A snowy Thanksgiving

All dressed up for the holiday parade on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Usually, the parade is in the morning and we have a brunch party to celebrate and a bunch of our neighbors come over to watch the parade pass our house. This year, the City of Roseville, in it's infinite wisdom decided to change the parade time to 3:00 pm. I was really annoyed by this, because it's a wierd time to have a party! We stuck with it, though, and despite the poor weather and poor turnout- the few of us watching had a pretty good time!

Here's Ivy debuting her latest tutu... a giant pettiskirt that is as big as she is!
All bundled up in her cozy coat watching the parade in the front yard. We are almost done with our front yard remodel- a few more plants to get in the ground, but at least the fence is in now!

The parade was pretty short- only a couple of marching bands- no miniature ponies- no shriners- not too much of anything, really.

The night before Thanksgiving, we hopped in the truck and headed up to the cabin for a long Thanksgiving holiday. A couple feet of snow fell before we got there and it just looked like a lovely winter wonderland when we arrived!
We cooked a turkey and all the stuff that goes with it! Ivy ate some, but was suffering with some serious molars coming in. The day after Thanksgiving- we went shopping in Carson City to enjoy the beginning of the Christmas shopping season- and then it started to snow!

All day Saturday snow fell gently from the sky and it was just lovely!

Ivy and the kittie cats cozy on the couch!

So apparently, Alpine county was issuing permits to cut trees from the forest for use as Christmas trees. We all thought this was a charming idea, and purchased a permit. While it was snowing, my dad and Brian and I headed out to one of the appropriate areas and began to search for a tree. I can tell you two things about this plan.... one: all of the trees look a lot better from the road than they do up close- and two: it's pretty hard to trudge through snow that is waist high (on me) when you are wearing a skirt and fashionable (not functional) boots.

It was pretty, though.

Dad cut one... just because- but it was pretty scrawny!

When we got back to the house, we suited Ivy up in a million layers and got ready to go for a sled ride! She looked like that kid from Christmas Story with her arms stuck out straight from her sides!

I don't get it- she doesn't enjoy the beach, but sub freezing temperatures and a couple of accidental face plants in the snow are perfectly all right for this kid!

My little snow bunny!

She dug the sled! She kept saying "weeeee" over and over again!

Big snowflakes at night made for a pretty picture! This is the guest house where we stay.

Kentucky

Well, we made it to Kentucky! Ivy did great on the short flight from Chicago and we headed right over to Brian's parents house so Ivy could visit with Ninny and Papaw!

Ivy and Papaw reading the paper togehter!

Ivy's cousin Katie and Ivy sharing some laughs!

Ah, cousins!

We stayed a couple of nights with Brian's Aunt Phoebe, who was pretty dissapointed that Ivy didn't want to be all cuddly in the rocking chair. Ivy wanted to wander around and explore!

Ivy is looking at her two funny (second) cousins in Southeastern Kentucky, Gage and Blake! These kids all played so great together! Ivy loves boys! We stayed at their house for a few days and really enjoyed it!

We spent some time at Brian's Mom and Dad's house too- here's Ivy playing with a kitchen! She loves to play with toy kitchens... which is good since I'm pretty sure that's what Santa is bringing her!

We were blessed with some mild weather here too! Ivy really enjoyed being outside in Ninny and Papaw's yard! She loved all of the concrete animals!

Over the hills and through the woods... to Grandmother's house we go!

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Several Handshoes smiling for a picture- not that common! :)

Ivy and her Ninny hanging out on the swing!

Not a really horsy, Ivy, but yes... just your size!

A sweet walk.

One last hug before we hopped in the car to go back towards Lexington.

We got a chance to stay at Brian's cousin Kenny's house. They built a lovely log home on top of a hill on the outskirts of Lexington.... and they have cows! Ivy loves cows.

Ivy had a great time playing in the basement with tons of toys belonging to (second) cousins Daisy and Eddy!

Just another beautiful view of their farmland. There are fewer prettier places than Kentucky in the fall.

One last dinner with some family before we got ready to come home! It was a long trip but we covered a lot of ground and saw most of Brian's family!

Chicago!

Brian had a business conference in Chicago... and since I hadn't been there in a million years... Ivy and I tagged along!

I had know idea how beautiful the city was! Made especially beautiful by the clear skies and mild November temperatures!

As always, Ivy enjoys kicking back in her hotel room at the end of the day!

We planned a trip to the Museum of Science and Industry for Sunday. Our poor child was teething though, and lost patience with being carried around in our arms for the tour of the "Green House"-- so we had to abandon that.

See this maneuver.... squirming to get out of Daddy's arms... that was the way it went!

Ivy did enjoy playing in the kid's area! Lots of things for little kids to play with and learn about science! I could see her really enjoying it in a couple of years!

By far, her favorite part of the museum (and mine...) was the baby chicks! They had an incubator and the chicks were hatching while we watched!

Ivy and this chick were staring each other down!

The weather was so delightful, that we took an open top architectural boat tour on the River! It was perfectly clear and about 68 degrees in the middle of November. I'm beginning to think that the bad weather in Chicago is a myth!

Gorgeous buildings!

Ivy was a great sport on a 2 hour boat ride!

Later, Ivy and I explored some on our own while Brian went to his conference.

The Navy Pier was pretty cool! I bet that place is hoppin' in the summer!

The next day, Ivy and I headed out early with a picnic lunch and walked through Millenium park and through many blocks of beautiful city streets. Had to check out the former Marshall Fields... now a gigantic Macy's.

We went to the mall and got ready to meet Nicole and Mariko Sumida, Japan adoption friends that we met through Facebook!

Mariko and Ivy!

Our last day in Chicago... all dressed up for our flight to Kentucky to see Papaw and Ninny!