on the seventh day of Christmas

Our colds are kicking our backsides. We have spent the day watching the beautiful sunshine glistening on all the glorious snow we got yesterday. I've also gotten all the documentation together and submitted to get our family new passports--Anders gets his first adult passport.

Now we are getting prepared to have Bruce and Julie over for the evening as we will ring in the New Year together.

 Own your Happiness!

2019 has been a wonderful year...looking forward to an eventful 2020.

on the sixth day of Christmas...

We are hanging out with friends. Osten's good buddy Patrick and his little sister Olivia are hanging out at our house while Mom and Dad are working in the Twin Cities today. I'm thankful I kept Katie's American girl doll Kit and some of her clothing--Olivia is doing a great job of dressing her and making her look beautiful.

The skies are issuing a beautiful shower of snow. The wood stove is nice and warm and we are planning a lunch of buttered noodles and I will head downtown to get some good veggies for our bodies.

on the fourth and fifth days of Christmas...

Saturday was one of the slipperiest days I've ever seen. Our neighbors Charlie and Nancy missed their flight to Puerto Rico due to a huge pileup on 494. They had to return to River Falls and Grommet joined them on Sunday. I walked to workout and to do a little shopping at Treasures From the Heart. I had no problem walking, but driving looked a little different.

Anders and I played a game of Trouble and then a game of Monopoly. Then we went over to a friend's house for the evening.

Sunday morning, the sun was shining beautifully and we walked to church to hear a great message about New Beginnings based on John Chapter One verses 1-14. It was a terrific message. Bruce and Julie also came to church. We got home and watched the MN Vikings lose to the Chicago Bears. Evidently they had all their second string in during the game, so they weren't expected to win, but it still makes me sad to see.

Katie and I went to Woodbury Lakes to do some shopping and got a couple new pairs of leggings, a new sweater and long sleeved white shirt. We then went to the movie, Little Women and I cried like a baby in several parts. It was a good movie.

We got home and I went for a walk with my friend Sharyl and I got to hear about her interesting move to UMD and how that is currently working for her. I will miss her company in River Falls after her daughter, Alex graduates and she moves up north permanently. Now I'm gearing up to host one of my former student's and his little sister for the day tomorrow. They ran out of daycare options, so I'm very happy to help out. I miss him and Osten is a good friend of his. We should have fun!

on the third day of Christmas

my true love gave to me--three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree

Awoke early at Homestead Cooperative with Mom at my side. We served coffee to several ladies and got to see gifts people have received during the Christmas season. Now Mom and I are going to shop for a show at Chanhassen Dinner theater in 2020.

Brad and the kids are at the hotel and will be heading over shortly to have lunch. We then plan on getting on the road to get ahead of the weather. We will be caring for Grommet, Charlie and Nancy's dog for a week so want to be home to receive him.

No definite plans for the rest of break, but enjoying the prospect of cleaning/organizing and maybe painting things that need a little touch up.

We did stop at the Lion's Tap in Eden Prairie for an early dinner and drank some very tasty 1919 root beer. Yum! Now we are home and settling in for the evening with our new quail from Kyle and Grommet on his way over for a week with our family.

the second day of Christmas

my true love gave to me, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree...

The Blomgren clan gathered on the second day of Christmas. We gathered in Kurt's beautiful home with most members being there at 2pm. The Olsons came rolling in at about 4pm because we got a late start on our journey.

Our traditional meal of oyster stew, sloppy Joes, shredded chicken, salads, cookies was devoured. Our kids really tackled a salad made of apples, grapes and orange slices...need to keep that in mind for other occasions.

Here are three generations of Santa faces...

We sang a couple of Christmas songs including Happy Birthday to You to Jesus and Silent Night. Anders read the Christmas story from Luke and Grandma B led us all in a rousing retelling of Twas the Night Before Christmas. Then, three children opened their gifts. After that the Blomgren gift exchange began. It was by the far the most active thieving game of all time. There were 22 people participating and there were just a few things that were never stolen and many that changed hands four times (the limit of exchanges). Brad ended up with some chocolates, a visor cap and some beautifully made coasters (Abby's friend Danielle brought them), I am bringing home a trio of crock pots and Anders is bringing home the mask and the game Code Names.

Katie and her Wildcat hat

Me and Momma

Josh and Anna

Katie, Liana, Erica and Adam

Cory and Joan

Brad and Kurt

Kyle and Kim

 Cory and Mom

Abby and Danielle

Lots of great conversation in the beautiful open living/dining/kitchen

Kim and Mom

Vance and Kaitie

Ryan and Osten

the gamers--Ryan, Trenton, Kyle Jr., Osten and Anders

After the big exchange--Grandma B opened her gifts. Some people left shortly after the gifts were opened, but many hung out and visited. Mom and I left at about 10:30pm to return to her apartment where I spent the night.

Mom reading Twas the Night Before Christmas

Osten with his Adam Theilen action figure

Thomas with the boy gift--Axe Body Wash

 Liana with the girl gift--Dove bodywash

first year in adult exchange and Anders got the mask!

brothers Evan and Thomas

soon to be cousins Liana and Kaitie

Those in attendance:
Mom, Kent, Anna, Josh, Abby, Danielle, Kurt, Vance, Kaitie, Kyle, Kim, Kyle Jr., Adam, Erica, Liana, Ryan, Cory, Joan, Thomas, Evan, Trenton, Brad, Karen, Anders, Katie and Osten.

What a wonderful time with family. Kurt offered to host the annual gathering in his home---very generous and comfortable place to gather.

Grandma with 13 of 16 grandchildren--missing Jenna, Stuart and Ross

Momma and her five children

Kim, Karen, Mom, Joan, Kyle, Brad, Kurt, Kent and Cory

 Grandma and Katie

Three generations--Vivian, Katie and Karen

on the first day of Christmas...

My true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree

Christmas day was a speedy day that is now past. Spent time visiting with cousin Dionne, seeing what Santa delivered, making caramel popcorn balls, eating the traditional mashed potatoes and Swedish meatballs, ice fishing right outside Brent's cabin and getting a nice walk in the mild Wisconsin winter temperatures.

The kids got toilet paper and a $20 from Santa along with a clip lamp, oreos, phone charger, knot tying lanyard and chapstick.

In the adult exchange I got a swanky TWA tee shirt and sweatpants and Brad got a growler from Brickfield Brewing along with two nice ale glasses and can cozies.


Now it will be on to being with Blomgren's down at the farm and spending time with the Blomgren cousins/aunts/uncles/Grandma/brothers/sister in laws.

the eve of Christmas

Last night, we gathered at Bud & Betty's house on Wood Lake with Isaiah, Julie, Bruce, Bud, Betty, Sharon, Ibby, Mike, Joe, Henry, Dehlia, Brad, myself, Anders, Katie, Osten, Brent, Molly, Siri, Ivan and Ike got together. Julie was borderline as she had the stomach flu so didn't eat dinner or go to church, but came out to visit later in the evening.

A group of us went to church at Faith Lutheran and then we all sat around the dinner table to three different types of soups--chicken wild rice, potato kale sausage, chicken noodle, two different breads--rye and Brad's wheat bread and assortment of meats and cheeses.

making tasty baby belly buttons

After cleaning up, we opened gifts. Anders got a Perplexus, Katie got a nice pair of track pants, face mask and sugar scrub and a game, Osten got a Adam Thielen jersey and a Vikings stocking cap. We all received cash from Grandma and Grandpa. After gift opening we had delicious eggnog and cookies.

The 2006ers had a sleepover, Osten and Anders slept at the lake and we all got to bed. I didn't have my steps, so I did a Leslie Sansone walking video and filled stockings. Merry Christmas Eve!