12/29/09 - Christmas with the Jukich family

We had Christmas with the Jukich side of the family on Tuesday, the 29th, at our house. Kelly, Travis, Ben, Andy, Brad, Annie, Nicole and Mark and I. We had dinner at our new table with the leaf in it and all 8 chairs – big! Then a little Wii bowling and then gifts. We did a girl or guy gift exchange and rolled dice to see in what order to choose gifts. The best gift this year, was the gift Brad got. It was from Andy and he was really hoping Brad would choose it. Brad loved his Vikings Hat! I got a snuggie and slippers from Annie – soft and cuddly! Mark got a Twins mug from Andy. Annie got ‘Godiva’ chocolate. Nicole got cheese and cheese slicer - she will share with her mom.   And there was a 'Smoking' kit (for the grill), candles, an underwater fish camera - I think I got them all. 

12/24/09 to 12/27/09 Christmas at Diane and Dave's

Christmas was at Diane’s this year. Kelly and Travis went to Travis’ family’s and Rye and Joe, Travis and Michelle and Jamie and Anna weren't there this year. The rest of us and our 5 dogs were all there, though. We left on Wednesday night, the 23rd, so we could avoid the snow we heard was coming on Thursday. Deb, Lee, Jeramie and Susha came late in the afternoon on Christmas day. It was a long trip for them – roads were awful with lots of snow by then. We were all snowed in until Saturday or Sunday and we had a wonderful time – even the dogs did! Lots of snow, so lots of shoveling and snow blowing for Mark and Dave. It was fun to have Blake and Brody there – what is Christmas without little kids! The ‘big kids’ went out one night and came home a little tipsy – we all stood around Diane’s big kitchen and the ‘adults’ harassed the ‘kids’ about their behavior – like Ben proudly walking in the door with a beer bottle from the bar. For more fun and pictures, you can go here to my flickr site.

Merry Christams!!!

This was Thursday...

and this was Saturday!

Dogs getting to know each other again.

Boys....

Pool time - throwing the ball for Roxie

Music, of course...

Andy with the boys...

This was on Thursday...

and this was Saturday!

Let's play outside!

Brody loved it outside!

I think he like his hero jammies better, until he saw what his brother got..

Blake loved his!

Ben has 'gone to the dogs' and Brody is watching!

All tuckered out!

Ahhhh......

Grandpa and Grandma - they started it all!

Like your hair, Dave....

Sisters.....

See the pretty tree.....

Oops, it fell - back up again!

Cousins having a good time...

Maybe a little too good!

12/22/09 - Winter Solstice

Anything for a 'gathering'.  Mark decided we should have a winter celebration - we had a fire going, food, drink, family and friends.  It was a fun night.  Michell and Josh with Bella came and Summer and Bryan came with news of her expecting a baby in July. Ben and Andy were there and Ben's old baseball buddy from the Vipers - Nick. Summer's brother came with his friend, too.  Ben brought big cigars for the guys.  Bella had fun outside with KC and then inside with her new gift from Summer.

From Wikipedia - "The Winter Solstice occurs exactly when the earth's axial tilt is farthest away from the sun at its maximum of 23° 26'. Though the Winter Solstice lasts only an instant in time, the term is also colloquially used as Midwinter or contrastingly the first day of winter to refer to the day on which it occurs. More evident to those in high latitudes, this occurs on the shortest day, and longest night, and the sun's daily maximum position in the sky is the lowest.The seasonal significance of the Winter Solstice is in the reversal of the gradual lengthening of nights and shortening of days. Depending on the shift of the calendar, the Winter Solstice occurs on December 21 or 22 each year in the Northern Hemisphere, and June 20 or 21 in the Southern Hemisphere."

12/21/09 - Ben comes home

Ben came home after playing 'winter ball' in the Dominican Republic. He brought gifts to share. He is going to stay with Andy (1/4 mile from Kelly and Travis) until he goes to spring training or back to the Dominican for tournaments. He brought a Wii for Kelly and Travis, so we all played that for a while.