O' Christmas Tree!!!

Our beautiful tree, with the lower branches a little sparse this year so as not to tempt little fingers! :-)

Jackson Family Thanksgiving!

On Saturday the family gathered at Kevin and Alicia's house for the Jackson family Thanksgiving! As always...lots of great food (thanks Alicia!), great games, and a lot of laughs!

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Russ, Stacy, Sandy & Andy playing a board game called "Pandemic" - a game where you try to save the world from a deadly infectious pandemic disease. Sounds like a real pick-me-up! :-)

Sam and sis, Michele

Sam & Cohen

Russ & Andy got dish duty this year...and they are not happy about it! :-)

Some play time!

Our future Beethoven! :-)

Tickling the ivories with cousin Rowan!

Rowan and her Sammy!

He's got the whole world in his hand!

The Lighting of the Christmas Tree!

We took Cohen downtown to see his first lighting of the Christmas tree on Monument Circle (along with Russ & Michele)! It's hard to believe that 15 years ago on that same night, Sam and I had our first date when we went down to see the Christmas tree lighting! WOW! 15 years!!! And now we could bring our son along with us! Very cool!

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All bundled up and ready for the lights to turn on!

3...2...1....LIGHTS!!!

Michele & Russ

Patterson Family Thanksgiving!

Before heading over to my parents' house for Thanksgiving we made a quick stop by the Elliotts (to crash their family Thanksgiving! :-) because Cohen had woken up with what I thought was some sort of blistery chicken pox-like rash on his arm, and I wanted Shelli's opinion on it. Turns out the poor little guy got mauled by a spider that some how got into his pj's!

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The Sweater Vest Babies...Sitota & Cohen!

Aunt Karol, Uncle Bruce & Cohen!

Karol & Cohen

Grandma Jina & Cohen

Mom and Dad pretty much let Cohen do whatever he wants! And apparently he likes to be swung around on the floor inside a laundry basket!

Mimi, Grandpa & Cohen

Burqa Barbie...REALLY???

Not that I've ever been a huge fan of Barbie - I mean, really, who looks that perky and did she and Ken really have to "divorce" a couple of years ago? - but for me, the new Burqa Barbie is just going a bit too far. Now granted, the Burqa Barbie is part of a collection that is being auctioned at Sotheby's for the benefit of the charity, Save the Children. And I do agree with the designer's explanation that every girl deserves to have a Barbie to play with that best represents her own heritage and ethnicity. But does the Barbie corporation really want to reinforce the ideology behind the burqa? My favorite quote (heavy sarcasm intended!) from the burqa Barbie designer was, "I know Barbie was something seen as bad before as an image for girls, but in actual fact the message with Barbie for women is you can be whatever you want to be." I just can't support Barbie's decision to endorse a message to our young girls that says: You can be whatever you want to be, as long as it fits within the tight confines of what the men who "own" you allow...and as long as you don't show your face."

New Moon...Um, Yes Please!

The girls and I went to see New Moon this afternoon! YUM!!! I have never been in a theater with more giggling, squealing girls before...who just happened to be in their 30s! :-) It was fabulous! There was a ripple of nervous giggling the first time Edward stepped onto the screen, but there was outright hooting and hollering the first time Jacob took off his shirt! So funny! I only wish Jacob was a few years older so I didn't feel so guilty drooling over him! :-)

Megan is definitely "Team Edward!"


Waiting for the movie to start!


Ahhh! Post New Moon bliss!!!


One of us, who shall remain nameless - we'll just call her Wobyn - wouldn't cooperate and pose for the picture! So I had to do some creative photographing to get her in the frame! :-)


Shhh! Don't tell but I just might be "Team Jacob!"

Children's Museum

Cohen and I met Shannon and Luke for a day of fun at the Children's Museum (thanks Shannon for getting us in free :-)

First we visited the "Egypt" exhibit!

Cohen loves playing in "Playscape!"

Move Your Feet So Others Can Eat!!!

Before we dig into the turkey and dressing, join Sam, Cohen and me Thanksgiving morning for the 7th annual Drumstick Dash! It's a 4.5 mile walk/run (with the option of doing a shorter 2.3 mile course) that benefits Wheeler Mission in downtown Indy! If you're unfamiliar with the organization, Wheeler Mission provides meals for homeless men, women and children in Indianapolis. They also provide overnight stays for homeless men, as well as distribute household and clothing items to those in need.

The Drumstick Dash is located in Broad Ripple on Thursday, November 26 at 9:00 a.m. Registration is $22 per person (there's also a family rate) or $25 the day of the race. It's a great way to spend some time together and get a little exercise before the eating begins! We had a great time last year doing the dash! And it's for a great cause!

For more info go to:

http://www.tuxbro.com/Drumstick%20dash%20entry%20info.htm

Happy Birthday, Margie!

Last Saturday we all got together at the 8 Second Saloon to celebrate Margie's birthday with a little country line dancing!

Getting ready to start the lesson!


Trying to learn the steps!








Check out our sweet dance moves!














We all got a huge kick out of watching Russ ride the mechanical bull!


Unfortunately, our entertainment was short lived when the bull popped a spring at the end of Russ' ride!

First Shots

Such a sad little face! Poor baby!!!

Country Line Dancing At Stables!

Last Friday we had a heck of a good time kicking up our heels country line dancing at a bar called Stables!

Even Sam participated in one of the lessons!

Doing the Oklahoma Waltz!

Robyn got a dance lesson from an old dude...

...and then he got a little "something-something" in return! Hee hee :-)

Picture Time!

Our first family pictures at Portrait Innovations in Westfield!

Cohen's First Camping Adventure!

We couldn't waste such a beautiful weekend in November, so we packed up the van and took Cohen on his first camping adventure! Along with the Altekruses, we headed up to the Indiana Dunes for some camping and hiking. We were going to stay at a park called Dunewood, but unfortunately when we arrived, we found that it had closed for the season on October 31! So we had to stay at the Indiana Dunes State Park, which turned out to be really nice because the campground was pretty empty and we had A LOT of space for ourselves.

Cohen loved playing in the leaves!

And so did Zac!

Holding down the fort!

Zac showing me one of his sweet yoga poses! :-)

Before starting out on a hike to the beach, Sam (and Cohen) get a drink!

Hmmm...I see that becoming parents hasn't improved our judgement any.

The Altekruses

Sam & Cohen on the beach!

It was the first time Cohen had seen water this BIG!

He was amazed with the sand...

...until he tried eating it!

Cohen hitches a ride with Margie!

Such a sleepy boy!

Cohen sitting around the fire!

Our own little snow Yeti! I was so concerned about Cohen being cold, I REALLY bundled him up! Everyone was making fun of me for putting so many clothes on him, but he was warm and cozy all night long!

Such a long day!

Just a couple more pictures before we leave!

The Jacksons & Altekruses!

A Trip to the Children's Museum!

We took advantage of the Children's Museum's free admission night and took Cohen to the museum for the first time! For some reason Cohen was super fussy for the first hour or so. The place was packed and there were lots of kids shouting, running around, and making loud noises and I think Cohen was a bit over-stimulated for a bit. He just wanted to be held and would burst out in tears every time I tried to put him down! Poor baby! By the end of the night he was doing better though!

Happy Birthday, Ro-Ro!!!

The girls got together Halloween night (after the kiddies were all trick or treated out and put to bed!) to celebrate Robyn's birthday! Shannon brought all kinds of goodies for fondue and Robyn and I made creme brulee (well, kind of)!

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The fondue spread!

Shannon & Megan

Robyn & Em

All the girls!

Robyn really gets into the torching!

And what's a party without some dance lessons!

Megan, Shannon, Robyn & Em

A Day At The Zoo!

Today was such a beautiful day, we just couldn't stay inside! So I took Cohen to his first zoo (thanks to Michele, as usual, for getting us in free! :-) We had a great time together, and I can't wait to take him back!

The sunning seal and sea lions!

Cohen liked watching the sharks swim around!

Cohen was amazed by the ducks and birds! They were so tame, the ducks would come right up to his stroller, and a bird even landed on his stroller!

The Forest Animals

The Desert Animals

The Plains Animals

Cohen engages in a stare-off with this kangaroo statue!

The zoo keeper said we were very lucky to catch sight of this mama baboon with her brand new baby! She normally keeps him tucked away!

The Petting Zoo Animals

Crown Hill Cemetery

After we left the zoo, Cohen fell asleep for awhile in the car so I took advantage of the beautiful day and drove around Crown Hill Cemetery for a bit snapping a few pictures!

When Cohen woke up, I tried to get a couple of pics of him in a huge pile of leaves, but he wasn't quite sure how he felt about that...


...and then he decided that he didn't like it one bit!

Jack O Lantern!

On Friday night Cohen spent the night with his Grandpa & Mimi (my parents) so that Sam and I could stay out late and see The Tyler Bender Band at Birdys! In addition to giving him pretty much everything he wanted, Dad also brought home a pumpkin for them to carve together! As you can see things got pretty messy!



Scooping out the "guts!"

Ewwww! How gross!

Harvest Party 2009

We were so blessed to have such wonderful weather for our 6th Annual Harvest Party! We had such a wonderful time hanging with our friends and family and watching the kids having so much fun playing together! The holiday season has officially begun! :-)

The kids love painting their pumpkins!


Tifany & Tristan


Elizabeth, Tifany & Isabel


Sydney & Rowan


Ben & Gwynne


Zac


The finished products!


Paintbrush clean-up!


Grandma Jackson & Cohen!

Isabel, Gwynne, Rowan, Zac, Tristan & Ben hanging by the fire!

What A Cute Little Pumpkin!

Cohen and I went to Stoneycreek Farms for his Fall "photo session!" Here are a few pics!

Arrggghhh Matey!

A few pics of the cutest pirate EVER!







Cohen with the pumpkin he and Grandpa & Mimi carved!




Getting ready to go out trick or treating with the group!






All bundled up and ready to go!


Sitota and Cohen!




A cow, ninja, princess, pirate and catepillar! Oh my!!!


Zac & Isabel


Sam with the cutest catepillar and pirate ever!