Trip to Indianapolis

Thanksgiving 2008

The Akers Family

Hi friends and family! Sorry it has been so long since my last post. Tommy and I returned last week from a great visit to Indiana. I was "home" for almost two weeks; Tommy joined me for most of the trip. We were very busy during our stay. It was exhausting but well worth it!

It was strange flying back to Seattle. I realized that the next time I get on a plane I will likely have an infant with me. The days of reading magazines and snoozing on flights are over! Needless to say, Tommy and I are now "grounded" in Seattle until Baby Bligh arrives in less than five weeks. I'll post new belly pictures on the 10th.

My mom and her friends had a shower for me right after I arrived in Indy. It was great to see everyone! The shower was not a traditional baby shower. It was more of an open house - held on a Friday night so that people could come and go as their schedules permitted. There were no silly baby games and the wine was flowing - now, that's my kind of shower! I did not get many picture, but below are a few:

Sara, Ali, and Nicole

Wanda and my mom

The next night, I got together for dinner with some girlfriends from high school. I miss these girls so much and wish we could see each other more often. Even though our girls' dinners are few and far between (okay, I suppose they get together regularly, but I'm not usually in town), we always spend the majority of our meals laughing hysterically.

From left: Sara, Chelle, Cass, Lisa, Ali, Lindsay. Chelle and Cass are both expecting their second sons this April and February, respectively.

I also got together with my college girlfriends, Vonder and Foli, and had breakfast with another friend from high school, Kim. It is so nice to see my girls face-to-face and catch up over food!

The week of Thanksgiving, Tommy and I spent a lot of time with my brother and his family. My niece, Alexa, and nephew, Casey, are growing up so fast. I had not seen them since June, and it is incredible how much they have changed. Scott, Mandy, Alexa, and Casey spent a couple of nights down at my parents' house, and then Tommy and I spent a couple of nights at their new house up in Noblesville. It was fun to watch movies, (I introduced Alexa to "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" - hello 80's movie!), play games, and just catch up with everyone.

The Akers siblings - Ali, Ryan, and Scott

Scott, Tommy and Casey played a little football on Thanksgiving morning.

Alexa surprised all of us and dressed as an Indian on Thanksgiving. Her name was Shining Star.

Even though it was a beautiful day on Thanksgiving, the lake was still frozen.

Tommy and Casey - Casey adores his uncle Tommy!

Scott frying a turkey - who doesn't LOVE fried turkey?

On Thanksgiving, my mom hosted about 20 people for dinner. It was wonderful to see my grandparents (who are doing very well for 85 and 88 years of age), aunts, uncles, and cousins. My aunt Kathy threw a family baby shower for me, complete with a cake and piggy bank centerpiece. Thanks Kathy!

The weekend after Thanksgiving was also a busy one. I took Tommy and Casey to a Butler basketball game on Saturday afternoon (Tommy had never seen Hinkle Fieldhouse). That night, we met my family at the new Colts stadium to watch my high school football team play in the state finals. After being down 33-14 with six minutes left in the 4th quarter, Center Grove recovered two on-sides kicks to score three touchdowns and a two-point conversion and won the game 33-36! It was incredible and a fun way to spend time with my family.

Last, but not least, I was able to spend some time with my best friends Sara and Emily over the weekend. Em and her family flew in from San Francisco the Friday after Thanksgiving, and the three of us got together a couple of times. It is such a different dynamic now that we are all married and have children. Em's daughers, Avery and Isabel, and Sara's daugher, Tatum, are all cuties!

Ted, Sara, and Tatum on Tatum's first birthday!

Casey, Tommy, and Ali with the Birthday Girl

Emily and Isabel

Avery and Emily

Ali, Emily, Tatum, and Sara - after our yummy dinner good 'ole Pizza King!

Finally, I'll leave you with one last picture. Indy had a little bit of snow while we were home, and Casey and Alexa took advantage of the weather! With that, I'll end this novel of a post. Stay tuned for belly pics later this week. Forewarning: I am huge!