Christmas Letter 2019!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

  It's getting harder and harder to journal or write my annual Holiday Greeting! I don't know how the #instaprofessionals of the world have the time.  We have seen some amazing country this year that should put us on the map for family travel bloggers but I just don't have the time to devote to even take the photos off my camera it seems.  At least until I force myself to sit down and reflect on our year. In hopes that it reaches one friend or family member that wants to check in on our adventures. We hope that this year, 2019 was good for your family and find you in good health. 

So what are we doing with all this time?  This past year we made a goal to get out and camp, and we did! We bought a toy hauler/trailer and made a few winter camping trips to the slopes.                                      We started our 2019 with a trip to Whistler Canada.  The kids did great skiing and the village is my favorite at the holidays, the ice rinks were light up and the kids skated and sledded till their toes were numb. 

Then in February we headed to Tahoe to hang with the Toppenberg family!  We were greeted with a big snow storm and there was so much powder that most of the lifts were closed. We had a blast, stayed in these really cute cabins right on the lake, the kids made snow forts and got some cousin time in.

Aside from skiing and work, the kids sports and events keep us on the move. Brody (7) is loving football and soccer.  Hockey gear was not making that sport a winner until the coach spun him around while she played crack the whip trying to throw him off. He calls it the penguin slide ride.

  

Maycen (10 this Dec) found her voice and loved stunting with the cheer team this fall. She really wasn't a fan of the idea at first but Brody was doing football and they had practice at the same time.  She did a cheer program last winter that was not very challenging. So when she joined up with this team and had tough coaches she was all in.  Just shows that great coaches truly make a difference in motivating kids!

The Tulips are the Best in Washington!

                            We were lucky enough to get away to Hawaii the Big island this year, no lava flowing this time but the return to my happy place was much needed!  We are hoping to go to KoOlina on Oahu this year with the kids to show them where we got married and check out that island with them for Spring Break. Let us know if you will be there around that time as well!

This summer we were at the lake a lot so we decided to just live there while we work.  In Washington there just aren't lakes like in Minnesota and although the business is going well we won't have a house or a cabin on the lake anytime soon.  So this was my solution and it was amazing, no waterfront taxes either!  Coming home from work and going for a sunset paddle was so nice!

  Charlotte says Merry Christmas too

She is 2 years now and still full of puppy love and loved living at the lake!

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Jared is doing well with the business, celebrating 5 years and making it to his 5 year goal!  We have a great team of employees carrying out the Advantaclean mission!  This was especially true when he experienced a health issue rupturing his appendix and not going in for over a week to find he had a major infection and needed surgery after being in the hospital a week. He called me home early from my work conference in Hawaii, but the crew kept on working hard and didn't miss a beat. 

The trip of the Year!

Banff National Park, Revelstoke and Lake Louis

See, Amazing photos, I just have no time to go through the 500 shots I took! It was breathtaking everywhere you look!  We had so much fun and the kids did great hiking over 10 miles in one day!  I highly recommend using the Gypsy Guide audio series for long roads trips like this especially to keep kids engaged and off their tablets.  The audio keeps you engaged as you drive and shared fun facts and stories!  A must for everyone and a great gift!

I will try to do a blog to share all the awesome things we did and learned but this was probably the most memorable, and it was only because the lake was so crowded and there was no parking and didn't want to wait 2 hours in the lower lot, that we decided to seek refuge at the stable. well,you can't take a kid to the horse stable without a ride.  They just so happened to have a spot for 4 on their 2 hour ride.  It was the perfect day and the kids felt like celebrities because everyone hiking was taking their photos as we forged the Glacier water river to see the other side of the Lake Louis and the famous Fairmont Hotel.  This was one trip this year where the stars seem to align, We had very few issues, our timing for rain and crowds was near perfect except the day we went to the Ice parkway to see the Glacier that was kinda a bust and rained out but another day, we never made it to Jasper so we will be back!

Jared and I ended the year with an incentive trip from advantaclean to St. Kitts the Eastern Carribean!  It was a nice get away but so close to the holidays. My parents took in the kids and we swung through for Thanksgiving on our way South.  We are lucky to spend both holidays with family this year, even if it is short.  We wish you all good tidings, a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  We have plenty of room for visitors in our new home so please if your out this way stop by or give a call to plan a visit!

The Toppenberg's

Becky, Jared, Maycen and Brody