Winter in Minnesota

You may have heard it snowed here last week! We aren't and never were snowed in as bad as other areas in the Midwest. It was deep, but, we are after all a very snowy state and they are prepared for it. So while it snowed and the roads weren't great they did keep up, fairly well, with snow plowing.

Christmas Eve. There is some logistics required on getting 5 cars off the street. Even more is required to move them when someone has to get out.

Brian almost bought a snow blower last week and changed his mind. On Friday, Christmas day, we were digging out the driveway. Then again on Saturday digging out some more. This snow was the wet heavy kind that is back breaking to dig out. We worked with our 2 snow shovels and made paths out of the house and the driveway, barely.

Laura's job yesterday was to dig out her car. Brian called around noon and told her never mind she could wait he got a snow blower. He called HD and they had one left that they had used last week to dig out the store. They had discounted it and he got it for a really good deal. The nice thing about it it already had gas and was ready to go. He really likes the electric start feature. I will too, because I have trouble with getting the pull start equipment going that we have around here. If I mow the lawn, (very rarely, well ok, I think once in about 5 years) I have to have a Laura start it for me. It looked easy enough to start.

Sarah trying it out after Brian had done the majority of the driveway. I did my part and chipped off the really frozen stuff. We got a very kind note from the postal carrier. Could we please clear around the mail box. So we all worked around the mail box to clear it. I must say it was really frozen over.

Good team work.

The car that is waiting for Sister Clark.

The Christmas Tree

I am not a fan of the Christmas Tree, especially one in my home. It takes up such a large space in our living room. I have been threating to get a small fake tree for several years now. Something along the lines of 36" or so, to sit on the table. That would be my ideal tree.

We've had a fake tree for several years now. Upon review a bit earlier in the month when I mentioned that I would set up the tree (yes I was in a bit more of the holiday spirit and was willing to set up a tree early this year) I was informed that it had been thrown out a few years ago! Perfect no tree to even bother setting up.

The others in the household don't really go along with this proposal. As the days got closer and still no tree I thought we might be off the hook this year. However on Tuesday night, Brian decided we should get one on Wednesday. Pahls Market had them for 35% off and a 5 dollar off coupon. As this was the first night of the snow and it was falling at a pretty good pace Pahls closed the tree area early! I called Gertens and asked about trees and if they had a sale. Nope. They had trees starting at 49.99! Brian told me about a tree lot which we decided to check out. As we drove past it they looked to have closed up for the night. We drove into the lot and found a sign that read ALL TREES FREE! Score! We looked around in the falling snow to find just the right tree. We (Laura and I) set it up after it thawed out during the night and decorated it just in time for Christmas Eve.

It didn't look this tall in the lot.

See this little elf

I've had him since I was a little girl. I was a Brownie and we got these one year for Christmas. He has been on my tree ever since. I remember going with my Brownie troop Christmas Caroling to a nursing home every year. I loved singing the Christmas Carols to the grandmas and grandpas. Even though some of them were scary to me when they would reach out and touch us (I do remember some of them grabbing a hold of us). I see it much differently now. They just want to have contact with little people.

This is our tree skirt it was a 5 year project. Back in the day we had Relief Society Homemaking Meetings. One year the class was to make tree skirt. How hard could it be? I had done some embroidery in the past, it was after all just a running stitch. For the meeting we marked the skirt, I didn't have a embroidery hoop so I started without one. If I remember I got about 2 of the patterns stitched. I don't remember using the skirt that first year. Year 2 I thought I better pull out the stitching and start over because it looked so sloppy. A hoop it the key to good embroidery work. It wasn't complete that year, but, I think I used it. The next two years around Christmas time I pulled out that old skirt and work on it. The last year I finally added the lace, ribbon and finished it up. That year skirt ended up in the tree water and the red thread and the bee's wax that I used bled all over the skirt. So my lovely tree skirt has had a red watermark (it's permenant) ever since. Brian used to tease me every year when I pulled out that tree skirt and say to the girls, "it must be close to Christmas your mom has the tree skirt out". It's been under out tree every year since.

If all goes well we will remove it sometime next week. I won't feel a pang of guilt (it was free after all) when we remove it after just a few days.

Here's why I didn't know the fake tree was gone. Three years ago I put off putting up the tree until the last week. As a result we got a free tree from someone at work. Her husband had a real estate business and had some trees left over. The girls really liked having a real tree. Last year Brian and Laura bought a tree and had it set up when I got home from Utah after helping Al and Nate with the new baby.

Christmas Day Phone Call

From our missionary! Well it was her Christmas Day, our Christmas Eve. I loved talking with Sister Clark. I miss her laugh so much. She sounded really good. She has picked up a bit of an Australian accent. Her comment a couple of times was how American we all sounded.

After we talked with her for a bit we 3 way called Al, Nate and the grandkids (I love modern technology). The moment that really touched me was when we were sharing stories and everyone got to laughing together. That does my heart good. Even if we weren't all together in the same room we had the chance to laugh together and have a bit of togetherness that I can't wait to repeat, but, that will have to be in the future. Not exactly sure when that is going to happen, but, I am waiting for that day. Especially because she will get to meet Kyle and give Sofie a big hug.

That phone call made my Christmas complete. Because of the upcoming holidays and the library being closed she won't email for almost two weeks.

This is my 300th post. And I have several that I am working on.

Knitting

About the time Sofie was born there was a knitting class for Enrichment. I had learned the basics of knitting as child from my mother. Really that consisted of casting on and knitting and purling. I made several long scarves when I was a little girl. After that I was stumped. If you have ever looked at a knitting pattern it is similar to reading Greek (well it was to me anyway). It completely confounded me.


Since I had that early exposure I have always wanted to make an actual garment. I thought a class might be just the thing to understanding some of the Greek knitting directions. In fact, I did learn how to knit and to follow a simple pattern (thanks Judy and Henrikka).


As a novice dishcloths are the thing to knit. I however find the need to challenge myself (I really must not challenge myself with such lofty goals). I found a pattern book with a cute sweater. So I got all the supplies to make it and finished up all the pieces. After which I am backed to being stumped. I don't know how to set in the sleeves or complete the sweater.


Since Sofie was under 5 months when I started I thought if I made it a size 2 I would be safe on having it ready for her. Needless it is still sitting and waiting. I think it has been so long since I worked on it I'm not really sure just where I am at on it. Sofie is now 3 1/2 and won't be able to squeeze herself into even if I get it done anytime soon. I will add it to my projects to complete for some other grandchild. I don't think Kyle (really Nathan) will appreciate being in a lavender sweater.


Sofie in the jumper that I made her.

I have mastered dishclothes. I got a pattern book with just dish cloths that challenged my learning curve and I managed to learn a variety of stitches. And if I make a mistake who really cares since they will only be doing the dishes. The best part is that I don't see Greek anymore when I read a knitting pattern.

This is the time of year that I break out the yarn and make an abundance of these.

Field Trip to Stepping Stone Theater

Our class got to go on a field trip to see the Best Christmas Pagent Ever. We were in two groups, this is the one I was with. We had front row seating.

I wish the picture wasn't blurry. This was such a sweet and tender moment when the tough girl was cradling the baby Jesus. I wanted to show the window with Mary and Jesus along with the girl doing the same with the baby Jesus. The tough shell of a girl began to soften and understand the significance of the baby Jesus.

One Year Ago

Sarah, Laura and I were leaving for Utah in anticipation of meeting one baby boy on the 10th. Well the call I got that morning was that he decided to make his entrance into the world on his schedule. So while we were flying to Utah Kyle was born. What a sweet little boy! I sure wish we had the chance to see him more often. How fast the time has gone since that day. I'm sure glad Kyle is a part of our family. I love that little boy.

As far as little boys go I think he is pretty cute. He is growing up so fast and I can't wait until Emily is home to meet him.

Happy 1st Birthday Kyle.

A bit of news from Sister Clark's email dated Dec 9th, 2009. Her date to leave Australia is March 17th. Which puts her home on the 18th!!!!!!!

Funny Story

Something Emily says just before she tells me a funny story (sometimes funny ha ha and sometimes funny odd). I miss her funny stories. But it's less than 3 months before she can tell me a funny story. Anyway, we've lived here for 21 years last month. We have seen a lot of people come and go in our ward. There is one family, the Kelly's, that has been here about 11 or 12 years now. From the time Allison was still living at home. (Funny side note they live in the same house that Brian's parents lived in while they were living in Eagan). Well the kids have been friends for many years. Shane the oldest Kelly son got married in the fall. It worked out that Allison, Nathan and the kids went to the groom's dinner.



Recently Shane and Ashley came to MN and brought pictures with them. Both families were wondering why the photographer didn't get pictures of the kids of each family. And they both, (not realizing each set was feeling a bit put out that the other side had kids pictures) wondered just who the kids in the photos were. Turns out they are our grandchildren. Based on these pictures it's a good thing Kyle is built so solidly.

Thanksgiving Day

We spent the day with Jeannie (Brian's sister) and her family. It was a low key day and we had a really nice time. The food, the traditional Thanksgiving day fare, was delicious. They recently acquired a Wii and we played games. We topped of the evening watching the movie Working 9 to 5. It has been so long since we have seen it and it was as funny as I remember it.

This is Brian's mom Winnie, who recently had her 90th birthday.





Here is Brian and Jesse boxing. Brian is on the right.

This year I am thankful for many things. My family who I love and appreciate. I am so thankful for Sister Clark who is in her 15th month of serving her mission. And the technology which allows us to email weekly and have current updates of how her life is going. I am thankful for a job which I enjoy. Even on the challenging days when a majority of the kids are having a moment at the same time. If I could change one thing it would be having easier access to visiting my family who are so far away. All in all I am blessed beyond measure and I'm grateful for that.

Movies Movies Movies

Either there are lots of movies that I am interested in seeing in the theater or there are none that catch my eye. The last movie Brian and I went to see was Julie and Julia the Julia Childs movie. And Time Travelers Wife which took Brian and I 15 minutes to even figure what we had even seen (memorable; not). That was in August.

Then a long dry spell until last week when I saw New Moon on Sat, Monday I went with Marsha and Laura and saw the Sandra Bullock movie The Blind Side. Tuesday Laura and I went and saw the Michael Jackson movie This is It. I loved The Blind Side and I would like to see it again in the theater. Michael Jackson was sure an entertainer. So many of the songs took me back thru the different seasons of my life. Not sure what movies are coming out but there might be something in the coming days I will get to.

Pictures from a New Moon Evening

Party Organizers Stacey and Deb. I wish I had a picture of the sheet on the clipboard everything was so well coordinated. They even had what food each person ordered and it was all colored coded. Let the fun begin. Way to plan a very fun and enjoyable evenings ladies. Thanks.

Nola and Susan

Nona, Jackie, and May.

Kristen, Tiffany, Karen and Paula.

Susan, Anne, Lynn, Gina. Gina picked the towel I made.

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Keri, Ramona and Stacey.

Kathy, Katie, Melissa, Ebeadean, Kari.

Joni, Kristen, Ann, Tyanna.

Taryn and Nona.


The tables were decorated with lots of creative decorations.

? and Lori.

Sara, Heather, Mercedes and Amy.


Gina, Anne, Susan, Lynn and Nola.

Karen and Heidi.

Stacey, Deb, Melissa, and Kelly.



Marsha and Vicki.

Good food.

Yummy deserts.

Gift exchange options.



Ann was a crack up she picked this from the gift exchange. She even wore it in the theater. Notice the "moon" behind her.

Freaky picture. I did a little editing, but, for the most part this is how this turned out.

In the theater. Waiting in line.

LeAnne is in the middle at the back of the picture.


Kari, Ebeadean and Katie.

And the movie wasn't bad either. Now I'm off to bed!

I sure hope I got a picture of all those in attendance. Sorry if I missed you.