Saturday togetherness

Adam was great at making scrambled eggs - which, along with freshly brewed coffee and pancakes - (and, oh, yes, those sweet rolls) provided lots of choices for a "help-yourself" style breakfast.
The children (and moms) got the table first...

while some of the adults relaxed and waited for things to clear out... (check out the fall leaves through the window. There was also a spectacular view of Gull Lake with beautiful leaves on the far side of the lake also.)

After breakfast the children went swimming in the indoor pool. Then it was time for some naps.

Following naps we did our pumpkin painting activity. Lots of fun and no major spills!

At 5 p.m. we went on a great wagon ride, pulled by these two clydesdales, Chico and Charlie. It was a highlight! And then after supper we enjoyed a bonfire on the beach (actually, more of a "camp fire") and then some went to see a magic show.

It was a fun, full day of togetherness! Despite the challenge of eight children 5 and under, a few tears here and there, it was something that we want to do again and again.

Oh, did I mention the morning activity.... posing for many attempts at the CHRISTMAS CARD PICTURE? Sometimes bonding over a stressful experience brings people closer, I have heard...

We got the picture! :)

First night at the cabin

We checked into our cabin and put out the welcoming pumpkins for the rest of the group that would soon arrive. We had this great 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom cabin facing the lake with lots of room for our crowd.

Of course, the games came out pretty fast! Is Blokus a children's game? ...

Ah, something more for the children... story books!

Yup, the male bonding over blokus. These guys love "thinking" games. I, however, prefer "talking" games. Mindless games that we can talk while we play, you know!

The daughter-in-laws enjoyed some talk time after all the kiddies finally got to bed!

And a good time was had by all...

We're home from a grand and noisy weekend. Just thought I'd post a few quick pictures!

Oh, for fun..

Guess what the grandkiddies will be doing this weekend when we are all together?

Getting ready for the weekend...

It's almost time for the Berge Fall Family Weekend - we're heading to a resort in northern Minnesota. I can't wait!! All 8 grandchildren together!

Pillow talk

Happy Thanksgiving today

Happy Thanksgiving today to all our dear loved ones in Canada!!

(I think the U.S. should change Thanksgiving to October, frankly. It was great to celebrate Thanksgiving in October and then have two lovely months to enjoy Christmas preparations!)

Sweet Roll Sunday

Yum. Warm. Sweet. Scrumptious.

Two more Homecoming King photos

Oh, aren't these pictures great? Now you can see the royal sash and crown for Ben as King and Kelly G. as Queen. Congratulations to you both!

This would be the King's mum and the Queen's dad, I believe.

Proud of Ben!

Ah, my darling nephew Ben was nominated for Homecoming King - and last Friday evening he won! Here he is sporting his crown and sash... (you have to look closely to see the sash..) Ben, we are SO proud of you!

In the center of this group of folks is Ben with his mom Debbie to his left (your right). I'm pretty sure this was before Ben was announced as the King. It looks like the King and Queen candidates were being introduced. This was a half-time of the big Homecoming game. I wish I had been there too!!

Green bananas

Wow, did we have fun shopping today! My little mother is quite a fashion plate; we got all these great clothes at great prices too! All for a little lady almost 91 - one hot grandma!

Singing Happy Birthday....

Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Norman...

Happy Birthday to you!

FFfffff........ blowing out the candles!

Flatbread lesson

Yesterday I made flatbread so my mom could see the process. The recipe I use is one from Wally's mom (and she got it from someone else...) and it says "MUST USE RALSTON." So, you made a nice stiff dough with buttermilk, ralston, whole wheat flour, white flour... and then you..

roll it out nice and thin. It's really helpful to have this large round board covered with a cloth that you flour liberally to help prevent sticking. I also have a cloth cover on the grooved rolling pin (which was made by Wally's Uncle Einar.)

Then you transfer it to a hot griddle. This is a special griddle made for making lefse and flatbread, etc. but one could use it for anything. We only use it for lefse and flatbread.

I also have a specially designed long thin stick which you use to lift the flatbread onto and off the griddle. Here I am lifting the completed flatbread off the griddle.

Here is the flatbread cooling. When it cools it gets harder, like a cracker.

Here is a view of the cooled flatbread.

Can you see the little lines that were made from the grooved rolling pin? The brown spots are from the griddle. Lefse looks similar except that it is made from a soft potato based dough and does not firm up like this. To eat the flatbread simply break into a smaller piece and butter (liberally..). It's quite good and this recipe is healthy as well.

We're serving flatbread tonight to our company - we are have Norman & Martha join us for dinner to celebrate Norman's birthday!!! Happy Birthday Norman! Daniel, Meghan and the children will also join us. The table's all set... anyone else want to come??

And another post of pictures...

This morning Adam preached (he was wonderful) and we all got dressed up to go to church.

The little fashionista...

Mr. Busy at the pumpkin patch.

Hayride fun!

It was a perfect fall day!!

A few quick weekend pictures...

Mother and Daughter...

Timothy, the school boy!

Enjoying hot lunch for grandparents day!

My favorite picture of the weekend - this was at a great pumpkin patch in Wisconsin. They had a pen of adorable puppies and encouraged children to come and pet them.

John & Sara and Tobias met us at the pumpkin patch. Tobias is our littlest pumpkin!

Happy Birthday Alison!

Wow, this a big week for niece birthdays! Stacey and Jill don't get much face time here on the blog because now it is Alison's turn!! Happy Birthday Alison, Saturday, October 4th. (She is in the cute red glasses.) Ali, do you remember where you were when we took this picture? It was at my mom's 90th birthday party. Along with Alison are my twin nieces Jackie (on the left) and Stephanie (on the right) and my great niece Courtney (standing behind Ali on the left). I love all you girls!
Alison, have a wonderful day!!!

Happy Birthday Jill!

Happy Birthday today to my niece Jill. I hope you are having a grand day with your in-laws (I hear you are shopping with your mother-in-law... I love shopping with my daughter-in-laws (beats shopping with sons, I can tell you that...)) Enjoy your day. Enjoy the parade that your town is throwing for you!!! (so I hear.....) P.S. cute new haircut!

Happy Birthday Stacey!

Surprise Stacey! Happy Birthday to you today from Grandma and Aunt Candis & Uncle Wally. We love you and hope your day is special!

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