Aleks!!

Since Aleks was the main photographer while we were up in Michigan, the only pictures we got of her while there were taken when she was sledding behind the snowmobile - and not very clear.

So here's a picture of her, all smiley and as beautiful as ever!

Christmas Travels

The weekend before Christmas we drove up to Michigan to visit Mom's Mom's side of the family.

Aunt Jana, Anja, Mom, Dad and Elsie opening gifts.

Emmy and Cousin Austin.

They do love each other - really!

Grandma Jackie & Anja, and Aunt Barb & Cousin Marcus

Grace, Grandpa Ken and Aliisa eating chocolates - yum!

Aunt Barb and Mom cooking, and it was really good!

Grace, Uncle Jed and Emmy.

Aliisa, Isaac and Zack.

Grandma's beautiful tree!

Aunt Barb & Cousin Marcus - what a cutie!

Even though we got a suite at the hotel, according to the fire chief we were only supposed to have 5 people sleeping at the hotel. So most of us kids slept with different family. Elsie and I stayed with great-Grandpa and Grandma Johnson, and since we had the camera I got a few pictures!

Grandpa & Elsie.

Grandma!

It was about an hour's drive to get to Uncle Mike & Aunt Toni's for the Christmas party, and on the way Grandpa and Grandma taught me some Finnish! It was really fun, and a little difficult, too.

Cousin Brianna, Elsie & Anja.

Aliisa & Cousin Marcus - what a cutie!

Aunt Toni & Mom.

Zack, Ike and cousin Alex with their "guns" (a.k.a. candy canes) holding up the photographer!

Cousin Christina, Christina's fiancee, Cody, and Cousin Megan.

Cousin Michelle and her daughter, Iris.

Cousin Marcus, Aliisa & Aunt Barb.

Cousin Kerielle and her son, Mason, who (the night before) touched a wood stove and got 2nd degree burns on both his hands! Poor boy!

Isaac and his snickers bar - best gift ever!

Uncle Dick being, well, Uncle Dick!

After a while cousin Ian got out the snowmobile and sled, and as many kids as could fit piled on for a crazy ride!

Uh oh, they lost someone!

That night we went swimming at the hotel with Aunt Barb's daughters, Alice & Olivia, and Cousin Austin. Since the photographers were swimming, we didn't get any pictures! We did manage to get a few pictures of the group up in the hotel room, though.

Interestingly animated conversation!

Aunt Barb, Olivia, Uncle Jed, Alice and Cousin Marcus.

On our way home on Saturday we met Grandpa and Grandma Klahn at a restaurant for lunch and exchanged gifts with them.

Anja got a doll that drinks and then goes potty, and everyone was fascinated by it!

The drinking dolly!

Aliisa and Grandma!

Grandpa!

December visitors.

The second weekend in December the boys had a basketball tournament. Since we only live 10-12 minutes from the school where the tournament was being held, we invited the team and their families over for a pot-luck lunch on Saturday. It was a great time of fun and fellowship!

Eating and talking . . . . .

Eating . . . . .

Eating . . . . .

and more eating!

Interesting conversations.

Good food!

Afterwards the boys all went into the living room to hang out . . . and had some fun with the little kids' toys, too! It was quite hilarious to see a bunch of high-schoolers playing with little people and legos!

"Now we ride in the school bus . . . ."

Building their "trophy".

It's almost done . . . .

The finished product!

Aliisa babysat two children at our house who are the same age of Anja and Jacob. It was so cute watching them play together, and they had such a fun time!

Susie and Anja loved playing with the dolls!

Awwww!

Jake and Carl chose more manly toys, and built with legos.

Quite the thinker!

Dress-up!