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The clan gathered for the first time since 2019.
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Settling down for a long winter's nap.
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Our first morning coincided with Matt's 50th birthday. For 50 years, his favorite meal has been breakfast!
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Requisite Dad brithday photo.
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The landscape was something out of a Christmas fantasy.
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Rod and Gun was the starting point for all activities on the ranch.
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For Matt's birthday, we were heading out for some Montana skiiing.
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A gourmet lunch in the snow. Life is rough.
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Irresistible virgin snow.
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Irresistible nap.
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Back at the ranch, we warmed up and set our attention to gingerbread house building.
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While the gingerbread designers were at work, Matt and Christina sneaked away for eggnog.
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We needed a family portrait to commemorate the birthday, and the trip. It also happens to memorialize the fact that Grammie slipped on the snow that morning and fractured both feet, now forever in the family lore.
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The very full day ended with birthday bowling where Evya, the only one who took a nap, killed the competition.
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More idyllic Montana snow scenes.
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The North Carolina branch of the family tried out snowshoeing.
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The Smyth family had to make a snow representative of Tyrian, who wasn't able to make the trip.
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Matt and Allyndreth had an afternoon at the rifle range.
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After dinner, we decorated the tree in our matching pajamas from Grammie.
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Every morning our view on the trek to breakfast looked like this!
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A picture book sleigh ride with Santa on Christmas Eve.
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Most of the family took an afternoon photography class, where Allyndreth was a willing model.
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Uncle Matt was upstaged by his co-star.
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Christmas Eve dinner/celebrating Tyrian's 21st birthday in absentia.
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And a Christmas Eve gift exchange like the Engelbrechts of olde.
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Christmas morning: Peace on Earth
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On Christmas Day, Grammie reserved the ranch saloon for our private enjoyment.
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Christmas with s'mores!
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Christmas Dinner
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Back at the cabin for a few more gifts.
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We couldn't spend a week on a ranch without horses, could we?
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Horseback riding in the morning yielded to cross country skiing in the afternoon.
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The view from our cabin on the morning of our departure. Goodbye, Winter Wonderland.
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