Christmas with Grandparents

We got to spend time with both pair of grandparents while we were in Bismarck. There have been noticeable changes since they saw our children in September.

Christmas Party

We celebrated Christmas at home early.
Joy was especially excited to get started!

This is how our home was decorated.

Rudolph?

Our kids got in the lighter spirit of things a week earlier.
(Thanks Andy & Debbie for the great pictures.)

Sunshine

Today in the Seattle area the forecast is for "partly cloudy" skies! That has been a rarity while we've been here. It is great to see the sun and not have rain an hour later. We love to see the sun. Joel even had an opportunity to take the kids to a park!

Roller Skating Rookies

We all went roller skating (the kids' first time). Kind of our celebration of Thanksgiving.

Washington Fall

Time and travel goes fast for our family. We will be spending Thanksgiving in Arlington, WA. We are glad that most days while in Washington the sun has poked through at least a few minutes. Snowboarders and skiers are happy about the early snows. It could be a good year for mountain resorts.

Cousins

Joy and Josiah with 2nd cousin once removed Sarah Elliott (Sarah's mom is Grandma Mathison's 1st cousin).

Our children got a chance to meet some more cousins while we were in Washington and Oregon. We've had opportunities to know close and "distant?" relatives (Are 2nd cousins once removed or 1st cousins twice removed distant?) through the years. We visited with two of Joel's 1st cousins and their spouses and saw my "cousin" and her family. Even got in on a 7 year old's basketball game (June's 2nd cousin, Ethan, son of her 1st cousin once removed Jean Elliott).