Grandma visit / Baby Travis

Grandma Cameron came to visit us in Indiana from January 6th through the 17th. We had a great time together playing the Wii and other games, watching movies, reading books, going for rides around town, and talking about old times! Grandma was a great help to Kathy and the baby while she was here, especially with entertaining Justin during the day while Lauren and Jared were at school and Daddy was at work. We are so glad that she came to visit!

New Family Member

Travis Alan Cameron was born at 11:15am on New Year's Eve after having been induced earlier that morning. At birth, Travis was 8 pounds, 15 ounces and 20.75 inches long. He was born at the Cherished Beginnings birth center at the St. Francis Hospital in Mooresville, IN (about a 20 minute drive from our home). Kathy had been checked into the hospital at 8pm the prior evening on the 30th for preparation. We ended up choosing to be checked out of the hospital at around 7:30pm on New Year's Day, even though we could have stayed one more night. We had a very nice room and were treated very well by all of the doctors and nurses. The birth center of 20-plus maternity rooms was practically deserted the whole time we were there, so it was very quiet, and we got a lot of attention from the 4 person nursing staff! Kathy and baby are both doing very well.

Travis on the warming table just after birth.

Home from hospital.

Justin has been very excited about being a big "blover"!

Travis, Mommy and Daddy came home from the hospital the evening of New Year's Day.

Christmas 2008

The kids receive their traditional gift of new pajamas from Mom & Dad on Christmas Eve. We also as a tradition on Christmas Eve let the kids open exchange gifts that they have selected for each other.

Brothers ready for bed on Christmas Eve .

Christmas Morning. Since our family vacation was cancelled over the summer when Kathy became ill, the kids got a nicer than usual Christmas this year.

Preparing Santa's milk and cookies!

Lauren playing her clarinet in a musical number at our ward Christmas party.

Kathy's Birthday

Trip to Downtown Indy

Hotel lobby at the Westin.

The scary ride up the small two-person elevator to the top of the monument.

View from the top of the monument.

Kathy and Trent in the observation deck at the top of the monument.

Monument Circle.

Base of the monument.

Monument Circle.

A frigid Kathy at Monument Circle.

The opposite side of the base of the monument.

The observation deck that we rode the elevator to is the light near the top of the monument.

Below is a picture of Monument Circle during the lighting ceremony.

I took Friday off from work, and Kathy and I left town for a one night, child-free getaway to celebrate Kathy's birthday, since we may not get a chance to do so if the baby comes soon. The kids got to stay the night at Grandma & Gramdpa's house where they got watch movies, play the Wii, and make a gingerbread house.

We stayed for just one night at the Westin in downtown Indianapolis, only about a 40 minute drive from our house. We first visited the Circle Center Mall, which could be reached from our hotel (without having to walk outside in the cold) via second story indoor walkways. Many of the hotels in the area are connected to the Convention Center and Mall via these walkways. It was a bit of a walk, so we got plenty of exercise. For dinner, we ate at a somewhat upscale steak and seafood restaurant next to the mall called Harry & Izzy's. The food was great! Downtown Indy has a number of upscale eating establishments, many of which we would not have been dressed-up enough for that night.

Later we returned to our hotel and bundled up for a frigid outside walk to Monument Circle. Monument Circle is an area near the center of downtown that is dominated by a 250 foot tall monument to Indiana's war veterans. This area is festively decorated for the holidays, and has a lighting ceremony the day after Thanksgiving that we are never brave enough to take the kids to due to the crowds! There are carriage rides throughout the holiday season as well as some weekly musical events. We rode the 20 story elevator ride to the observation deck at the top of the monument (which was a bit scary!) and stopped at the famous South Bend Chocolate Factory for some hot cocoa and chocolate cheesecake before returning to our hotel.

First Snow of the Season

Our first snow of the season that actually stuck to the ground took place on Dec. 4th. As has been typical of central Indiana weather the last few years, the snow only stayed on the ground through the weekend.