A Very Merry Christmas

We drove down to Sun Prairie for a Christmas Eve celebration with my family ... Unfortunately it was still more of a green Xmas than a white one. Thankfully, we got to enjoy the good company of grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, sisters, and brothers. My daughter and her younger boy cousin seemed be attached at the hip for a few days. Christmas Day had its own celebration with family in Cottage Grove - with our kids making a 'haul' in the book exchange ... Thanks family!

After a 4am wake-up call Monday and a flight to Dayton (via Detriot) we enjoyed a few days with some more of the fam in Ohio. Laser tag, tubing, the flu, and a broken side-mirror may have been the highlights (and lowlights?) of the trip, but the real special parts were seeing "las tres amigas" (my daughter and her 2 girl cousins) and "los banditos" (my son and his older boy cousin) become inseparable. We watched one indoor soccer game (Congrats on the Championship, Cole!) and made it back to Wisconsin without bringing the flu back (thus far).

With about one day left in 2011, we'll try to find a way to deal with another 4am wake-up call having tired us this morn. The white stuff on the ground did already provide for some Grampa-Grandson shoveling time ... and a small snowman - who apparently is a Cubs fan! Happy New Year a day or two early, everyone!

Merry Christmas

Christmas Cookies

My wife and kids decided last weekend was time for cookie baking. So they got the island clean - which is always a big task in itself - and got down to business. I helped as best I could - by staying out of the way (although I cook, I'm not much of a baker ... yet). My daughter unrapped some kisses for the chocolate-topped peanut butter coookies - yum! And my son really got into mixing the dough. Everyone got into the cookie-cutting act - including a "W" cookie from my son - On Wisconsin! The best part always seems to be the decorating - with colored frosting and sprinkles. Then again,maybe the best part is eating them ... or just spending the afternoon baking cookies with your mom! :)

That's My King!

That's My King! from Albert Martin.

I suggest hitting the "all screen" mode in between "HD" and "vimeo" to get the full affect.

Holidazzle (part 1)

If you can believe it, it was our first trip to the downtown Minneapolis Hollidazzle parade. My daughter liked the Circus Train (so did I). My son preferred Captain Hook's pirate ship. No matter their favorite part, it was a nice way to end the weekend! We loved it. (Especially since it's been 'not-so-cold' here.) Thanks for taking us, Jack, Nancy, Noah, and Amelie!

If you watch the clip below, wait for the ad, then pause 15 seconds in. Yep. That's my daughter and her friend. All the footage (including the proposal) was right in front of us. We got there early, sat on some blankets right on the curb (front row!). The nice tented bleachers were right across the street - which is where the proposal took place. Awesome.

Holidazzle (part 2)

Seriously, where was this for my wedding?!

I was looking around online today for some final Christmas presents. I'm from a Badger family, so obviously I was looking for University of Wisconsin stuff. Found this. Un. Real. Awesome!

Seriously. Where was this for my wedding?! :)

Challenges? Who challenges you? Do you challenge yourself?

"The kind of mistakes you make define you. The more interesting the mistakes, the more interesting the life. If your biggest mistakes are missing reruns of tv-shows or buying the wrong lottery ticket you’re not challenging yourself enough to earn more interesting mistakes."

- Scott Berkun
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#Badgershirtstreak - select locations across the nation - 250 days today.

Decorating the Tree ... and other fun things.

A couple of weeks ago, we put up the tree. This year we just put up the artificial one, so it was a lot less work ... well, kind of. The box is pretty heavy and I keep it up on a shelf in the garage ... so it is kind of a work-out to get it down, carry it into the front room and put it up. But it takes a lot less effort than packing everyone in a car and getting a 'real' one, I guess.



Needless to say, the house is nicely decked out, thanks to my wife :) Who then proceded to leave for Barcelona this week :( We'll be anxious to get her back soon. While she left for Spain, my son and I took a nice trip to Green Bay and back on Sunday. Eight hours in the car in one day ... only to end up where you started (at home) is an interesting choice. However, watching the Packers with your son at Lambeau Field makes the decision VERY MUCH worth it. Bonus: my dad came up to spend time with my daughter (and cover the time period between when my wife had to leave and I returned with my son). Thanks Dad!

Oh, and bonus ... bonus: My kids getting along (at least for a little while) -

Fall Family Photos ... the B-sides ...

Okay, maybe a few of these made the cut, but most are just plain fun ... or funny :)