I know we often read the "He was the reason for the Season" referring to Jesus... but the other day I read the phrase "WE were the reason for the season" and I thought that really summed it up well. We were the reason that Jesus came down to earth as a baby... simply because it was necessary for Him to die in our place for our sin. If there had been some other way for God and man to become reconciled, Jesus may not have needed to be born as a baby to eventually die on a cross... and conquer death when he came alive again. But He did - Christmas and the birth of the baby points to Easter and the whole story! We all just want to wish you a blessed and merry Christmas as you celebrate what God did for us at the manger - and at the cross!
In order to reinforce the events of the night of the birth of Jesus, our adult children and our grandchildren orchestrated, narrated and acted out the account from the book of Luke. Mary and Joseph came to the humble stable and placed the baby in the manger. Fortunately, there was a warm fire nearby! The angel surprised the shepherds when she announced the birth of the baby! The shepherds and their little lamb came to the stable to see where the baby lay. This will surely be a family tradition......
This morning I had the fun of having Brooklyn for a few hours. Just Brooklyn and Grandma! We did lots of baking - we put candy kisses on pretzels and melted them (three minutes in a 250 oven) and then put a red and a green m & m on top. After they cool, they are really tasty!! 
Monday evening was the Preschool Christmas Program for Brooklyn. Lots of little precious children; lots of parents and grandparents there to see their little ones all dressed up and singing! And lots of cameras!! As you can tell from these photos, Brooklyn thought sitting down worked just as well as standing. We're sorry we won't also be in Wisconsin to see Timothy in his program!
On Sunday little Preston was six months old. He is just the cutest thing and is fascinated by the lights on the camera so he looks right at it as if he knows he is supposed to do so. He has also taken quite nicely to the addition of baby food in his diet! More, more! Happy 1/2 birthday, Preston.
A little Christmas spirit here on our blog... a peak into our "river room" where we have our Scandinanvian influenced Christmas tree. There are candles (electric) and Swedish straw ornaments along with a few berries and babies breath, shiny red balls and red ribbons. It is simple and pleasing. Would that be your gift wrapped under the tree?
Ah, this is more like it! No more of those mild November days... this morning this is our view outside. We had a lovely little snowfall overnight and, as you can see, it looks very white, clean and wintery. I love the view of the river now when the leaves no longer block the view. The birds, though, are our most enjoyable friends. We have multiple feeders and many hungry birds. This morning Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal watched from a distance - the bright red of Mr. Cardinal stood out easily against the snowy background. Did I mention that is was 3 degrees? Brrr....
Brooklyn is a really good big sister - and likes to keep close to her little brother. Here she is seeing if he wants her to play with him!
Ah ha! A picture! Here we go, hot off the press, we have a picture from today's visit to Grandma's!
Time for the Halloween photos - here is Brooklyn as a "princess fairy" but since it was the end of the evening, she wasn't too keen on putting the wings back on or her princess crown and wand. She looked pretty cute, though, with her sparkly eye make-up and little fancy dress. 
What a perfect day - so crystal clear and the air so fresh! This picture says it all. We (Wally & Candis) enjoyed two nights at the Rundlestone Lodge in Banff, Alberta, Canada along with Art & Ardy, Ken & Hope, Norman & Martha and Judy & Jarle. On Tuesday (the day I took this picture) we all hiked up Johnson Canyon - a nice hike of about 3 miles, round trip, to two different waterfalls. What an invigorating walk! This picture was taken on the ride back to the town of Banff. Every direction had a fabulous view.
Imagine having a bowling alley filled with family from lane to lane - well that is what we did in Okotoks, Alberta (south of Calgary) last weekend. Dave & Cherie (Olson) Robinson, owners of the bowling alley (and relatives), are so nice to let us invade the lanes! Almost everyone in this picture is family - how many can you identify? The Berge siblings (the old folks) got together for a few days - first in Okotoks and then on to Banff. We missed Phil & Betty Jo, and, of course, really felt the absence of Alice. I only bowled one game because I just couldn't take the time away from visiting with my neices & nephews and their children! Notice the smaller bowling balls - this is Canadian bowling; smaller balls without the finger holes and only 5 pins instead of 10. It is really fun - I like it better then 10 pins though I am not good at either one! 
Yesterday Brooklyn and Preston came over to Grandma's for a visit. That made Grandma very happy because now someone can help bake cookies, right? If you can tell from the picture, this little ballerina likes to sprinkle the colored sugar on her cookies. Can you tell her favorite color? And, in case you didn't guess, Brooklyn likes to choose her own clothes each day - often her favorite is this cute little ballerina dress. Daniel liked to wear the same thing too when he was a little boy, only it was a blue dinosaur sweatshirt. Day after day after day.
Three months ago this little fellow was born - and here he is now all smiles with so much personality in just this short amount of time. Isn't it amazing to watch a little child learn and grow? He looks pretty grown up in his little navy vest, don't you think? What a honey. (That's his proud mommy holding him.)
Today was the last day of the Minnesota State Fair - and the weather was perfect so we (John & Sara and Wally & I) thought we'd join the throngs of folks enjoying what is known here as "the great Minnesota get-togther!" Everything you can think of is available to eat, most of it on a stick, and some things you would never have thought of to eat is also available! Here Sara and I are standing in front of Ole & Lena's "hotdish on a stick" food stand. I think it was tater-tots and meatballs on a stick and cream of mushroom soup available for dipping. Who comes up with these ideas? What a great day we had at the fair!
