BOYS IN THE HOT TUB

My friend, Barb is in Cancun this week. She has been sending glorious pictures of her two daughters and herself relaxing and basking in the sun. Two of her boys came over this afternoon for some sledding and hot tubbing. Cancun sounds great, but it's hard to beat the fun one can have rolling in the snow on a frosty day in Minnesota! These pictures are for you, Barb!! Correction. THREE of your boys were at our house today... there was a big one too! It was fun to have them all!

CHRISTMAS PICS

How can I even begin to tell about my Christmas?! Well, first of all...it was wonderful! The weird thing is that there was so much going on and so many people around, and yet, we were also missing a big chunk of family...on both sides. The big news of the weekend was the weather. There is nothing quite like a Christmas Eve when the snow is falling. My favorite event of the weekend happened on Christmas Eve. After the church service, the meal, the dishes, the sharing and giving of gifts and the games...we went outside! It was about 12:30 a.m. and everything was (in my mind) perfect. I took a walk around the neighborhood with Lindsay while Allen and the other girls went sledding behind our house. (Bjork, Romeo and Rodrigo had retired for the night.) To me, it was magical. It was peaceful. It was memorable. There are very few times in a person's life when you get to enjoy your family in Minnesota on Christmas Eve during a snowstorm. It maybe didn't phase anyone else, but I will never forget it. Some of the other highlights from the weekend?

*Rigo's gift to Romeo - a light saber, Romeo's gift to Rigo - a light saber, Rigo and Romeo's gift to Allen - a light saber! Everybody is happy!

*Stunning American Idol Performances

*Matchy, matchy pajama shorts for the girls - compliments of Kristin! Wonder why she didn't get one for me?

*Turbo Jam - (I know that I will get into trouble for this one!)

*A collective effort to create a gingerbread house - which soon became a leaning
gingerbread house.

*Lots of smiles. Lots of laughs.

*A quiet cup of coffee with Allen before anyone else was up.

*Our second Christmas as a family of eight...or maybe I should say our first Christmas as a family of nine welcoming Bjork to the mix.

*Enjoy the pics. It's fun for me to share them!

CHRISTMAS MUSIC

For me, Christmas music is one of the very, very best things about the season. I have been to several concerts already this month and have enjoyed every one. Rigo was in a kid's choir musical early in December. There is something so sweet about children singing. I was very proud of my boy. He often sings in the car and along with the radio, but I wasn't sure how this choir thing would go. He loved it and sang his little heart out.

Tomorrow is Romeo's band and choir concert and next week the girls will present concerts at the Performing Art Center. I thank God for thinking up music. It touches the soul like nothing else. Hope you are HEARING the sounds of Christmas!

DEAR SANTA

Dear Santa

Hi hao are you

Im beeing gud

I want a toy ples

can i have star wars vidyo game

and a litessavr.

Have a gud Christmas (He had a little help with this word!)

frao: Rodrigo Mork

Oh, I wish you could have seen the look on his face when he was writing this!