Joyeux Noel!

What a wonderful first Christmas for Sarah Margaret! We are overwhelmed with the generosity and love of our family. Thank you all for making it such a memorable first Christmas for Sarah. GG and GG Pop Cislak were such gracious host having 24 over for Christmas dinner. We are very grateful this Christmas for all of our family--being with those who are here in Indianapolis and sending our love to Gramma Sue and Nana and all the aunts, uncles, and cousins in Toledo!!

Enjoy the Christmas photos and I'm sure there will be more to come with other family's cameras.

The day before Christmas Eve, the Boyd side of the family gathered for our ritual pasta night at MHCC. It was so much fun seeing Cliff, Anna, and Aaron after getting in on Tuesday afternoon.

Christmas Eve was spent doing some last minute Christmas shopping for Sarah Margaret at Mass Ave. Toys and then to GG & GG pops for a casual dinner. Since Sarah took a later afternoon nap, we didn't make it to 4pm Christmas Eve church service. Sarah Margaret got to open one present Christmas eve. She got the cutest pink bunny slippers from GG & GG Pop that she wore Christmas morning with her pjs.

Christmas day, Sarah was up at 7am. We opened presents here then headed over the river and through the woods to Glamma's & Bon Papa's to have breakfast but first open presents with Glamma & Bon Papa and Uncle Cliff & Aunt Anna & Cousin Aaron. Sarah received her first American Girl Bitty Baby doll. The highlight was the red wagon that Cliff & Anna got for Glamma & Bon Papa. Aaron & Uncle Andy had fun kicking the ball together. Sarah loved Daddy pulling her in the little red wagon. Glamma made a delicious sausage & egg bake and sweetheart coffeecake. After a short morning nap, SM was ready to see Great Grandmother Boyd and then over to GG & GG Pops. The theme of the day was lots of play. She was a very busy girl. It was a delicious Christmas dinner with ham and lots and lots of sides and Christmas cookies. The evening concluded by a performance of Christmas Carols by Bon Papa (piano), Adrian (trombone), and Mommy (Harp). It was certainly a memorable Christmas and so special since it was Sarah's first.

9 Months Old

It is amazing to notice the developments from week to week. Sarah Margaret is still a very busy girl as you can see from her 9 month photo album. She has mastered waving hello and goodbye and has been waving for the past two months. She loves standing at the changing table (on the ground) and going through her baskets on the changing table taking her diapers out and anything else she can pull out of the bins. Also, the refrigerator and kitchen cabinets are another favorite pastime. She knows how to open the cabinets (and doors too!) so we keep Tupperware and other kitchen items that she can play with as toys. She'll crawl over to you and lift her arms up like little wings to be picked up or tug on your pants leg. She loves peek-a-boo with Daddy and loves her peek-a-book book where she turns the pages (on her own!) and opens the flaps to find who is hiding behind each flap (thank you Brady, Casey, & Buckeye Baby Girl!). We think that walking is around the corner soon since she'll shuffle along the coffee table--mainly towards the remote or cell phone.

Enjoy the holidays! We are truly blessed by our wonderful family and friends.

Happy Holidays

Our Christmas cards will be a bit delayed this year but wanted to post this to wish you all a delightful December.

Sarah Margaret's First Wedding

Sarah Margaret is exciting to have another wonderful aunt in the family. She loves her Aunt Anna and now has a lovely Aunt Niki. It was a delightful wedding weekend for Uncle Ty and Aunt Niki's wedding in Toledo, OH this weekend, complete with snow flurries (just a light dusting).

The rehearsal dinner at Sylvania Country Club was the perfect start to the festive weekend and catch up with family and friends.

The wedding day began with bridal party getting ready all together at SCC with lunch and then photos at the church (Sarah Margaret ended up taking a nap for the afternoon so she was in a good mood for the ceremony).

Aunt Niki & Uncle Ty had a beautiful ceremony and Sarah sang along with the vocalist. Glamma & Bon Papa were a huge help because both Mom & Dad were in the wedding party. She didn't quite make it to the wedding reception but had a fun sleep over at the hotel with Glamma & Bon Papa and fell asleep in the comfy bed to the movie "White Christmas." Mom & Dad enjoyed the reception. Niki and her mom did an amazing job with the centerpieces. It was a great day and on Sunday morning the Alexanders hosted a very nice brunch at their home and there were fun stories to tell about the wedding day.

Soon, I'll have a link to the professional wedding photos taken during the day. There were quite a few photos taken by the photographer. But here are a few that I snapped during the weekend.

For Mary's photos, CLICK HERE

CONGRATULATIONS UNCLE TY & AUNT NIKI!!!!!