already missing family

It's crazy to think that they only left a few hours ago and already the house seem so much more quite and lonely.  We had a fantastic, relaxing, just hanging out kind of week.  The kids running around the house, playing so nice in the playroom, and the countless giggles were awesome.
The kids did a lot of sledding in our back yard (every day they had the chance to!).  The adults got a great chance to sit back and relax and catch up.  It was so nice that the kids would just go and play on their own.  We continually remarked how the distance didn't seem to matter to the kids.  It's as if we lived next door.  Today was a little hard though... they are getting older and now they realize that saying goodbye means they won't see each other for a little while.  After a few tears from the kids, they were all... and already plotting their return!  We can't wait for our next get together!
It's times like this that we really wish we lived closer together, but we do feel SO blessed for ALL the opportunities that we have had to be together.

all 5 cousins sledding =)

 bringing in the New Year!