My Nephew Jared | The Beauty Around Us

Christmas 2010

Bob and I had a quiet, restful Christmas Eve, just the two of us. We ate an early dinner at Pizza Hut. Pizza Hut was a good choice, as it was offering its all-you-can eat buffet all day Christmas Eve. We didn’t know this was the case when we decided to eat there. In the evening we watched a couple movies, and around 11:00 PM we opened our Christmas gifts. This was the first year that we opened our Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve. We were able to see what we got each other for Christmas and dream about our gifts all night long 🙂 Bob is happy with the Keurig Coffee Maker, a tool set, and a Steelers shirt and sleep pants that I gave him for Christmas. I’m happy with the gifts that Bob gave me too — a Kindle! and a gift card to purchase e-books!

Bob and I celebrated Christmas with my brother and his family at their home on Christmas Day. We celebrated Christmas with my stepdaughter, Stacey, and her fiance Mike at our house the day after Christmas. Our Christmas weekend was wonderful, and I hope the same of yours.

Please click on image to enlarge

Weekend in Pittsburgh – Visit to Zoo, Day 2

This past Saturday, March 27, Bob and I visited the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium with my brother, Jim, and some members of his family. Bob and I arrived at the zoo around 9:50 AM. Jim, Judy, Kaleb and Anna arrived about an hour later. Jim and Judy’s son, Jared, joined us about 30 minutes later.

Jim and Judy with their grandchildren, Kaleb and Anna at entrance to zoo

I am so happy that Jim and Judy brought Kaleb and Anna to the zoo. It was great spending time with them and seeing the zoo through their eyes. By the way, did you know every animal in the zoo is called “doggie”? That’s how Anna referred to each animal that we saw. Both Kaleb and Anna behaved well at the zoo. There were two things about the zoo, however, that Anna did not like — the escalator and a glass cleaner inside the aquarium.

You have to ride an elevator or go up this big escalator to get to the main zoo area.

Judy, Jim, Kaleb and Anna on escalator
Anna did not like riding the escalator. She cried the whole way up to the zoo.

Large floor to ceiling aquarium

Inside one of the large floor to ceiling aquariums was this person who was cleaning the glass. This person frightened Anna when he waved at her. Anna cried and wouldn’t stop until we left the aquarium. I was carrying Anna as we left the aquarium. She kept looking behind her as we walked. I wonder if Anna was making sure that scuba-clad person wasn’t following her?

We had a great time at the zoo and hope to visit again someday.

Christmas Day and the Day After

Bob and I celebrated Christmas with my brother, Jim, and his family at their house on Christmas Day. It’s a little more than a 2-hour drive to Jim’s house. The weather forecast for Christmas Day was not good. Here, in Warren PA, there was a winter weather advisory for freezing rain until 5:00 PM. Jim lives near Kittanning PA, where there was also a winter weather advisory in effect. The winter weather advisory in Kittanning, though, expired at noon. We left our house late morning, hoping to avoid the wintry weather. We were fortunate not to run into any freezing rain either en route Jim’s house or on our way back home in the evening.

My family’s Christmas tree bursting with gifts

Judy (my sister-in-law), carving the turkey
My nephew, Jared, is overseeing the task at hand.

After dinner, Christmas gifts were opened.

My nephew, Mike, and his daughter Anna

My great nephew, Kaleb
Oh boy, a Triceratops!

Jared handed out gifts
(or should I say, Jared tossed gifts)

I snapped a few family portraits.

My nephew, Mike, and his family
(Mike, Kailey, Kaleb and Anna)

My brother, Jim, and his wife Judy

My niece, Emily

We celebrated Christmas with Stacey and her boyfriend, Mike, at our house the day after Christmas.

Stacey and Mike

We enjoyed good food and the wonderful company of family and friends both days. Time spent with family and friends during the holidays is definitely time well spent. Bob and I hope all of our family members and friends, near and far, enjoyed Christmas as much as we did.