playing catch up

I am stealing a title from the Buurstra blog (Julz, hope you don't mind!), but that is exactly what I need to do. December was a crazy busy month for us and getting a chance to update just wasn't in the cards until now. So I am going to give the cliff notes, which in and of itself, will be a challenge given all the happenings and events over the past month. . . but I am going to give it a try.

So.. . . refill that coffee, put your feet up and settle in. . .

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Santa!!

We went to see Santa on Saturday Dec 15 at our local community center. I wish you could have seen Bergen's face when Santa walked into the room - pure amazement. We were one of the first ones in line and our brave boy walked right up to Santa, sat on his lap, and ever so quietly told him that he wanted "cars" for Christmas. We had also been watching the Polar Express at lot at the time and B asked Santa if he came down on the train. . . oh, it melts my heart!!

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Great-Grandma Betty's 90th Birthday Party

Shortly after our visit with Santa, we jumped in the car and drove to Duluth for my Grandma Betty's 90th birthday party. We had a wonderful dinner at the Boat House in Superior and I know that Grandma loved having her great-grandchildren there for the celebration. A very quick trip up and back. . . .

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First Christmas Program @ Preschool

I worked and worked and worked with Bergen on the two songs he was going to sing in his very first Christmas program. . . . only to see him stand at the front of the church with this great deer-in-the-headlights look on his face and not even utter one word. It was great to see his whole preschool class dressed up in their Sunday best - they all looked so grown up. After the performance we came back to our house to enjoy some Bakers Square Candy Cane pie. . . a perfect ending to great show.

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Let the Christmas festivities begin. . .

Dec 23rd. . . .Little Christmas Eve with the Birk family

Dec 24th. . . Christmas Eve afternoon with the Leafblads

. . . . Church at Tim and Pam's church and then back to their house for dinner

Dec 25th. . . Christmas Day morning with Peg and Great Grandparents

. . . . . Christmas Day afternoon at the Leafblads

Here are a bunch of pics from the different gatherings. . .

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Feiro Baby Shower and Small Gourmet Gathering

The day after Christmas we drove to Duluth to be at the baby shower for Katie Feiro. We are SO EXCITED for Brian and Katie and I was thrilled to be at their shower . . . this baby is an answer to so many prayers! I sadly didn't get a picture with the mommy-to-be. . . it was a little crazy with all the people there! However, we did get some GIT and B-GIT pics . . . .

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Christmas Weekend in Duluth
While in Duluth we saw Grandma Doris (a.k.a. gamma-d as Bergen says), Grandma Betty, Aunt Marilyn, Aunt Maren and Uncle Charlie. Lars worked at my Dad's office on Thursday and Friday as he hadn't planned on being in Duluth until after work on Friday, but the partners at Keystone were supportive and gave Lars the okay to drive his very stressed out wife up north early. Here are some photos from our weekend up in the cold north. . .

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New Years Eve

We went to Rob and Carrie Nelsons who hosted a first annual new years eve party at their beautiful home in Maple Grove. . . we had a great time seeing friends that we don't get to see as often as we would like and it enabled us Ole girls to do our gift exchange together. We also got to meet Beret and Joel's little man Sam. . . who is just as cute as ever.

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New Years Day

We have begun a fun tradition with Peg, Megan and Michael to have our Christmas celebration on New Years Eve. . . which had to be pushed back a day this year due to scheduling conflicts. We had a nice, leisurely afternoon hanging out and opening gifts. . . then finished with a great dinner. A great way to end the Christmas celebrations and begin the new year!!

So, those are the cliff notes. And no worries - there won't be a quiz. But, if you made it all the way to the end. . . in the words of Michael Scott. . . you get an A++!