Christmas at the Zoo

We came back to Indianapolis on Saturday afternoon with big plans to attend Christmas at the Zoo that evening.  We met Uncle Robby and Aunt Meghan, along with Jamie, Liam, and Charlotte.

Tim was saving lives at the fire station.

Charlotte took G's hand and expertly led her around the zoo.  

We started with the Oceans.

This octopus was the perfect backdrop, but Genevieve was uninterested.

I was beyond thrilled because I got my nuts and cider.  They were selling my favorite Bavarian nuts.  They also were selling a "cup 'o cheer" for $7.99.

I signed right up.

I was hoping for some mulled whisky cider, but I ended up with hot apple cider in a souvenir cup.

And free refills all night with your receipt.

 I clutched that receipt and filled up again on overpriced cider before leaving.

I won't be cheated! 

The kids loved the orangutans, and I treated my companions to my impression of Oprah announcing her guests throughout  the entire exhibit.

You know the voice.

"It's the ORANGUTAN!!!!!" 

Liam was all about the desert area, which I often confuse with the dessert area.

Robeghan just hung out and enjoyed the desert sunset on a wild Saturday night.

The only shot of super chic Jamie was this one of her riding the carousel in some snazzy boots.

We rocked the zoo from 4:45-6:45.

The secret was going early, since it gets dark at like noon anyway. This is just another reason to love Indianapolis.  

Thanksgiving and Other Fun

We kicked off the weekend of Thanksgiving with a card from Abby and Papi.

Genevieve loves to get mail!

I took Genevieve to the Children's Museum and we saw the planetarium program for toddlers featuring Elmo and Big Bird.

We also stopped for a cupcake treat.

That plate is misleading.

Although she is the height of an average 3 year old, she is still very much only 2.

Our Thanksgiving plans dramatically changed on Wednesday.  We were scheduled to go to my parents' house with all of my siblings, aunt, uncle and cousins.

By Wednesday morning, G had been complaining for about 2 days about her bottom hurting.

I called her pediatrician and they told me to bring her in on Wednesday afternoon.  We packed the car and were ready to leave town right after her appointment.

And boom!

Plans changed.

He took one look at that tush and diagnosed her with perianal streptococcus.

He actually ran a test too.

What?

She had what is commonly known as strep butt.

Except it's not common.

She also had strep throat.

What a mess.

It is all highly contagious, so we could not go see my family on Wednesday evening.

Plans were cancelled and Thanksgiving was rescheduled for Friday after 24 hours on antibiotics.

So sad.

We put up our tree.

This picture shows how strong my genes are.

Trinity staged a sit in at Cracker Barrel.  We called for carry out with our last minute change and were dismayed to learn that we needed to order 24 hours in advance.

That's kind of an issue when your toddler was not diagnosed with strep butt on that timeline.

His plan was to get a table and then order it all to go in protest, possibly mentioning that his wife was at home weeping and so was his daughter's heiney.

It didn't come to that, thank the lord.

He was able to order carry out at the counter and we enjoyed our buttermilk biscuits in the comfort of our own strep infested home.

On Friday we got home to YaYa and Bob's.  

YaYa took photos for her card, featuring lots of faux fur.  

The menfolk cooked.

I jest.

Robby helped.

Chip and Trinity aren't much help in the kitchen.

Unless Bob slips on grease and nearly breaks a leg and drops the turkey.

That happened.

It was touch and go for a few seconds.

Thankfully both the bird and Bob were okay.

Uncle Kent, Aunt Cindi, and Scott arrived bearing gifts and taco dip.  

 

G was in a food coma.

Neighbor Ron walked across the street to take our annual picture.

This photographic treachery has finally convinced me that next year I will put on pants that zip and actually shower.

I look like a hobo.

We ended Friday at Hobby Lobby where Bob added another Minnie to our lives.  

Don't worry, that heinous decor didn't make it home.

She got another plush Minnie for bedtime.

We are so grateful for our family and bubblegum flavored amoxicillin.

Princess Tea Time

Genevieve and I attended a lovely tea party on Saturday afternoon.  Roncalli High School performed a matinee of Cinderella, and  hosted a Meet the Princess tea prior to the show.

Genevieve would never endure a play, but a quick photo session/cookie face-stuffing session was feasible.

Cookies for me?

We dined with Margo, Rosie, and their cousin, Chloe.

I realized that I am the only mother on the planet who has not purchased her daughter a princess dress.

This is where G pondered this riddle-

which one of these is not like the other ones?

Which one of these does not belong?

Uh, that would be you, honey child.

I felt badly that she didn't have a princess dress.

I've added it to her Christmas list.

She loved Cinderella.

She wasn't sure about the stepsisters.

This expression is priceless.

I love that she still has the bow in her hair.

Genevieve is currently battling some heinous virus that made her vomit all over me on Saturday evening.

I'm not even kidding.

It was horrific.

It was like I had been slimed on Nickelodeon's You Can't Do that on Television.

We are still in the throes of illness.

YaYa came to the rescue so I could go to school.

I hope she is on the mend soon. 

Genevieve's First Wedding

My little family unit traveled down to Tennessee last weekend for a wedding.  Trinity's dear pal, Joey, married his longtime love, Natalie.

I was more than a little hesitant to take G to this most sacred event, seeing as if she is two.

I was assured that this was a family friendly event so I took  my crazy toddler.

Let me just say this.

Thank God for those Baptists and their short weddings.

15 minutes was about all this little hot pot of emotion could handle.

I mean, look at that face.

I was terrified.

I also came woefully unprepared for the event, with nothing but my wallet in my purse.

No food. No candy. No mints.

No toys or books.

I'm an idiot.

I improvised with the help of my sister, niece, brother in law, and those darling Perrys.

Shelli set me up on a blind date with my husband.

She also passed offering envelopes down the aisle so quickly that I thought perhaps she was one of Robin Hood's merry men. 

She has definitely proven her worth.

G busied herself by emptying every credit card out of my wallet and placing one in each of the offering envelopes.

She then took each of them out and repeated the entire procedure about 3 times.

And then Joey and Natalie were wed!

Amen.

It was a lovely affair that I watched as I perspired heavily.

Can you see the sweat on my enormous brow/fivehead?

Caroline kept her cousin entertained at the reception.

They had props for a photo booth, and Genevieve acquainted herself rather quickly with them.

The beautiful bride posed with her son, Luke.

I can't believe I didn't get a picture of the bride and groom.

Aunt Katie with Genevieve, who looked like Eloise, only even more disheveled than that storybook character.

This one's my favorite.

Josh, Joey the groom, T and Craig.

My husband looks strangely attractive in women's sunglasses.

Katie, Caroline, Callie (not pictured) and I attended the Christmas open houses downtown that evening.

Yes, on November 8th we attended Christmas open houses.

I love it.

My tree won't be up until after Thanksgiving, but John Denver and the Muppets Sing Christmas is already playing on repeat.

We opened a beautiful sweater from Wellie when we returned on Sunday.

She made it for Genevieve for her birthday, along with a hat and a blanket.

She is so talented.

G was so proud of her sweater.

I got out my camera when I saw her heading towards her BFF right when we walked into the classroom on Monday.

"My Wellie made dis.  You like?"

Too cute.