Yikes! It's December already!

 

Five months young on December 2nd!

Bob's brother Jerry and Wendy arrived

in Texas on December 4th.

We live on T row.  Jerry and Wendy are in T1--white car;

We are in T2 next door--blue vehicle. The fence

is new because a tree fell on the old one this summer.

They said it was 80 degrees and humid

 and sent a picture of our winter home

Bob is in charge of the plants and decorating

in Texas---he planted these Crotons along 

our carport.

View from our picture window on December 11th. 

We are expeciting a winter storm this coming week!

Heading to Ana's on Saturday and Cleveland on Monday.

December 14th...

time to stay home

Went to Rugby today, Dec. 15th, for an eye doc appt.

Snow was piled all over town. Road was slippery

on the way in. Snowing and blowing again now!

Leaving the farm on December 17th

Viewing the sun dogs from Ana's window in Minnesota

The girls had their Christmas program 

on December 18th, and Ana was in charge

of the meal afterwards.

We saw the camel  at the Living Nativity

and a few other animals...

We enjoyed the cookies and cocoa afterwards

We watched a program about Lourdes

on Ana's TV above the fireplace.

The girls had a concert at the Community Center

before we flew to Cleveland on the 19th.

View from Donna's west window in Cleveland

Doug and Sara arrived on Thursday 

with a carload of stuff. The got in just

before the blizzard.

New game room at the condo building--a "lifesaver"

during the storm.

We played foosball, ping pong, 

and pool! 

And Julia and Doug swam in the pool, too.

Doug and RJ braved the weather

to go to the Cleveland Browns football game on the 24th.

We opened gifts on Christmas morning,

the kids searched for quarters in the wrapping paper,

and Sara took a "selfie" before they left for home.

Tom and Trina's family on Christmas

and Jimmy and Kelly's gang!

We flew from Cleveland to Texas on the 27th.

Artwork at the Harlingen airport 

made from debris found in the gulf.

Bob and Wendy are in the background waiting 

for our luggage.

Annika is 13! Now Tom and Trina

have four teenagers! Fun times. 

We had planned to go to Jimmy's on Wednesday 

after my cataract surgery, but opted to go home

because of blizzard warnings.  This is Jimmy's

deck on Thursday with a foot of snow on 

the picnic table! Glad we went home! :-)

Donna arrived in Grand Forks 

on November 19th, just in time 

for the UND hockey game.

On Sunday, the 20th, we headed to the farm, 

but stopped in Devils Lake for lunch

at "Old Main". Our view from the 

restaurant window--wild turkeys!

While we were driving to Rugby on Tuesday to shop, 

Bob spotted this buck and doe along the road.

Deer hunting season had ended on Sunday.

Lydia, Claire, Ana, and Cecelia arrived on Wednesday.

Grampa offered to pull the sleds

with the four-wheeler

The girls found a snowpile for the sleds, too!

The gang at Bob's sister Kathy's

on Thanksmas!  

Bob's brother Steve got their old snowplane working!

Nephew Jay and Steve discuss giving rides to the kids.

And off they go......

Jimmy was stealing someone's gift

Donna didn't think they'd let her

take the explosive powder on the plane!

Maureen created the best prize...

Guess Who? with family pictures!   Thanks, 

everyone for all the fun!

Bob threw a bunch of quarters into the pile

of wrapping paper, gave each kid a cup,

and counted down to begin the grab....

Grace models her toupee from the gift exchange;

Claire, Cecelia, and Lydia modeling Gramma's jammies;

Luke, getting in on the fun.

The morning after the night before...

Jimmy, Mary Kate, Andrew, Ana holding George

Cecelia, and Claire

Luke and George camel riding

After Jimmy's family headed back home

on Friday morning, Bob, Ana,

Claire, Cecelia, and Lydia 

went to Bottineau to ski. They had so

much fun, they forgot to take pictures.

Ana and the girls went back

to Minnesota on Saturday, and 

Bob, Donna, and Diane went

to Grand Forks for the UND hockey game.

Gramma Mary Fritel's tree 

brightens our Christmas every year.

52 Years on Nov. 30th.....yes, that's prime rib

on Bob 's plate!