Anna Lynne is home...

Anna Lynne is now home, enjoying her family. She's proudly wearing the hat that Jenny's mother Sandy knit for her, the same style that she made for Ellie when she was born, but a different color. Ellie loves to give her little sister kisses. When we went over today with Joy's mother, Myrtle, Ellie got out her cooking toys and was passing around little plastic cupcakes, and showing us her room (which she does each time you go over there).

Grandchild #3 -- Anna Mathiesen

Yesterday Joy and I were given the privilege of welcoming our third grandchild, Tim and Jenny's little Anna. Joy and Jenny's parents were at the hospital with Tim and Jenny, while I cared for Ellie until the baby sitter arrived, after which I stopped by the hospital to check on how things were going. Within minutes we heard Anna's cries. She was healthy and beautiful, and her mother said she was very "relieved."

Look, I"m like Daddy!

After having dinner at our house, Tim, Jenny and Ellie were waiting for the car to warm up before heading back home. Ellie decided she could stand just like Daddy.

January Christmas at Michelle's

With all the snowstorms, Christmas celebrations with family have been more of a challenge. Yesterday Joy and I drove down to North Branch to celebrate with Michelle's family. The weather was good, everyone was healthy and we had a great time. Since Jenny's delivery date is January 30, hopefully when their Baby #2 comes along the weather will be cooperative and we can all get together at one time and place.

Christmas in January

Our family worked to get a weekend that we could all be together for Christmas, and we ended up setting the date for January 3. Wouldn't you know the next hurdle was a snowstorm, which, sadly, kept Michelle, Pete and Summer in the Twin Cities. Since later dates were already busy, we went ahead with the celebration, and decided we can continue when Michelle's family comes up later this month when Tim and Jenny have baby #2. Grandma and Grandpa Larsen made it over in the afternoon, and we opened presents later that evening.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

It looks as though December '08 has already brought us more snow than we had all last winter. Our church Christmas program has been cancelled twice, and is now scheduled for January 11. Last night brought us another foot of snow to dig out of this morning. Though its a pain to get around in, it is beautiful to look at, and our back yard give us a nice view. Notice how it has piled up on our deck railing. We'll be celebrating our family Christmas this coming weekend, as its the only time that everyone's schedules worked out. Now we just hope and pray for good travelling weather.

Thanksgiving Day

We were blessed again this year to have all the kids and grandkids at our house for Thanksgiving. Summer and Ellie had a lot of fun playing together in a plastic tub and making funny faces.

Then Summer and Ellie got to help Grandma make a Thanksgiving dish. First they put on their aprons that Grandma had made for them.

As Summer and Ellie took a nap, it was time for a little Yahtzee at the table.

And after Thanksgiving dinner it was time for a few group pictures!