Berge Birthday Bash in Banff

Here we are, the old folks, gathered in our nice hotel room in the Rundlestone Lodge in Banff. (It has a really cool loft for the bedroom.) We decided to celebrate our birthdays together, complete with gifts (that we switched from person to person causing some laughter, of course) and a cake and candles. We sang Happy Birthday to us and blew out our candles! How blessed we are and we are thankful to God for our loved ones. We pray for all our family members. These Aunts & Uncles are still praying for you!

Canadian Rockies

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.

Family Bowling in Canada

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!

Fall Family Fun

Last weekend we gathered together at a motel for some good family time. We had not been all together since March and I wanted to take a family picture for a Christmas card now that we have two more babies to add to the family. Happily, we got our picture, enjoyed some shopping, swimming at the motel and playing games, a visit to an apple orchard and a visit to Como Zoo. Here we are having a "fast food" picnic. One has to learn to be flexible with planning when there are 5 young children but we did it and had a wonderful time.

Apple Cider Day!

I love fall, don't you? We have had a pretty fall so far and our two apple trees (a macintosh and a golden delicious) have produced lots of apples. They are referred to as "Wally's apple trees" since Wally is known for his interest in fruit and berries. (If you go outdoors with Wally you will learn this as he has a way of always finding berries somewhere!) Well, we were fortunate to be able to borrow a wonderful apple cider press from a friend and we made many gallons of apple cider yesterday. It was really slick (and tasty)! Here is a picture of the apple juice running into the bucket. Come on over for a taste!

Down the Aisle

I had the honor of being the wedding coordinator last evening for my friend Maralee. This is the view I get each wedding as wedding coordinator that I think is so special! I love seeing the crosses above the bride as she makes the walk towards her soon-to-be husband. I thought you might like to see it too! Best wishes, Maralee & Eric! Your wedding was just lovely!

The Ballerina cooks too!

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.

Preston is 3 months old!

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.)

State Fair

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!

Baked Apple Dumplings!

Sara is a wonderful cook - and she loves to bake delicious food when we come for a visit. It works out so well; John likes to prepare a good part of the entree and Sara makes us fabulous desserts. This time Sara made some really melt-in-your-mouth apple dumplings. In fact, they were so good we were glad there were enough to have for breakfast Monday morning!

Chef John

Sunday evening Wally and I arrived in Eagan at John & Sara's. John took his chef role seriously and prepared a delicious meal for us. And for those of us who remember how fussy John was as a young child eating (no pizza, no butter, no cheese, no ketchup on a burger, etc. etc.....) it is amazing that he is the one introducing us to all sorts of delicious food!

Cozy campfire

Is there anything more enjoyable then relaxing around a campfire? We spent a pleasurable Saturday evening in Adam & Andrea's backyard as the sun set, the children cuddled up in laps to fall asleep, and the adults chatted and relished the time together. Perfect. Thank you Adam & Andrea!

Luke

Luke is an active one-year old. Nothing seems to stop him! If he falls down, he just picks himself back up and doesn't seem to miss a beat! He can run so fast that those falls are inevitable. He has a great disposition and he and Timothy are a going concern!

Timothy keeping busy..

Timothy just loved gettting his very own pair of children's scissors from Grandma and Grandpa Berge. He was creative when he took them outside in the tall flowering weeds on the hillside beyond the grassy backyard. He could cut at his heart's content. He spent a long time enjoying himself working on this new skill.

Arts and Crafts with Grandma

Craft time with Grandma! Timothy and I actually spend a long time, just the two of us, at the kitchen counter cutting with his new scissors, using glue sticks, coloring and playing with play-dough. Here Luke is joining us (briefly) and I am helping him make his own picture.

Hannah Sophia

Here is little Hannah Sophia Berge, daughter of Adam and Andrea. Isn't she adorable? She is now 5 months old and smiles and makes cute sounds - she has found her hands and likes to hold them out in front of her and look at them - very entertaining. We spent the weekend before Labor Day visiting with Adam and Andrea and our grandchildren, Timothy, Luke and Hannah.

Pigs in the yard?

Pigs come for a visit? We've had lots of visitors but this would be the first time two brown pigs decided to visit. They were very interested in the acorns that have fallen - and they even decided to lay down and rest on the lawn for a while. Apparently they belonged to a farm not to far from us. We still do not know if the farmer ever located these fellas! I am a tad bit more cautious when I open the door now!

This sweet little face just melts grandma and grandpa!

Big sister Brooklyn just loves her brother and likes to be close to him. He has had lots of kisses from her - I wonder how long he will let that happen??

Proud daddy Daniel is holding little two month old Preston Mathew. Preston is smiling more and getting stronger (see how he holds his head up now!) every day. Every stage with a child is precious and we are enjoying seeing the changes with this little one.