Christmas in Indiana: Part 1

We had the most wonderful opportunity to spend Christmas with my parents and my brother and his family in Indiana! Getting there was a bit of an adventure (the 24 hour flu bug decided to strike the weekend before we were to depart on Tuesday...happily it left on Monday....we decided to leave on Wednesday just to make sure it really was gone! And, as we drove to Indy, we learned that our chosen route included a mountain that had fallen over...not just a few rocks either....so we had to take a two hour detour. Happily it was a beautiful day and the kids did great...and we didn't even have the laptop for movie viewing with us this time....pretty impressive, I know :)...in between reading and coloring and sleeping, they actually looked out the window and enjoyed the drive...all 13+ hours of it!)

Leading up to our departure, we had been tracking the weather forecast for Indiana. We were so excited to see SNOW predicted for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday....that would mean a white Christmas...and time for playing in the snow there! While it didn't turn out to be a white Christmas, it did snow on Saturday and Sunday and there was enough snow to go sledding on Monday before we left on Tuesday! :) We found the best hill in town, which happened to be private property...so, Brenden knocked on the door and explained we were from South Carolina where it doesn't usually snow and that we had 7 children that were hoping to go sledding....and well, how could anyone say no to that? :) They had a great time! (Pictures to follow in Part 2.)

So....we had lots of fun while at Grandma and Grandpa Mac's. We went to the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the World's Largest (and best) Children's Museum (pictures also to follow in Part 2).

We spent one evening making gingerbread houses...a favorite tradition. The four younger kids (Quinn, Ammon, Cali and Raquel) worked together with Grandma in the kitchen on one.
And, the older ones (Elise, Kylie, Chet and Savannah) worked on one in the dining room. Grandma had made special gingerbread men aprons for the kids to wear...so cute! They were all having a great time when....The kitchen crew's house came tumbling down (I think the kids must've loaded it with too much candy :) )....the kids didn't seem to mind, though, as they had fun eating their creation.The dining room crew completed their house over two days...it was absolutely beautiful.Christmas morning was lots of fun. This photo was taken as everyone enjoyed discovering the contents their stockings. What a houseful we had...and there were 6 more that aren't in this picture.

I gave Grandma soft, warm jammies and made a special fleece lined knitted cap and scarf for Grandpa. I was happy to learn that he wears his cap faithfully each night as he sleeps to keep him warm. :)
We have a family tradition of taking a family photo on the Sunday near Christmas....so here's 2009 Christmas Sunday photo. It's difficult to get Brooke to look at the camera these days...especially when we're shooting with a timer. Happily everyone else is looking at the camera and smiling! :)

This was our Sunday dinner....beautifully set table, beautiful family. (Stephen and his family were with Juli's family that day. Elise is holding Sierra, Maggie's daughter. Both Sierra and Raquel spent Christmas with all of us there. Not sure where Raquel is for this picture....)

We also got to see our good friends the Larson's while in Indy. We got to see a spot of land just down the street from them where there are plans to build a stake center....and hopefully a temple sometime in the next few years or so! This picture was taken at the Larson's home...I did get a photo with Cheryl, but it's turned sideways...so, I'll have to fix that and post that later.

Our time in Indiana always goes so fast! I so enjoyed the visit...got to sew with Mom, read some old letters from my Grandfather Chet and others, and just being together for Christmas....we now have wonderful memories to cherish!

Here is our traditional photo that we always take just before climbing into the van and driving away. It's fun to look at these "concluding" photos over the years....
We love our family so much and look forward to visiting them again! Life is good.

Happy New Year!

Halloween 31 October 2009

Halloween...lots of fun dressing up....here are the older 6, ready to go to our ward Halloween party....I had fun braiding a hanger into Kylie's hair so it would stick out for her Pippy Long Stocking costume. Elise, the country girl; Chet, the YuGiOh Dual Master; Savannah, "Sarah" the Dragon (she "just likes that name"); Quinn, the Knight....who happens to be after the dragon, Sarah...much to Savannah's dismay; and Ammon, as Buzz Lightyear.

Later, Elise turned into the girl from Hawaii...shorts, sunglasses, Hawaiian shirt...much cooler for our 80+ degree weather! So, I decided to go "cowgirl" with Brooke for our neighborhood gathering.

Brenden scared all the trick-or-treaters that came our way that evening....it was hilarious to hear the kids saying things like, "He's not real." "You go...no you go up there..." And, then, to hear them gasp when they actually pulled together enough courage to approach the door...only to have Brenden move! (Brenden would stand in front of the candy bucket...then move aside when they came up.) I have to agree...he does look pretty scary!

It's Fall....almost October 2009

Once again it is almost November and it's 80 degrees outside. The kids love that they can still wear shorts! :)

Brenden's Birthday! October 2009

We celebrated another birthday for Brenden....one year older and wiser....
We had banana and chocolate cream pies....YUM!

Picking Apples October 2009

From Table Rock, we drove to Mountain Rest, SC where we picked apples! The trees were loaded...and there were lots of gnats loving the apples that were on the ground....so it didn't take us long to pick our bushel or so of apples and be on our way :)

As always...Brooke is happy to be out and about with her family...keeping us smiling :)

Table Rock October 2009

Camping at Table Rock was a fun get-away for our family! The weather was great, the colors were beautiful, and being together was everything.

This was our first experience at Table Rock. When we pulled in to our reserved site, we discovered one long rock driveway. Not quite what we were expecting, but it actually turned out to be a nice spot. We set up our "Big Mac" tent...the tent I used to camp in with my family growing up! :), got a campfire going and enjoyed cooking hamburgers and roasting hotdogs for dinner.

There just happened to be a creek running at the far end of our site...which the boys were immediately drawn to. During our stay there, they designed a dam of sorts and created a little pool and a very relaxing babbling waterfall to listen to as we enjoyed the campfire. We also enjoyed a beautiful 5 mile hike that lead us to various waterfalls...

...the timing was perfect, as the colors were in full swing.

Quinn and Ammon enjoyed leading the pack much of the time.

The trail was well laid out. Although at one point, where there were some pretty steep steps to climb, I overheard Ammon (who was in front of me) talking to himself, saying, "Be strong. Be strong." as he climbed up the hill. What a trooper! :)
I collected a few leaves from our hike and put them on our table to enjoy.So...here's a snapshot of each of the kids...

Elise wasn't too keen on being photographed, so this is the best I could do...

Kylie and Brooke enjoyed swinging in our hammock...for the last time, I'm afraid. Just after this picture was taken, Brenden sat down in it, and....it broke. Bummer. It has served us well these last 17+ years....maybe it's a blessing in disguise and now we can get a more sturdy two-person hammock :) Chet managed to find several long legged friends...and happily discovered that they walk on water.

Savannah found the "tree to Terabithia" (sp?) on our hike...she was pretty excited about that! Quinn absolutely loved being out doors!Ammon....was just his wonderful self...happy to be anywhere....loving life in all its forms :) Brooke enjoyed being Daddy's little girl :) OK....so, I because I tend to be the photographer, I generally don't get many flattering pictures of myself....here I am carrying Ammon on my back.....It was a great weekend....must do it again!