Holiday Concerts

This was a week filled with holiday concerts--3 of them! We started with Katie's band & choir concert on Sunday in Mayville, Monday night was the Elementary Christmas Program, and finished with Amy's concert on Thursday evening. What a great way to kick off the holiday season!









Even Jonathan liked the Christmas music.


Katie & friend Rachel


The band & choir have an absolutely awesome
director--Michael Bakken.








Looks like Jonathan is about to do something naughty, and
big sister is going to put a stop to it.








Getting a warm welcome from big sister Katie







Katie with her director


After the concert, Katie served us hot chocolate and apple
cider in the on-campus coffee shop where she works









The coffee shop was all decorated for the holidays.




The elementary Christmas program


Victor is the 5th reindeer from the left!

Junior High/High School Christmas concert


I caught Amy's eye!

Band Director Kirsten LaLonde

That's Amy back there, playing her trumpet...

seriously, this is the best I could do!

The whole high school band, plus a couple of spectators!

Amy with her friends Kenzie & Jill

The Best Thanksgiving Ever

We had Thanksgiving at our house this year, and we all agreed it was the "best Thanksgiving ever!" I think we say that every year, but it was extra special to have our loved ones gather at our house. Now that Katie is away from home, we realize even more just how special these times are when all our children are at home.


Cleaning house before the company arrives.



Larry's idea of a good joke


Victor & Amy, the pumpkin pie sous chefs




Katie prepared a relish tray in this vintage dish that belonged
to my Grandma Alice. We all agreed this plastic tray wasn't elegant,
but had a certain class!


Roasted to perfection



The feast is ready!



Larry & G'ma Irene were telling Victor a story about how
we picked him from all the kids that were available for adoption.










J.J. was showing us his teeth, for some unknown reason.





Grandma and her girls


I had to remove one of J's socks because it had a little hole
in it, and he is obsessive about any little hole. He won't stop
digging in it!



Victor ate everything on his plate!


The centerpiece


The pie bakers (apple pie credit goes to G'ma Irene)






Cutting the pies





A successful Thanksgiving Day hunt! Katie shot this nice buck.
She is quite the hunter--she has fired four shots in her life, and
gotten three deer! Don't you love the way they loaded it up in
the trunk of this little Honda car?




It's a four by five!


Playing games is a part of every holiday



We joined the throngs of shoppers in Grand Forks on "Black Friday!"








Photo Credits: Amy Swenson and Lisa Swenson