Outdoor Skating at Phalen

Greta and David

They are doing so good for just learning how to skate. They both wanted to use this walker but we got it away from them quickly.
David and Daddy

Getting help.

David was getting frustrated because he wanted to skate fast but kept falling. Bobby was so nice to him and explained to him that he fell a lot too when he first started skating. Now he flies all over the rink!

Away they go.

They look like a Precision Team.

Grandma and Mikko trying to keep warm. We spent most of the time in the nice warming house in front of the fireplace because it was wicked cold.

Grandpa bought a round of hot chocolates for the kids.
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We ventured out into the cold, and brrrrrr...it was cccooollldd. We got together with Bobby and Greta to go skating at Phalen Park. There was a hockey tournament going on which I think made Damon very nostalgic. I heard him commenting to my Dad that he hopes David wants to play hockey.

As we got into the car, David proclaimed that he wants to play hockey AND be a goalie! We know how our weekends will be filled if that does indeed happen!

A wild and crazy Saturday night with the boys.

We were invited to a Luau at church. One of the social clubs (all old people) called and asked if we wanted to come. Since we had no other plans and Damon had a gig, it was something to do on a Saturday night. Here David is sampling the punch wearing a lei.
Mikks got LOTS and LOTS of attention from all the ladies, adoring his red cheeks.

David ate a cupcake, a bun with butter and some jello "salad" with marshmellows.
A perfect Church Lady dinner.

Mikker's red cheeks.

GAC Girls night at Tracy's

Guess a two second timer is too quick for me to get in the picture!

There we go!
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The Gusties finally got together to celebrate Christmas. We originally were going to get together the night of the big blizzard. We laughed SO much my stomach hurt. We stayed overnight at Tracy's. She cooked us a yummy dinner. Lots of food, drinks and most importantly laughs!

A day with Bobby and Gretzky

Playing with the air rocket. Bobby would shoot it off and David and Greta would try and dodge it. So glad noone got hurt : )
They ALL played with Mikko's play house and filled the "house" with all kinds of stuff. Mikko was like their play doll who lived in the house. He loved it and loved all the attention.

He was getting buried by Greta and David.

The 3 oldest kids playing wildly.

I am envisioning that this was how Damon's house was growing up with Dusty and Mandy.

For being the biggest kid, Bobby sure liked playing with Mikko's toys too!

David's picture in our church's newsletter.

A visit to Grandpa Dave and Grandma Mary's

Mikko giving toy food to Grandpa.

David decided we should have a birthday party - he decided we'd celebrate Mikko's 2nd Birthday.

Entertaining Grandpa with the guitar.

Sharing animal crackers.

Mikko wants in on them too!

All the guys!

Video - Mikko getting animal crackers from Grandpa

Video - Mikko giving kisses to Grandpa and Grandma.

New Year's Weekend at the Shack

Brrrr!

Damon and Grandpa shoveling off the roof.

We ventured up to the Shack on New Year's Eve. When we got there David immediately wanted to help shovel. Especially cute in a Super Man Cape!


We opened Christmas presents from Grandma and Grandpa. Mikko got his very own remote to play with!

Happy New Year.

Mikko sleeping on Grandma's lap.

Opening presents.

The boys running wild in their super hero capes.

Mikko trying to keep up with his big brother.

David got a super cool gift. A play Chain Saw. It was the hit of the weekend.

Here he is pretending to cut down the Christmas tree.
Can you tell he wants to be just like Grandpa!

David loves it when Grandma tells him about animals. He listens intently to her stories about bears, deer, etc and then keeps asking her to tell more and more stories.

Helping Daddy get the stove going in the morning. With his pillow pet of course.

The finest Westfork fashion to keep warm.

Jimmy and Foxy as happy as can be. Poor Foxy has to keep stopping to chew the snow out of her paws.

Grandpa had to spend lots of time plowing after all the snow they got.

David loves to lay in the snow. I decided to join him and it was quite relaxing. Maybe he is onto something.

David got a kick out of playing dominoes with the Jenga pieces. There were only 4 pieces missing by the end of the weekend.

Jimmy so exhausted from being outside that he can't even hold his head up. Resting it on the bear footstool.

I got this picture of the Shack early in the morning.

David helped us wash dishes.

Grandpa brought his chainsaw in the warm it up so they could cut down a tree. David wanted to put his chainsaw next to Grandpas too. Super cute.

Boys with their power tools.

David showing off his first pair of Choppers from Ronnings Border Bargains. From now on that is the only place I'm going to buy his winter gear. So warm!

Away he goes down the hill.

Cool Dude

Monday morning we woke up to 32 BELOW zero!

My car wouldn't start in the cold so they had to heat it up.

Mikko jumping. So cute. You tell him to jump and he just bends his knees. Can't figure out how to get the video the right way.



4 Wheeler Rides



Celebrating Greenland's New Year as we didn't think we'd make it til midnight.
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Had a fun filled weekend at the Shack. When we were getting in the car to leave David wanted to get out of the car and give Grandma and Grandpa one more hug because he "thought he'd miss them".