2009 in pictures

reflections from 2009

2009 is quickly coming to a close and I wanted to take some time to reflect on some memories from the year.

January: 

All 3 boys were in mid-season of their hockey season (our calendar said that we only had 2 days off from hockey all month!).

Drew started ski club and was also busy with school patrol and student council.

I painted the den.

February:

Pete and I got away to Florida for a long weekend for a little R&R, to celebrate our 19th anniversary, and to unthaw a little from the cold Minnesota weather. :)

I started my blog!

Drew and I traveled to Fargo, ND in a blizzard, to go to a hockey tournament.

March:

Tyler was in the hospital for 4 days with meningitis. Boy this was scary! He lost 15 pounds (and he doesn't have any extra to lose) and it took him quite a while to get back to his old self. He also missed a lot of school and even with 4 AP classes he still managed to keep all his grades up.

April:

We went on a long awaited cruise for spring break.We had so much fun ziplining in Jamaica, soaking in some much needed sunshine, and relaxing! But just a couple of days into the cruise, Drew broke his arm very badly and needed surgery. We left the cruise early to fly home so he could have the surgery in the US.

Drew missed baseball tryouts.

Jake turned 14.

May:

Jake made his Confirmation.

Tyler went to prom and took 4 AP tests all in one week.

June:

Brought the end of the school year. Drew finished elementary school and Jake was done with middle school.

Drew was finally able to play baseball and started a six week hockey camp.

Jake golfed (a lot!!)

We went on some college tours.

We traveled to Illinois for my cousin's wedding.

Visited Chicago.

July:

Baseball tournaments for Drew.

Soccer tournaments for Tyler.

Jake golfed.

More college tours.

I got my new camera!!

Worked on the front yard landscaping.

Picked strawberries and blueberries.

August:

A week at the cabin with family.

Jake got his braces off and golfed some more!

I had a (last ever) garage sale.

Tyler started Varsity Soccer and had his Senior pictures taken.

September:

Went to the State Fair.

Brought the start of a new school year for the boys. Drew started middle school (6th grade), Jake started high school (Freshman) and Tyler began his last year of high school (Senior).

October:

Hockey season started for Jake and Drew.

Homecoming.

College applications were sent out.

I took some camera classes.

November:

Celebrated Tyler's 18th and Drew's 12th birthdays.

Jake visited Notre Dame with a friend.

Painted the boys bathroom.

Band concerts.

I got to meet Pioneer Woman!!

December:

Christmas.

A trip to Florida for Tyler.

2009 has held many blessings and I am so thankful .

Christmas giving

A few days before Christmas, Drew's hockey team did a community service project. They went to an organization called 'Feed My Starving Children' where volunteers package small pouches of food which are then boxed up and sent to various countries to feed hungry children.

This is a great organizaion and a wonderful opportunity for the boys to give.

Christmas wrap-up

Whew! December has been a blur!! It always seems like there is always so much to do and never enough time to do it. I finally had a moment to look back and and review all the pictures that have been taken this past month and remember what this Christmas season is all about.

The Christmas trees were put up~

Christmas cards were sent~

and received~

my Dept.56 village was set up~

all the Christmas decorations were put out~

favorite Christmas movies were watched~

Christmas baking was done~

presents were made~

shopping was done~

wrapping was completed~

new Christmas snow fell~

and was shoveled~

fun time spent with family was had~

And most importantly; Jesus' birth was celebrated!

a Christmas present

'Cuz everyone needs 'night vision goggles'....right?!?!

Funny boy!! :)

Merry Christmas

The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

"This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."
Luke 2:10-14

winter wonderland

Last evening Drew's hockey team went to St.Paul to skate at WinterSkate Park in St.Paul. This is a little outside rink that is in the heart of St.Paul near Landmark Center, Rice Park and the Excel Energy Center.

This whole area is lit up like a winter wonderland and is absolutely beautiful!



This is a picture of Drew and a couple of team mates before they skated. (Drew is the one crouched down.)



Hockey practice~





Coach Tyler skating off with one of the players. :)



Me and Drew~



A fun winter night was had by both the players and the parents.

Santa's Reindeer??

Yesterday afternoon, as I was looking out my upstairs bedroom window into our backyard, I saw this ...



We thought it might be one of Santa's reindeer resting for the big night. :)

Seriosly though, we do have a lot of deer around here but I have never seen one just laying in our yard. She looked so content and peaceful.

I so badly wanted to go outside and get closer to get some good pictures, but I knew she would just run away so I was stuck with pictures taken through a window. And as much as I wanted to get outside closer to that deer, Bella my dog wanted to get outside even more!! :)