Christmas with Damon's Family

Yeah, everyone was going to cut back on gifts this year......

We played a silly game for $5 or less gifts. Here is David dressing up to get his gift.

Ooh la la.

Damon scored some Velveeta. He can't wait to make Cheese on Toast.

Here is Mandy's gift...do you think Corey will steal it from her?

Mikko under the tree.

Only in Minnesota is this considered "Salad"

A little Sperstad present.

Mikko's pjs matched Grandma.

Uncle Bob and Granmda helping to build train tracks.

Carol thought refering to the train track pieces as "male" and "female" was sexist.

Great Uncle Bob

20 minutes after putting David to bed I heard that he wasn't asleep.

I caught him in bed playing with his new truck from Granmda Carol.

Tonight we celebrated Dusty's 30th Birthday and Christmas with Grandma Carol and Uncle Bob.

Lots of great food, fun and gifts for all the kiddies. That is what Christmas is all about!

Visiting Santa at Church

Love the contrast in their two expressions!

Mikko wasn't sure what to think.


Now that Mikko got out of there, David could get down to business. He asked Santa for a "House". Every time I've asked David what he wants from Santa he says a "house". hmmmm....maybe Santa's elves better think of something to buy that is a "house".

Self portrait.

We ate hotdogs, chips, cookies and carrots with Santa. Santa made sure that David ate his carrots to remain on the Nice List.

Mikko and Mary Beth. She is the Youth Coordinator at church.

Everyone thought Mikko looked like a little Elf in his striped Xmas pajamas.

Tonight we ventured over to our Church for a dinner with Santa. All the kids made crafts and wrapped them up as gifts for Christmas.
David was very sad to leave and didn't want to go home.

Trip to Chippewa Falls

Mikko LOVED the pool. We HAVE to buy one of these floatie rings!




Just Chillin Out

Sophia and David having fun in the pool.

David playing

David and Daddy after going down the "Big Slide"

What a BIG smile he has on his face.

Pa Pa Dave and Mikkers hanging out by the pool.

Poolside

David being pulled by Daddy through the park in Chippewa Falls.

The Sperstad's. Leah was so bundled we didn't even see her eyes!

The crew making their way through the Park.

MERRY CHRISTMAS


We spent Saturday night in Chippewa Falls. Damon's band was playing at a bar so Mary organized a night for everyone to come to Chippewa Falls to hang out and see Jean. We spent the afternoon in the pool. All the kids had a great time. David wanted to go down the Big Slide right away. We kinda broke the rules and Damon took him down. Mikko absolutely loved the water. Sophia splashed away for hours until her teeth we chattering. We had dinner at a great supper club on the lake. The kids were great again. Leah slept most of the time. Mikko was laughing and kicking at his reflection in the mirror. David loved his corn dog, but loved the chocolate pudding more. We then headed to Irvine Park where they had all the trees lit up and all kinds of holiday themed decorations. It was gorgeous and was the perfect weather for a stroll through the park. We headed back to the hotel. When we walked through the door David grabbed his blanket and crawled into bed without a word. Corey and Dusty ventured out to see Damon play. Another wonderful event with the Lee's, Sperstads, and Amundson's. So much fun to see the kids playing together and so well behaved.

Dazzling Diapers!

I had to take the pictures SO quick because he'd flip right over. I had to keep turning him over to get a shot of his bum. David kept asking me why I kept turning Mikko over!


Mikko was infringing on David's Magna Doodle and making him mad.
Mary from Church made blankets for the boys. David pointed out right away that Mikko was on David's blanket.

Cutest thing ever. Dazzling Diapers by Christine! They are so adorable.

buy yours at http://www.dazzlingdiapers.com/

David's Village and Advent Calendar

David loves playing with his cars in front of my Christmas Village. I haven't had them out in years but thought he'd enjoy them. Notice the Advent Calendar in the back from Grandma Carol and Mary. That is the highlight of every morning, opening the next door. We've noticed that he already broke into December 19th. We're very interested to see what he does when we open that day and it is empty : )

7 Month Mikko

Notice Foxy licking his leg

Mikko is 7 months old.

Could he be any cuter?

He loves to grab EVERYTHING, especially books as I read to him before bedtime. And remotes...what is it about TV remote control to a baby? He now holds his own bottle. He kicks his legs and looks super excited when he sees that we've made him a new bottle. He is my little charmer. He smiles so much. I am pretty sure he finally getting his first tooth. Between that and his constant runny nose he's been a little cranky lately. He definitely LOVES attention. He laughs at Foxy and doesn't mind a bit when she licks him. And he is especially fond of his big brother. It is funny because David is starting to get mad when Mikko touches his toys...so it begins.

I love my little boys. Who ever knew you could love so much? They fill up my life so much, even when I feel like I'm going to "lose it" some days, I wouldn't want it any other way.

The Famous Greta Sledding Incident from Thanksgiving 2008

Damon captured this sequence of Greta's sledding incident when we were all sledding at the Shack last year. I was going through old Xmas pictures and came upon it and couldn't stop laughing.

Saint Nick's Visit

David ventured out into the cold Minnesota morning to see what was left in the shoes we put out last night before bed.

Mikko was more interested in the balls on the tree : )

Saint Nick visited our house last night. It is the tradition in which the kids leave a shoe on the outside step on December 5th and St. Nick comes and fills them up during the night. Cookies, candy, ornaments and even dog treats were left this year.

(thanks mary and dave!!)

Jackson Street Roundhouse

All Aboard!

David jumped right up on Santa's Lap.
He wouldn't tell him what he wanted for Christmas though.

Anxiously waiting in line to meet Santa.

Waiting to board the train.

We bought David this cute little Engineer hat.

Here is waiting in anticipation for our departure!

In front of the train.

The Roundhouse and all the trains it housed were decorated for the Holidays.

I think David's favorite part of the day was playing with all the trains. He would have stayed all day. The only thing that got him to want to leave was to tell him we were going out to lunch to have cheeseburgers.

More trains to play with.

They had the MOST amazing Lego Train display. Unreal!

Today we visited the Jackson Street Roundhouse, which is part of the Minnesota Transportation Museum. What a gem of a place to visit! I drive by it EVERY day on my way to work and finally checked out their website, only to find that they have Santa Workshops and Train Rides every Saturday in December. We were all impressed, especially David. He exclaimed as we left that "he is coming back". Grandma Carol joined us and marveled to how much fun David is and he was the perfect age for the visit.