The First of the Ugly Christmas Sweater Celebrations...

    

     It's always fun getting together with friends to celebrate any occasion, but it seems even a bit more fun when it involves a theme or dressing up.  Those of us who get together on The Bachelor or The Bachelorette finale night decided to get together for a Christmas celebration.  The afternoon began with yummy appetizers, sweets, etc...

Then we started comparing ugly sweaters...

Nikki's is actually her grandmother's partridge in a pear tree sweater!!

 Jill, Nikki, Heather, and Me (front row)
Alison, Sara, and Simona (back row)

      Here I am with Alison.  My Christmas light button covers are vintage!!!  A friend of mine that I taught with in Billings made them for me in 1991.  Alison's daughter, Brandy, surprised her mom when she stuck a big sign on the back of her ugly vest with masking tape.

     Here we are gathered around one of the Christmas trees and the gifts we brought to exchange.

     Once everyone settled in, we headed out to the lake. Wow, was that kind of a freaky experience!! It sure didn't seem safe to a few of us, but Simona insisted none of us would fall through.  We could see right through the ice (evidence shown below)!!

     The breeze was a bit chilly, so once we had our fun on the lake, we headed back inside for some hot chocolate.  Even Wilma joined us on the lake.

 But once she was back inside, she played a game of peek-a-boo with us.  She was a stitch!!

 Holly "forgot" to wear her sweater, but we still let her be in the picture with us!! :)

 Holly and Alison

 Time for the gift exchange/stealing to begin...

     Alison won third place in our ugly sweater contest, so here she is enjoying her prize.  I think I convinced her to wear the "tree headband" to school next week for our annual ugly Christmas sweater day. :0)

I guess this is Wilma's way of saying that the party is over, and it is time for everyone to go home!!

An Early Ostendorf Christmas

     Today was a busy day.  After my lab work this morning, Darrell and I went to meet Darci and Emma to watch Mike coach and Logan play basketball.  It was a big tourney, and we ended up seeing some people from Darrell's work as well as our neighbors and their son, Payton, play after Logan's championship game.  It's always fun to spend time with Darci and Emma, and it was fun to watch Logan play; we can't believe how tall he is getting already for a 5th grader!!

 Emma showing off her goofy blue and gold hair display, and then she snuggled with me for awhile.  I sure miss snuggle time since our kids are adults already!!!

 Coach Mike in action

Get the rebound, Logan!!

Here I am with Kim and Darci.

     After the basketball tournament, we headed over to Mom O.'s for the Ostendorf Christmas.  We decided on Thanksgiving Day that we should move up our usual Christmas family gathering due to Mom O.'s health, and we decided to have it at her house.  All six of her kids and their spouses were able to be there, so I know that really meant a lot to her.  Not all of the grandchildren were able to be present, but it turned out to be a very nice day and evening.

Grandma with three of her grandkids: Chelsea, Lindsey, and Justin.

Mom surrounded by her daughters, daughter-in-laws, and three of her grandkids.

Great-Grandma and Brayden

A very special day captured on camera...Mom with all six of her kids!!!

Justin and Auntie Lori

Michael, Amber, Dani, and Me

Christmas Decorating with Special Assistance

Winter Wonderland??!!  Here are the doggies enjoying their first snowfall of the year.

Meanwhile, Benji was being a nuisance as I took down our fall decorations over Thanksgiving weekend in order to put up the Christmas decorations.

 

 

Everywhere Dani and I decorated, there he was.  Apparently, a nap can be taken anywhere in Benji's world!!

 

 

Out came a Santa decoration....that woke him up!

 

 

Really, Benji?!  Is there anywhere you won't climb or jump for a happy nappy?

Dani peeking around the right side of the tree :0)

Guess who?

Working on the banister lights and decor

Even when we decorated the table and placed the advent "wreath" on it, there he was (like one of the wise man).

As each ornament was taken out, Benji had to play with it.  Dani obliged. :0)

Now the dogs think it's their turn to help.

JJ then became the "snooper visor" as she ran up to the kitchen and peeked through the banisters to make sure all was going well.

 Our finished product

Obviously, our annual Christmas decorating took everything out of these two!!!!!

Just like Andy Williams sings, "It's the most wonderful time of the year!!"

Inflatable Fun!!

     You've never really lived unless you've chaperoned a middle school activity night..ha ha!!  Friday night was my turn, so some of the teachers decided to have some fun (before the kids arrived) trying out the inflatables: bungee run, obstacle course, and human darts. 

Here are some of the teachers who chaperoned activity night.

Teachers and parents having some fun in the concession stand...:0)

     Darci and Mike's son, Logan, joined in on the fun before he headed over to his basketball shootout at the elementary school.  When we were at the cabin this summer, he definitely wasn't this tall.  I sent this picture to Darci, and she had to laugh that he is as tall as me now.

Preparing for competition

Strapped in and ready to go...

It's a close match...to begin with.

Then I pull ahead! :0)

Osty wins!!!  Notice Logan is lying down.  He flipped backwards quite a distance.

Next up was Renae and JeNee.  It was a wild one!!

Kyle and Alisha took their turn, and they had a lot of fun!!

"Bald is Beautiful"

     Today was a great day!! My friend and colleague, Heidi, came to school for a visit and brought me some homemade lefse. :0)  It was so nice to see her, and she looks fabulous.  It's fun to see her hair growing back, and she even wanted me to touch it.  WOW!  It's SO soft!!!  Since she met me in my room during my prep, we were able to meet up with Patrice, another colleague, who just got the good news that she is also cancer free.  It was fun for Patrice to be able to share that news with Heidi today.  Much laughter was enjoyed in the office at the same time. 

Heidi and Patrice, cancer survivors :0)

Patrice was inspired by Heidi's mantra, "Bald is beautiful," so off came her wig!!!

 Just like Kool and The Gang...

Celebrate good times, come on!!!