Christmas Peace

THE EPIC CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE!

I have tried to upload pictures and blog a few times over the past couple of months.  Our internet connection, combined with camera troubles, combined with my impatience with the whole process has made this very tricky.  Finally, I stayed up until 12:30 uploading pics to the blog.  The next morning I found they hadn't saved.  So I uploaded them again, weeding down the selection to just the few 77 that I thought were the MOST precious (sigh).  Here they are in no particular order because that's how they uploaded.  I don't have time for a long blog today but in between these pictures we clocked in 5 Christmas feasts, 1500 miles on the Corolla, and at least four different hotel swimming pools.  It was COLD outside, but beautiful with new snow covering everything the entire Christmas season.  We even brought it with us to Chicago.  I feel renewed by a season spent with family.  I know it's an overused phrase, but I don't think gratitude can be overdone: we are so blessed.  

Now I'm focused on getting ready for an Ayd Mill Road show this Saturday and I started teaching 6 new students in January!  My life feels extra full right now but I'm enjoying everything so far.  Here's what the last few weeks of 2013 looked like:

We put up the Christmas tree and lights.  We posed for a Christmas card photo.  That's as far as we got.

Grandpa Sorum had two courses to teach along with his regular pastor duties last semester.  The end of the term was especially busy.  He didn't have time to visit us in St. Paul but he told William a bedtime story over the phone.

Miriam Skrade played with us for a few days in December!

We took her grocery shopping at the Children's Museum.  We filled up the cart many times and William checked us out.

Saint Paul has been very cold the past few months.  We still bundle up and walk to Preschool almost every day, but we don't play outside very much.

Wesley, cousin Everett and William pose before Christmas dinner with Grandma Olson and the Erhardt's! (Dec. 16)

Dan Erhardt, Zac, William, Everett, Aubray and Susan are ready to eat ham dinner.

William unwraps the wood flute I bought him for Christmas.

William and Wesley love their new instruments from Dan and Aubray!

Great-Grandma Carol Sorum and Great-Grandpa Dean Sorum at their home in Moorhead Thanksgiving day 2013

Grandpa Sorum doesn't mind helping Wesley fall asleep.

Grandma Olson brings over a few Christmas presents (Sesame Street chair and blanket)

Wesley decorates the tree.  Or undecorates.  However you look at it.

My camera started acting up a lot.  It took strange pictures like this one.  I felt like I was living with a family of ghosts.  I had a warranty on it but they couldn't fix it.  Instead they gave me money towards a new camera.  I used my Christmas money and went for a big upgrade.

Camera upgrade!  Just in time to see Great-Grandma Klis in Chicago on New Year's Day.  She had a back surgery last year but was on the floor playing with the boys this year.  Grandma Klis lives in Arizona but was visiting her brother for a few weeks in Chicago.

Her brother, Uncle Ray (age 90), was the host with the most jokes.

She loved the necklace we gave her.

It snowed a lot--16 inches in two days.  We shoveled ourselves out of the driveway at Zac's relatives' house while they were in Florida. We had fun playing in it, too.  William loved going down the playground slide into a big pile of snow.  His snowpants (covered in snow) made the slide fast and the snow made the landing soft.

On day #2 with Grandma Klis the boys let her get a little closer.  She read them books and tickled and played some more.

Zac with his grandma.

We made a stop at Lego Land Discovery Center in Chicago.  They had a LEGO replica of Chicago with the New Year highlighted.

I thought Darth Vador was pretty impressive.

Lego Land has a 4-D theater.  Along with the 3-D effects the movie also snowed, rained, blowed and blew out a stench at us.

I think this was the first time William was tall enough to go on a ride.  He is hooked!  We had to peddle to go higher.  I had a blast, too!

We decided to add an extra leg to our journey and made a trip to Neenah, WI where we saw a whole lot of Bloms (relatives from my mom's side of the family).  Zac is sitting between my mom's sisters, Beth and Ruth.  They are laughing because we are making fun of my mom even though she's not there.  We're family like that.

My cousin Naomi helps Wesley change the ringtone on my phone.  I don't think he needed help.

I catch my uncle Phil (Mom's brother) as he cleans out the ice cream pail.  You can tell we're in Wisconsin because EVERYTHING is colored green and yellow.  Leave ice cream alone! :)

My cousin Miriam and her family were there as well.  Wesley was so tired by the end of the night after such a long trip he didn't even complain when I had to set him down on the floor while I put my coat on.  He might have fallen asleep there.  

Zac reads to the boys back at the hotel.

Wesley age 17 months.

William loves to play card games.  Even without other players.

Wesley signals it's nap time on his new fold out couch.

Making cookies together.

Wesley knows how to watch a movie and eat popcorn like a zombie just like the next person.

William and Wesley before "Pajama Day" at preschool.  They are enjoying a new TMNT doll Grandma Olson gave them.

We were up North at Grandpa and Grandma Olson's house the weekend before Christmas.  Mike and Sherry had the house so beautifully decorated and they treated us to many delicious meals and new toys.  We relaxed completely and enjoyed a change of pace as we watched movies and played with new toys.

It was very cold so we exercised at the local school.  Football was the favorite.

This is the school Zac graduated from.  He wanted a picture with his alma mator's mascot, the Bear, in the background.

Sherry's daughter, Erin, was visiting from California.  She enjoyed showing Wesley all the stuffed animals.  Some of them talked or sang if you pressed a paw or tummy just the right way.

William proudly holds up a new toy.  More monsters!

William gets to work on a Christmas ornament.

Father and Son

Sherry had the crafts and toys all planned out.  There were no dull moments.  Thank you!

Wesley finally naps.  He didn't want to nap in his crib because it was just too much fun to be awake.

Wesley thinks about napping again just before Christmas Eve worship in Parker's Prairie.

The whole family together at First Evangelical Lutheran in Parker's Prairie, MN where my dad is the pastor.

Christmas Eve dinner!  Very traditional Norwegian meal with fish and potatoes.  We also have rummegrut, lefse, krumkakke and an assortment of cookies.  It's pretty much dessert with a side of fish.  William was into it.

Wesley's new frog hat.

Grandma Sorum and Wesley

Christmas Day we went to Lake Lida, MN, (my Aunt Sonja's cabin).  There we enjoyed an amazing meal and a lot of entertainment.  Just as I was ready to put the kids down for their nap the family decided to start playing with my cousin Kurt's new helicopter.  The living room has a huge vaulted ceiling and there was plenty of crash landings before they learned how to fly it.  No naps for Christmas.

Instead we went outside for some snowmobiling and sledding.

We didn't have a traditional sled per se, but we made do with a floaty thing. 

I admire how much time and thought goes into decorating for Christmas celebrations.  As I mentioned, we strung lights on our tree but there were no decorations this year.  Who has time?!  Apparently my wonderful aunts find the time.  The whole house was decorated with light-up houses like these--I felt like I was on set for A Christmas Carol.  Beautiful.

Back in Alexandria, my Aunt Ruth and Mom take me out for some girl time at the mall Dec. 26!  (Grandpa babysits)

Zac had to go home to work.  We had fun with Grandma and Grandpa Sorum awhile longer.

Ruth makes Kringla with William.  Just one more family tradition that means I won't know what it's like to be hungry for at least another week.

I had the brilliant idea to bring the kids to the church nursery for more toys and entertainment.  The cold weather makes for long days but we found plenty to do there!

William teaches Grandpa how to play Slapjack.  

I love my mom! :) 

We met up with the newest members of the family for lunch.  Lucas and Landen Mynzwor were born prematurely in August to my cousin's son, Jacob and wife Tessa.  They are big and strong and doing great.  

Back home we took Eric and Ruth to the Sea Life Aquarium.  Wesley and Eric try to decide if they want to put their fingers in and touch the sea anemone.

We got to watch the eels and rays get fed!  It was really really cool!

I am always amazed how looking at things through the eyes of a little one fills my heart with so much wonder and awe.  All animals are so unique and beautiful and specially designed to thrive in their environment.  Amazing.

I'm still learning how to use my new camera.  I love that I can take good pictures that will capture memories forever.

When it's cold outside, our house is cold, too.  Good thing we had Aunt Ruth to snuggle with for a few days before we went to Chicago!

Jan Crosby is smitten with Wesley.  I think she likes to visit me a little, but she really loves to visit Wesley. :)

We drove to Chicago on New Year's Eve.  We made one long stop at a Wal-Mart in Tomah, WI.  This is the only Wal-Mart I've been to in the last few years and the only reason we go is because it is half way between here and Chicago and the closest thing to the highway.  Also, it has rides.  

William quickly makes friends.  Here he is with his second cousin once-removed/brother Aaron Kloss.

We saw Ruth AGAIN in Neenah, WI!

Annalise, Wesley, William and Daniel at the kid's table.  So perfect.

  He gives me kisses when he wants to say "I love you, Mom."  What a sweet little boy!

Well, those are the pictures.  For every picture I posted there are a thousand memories.  We saw so many of our family members and had a great time.  I'd do it all over again but next time bring the battery charger for the leap pad and DVD player (car rides without electronics are hideous)!

Happy New Year to all!