Wrapping up Christmas

2008-12-Lindgren Xmas
Originally uploaded by FuzzyKryton

Or maybe we should call it the final unwrapping!

This past weekend we spent with my family and as usual it was a very entertaining weekend! With the snowstorm that was suppose to come through the area, we waited until around lunch on Friday to head out. With the car full and a quick run stop at Arby's for lunch, we were on our way!

Clear roads made for a quiet drive without delays. This was much better than we had anticipated as there was 4-6 inches of snow predicted for the area. We did get some snow, but not nearly as much as we thought we would

When we stopped at my mom's to drop off Darrin's stuff, we found that my Aunt changed her mind AGAIN and actually did drive down for the weekend! So, we did some last minute shopping and then met up with everyone else at my mom's for pizza and munchies. My Aunt's puppy Toby had fun trying to decided who was ok and who he was just going to bark at - John was one he decided he had to bark at. But he also had fun trying to figure out who was going to give him snacks!

Saturday everyone came over to my Uncles, where we were staying, for lunch and gifts. That is when the laughs really started. Granted everyone received many of the gifts that they had on their Christmas lists, but there was also many other special or gag gifts going around!

Socks and Underwear and always part of the gifts each year in our family. But this year there was also pig stuff, bottles of wine and more! There was definitely a theme with most of the gifts that Dessa received... Hanna Montana!

We decided that we need to get the entire family together for Christmas next year if possible! I think it has been 15+ years since we have done Christmas with the entire family - cousins included! Once all of us kids (the cousins) started getting older it was just too hard to get everyone together. Maybe next year we can plan far enough in advance that we can get everyone together in one place for at least one day!

The Holiday Village

20081226-IMG_8849-086
Originally uploaded by FuzzyKryton

As I sit here today trying to decide what to write about, I find myself browsing through holiday pictures and am drawn to the ones of my mom's holiday village that she sets up each year.

This village started about 15+ years ago with just a few houses set up on a small table in our living room. She said that she was going to add one house to the village each year. Each year she would add a building to the was reflective of events of the year, family activities or personalities. But very quickly we realized that adding just ONE house a year would never happen! Each year it was 2-3 houses or more.

Almost all of the houses were lit from the inside with small lights. Finding enough extension cords to plug everything in was always a task. Someone was ahead of the game thought - there were cord designed for just this type of set-up with 6 lights on one cord so it took less outlets and extension cords to light the town.

Her village quickly outgrew it's small table in the living room and she had to find a bigger table. Moving caused other dilemma's - the But she made it work - and still managed to add more to this every growing holiday spectacle!

The newest feature of these houses are "open" windows that feature the inside of the house! Many of the new houses have families sitting around the kitchen table or enjoying time in their own living rooms!

With one more move now complete, she has a bigger living room to work with again! Once again the large table that was home to the village was no longer big enough! The good news - the bay widow in the apartment provided extra "land" space for the growing city!

Yes, we have graduated from a small village to a full blown city. We have now added more trees, people, vehicles, a ski hill it shows no signs of slowing it's growth!

This year as she was working on setting up her city, her neighbor from across the hall had to stop over everyday to see the building progress. With all the buildings, people, trees and everything else that is part of this annual presentation, it usually takes her a few weeks to get everything set up! One of her other friends has already told her that she wants to be there for the town raising next year!

Maybe next year we will manage to actually get a picture of the entire thing - we forgot to do that this year when we were visiting! Might need to get John a good fish-eye lens for his camera!

Worlds Best Brownie Pan

New Brownie Pan
Originally uploaded by FuzzyKryton

Ok, Christmas is finally over! We just got home from Christmas with my family in Rhinelander. Of course the kids got even more stuff...

But I finally got my brownie pan that I have been waiting for! It's the "Edge Brownie Pan" Now middle brownies! They all have at least 2 crunchy edges of them!!! My mom bought me this pan and in the 6 hours that we have been home today, I have already made 2 pans of brownies.

Now, I have not eaten 2 pans of brownies... just baked 2. We actually brought 2/3 of one of the pans over to Nick for plowing our driveway again.

Out trip back home today was not so fun... icy and snow covered roads from Wittenberg the rest of the way back to Green Bay - YUCK! Scary thing was all the other cars that were flying past us as if the roads were clear and dry. It was really nice though knowing that we were not going to have to shovel when we got home! Within a few hours after we got home, Nick was out with the kids clearing everyone's driveways!

Thanks Nick!!

Frozen Adventures at Christmas

Remember, Soap Can Freeze!
Originally uploaded by FuzzyKryton

This past weekend we ventured up north for Christmas with John's family. We should have known that it was going to be an interesting weekend before we even left!

The night before we left, Snowstorm Dawn showed up and dumped 6 inches of snow on us! It took me over a half our to make the usual 10-15 minute drive to work in the morning, at at least the same on the way home! The roads themselves were "fun" most of the way up too.

We had some laundry to do when we got to the apartment and Darrin went out to start the load of jeans...

but he ran into a slight issue....

The laundry soap was frozen!

I guess that happens when the washer and dryer are in the back shed that really is not heated!

So after a quick warming under hot running water, we were back in business!

Between laughing with and at family members, dealing with snow and cold, it was definitely an interesting weekend. But then again, when this group gets together, it always is a fun time! This year we actually outgrew the dining room table and had to set up a separate table so everyone had a place to sit! But it was NOT the kids table - it was just the "other" table.

John and I were sitting at the other table with Darrin, Eric and Hunter so I got the privilege of being the one to feed Hunter. Now, sitting at the other table and offering to feed Hunter proved very beneficial for me - I found that I myself didn't over eat! I had to keep stopping from eating myself to shovel more food into Hunter - who patiently waiting with his mouth open like a little bird!

It was fun to have a young one in the house for Christmas this year - all of John's other Nephew's are in college, then there is Darrin. Having a baby around at the holiday's makes everything even more interesting, especially when Hunter is now at that age where he is trying to get into everything! We missed it but apparently he took a few steps when he was standing in front of Eric who was sitting on the couch. Jim and Jen were not there either so I don't think they believe that he actually did it.

The trip back home was just as interesting as the trip up. The roads from L'Anse to Crystal Falls with snow covered and the blowing snow made seeing a difficult feat at times We were very surprised when we got closer to home. I guess they had some REALLY nasty weather here on Saturday night and Sunday morning. The roads were glare ice Sunday morning which made roads dangerous. In the span of about 2 miles, we saw 9 cars in the ditches and median!

Guess I am glad we waiting until after lunch to start our drive home!

Next weekend also is looking like it will be an interesting drive to my parents!