Snowflake Parade

Down town is bedecked in lights...

Windows dazzle....

A crisp temperature indeed!

Window mannequin!

Bundled and waiting for the runners.

Jordan ran in the Snowflake Mile...that takes place just before the parade.

Gma and Lindsey

Jordan so cold...almost looks homeless!

Klamath Pelican....this ones for you, Isaac!

We laughed at his load!

The Merrill flag

My favorite float...the eyes moved because they were attached to the wipers!

My favorite Jordan!

The pooper scoopers who followed the horses....tuxedos by Bogotays!


Must be a Christian motorcycle gang!

Amie with Andy and Ben.

Target!

Police on dirt bike!

For All our Blessings, we thank YOU, LORD!

What a houseful of FAMILY, FRIENDS, FOOD, and FUN! The house was bursting at the seams with 40 people...the children outnumbered the adults, 23 to 17. And the NOISES that could be heard spanned from wonderful adult chat times, catching up on each others lives, to laughing, crying, shouting, singing! It was a day to remember. Thank you Tyler, Ana, and Isaac for being here with us. We love you so much, and thank God for you! Joy, Janine and Jodi...what fun to have you all here. Your families have bloomed since we were last ALL together! What a rich family heritage we have enjoyed....always big get-togethers at Gpa Balsbaughs. Yes, they can be hectic, but such an important part/memory for our families to continue as is possible! But the most important part is that we have a heavenly father, who has allowed us to be brothers and sisters in Christ...which is infinitely more important than our earthly relationships, as special as they are!

PS. I missed getting pictures of many of you here that day! I am sorry! And my one regret, as hard as it might have been, was that we didn't corral the kids in one spot and get their picture!

Jordan's 18th Birthday

Jordan's day was a quiet family dinner, tucked in between football game playoffs and Thanksgiving. Paul did some awesome steak and shrimp! I just cannot believe my baby boy is 18. If there were some way to roll back the clock and enjoy it some more, I WOULD! Jordan entered our world a few days before Thanksgiving...a beautiful head of black hair. He was the perfect happy baby, if there is such a thing. At a time, when Paul had recently been laid off from Motorola....money was not there....he was our Christmas gift!

EAT uP!

Sophie's got the growl on!

Am I doing this right, Travis? =}


A week or so later, we celebrated Mom and Jordan's birthdays together, WITH CAKE!

Amie's first taste of Martinelli's. Kinda nippy!

Lunch at Sarah's...

To two very special people in our lives! May the Lord bless you with many more years and the strength to serve Him!








Jordan does pretty well for just plinking around on the guitar.

REady or not world, here comes Nathan!

Amie takes a STAB at feeding baby....oops, she missed!

Better aim the next time!

Sophie got all decked out in Emma's dress-up stuff!

Nathan and Jordan...checking each other out....making eyes!

and, making NOISES at each other!