Holiday Fun

The months of November and December seemed to fly by with all our visits throughout Wisconsin and the celebration of London's first birthday.

For Thanksgiving we headed to Appleton to spend the holiday with Amber's side of the family.  We had Thanksgiving dinner at Amber's Great-Uncle and Great-Aunt's where we had a wonderful meal and great conversation and on Black Friday we headed out shopping where we all shopped until we dropped!

London enjoying some cranberries during Thanksgiving dinner.

London shopped until she dropped!

The very next weekend (December 7th) we celebrated London's 1st Birthday.  We can't believe that it has been a year since the day she not so gracefully came into the world.  Our life has changed in so many ways, but she has adapted to our busy and fun lifestyle very well.  We were glad to have so many friends and family come to our home to celebrate London's birthday with us.

London getting her first taste of birthday cake.

Birthday cake mouth.

The Okray family at London's Birthday party.

The next weekend Amber was able to move into her music classroom at school.  Since she started teaching she has not had her own classroom.  Instead she would travel from classroom to classroom using a cart to transport instruments and other materials.  After 7 and 1/2 years she finally has a classroom to call home.  During the second weekend in December she spent a lot of time at school moving and setting up her things.

A few looks at the music room.

Adam came for a visit on December 15th and we went to Chuck E Cheeses for London's first visit there.  Fun times were had by all!

London riding with Chuck E.

That next week London was not feeling very well all week with a fever and sleepiness.  We thought maybe she had an ear infection, but after a visit to the doctor that was ruled out.  The very next day he two bottom molars came through.  Poor girl!  That brings her tooth total to eight!

Poor teething girl :(

The next weekend we went to the Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville to see the light display.  It was a little chilly, but we all enjoyed the light display.

That night we got about 8 inches of snow so after the sun came back out we headed outside to play.

Not so sure about this.

London loved sledding!

The next day we headed to Stevens Point to celebrate Festivus and Christmas with John's friends and his side of the family.  For Festivus we had a dinner and drinks at the Amber Grill and then headed downtown for some drinks.  On Christmas Eve we went to church, had a nice dinner and then let London open a few presents.  Christmas Day was spent relaxing and opening presents.  

Ready for Festivus!

Daddy and London at church on Christmas Eve.

Opening presents on Christmas Eve.

12 Month frame and pictures from Auntie Michelle.

Playing with the paper on Christmas Eve.

Christmas morning snuggles.

Opening gifts on Christmas Day.

Playing with some of her new toys.

The day after Christmas we headed to Appleton and Crivitz to spend some time with Amber's side of the family.  We also stopped at the Packers Pro Shop at Lambeau Field (London's first visit to the frozen tundra) and had some family photos taken.

London's first visit to Lambeau Field!

After our long week away we headed home to spend a few more days together before Amber headed back to work.  We spent our New Years Eve with a yummy meal of steak and crab cakes and watching movies until toasting in 2014 at midnight.

London's Twelve Month Photo

We hope you had a joyous holiday season and best wishes to you and yours in 2014!  Until next time...Go Pack Go!

Fall Fun

It has been awhile since our last post so we have to go back in time a bit all the way to the month of October (otherwise known as Rocktober in our household!)  London started swim lessons in the month of October and she loved swimming with Mom, Dad, Grandma Diane and Auntie Michelle during her four week class.

London all ready for her first Shrimp Dip Swim Class

Swimming with Mommy and Daddy.

During the first weekend of October Amber and London were able to have a girls weekend with Grandma Diane and Great-Grandma Betty in Appleton to celebrate with Amie and Brian Beeman at their baby shower.  It was fun to catch up with friends and celebrate with the mommy and daddy to be.

Amie and Brian opening gifts.

Catching up with friends (Jen, Amie and Cristina)

Girls weekend (Betty, Amber, London and Diane)

The next weekend we took a few days off of work to head out to Maryland to visit Amie and Brian.  London stayed home in Janesville with Grandma Diane and Grandpa Steve and though she had some teeth coming through and wasn't feeling the best she had a great time.  We left on Friday morning and spent most of the day on Friday catching up.  On Saturday we had a great time celebrating Amber's 30th Birthday in Annapolis with a visit to the Naval Academy and wonderful dinner at a famous and fabulous crabcake restaurant (yummy!)  On Sunday we all headed into Baltimore to see the Packers take on the Ravens where the Packers were victorious!  It was great long weekend and we are so glad that we were able to make a trip out to the east coast.

Visiting the Naval Academy.

Birthday celebration dinner.

John, Amber, Amie and Brian heading to the Packers vs. Ravens game.

Packers were victorious!

The very next weekend John also turned 30!  We celebrated a few days late by heading to the Milwaukee County Zoo with Adam and Becky.  It was a brisk fall day, but we were able to see all of our favorite animals and I think London enjoyed her first zoo trip.

Family photo by the wolf exhibit.

Enjoying the giraffes (one of mom's favorite animals)

Adam, Becky, London and John being silly outside the dairy barn.

Train ride!

Next weekend we bought our first "family" vehicle.  A 2013 Toyota Rav4!  It's been a great vehicle so far with lots of room for all the things we need when we travel.

London enjoying the new car.

Proud new owners!

The very next day we went to Skelly's Pumpkin Farm in Janesville for some Apple Cider donuts and some playtime for London.

London at Skelly's Pumpkin Farm.

Mom and London playing at Skelly's.

That same week was Halloween and London's first time trick-or-treating.  Although the weather was rainy for most of the night it let up for a short time so that we could take London to a few houses on our block.  She also got to go trunk-or-treating the night before at Amber's school.

Trunk-or-Treat at Todd School.

First time trick-or-treating

Excited after a great time trick-or-treating.  London was a strawberry :)

The next weekend John, London and Michelle headed to Stevens Point for a quick visit while Amber stayed home and caught up on school work.  John played with some of his trivia friends in a local trivia contest while Auntie Michelle, Uncle Mikey, Grandma Mary and Grandpa Mike got to have some fun time with London.

London playing with a new toy with Grandma Mary.

London and Auntie Michelle.

London getting kisses from Stephie while sitting on Grandpa Mike's lap.

The next weekend we headed up to Appleton.  We had dinner with Grandma Diane and Grandpa Steve on Saturday and then Grandma and Grandpa watched London while John and Amber went to Lambeau Field to see the Packers take on the Eagles.  The game was a bit rough and they lost, but we had fun anyway!

Packers lose but we still booze!

The next weekend we headed to a wedding for our friend and John's co-worker, Audrey, and her husband Travis.  Auntie Michelle came down to watch London.

Us before going to the wedding.

Well that's all for now.  Another post will be coming very soon!  Until next time...Go Pack Go!

London's 10 Month photo.

London's 11 Month photo.

London also learned to walk during the month of November.  Watch out world!