On Sunday Mimi invited us to her farm to celebrate all the summer birthdays: hers, mine, and Amanda's. We were also celebrating my parents' return from Germany, Will's new job, David's new job, and summer in general.
We sat just outside the beautiful old farmhouse and sipped iced tea and limeade under the trees.
We opened presents ...
... and cards ...
... and then had a delicious lunch of corn, summer vegetables, bread and cheese, and birthday cake. 
On Mother's Day, I got together with my family for a celebration.
I gave Nola flowers, and she gave me flowers.
Mom's present from us was travel-themed, in honor of her upcoming vacation. 
The time-honored family tradition is to open presents and cards, then pass them around the room so that everyone can get a close look. You had to look closely at Mimi's present, because it was a tiny pendant featuring a scene of frogs in bathing suits drinking champagne.
... and presents. Happy birthday, Will! 
This year on Easter we had gray skies and snow flurries, but inside my parents' house everything was candy-colored and springlike.
We didn't get very many good pictures of people for some reason, but here Mandy, Mom, Nola, and I are headed for brunch, and Granddad is already seated at the head of the table.
This is what the table looked like: so lovely!
The last of our visitors left town yesterday. Before they left, we tried our best to get a group picture. Sometimes the camera timer didn't quite work ...
... and sometimes the camera captured the chaos of people running in and out of the picture!
If I had any stress in the weeks before Christmas, I forgot about it on Christmas morning. My Christmas this year was wonderful! I got to be together with almost my entire extended family (with more visits to come next month!). We breakfasted on Nola's tiny frittatas, Mimi's champagne, Mom's French toast, and a batch of potatoes that were something of a group effort. Then we all sat around the Christmas tree, where many presents and much hilarity ensued.
My favorite part was watching everyone open their gifts.
There were frog gifts ...
... cephalapodan gifts ...
... feline gifts ...
... vulpine and lupine gifts ...
... piratical gifts ...
... and so many perfect gifts!
One gift drew everyone's attention.
It was a tiny, palm-sized, bug-like, remote-controlled flying thing that Will and Amanda gave to Granddad!
Yesterday Mom, Amanda, and I went on a very thorough and comprehensive shopping expedition in Indianapolis. We got so much Christmas shopping done! In fact, I had to crop most of this picture out, because both Amanda and Mom have their arms full of things that some of you might be getting for Christmas.
Afterward, my brother Will joined us for a hilarious dinner. We had an eccentric waiter who wouldn't let Amanda order the dish she wanted, because it was too simple. In the end we all had an elaborate and delicious meal, and as a crowning Christmasy touch our waiter brought us a snowman made of rice with a vegetable face.
October 3rd was my mother's birthday. We all went to the Indianapolis Zoo to see the meerkats, then ate cupcakes outside under these beautiful yellow trees.
