Happy New Year!

 Happy New Year! We are ready for 2020! Yesterday it was snowing and we thought it would be pretty to get a family picture in the snow. 

Greta is wearing the cute sweater that I wore as a girl!

Merry Christmas!

 We had a beautiful Christmas celebration of Jesus coming to earth as Immanuel God with us. We celebrated Christmas Eve with the Meyer side of the family in the afternoon at Papa's house and then we celebrated with the Bossany side of the family at our house in the evening. 

On Christmas morning the kids woke up to find their new Christmas pajamas outside their door for them to put on. Then they woke us up and we all went downstairs to start our Christmas morning while it was still dark outside! I love the wonder and excitement of Christmas morning. I remember it clearly from when I was a child and now I get to see through the eyes of my kids. 

For Christmas this year we knew that we needed to do something different. The afternoon of Christmas Day we flew out to California to see where David lives and where he works. It was neat to see the California Condors up close and stay at the bunkhouse. The next day we enjoyed driving to the ocean and staying at a hotel in San Simeon right on the beach. We got to watch the sunset on the beach and we ate out at a delicious restaurant near the beach. We drove up highway 1 to take in the breathtaking ocean views and we were able to see elephant seals up close. Mom always loved the Pacific Ocean.

Sunset on the beach!

All four siblings together!

It was wonderful to spend time with grandma and family out in San Jose. We had another Celebration of Life gathering for mom with her side of the family. It was great to have them all join us for the day.

While we were gone, Ben came over to go sledding with Brian and the kids!

It was a beautiful trip and it was a great coming home to Brian and the kids!

Christmas Celebrations

Last Saturday night we went to the Substance Church Christmas service. The message and worship was wonderful!

Karen and I in our Christmas blouses!

Greta looking beautiful in her sparkly dress!

Greta and Mommy

Greta put a Christmas ribbon on her unicorn. 

So this happened unplanned the other morning. I guess since we have been together for a long time, we are starting to dress alike!

The kids enjoyed making snowflakes to decorate our back window!

Asa and Greta building with blocks together.

We made another batch of gingerbread cookies because we love them so much. Daddy even got in on the action this time!

Yesterday was a beautiful day to visit Duluth! We stopped to eat at our favorite restaurants, took the kids to the Great Lakes Aquarium, walked along Lake Superior, and finished the day with the Bentleyville Christmas lights tour with the Vest family! It was the warmest time we have ever visited Bentleyville with temperatures in the upper 30s and 40s. It was a perfect family day!