both boys wanted to play on Opa's tractor...Connor was the only one that was kicking and screaming not wanting to get down...thankfully Matthew didn't act that way! Heehee

check out the air balloon flying in Colorado
this mountain pass in Colorado was beautiful
sun sets in Utah

Christmas in Denver

Connor just hangs out but was definitely not feeling well.
all the kids but Connor were anxiously waiting for Matthew and I to get back from urgent care with Connor so we can open presents. Connor took his medicine and went to bed...then we all got to open Christmas presents.
Katy and her family
Aimee and her special guy, Grey

Opa loves his girls and the girls just love their Opa. Rachel is going on 13 and still loves to climb on Opa's lap. He of course doesn't mind and treasures the moment.
Kaitlyn and Sydney want their Opa time too.
Grey, Jacob and Clayton share a game on the computer and were having so much fun together

we enjoyed time at Katy's....love her tree
and of course the girls have to beat up on Steve
fixing a yummy brunch
kiddos hangin' and playing

Connor was fascinated with Oma's merry-go-round. He would just stand there watching and listening to the music.
handsome dude loved hangin' with his cousin Grey.
Connor was starting to feel better once the antibiotics kicked in...poor guy came down with a sinus infection.
our baker in the family...I don't know what she enjoys most, making the cookies or wearing it.

Grey could not wait for Eddie to wake up!

This table cloth belonged to grandma Van Dyke...its been in the family for many years

Entire Family's 1st Roadtrip

So this year we decided to drive to Colorado for Christmas because of the expense of airfare for seven of us. So we loaded up the van and off we went. Kaitlyn wanted to try out the cargo box so Matthew put her in it while he finished getting things loaded. This was our very first long-distance road trip with the entire family so I was a little worried. But it was so relaxing and a beautiful drive.
we stopped in Twin Falls, Idaho overnight....kiddos havin' a little fun and burning up some excess energy.
this is what Connor did most of the trip...sleep.
Matthew loves road trips and wants to do it again.

thick fog in Fort Collins

this was a tunnel we went through...the rule in the car was that you had to hold your breathe until we were through...Clayton laughed and couldn't do it.
the mountains were stunning
this is the thick fog we had to drive through in Fort Collins, Colorado...we could not see anything but the photos are beautiful.

check out the windmills we drove by in Wyoming...these are enormous...I've never seen these before. The sky was so blue but it sure was cold out.
one of my favorite photos

Choir Concert at The Grotto

Kristina's choir class was invited to sing once again at The Grotto in Portland. This is an honor for so many people visit The Grotto every year during the holidays for the concerts and lights. The class did an amazing job. I also had a chance to walk around and the lights were beautiful...they use over 200,000 lights each year.
this was such an amazing display and reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.
check out the lights on this tree...it was so neat to see.