Merry McChristmas

This year the McIntosh asked for a trip to Disney for our Christmas present. In early December we took off from school and work and headed back to Orlando for our second visit to the DW. We stayed in a new location this time, the Polynesian Resort, which turned out to be very nice. We played in the pool and visited the parks – basically had a good time al around. We also found out that one of Ellie’s friends from school was going down to Disney at about the same time and we coordinated our trip so that we had some time with friends while we were there.

Highlights of the trip were pool-side games at the hotel, seeing snow on Main St. at Hollywood Studios, Ellie overcoming her fears and riding Thunder Mountain Railroad, Mia getting pictures with Micky and Miny, fun with the Damson’s at the German Beer Gardin and staying up late to go to our first real luau party.

Have a Merry McChristmas and a Happy McNew Year from the McIntosh’s.

My daughter Mia graduated from her Early Childhood education program today. Kelly, Ellie and I couldn’t be more proud of her. Check out the video and see how well she walks across the podium.

• Thursday evning we had Mia’s official family birthday celebration. See the video above and the pictures in the photo section of the site.
• Friday evening we had Kelly’s parents and brothers over for the Tschohl version of Mia’s 5th Birthday. She really enjoyed the evening and had fun playing with the cousins.
• Saturday morning we packed up the car and drove to Indiana Beach (2 hr. drive) to meet Grandma McIntosh.There we played and road rides all day. It was good to see Grandma. Lake Shaffer is pretty cool too. It was the first time I’d seen it.
• Sunday was Race Day (the Indy 500). This was our first time being in Indy for the event. Who knew they were going to black out the race on local TV.
• Sunday afternoon we visited the Stump’s for a fun filled afternoon of bounce houses, listening to the race on the radio and playing on the slip and slide. I think there were 15 kids there and 5 families.
• Monday afternoon we all went to Grandma and Grandpa Tschohl’s to visit once again with family and take a ride around the lake with the kids.
• Tuesday, I’m back to work for a relaxing day of building software.

This was kind of like the first night the child sleeps through the night, or when they learn how to get out of their room on their own. It’s just another sign that she is growing up.

Meanwhile, Mia and I were both slow to wake up. She takes after me there.

This morning made me remember when my mother (Hi Mom) showed me how to make my central in the morning by myself. This must have been after I got up early on my own and just went about my business. She would fill up a bowl of central and put a small cup of milk in the refrigerator for me to mix in when I wanted breakfast. I just wish Ellie liked the this kind of breakfast. I’d have to teach Ellie to use the toaster, skillet and microwave for here oatmeal.

On Thursday we visited Kelly’s parents in the afternoon for a nice relaxing no stress Thanksgiving dinner. Dinner was great and the girls and I played a few games of 9 Ball with Grandpa Tschohl. He beat us 4 out of 5 games.

Friday Kelly hit the Black Friday shopping scene in the morning and I taught the girls how to jump of a couch into a bunch of pillows – Father of the Year… Friday afternoon I visited with some friend at the Sandstone Bar and Grill where I used to be a Friday afternoon regular before taking the job with ExactTarget. I miss it but am very happy with my stable job thank you.

Yesterday’s weather was wonderful, and we all took time to enjoy it. Kelly went for a run, I put of the Christmas lights, the girls played in the yard and we went out to dinner in Broad Ripple with the Wilkerson’s. We ate at Broad Ripple Stake House. It was nice to get out with grown-ups to a nice restaurant again.

Today we wok up to a fresh coat of about an inch of snow. Before lunch we bundled up the girls and went out to play in the driveway. We also discovered we have a nice little sled hill in our front yard. The girls came inside and had hot chocolate and I’m getting ready to watch the Colts game at 1pm today.

This was a great few days with the family.