This last trip up to Michigan was eventful. First of all we finally got to meet Baby Nora!

She's 3 months younger than Avery, which means future family reunions should be a blast for them!

 I'm so glad we got to meet this beauty at last!

And once we added Kimber to the mix we had all the girl cousins together that were in the house. (Rebecca didn't come until our last day in Michigan so I never thought about grabbing a picture with all four of them. Next time!)

And of course, it wouldn't be the holidays without Seth!

I mean, look at how cool this kid is! Kyle was able to snap this shot of Seth chowing down on the gingerbread house when no one else was looking.

Ahh, the memories. Can you tell I'm going through some post Christmas depression?

It was just great having people I love around all day long!

How much better is life when Uncle Michael is there to attack you with a sock monkey?

Or having Grandma's cool bouncer to hang out in?

Don't get me wrong, life is still great in Indianapolis!

 But there's just something nice about visiting the town and home you grew up in.

Fortunately, rolling over can happen no matter what state you are in.

As well as smiling.

Christmas Dress

Is there anything more beautiful

than a slumbering baby



in a crimson dress



on Christmas Day?



I didn't think so either.

(Yes, a little late, but we just got our first snowfall today. Plus, did you really expect me to keep these pictures to myself?)

How to unwrap a present

Step 1: Immediately drop the wrapped package. Who knows what could be inside that thing!

Step 2: Be assured by the giver that the present is, in fact, harmless and might even be enjoyable.

Step 3: Spend the next...25 minutes turning the object over and over and over...with some shakes for good measure.

Step 4: Begin gnawing through the wrapping paper.

Step 5: Rediscover your thumb and promptly forget about the present still sitting unopened in your lap.

So while Avery was deciding whether she cared for presents or not, we snapped a picture of all the Pennock siblings.

It was WON-DER-FUL to be together! With 15 years between the oldest and youngest ones it was nothing short of a Christmas miracle to all be celebrating together.

2 years

Kyle and I have now been married for 2 years. I'm not sure how many people can relate to getting married in December, but those of you who can probably understand that it's a bit tricky to celebrate anniversaries. 

We were married on December 19th, which lands us 6 days before Christmas (for those of you who don't enjoy doing math, I did that calculation just for you!) And since Kyle and I have still have yet to grow up, we travel to Michigan or Colorado to celebrate the holidays with family. Now, I wouldn't change any of this, but I figured there needed to be a bit of a preface.

In the middle of Kyle's finals, and a week before our anniversary, it was time to celebrate. So that night we journeyed to a most wonderful place. Probably my favorite garden I've ever been to.

That's right, the Olive Garden. 

Now, maybe going out to eat isn't that novel of an idea to anyone else, but for us it is nothing short of an annual treat we indulge our limited budget on.

 

Which of course leaves nothing leftover for a babysitter, so Avery was a participant in the celebration as well.

Kyle's meal was absolutely spectacular. All of you log away the phrase "Braised Beef Tortelloni" for the next time you are in an Italian mood. It is not a slice of heaven, it is the whole pie (or pizza, cake, what ever tickles your fancy.)

Mine was a slice of the other place, so no need to expound on it.

And that about sums up the festivities.

Wait, most of you go out to see movies, concerts, and other cultured things to celebrate? Ah well, my friends, the Bradley's are among the more refined crowd of society, so it should not be a surprise that we watched the majority of Modern Family Season 1 as well.

I tell you, there is no better way to live up an anniversary in December than with a full tummy of your husband's food and a clever sitcom to keep you company.

Hello 2012!

2012, I'd like you to meet Miss Avery Dawn.

She did these poses all on her own.

And faces too. 

 

Everyday she looks more and more like her Dad.

And nowadays she grabs at a toy, stuffed animal, whisk, or electrical cord (kidding about this one...mostly) and turns it over and over with this furrowed look on her face. I don't know what she's trying to figure out, but she sure is working hard.

She still is a champion thumb sucker.

And about the most easy going child you could ask for.

Plus, she is getting a little bit sillier everyday.

 

Can't wait to see what this year has in store for us!

The happiest place in the world!

We hardly let a month go by without visiting our beloved zoo and this month was no different!

The zoo was decked out in lights,

dinosaurs,

 

carolers,

mere kats,

 

and penguins.

Apparently no other animals are willing to celebrate Christmas at 8:00 at night. Bunch of scrooges.

Even with minimal animals to see, Kyle and Avery still had a good time.

We sang around a fire with other zoo goers for awhile. We even learned some other words to shout in "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" from the Elementary School kids. Who knew that on that "foggy Christmas Eve, Santa came to say" [in his boxers]...twas a good time

Plus, we even got to attend a Christmas dolphin show.

You like the vignette effect on the picture? This is how our lovely camera takes pictures if you don't remember to manually push the shutter open. Kind of cozy, isn't it?


And with all that said, make sure you remember to hang up your stockings,

because Christmas is only 11 days away!

And odds are I won't be posting on here before then. So, Merry Christmas to everyone! And, just in case, Happy New Year as well! 

(And Happy Martin Luther King Day...y'know...just being prepared!)