Christmas in Flora

To wrap up our time with family we spent a few days in Flora with the Hackney side of the family.

Dusty with the most appropriate gift...ninja dust!

We also got to spend a little time with Glenn, Tina, and Olivia who were in the area from Belgium visiting family.  It was nice to catch up with my gracious hosts from mine and Marla's European adventure.  Rachel enjoyed getting to meet Olivia.

Christmas 2018

We kicked off the Christmas festivities on Christmas Eve at home opening gifts.  When your son works at Best Buy who knows what will show up under the tree!  Aaron surprised Dusty and I with an upgrade.

And Christmas is not complete until Dusty has unwrapped a Chuck Norris calendar

On Christmas Day it was off to Mom and Dad's.  The usual full mantle.  (Note the Chuck Norris mask popping out of a stocking...wonder who that could be for?)

When one sibling has surgery and a heart valve replaced by a valve from a cow the other's must use the opportunity for fun...munching on cow tails!

My Christmas dinner...which looks remarkably the same from year to year

Present time

Trying out the flying presents outdoors.  Our family has notoriously bad luck with any sort of flying toy.

Rachel got make-up help from Haylei

PJ's from Memaw

The evening concluded with a spirited game of UNO

and karaoke 

Daniel got to partake in a special treat....waffles sent to us from Belgium by the Dietrick family.  I made a convert out of him.

No December is complete...

...without a trip downtown.  We had our fill at PF Changs and then headed to Monument circle.

Can't miss shooting this shot.  I have one for just about every year...and they all look just about like this!

Holiday traditions

Our Decembers are full of fun Christmas tradition.  This year is no exception.  Rachel and I have made the Festival of Trees at the Indiana Historical Society a regular addition to our holiday activities.  This year Heather and Alli join in on the fun.

We always have to have a "leg lamp" photo.

Lots of beautiful trees and fun with our friends

Rachel and I were also able to spend an evening at the symphony for the Yuletide celebration.  This fun show never disappoints.

And we always have a holiday concert thrown into the mix.  8th-grade choir concert at East Middle school.

Rachel and one of her besties, Katya

Party with the Peeps

I'm always ready to fill the house with friends and have fun!  

This festive party included a dance-off with Kaison

Some gnome-making

Euchre instruction for the kiddos

and super-rich desserts...of course

No better way to get some mileage out of our Christmas sweaters!

Turkey Time

Our annual "take a photo while we're together so I can have something for a Christmas card" shot

Thanksgiving dinner was at Daniel's again this year.  Mom and Dad stayed with us so we got in the morning prep work at our house.

Then hustled over to Daniel and Elle's in time to catch some of the parade.

A shot to prove Rachel has tiny feet.  Even Molly is overtaking her.

Digging through Black Friday ads...even though we don't really go shopping on Black Friday anymore

Instead we head to Illinois on Friday and Rachel gets her puppy snuggles in with Milo.

And off to Effingham for dinner and a movie

Included in this trip - Makenna and I tackled the challenge of her room.  I'll not post the before, but I've got to hand it to her.  She worked hard and the end result was worth it.  Even Charlotte the cat thought it was great!

Another year of shoeboxes

November brings with it a week full of Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.  This year was no exception and we rolled through a tiring but fun week.  This is my "Sunday Crew".  Every year Rachel, Hayden, and Max lay claim to the Sunday volunteer slots.  They've made quite a team

Young and "not as young" all chip in to help. 

Even got help from a service dog this year!

Then after a long week it's time to load up

And EVERYONE gets in on this action

A full truck...reward for a job well done!