December 2022

 The themes for December 2022 were celebration and travel, two of my favorite things.

I got to visit my friend Jeanne and her mom Betty in Louisville.  We had lunch and drove through Mega Caverns Christmas experience.  It was a lot of fun.

And I joined my friend Lisa and her mom Elizabeth again, this time in North Georgia to tour Blue Ridge, Dahlonega, and Helen Georgia and their Christmas shops.  Although it was a little drizzly, we had a great time!

Our Wine Club celebrated 100 gatherings and 12 years together.  We had a wine tasting / food pairing at Savory Swine.  It was a wonderful night.

David and I went to see the Wallflowers in concert

And then we celebrated our 30th anniversary!

Our friends surprised us with the sign at the Crump.

We experienced our first Christmas without our moms and it was so good to be with family.  Their absences were deeply felt, though.  

Danielle, Thomas, Brennan, Natalie and Grandpa

Natalie braided my hair :)

We had a great time in Canton with so much of our extended family that we had not seen in awhile.  It was wonderful!

Brennan, Sara Brady, Elizabeth, Taylor, Ellie, and Thomas

The whole family.  I took this one.  So glad Daddy could join us!

The "next generation" including Christopher and Daniel.

Carey, Nina, and their 5 grandchildren - Rhett, Harper, Eliza, Curren, and Jane Marie

Our 2023 graduates - Thomas (IUPUI), Elizabeth (VA Tech), Ellie (Starkville HS)

Then it was on to Tylertown.  We celebrated Christmas at Uncle Zack and Aunt Rosemary's house with 28 family members.  Here are some photos we posed for.

Daddy and his two girls and their families

And our 2023 graduates

Hunter (Natalie's boyfriend) and Natalie - Ridgeland HS

Thomas - IUPUI

Noah - Northview HS

After a delicious lunch and opening our Secret Santa gifts, Uncle Zack and Daddy took us out to the family farm.  Many of the cousins and grandkids got to shoot targets.  We had a great time spending a little extra time together.

David, Brennan, and Uncle Zack

Brennan, Thomas, Noah, Danielle, and Keller

On our way back north, we took an extra couple of days to visit Natchez and Vicksburg, which we really hadn't toured before.  It was nice to spend a little extra time with Thomas and Brennan as well.

Natchez

Vicksburg National Military Park - this is definitely worth seeing.

December 2021

 A full month, but also the last time I was able to see my mom.  Hug your loved ones tight.  It's a truth of life that you never know when you will see those you love for the last time.  Not to take a turn into sadness but that's what we're going through right now.

Our December was a lot of fun once we were all able to be together.  Work was unbelievably busy and the boys had finals but they both ended up with great grades and we were able to visit family for Christmas and then head to the Caribbean on our first cruise!

Brennan joined us for a Christmas toast at the Lirettes.  Happy to have him home for about a month.

I was on the county's Bicentennial Committee for 2 years - it wrapped up in December.  Here are the thank you gifts I got 

David and I celebrated our 29th anniversary at Oceanaire in Indy.  Such a fun night!

I got to meet up with Jeanne and Mrs. MacGregor in Cincinnati for lunch before the holidays.  Fun afternoon at Incline Public House.  The view is worth it!

Both boys were home for a day or two before we headed out.  Unfortunately the cold weather set in so the cute coats were brought out for the little boys.

With cousins Ellie and Taylor for Christmas

And with cousins Danielle and Natalie for Christmas

All the cousins with Grandpa and Grandma after lunch

On the way to New Orleans for the cruise we saw the monument to Lynyrd Skynyrd and had to stop.  David and I watched a documentary on the band a couple of months ago.  It's really well done, right off I55.

And now, some of my favorite cruise photos.  We went to Cozumel, Belize, and Roatan - a Honduran island.  We had a ball, got some rest, some sun, and had a really fun time together.  I love traveling with my family!

And finally, Bailey and Remy were treating like royalty with Brittany, Mike, and Lincoln.  Wow they had fun and we were so happy to see them when we got home!