All the Holidays in One Post

Here's Thanksgiving and Christmas all rolled into one post. It turns out that I didn't take many pictures so I'll give you what I've got.

Two years in a row, we've gone to Macy's (formerly Marshall Fields) Walnut Room with Satchel to see the fairy princesses and begin the holiday season. Below is Satchel grinning after getting her fairy dust.

Grandma getting her fairy dust.

And Grandpa Mike getting his fairy dust.

Grandpa Mike and Grandpa Ted

We were at Grammie's house for Thanksgiving in Pennsylvania.

We enjoyed walking around the countryside near Grammie's house.

Satchel and Grammie (and a makeshift dearstand)

Playing ball with Uncle Jeff on Grammie's porch

Riding the rocking horse that Matt's Uncle Matt made for Meredith when she was a little girl

At Aunt Michelle's house in South Bend on our way back to Chicago, Satchel took some time to read a story to all of her stuffed animal friends.

Our house holiday tradition is to go out together to a tree farm to pick out our Christmas tree at the beginning of December. This year, it was a very rainy and gray day. We were much less selective about our tree this year in order to get out of the bad weather and on to the diner to have brunch.

Satchel with Greg, Amelia, and Isaac

Splashing through the mud puddles at the tree farm

Another tradition for Matt, Satchel, and I is to go to the Christkindlmarket downtown every year. This year we took Isaac with us. It was a really cold day and we paid a visit to Santa.

Two strollers on the El.

With Santa at the Christkindlmarket

Finally, we spent Christmas with my family and Matt's mom and sister at my parents house, but made a stop on our way to Alliance to visit my Aunt Barb and Grandma in Perrysburg. Through those few days in Ohio, I apparently took no photos except for this one. But it's a good one. Fortunately, our parents are more trigger happy that I am and so we have all of their photos to document our days together.

Satchel and her Great Aunt Barb admiring the Christmas tree.

Get Ready for Halloween Cuteness!

Alright, so I'll just go ahead and hit you with our best shot right from the start.

Not sure that it gets any better than this: badass ballerina and lady bug.

Where did Satchel spend most of the party? By the chips bowl.

Meanwhile, Isaac was hanging out in the kitchen showing of his skull and cross bones and his tutu.

A couple of baseball players showed up.

It's my party and I'll read if I want to. I don't know where she gets it.

A visit with Elmo Mark in New York

So, Satchel loves Elmo. We never encouraged this, but somehow, all on her own, she decided she dearly loves the little guy. She also has taken to calling my brother, Mark, Elmo Mark. He used to be just Uh'Mark, but now he is Elmo Mark. Anyhow, we visited Elmo Mark in New York City where he is currently working for the year.

Satchel turned two since the last time we flew, so we had to buy a seat for her this time (no more lap child). Here she is studying the safety instructions.

Always have to do the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Satchel doesn't seem impressed. Maybe because it was unseasonably muggy and hot.

Ah yes, a slide is always a favorite. She hopped up and down so much that her pants fell down around her ankles. It was a perfect America's Funniest Home videos moment except that we weren't videoing it.

And second best to slides: swings.

This was a really cool old carousel from Youngstown, Ohio. It is almost 100 years old and has been completely restored with the original calliope. It was really neat!

And our favorite of the whole weekend: the highline. An incredibly cool park made from an old elevated railway system running through the city.

Another favorite: watching the neat automatic car parking system.

Taking in the view of the city from one of the Highline overpasses.

Riding the subway!

Satchel kept requesting a boat ride, so we took the Staten Island Ferry.

From our ride on the ferry, we saw many many tugboats which made Satchel's ride even better.

And, can't pay a visit to New York without taking a quick photo of this...