season ending game

On our way back from LaCrosse yesterday, Brenda streamed the game. As we were in the van, it looked like the Vikings may have a prayer, but then the 49ers turned on the heat and the Vikings lost 27-10. It is sad, but we're ok.

destination LaCrosse!

Our annual Montessori conference in LaCrosse was our destination on Friday evening. A group of nine drove down on Friday evening. Nate driving, Mitch in the front seat, then it was me, Maggie, Jessie, Ruthie, Abby, Brenda and Kayden.

We checked into our hotel--the Hampton Inn and then went to dinner at Buzzard Billies. After that we checked out a place where people axe throw and then to a place where we played darts. Jessie had a great time experiencing American culture and we had fun laughing and playing games.

Back to the hotel around midnight to head to bed for a big day of learning on Saturday.

Nate and Jessie dancing a little bit while we were in the midst of our dart throwing 

Jessie listening to our keynote speaker speak of Joy

bagels for breakfast!

This morning my children dined on bagels courtesy of a children's house kiddo who brought plentiful snack. The teacher's graciously shared them with us because they know we have three beautiful and hungry children who would appreciate some bagels for breakfast.

Osten had cream cheese on his bagel. Anders had peanut butter and Katie had Nutella. They all had a yummy breakfast made just for them.

Thank you Ruthie and Abby!

the tooth mouse arrived

Osten's reluctant tooth finally detached! The tooth mouse visited last night and left 2 $1 coins. So exciting

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adventurous day!

Yesterday, I was slow moving with my painful sacrum, but that didn't slow us down! I invited my friend, Jessie to come and see Anders swim and dive at Red Wing last night.

After school, we picked her up and traveled south to Red Wing to see the Wildcats and the Wingers swim off. We arrived early (horray!) so got to see the whole meet. Our friend, Jocelyn lead the audience in a beautiful singing of the national anthem. Then, Anders 200 Medley relay took 2nd. Anders swam really well in the second leg of the race and made up a little time.

His next event was diving where he took first place out of four divers. This was the first time I got to see him dive, so it was pretty exciting! He looked really strong and quite good at diving. His grandpa B would be proud!

Next event was the 200 freestyle relay. Anders swam the first leg and was the first swimmer to touch the wall in his leg. They ended up finishing 2nd to a very strong anchor of the Red Wing team. Connor Baar had just swam the 500 freestyle, so he was pretty tired in his final leg of his race.


Lastly, Anders swam the 100 breaststroke. He looked great and posted a time of 1:12 with a first place finish.

After the meet, we drove home and Jessie invited us to her home for dinner! She served delicious fried vegetables (carrots, celery, potatoes and onions) prepared in olive oil, soy sauce and salt. We also had terrific boiled dumplings and a steamed egg/milk custard. Jessie is such a warm and wonderful host in her most beautiful home--the Kao House in River Falls. She said she really enjoyed her time at the swim meet and wanted to treat our family to a meal she prepared.

We didn't get home until after 10pm, so I think it will be a slow moving day for a little while for the Olson family ;).

ouch!

After a full day of school, a book study and then Osten's basketball practice, I jumped out of the Prius to open the garage door. As I was returning to the car to pull it into the garage I slipped on some ice and fell pretty hard on my tailbone. Now I'm hanging out with Brad and Osten and will soon be heading to bed. Hopefully my backside will be feeling better tomorrow!

and the 12th day of Christmas...the Vikings played the Saints

12 drummers drumming, 11 pipers piping

10 lords a leaping

 nine ladies dancing

 8 maids a milking

 7 swans a swimming

 6 geese a laying

5 golden rings 4 calling birds

 three french hens

two turtle doves

and a partridge in a pear tree

We put Christmas to bed today with the coming of the 12th day of Christmas or Epiphany.

Church was pretty awesome today--Pastor Wrightsman had a great message and Brad and I were ambassadors. We had quite a few visitors so we were pretty busy with greeting people.

Now we are watching the Vikings game...SKOL!

Update: Just in--Vikings 26 Saints 20 in OT!
Kyle Rudolph caught a pass 3rd and goal...so incredibly exciting

the 11th day of Christmas the Rockets played two games and a Wildcat swam four races

also 11 pipers piped, 10 lords lept, 9 ladies danced, 8 maids milked, 7 swans swam, 6 geese laid, 5 golden rings were given, 4 birds called, 3 hens frenched, 2 doves turtled and there was one partridge in a pear tree.

The St. Croix Lanes River Falls Rockets played two three on three games on Saturday morning starting at 8:05 am. Osten had a blast playing with buddies Coulter, Alex, Willem and Mason. His hero, Peyton Flood was his ref for the first game. The Rockets had to have a shoot off for the first game where the score was 4-4. They won. In the second game, they lost 2-4 but I think they had a really great time.

Anders swam at the U of M Maroon and Gold Invite. I will post his times once I get them from his coach.

OstenAlex

WillemCoulter

Osten and AaronMason

it's the 10th day of Christmas...

my true love gave to me--ten Lords a leaping, nine Ladies dancing, eight maids a milking, seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying, five gold rings, four calling birds, three french hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.

We still have our Christmas decorations up. I was thinking I was being really late, but now I'm realizing I can have them up until Sunday--when the twelve days of Christmas is officially over.

Today is our final day of school already for the week! Found out yesterday that three of our teachers are expecting family additions this coming summer...one in June and two in July. What exciting life changes for them and their families. Thankfully all three teachers will be team teaching so there won't be as much disruption with the move to our new school and a new school year.

The temperatures are very mild--it's 26 degrees F with a high of 33 degrees. There is a nice blanket of snow on the ground. Jessie, my coteacher from China is very impressed with the mild beauty of Wisconsin winters. I hope it stays this way until she leaves later this month.

the ninth day of Christmas

my true love gave to me, 9 ladies dancing, 8 maids a milking, 7 swans a swimming, 6 geese a laying, 5 golden rings. 4 calling birds, 3 french hens, 2 turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.

It's been so fun having the reminder of this song hanging in our window during the Christmas season.

Today we are heading back to school and my intention is to do vision boards with two grade levels today. It's language day so I'm going to have the 2nd graders work on three sentences of what their visions for 2020 will be--3rd graders five sentences and 1st graders I will ask they work on at least two sentences for their 2020 vision.

Our cold (Brad's and mine) seems to be getting better. I hope that continues in that direction and that our kids are healthy for the first days of school and as we get back into the swing of things for 2020.

ding dong it's 2020 and the eighth day of Christmas!

Osten and I rang in the New Year at midnight Central Standard Time. Brad was in bed, Katie was her friend, Q's house and Anders was at a party at friend Emily's house.

Here's to a Happy New Year to all!

I got to have coffee at an old grain elevator called Tin Bins in Stillwater with my beautiful friend, Julie. We also got a chance to do a little antique shopping and found toys we both had as children.