And Now For the Christmas 2013 Update

Finally a Christmas update.  We traveled to Minnesota this year to spend Christmas with my family.  Its about a 10.5 hour drive with no kids and tack on a bit with kids.  We stopped the first night in Bismarck to make the journey east a little more enjoyable.

Winter travels.

Baby traveling.

We made it a few days before the festivities and got plenty of family time.  But first I made a quick trip to Detroit Lakes to hang out with the Rachels.  These beautiful ladies are my high school friends and stood with me at my wedding as bridesmaids.

Now on to Staples, MN with the family.  Sledding time.

Cousin Bo and Grace.

Video of Grace going down the hill alone:



One of the twins...no I can't tell the difference all bundled up in snow gear.

The other twin.

Cousins Finn and Soren getting ready to use the old toboggan.

Mari (my sister in law, mother to Soren and the twins, Lukas and Bjorn).

Cousin Beck.

Sled dog Tuff pulling Bo in the video below:



Now reverse rolls and Bo and Soren sled dog:



Warming up inside with the cousins and a game of catch the fish.

The next day we were out again on the slopes.

My brother Derek and I.

Tuff's snowman Olaf.

We watched Finn, Beck and Bo play some hockey.  Finn is #15 below.

Duff on the time.  At this stage its all parent volunteers, including transportation to all games.

Between periods and the Zamboni comes out.

In another game Beck and Bo, in the photo below (Beck in center and Bo camera right).

Grace loving the between whistle music in the video below:



Post hockey Tower Pizza stop with Aunty Cydy.



Christmas Eve morning we hung out with our friends the Anderson family.  In the picture below is Sara and Gabe, Tuff and Mary.  I graduated high school with Gabe and then we hung out when we lived in Nashville, as he resides there.

Christmas Eve at Grandma Rach's house, Rachin' Around the Christmas Tree.  There were around 60 family members in attendance.

First cousins.  Not all in attendance but a good showing.

 Some more family, Christy and Mari.

Some of Grandma Rach's great grandchildren.

Goodie all dressed up.

Christmas Day feast at my parents home with immediate family and Grandma Rach, Uncle Joe and Aunt Barb.

The family photo.

 And a goofy one of course.

Grandma Rach.

Did we mention it was wicked cold while we were in Minnesota?  Check out Tuff throwing boiling water into the air in the video below:



Some sisterly love watching the Vikings play their last game in the Metrodome.

Road trip back to Montana and Tuff woke me up to the smoke and flames as seen in the photo below.

It was the train derailment in Cassleton, North Dakota.  We approached it from interstate 94 just minutes after the first few explosions occurred.