Ah, Christmas. My favorite time of year. It darts by far too quickly. We welcomed the season with some festive times in Portland, before heading back to Michigan to split a healthy chunk of time between Jeff’s Brighton-based Krass family and my Linwood-based Redick family.
I sure love these people.
Two shots of happy couples at Bye and Bye on the ugly holiday sweater bar crawl
The Thunderballs bowling team family at Jessica and Todd’s Christmas party
Cooper and his buddy Giggs pose in front of our tiny tree
Jeff and our first little nephew, Ben
Admiring the brand new mural on our annual, pre-Christmas visit to the Detroit Eastern Market
Eagerly awaiting our Bloody Marys (with beer backs, of course) at Vivio’s, another Eastern Market tradition
Brothers Jeff and Rob braving the crowds at Devries & Co. cheese store in Eastern Market
A trip to Brighton isn’t complete without a Coney Joe’s visit
My faves! You may recognize them from our wedding party: me, Lesley, Ashley, Ashley, Rachel, Jenny and Vanessa
Jeff in a Sharp sandwich
Me with my old buddy Vermin and Lesley (who visited Portland in 2012)
The beautiful ice-encrusted trees along I-75 near Flint
Uncle Roger and his new little buddy, Ben
The Krass men stoked about their new Rose Bowl hats from Aunt Elaine
Look at this little peanut! He’s such a cutie.
Proud new grandma with Ben
A belated birthday celebration for Jeff, funfetti cake and all!
A special visitor in our family pic at Grandma’s house – check out my sister’s Neil Diamond Wedding Wish for this to make more sense
The Redick fam brothers-in-law at Grandma’s house on Christmas Eve
The family Christmas tree with the sea of presents for the 11 of us
Macy looking less than enthused on Christmas morning
Mom and Dad looking remarkably fresh for 7 a.m. Christmas morning
Merry Christmas from Saganing Eagles Landing Casino!
Uncle Jeff getting Ava and Macy started early with bar games
Aw.
Cousin bonding time with cutie-pie Kempton
Great catching up with Muskegon-based cousins Justin, Nicole and little Kempton
It was a white Christmas! Icicles and snow outside my parents’ front window
Wide open spaces where I’m from!
Tristan, Lori, me and Shelly at WhichCraft in Midland (just before my scarring experience)
The Redick fam, Yurgaites fam and Beth watching Rusty play at Diamond Jim’s in Midland
Our Oregon Trail 