After Christmas day we had two and a half more days filled with full family fun before our Western kids made the trek across the state and over a major mountain pass home.

Thursday morning after Christmas day we had our traditional Swedish Pancake breakfast with little smokies. Greg is the cook for this meal and we appreciate his efforts!

It’s a nice casual morning for the rest of us. After breakfast the party shifted to Bayles Mountain for the rest of the day and evening. Usually there would be sledding involved on this day but for 2024 we didn’t get a white Christmas.

Many new ‘toys’ were enjoyed by everyone.


Hardy Boys books are the current favorites.


Gramps and Baba left for home before it was time for Some-mores.

On Friday we all met for lunch at the new Mexican Restaurant in town. Friday was Katie’s birthday so in the afternoon Greg made his famous Tomato Rice Soup for dinner and I baked a cake. Jamie baked three different loaves of Sourdough bread to enjoy with the soup, plain, rosemary garlic, and siracha!

This year the cake was a lemon cake with lemon curd filling and lemon frosting.

After dinner and cake a new game was played that had us roaring with laughter during some key moments!

Some teams of players were involved.


It was a full rich day and everyone retired with plans to meet up for one more hoorah before travelers headed home on Saturday morning and afternoon.
Hope you all had a good New Year’s Day. We laid low and watched the parade, some games and had some long distance conversations with family.
Hello Ellen,
Wonderful photos of your beautiful family. It is great seeing everyone having a fun time and making new memories. Take care, have a wonderful day!
…Ellen, your family has to be the most photographed family in the universe!!!
What great family days. Lovely to see your grands involved with story time. All those new toys looks fun. I think we have the magnetic road squares for our granddaughter. B x
Hello Ellen,
Wonderful family times! We had lots of gatherings here between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The two of us spent a quiet time as the year changed. Happy New Year to you and yours.
More fun times and happy memories.
Your photos always show a beautiful story. Sounds like a wonderful time. Sorry you didn’t get any snow. What a lovely time for you and your family.
Ahh, thank you, Debby. We are supposed to get snow today, Friday the 3rd!
Love the family photos. Sounds like you all had a lot of fun! We were home and extremely lazy most of the day. It was perfect!
Cathy, We’ve had some lovely lazy days this new year, too. Blessings!
A wonderful celebration of togetherness. Happy New Year to you all!
Thank you, Denise!
Lovely family times in between Ellen. I wish you and yours a wonderful 2025!
Martha Ellen
Thank you, Martha Ellen. Happy 2025 to you and yours!
So wonderful to see your family spending such precious times together – reading, playing games, and just enjoying being together! All the food sounds wonderful! Happy New Year’s blessings to you and your family!
Marilyn, thanks for stopping by. I think I saw that you are in your new home on your land. Enjoy your first weekend in 2025!
Family time is the best time!