Fall Family Pictures

The kids each got Fall family pictues done—which I think turned out so lovely!

Cincinnati, Ohio

Also in the Fall we went with friends, Rick and Alisa, to dinner at the Montgomery Inn on the river and then to the BYU vs. Cincinnati football game.

We had amazing seats the second row back from the field!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving morning we braved the freezing cold to run the Turkey Trot 5K at Keenland Horse Park in Lexington.

That afternoon we had our Thanksgiving meal with Aubrey & fam, and Rex & Veronica. It worked out great for me because the Holts brought turkey, stuffing, corn, green bean casserole and rolls! We provided salads and potatoes and Aubrey and Raul brought their famous cheesy orzo dish (it's better than mac n'cheese) and sweet potatoes!

Detroit MI & Canada

Thanksgiving weekend we drove to Detroit with Rex and Veronica. Friday we watched a hokey game in downtown Detroit, and Saturday, we crossed the bridge into Windsor, Ontario Canada, to do some Christmas shopping.

While in Windsor, we ate lunch at Smoke's for some authentic Canadian poutine (did I mention that Rex is Canadien?). Anyway, for those who don't know—poutine is french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy, and whatever topping you can imagine. I got the Chicken Bacon Ranch, Veronica's was Korean BBQ, and Rex got the Philly Cheesesteak poutine. It was delicious but also a gut ache, I should of split mine into two meals like Rex & Veronica did!

Alabama & Tennessee

Mid-December we went to Alabama for Brad's work and to visit Bea, a good friend of mine. While there, we ate at the Old Black Bear restaurant—one that Brad's eaten at before and wanted me to try. I ordered the peanut butter, jalapeño, bacon, and bacon jelly burger with parmesan french fries! Like the poutine, very delicious, but a gut ache none-the-less.

On our way home we stopped in Franklin, Tennessee to visit our good friend Les and Debbie. I also happened to be Brad's actual birthday so we celebrated by having dinner at a Mexican restaurant where he got a free birthday dessert.

In additon to his Mexican dessert, Debbie decorated this decadent chocolate cake for us all to eat! Good times with good friends!

Home for Christmas

Seeing the beautiful lights and amazing gingerbread houses, and enjoying hot chocolate and live entertainment with Rex & Veronica, at Mustard Seed Hill, in Millersburg, KY.

Aubrey with her daughter Claire and Breck with his daughter Camila—the girls are three weeks apart and why I call them my CC twins!Breck, Iris and Camila came the week of Christmas. It was so fun visiting with them, playing video games, and getting the CC twins back together again!

Luckily, the weather was good enough to do some outdoors activity like go to the park across from Merinda's work in downtown Lexington.

It was also fun to see the amazing view right across from Merinda's desk, on the 26th floor of her building.The weather was so nice we didn't even wear our jackets.While Breck and Iris were here, we also went to see the Lights Under Louisville!And it just so happened that we booked the train tour on the same day and time as the whole Holt family, who's kids were also in town for the holidays.

Picture all of our kids and grandkids (minus Brittney and fam) together.Christmas Eve we had our traditional candle-light-dinner.The kids and grandkids (and grand-dog) waiting upstairs, Christmas morning, for the Christmas music to begin before walking downstairs to open stockings and gifts.Mancha opening her stockingCamila and Claire opening their stockings

The girls playing with the dollies they both got for Christmas.Mancha checking out Merinda's fun Christmas gifts

Aubrey especially loving her gift from Breck!Iris, Raul and Brad loving their gifts!And the kids went above and beyond in giving me the most thoughtful gifts ever!Breck, Iris, Camila and Mancha drove home before the new year, and the rest of us spent New Year's Eve at Aubrey & Raul's house with Rex & Veronica and Wesley, Molly, Mason, & Norah. We had fun eating snacks, watching the little ones play, playing games ourselves, visitingand watching the ball drop in NYC as we toasted in the New Year!