2009

Dear 2009,

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Sincerely,
Sarah

Best Dad

I have the best dad ever. I woke up this morning to find this in my in-box.

Happy Birthday !!!
You were over 1 hour old at this time 32 years ago. Prettiest baby I ever held.
Mom was recuperating(doing just fine), you were already saying da-da, and I was wishing I hadn't wore my flannel shirt in the delivery room where it couldn't have been anything less than 100 degrees. Love you and have a wonderful day. We will celebrate together on the 15th of Jan.
Dad

Thanks, Dad! I love you!

Hi, Mom!

We recently got new furniture and my mom wanted to see what it looked like. Since she can't just come over :)...

Hello! Here it is! The couch is sort of a cocoa color...

...and these are the chairs. The same fabric as the couch, but green.

The coffee table opens like the old one did (handy for storing Wii controllers! :) )
And here are the curtains, too.

Remind me to never sew curtains again! :)

Christmas 2009

Christmas Day started with more snow than I've ever seen (since living in KS :) On Christmas Eve, we slipped and slid our way to church, then headed to Michael's aunt and uncles for Christmas eve. But I forgot to bring my camera! The kids had a ball and we did a really fun white elephant exchange!

Christmas morning was quiet at our house. Santa delivered a gift for Oggy:


And I got the pitcher I was wanting! (thanks, Mom and Dad! :)

This guy did a little happy dance when he opened his "Wii Resort"...then proceeded to play it. It's two days later and I think he's only stopped to eat, sleep and hit after-Christmas sales! :)

Soon, the rest of the family arrived. Michael went to work making a delicious breakfast, while this guy sorted and organized the presents. Little did he know, Santa brought a bike to our house for him! Very exciting.

This was the first of the obligatory photos. They really were having fun...it just doesn't look like it!
After our yummy breakfast, we opened gifts. Here is me and my favorite sister-in-law. She is a doll and I'm lucky to have a SIL I enjoy so much!

Oggy wanted in on all the action...and loved having everyone over.

In a turn of great disappointment, Michael could not locate his santa hat. He wore it ALL day last year, but had to settle for bed-head this year. :(

While we celebrated, the snow continued to fall!

Denny showed off his Vikings shirt!

And Nicholas modeled Michael's new cap!

Here's the whole crew!

The annual Jell-o contest was next. This year, the contest had new tasting plates. It was a big deal!

Once the Jell-o fun ended, I started work on the Christmas Dinner. We had Michael's parents, Aunt and Uncle and cousin for dinner...and 21 lbs of turkey! We had the turkey, potato casserole, spinach salad, a zucchini pie thing, stuffing and carrots! It was a fun meal to prepare. I love to cook a big meal...no stress, budgets or politics! Just chop, sizzle and bake! Fun!

Merry Christmas!

A Mid-December Dream

It seems like a dream.
Lazy days spent lounging alongside a pristine beach on a beautiful island.

The most pressing question each day: shall I read?

Or snorkel? Or both. Yes, I think both.

The relaxation was exquisite.

Who wouldn't decompress with view like this?

The company was easy...and the natives colorful.

Our 1 day if activity brought us to the middle of a bay...

To encounter ray. Sting-ray.

They were soft and beatuiful and mildly creepy and unlike anything I've seen.

To hold them properly, they needed to be cuddled.

Even better? Our hosts have a baby! Sweet Ainsely brough smiles all around!

Yes, indeed it seems like a dream...

..but a dream of the sweetest sort.

The Giving of Thanks

This year's Thanksgiving was held in Minneapolis, with Saeth and Erik doing most of the cooking!

It was fantastic, evidenced by a bird of near perfection!

The original chef (now in retirement) offered her insight...

...and taste-testing services.

We tried to count how many men it would take to remove the leg...

...and took the dignified photos for which our family is known.

The turkey was every bit as good as it looked (I call this one "Erik giving us the bird"):

And no holiday meal is complete without mom's Pink Sh!t Salad.

After dinner, we were treated to a couple creations from the pie master himself:

Then took part in some bowling. Grandma won. She always wins when we're bowling. Wii or Real.

Oggy thought the whole thing was great fun...

...and I have to agree! What a great time with loved ones.

The Couch

So we're getting new couches. Which means we're moving the ones we have to the basement and the ones in the basement (pictured up there) need to go.

They were hand-me-downs from Michael's parents. They're in good shape.

The original plan was to take them to Goodwill. But I realized if we list them on Craig's list and someone buys them, then they'll come pick them up. And we won't have to haul them away.

So I list them, and dozens of people call. Right away. At first I'm pleased, thinking "yes! couches hauled away and cash in my pocket!!"

Then, as I tell the callers I have a couple interested parties coming to look and can I call them back if no one takes it, they begin to tell me their stories.

"I was going to give it to my daughter and her husband for Christmas. They really need a couch."

"How is the hide-a-bed? My son is sleeping on the couch right now because we don't have a bed for him. Thought this might be a better option."

The picture quickly came into focus for me. I have 3 sets of couches. THREE! And I'm worried about the work of hauling it away?

What a timely reminder. A reminder of how blessed we are. Of how so many in our communities are in need. Of how, as Christians, it's our responsibility to demonstrate God's love by reaching out to people who need a hand. It could so easily be you or I making that phone call.

I'm thinking that we'll not be getting the cash for these couches...and we'll be glad that's how it worked out.

Thanksgiving

Just two short days 'til turkey, and here is what I'm looking forward to!

1. My Family!! We haven't all been together since Christmas last year! Lil' bro is back in the midwest, so we'll all celebrate together! Mom and Dad. Bro. G-ma. Cousin.

2. Turkey. Cooked by said bro and favorite cousin. And stuffing. And pies. Yum.

3. Minnesota. I just love to be in my home state. It feels good.

4. THE NOOK! 'nuf said.

5. Nertz. Family card game that evokes cursing and gnashing of teeth and it is one of our favorite things.

6. Friends. I'll get to see my two favs when in the MSP...and I can't wait. I miss them. :)