Merry Christmas 2008

What a wonderful Christmas. It was white and even warmed up a little. The Mass was beautiful and the time spent with family was so much fun.

Here are the highlights:

Christmas Eve day we went to Mom and Dad's at Noon. Joe found out he had to deliver mail on Christmas Eve day on Tuesday at 3:30 PM but it was only going to be for a couple hours so he was going to meet us there. Then after he gets there he is told he has to deliver the whole route which means he won't be making it to Mom and Dad's but it was too late to reschedule so we went without him. We really missed him but we knew he would be home when we got there. Darren decided to be Christina's fill in Daddy for the day. She sat on his lap most of the time we were there. She even opened gifts on his lap. Here are pictures of the fun day had at Mom and Dad's:

Christina's Buddy:

Aunt Mavis opening her gift.

Mom and Dad waiting in anticipation on what is in the box.

Anthony so happy with Money for a gift.

Christina loves her new doll.

Then I drove home while everyone had a much needed nap in the car. When we got home we had Appetizers and then opened presents. The funnest time of the night was seeing Michael open his present. Dad and Anthony bought Michael his first bolt action 22. The picture says it all. We then went to Mass. The music, decorations and the Mass was so beautiful.

The next day we got up and opened Santa gifts. Your never too old for them. Then we went to the Johnson's to celebrate Christmas. There were 47 people there. The cousins and Aunts sat down and figured out there are 115 people on the Johnson side with Aunt, Uncles, Cousins and in-laws. There are 11 children, 32 grandchildren, and 38 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

We then came home changed and went to Fred and Sandra's to return a gun to Luke an played cards, drank wine, target shot and visited. It was a packed two days but so much fun. We are celebrating Christmas with the Callens' side on the 4th. We can't wait to go sledding down Charlie and Rhonda's big hill.

Anthony and Christina resting after our busy day at Grandma and Grandpa's.

Do you think he was surprised and excited?

Maria loves Jewelry.

Daddy helping Christina open gifts.

Christina in her Christmas Dress.

Very Happy Children. We are so blessed.

Christmas in the Eyes of a Child!!

Merry Christmas and Happy 2009!!!

New Addition to the Family and More

Yes, we have a new addition to our family. He is a Chesapeake Bay, Lab, Border Collie Mix. His name is Dakota. He is getting along well with Dixie. It has been so cold he has been spending his time in the garage but the kids take him out anytime they get a chance. Anthony is going to train him into a hunting dog...watch out Uncle Darren you may have another partner hunting with you.

Well we haven't had a blizzard since 1996/1997 when Michael was born. This winter is starting to look like another blizzard year. So far we have had two blizzards in December. It sure makes you wonder what the rest of the winter is going to look like.

So what do we do when we are stranded. We Bake!! We have made Lefse, Belgian cookies, cut out cookies, Peanut Blossoms, almond bark pretzels, gingersnaps and Krumkaka. Yes, quite an ethnic variety. That's what you get with a Norwegian/Dane and a Belgian/German combo. Next year we are going to add Guatemalan recipes to the mix as well.

Maria has joined a dance group. The Teacher was a dance student and majored in Dance in College. She is so great with the kids. The group has 15 students in it and they just had a little recital for the parents. They danced to a Christian Christmas Song. They offered their dance to God. It was so beautiful.

Christina had her first hair cut. We went to Cost Cutters and the person was really good with her. She sat still and didn't way much. We just trimmed the dry ends off so maybe it will grow faster. Actually it has really grown but it keeps curling so you can't tell.

Here is Christina after her haircut.

Christina loves music. Every time someone plays she dances like she is a ballerina. Here is Christina playing Anthony's contest music. Jessica get ready for another student soon:)

Please keep this family in your prayers!!

"This is Josi. Josi was waiting in Guatemala for her family. She was weeks away from coming home. Her family was hopeful for a Christmas homecoming. Josi's journey has been a long one that ended tragically earlier this week. Josi was murdered in her foster home during a violent home invasion. As you can imagine, her family here is overwhelmed with grief as they cope with the loss of their little girl. No one can really understand the grief this family is feeling, but we all can all only begin to imagine how unthinkable their pain must be. The only comfort we can have is that Josi left this earth knowing there was a family who endlessly loved her and wanted nothing more than to bring her home.I did not know Carla, Josi's mother, we were both members of the same Guatemalan adoption online forum. I have followed her journey with Josi throughout the months and visited her blog as well. I remember reading just last weekend about their hopes of having her home by Christmas. What I do know about Carla is that she is a loving women with a large family who wanted nothing more than to open her heart and her home to as many children as she could. The title of Carla's blog is, 'I Would Gather Children'..."

I copied this from another blog by a Guatemala adoptive mom. I too have followed Josi's journey for a long time on several adoption online forums, and am hurting and grieving for her families right now. I'm asking you to keep Carla and her family in your prayers...especially as she tries to make this Christmas special for her children already at home with her. Sometimes there are no words to say to make things better...but just knowing that people care enough to pray for you is a comfort. . You can stop by Carla's blog and let her know that you are praying for her, or just leave a comment that shows your support. She says the comments and prayers are what's helping her keep going right now. Her address is: http://azhderianfamily.blogspot.com/ Meanwhile....hold your babies close. Hug your loved ones and family. Forget about those last minute toys and sparkly tissue paper....and just thank God for all of your blessings...all of OUR blessings.

Where has the time gone??

Well we have been busy not stop all of November and now December. I decided against everyone better judgement that to Fall clean my house since my sister was coming and I was having the Homeschool Mom's Meeting. So between school, spanish class, dance class, piano and guardianship meetings we got it done thanks to everyone helping a lot. The kids decided that we are going to keep it clean so we don't need to do this again. We shall see how that goes. I picked up Carolee and Logan at the airport and they stayed with us for three days. We loved every minute of it but Christina had other thoughts not being the center of attention for three days. It was a hands on job keeping her from pestering Logan but she did OK. Carolee is such a great Mom and Logan is sooooo cute and happy. Then we brought her down to Mom and Dad's. We met Cary there. Logan was happy to see his Daddy. He is so good with Logan. They are such a happy family. Having Carolee, Logan and Cary home for so long made it difficult to see them leave. Usually it's only a couple days so it isn't as hard. But I really miss my sister. I even tried to show them all the positives of living in MN....they didn't like the 30 degree weather good thing the really cold weather didn't hit until this week or I think they would have turned around and went home.

Logan with his helmet on. He needed to where one for a couple months to shape his little head. He looks like such a football star!!

Logan in his reindeer outfit. Don't you want to just put him in your stocking:) Grandparents with the grandkids.

Mom and Dad had Thanksgiving with the Johnson's at the Chalet. The kids had a blast playing games and climbing the hill. Joe was being so nice that he took Christina for a drive to put her asleep because she wasn't going to go to sleep with all the excitement. Well he and Michael must have a had a plan because they were gone a while when they returned they said that just happen to be out the Kjergaard Sports. Hmmmm that is approximately 10miles north of the Chalet. I wonder how that works. But Michael was just beeming so Mom decided it was OK. I don't have pictures of the Johnson Thanksgiving but when I get someone to send me some I will put them on here. It was a blast. We then came home and the kids and Joe went to Fred and Sandra's but Christina and myself stayed home. She was very clingy and had enough company for a while. It sounded like they had a good time.

Christina already to go.

Advent started on Sunday so we got to set up the advent wreath on the table , the Nativity Set on top of the computer desk and put up the tree. Christina was beside herself with excitement. She couldn't keep her hands off the tree. In her eyes it's the funnest toy she has every had. When we thought we were making headway on the tree we noticed Miss Christina was being very quiet behind the tree and there she was with a stash of ornaments of the back of the tree. She was taking them off faster than we were putting them up. Well we decided that it would be very beneficial to put up the gate like last year to keep her from the tree. Well she is taller and she can reach above the gate so the corner she went. That wasn't working either so we now have a tree with a slowly growing bald spot in the mide above the gate and the top of the tree is adorned with many ornaments. But seeing those big brown eyes looking up at the tree and the lights make the season so much more meaningful.

The Caged Tree!

Anthony decorating. Michael decorating. Maria decorating.

Christina put on her own ornament for the first time. She had to do it herself. Look how short she is and still manages to get above the gate.

I then had the December Mom's meeting. We sat around and drank wine, cranberry spritzer and ate hordeovers all night. WWe finally shut down around 11:30-12AM. We had so much fun talking recipes, advent traditions and Sandra show us how easy it is to use a pressure cooker to cook everyday measl. Pressure canners aren't just for canning anymore. Karen brought her new little baby along...what a doll. I was sorry to see it end but more meetings will follow. I was going to take a picture but I was having so much fun I forgot.

Today is Joe and Jimmy's Birthday and Jimmy and Kimberly's Anniversary. Happy Birthday Jimmy and Happy Anniversary Jimmy and Kimberly!!

We had pancakes, ham and bacon for breakfast and then we opened Joe's gift. Jammies and a new hand grinder....yes, he is my practical man. Nothing makes him happier. Give a man a new tool and he is happy all day.

Daddy, Maria and Christina so happy.

Happy Birthday Honey, you are the best friend, husband, provider, protector and father we could have ever been blessed with. Thank you and wishing you many more wonderful birthdays!!

Daddy reading to the kids.

How winter is spent. I just love it when they get along:)