Traditions--all year round!

This year is flying past me like crazy and even the girls can't believe that it's December already!  However, they are very excited to go pick out their 2013 calendar--will it be a horse calendar like this year...or a puppy calendar?  (these tough decisions!)
We had a very nice Thanksgiving with the Frieses as usual and enjoyed our time down on the farm.  Lots of wonderful food and I could eat a cold turkey sandwich every day with fresh cranberry sauce--HMMMMM.  Are you hungry yet?  =)

Traditions

During the holidays it is no secret that I can get moody and ornery about not having many of "our own" family traditions.  Why?? Well due to weather & road conditions, Tim's reffing schedule, cost of flights or amtrak we don't make it to Montana to celebrate Christmas with my family.  We also don't stay home--we go to Tim's parents.  I love his parents and I'm thankful for them, but I get moody because I am selfish and want to stay home and do "my own" thing--yes "MY" own thing.  So when I start getting this way--and by golly it's already happened--I have to give myself and serious kick in the pants and tell myself to open my eyes because "WE" do have "OUR" own traditions that happen all throughout the Christmas season & throughout the year-- I just have to admit it and get over my pity party!!

Like this:
The Saturday after Thanksgiving is our traditional "decorate the tree & house" day!  I really do look forward to this and the girls have enjoyed helping so much the last couple years!  In fact this year all I did was put the tree together and put the lights on and they completely decorated it!  They did a fantastic job, too!  While we decorate it is also tradition to watch The Incredibles!  We love this movie and it became a tradition a few years ago when for 2 years in a row it just happened to be on TV while we were decorating!  And so now we either rent it or borrow it from friends!

This is a tree made out of a tomato cage!  I made 3 and they are out on the porch!!  Thank you  Pinterest!!

Making cookies and candy is another tradition.  We don't necessarily have a certain day we do this...more like we make a couple different kinds each week of December!  I am also going to be teaching the girls how to make lefse!  They both really want to learn the "art" of this and that makes me happy--if only Great Grandma Haugen could be a part of that!

This was a fun and new cookie!!  Nothing home-made here--just put together with loving little hands!!

A night of drive-thru or hot chocolate will also be coming up as we go drive around and look at Christmas Lights!  Last year we drove through the Lake Phalen lights show and that was so fun.  I'm not sure where we'll drive to this year, but it's another tradition we look forward to and one that I always looked forward to when I was a kid.

As I was growing up and still home one major tradition that I have carried over is the "Christmas Day Scavenger Hunt"!  Due to us being down at the farm, though, our Scavenger hunt is usually after we get on Christmas Day--night, or the following day if Tim and I don't have to work!  This Scavenger hunt is for all 3 kids (sometimes I throw something in there for Tim, too!), there are at least 10 clues that lead the kids all over the house, sometimes out in the garage and sometimes outside (depending on the weather)!  Then at the end of "the hunt" are the most anticipated gifts!  It is fun and it's fun to watch the wheels turn inside their heads as they work as a team to figure out each clue!

I am thankful for my family--all of them!  My family far away and my family here. Thankful for the fun times we do get to spend with each other and all the traditions we have.  Traditions don't just have to be at Christmas, but in the summer, too--the Montana traditions of riding horse, riding 4-wheelers, going to the county fair, going to DQ with Grama & Papa!  So many things to be thankful for!
Merry Christmas!

Fun with Family, Friends and .....cows??

Well, I've been told that a cow giving birth isn't much different than a human (hmmm, wonder who told me that?!)--until last month I had nothing to say to that because I've never been to a "cow" birth before.  That all changed when we visited a client of Tim's dad who owns a dairy farm with over 1,000 head of cows.  After meandering around and checking out the cows, some calves and being careful not to step in all the "pies" laying around Tim's dad and Malia noticed a mama cow that had a couple extra feet protruding from her.  After a quick assessment Tim's dad could tell that this little calf was breach and upside down--not good.  So Grant hustled to find help and we. watched. it. all.  I did not know that chains were involved...or a pulley/lever system---it was however in amazing process to watch---but I can confidently say that there is NO similarity to what I've personally experience--thank goodness!!!!  =)

Well, what a way to start a new post, eh?!!  Ya...I reel you in with juicy stories and then make you stay for the boring--life. as. usual. for. the. Friese's!!!
We've enjoyed the typical fun of fall with pumpkins and leaves!  Marshall has embarked onto the "playdate" phase of life and LOVES to have friends over or go over to their houses!! Malia & Morgan are just as busy with all their friends, school, church, and ugh...chorese! (as I type this, they are folding 1 of 3 loads of laundry---LOVE this!!)

Andrew & Marshall--playdate time!!!

Oh the playdough!  What would we do without playdough!

The prettiest horse wrangler ever!!

We did enjoy a day down in Rochester celebrating with Tim's family on Grampa Friese's 90th birthday!  Thankfully he wasn't outside to see some of the kids sitting on the porch pillars--apparently the kids--Tim, his siblings & cousins--weren't able to do that when they were young!  I guess it was  "no-no"!  O boy!

Great Grampa Friese with Marshall & Dylan

That same weekend we had just wondeful fall weather and drove to a nearby park to see the animals that live there.  I had no idea this park--Oxbow Park-- was so close to the farm where Tim's parents live.  We will be going back.  What's not to love about being the country and having an animal sanctuary so close--Malia was in her glory!

I love this--Malia somehow spooked the pony and his head flinched back right as I was  taking this pic!!  awesome!

Malia would've spent the whole day with this guy!

Tim & I would love to someday have a place in the country like this.  Deep down, or maybe not all that deep down, maybe more like right under the epidermis we are soooooooooooooo NOOOOOOOOT city people!  Yes, it's fun to be in "the cities" and have so many venues of fun & education at our fingertips, but that doesn't mean we are going here, there and everywhere all the time.  We would gladly trade this all in for a place in the country where the simple/normal things of life are appreciated a little more!!

My country boys!

True--Forever Love

My "Haugen" Grandparents!

Yesterday they celebrated 66 years of marriage and Grama celebrated her 88th birthday!

One comment made on Facebook about this picture was this "Helga looks as if she's getting a glimps into Heaven and Arnie has eyes that are deep in love with his bride of 66 years"!  

It's so sweet and seeing them like this brings tears to my eyes.

Grama has been in a nursing home for the past 6 years after falling and breaking her hip and needing to stay there for her therapy.  Once in the nursing home her dementia/Alzheimer's really started to kick-in and so it was determined that she should stay there.  I love the memories i have of her from my childhood and I cherish them. 

Grampa is still living in their house, but moving slower each day (He turned 94 this past July)--and now that my dad is retired they spend a lot of time together! Dad has basically become Grampa's "go-for" and does his grocery shopping and the odds and ends around the house.  I know it can be time consuming and sometimes difficult, but I"m thankful dad is there and can help.

Grama--my sweet, precious Grama--what a woman of deep faith and I'm so thankful for the Godly example she set.  Every morning she would get up around 4:30am or so to read her Bible and pray and then at 6am take a cup of coffee and a cookie into Grampa as he was waking up!  So, sweet.

She was always baking and always ready for us to come over for a treat.  Sunday nights were pizza night and game night.  Racko--Uno--Donkey--and then my favorite--OLD MAID!! (I could never keep a straight face when I had the "old maid"!!) 

Right before I left for college she taught me and one of my cousins how to make her famous homemade buns!  She had those down to a science and it fun to learn her secrets!!  Right before Tim and I were married, she taught me how to make lefse!  I've never tasted lefse better than hers and I hope that by the time I have grandchildren that I'll have them perfected like she did.

I think about my memories and wish that our kids could've known her as I knew her...but that's when I'm so thankful for my mom and dad!  They are awesome grandparents and love being with all their grandchildren just like I remember Grama Haugen.  We don't live in the same town though, so it makes our visits all the more special and precious and I'm incredibly thankful for each moment my kids get to spend with my parents because I know these are memories that will last a lifetime!

Monthly Update!!

Wow!! We are well into 4th grade with Malia and a mountain of homework every night (thankful for the homework--seriously!).  Malia is also on school patrol this year (crossing guard duty)!  She loves this "job" and does it with confidence and pride in keep her school and the kids safe!!

Morgan is loving 2nd grade and her teacher is great!  She's in class with a few of her Kindergarten friends and doing well!  She loves to be social and to talk, but she is learning about when that is appropriate and when it is not!!  

AND--Marshall is a going machine who loves his trucks and mighty machines (however is a smidge sad that all the road construction right in front of our house is done)!
It's hard to believe, but Marshall is in preschool!  He goes 2 mornings a week with some buddies of his from our babysitters group and then 1 day a week to a program at a local Community Center.  He is a very social little guy!!

4th Grade

2nd Grade

Marshall & his buddy all ready for preschool!

All ready for patrol!
Patrol RULES--according to Malia!













Malia is finishing up her first travelling season of fast-pitch softball!  It's only a 6-week Fall season, but it has felt longer and she has learned a lot.  Her team is a great group of girls who encourage and cheer each other on!  It's been fun to watch each of them grow and learn!

Excited and nervous for the first game!

FRIESE #81!  I love that girl!!

Batter up--Swing Malia!!

The Team-
Mounds View Mustangs--Go Mustangs!

Still smiling after a couple great games in Baldwin, WI!

 Tim is well into the football season and enjoying his crew of officials!  Nothing like a good Friday night of football and cheering for the refs!  We're thinking they should apply for the NFL right now!! =)

Work is good!  Life is busy & crazy at times--but good!
Seems like we are entering the phase of "always on the run"--"gotta head here, then go there--then do it all over again"!  It's good though--because even in the midst of the craziness I see God working in and through us, through the kids and thankful for His guidance.
Seeing Malia stand up for her faith in school already is so amazing.  The conversations that we've had with both girls and how they are able to be confident and "tell it like is" just causes me to pray for them even more and for all of us to be bold and know that God is in control and we need to faithful.

I hopefully won't let another month slip by before I update again...especially since Malia's State tourney is this weekend and I still have a lot of updating to do from the last month--but if it does, well then, that's just how I roll!!  =)

My dad--retired?!!

While we were in Montana we celebrated my dad's retirement!  It's weird to think that he doesn't get up and go to the City Shop anymore--but to be there and experience him home all the time is great!  He has his toys out in his shop, the guys went shooting and prairie-dog hunting, riding motorcycle out to Uncle Larry's and taking care of Grampa Arnie--he's busy!

Here are some pics from the fun BBQ and all the friends/family who came out to celebrate with us!  It was a great night, great food & lots of laughs!

My brother and brother in law did the grilling!  Tim did the fly/bee swatting!!  =)

My Grampa Arnie!

Time to chow!

Mel!!  Wait Mel...Jump for the next picture!!

PERFECT!!!  =)

What a fun crowd of a lifetime of great friends!

Whoa...I thought my burger was "well" done, but not that well done!  j/k...you cooked
some great burgers bro!!

Add caption

Mel & the Shari's Berries!!

M3 enjoying a Berry!!  

Dad--the man of the hour!

I guess something was "stinky"??!!

Katrina (my dad's old boss' daughter!), her and Malia had so much fun!