After Christmas was over we continued to have a good time. Tyler took the week off of work and we had a lot of fun. Right after Christmas we headed to the lake to hang out with some cousins. Our family has grown so large that now you need to sign up years in advance for Christmas and highly prized weeks during the summer. Our Birch cousins shared the holiday season with our Ellersick cousins. One family was there over Christmas and then left and another family arrived to ring in the New Year.
It sure was pretty out there!! The ice was not good...so no ice skating or sledding on the ice this year but the conditions were perfect for regular sledding. It was great!! I love to sled and lucky for me so do my children and husband. Normally we sled down a hill and out onto the lake but since that was out of the question we found a different spot.
This hill worked out perfectly!!
I am lucky to come from a family where the adults are just as playful and fun as the kids. I have great memories of sledding and having fun with my parents, aunts, and uncles. I am glad that my generation of siblings and cousins are fun parents too.
Tyler dragging up my grandparents old runner sleds. They truly are the best and give you an awesome wild ride.
Tyler was having as much fun...maybe more... than the kids. He is still sporting an enormous bruise as proof.
If anyone was having possibly more fun than Tyler and the kids it was Ben. He is always scheming up all kinds of fun. My kids absolutely LOVE him.
Ailey and Haylee
Kelley, Zoe, and Elle
Tyler
Kameron
Haylee helping the little girls...Bryn and Peyton
Bryn was pretty fearless even after a big wipe out. She got over it pretty quick and then was ready to ride with anyone at anytime. In fact, people would just be settling down onto their sleds and about to push off when Bryn would suddenly hop on too.
Ben and Addie
Clear the track!!
Whitney, Uncle Mike, Aunt Bonnie
(The family was a bit camera shy this year...you don't work with me people this is what you get!!)
We also went and saw this movie:
Loved it!!
We said good-bye to some good friends who moved to Chicago. Sad for us...but we are excited for the adventure that lies ahead for them.
We had a good-bye brunch at our favorite restaurant Chaps with the Frerichs and the Thumstedters. It was nice to have this time together. We also sent them off with a big farewell party during Christmas break as well...didn't take a single picture...darn it. I'm sure Bill was really sad about that!! :)
He looks so thrilled/scared/uncomfortable to be in this picture!! He's clutching Ramona for dear life. He never did come around to my picture taking ways and I look like I am trying to steal something out of his pocket. He is going to miss me ALOT...I know it!!
The three of us became good friends after we were called to serve for several years in the Relief Society Presidency together. We really ROCKED that RS presidency!! We are going to miss Ramona a lot.
New Years we ended up hosting a family party at our house. We had some great food and a lot of fun. Once again...totally spaced taking a bunch of pictures. Except for these three cuddled up on the bed waiting to ring in the New Year.
Elle, Bryn and Ailey
Happy New Year Everyone!!
