Christmas 2016

As usual, the Christmas season was a busy and fun one! We made our annual trip down to Monument Circle to mail our letters to Santa, attended the tree lighting festival in Broad Ripple, enjoyed cold evenings in front of the fire and spent lots of quality time with family!

Hanging out in Broad Ripple

Fun times at the Broad Ripple tree lighting festival

There's nothing better than spending a wintery evening in front of the fireplace!

Monument Circle for the Circle of Lights

Our annual visit to the South Bend Chocolate Cafe for a treat

Mailing our letters!

Christmas Eve at my brother's house

Lots of presents to open!

Christmas morning excitement!

A few of our fave toys from Santa

My little Skye and Chase

Presents, presents and more presents!

Kicking Off Our Holiday Season

Oliver is at the perfect age for enjoying Christmastime. He knows about Santa and presents and is beyond excited for Christmas Eve and parties. Yes, I know...all the important things. It is so much fun to be around a 3 year old, though, at this time of year...the excitement and suspense is palpable. 

We kicked off our holiday season with a little family excursion to get a real, live Christmas tree...the first one either of us have ever owned. Oliver was pretty bleh about the whole real Christmas tree situation...he kept reminding us that we already owned a Christmas tree and it was in the basement...ha! Nevertheless, we drove out to a Christmas tree farm, crashed the van into a very large rock, almost got divorced and left without an evergreen strapped to the top of our {now damaged} van. Christmas tree farm-1, Kaczorowski's-0. Luckily, we both cooled off, stopped by a Christmas tree lot in the parking lot of a church along a busy road, picked out the perfect tree with the help of some very nice people, strapped it to the top of the {still damaged} van and were on our way. Finally, our first real Christmas tree...the day was not exactly what I had pictured, but we had a real tree nonetheless.

The first real Kaczorowski Christmas tree!

I love sitting by the tree at night...so cozy!

The weekend after the Christmas tree debacle, we bundled the kiddos up and headed downtown to see the big tree and mail Oliver's first letter to Santa. There's a cute, little mailbox to Santa set up on the Circle, and Oliver was so excited to take his letter! Afterwards, we headed over to the Chocolate Cafe (of course!) for a treat. It was such a good time!

These two monkeys were ready to go!

Oliver was very proud of his first letter to Santa!

They really do love each other!

Circle of Lights

Mailing his letter with Daddy

A giant chocolate-covered pretzel...yum!

My girl and me

Happy Holidays from our family to yours!

Mother's Day 2013

On Mother's Day, we headed downtown for an Indians game again this year. We had a great time walking around, and Oliver was a bit more interested in the game this year...but not much! He really enjoyed running down the hill in the lawn area...ha! Too bad it was W I N D Y that day which made it very cold. All in all, we had a very nice day together as a family though.

Walking along the canal to Victory Field

Daddy and Oliver enjoying the game

Holiday Festivities

We had a very busy December this year. Now that Oliver is old enough to enjoy the holidays a little more, we spent our weekends doing fun Christmasy activities around town. One weekend, we went downtown to see the Circle of Lights. It also happened to be the weekend of the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium and the weather was warm so there was lots to see and do. Another weekend we went to Holiday in the District in Carmel to see Santa. It's so much fun seeing Oliver enjoy these activities so much, and I love spending this time with my two guys!

I love downtown, especially during the holidays!

Circle of Lights

Daddy and Oliver

I think he liked the lights...and the chocolate from the South Bend Chocolate Cafe!

Holiday in the District

We waited in line to see Santa, outside in the cold, for over an hour. This is what happened.

The official first photo with Santa. Luckily, as soon as he got off Santa's lap, he was high fiving him!

Memorial Day Weekend

I know I am so behind on posting, but I'm trying to catch up...honest! Over Memorial Day weekend, my parents and brothers came to visit from Georgia. We had a busy, fun-filled weekend!

Daddy and Oliver, as we walked along the canal downtown

Noah, Brock and Pawpaw, outside the zoo

Brock and Noah, inside the NCAA Hall of Champions

Duking it out as "referees"

Yikes, Nini has a gun!

I don't think Oliver wants to be held!

Visiting great-grandma

Noah, Pawpaw, Oliver and Brock

Taking a rest at the mall after dinner

Brock teaching Oliver how to high five

Such a big boy!

Our Weekend

We have been having the most wonderful fall weather here in Indianapolis recently. Since I am on Fall Break and Don had Columbus Day off, we made the most of the warmer temperatures. First, we made a trip to our local garden supply store where we stocked up on autumn decorations and mums.

Then, we spent some time downtown with my sister-in-law, niece and nephew. We visited the new 9/11 memorial. It is absolutely stunning and heartbreaking, all at the same time.

We took a lovely walk along the canal. Here are Andrew, Elizabeth and Oliver hanging out during our walk.

We also walked to the War Memorial.

Oliver was such a good boy, hanging out in his stroller during our walk. He was loving the weather too!

It was just one of those perfect weekends spent with family, doing the things we love to do most. Happy Thursday everyone!