Christmas 2003

Christmas 2003 began with the arrival of Claire and Craig from "Down Under".  The first order of the day was cutting a tree in Custer National Forest.

It was a beautiful area...Most of it was closed to traffic because of the snow pack... Craig--on the way.JPG (87158 bytes) Claire and Craig--on the way.JPG (92548 bytes) Mom and Dad--on the way (close up).JPG (90181 bytes)
.  A view of the creek.jpg (116771 bytes) BUT.. the tree seekers prevailed. Here comes the tree.JPG (81331 bytes) Here comes the tree2.JPG (82405 bytes)
Here comes the tree3.JPG (99690 bytes) Securing the tree 2.JPG (106867 bytes) Securing the tree.JPG (93700 bytes) Once secured...it was just a matter of getting the tree home and  decorating.  

Dave arrived on the 19th after a marathon trip from Fairbanks.  Karen flew in from Irving at 3am the next morning.  Lauren and Jerome had already gotten to Billings, so... with the crew complete, our next adventure began.  We were off to Big Sky, Montana, for four days and three nights of fun!

Panorama from the Porch.JPG (199522 bytes)

     These are two    ---------From the Deck of the Condo

panoramic views         From the top of   the mountain-----

Panorama from the top of the hill.jpg (195372 bytes)
Lots of time was spent around this table...

Breakfast.JPG (92861 bytes)

Breakfast2.JPG (87217 bytes)

 If you're curious about the bear, ask Karen...  Clint Brown (the bear) was part of our crew!
Tarocks1.jpg (50291 bytes) The table was a great place for... 

...TAROCKS!

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Den in Condo.jpg (81644 bytes)

Toasty toes.jpg (91071 bytes)

The fire.JPG (59959 bytes)

 The den was terrific--you could warm up around the fire!
Our crew at the beginning of a day of skiing...

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They were READY for adventure!

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On the Mountain2.JPG (57515 bytes)

On the Mountain1.JPG (54826 bytes)

On the Mountain3.JPG (67079 bytes)

 There was light to moderate snow the first day on the mountain. 
Mom and Dad1.jpg (52847 bytes)

Everyone relaxed... 

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 Apres Skiing4.JPG (86720 bytes)
Apres skiing2.JPG (58006 bytes)

Apres skiing3.jpg (60671 bytes)

And after a day on the slopes, there was napping and hot tubbing!

 The hot tub crowd.jpg (61376 bytes)
Morning view1.JPG (75022 bytes)

We were  impressed with the beauty of Lone Mountain...

Night view from the Porch.JPG (100388 bytes)

 Thank you, Lord, for all creation!

Karen and Jerome2.JPG (91881 bytes)

Claire and Craig2.JPG (82046 bytes)
This photo proves that the whole family made it to Big Sky!------

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Group Shot stitched.JPG (139036 bytes)

 --------We attempted to take a picture of everyone...not all that bad!

After returning from Big Sky, the official Christmas Celebration began.  First there was Midnight Mass (at 9pm) followed by the exchange of "Secret Santa" gifts.

Jerome's Secret Santa4.JPG (89300 bytes)

Claire's Secret Santa3.JPG (93007 bytes)

 Claire's Secret Santa2 cropped.jpg (38357 bytes)

Claire got new SWIM FINS.
Dave's Secret Santa1.JPG (74354 bytes) Dave's Secret Santa3.JPG (86300 bytes)

Dave got his   RECORDS.    (What's up with that?)

 Dave's Secret Santa2 cropped.jpg (29886 bytes)
Karen's Secret Santa cropped.jpg (31002 bytes) Karen and Lauren both got treats PLUS... Lauren's Secret Santa cropped.jpg (70952 bytes) Lauren's Secret Santa2 cropped.jpg (55234 bytes)
Jerome's Secret Santa3 cropped.jpg (62358 bytes) Jerome's Secret Santa2 cropped.jpg (56623 bytes) Jerome and Craig took part in the exchange this year! Craig cropped.jpg (30440 bytes)
Shiloh got a special Christmas bone. Shiloh all dressed up cropped.jpg (57233 bytes) Bernard1 cropped.jpg (53273 bytes) Karen and Jerome gave Mom and Dad the extended version of The Fellowship of the Rings.

Christmas morning was filled with the wonder of the season, the warmth of  family and lots of wrapping paper!

Santa...that you cropped.JPG (45390 bytes) Is that Santa???  Or is that Claire?! Opening gifts cropped.jpg (94365 bytes) Passing out the gifts cropped.jpg (72940 bytes)
Everyone must have been very, very good this year... Claire1 cropped.jpg (48845 bytes) Claire2 cropped.jpg (33360 bytes) Claire and Karen.JPG (85078 bytes)
Dave1.JPG (83075 bytes) Dave4.JPG (79640 bytes) Karen1 cropped.jpg (32953 bytes) Karen3.JPG (67852 bytes)
Lauren3 cropped.jpg (60759 bytes) Lauren1 cropped.jpg (48005 bytes) Lauren2 cropped.jpg (45866 bytes)
Jerome4 cropped.jpg (65558 bytes) Jerome3 cropped.jpg (69937 bytes) Santa left gifts for Jerome and Craig. Craig.JPG (87851 bytes)
Mom2 cropped.jpg (44154 bytes) Mom1 cropped.jpg (35922 bytes) Dad4 cropped.jpg (55992 bytes) Dad2 cropped.jpg (39261 bytes)
Christmas 2003 The kids.JPG (95429 bytes) was VERY good!

The Christmas Holiday ended with friends and family...

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---The Dignens

 the Fosses-- Pool Players.JPG (85892 bytes)
and our Tarock players... Card players2.JPG (84039 bytes) Card players3.JPG (94444 bytes) We praise and thank you, Lord, for ALL our blessings!

...there are these three, faith, hope and love... and the greatest of these is love...