January was packed with important celebrations and family time. I’m adding some photos and mosaics here for the sake of my memories that might be redundant to you. I’ll be linking up with Angie for Mosaic Monday. Thanks for hosting, Angie. Be forewarned that this post is overloaded with photos.
We celebrated three family birthdays in January. Dan and Jamie both had birthdays a day apart and we enjoyed dinner at our country bungalow in celebration of their birthdays.
Our oldest had a milestone birthday and his office celebrated him well along with other family and friends on the west side of the Cascades. We gave him his gifts early at Christmas and added a gift when we all gathered in Arizona 5 days after his birthday.
We handed down grandfather Rex’s Bible to Josh while we were in Arizona.
Thursday January 24th was travel day to Arizona for most of us. Josh and Laura were at the house already working nonstop to furnish it for our arrival. Friday started with some work on putting furniture together and then was Zoo/Old Town Scottsdale day. Saturday was shopping/work day, cousin/nephew-niece dinner. We broke in the new barbecue. Sunday was staging/photo and lunch/park and puzzle day. Josh and Laura flew home on Sunday. Monday morning Katie and Andrew flew home and then Addy’s Great Granny and Jim drove up to have lunch with us. (Photo Fail) They are snow birding in Arizona until March. Tuesday was our travel day flying back to our snow covered world.
8 adults to 1 child at the park. I don’t know how one person can manage a child in a busy park!
We were all happy to get a good dose of Vitamin D.
And the contrast of what we returned home to…
Our kids on the westside returned home to this…
Helping one another get Andrew and Katie’s home ready to move into.
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 (ESV)
Click on Airbnb to see the listing for this beautiful property in Surprise, Arizona. We highly recommend it.
Today we still have snow on the ground and are getting a weather warning for very cold temperatures overnight. The sun is breaking through the clouds. The Puget Sound area of Washington got a good snowfall overnight. Our kids on the west side of the mountains measured 7 inches this morning which means everything will come to a stand still in the Seattle area. Katie and Andrew moved into their new home over the weekend just in time to be snowed in. Hope all is well in your corner of the world.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
…you packed a lot into January. By the way, since when is 40 old?
40 is really young to me…
That was a January jam-packed with wonderful things! Love that birthday shirt…Old Lives Matter. I need to go on a hunt for that one!
A busy happy month for you and your family. So nice to read about your wonderful family. Sure would love to be part of it. 🙂
Ellen – what a whirlwind re-cap. I loved it. Be careful – 8 adults and 1 child – that Addy is going to think she is the center of the universe … oh wait – she is! Thanks for sharing all your joyful collages with your Mosaic Monday family!
It was wonderful to see all these happy faces in your family celebrations!
January was a busy time for your family and it sounds like it hasn’t stopped. It’s always wonderful when a family gets together. Reminds us of what is important.
Special family moments!☺️❤️
Those were delightful January mosaics . . . representing lots of wonderful family times! (I’ll bet it was a shock to come back to the land of ice and snow after those days in the sun!)
I’ll return later today to watch the video of your Pop’s blessing. That has to be quite special!
I enjoyed your photos. They reflect love, joy, happiness, celebration! 🙂
Loved seeing all your family photos. Lots to celebrate. B x
That was a busy month! Looks like fun with family, though.