My Family

 
 
 
 


It is so rare that my parents, brother, niece, Bill, me and my kids are all together so it was picture time! My dad got out is TriPod and I set up my camera and well, we look just like US. LOL But we got a couple that were OK and they will have to do. It had been about 2 years since the opportunity for a group photo like this one so we are lucky to have gotten the chance to spend a couple of days all together.

Hillsboro, IN

 
The Home of 600 Happy People and a Few Old Soreheads!

Thursday afternoon we headed to my parents' house in Hillsboro. The kids were excited to see my mom and dad and we even made time to go see my Grandma Ellie (aka Grandma Jelly) and my Uncles Doug and Bradd. We also got to see my cousin, Kylie. Her twin sister was out on a date so we missed her. Kylie got suckered into pushing the wagon! LOL Good old fashioned fun!

Photography By Leslie Ann

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

On Wednesday morning, we had arranged to have photos taken at Butler University by a local photographer who is a friend of a friend. It was soooooo hot and the kids weren't uber cooperative, but the photos turned out really well. I had always wanted to get some photos done on campus and finally got them done 12 years after I graduated. Better late than never!

For those that live in Indianapolis or the surrounding area, here is Leslie's website You can contact her through the site or I can direct you to her. She does a great job! I received over 200 images.

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Indiana State Museum

 


August 5th we got up and ate breakfast. We had a lunch date with my friends at Apria Healthcare in Southport so off we headed. They had reserved the conference room and had pizza, salad, cookies and soda just for us. It was super sweet of them to host us. It has been 6+ years since I worked there. It made me feel super special that they wanted to see us and set up the lunch.

After our lovely lunch, we decided to take the kids to one more Blue Star Museum before heading to Fountain County. We chose the Indiana State Museum. I had NEVER been there and I was quite impressed. The kids had a great time. I think their favorite part was the bird watching, searching. They had stuffed birds in the museum and the kids had to find them with the attached binoculars. They had several exhibits, but unfortunately no flash photography is allowed so I had to wing it and the lighting was pretty bad in most areas. I did manage to get a few decent shots of our time there. I am super glad we went. It was definitely worth the time we spent there and I got to learn a little more about my home State's history.

Aug 4: Soldiers and Sailors Monument

 


Downtown Indianapolis boasts Monument Circle and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. It's pretty hard to deny that this is the center of downtown and the heart of the city. At Christmas time, it is transformed into a very large Christmas tree. Our hotel was right around the corner and I figured it was the perfect opportunity to take the kids over to snap some photos. The kids weren't really interested in sitting still and letting me get the 'perfect picture', but there were a few cute ones in spite of the lack of perfection.

August 4th: Buca di Beppo

 


I don't have a sister. But if there was someone on this earth that was the closest person to that it would be my big cousin, Brenda who happens to be just slightly less than 3 months older than me. Brenda had to pick up her 3 boys from the airport in Indianapolis on Wednesday afternoon so it worked out for her to meet up with us for dinner downtown at Buca di Beppo for dinner before she headed back to Cincinatti. Her boys Jason (14), Josh (12) and Robert (9) were with her and we enjoyed a family style Italian dinner and then went over to Circle Centre Mall and the Arts Garden to hang out. It was great to get a chance to see all of them!

August 4th: Conner Prairie

 


After getting our pictures taken at Butler, we headed up to the Castleton area to meet my niece's mother so that we could take my 6 year old niece Ashleigh with us. I hadn't seen Ashleigh for about 20 months so I was really excited to get to spend some time with her and so was Ian. He LOVES his cousin!

We had looked up online and got a list of Blue Star Museums. These museums have allowed active duty military families free admission since Memorial Day and will conclude the program on Labor Day. There were several in the Indianapolis area and we decided that Conner Prairie was a must. I think it was possibly the hottest, most humid day of the year and it was still worth going. Conner Prairie is a living history museum that preserves the William Conner home. There are several re-enactments and demonstrations on site and there is a discovery center where the kids had fun with hands on crafts, etc. The kids made paper, performed a puppet show, and made a wagon wheel as well as dressed up in period clothes. Outside they were shown how to make a doll from reeds, actually got to milk a real cow and pet newly hatched baby ducks and chicks. We also toured the settlement and talked to the employees who were all in character. We found out that it cost 12 cents per night for a spot on the bed and were allowed to choose our spot. We saw how native americans made homes, went to the trading post and then escaped back to present day to enjoy ice cream. It really is a great experience and we were thrilled that as a military family that we were "treated" to free admission. Ian and Ashleigh ate it up and Aaron had a pretty good time, too!