California Christmas

We had a wondeful trip down to California over our Christmas break. We left after church on December 23rd and arrived home on the night of January 2nd. Our time was filled with yummy food, good friends, and of course family. It seemed like there was a non-stop parade of people we loved that we wanted to visit with. Here are some highlights.

We spent time with good friends many of whom we hadn't seen in some time. A few examples:

Nick and Jody Bradley with daughter Ashlyn and dog Kiwi

Emily with her high school friends Angela (left) and Rachna (center)

Emily and Matthew with Ed and Mollie Tanjoco and their son Ben

Matt and Sara Greco with sons Ezra and Justus and newborn daughter Gianna

We enjoyed celebrating Christmas with both sides of our family. Christmas Eve at the Brooks home was a raucus and joyful afair (pictured below). Christmas morning at the Hallstens was a little more subdued but no less enjoyable (Peter, we're waiting on pictures). All of the celebration in honor of Christ's birth was very special.

Highlights of our family time included playing with our nephews and niece, seeing and (in Emily's case) meeting Matthew's Aunt, Uncle and cousins who have been in Brazil as missionaries for the last four years, visiting with Emily's Aunt, Uncle and cousins from the bay area and a special New Years day game and food bonanza which both sides of the family participated in.

The Brooks, Hallsten, White, Clark, Rovenstine and Mathew families (all represented in this photo) converged on New Years day to eat and play together.

Matthew plays with our youngest nephew Koen

At the Railroad Museum Emily and Matthew's sister Christy each hold one of nephew Micah's hands with Matthew's mom in the background and cousins Rachel and Caleb White to the right and left in the foreground.

Matthew and Emily pose with Emily's sister Krista Hallsten and cousins Eric and Jason Hallsten at the Hallsten home in Roseville.

Emily had a blast playing with niece Emmaleigh Rose Brooks



Matthew got really in to reading nephew Micah Rovenstine his new truck book
We had a truly wonderful trip and thank God for safe travel great friends and wonderful family. We're especially grateful that both sides of the family are in the same place so we can see everyone when we go back to visit.