Final week off

It was so nice to have 3 weeks off for Christmas vacation. Between getting ready for Christmas and all the gatherings that happen Christmas week, the first two weeks always seem to fly by. The last week we were able to relax, sleep in, go to the library, read lots, and play with new games and toys...like these (below). "Must make it up..." "Almost there..." "Don't want him to capture me."

It was good to have time to just be together. I also loved the lazy mornings when I could make a good breakfast. I made cinnamon-orange sweet rolls on our final morning off of school...YUM! This past weekend was spent with Randy's extended family in a cabin up at Shaver Lake. It was a great end to our holiday get-togethers! Besides lots of food, games, and catching-up, we spent a couple hours in the snow on Saturday. There was hardly any snow at Shaver, so we packed up lunch in the cars and headed up to Huntington Lake (another 30 minutes up the hill, across from Sierra Summit). There was lots of snow there! And my pictures don't do justice to how amazingly beautiful it was! I love snow! Randy and all the girls on our sled run. Isaac and David makin' snowballs. Dad sure is proud of his little snowshoer! Hiking out as the sun goes down. Sunday was a sunny, warm day and the kids had fun playing outside around the cabin while we cleaned and packed up for home. Five of the eight boy cousins...ready for battle! Four of the six girl cousins...hugs goodbye! Thanks, Arlene, for helping coordinate this with your siblings and all their kids and grandkids. We had a great time!