Patti's trip to Fergus Falls

As many of you might know, I recently traveled to Minnesota with my dad and sister for my grandma's funeral. It was a good time of memories and stories. There have been many stories over the years of visiting there, and still new ones seem to come up. Most people think of Scandinavians as being on the quiet side. Not so when our family of over 20 people get together! This visit I had the opportunity to meet my dad's 5th grade teacher from the 1 room country school he attended.

Mollie asked me to take her doll around and take pictures of it at different places. Luckily she has an extra one of her special doll so she didn't have to say good-bye to it while I traveled.

Here you see a giant river otter. A local told us that they try to entertain themselves during the winter months and this is what they come up with. Big statues. She told us of a scrap metal artist that has several statues, including a giant toe. Really. Be glad you are looking at an otter!

We had a couple days of dry snow flurries. I took a close look at the flakes on my coat and could see the actual six points and details. So pretty! It reminded us of dandelion fluff on our windshield.

Scott asked me to take some scenery pictures. The town looked like "A Christmas Story."

Under the flat snow is part of Lake Alice. When I was a kid they would clear this part of the lake and turn it into a rink. This is where I first learned to ice skate.

This is my sister next to a prairie chicken. Just remember, it could have been a picture of a big toe! Maybe next time we'll visit the big pelican and turkey.

A couple more scenery shots during Sunday's snow.

Hey! Satan!

During the Christmas season we like to remember God's gift to the world of Christ's birth. This year we have been very aware of Satan as well. Each time we passed a nicely decorated house or saw someone wearing a red hat with white trim a little someone would yell out "Hey! Satan!" We tried to each Allie how to say "Santa", but it never stuck for long. Actually, she might have said Santa once the proper way. But, yes, Santa was known as Satan this year.

Visiting Santa... again

Mollie's preschool invited parents to watch the children in their Winter Sing. After the performance with a wide range of holiday songs Santa came to visit the classroom. Each child was allowed to sit on his knee and have a chat with him. Just before the visit Mollie had scraped up her hands and knees outside and torn her new tights. She was very upset and the visit with Santa wasn't the happiest. Today we went to the mall to get out of the house and there was Santa again! We stood and watched him for a few minutes and the girls were very interested in him. I wasn't planning on visiting Santa again, but since Allie was interested I thought it would be nice for her to have a turn. Can you see it coming? Screaming when we got close to him! She would not go near him, even when I was holding her. So Mollie got to have a visit with Santa... again. I'm glad we did it; the picture turned out much better than her sad visit at preschool!

Tree Festivities

We have had some fun with tree decorating this week. We decided the girls are old enough to start driving up the mountain to cut down a tree. We picked an area that had fewer trees than other areas so the girls could get about a little more easily and lead the way in exploring.

From start to finish, Mollie and Allie found a way to have fun.

Today I took the girls to my parents' house. They have a playhouse in their backyard and it is decked out for Christmas! A tree was set up inside for them to decorate. Mollie was much more interested in it than Allie was.

Girls Only

This weekend I took Mollie to a birthday party that was all about being a girl. A table set with face paints and glitter and beads kept the girls busy quite a while. They dressed up as rainbow fairies, had a tea party and danced. What more could a little girls want? Happy Birthday Amber-May!

Sweet table setting for fairies

Dancing rainbow fairies

Amber-May and Mollie

Trike-A-Thon

One evening we were watching television and there was a short thing on Noggin about the Hot Peas 'N Butter band and their involvement with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Mollie paid close attention and wanted to know more about the hospital and the children that go there for help. She also picked up from the television that kids can be in trike-a-thons to help. She was so excited about wanting to help the sick children and doing one of these events. So Scott and I seized the opportunity and "helped" her organize the event. St Jude provided all the materials and Calvary Church provided the location. There were 7 kids total. Altogether they rode 157 laps and raised nearly $700 for the hospital. I'm glad she has seen us giving in different ways and realizes she can give in her own ways too. Already she is looking forward to coordinating another trike-a-thon. Maybe next year...

Ready at the starting line. left to right: Noah, Tyler, Caleb, Mollie, Grant and Amber-May. Allie was still on the side line on her own schedule.

Can we go yet?

Allie walked around the lap 7 times with help from Grandma.

Here I come!

Noah making his way around again. Are you keeping track, Mom?

Caleb found a sneaky way thru some bushes while going around his laps.

Tyler and Mollie seemed to keep one another going.

Amber-May took it slow and steady and did a great job.

Halloween Fun

We had fun throughout the month of October. There was the pumpkin patch, trick or treating at San Jose History Park and parents' observation for Mollie's Dance class.

Dress up fun at Dance Attack.

Getting ready to start trick or treating!

The tractor was the most fun part of picking put pumpkins.