Lera's first holidays at home

After fun family trips to KC and Akron in November and mid-December, we enjoyed having a mellow Christmas and New Years at home here in Cincinnati. Seeing Lera experience it all for the first time gave all of us a fresh perspective on the fun and joy of the holidays.

Thanksgiving festivities started with Kristin's performance as a pilgrim (she opted to pass on the pilgrim bonnet...)

En route to KC - the traditional in-swimsuits-ready-for-the-hotel-pool picture


My brothers Brian & Brad, and cousin Francie - at Brad's 50th birthday bash


My folks

The traditional kids-in-Grandma-and-Bobby's-crock picture









Christmas
Pam came over to help us decorate the tree (Lera didn't seem to think it at all strange that we were doing this...!)

..then Aidan insisted on reading "The Night Before Christmas" to everyone...

Russ & I had a fun night out on the town for LPK's holiday party.

Lera LOVED getting dressed up for the Hickey Christmas party in Akron

Girls and dolls....Lera with cousins Maddie & Anna

Lera with Grandma Hickey

Christmas morning... A & K couldn't wait to get downstairs...but Lera didn't get it (yet). She was just annoyed that they made her wake up!

...Thankfully, she caught on right away.


And one more traditional pic...(hey, aren't the holidays about tradition?!) Here are the kids by the fireplace after the Christmas morning chaos.



Onward to 2010 as a family of five!!