Bob took this picture of our Christmas morning sunrise while out on his regular early morning walk.
Alpenglow on the Sierra's across the valley from where we live.
Our 2017 Christmas tree surrounded with gifts.
Our house all lighted up for Christmas.
One of our family traditions is to open a few gifts the night before Christmas. Here Christy is on her favorite place on the couch wondering when we're going to get to it.
Dad got to open the first gift, a four pound bar of chocolate from Trader Joe's. That ought to last awhile...
Caleb a bit taken back by the "Flying Ball" given to us by one of our great neighbors.
Christy slightly interested in the gift given to her by one of our neighbors.
On Christmas morning, gift giving resumed with Dad once again going first and receiving this great "Beer Cap Map" of Nevada from the family. It's a very cool wall hanging where you insert your favorite beer caps into a custom made plywood cutout of your state.
Hannah having a great morning. Here she is opening her 2018 Yoga Puppy Calendar.
Lisa opening a present from Bob...
..and wondering what the world it is.
Now she knows what it is...
...a new Fleece Beret to replace the one she recently misplaced and really missed.
Caleb receiving one of the best gifts ever, a new Bible designed especially for teen boys. A few years earlier Hannah received the girls version and she's almost worn it out.
One of the things our family loves to do is play outdoor trivia type games around the campfire while camping, so Lisa was very excited when she opened this National Parks Bob had picked up at REI.
Some presents were too big to wrap, so we wrapped a small package to the kids with a note to check the attic where they each found a new snow sled.
Hannah opening her "big" present, a new notebook computer.
Our family with all of the great 2017 Christmas gifts we received. Just a small sampling of all the blessings we've known this year.
A couple hours after opening gifts we enjoyed dinner with our good friend, Chris England.
One of the really fun things that Bob and Caleb did together was build Caleb's "big" Christmas gift, a new desk for his room.
Caleb and Bob with the finished product. It really turned out great.
Caleb's new desk really compliments the rest of his bedroom.
A very pleased and thankful young man.
In November our family traveled to Montana for Thanksgiving. Like last year, we stopped along the way for a short visit to Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. It is really an amazing place and a great spot on our trip for a break to stretch our legs.
Bob caught this picture of Christy unpacking the jerky Hannah had packed in her bag; is that a look of guilt or what?
Our family on the summit of Inferno Cone, the highest point at Craters of the Moon.
Having a little fun.
Thanksgiving Dinner at Grandpa and Grandma Potts' house.
Our Thanksgiving, 2017 Group Photo.
After we were done with a big dinner, we all went out for a little trap shooting on a beautiful fall afternoon.
Hannah lining up.
Caleb's turn to shoot Dad's old side-by-side 20 guage.
One of the items we took back with us to Nevada was this old Columbia bike Bob's Grandma (the kids' Great Grandma) used to ride. It still works great after being in storage for over 50 years. In fact, the tires still held air!
Bob with his brother Dave in front of Dave's new well drilling rig.
Bob put together this composite of Dave and himself back in 1964 in front if their Dad's (Herb Potts) first drilling rig, and then another below it of the new rig with them making a similar pose. Bob then "antiqued" the new photo to look like the old one.
Early one morning in the middle of November we were treated to this spectacular rainbow. Bob took this picture near Hannah's school when dropping her off.
Bob did quite a bit of traveling in November for his work. One of his trips took him to Washington D.C. He had a bit of time one morning before his meetings began so he took a long walk through Arlington National Cemetery.
This picture was taken from in front of the Arlington House, looking down on the John F. Kennedy Memorial, then on to the front entrance, and across the Arlington Memorial Bridge to the Lincoln Memorial. You can also see the Washington Monument just right of center and the Jefferson Memorial on the far right.
Arlington National Cemetery is a solemn place every U.S. citizen should visit. It's what the great people buried here did that makes what we have and where we live so great.
The John F. Kennedy Gravesite where the President and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis are buried.
In this picture you can see the memorials "Eternal Flame" in the center, as well as the Arlington House on the hill behind.
Another trip Bob took was to Cincinnati, Ohio. He didn't have a lot of time to visit the city, but did get out one evening for a beautiful walk along the Ohio River and took this picture of the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. When it was opened in 1866, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world at 1,057 feet.