New Year Greetings to each of you !
Here we are....another year older...and hopefully wiser.
Yet, we still have seemingly less time to accomplish all that we want to in a day, a week and even a year!
To explain.....something had to "give" this year -- I picked the cards.
Better late than never right?
All that chatter aside -- let's get to the real reason you came to visit this holiday blog of ours . .
The pictures. . . as we look back on 2009 . . .
Cheri learned to snow ski! -- finally. If it weren't for this guy on the lift with me (my brother-n-law) I'm pretty sure I would have given up! When I turned 45 I declared to my family that I would snow ski by the time I was 50. 2009 was the year it had to be done.
In February and March Kirk and I took Swing Dance Lessons
We completed 2 levels before Kirk had enough.
Each spring my family rents a lodge at a camp and spends a weekend of fun together . . .
With a full gym, we enjoy wall climbing, carpet ball, kickball
there's also hiking . . .
. . . card games --- and meals
Time with cousins . . .
. . .and brother in laws
We visited St. Louis . . .
Cara met us there and we helped Grandpa Dietzman
clean and organize his garage
and spent time with Kirk's family
Then . . . Kirk and Cheri visited Cara in Cincinnati
and met her boyfriend, Tim.
and about the same time, a guy named Mike started spending a lot of time around our place
and then became Danae's boyfriend.
Nate and Kirk worked hard putting in a patio
without Nate's help, we'd still be working on it!
We had these two cuties (my niece and nephew) for a week
and took them to their first baseball game
Twins, of course.
Our summers with the kids home are numbered --
every chance we have, we spend time with them.
Kirk and I celebrated our 50th birthday's in 2009 --- and did it with a full-out party in our garage! We danced and ate, and enjoyed the company of local friends, out of town friends and some family.
It was a weekend of fun!
In August, Kirk's nephew got married --- in Jekyll Island, GA . . .
So we all enjoyed a week on the beach
as long as we were going for the wedding.
Our Minnesota summer was nearly non-existent this year,
but we were lucky enough to have a perfect
weekend with friends at their cabin in Wisconsin.
When Fall arrived, we took another trip to Cincinnati to visit Cara
and spend time with her and her boyfriend Tim.
While we were in Cincy -- Cara and I did some re-decorating of her adorable apartment. Kirk put up these candle wall scones to cover up a boring (and covered up) fireplace.
Cara convinced her landlord to let her paint -- so we painted her kitchen a pretty gray color.
We also painted her living room.
We went to dinner at the famous Montgomery Inn Boathouse in Cincy --- if you are ever in Cincy...be sure to hit up the Montgomery Inn!
Also in the fall . . . Cara brought Tim to Rochester -- his first trip!
All visitors get a complimentary trip
to view the World Famous Mayo Clinic
We also took Tim to some other landmarks in town.
In October we hosted an "Apple Day" -- inviting friends to come pick all the apples they wanted from our trees . . .
We had a bumper crop this year --- this is only 1/3 of what we picked!
Then we made 16 pies --- to eat, give away, and share!
Then it snowed.
In October.
Thanksgiving is in the Chicago area ...
at my sister's home in Crystal Lake.
this year the number of people for Thanksgiving
was around 35
We almost didn't get to have Cara home for Christmas
due to a huge snow storm.
Thankfully her flight was rescheduled
and we enjoyed a Christmas Eve
and Christmas Day with all five of us
It was a wonderful year
and a wonderful ending to 2009
with all our kids home.
We are very aware that our days are numbered for having all our kids home --
and that traditions will very likely change in our near future.
We remain thankful for every opportunity
we can all be together.
------------------------------------
Cara
Occupation: Registered Nurse at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati.
Education: currently attending University of Cincinnati to further education.
Age: 24
Hobbies: cooking & baking, decorating, shopping, spending time with friends.
Relationship Status: Boyfriend: Tim (who gets a thumbs up from mom and dad)
Nate
Occupation: Security, Winona State; Van Shuttle Driver, Winona State, Hollywood Video Education: Student at Winona State, recently accepted into Education Program - future elementary school teacher.
Age: 22.5
Hobbies: Spending time with friends, watching movies, video games, reading.
Relationship Status: Single -- and looking.
Danae Joy
Occupation: Summer nanny for two girls. Looking for school employment.
Education: Student at Winona State, recently accepted into Education Program - future elementary school teacher.
Age: 21
Hobbies: Spending time with friends, watching movies, music, concerts, facebook and maintaining her facebook "farm" and "restaurant".
Relationship Status: Boyfriend: Mike. (Also gets a thumbs up from mom and dad)
Cheri & Kirk
Kirk:
Occupation: Project Engineer, IBM
Education: Helping finance 3 college educations
Volunteer: Teaching Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University - 2010; Percussion in church band.
Age: 50
Hobbies: Spending time with friends, watching movies, music, DIY projects
Relationship Status: Married 28 years
Cheri:
Occupation: Executive Assistant
Education: Providing moral support to 3 college studentsAge: 50
Hobbies: Spending time with friends, photography, editing photos, cooking, baking, blogging.
Relationship Status: Married 28 years
