Christmas (with a surprise at the end!)

Since we were away for Thanksgiving, we decided to spend our first Christmas in our house at home. Mom and Harold were planning to spend it with us, but unfortunately Mom required emergency surgery that did not allow them to come (no worries. She's just fine. :) )


We had to go for a much smaller tree than previous years since our living room space is a bit limited, but it turned out to be a great little tree.

Gideon Claus

Decorating the tree (while listening to "A Christmas Carol" then the Amy Grant Christmas album in the background, of course).

Oh, Christmas tree!

No need to "dream" of a white Christmas anymore!
(view from out our front door)

Christmas Eve meal before heading to church: pigs in a blanket, raspberry jello, Risgrynsgrot and Julmust (two traditional Swedish Christmas treats).

Opening gifts: lunch boxes for the kids and new p.j.'s for Mommy!

A "princess dress" from Grandpa Moes

The 1977 Chronicles of Narnia collection. Just what he wanted!

Look and find books from Tante Marijke

Yay! New placemats!

Fishing sets from Uncle Brook and Auntie Tonya

Laser tag!

"What? It's not candy?" (peppermint spatula. Thanks Kinneys!)

A baby doll!

Trying out the gifts

Art easel from Grandma Sara and Harold

'Twas a long, busy night. :)

Although our gift opening was over, we still got one little extra Christmas surprise. We found out we're expecting! Come September, we'll be a family of five, making this grandchild #12 for the Moes', #11 for Dad and Ann and #5 for Mom and Harold.

We hope each of you had a wonderful Christmas, too!

Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving, we decided that a year and a half was too long to be away from family, so we made our first trip back to Cali since we moved to Washington.

The photos below are only a glimpse of everything we did and everyone we saw. You can see more on either my or Graham's Facebook accounts.

Hannah, Gideon and cousin Eden reading a book with Grandma.

A musician in the making!

Grandpa's newly renovated home theater

Watching Charlie Brown Christmas

Great Grandma Moes had a tradition of giving the kids Thanksgiving cans filled with treats and toys. Grandma Moes has kept the tradition going.

All of us ladies making the Thanksgiving feast!

Doing a Thanksgiving craft while waiting for dinner


Worth the wait!

Cheers!

What would we do without the Murphys Camp dining hall?

Choices, choices, choices!!

Miles' first Thanksgiving


The kids loved their Thanksgiving cans

Digging through the popcorn to get the toys

Uncle Dave and Miles (the newest member of the family)

Taking professional family pictures at Ironstone Winery

That hottie can't be "little" Marijke??!!

Please can I go in??


Staying warm while waiting our turn

Some of the cousins: Brynja, Gabriel, Gideon, Acadia and Hannah

First Christmas presents of the year

Gidders and cousin Acadia

Admiring the Christmas tree

Hot tubbing with Grandpa!

Precious girl!

After Thanksgiving we drove down to Fresno to see friends and visit our old stomping grounds. About 15 friends met us at our favorite Fresno restaurant, John's Incredible Pizza for yummy food and catching up.

Thank you, Naomi, for letting us stay with you!

It wouldn't have been a trip to California without going to In-N-Out.

Back in Murphys, going on a tracking ride around camp.

Our last night in Murphys. Murphys Christmas Open House.

Brook, Victoria and Ethan helping spread some Christmas cheer (and making an unexpected $22 in 15 minutes!)

Grandpa Moes and Baby Miles

Boys will be boys.

Getting in one final game of Ticket to Ride


A rousing game of "chess"

Taking a walk to the top of the hill

One final spin on the tire swing