Skiing at Buenavista

Yup, that is my girl! As with everything she does, she tries it out, gets her feet wet and once she has gotten over the initial fears she is an expert!

Sunday was the most beautiful day we have had all year so far and we took advantage of it.

We went to Buenavista ski resort in Bemidiji. This was E's first time and M's second.
It was my first in like 7 years.

We all had a ball!

going up the "duck" hill

By the end of this wonderful day we were all skiing down the black diamond. Remember this is Bemidiji, MN :) It was the tallest, steepest HILL of the resort. The real accomplishment was getting on and off the lifts :)

Emma Jump Rope for Heart

Emma practiced her little heart out for the Jump for Heart fundraiser they had at their school for National Lutherans week. She is quite the jumper now! Oh, and let me explain the outfit...the whole week they dressed up in a theme and that day was "wild and crazy, mad scientist day."

Micah's First Junior Music Festival

Micah has the best piano teacher. She is from Fertile and this is her first year of teaching, her name is Whitney Allrich and we have been so impressed with her and Micah this year. Whitney proposed in December that Micah go for the big dog and take on 4 songs to be preformed at the NDSU Fine Arts Center in Fargo at the end of February. He excitedly accepted and I agreed that this was a perfect fit for him. He worked very hard everyday (without me hassling him or reminding him to do his piano lessons) and took this very seriously. Finally the day arrived and he was as calm as I have ever seen him. He practiced a bit more that morning and was able to go over thing in his mind over the hour long drive to Fargo. His first performance was hymns; he would be the one to go first. He was brilliant, it was as if he had done this all his life. When he was finished with Amazing Grace and For the Beauty of the Earth he got up took his bow and returned to his seat with a green slip of paper displaying the mark of Superior! If he chooses to do this for the next 2 year and receives 2 more Superior marks he will receive his hard earned first awarded trophy! I can guarantee you he will be back, even though we haven't talked about it yet. He then went to perform his solos, which he had to memorize. He performed the Raven's Call and...oh, I can't remember now! Grr, I hate when that happens. Anyway, he walked away from those performances with an Excellent! How proud we are of our boy! And doesn't he look smashing!!!

Oh My Stones!

I have been cooped up in the office for the past week and half, getting things caught up and ready for taxes. I was entering some info into Quickbooks yesterday and started to not feel so well. I was in and out of the bathroom 6-7 times, before I realized that I couldn't pee! So, when I was back in the bathroom I consciencly made myself pee first, it hurt. I thought "great, I have a bladder infection". The pain was starting to get really intense so I called Rob, because I couldn't pick Creed up and he was beginning to feed off of my emotions. I was sooo uncomfortable! I called the Ask a Nurse Hotline and told her my symptoms; I was thankful that she could understand me in my blubbery mess, she told me to check into the ER immediately. My pain was getting worse by the minute, by lower stomache felt like menstrual cramps X 10 and my right lower back was on fire! We get the kids set to go over to my SIL and I am crying uncontrollably. I didn't want to frighten the children, but I had no control.
After the longest ride into Crookston ever we arrive at the ER, I couldn't get out of the car, couldn't walk and I had to pee!!!
I knew at this point that I was experiencing an attack of kidney stones; with my urine sample they were able to confirm it and with a CT scan was able to see where it was and how many there were. Praise God there was only one, but it was still traveling, but my pain has subsided (even before the meds). So we knew at this point it was a waiting game, so they discharged me, but I had to pee one last time. They of course gave me a strainer and out it came, right there in the hospital. The doc confirmed with an "it's a boy" and we all laughed. Yes, his joke was funny, but Rob and I were amazed because it was only about a 4.5 hour process for me. Poor Rob last year couldn't pass his within a week and had to go get his surgically removed. We were praising our LORD!
I think it is interesting that both Rob and I have had kidney stones. For Rob, it isn't all that incomprehensible because he was a Dew drinker and once he quit Dew became a hardcore coffee drinker. But me, I drink 8-12 glasses of water everday for the past 3-4 years, I drink mostly decaf. So, we are going to check out our vitamins to see if I am getting too much calcium because I have at least 1 glass of milk a day along with my vits. I want to find what ever may have caused this, because I never want to experience that pain again in this lifetime.

10 Year Anniversary Trip to Hawaii

Aloha! We had a wonderful time on our 10 day Celebration trip to Waikiki, Oahu and Maui. We returned home on Saturday and spent the next couple of days getting reacquainted with our youngest child who wasn't to happy with us and recovering from the 4 hour time difference. Here are some pics that I thought you might enjoy. I hope it doesn't get too long or boring, as you will tell we were just a bit obsessed with the ocean.

Snow Fun

When it finally was above zero we took the sleds out for a ride. Even tho it was 8 above it was still pretty chilly

but we were all excited to get out and go for a ride.
Even Creed

It was tough to hold on to Creed and try to steer the sled at the same time

it was waaay easier for the pro

I think Creed had a good time riding, but enjoyed watching the sleds go round and round better. We of course didn't last too long, it was just to cold, his cheeks were red and nose was running good when we came in. It was fun! It had been too long for me. Rob is talking about buying me a sled for next year, I don't think I mind; it will get used :)

Inside Fun

It has been so friggin' cold here in Minnesota so we have been in door for what feels like forever! We have been keeping busy with things like:

Making a Gingerbread house

Climbing into the bottom storage of the stove

Playing with toys

Designing paper purses

Driving somewhere warm

Having our own Super Bowl with the fantasy being that the

Vikes actually win :)

Christmas with the Tollefson's

Creed enjoying his first Christmas present

The ultimate boy gift

The annual Christmas football game

The surprised looks on Nancy and Dwain's faces when they realized we had planned a huge celebration for their 50th wedding anniversary

Buffet line

Most all the grand kids played an instrument or sang a song or re sited Scripture verses for the talent show. Micah played Away in a Manger on the piano

Stephen playing the guitar

The best surprise was this sketch drawn by Susan the eldest daughter of all the siblings and their spouses and families with N and D in the center.

A four generation picture.

Top back: Nick, Val, Rachel

Bottom: Nancy, great grand baby Josiah and Dwain

The Whole Tollefson Family.

It was a special time and the weekend was a blast with all the family home, 43 total! 50 Years, Wow! What an accomplishment!!!

My Christmas Present

I couldn't find my camera anywhere on Christmas Morning. I was a bit frustrated, to say the least, but we couldn't spend too much time looking for it because we needed to be at the church by 9:30 for Rob to warm up with Wendie (they sang special music together). We let the kids open theirs up first and then they watch as mom and dad open theirs. I went first and Rob had a look about him, I should have known :) I opened the one marked #1 and was in shock as I unwrapped a Nikon box...Oh no he didn't...oh, YES he did! I got a beautiful Nikon D60 Digital camera. Yeah, I love it, just a little bit :)! With it I got in box marked #2 a lens and apparently there is a 2nd lens coming, not exactly sure what the differance will be but, it will be good I am sure!

The Shack

A girlfriend of mine recommended this book to me, I hadn't had a chance to pick it up but saw that it was only a $5.95 purchase on itunes so I uploaded it to my ipod. I baked all day listening to this fabulously written book that pushes some religious envelopes, but not breaking unity with Scripture at all. It was exactly what I need to hear in this point of my life and I HIGHLY recommend it to everyone. It is sort of like a contemporary Pilgrim's Progress...Go out and get it NOW, you wont be sorry!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

After the Candlelight Service at the Church everyone of the family including Heidi, Jamie and their 3 boys came over for the annual Baby Jesus Birthday Party with the symbolic cake and fireworks. It was especially cold this night, but we were all warm with Apple cider and Chocolate cake (representing our sin) White frosting(representing Jesus' purity covers our sins) the 12 candles(representing Christ our light though the year) Topped with a golden star and and angel (bearer of the fist glad tidings.) The evergreens encircle the cake symbolizing everlasting life. We gathered in our living room for Christmas carols...

Grandma and Grandpa looking out the bow window at the fireworks production put together by Rob. It was a quick show this year, Rob was cold, so he figured everyone else would appreciate a shorter version this year.

The Christmas Recial

Backstage getting ready for the big show...
All the dance team

After it was all done...

The Not so Nutcracker progressed at the Crookston High School auditorium on Sunday December 21 at 2 pm after another bluster day that produced cancellations of church and plays around the area. We were glued to the TV, radio and computer to find out whether the play was still in fact on or not.

Emma's hair was finally long enough to pull back into a beautiful bun. We were both so excited about that and for the whole week prior to the program she wanted to wear a bun in her hair. She loves recital day because she gets to wear makeup at the request of the dance teacher. She was all dolled up and ready to go, we picked up her costume at the school and were admiring how beautiful she looked when she looked up at me and asked "where are my shoes, mom?" I gasped as I remembered so clearly bringing the dance bag up to her room to place the tap shoes in them and leaving her bag on her bed! She instantly began to cry, I was on the verge, but I found Meleah and asked if she had extras she had a solid plan and set out to console our little candy girl.

The program was fun and adorable, there was only one performance I would have left out, but what do you do...

Emma is the 3rd one out. Her partner didn't show up and so the other 2 girls improvised and included her in their little group dance.

Our Precious Creedy Is 1

Where's Creed?
There he is!

It is hardly believable that a whole year has gone by and I feel like I have hardly blinked! But when I see my baby running around...yes running around, I am brought back to reality that I am OLD! Creed turned 1 yesterday and the poor child didn't even know what on earth was going on. It was so funny! Both M and E sang to him first thing that morning and he just looked at them like they had lost it, then again that night when he was tucked in bed, although, I think by that night he really liked it and realized that this was his special day, because he REALLY felt loved and special.

Wednesdays are so busy that we didn't get to Creed's present, but I don't think he minds. We spent most of our day at Lisa's because the kid's had their Christmas program at the school (We couldn't find the batteries for the camera, so there weren't any pic taken). Emma still had dance before that and M still had piano lessons. Finally at 7 that night we were together at the school watching a wonderful production of Christmas in the Country. The staff and students take such pride in their work and it show, they do such a great job!

I don't know when we will have Creed's party, it is such a busy time of year and to get everyone together on the same evening is proving to be a challenge. We may just do a small family party this year and hope for a better mix next year. Until then here are some pics of Creed on his 1st birthday. We love you so much little buddy, you have brought so much joy and adventure to this family. We look forward to many more years of Creed!

The Fun Filled, Girl Energized, Big Party Day!

Our day started out around 10:30 when Reise was dropped off at our house, I did manage to get one picture of Emma holding still and by herself. As you can imagine she was pretty excited.

Emma and Reise are 6 days apart and if E wouldn't have come to us by C-section they would have been born on the same day, at least our due dates were the same, it is no wonder they are joined at the hip :)
Our first stop was Happy Joes' Pizza Parlor. Left to right-Reise, Emma, Shelby, Maddie and Zoe (Esther came late).

The birthday cake...

We love Happy Joe's birthdays because they get the whole restaurant to sing and then there is this red light that goes round and round while a siren sounds. It sure made E feel special.

Second stop was the bowling alley. Alot of the girls had never been bowling, it was super fun to see the newness and excitement on their faces as they learned.

Left to right-Esther, Maddie, Reise Emma, Shelby and Zoe

Creed was having a blast driving this arcade racing game.

Shelby, Emma and Reise

The girls all, but Zoe, went with us to pick out our tree. That was our third and final stop. We had such a fun time. This was the perfect age for an outing like this, the girls were so helpful and polite. I would do it again.

After dropping the girls off, we, E and I, headed home to decorate our Christmas tree and then I was off to see Hairspray at the Chester-Fritz!

Lisa called me up that morning and asked if I wanted to go see Hairspray, I was like "Yeah!" She had tickets given to her by a friend that wasn't able to go, and her husband wasn't interested in going to watch that so she thought of me! I am so glad she did. We were in Row 6 seats 17 and 18. It doesn't get any better than that! All I can say is..."Phenomenal!"