Coeur d'Alene Christmas, 2013

We got to spend Christmas together in Coeur d'Alene with all of our children (except Elder Christian) and the husbands and grandchildren. We rented out a home that had plenty of space for all of us, and we spent three lovely, busy days all together.  Matthew ended up being the real Santa Claus this year.  He brought a large suitcase full of gifts for everyone, and he especially spoiled all of his nieces and nephews.

Just look at these darling daughters of mine!

 

Here we are by Lake Coeur d'Alene.  Lauren, Steve, Cole, Juliette, Will, Lisa, Isabella, Tracy, Jake, Annabelle, Lissie, Emily, Henry, Liam, Bryant.

I had hoped to get more pictures, but this is it for now.  I wanted one of all of the grandchildren together (in their Christmas garb!),  but with two little newborns and four busy little toddlers, AND the flu bug, it was almost impossible!  We had a lovely time together though, and I am grateful that it all worked out to get together, even for a few days. 

Pre-Christmas in Montana

Getting together for the holidays as an entire family (sans our Elder Allred on a mission) was definitely the highlight of the year for me. Tracy, Bryant and I landed in Seattle a week or so before Christmas, and Emily and children met us at the airport. We were so happy to see her and her cute little kiddos. We then spent a few days at Marie's house where we witnessed the baptism of our first grandchild, Isabella, and blessing of Charlton. In the following days we made lebkuchen and Christmas pajamas for all the little ones.

After a few days, we headed to Spokane with Isabella in tow. She spent a few days with Lauren and Steve while Tracy, Bryant and I headed to Idaho to visit Grandma Minnie and to pick up Lissie from BYU-Idaho; we also made a quick overnight trip to Utah to see Grandma Kay and Grandpa Gordon, and to attend cousin Kathleen's wedding. We then headed back to Montana on Saturday (spent the night) and the next morning hurried to Spokane for the blessing of baby Logan.  Whew!  That was a lot of driving.

 Matthew joined us on the evening of the 22nd and we all (except Lauren and family) spent a couple of wonderful days on the Hermes Ranch in Montana with Aunt Kay. We had the most wonderful time making more lebkuchen, playing in the snow, and cutting a Christmas tree. Aunt Kay is always so wonderful to us. My very happiest childhood memories were spent on this Montana ranch and it simply fills my spirit with joy to be able to spend some time together there with my children and grandchildren.



 Annabelle, Emily, Henry, Jake, Lisa, Aunt Kay, Tracy, Lissie, Bryant, Marie, Charlton, Matthew, Isabella, Liam, and Juliette.

 

Welcome to the World, Baby Logan, November 30, 2013

Welcome to the world little baby Logan Ryan Byers!  We were so happy to hear of Logan's arrival, and to see some of his very first pictures.  He resembled Cole very much, only with blonde hair!

And then we got to meet him for the first time, about a month later.  Lauren and Steve had moved to Spokane from Dallas, and we stopped in our way to Idaho and Utah so we could spend a couple of hours with them.  What a cutie! Here he is on December 22, 2013, his blessing day.  What a wonderful little bit of heaven to make the Christmas season even that more special.

The proud parents and grandparents

Tracy, Lisa, Lauren, Logan, Steve, Yvonne and Brent

Congratulations, Lauren and Steve,

We are so happy for you!

 

Welcome to the World, Baby Charlton, October 25, 2013

Welcome to the world, baby Charlton Edwin Gross, and congratulations to the proud parents, 

Marie and Will! 

Charlton's blessing day, and Isabella's baptism day, December 15, 2013

So glad we could be there!

BYU Idaho Extravadance!

Lissie felt so lucky to have been chosen to be part of the BYU-I Collegiate Ballroom Dance Team!  The team culminated their hard work and long practices with a few routines which they performed at the Extravandance in December. I only wish I could have been there!  But, we did get to see the official video and it was fabulous.  The Salsa number was my favorite.

So Beautiful!

Thanksgiving, German style

Since becoming members of the German Ward in June (after the American Ward was dissolved), we have felt very welcomed into our new ward. We have been invited over to so many members houses for dinner that it is really hard to reciprocate and keep up, especially since our time is so limited now that we all commute to Kaiserslautern for work and school. Our weeks are so busy and tiring! With that said, we had the opportunity to organize a Thanksgiving dinner which quickly grew into somewhat of a ward activity. Tracy and I were glad, though, that we could give back in a small way. We bought all the turkeys and made the food assignments. We were glad that Rosi and Hans-Juergen could join us, as well as the Roses, since they have been our traditional Thanksgiving guests for several years now. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Cross Country Academic All Conference

Bryant joined the Ramstein High School Cross Country team this school year, and was selected for the varsity level. No surprise there.

He finished up as an Academic All Conference member.

Yeah, Bryant! It was fun watching you run those races. You are a natural!