Pics with Santa....I mean Jultomte

Marcus is so funny! He made the Santa crack up coming up to sit on his lap.

I'm a little annoyed at myself. At the Lutheran church where the Lucia Fest was held, they had Swedish flags along with US and Canadian. Of course I took pics with the Canadian flag and cropped out the Swedish flag. Oh well. I think that's a Danish flag next to the Canadian one, so that's all that matters anyways, right?? Ü

Danes Crash the Lucia Fest!

This was the Lucia pageant. The girls sing traditional songs and then pass out cookies. I asked Josie if she ever wanted to do that at the Vasa Lodge and she said no (too embarassing). She does do it every year at Grandma's house for just the family. It's too cute.

Dancing around the Christmas tree. Marcus was such a good sport to dance with Josie! Those Swedes really get into their Christmas songs--it was hilarious! I can't imagine it any crazier if the Glogg had been spiked!

Lucky us got to be right by the serving table. The food was SOO good!

Mike's holding up a pewter charm with a Gaelic symbol on one side, vikings on the other. I made him a hemp necklace out of it. Turned out pretty cool. Too cool for Mike, if you ask me. JK!

That's right. No pictures of me. I have the HORRIBLE condition where I blink at the flash. In all the the pictures, my eyes were closed or half closed. Lovely.

We had such a great time with my Dad. It was fun pretending to be Swedish (OK, I really am 1/4 Swedish. I just claim to be 100% Danish since Denmark used to own Sweden).

Cory's Hoopty

On October 8th, Cory got his driver's license. HOORAY! He's driving himself to school now and runs errands for me. I LOVE it. I'm glad that he likes his car. Correction...he LOVES his car. I don't. (I was irritated a few weeks ago when I had to drive it to an appointment.) He's such a good, careful driver. It's crazy to think I have a kid this old. I vividly remember being 16. Time is going by too fast!

Mike taught Josie to ride her bike!

On Nov. 18th, Mike taught Josie to ride her bike--finally! She never had any interest in riding a bike when we lived on a dirt road. Then it was too hot to be outside and ride. Finally the weather is beautiful and she rides like a pro. She figured it out in about 5 minutes. (I didn't get to witness it since I was having a committee meeting.) I'm so proud of her! Now she just needs a bigger bike!

Phoenix Zoo last month

Josie and a goat

Josie and her Daddy

Cory and Ethan

Cory with his Mom

Isaiah

Grandpa, Mike, Cory

Sting ray exhibit (Ethan and Marcus)

Sting ray exhibit (Josie, Grandma, weird little girl)

I have been the absolute worst lately uploading pictures. It's been nice today to have a few hours of time to hang out and do nothing on my computer. Ü

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for taking us to the zoo!

My Definition of Dreamy....

I have always been a Donny fan, and I always will be.

I am SOO happy that he won Dancing With the Stars!