Our Christmas

We enjoyed several days in Illinois with relatives for Christmas.  With changing work schedules, potential weather issues, and a flu epidemic we had to keep our schedule flexible.  Fortunately, we were able to enjoy time on both sides of our family.  Joel's family was dealing with the flu before Christmas and Mom and Dad got taken down by it after Christmas. 

Santa has his work cut out for him here...

 Fun at the kid's table

When adults get Nerf guns in their stockings...

What you get when you are the grandkid that is too old for toys

A Snuggie Tail Christmas

When your aunt is a talented face painter

We ended the evening with a surprise that Daniel had arranged for Elle.  A Filipino tradition...karaoke!  And everyone got into the act!

December 26th and a trip to Flora for more Christmas fun!

Christmas Eve

We headed over to Mom and Dad's Christmas Eve morning.  Aaron had to work, so he would be joining us on Christmas Day.  Snow was coming in and the temperatures were dropping fast. 

Candlelight Christmas Eve service at Dad's church

After the service, it was back to Mom and Dad's and the traditional viewing of "It's a Wonderful Life!"

Monument Tradition

We have several Christmas traditions.  One is to drive around looking at lights.  Included in the night is a trip to downtown Indy to Monument Circle.  I have quite of few photos just like this one....have to take a photo under the lights.

Have to chum around with the characters outside the symphony theater.

And no trip to the monument at Christmastime is complete without a cup of hot chocolate from South Bend Chocolate Co.

Winterlights

A new holiday event in Indy this year was Winterlights at Newfields.  I managed to score a couple of tickets last minute so Dusty and I took advantage of a warmer night to check out the lights.  Trees and areas of the art museum grounds were covered in lights.

7th Grade Concert

One of the Christmastime activities was the 7th-grade choir concert.  A big group of kids...and this was just the 7th grade.

Festival of Trees

Our annual trip to the Indiana Historical Society and their Festival of Trees is becoming one of my favorite Christmas traditions.  Rachel and I went with Heather and Hayden to see all of the creative and beautiful trees.

Firing off that last minute letter to Santa

Many beautiful trees and some non-traditionals thrown in for fun.

We were treated to a lovely performance by the Indianapolis Chamber Choir

Vertigo-inducing shot from the 3rd floor

Can't leave without a "leg lamp" photo