Our Christmas Visitors

We were really excited when Mike called to say they wanted to drive out for Christmas.  It would be a short stay --- but those can be the best of times!!!!   They would arrive on Wednesday evening.  We had JDC but they wouldn't be here until after 8:00 - so no problem.  As we drove in we saw their tail lights.....they had just arrived.

We have quite a bit of room in our trailer but we were a bit short on the beds.  We called Lee and asked if Mike and Julie could come and use "Gpa's" bedroom...."you bet".   So we had Mike and Julie taken care of........  Sidney and Halle would share the full size bed......  Rick, Brennan and Austin on the bunk and twin beds.  That left Trenton and Colton in the living room.   Julie said they were the first ones up in the morning......so Trenton was on the couch and Colton on an air mattress.

Things did get a bit messy  --- boots and more boots.....

.......but spirits were high and we just didn't worry about the small stuff.

Christmas Eve we all went to church for a candle light service at Lakeview CRC.  And then we would share Christmas Dinner with Dwight, Marvanne and Rob and Lee.....and Pastor Mark, Dawn, Michaela and Evan.  The size of our group made us decide to have it at the Community Center.   What a feast we had!!!  Then we got the Aggravation boards out and things got intense.

OH ----- I forgot to mention Diesel ----  a dog that looks like Toby's twin.  He took the ride in stride-----slept the whole way up and back.

They got along just fine --- yes, there was a fair amount of growling at times...... but mostly Toby put up with Diesel.  We have an extra dog run - so that was no problem.

When they weren't outside - hunting - they were in the house doing puzzles (the brain teaser type) or playing Aggravation or Uno.

Rick was very glad that we have wireless --- so he spent a lot of time on his computer......when he wasn't trying to win at Dirty Uno.
Halle's not into hunting yet but she was never bored either.

 When we were in Michigan, Sidney got her cedar box out ---- it was the first one that Grandpa had made --- wow was it ever little.  So Grandpa decided that Sidney needed a new "jewelry box" sized one.  Sidney's birthday is January 11 -- so he got right to work making it.  We let her open her birthday gift early --- so we could see her.......

Love those thank you hugs!!!    

Mike had been watching the weather. The plan was to leave on Sunday but with the snow we received on Christmas Day, Mike wasn't so sure --- he was willing to stay thru Tuesday - but NOT leave early !!!!     Then the weather man started talking about "Goliath"............  They would leave on Sunday!    Gary made sure that they would be able to get out ----- He called Rob and Dan ------ assurance that the driveway would be cleared for them.  Dan came Sunday morning about 8:30 --- he had the road clear all the way to the Lakeview/Crookston road.  THANK YOU DAN!!!   They did get stuck right in our driveway ----- that 15 passenger van does NOT have 4 wheel drive!   But we got them on their way and they had clear travel all the way home. 930 miles!!!!  They arrived at 12:30 (midnight) in tired but good shape.  THANK YOU Lord!!!!   

What a fun time we had ------ all the food making and the mess and the clutter and the noise....... worth every minute.    We sure hope they do it again!!!!

Wishing you and your family the most wonderful New Year!!!!

Gary and Barb