"Hello Friends!"
This was the greeting of little Ethan when we arrived in Green Bay, one of our two nephews (along with his brother Thomas) that live in Green Bay. Laura and I flew into Rochester (MN not NY) last Wed. night in time for the rockin' graduation of Laura's sister Janet on Thursday (followed by a delicious dinner paid for by Janet as is tradition). Janet graduated from nursing school on Thursday and will soon be the sugar-mamma for her husband Brandon (who still has a year and a half more of med school). On Friday, Janet, Brandon, Laura and I tried to recreate the magic of our journey from Denver to Rochester last Christmas by piling into their car and heading to Green Bay. We had a nice drive over there to visit Laura and Janet's brother Matt, his wife heidi and their two boys. We had a great time there and got to visit the illustrious home of the Green Bay Packers, Lambeau Field. Heidi was an excellent cook and Ethan and Thomas were very entertaining. Matt created a wonderful sign with our last name on it to hang in our home.
On Sunday, we left at 8 AM on what should be a relatively quick 5 hour drive back to Rochester. however, Mother Nature had other plans (ominous music here)... We ended up spending over EIGHT hours in the car together coming back. Between the slick roads, white-out conditions, pee breaks and Nate's consistent missing of exits ("they just looked like more snow patches"), it was pretty hard going. however, we made it back in time and in time for Brandon to get to his Dad's retirement party.
Kristen and Aaron (Kristen is another of Laura's plethora of sisters) drove over from Madison on Sunday night as well. We all stayed up playing MadGabs and other card games.
Monday was Christmas Eve. Nate did Pilates with Kristen and Aaron while Laura ran on the treadmill. Then, Nate, Laura, Kristen, Aaron and janet went to see a matinee of "I AM Legend" with Will Smith. I had been very, very excited for this movie and, I think somewhat unfortunately, swayed the group to go. The movie was much darker and scarier than I had anticipated. Not the kind of family feel good movie that one might choose for Christmas Eve! Oh well, unlike in the movie, we all survived.
The Christmas Eve church service was filled with hymn singing which I really like. It was also fun to be back at the same church where we had been married and where Janet and Brandon also got married in October.
after church, we went back and had fondue! Two pots of cheese fondue and two pots of meat fondue worked together to feed a really big group. The meat fondue was really a broth which is healthier than the peanut oil that we have used before. We will have to try that at home.
Then, the present opening began! Laura and I think that both Aaron and Carrie like the make-and-bake presents that we made for them - the green chocolate pretzel treats, the home-baked dog treats, the wine bottle/beer bottle candles, the jars of premixed hot cocoa and cookies. We got some great presents. An alarm clock / ipod player, a slide show with a new picture LCD displayer to show it on, hand-made glass etched candle holders, and a variety of fun stocking stuffers (which we might break into and eat shortly).
Christmas Day has also been filled with game playing and over-eating. Laura's mom Linda cooked a turkey for dinner with all of the fixings. Nate lost at spite-and-malice.
Now, right now, we have been dropped at the Rochester airport and are delayed going back to Denver (via Minneapolis). So, cross your fingers that we can get back to Denver tonight!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night...
