Welcome 2009

Happy New Year to everyone!!!! On New year's Day we got together with Ken's family in Mesick. We had a wonderful dinner and and a great time getting caught up with every one's busy lives. It was alot of fun visiting with our nephews.....it seems just like yesterday they were all teenagers!!!

Ken's sister Jeanne provided alot of "white elephant" gifts for a gift exchange and that was loads of fun! Just like days gone by....when it was our turn we could open a new gift or take a gift from another person if we liked it....but the gift could only exchange hands three times before it was no longer "fair trade".

We laughed alot.....took each others gifts alot....but in the end remained friendly and forgiving!!

We really missed not having Ken's sister Pat and her husband Dave home for Christmas....so we made them a sign and took lots of pics!

Dear Pat and Dave, we want you to know how much we missed you today...even though you didn't send any of us a Christmas card:) ..it's not the same without you!!! However....we know you are enjoying that beautiful sunny Florida weather.....while we are "chilled to the bone" in Northern Michigan!

Ken and Judy, Tom and Deb,

Dick and Carol, Les and Jeanne

Richard and Carol Nichols

Brothers Travis and Justin with Uncle Ken

Tyler and Grace Brown

(Tom and Deb's Grand-daughters)

(Randy and Emily's daughters)

Justin and Tracey
Aaron and Joy

Joy is due for their first baby in five more weeks!

We were trying to figure out who was further along,

Aaron or Joy???

Aaron and Joy

(no matter what I did, I could not get Aaron to smile!)

The Housler Family

Aaron and Joy, Les and Jeanne, Justin, Travis

Justin Housler, Travis Housler, Joel Nichols

Les and Jeanne

The view from the kitchen window