MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Yes, I just shouted that at you, and I meant it.

Ahhh the sweet smell of lutefisk...

Well, after a very understanding butcher from out of state ordered the Lutefisk it arrived and he handed me the two pound package with the continual utterance of "well, good luck!" I paid for said package and returned home with not one Christmas dinners, but two in tow. I cooked it the Norwegian way versus the American Norwegian way and to both my and my kids delight it was actually very palatable. Still no bit of bacon it was edible and even almost enjoyable. The kids ate a whole peice! Not the one bite formerly agreed apon. The Oldest Daughter LOVED it. Ryan, well considering he used to order bean burritos from taco bell plain and even without cheese at times I was most impressed with the effort, and he didn't even gag. He did however offer this before and after take on his only bite of Lutefisk, and then commented that it wasn't half bad. Side note: when asked if he wanted more there was a swift "no" attached. Here he is the Lutefisk virgin!


After the lutefisk we had a dinner of Ham, potatos, peas, carrots, yam souffle, grn.bn. casserole, and rolls. This was followed by a dessert bar of flourless chocolate cake, homemade truffles, chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, sugared lefse, and dessert breads. Most of it I still have as my brothers family cancelled last minute (turns out his wife was ill). That was a bummer for us, and I am sure his kids as well. So here are images from our night together.
Getting everything to the table before the kids picked it apart-hardwork

I thought this type of attitude was at least three years away?!?

"How DID the baby get a cookie? Dad, any ideas?"

A no-nonsense girl went around begging to open gifts all day then was heard to shout "you don't care about Christmas!" every time she was told NOT YET!

Ryan was very proud of himself for sneaking an image of me while I was distracted and then even more pleased when I turned to look at him and he captured this image. I am not sure why he was so happy.

Tired from eating, whining, panicking, playing, singing, looking at Christmas lights, and more it was time to wind down.

And participate in the oldest continuous Christmas present given in my family...Pajamas, with time for a quick pose of course.

Sunday

So, After a wonderful Christmas program at church we were going to go home, change, and do some baking but then I realized that we were all dressed in matching colors and it could be a photo opportunity. Getting to the park I learned there is a definite reason for hiring a professional photographer. It would be nice to have someone tell the girls to stand still and then I could focus on the baby and her refusal to wear her shoes in the grass. Someone saw our struggle and stopped to assist, but they were no professional although they might be sainted, and then we quickly grabbed a few pictures before chaos ensued. We were there for a total of five minutes and left (minus one of the babys socks which has since disappeared). Now I know, never attempt ANYTHING like that again without a professional. The rest of Sunday was spent in the lack of bows in the hair and dresses I am used to with one serious tomboy, a huge daddys girl, and one pre-teen. I have to say that when my oldest was two and they told me she would be between 5ft.11in. and 6ft.1in. I thought it was great news. I was always frustrated that I did not make it to my cousins and aunts heights I was glad that my kids would, but now that my oldest is a pre-teen and the height of most of the women in AZ I am not that keen on it. I sure do have cute kids though (not that I'm bragging or anything, just stating a fact).