Christmas Time is Here

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! We really enjoyed getting everyone's Christmas cards and letters. That is what Christmas is all about: Family and Friends, and our Jesus Christ of course! Kellen and I had a great Christmas. I was off both days, so we went to Beth's house on Christmas Eve (which is also her birthday!) and to my parents' house on Christmas day. It was a lot of traveling but always worth it.

Mallory in her present fort

Merry Christmas

Leopard Snuggie, would it be Christmas without one?

Kellen got a Kelvin Hayden jersey! He likes him because his name is so close to Kel's name!

One happy family. Kellen and I enjoyed our first Christmas morning on our own! In the past we have been at our parents' houses or had to be somewhere early....but not this year!

Kellen got me a diamond necklace from Shane Co! It matches my wedding rings. I was so surprised. It is sooo pretty. (Don't look at my early morning face!)

The aftermath

Captain with all of his new toys. You can't see all of them because he is actually laying on a few. He tried to put them all in his mouth at once, and kept prancing around from one end of the house to the other with excitement.

You know me, I have to have a hat for every occasion. This was my Christmas hat! Gretchen and I had got these at the holiday mart. You can't tell very well, but it had a really cute flower design on the side.

Several of Kel's friends from high school were in town for the holidays, so Saturday night we met them downtown for dinner. I love our downtown

While Cameron is on Christmas break from Purdue, we to see Avatar in 3-D. The glasses were so stylish.

We are so excited to see what 2010 have in store for us!

Christmas Murder

OH NO, I do declare there has been a muida! Last Sunday my aunt hosted a Christmas party...and it was a murder mystery dinner! It was so funny, everyone went all out with their costumes! And there was some pretty good acting and roll playing as well. My family is so fun!

I hope everyone is able to enjoy their family as much as Kellen and I have this holiday season. That is what the season is all about. Much love to everyone and a very Merry Christmas to all!

My character was 'Michele Proud' and I was Miss USA. I ended all of my sentences with 'and world piece' and acted like a total ditz! It was so funny. Kellen was 'Lance Lugar' who was a mafia arms dealer.

Amber was 'Oprah Winfred' and she used her microphone very well. Of course Miss USA loved having the interview!

My mom was 'Gloria Versace' and she was an exotic bird trafficer. Is that even such a thing?!

She even had these bird feather eyelashes!

My aunt Janice was a cat burglar and my uncle David was 'honest joe' a used car salesman. He tied for the best actor, and deserved it!

My cousins Chris were 'Schtevin Spielberg' and Claire was an actress from a vampire movie.

My family is so crazy! But I wouldn't have them any other way!

2nd Annual Baking Day

Gretchen and I have started a wonderful tradition...holiday baking! We combine our family recipes and make all sorts of holiday treats. I always look forward to it so much! We both agreed that this year it went way easier since we already had last year as practice. Imagine what we will be able to do in ten years!

This was how we started off our day...with a total FLOP! What baking day wouldn't be complete without it, right?! The caramel melted faster then expected..then turned into a rock hard mess that wouldn't come off. SO needless to say, I bought Gretch a new baking pan. ;)

Watch out Rachael Ray!

The peppermint bark and fudge 'chilling' outside on the patio

Look at that mess (the kitchen, not Gretchen)

Ta-Da

Gala Holla

We have been busy these last few weeks! 'Tis the season for parties with family and friends! Here are some highlights of the St. Vincent holiday gala with my hospital. It is always downtown at the Marriott and they always do such a good job with going all out. We usually spend the night downtown as well to make it a fun getaway. This year NICU had the best showing yet! I think there were about 60 of us, including spouses. It is so fun to see everyone all dressed up, rather than in scrubs!

This is the group pic. It cracks me up, look at Kiann's face! Everyone looked so pretty!

Thanks, Lizzi!

I am going to miss Megan SOOO much! We have grown up together in our NICU lives!

This was Liz and I after the Gala, on our way to Steak' n 'Shake! This is kinda becoming the annual tradition. Best milkshakes EVER; worth braving the cold

Catch Up

I am sorry I haven't blogged in so long! We have been very busy! So this blog is going to be a potpourri of things. All summer Kellen and I (well, I will admit, mostly me) have wanted to paint our kitchen cabinets white. I liked the natural wood color okay, but I thought the white would made our kitchen POP! I dreaded doing them, between the mess and all the time and hassle..but dare I say, it went very well! From start to finish including prep it took us 26 hours. And the best part: Kellen and I never had an argument over it! haha They turned out pretty well; not professional or anything, but I think they look really good. Plus the pride that we did it all on our own with two paint brushes is really satisfying.

Let the mayhem begin!

MESS everywhere

Ta-Da!

Doesn't it make the kitchen look totally different?! I love it!

Well, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! It is so fun to have our year traditions as a family. I always enjoy hearing everyone else's too. We always go and cut down our town tree. I love the smell, but it doesn't come without a price. Two years ago we had spiders in ours (ICK!)...about two weeks after having it up, I started noticing little black things everywhere and Vera was going nuts around the tree. Then I noticed they were MOVING! OMG it was horrible. Then just yesterday I was under the tree watering it, and I'm not kidding you, the entire tree fell over on top of me. SO I am starting to contemplate getting a fake one this year! I doubt Kel will let me though ;) Grant me patience! Here are some pics of us with our (hopefully spider-free tree).

On our way to the farm! So excited!

Preparing the 'kill'

Auntie Mallory came with us too!

This year Kellen got his big C7 colored lights. This is a little point of contention with us! I grew up with white lights, and Kel grew up with the C7's. So we decided that we will alternate every other year with 'our' lights. I got my white lights last year, so Kel get his this year. The compromise of marriage ;)

Proudly putting the star on top!

And of course one of the most fun parts of Christmas is decorating!


Kellen and I got stockings with our names on them as a wedding present from my friend Amy Black. It was such a thoughtful idea and I always enjoy getting them out and thinking of our friendship, as well as memories from our wedding. Notice the two stockings in the middle..the little white one has a gold 'V' on it for Vera, and the bigger one behind it is for Captain!

These are some feather trees I got down in Nashville when we went for our one year anniversary trip. It is always so fun to reminisce the memories when getting out different decorations.

First snow of the season

This picture cracks me up. I had a Christmas brunch with some of my amazing NICU girls. It is funny how we have evolved... our first year I think we only had 1 baby and look at the 'group' now!

And finally...my little Evangeline! I was her primary in the NICU for 104 days last year (not that her parent's weren't counting ;) ) She was born on December 2nd at 26 weeks gestation. She has grown into such a sweet baby, and I have the privilege of being her God Mother! Her first birthday party was last weekend and of course I didn't miss the fun!

Beautiful birthday girl

She was 1lb 12oz when she was born...now she is 17! She is slowly catching up!

Poor Evan, she was a little overstimulated at this point.
It's my party I can cry if I want to!