This post is a bit overdue. I will try and recap our trip to Indy as concisely as possible.
First, I got together with my girlfriends from high school the day after we got to Indy. Amazingly, eight of us were able to get together for lunch on a Monday afternoon. 2010 will mark 15-years since we graduated from high school, so I am proud of us for staying close through the years.
Top to Bottom, Left to Right: Lisa, Cass, Chelle, Lisa, Lindsay, Ali, Sara, Greta
The next day, Sara and Tatum came down to my parents' house for a play date. It is so fun to watch our girls play together. Tatum adores Taylor, and it is so cute to hear her talk about "Baby Tay-yer."
Sweet Tatum
That night, Tommy and I went to the IU basketball game with Scott and Mandy. We snuck onto the court after the game and got some pictures.
On Christmas Eve, we went up to Scott and Mandy's for dinner, drinks, and some good old fashioned family togetherness. My parents slept on the bottom bunk of Casey's bunk bed (don't worry, it is not a twin-sized bed), Casey slept in Alexa's room on her trundle bed, Tommy and I slept on an aerobed in the playroom, and Ryan slept on the couch in the basement. It was a full house, but it is always fun to wake up together on Christmas morning. Casey had us up at 6:45 (even though we told him he couldn't wake us up until 7:00). Overall, it was a nice, relaxing Christmas with my family.
Alexa and Casey on Christmas morning.
Taylor was more interested in tissue paper than gifts, but that's okay!
Mimi and her grandchildren
The day after Christmas, my extended family came over. This includes my grandparents (ages 86 and 89!), my dad's brother, sister, and their families. I love that we continue to get together even though our families are growing and we all have other commitments over the holidays. I did not grow up knowing my parents' cousins, aunts, and uncles, so I love that Alexa, Casey, and Taylor will.
Taylor and her great-grandparents!
Uncle Rick scored with the Snuggie during the gift exchange.
After Christmas, Taylor found Mimi's tupperware cabinet.
On the 27th, I got together with a few friends from high school and their families. It still amazes me that we're all married with children now. Eric, Kevin, Chelle, and I were extremely close in high school. I still remember the summer of 1996 when we rented a van and drove out West together. We spent 10 days camping in Moab, Utah and Jackson, Wyoming. In hindsight, who in their right mind would rent a van to a group of 19-year olds? What great memories, though! We don't see each other much anymore, but I love that we're still in contact and made the time to get together this Christmas. 
The next day, Tommy and I left Taylor with Mimi and drove up to Chicago for a couple of days. We miss our great friends in Chicago and enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with them. We also met lots of new babies! Unfortunately, I did not take many pictures, but a few are below. 
Tommy and I returned from Chicago for one night at my parents' house and then headed down to Louisville for New Year's Eve. My friend Jess hosted eight of our girlfriends from college, plus husbands and kids, for New Year's Eve. That's right, there were 16 adults and 10 children aged 5 and under together to ring in 2010. It was absolute chaos, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I am still kicking myself for not getting a group shot of all the girls while we were together, but below are some pictures of our children.
Taylor was more interested in tissue paper than gifts, but that's okay!
Mimi and her grandchildren
The day after Christmas, my extended family came over. This includes my grandparents (ages 86 and 89!), my dad's brother, sister, and their families. I love that we continue to get together even though our families are growing and we all have other commitments over the holidays. I did not grow up knowing my parents' cousins, aunts, and uncles, so I love that Alexa, Casey, and Taylor will.
Taylor and her great-grandparents!
Uncle Rick scored with the Snuggie during the gift exchange.
After Christmas, Taylor found Mimi's tupperware cabinet.
On the 27th, I got together with a few friends from high school and their families. It still amazes me that we're all married with children now. Eric, Kevin, Chelle, and I were extremely close in high school. I still remember the summer of 1996 when we rented a van and drove out West together. We spent 10 days camping in Moab, Utah and Jackson, Wyoming. In hindsight, who in their right mind would rent a van to a group of 19-year olds? What great memories, though! We don't see each other much anymore, but I love that we're still in contact and made the time to get together this Christmas.Left to Right: Eric, Kate, and their boys Ty and Luke, Kevin, Anna, and their girls Katie and Carmen, Todd, Chelle, and their boys Keaton and Issac
The next day, Tommy and I left Taylor with Mimi and drove up to Chicago for a couple of days. We miss our great friends in Chicago and enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with them. We also met lots of new babies! Unfortunately, I did not take many pictures, but a few are below. Lunch with Coors, Caroline, and her one-month old twins!
Caroline and Pete (the proud parents!) with Mary Clarie and Catherine Elizabeth.
Tommy and I returned from Chicago for one night at my parents' house and then headed down to Louisville for New Year's Eve. My friend Jess hosted eight of our girlfriends from college, plus husbands and kids, for New Year's Eve. That's right, there were 16 adults and 10 children aged 5 and under together to ring in 2010. It was absolute chaos, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I am still kicking myself for not getting a group shot of all the girls while we were together, but below are some pictures of our children.Taylor with Brody (they are two months apart)
Megan, Brody, Taylor, Ali
Counting down to 2010 in the movie room. Tommy is front and center, ready to ring in the new decade!
We stayed a second night, as all the hubbies were having way too much fun watching football in the movie room. So, Megan and I put the babes in the bath together. They will love these pictures 15 years from now. :)
We tried to get a group picutre of the kiddos on the second night. We are missing Hope and Mia Bultinck and Paxton Materna, but seven of the ten are below. They look over-tired, don't they?
John, Paxton (up from his nap), Tommy, Taylor
Lunchtime with Taylor and Brody. Can you tell I tried desperately to get a good picture of the two of them?
After two nights in Louisville, we got back in the family truckster and drove to Scott and Mandy's in Noblesville for one last night with them before we headed back to Seattle. Below is a picture of Taylor with her favorite cousins (okay, her only cousins).
It was a great trip home, but as you can probably tell, it was exhausting. This is why it's taken me almost two weeks to compose this post. Since we've returned to Seattle, Taylor has been to the doctor twice for an ear infection, and I have been battling a fever, sore throat, and cough. We are recovering, though, and we'll be good as new for a big week ahead: Taylor's baptism, first birthday, and birthday party!
Megan, Brody, Taylor, Ali
Counting down to 2010 in the movie room. Tommy is front and center, ready to ring in the new decade!
We stayed a second night, as all the hubbies were having way too much fun watching football in the movie room. So, Megan and I put the babes in the bath together. They will love these pictures 15 years from now. :)
We tried to get a group picutre of the kiddos on the second night. We are missing Hope and Mia Bultinck and Paxton Materna, but seven of the ten are below. They look over-tired, don't they?
John, Paxton (up from his nap), Tommy, Taylor
Lunchtime with Taylor and Brody. Can you tell I tried desperately to get a good picture of the two of them?
After two nights in Louisville, we got back in the family truckster and drove to Scott and Mandy's in Noblesville for one last night with them before we headed back to Seattle. Below is a picture of Taylor with her favorite cousins (okay, her only cousins).
It was a great trip home, but as you can probably tell, it was exhausting. This is why it's taken me almost two weeks to compose this post. Since we've returned to Seattle, Taylor has been to the doctor twice for an ear infection, and I have been battling a fever, sore throat, and cough. We are recovering, though, and we'll be good as new for a big week ahead: Taylor's baptism, first birthday, and birthday party!
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