Eagles Nest

Alice and I finally checked out New Brighton's Eagles Nest - and it's awesome! If anyone wants to make a playdate - give us a call!! Alice has a "punchcard" - so she can go whenever she wants to! For now - she prefers to hang out in the little kids area. . but is really ready for a "big kid" to join her - and show her the ropes in the big kid area. (Auntie Carrie can't fit up in the tunnels to save her if she gets stuck! :) - but I CAN help her climb up the climbing wall - which has become a new love!) Here are a few pics from one of our new favorite places (including when she taught this little girl how to go down the slide the wrong way. . . even tho her mom tried to not let her go that way. . oh well. . . .:) :) :)



This was literally a pose - she was running - and then came to a dead stop in front of my poised camera for this pose!

Me and My Little Brother

Me and my brother. . . who also happens to be one of my best friends. (Aren't we adorable?!?!?). . .and silly :)

Movie #2 - Up In The Air

Continuing with the coolest Christmas gift (24 movies at AMC)!!

So - I plan to blog about the 24 movies that I will see at AMC this year! Before 2009 is even over - I'm already on to #2!

Up In The Air

Julie and I planned to go to this Sunday Matinee. We couldn't get together early enough - so we thought we'd make the 4:something show. Did you know that movies after 4pm on a Sunday are no longer matinee?? Yeah - so we paid wAY too much for this movie. (minues the $5 I used from my GIFT!) :)

And did you also know that the price of snacks also change depending what time of day you're there??

So - the movie was good. If you noticed - I chose the original movie poster for the picture for this entry. I like that the IMAGE of George Clooney isn't prominent here. However, he did a great job - and so did Twilight star Anna Kendrick! (earned her some award nominations!)

No spoilers here . . but I was impressed with the ending - even tho it was not what I was expecting. :D


Grade for the Movie = A
Grade for the Experience = C-

Christmas Stairs

I love showing off my Christmas cards - and right after Christmas - they get scrapbooked in my "Holiday" album - but I have ideas for next year - Melanie used mini clothes pins on garland to pin up her cards. I'm thinking - add some lights - and oooh ahhhh.. . .sorta like this one - I found online. . but cooler:

Christmas Morning

Another favorite new tradition: Christmas with Lon/Jaime/kids in jammies. Alice is totally into the holiday now - and it's fun to watch her love it! Lonny doesn't get it - but enjoyed watching Alice and playing with the crinkly paper. For those who know about our fish sticks from last year - we planned it better this year - and had a yummy yummy pot roast with all the fixins. (if you haven't done a pot roast in your Pampered Chef stoneware. . . you MUST try it!)

Christmas Eve @ Bob and Sue's

Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like posing in front of the tree!

Lots of pics to share - so I'll keep this brief :) It's kind of become a tradition that I crash Bob and Sue's Christmas with their kids - as I don't have an "other" - and Grandma and Grandpa come down - so it's win-win - for ME at least! :) AND - I tend to bring food (pierogi and cabbage rolls) - so they usually let me in! Let me tell you how much fun Christmas is with kids running all over the place - and this house is FILLING up with grandkids!! And now for the photos. . . .

Getting ready for dinner. . .




Some people just like to sit around looking adorable before dinner. . .







The kid table. . .


The grown-up tables. . .




Hannah's not too sure about me yet. . . :)


ask Heather about the "smelly balls" she got for Christmas . . .


Jeff & Bridget
Cece & Ole


Matt & Sarah
Paige & Kyla


John & Heather
& Leah


Chris & Katie
Caleb & Hannah


The Whole Gang


Bob and Sue's bunch - Cece & Kyla, Hannah, Caleb, Leah & Paige


Grandma and Grandpa with their "Christenson Greats"

Christmas Eve Day Snowblowing

Have I said how much I love our snowblower?? What a beautiful morning for some snow blowing/throwing! Notice the wet head from all the snow flying back at me! . . and the yummy blended coffee that only a true Northern Girl would go to Caribou (sopping wet) to drink in December!

Becky's Shower

So - it's the cutest thing. Our 7th graders (on. their. own.) planned, organized, and shopped! to have a surprise baby shower for Becky! They pooled their money - and two of them went out shopping.


They brought in snacks!


One even made this adorable cake!


(I pitched in with pizzas . . .


and a few shower games . . like guess which chocolate that is in the diaper? how many tp squares can fit around Mrs. A? how many paperclips can you get out of this bowl of rice with a blindfold on?)



It was a fun time - and the kids were really proud of themselves!

(I love my job) :)

Movie #1 - The Blind Side

So Mom and Dad gave me the coolest gift for this Christmas! 24 movies at AMC!! (actually - it's a gift card - but I'm using it as MOVIES (aka - I won't buy popcorn with them!) . . .

So - I plan to blog about the 24 movies that I will see at AMC this year! Starting with this one .. .

The Blind Side

The plan was for me to meet up with Julie and Genevieve at the 10:55am showing of The Blind Side. I was a little late because I had to shovel/snowblow my driveway . . . .

When I finally got to the theater - I had to stand in line (about 5 min) to buy my ticket. . . met Julie and Gen at the snacks. . .got into the shortest line (ughhhh) and 20 minutes later(!!!!) finally had popcorn and soda (1/2 diet, 1/2 cherry) :) :) :)

So - frustrating start - but the movie totally made up for it! Great movie. . .cried a few times . . . cool that it's not really over . . as the real Michael Oher is still living his story!!

After the movie - we went to Big Bowl for lunch. . .I veered off my normal path of kung pao noodles - and had the lettuce wraps (shoulda stuck with my usual) :( . . .

After saying goodbye to Gen - Julie and I did a little shopping - which was good - cuz Lonny is TOTALLY done now!

Grade for the Movie = A
Grade for the Experience = C+

Inclusion or PC?

I don't usually use my blog to theorize or to wonder - mostly I like to journal with pictures. However - something has been bugging me lately.

On Facebook and in emails - I've been getting forwards and invites about people feeling jilted (?? is that what they're feeling??) about not feeling like they can say "Merry Christmas."

I'm not sure where this is really coming from. Are they upset because their kids' school calendar says Holiday Break? Do they feel slighted because on some sign somewhere it says "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas?" I don't get it. I don't feel slighted - so I'm seriously not sure what the point is - except that some extremists might be trying to rally people - and get them fired up about any cause (and this cause will do for now).

Why does my saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” . . .or schools having “Winter Break” instead of “Christmas Break” - take anything away from the good Christians? (yes, I'm not talking about the "bad" Christians right now :) tee hee

I mean - I truly think that people who like to bitch about just about everything are missing the true point - and that's not being "Politically Correct" (in fact - I've come to loathe that phrase) - but in being INCLUSIVE. As in - INCLUDING all people - not leaving people out.

I guess that's the way I am. It's who I am now, it's who I've always been, and who I will be when I "grow up." I fight for the little guy - the woman with no voice - the kid who can't fight for himself. Because of this - I will always try to be as inclusive as possible - and in my life right now - that includes many people who are not Christians. They attend and work at my school - live in my neighborhood - and pay the same taxes I pay.

I say “Happy Holidays” at the end of my CHRISTMAS letter – because I have many non-Christian friends who are not celebrating Christmas, but I still want to be included in my sentiment of love and peace during this special time of my year. (which, by the way, you don't have to be Christian to acknowledge/celebrate)

What I'm trying to say is - CELEBRATE your holiday! - shout your praises! - smile and wish people MERRY CHRISTMAS! Just don't be so self-centered that yours is the only religion in the room - and that the words "Happy Holidays" VERY MUCH ALSO mean "Merry Christmas" to you, "Joyous Hanukkah" to your co-worker, "Allah's Blessings" to your Muslim friends, and "Happy New Year" to your Hmong neighbors.

Thank GOD we live in a country where we can ALL be included and ALL celebrate our love for each other, and our desire for peace and joy.

With my sincere love, Merry Christmas. Peace On Earth. Happy Holidays.

Hanukkah Party

My friend and co-worker, Joe, invited me to his family's Hanukkah party this evening. I had never been to one - so really didn't know what to expect. Pretty much - it was Christmas with less presents. (of course - they have 8 nights of Hanukkah) :) Joe's mom was there, Shelley's sister and her family, me, and Joe's friend Mark and his girlfriend.

After the prayer and lighting of the menorahs (yes - there were 6 menorahs - a fancy one - one for each kid - and a spare) - Joe and Shelley put on a great spread of the yummiest pot roast, Parmesan broccoli, latkes, and blintzes.

latkes with sour cream and applesauce


blintzes with fruit topping

The kids were playing - but finally Elizabeth got anxious about me finishing (as they were waiting for dinner to be over so they could open presents (sound familiar??) :)


After presents for the kids (and gelt - chocolate coins) we had yummy desserts and then hugs and kisses all around to head out into the cold night!

Pretty fun time for my first ever Hanukkah Party! :) I feel very honored that Joe included me on this special evening. I'm truly glad I got to go. :) Happy Hanukkah everybody!

Mini Christmas

So Mini Christmas is officially a new Jerome tradition. It's kind of cool to have an early celebration with Mom and Dad. We started the day with lunch at Bob and Sue's. (Lon and Jaime did their own things - 2nd Bday of Who Made Who too) Mom, Dad, Alice, L3, and I got to meet Leah Grace for the first time . . which was awesome. (She's a cutie!) Matt and the girls also stopped by. We had yummy homemade soup for lunch and spent some time visiting.

(Please note the sisters wearing matching outfits for Christmas . . just like the "old days.")





After leaving Bob and Sue's - we ran back to my place. Lonny took Alice and the puppies out to play in the snow - and I ran out without a jacket to snap these photos. . .(and finally ran back in after Alice kept asking "Why don't you have a jacket on? Why? But why don't you have a jacket on?")




A perfect MN winter day - kids and dogs playing, dads acting like kids, and moms cooking Christmas dinner. Mom totally outdid herself AGAIN! She made our pierogi and cabbage rolls, country style ribs (DELISH!!), Polish sausage, and wah wah . . broccoli. While Mom cooked, I watched L3, and Dad and Alice made the best "Gingerman" House EVER!








We also accidentally left L3's hat in Blaine - so Bob and Sue dropped it off - and I made them join us for dinner - YAY!

After dinner - we opened presents - Alice took a little while to really get into it - but once she started playing with her new goods - she had a blast!





Alice even got us all into a game of "Toss the Dog" where she stood on the chair with her new microphone - and shouted out someone's name ("Bob!" - and whomever had the stuffed dog tossed it to Bob. etc.. you get the idea of the game) :)


Even Lonny was totally into his new Jumperoo from Grandma and Grandpa! (Now he can play just like Penelope!!)


And to top it all off - yummy rice pudding for dessert!

Merry Mini Christmas to All . . and to All a Good Night!