Happy New Year's!

New Year's was spent together with the Browns. We had our customary cheese appetizer, dinner fondue, and dessert fondue.

We played some games again. Sophia led us all in a long round of yoga downstairs

then we played Jackbox, where some awesome t-shirts were created!

After ringing in the new year, we ended the night / started the new year with an hour of Karaoke. It was a perfect end of 2021 and beginning of 2022!

Teenager Pro Tips

Dani found a social media account that VERY accurately describes life as parents of our teenagers.

Holiday Cheer - Part 2

After Christmas, we went to Khron Conservatory for their Christmas display. It was all of our first times being there, even though Jared runs past it frequently.

It was amazing, the natural re-creations of Cincinnati landmarks. The two Great American men stood in front of the Great American tower. The Roebling Bridge was pretty cool too.

 

It was fun to see all of the historical places, surrounded by the foliage and flowers of the conservatory.

 

They had a model trail set with Union Terminal.

They even had a recreation of the Khron Conservatory.

We toured all the plants throughout the conservatory, beautiful and interesting plants from all over the world and from all different climates. There was a room with decades old bonsai trees. 

At the entry, there was a huge tree with fun and funny ornaments. It was fun to tour with Nana, Papa, Matt, and kids.

We also took a trip to the zoo, touring the zoo during the daylight hours. We had a perfect day to explore the park.

The lions were especially active, which is always fun to watch.

Of course, Kate's favorite are always the manatees. Jared's favorite is when they would run into the windows with their blubbery noses.

We stayed late enough that we also got to see the Zoo lights.

Papa walked the entire way, with some regular help.

It was a beautiful night for us! Look at these beautiful people!

Christmas Eve and Christmas 2021

Christmas Eve was spent at Nana and Papa's, with Matt, Amber, and her family and with the Lesans.

Everyone did a great job with their musical numbers.

We had a great re-enactment of the nativity story, complete with Joseph (Jacob) and Mary (Ellie), with Mary riding a mule (Liam!).

Cora was an agreeable baby Jesus

Ada owned the role of angel - and everyone did a great job!

We had an incredible, delicious meal (which Jared managed to keep the beef tenderloin, which came out before chimes and the nativity re-enactment, out of the warming drawer!).

The kids start at the top of the stairs, as always!

A few new gifts - the biggest blanket ever! Our entire family fits under it!

52 Modern Manners for teens - this showed up from Santa for the teens - and for Jared from his brother!

And Kate's new best friend - her manatee squishmello!

Dani, celebrating her birthday with her customary Christmas afternoon nap.

Christmas Eve Eve with the Gibsons

We tried to find some time to spend with the Gibsons around Christmas time, so we spent Christmas Eve Eve together! We had a delicious meal (other than the rice... which, for some reason, never got fully cooked!), including Pratt's amazing fruit creation!

and played the bells, led by our director, Dani. 

We love our friends, the Gibsons. Our kids have a lot of fun together!

 

Holiday Cheer

Christmas season brought some fun activities. We went with the Lesans up to the Christmas Ranch in Morrow Ohio. The owner used to live in Terwilligers, across from Jared when he lived in Cincinnati as a teenager, and used to have SO MUCH Christmas decor in his yard that people would come from a long ways away to see it.

It was a cold night

We went for a hay ride - it was pretty short, but it was fun to go with the Lesans.

We later got hot chocolate and some treats

and visited Santa.

It was a fun evening to spend with the Lesans!

Jared and Dani decided to go on a little date night to Kings Island's Winterfest. We didn't ride any rides, but it was nice to walk around, see lights, and, of course, eat Dani's favorite - funnel cake!

We later took the kids to Winter Fest as well. Not pictured, but we waited a while for the parade - which apparently was running 20 minutes late, but it was fun to experience.

While some of the kids went on a roller coaster, Torin took Jared for a spin in the old fashioned cars.

We're not exactly sure what this guy is and what he has to do with Christmas...

They insisted that we have a little romantic evening. Always romantic when surrounded by our kids!

We love Christmas time and the lights and festivities that surround it!