Christmas Holidays 2011

Every year I try to get my three sons and their families together at least once during the year.  This is a tradition started by my late wife Kathy.  She was insistent that even though your children grow up and move on, with a little bit of effort we stay connected.  And she didn't mean electronically connected. Kathy wanted the family to stay physically connected.  With Justin in Queensbury, New York and Matt in Shinnston, West Virginia and Cory in Roseburg, Oregon this can be a bit of a challenge.  Sometimes the meeting has been a camping excursion during the summer.  Last year we gathered at Matt and Jaime's home for Thanksgiving.  This year we collected at Matt's again, but this time for Christmas.  Since the house was going to be really full, I took my truck camper for additional sleeping space.  By the afternoon on Christmas Day, most of the adults were exhausted.  Some how the kids seemed to have endless energy and never grow tired.  How do they do it?

Christmas Tree in the loft.

Somehow Santa found everybody.

Zoey hanging out on the camper deck.

The day after Christmas we said goodbye to Matt and Jaime and drove to Justin and Amy's home in Queensbury.  The original plan was to take Cory skiing at Gore Mountain in the Adirondacks.  However, there was not enough snow.  So we spent the time instead shopping, touring Skidmore College where Justin works, and just relaxing in general.  There is a climbing wall gym in Queensbury and of course Camryn and Cody wanted to show off their climbing skills to their Uncle Cory, who is a climber in his free time.

Cory had to fly back to Oregon on the 30th.  Conveniently, Justin and Amy were able to drop him off at the Albany Airport while on their way to Cincinnati to see a Bengals football game on New Year's Day.  

Happy New Year from Cincinnati.

Have a great 2012 everyone!!