last day of 2021

Here we are at the end of 2021. I just found out that Betty White, age 99, just passed away today. Katie and Isaiah just got back from a study date and they also heard the news. 

This is the view from mound park here in RF. It was quite a year. 

3 year tradition

Today Katie, Siri and I set out to do what I did 3 years ago today. Walk the frozen perimeter of Wood Lake. This year, there was a 6 inch snow cover on the snow so it was a lot harder to trek. We made it 2/3 of the way 

bible camp reunion

I dropped Katie at Luther Point Bible Camp today for a BUDDIES reunion. I hope she has a wonderful time with her cousins 

so long Christmas decor

Osten and I are watching the MN Golden Gophers in the guaranteed rate Bowl. They are currently up 8-6. Number 8 just had a great run down the field. I’m getting ready to head to bed soon after taking down Christmas decorations (not cards, poinsettia or winter animals yet). 

Photo is of the funky snow that we had yesterday. It was taken by a friend here in town. 

sunrise on the prairie

 

We woke in St. James and got to see a pretty incredible sunrise this morning. Then we got to spend time with Grandma B including lunch at the Hometown Cafe and time hanging out at her apartment. 

prairie Christmas

We drove down to Rural Butterfield to spend time with the Blomgren clan. The wind was whipping when Katie and I climbed up to the top of the grain bin 

We played games, ate great food including oyster stew and hot beef sandwiches. We opened gifts—Brad got a hammock, I got a hot pad and coffee, Anders got a hot chocolate pack and Lindsey got an echo dot. The weather turned nasty and we all drove home very carefully. We spent the night in St. James so didn’t have to drive ALL the way home. It was a wonderful day. 

merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the north shore of Wood Lake. The Olson's, Moritz's, the Quintanas and the Swanson's gathered and have been enjoying opening gifts, eating meatballs and soon will be having some wild rice hotdish. 

Here are some photos of our time together:

the eve of Christmas

Today was time with the Olson’s and Swanson’s. Brad went turkey hunting, Osten watched Luis and I went into town with Katie to get her to the gym where she worked out. 

We had our traditional Swedish Meatballs, mashed potatoes, cranberries, Brussels Sprouts and lefts. Then it was to church where Henry read the third reading Luke 2:8-20. 

Back to the house where we had egg nog and our gift exchange. I got my rolling pin that I brought and cookie sheets that I brought as well. Osten got a really cool

Sports book and a nice long sleeved shirts Katie got a cool musical instrument. 

family Christmas in River Falls

Last night after Brads birthday dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings with Bruce, Julie & Isaiah, our family came home to unwrap gifts. Osten and Katie liked their Fit Bits the most, Brad liked his new pants. Anders liked his new joggers and I liked my new Fjall Raven pants the most. Lindsey gifted us with nice presents as well! So nice to be together. 

7 squared today

49 years ago today, one of my favorite people arrived on earth. Happy birthday dear Bradley Cole. 

Here he is with his youngest grand nephew, Hayes Hauser 

sounds of Christmas

 An incredible choir concert by the River Falls High School. Katie sings alto. Great job Katie and all the talented musicians at RFHS. 

Katie and her friend Emily in the commons area after the performance

the full choir with all grades 9-12

pause

Just taking a few moments to pause and take in the beauty of this incredible time of short daylight hours. We have just under 9 hours of daylight today…

Sunrise: 7:45am

Sunset: 4:32pm

Tomorrow in the winter solstice and then we’ll start gaining light every day. I remember Anders and his message of hope several years ago. Winter isn’t a time of darkness, it’s the building of light every single day. 

an evening out with MSU friends, Osten’s Christmas program and walk home from the movie theater

 Lots of sun in the past two days. Went out to dinner and dancing with Trish and Julie. The singer Tim Siegler took a photo with us. Very fun. 

This morning Osten had a sing along Christmas program outside of church by our nativity scene. 

Then we went to the movie, Spider-Man at the Falls theater. On our way home, we saw the most spectacular sunset! 

basketball tournament

Osten’s River Falls White team played three games yesterday at the Menomonie high school field house. They won 1 and lost two and did a great job communicating and hustling lol up and down the court. Super fun Saturday!

 

he’s home for the holidays

Anders finished up fall semester at UWEC. He’s now home for the holidays. I got home from my school

Christmas party and he and Osten were playing NBA2K. It is so wonderful to have him home! 

fun evening

I went with my work friends, Karen, Maggie and Lynn to a screening of a cool movie about a woman who hiked the Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin last winter. The name of the film is Breaking Trail.  We ate at punch pizza before the screening and then there was a Q & A after the movie with the film makers and the woman named Emily who journeyed the trail. What a fun evening! 

thunder in December

 I’m waiting for Katie to exit swim practice and am sitting in a thunderstorm. Crazy.

a project begins…

Ready or not here we come! Olson bathroom renovation begins! Brad is a great man to tackle to job and I’m looking forward to the process and end result.

7

It’s been 7 years since I got a terrible telephone call. Mom calling to tell me my brother Kurt lost his youngest son. “Lost? Why would he run away?” Downright heartbreak when I learned he lost his life. 

Today I cried. Not tears like I shed for the days immediately after that phone call, but tears of release and joy for the incredible life he did live here on earth. He is a candle that will burn brightly in my heart forever more. Ross Isaac, you are gone, but will never be forgotten. 

On a happier note, Ross had a very special person who made her earthly debut 4 years ago today. Happy birthday dear Kes. Her Daddy was able to be home to celebrate her 4th birthday. 

12-12-21

I love number combos! We did indeed get about 12” of snow on Friday and early Saturday morning. 

I also learned some sad news as I was driving to Eau Claire. Mike Nesmith of the Monkees, who I saw in concert on November 14, passed away on Friday, December 10. Very lucky to have seen him one last time. 

He’s in the purple jacket 

On a much happier note, I got to spend some quality time with Anders Cole while in Eau Claire. He lunched with us and went shopping too. I just love spending time with him. 

We got cookies baked and watched some fun tv shows and relaxed. It was a lovely weekend.