::Family Photos::

We saw both sides of our immediate families over our vacation.

It was marvelous!  We had a blast.

One request was that we take family pictures, because in this day and age when we live so far apart from everyone, we never know when we're going to all be together again.

Each of my sister's-in-law had friends that are into photography so we were easily able to work this into the schedule.

Here is our Seattle family...

(I'm still working at getting our Portland ones easily accessed...soon!)

{Christmas in Seattle}

If there's one thing we learned over the holidays, it's that it is AWESOME having so much family in the Pacific Northwest!

This whole plan worked out even better than we imagined it would.

We arrived downtown Seattle and Nathan and a couple of the kids came and picked us up. 

Again, a great thing about the train...you can park right by the door, leave your car, help pick up the people, load the car and you're off!  So easy!!

A fun addition to our visit was that my parents drove up to Seattle for the weekend and they were able to come to church with us Sunday and then hang out for the afternoon with us.

From the moment we stepped off the train, all of the kids were elated to be together.  

It seems like Chase plays the best with the 2 youngest right now, but loves each of them and spending quality time with each in different ways.  And now there is Beck to throw into the mix and he is greatly loved there.  Sweet 10 year old Abby definitely had her eye on him the entire time.  She was a great blessing and help with him each & every day.

It's hard to believe but we even got most of this family sick.

I know, it seems impossible at this point, but alas, we did :(

And even they still love us.  It did cramp our anniversary plans a bit.  Oh well.

We had the first 5 days alone with the Hitch's and then John's parents arrived for the last 2 1/2.

Again, this worked out just perfectly to see everyone.

We relaxed a lot again.  Lots of kids playing, nerf gun wars, basketball, dancing, playing with fur real pets and dreamlites, dress up, delicious meals...

I also bought everything to make ice cream sundaes on New Year's Eve - my most favorite food of all times.  Unfortunately some of the kids were sick and unable to enjoy it with us that night.

John & I celebrated our 10th anniversary while there.

What a milestone!!  I'm so very thankful for each day, month & year that we've been side by side.

The Lord has been so very gracious.  We love to be together and would choose to be together than not!

(this said on a day that I've taken care of a poor, sick man that's been in bed all day with possible flu)

Anna did let us go off and enjoy coffee together fora couple of hours on our actual anniversary (NYE), and then New Year's day we were able to go off for the whole afternoon exploring the city, enjoying more coffee, a snack, a dinner, shopping, checking out a cool park...it was great to be together and reconnect.  Always so treasured to us since we don't do it that often back at home.

We have a tradition of eating "fun-due" together and did that.  This time the grandparents even got to enjoy that!!

Once Nannie & Poppy arrived, we had some family pictures taken, ate out a nice meal together, they took Whit & Chase on a cute date together that they all just loved.  They went to McDonald's and then picked out Barbies together.  Such sweet memories were made.

Thanks for hosting us dear ones!  It was a real joy to be together.

{Christmas in Portland}

Christmas seems like forever ago!!

We had a great time with my whole immediate family in Portland beginning late Christmas Eve.

We flew on the 24th....the day before poor Chase had symptoms of the stomach flu, so we were very thankful to be able to fly!

But about 24 hours after arriving, poor Beck got sick.

Then Chase gave the gift that kept on giving....the stomach flu- to almost everyone we were with!

We know that they won't soon forget her gift!!

Adam & Rachel's house was full to the brim.  They were very gracious allowing us to stay with them, as well as Rachel's mom, brother and his girlfriend.

We enjoyed the opportunity to get to know them.

And my parents stayed with my other brother, Zach, in his apartment about 2 blocks away.

Christmas day Adam cooked a wonderful gourmet dinner that we all enjoyed together.

We had a slow paced day.  Fellowshipped with one another, opened gifts, ate yummy food, relaxed...

Custom pillowcases by Grandpa.  A real hit!!!

The day after Christmas most of us went out to explore the city a bit.  It was nice to get outside and enjoy the cold, crisp air (especially after having been indoors several days due to sickness)

We were on the hunt for vintage/thrift type stores but didn't have too much luck :(

We did find a couple and we also scored a yummy lunch at a pod of food trucks!

Look at that reformed vegetarian go to work!!!

On the last full day that we were there, we all went hiking in Forest Park which is in the city and supposedly the largest inner city park in the country.  It was lovely and again, such a nice day.

By this day several people were almost sick and by the day's end, really sick.  Rachel's brother and girlfriend left that night...we were feeling pretty crummy that so many were sick :(

And on Friday, we took it easy.  Mom & dad left for Seattle, poor Rachel was in bed all day, so we hung out with my brothers.  Zach was off of work for being sick so that was nice to have some extra time with him.  He and I went on a nice long walk around their neighborhood.

Then Adam dropped us at the train station around dinner time.  That was a new world we had not been around before (in years).  It was a fun little adventure to travel by train from PDX-SEA.  

We discovered that train travel is the way to go.  You can easily walk around, the kids can watch electronic devices the moment they get on the train and they can remain on, there is a restaurant car, the seats/tables are comfortable...I could go on and on!

That's a lot of luggage!!

Can you tell she's still not quite herself?  

This first part of our trip was marvelous!

Thank you Klipsteins for hosting us and for the out of town Klipsteins for joining us there to be together!

We love ya'll!!