so much already.

Painting at Connie's

One of Connie's Christmas presents from her Dad was finishing a lot of detail work on her older home. I love her home for all its age and charm. Now I love it more with the finished, fresh dining room painted in record time by the four of us while my Dad watched Milo and Nathan.
I asked Connie if she thought her husband should be on a scaffold over the basement stairs while he battled cancer, she said at least there were three of us to help take him to the hospital. You just can't keep a home improvement junkie down!

Milo and Nonna

Milo and Nonna always have a great time together! Staying at her house, he got to sleep in her cozy bed with her, eat lots of candy and treats and watch new movies she has collected for years. She looks great and has so much energy now, a good thing if you're hanging out with Milo!

Eiteljorg Museum

Several friends tipped us to the Jingle Rails exhibit at the Eiteljorg downtown Indianapolis. It was a great place to visit; we saw the whole place in 2 hours and enjoyed a nice lunch in the cafe!

The downstairs section has kid activities year round.
If you live in Indiana and have never been, check it out!

Walker Party

Donna's family gathered at one of our favorite places for a lunch reunion where Milo was spoiled with more presents!

Here is Milo playing with one of his presents from Aunt Denise.

Happy 3rd Nathan!

New Year's Day is also Nathan's birthday! Lyna and Sam threw a lovely party at their church with lots to do in plenty of space for friends and family to visit.
These rocks on the cake tasted like m&m's! Didn't she make a cute cake, and she never even took a class!

Dad is always happy to be the clown!

Milo and Leah- so adorable!

Nathan was the typical overwhelmed party boy too excited by his gifts to open them all!

Happy New Year 2011

Lyman and I went to the Hyatt party in Indianapolis a few years ago and had a really nice time despite him being sick at the time. We thought this year would be a lot more fun since A. we were not sick and B. we had Kelly and Mike as company. It was a lot of fun to be with friends, but the party was not as fun- fewer activities, less bands and variety of music for more money! Next time Lyman and I have a New Years together, I think we'll skip a big party in favor of a great dinner out with friends and nice hotel alone.
Our dinner at Palomino was fantastic! Everyone loved their drinks, food and dessert.

Lyman asked the table for their highlight of 2010. This was very touching from my cousin Connie and husband Brian who have had a hell of a year as they battled his cancer. We all had a lot to be thankful and hopeful for in this new year.

Jack Frost

There were several inches of snow on the ground when we arrived in Indiana. From the first car ride there, Nonna told Milo about Jack Frost, and he never stopped talking about him!

Don't eat the yellow snow!

Sledding!

Grandpa Dave and Grandma Penny have a nice, gentle slop down their front lawn perfect for sledding. Milo was, like me, a real wimp about the snow, wanting to go inside after his mittens were frosty then wet. I was glad we had several pairs and a new, warmer face mask hat from Donna to keep him out later to enjoy what he will never see at our house!

Gift Extravaganza

Someone asked me at work today if Milo got a lot of gifts; I just laughed at the understatement. He was spoiled silly, rightly so I think, since he is such a super kid! He was dying for Santa to come to our house, and not disappointed at all to find the Batcave and talking Buzz he asked for missing. However, when he got them in Indiana, he was over the moon.
We did all the gifts together with all mid-western grandparents, aunties, uncles and friends. It was chaos. Loud. Confusing. My dad and brother-in-law kept wanting to plow through, but I could tell Milo was trying not to pee or poo poo in his pants from the excitement.
The gift giving never abated. Later there were gifts from Uncle Doug and mt Grandma for the boys- more, more, more fun! I got some very nice things too, but the best part was being with my family and friends.

For Grandpa Lyman

Grandpa Lyman sent Milo this super music mixing board. He was singing along like crazy until he saw me with the video. He really likes it- thanks!

Christmas!

We had a really wonderful Christmas season, and hopefully you did too! Milo looks like he's been naughty in this picture, but we all know how nice he is. Santa treated him very well!





Here is one thing every parent hears over and over at Christmas time!