We've Arrived~

It was quite the holiday adventure getting to Utah to spend Christmas 

with our older children.  It started with a 30 minute, delayed wait in

snowy cold weather on an outside train platform.  When the high speed 

train arrived it was packed!!  We gave up thinking we would get our 

reserved seats, we just wanted to get ON the train!  Cody and I barely

squeezed on with 3 carry on bags and two suitcases.  A very nice 

German woman shared a corner of her seat with me, while Cody sat in 

the aisle on a suitcase.  Jim jumped on with the other suitcases 

standing in the doorway with 6 other people and their luggage as well.

The train ride usually takes 40 minutes but instead took at least

an hour to get to the Frankfurt airport.  We were so surprised to

arrive and see the airport packed with people and lines almost

as long as when we tried to get home for Chandra's graduation

and wedding in April.  We ended up standing in line for 1 hour!

Weather issues created problems for planes to even get to Frankfurt.

While waiting to check in we had two different men try to sneak 

in line ahead of us!  Only one got away with it!  FINALLY we

were checked in and waited in the "Red Carpet Club" for our 

flight to board.  We waited and waited.  When we did depart we

knew it was going to be close to making our next connection...

We landed in Denver but not in time to catch our connection to

Utah.  Thankfully it was only an hour wait for the next flight.

Happily our family was reunited to spend Christmas together in Utah.

Bob, Jim's brother, graciously hosted us in their home.   

It's always a lively time when we get to visit with their family!

Despite the lively atmosphere Bryce
had an easy time taking a nap.

 Kelly can always be found in the kitchen enjoying 

preparing a meal or yummy goody for us to eat.  

Now she has her daughters that like spending time 

in the kitchen as well.

 Unfortunately, with all our sons, things get a bit 

rambunctious and playing outside games, on the 

inside, happens occasionally....

A football game became the activity of choice in 

the family room, much to Kelly's dismay!

 Kelly was able to distract them with the 

delicious meal she prepared.

 Some cute cousins!

The usual game "Settler's of Catan" 

was quickly broken open!