Each year, we have our traditional Christmas gatherings. And one of our traditions during each of those traditional gatherings is taking photos to commemorate the occasion. Here are a few photos from our 2024 Gatherings. Okay, maybe more than a few photos.
Christmas Eve We spend Christmas Eve at my parents’ house, eating a delicious lunch, opening presents, talking, and taking photos.
Here we are all together in front of the fireplace
Thanksgiving 2024 has come and gone1. We had a good Thanksgiving, and all of our family was together for the first time in a little while. So, of course, we had to take some photos.
Here we all are together. And yes, I had just run in after setting the timer on the camera.
Just the Bramletts for this photo. Here we all are together. Some people in this photo may be slightly taller than the last time we were together.
Thanksgiving 2023 has come and gone, but it will live on in photos! We had our traditional Thanksgiving meal with my parents, complete with turkey, dressing, vinegar green beans, strawberry pretzel salad, cranberry sauce, and much more! And after dinner and a bit of a rest, we decided to take a family photo, as we often do. But if you know us, you know that just one photo will not do. Traditional and non-traditional, you might say. So here are our photos for this year.
We have done some traveling this year, and those travels have taken us to both the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. Putting those together, one thought ran through my mind:
From Atlantic to Pacific, Gee the traffic is terrific!
“Home for the Holidays” by Al Stillman and Robert Allen
(Made famous by Perry Como and the Carpenters, among others)
Previously in the Hawaiʻi trip report from June 2023, we had gotten a bonus night in Hawaiʻi thanks to a canceled flight. Do we ever make it home? Read on! And if you have not done so already, you might want to read the previous part.
Thursday, June 22, 2023 After a somewhat restless night of sleep, we got up around 9:00 AM. There had been some noises from the adjacent rooms that had woken us up at various times in the earlier morning hours, but I had usually been able to go back to sleep relatively quickly after those.
The Hawaiʻi trip in June 2023 continues with us exploring the Waikīkī area before attempting to start for home. If you have not done so already, you might want to read the previous part.
Wednesday, June 21, 2023 For one last time, we followed our morning routine of getting up at 7:00 and eating breakfast on the Riedels’ balcony. We finished off all that we could of what we had bought for breakfast, which meant an extra glass of pineapple cranberry juice for me. I also had an extra granola bar, but I slipped it in my backpack just in case I needed a snack at an airport or somewhere else along the way. And I tried my best to enjoy the balcony view as much as I could for this last time. Of course, we would still have plenty of times to sit and talk with the Riedels once we got back home, so at least that part did not have to end with the trip.
The Hawaiʻi trip in June 2023 continues with a hike up Diamond Head and another great sunset. If you have not done so already, you might want to read the previous part.
Tuesday, June 20, 2023 As was our custom by this point, we started off the day much like every other day. Up at 7:00 AM, breakfast on the Riedels’ balcony. It had been a good routine. But beyond that, things were starting to change. We knew this was to be our last full day at Aulani, so our morning routine would not last much longer. And besides that, we had plans for the day that were a little different from the previous days.
The Hawaiʻi trip in June 2023 continues with a visit to a North Shore beach and some night photos. If you have not done so already, you might want to read the previous part.
Monday, June 19, 2023 By now, if you have been reading the trip report, you know our usual routine. This day started like the others. No complaints at all. Great company, great scenery, a great place. It was all great, as you might have guessed.
As our Hawaiʻi trip in June 2023 continues, we drive through the mountains to church and then hike to a lighthouse. If you have not done so already, you might want to read the previous part.
Sunday, June 18, 2023 Once again, we followed our usual routine of getting up at 7:00 AM and eating breakfast on the Riedels’ balcony. We are definitely creatures of habit. No complaints from any of us about that.
As our Hawaiʻi trip in June 2023 continues, we hike to a waterfall and go to a lūʻau. If you have not done so already, you might want to read the previous part.
Saturday, June 17, 2023 Once again we were up at 7:00 (or soon after - there is a snooze button for a reason, after all) for what had quickly become our morning routine. Showers, breakfast on the Riedels’ balcony, enjoying the scenery while avoiding the sun as much as possible.
