…are the best!
On Friday of our long Thanksgiving weekend we enjoyed Swedish Pancakes and little smokies while we waited for Josh and Laura to arrive from the west side of the Cascades. We enjoyed some Bible Challenge questions read by Dan and Addy before and after Josh and Laura arrived, too. They arrived before dinner and it was good for the 10 of us to be together. The guys hauled the Christmas tree in and set it up which was a special treat for me.

After dinner and a game of Uno the grands were given instructions on playing solitaire.

Saturday morning the girls went shopping along Main Street in Colville before we all gathered on Bayles Mountain for Charcuterie for lunch. The rest of the afternoon was filled with crafts, a walk, making dinner and decorating for the special birthday we would celebrate.



Our Grands love their Auntie Lolo and they made a special sign to let her know. Hers was the special early December birthday we were celebrating on this Saturday evening. We enjoyed a delicious dinner of Ribs, Smashed Potatoes and a Broccoli salad before it was time for a special lemon birthday cake that Dan made for LoLo!

Presents were opened with our special thoughts for Auntie LoLo included in the cards. I forgot to get photos of all her special gifts.
We watched the Sounders v LA Galaxy game and unfortunately it ended in LA’s favor. Boohoo. We all retired to our own and our guest beds for the night.
On Sunday Katie and Andrew left early for home spotting a herd of elk crossing the road.
The rest of us gathered at the early service at church before Josh and Laura hit the road to travel home. We enjoyed the first of many worshipful Christmas Carols for the Advent season and a sermon to set our minds on God. Everyone made it home safely and we thank the LORD for that mercy.
Josh and Laura left us a gift of Daily Advent readings for December by Alistair Begg, Let Earth Receive Her King. I’ll share this small portion for December 1st:
“Christ’s divinity has no starting point in time. He always was. He was God before time began. He is God at this very moment. And He will continue to be God forever.”
Happy December everyone! This will be a very busy week here at our country bungalow with decorating and gatherings and travel. Time will tell how blogging will go. How are things in your corner?
Hello Ellen,
You are blessed with a beautiful family. Great photos.
I love seeing the elk , great captures.
Take care, have a great day and a happy new week.
Thank you so much, Eileen. Happy December to you!
What a beautiful Thanksgiving and birthday celebration. Your pictures and words shine with so much love. Just getting started with Christmas decor and scheming about starting some baking. Enjoy your upcoming busy week – busy seems to be a theme over here too.
Rosella, thank you. I’m just getting started here with some Christmas decor. Happy December and Advent season to you and yours!
…as your family gets bigger, you will need a wide angle lens!!!
We’ll have to get creative for sure, Tom.
what a wonderfully busy weekend you had! I think it is great that the kiddos love their auntie so! π
I love listening to Alistair Begg on YouTube.
have a great week Ms. Ellen! π
Hi Monica, Allistair is easy to listen to. Happy December to you!
Lovely family times. So special. B x
Hi Barbara, we do enjoy our family times. Happy December to you!
What a fabulous weekend you had. So many things you did. You guys certainly know how to celebrate. The pictures are all so precious and I love the herd of elk.
Hi Debby, We are always ready for a good time. Thank you for stopping by.
You’re welcome!
How wonderful to have all that family time in December! I like Alastair Begg…I might have to look for that one.
Auntie LoLo surprised me with that and left it on top of my other books to find. She’s a gem. Happy December to you!
More fun times. π
We do have a lot of fun, Karen! Happy December.
Thank you for sharing your family time with us Ellen. The photos were very sweet. Happy birthday to LoLo! Wishing you all a Very Happy December.
Thank you, Denise. A very happy December to you!
Happy December and Happy birthday to Auntie LoLo!
Thank you, Pat!
Wishing you and your family a grand December!