Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  Here are some of the highlights from the holidays.

It was Eliza’s year to top the Christmas tree this year.  She did a great job.

She really enjoyed learning some Christmas songs this year.

Eliza’s Christmas piano recital.  Landon got to play a piece he’s been working on as well. And Ashley played her violin for a song. It’s fun to see these kids musical talents develop.

Baking Christmas cookies from a neighbor gift.

We did Christmas lights this year. We’ve really enjoyed them!

We (Kathryn) had a lot of fun with our Elf on the Shelf.

Lots of foosball tournaments.

The girls had friends over for gingerbread house decorating.

Sunday portrait.

Christmas party with the Hawkers.

Christmas jello.

I busted out the trumpet for my annual Christmas music performance.

Tim and Suzanne joined us for Christmas Eve dinner.

Candles and oil lamps lit our dinner.

All decked out in our Christmas PJs.

I had some fun printing out some cool coupons on the 3D printer.

Merry Christmas morning!  What a fun day!

Cashing in on the escape room coupon.

Laser tag kit from a Mark Rober Hack Pack box. When you get hit, your goggles go dark.

We zoomed up to Idaho for a New Year’s Eve party.

Looking good!

The traditional glasses picture!

We had a pretty epic dance party!

Landon wanted on my shoulders.

Then Eliza.

Then Ashley.

Then we did a stack!

Then Zoey wanted in too!

Welcome 2025! We went skiing at Pomerelle with Josie and Jimmy’s family. At the excellent recommendation of Josie, we got a harness and leash for Landon with this being his first time skiing. This is definitely the best way to teach a little kid how to ski.

It took two runs down the bunny hill and one and a half runs down Milk before I felt Landon was ready to go on his own. I unclipped his leash while we were skiing and let him go. After a couple dozen yards, he looked back and realized he was all on his own. Like a boss!

Lunch at the lodge. Ah, memories.

Landon and Caroline were ski buddies.

Ashley and me. Kathryn was behind the camera. Eliza was off bombing down the “black diamond” run Instructor with Avery and Laura. She bragged that she went down the whole thing without any turns. Some things never change!

Meanwhile, Kacho and Zoey stayed with Mom and Dad at home. After skiing, we rendezvoused with them at the freeway and loaded up for home.

We stopped at Tim and Suzanne’s house and had some dinner and then left the kids for a sleepover. What a trip! What a great break! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!