Catching Up

     I had a fun time catching up with some friends recently.  A former student, Dallas, and I have kept in touch over the years.  We get together a couple of times a month.  The last time that we had dinner her mom joined us, so it was fun to catch up with her as well.  (They look like they could be sisters instead of mom and daughter!!)

Dallas frosting some Christmas sugar cookies.  We had a great time making lots of cookies that night. 

     Her mom is staying super busy with her new little one, Jessalyn.  She's so adorable!!  Stacie is marveling at how tired she is and how different things are with her oldest daughter, Dallas, in college and starting over with a newborn!!  She also has a middle schooler.  She is one busy lady!!

     Deb and I joined Barb for a yummy lunch at Granite City recently.  We both are jealous of Barb's newly retired life these days!!  She is so happy and really enjoying retirement.  I have never seen her happier!! :)

Crashed Ice

     Crashed Ice is "an annual tournament where skaters race down 1300 feet of icy hills, jumps, twists, and turns."  YEP...you just read a true statement!  One might even say CRAZY!!!  Dani and Michael's cousin, Brian, who is a former University of Minnesota hockey defense player, competed on Thursday and Friday nights.  Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) he didn't make it to the exciting finals on Saturday night.  Here are photos from Saturday night's finals...

Here is the beautiful Basilica of St. Mary.  It is the amazing backdrop of this WILD adventure!!

It's hard to get great pictures of the course, but this top picture is pretty decent.  

At least you can actually visualize the curvy and icy course.

Dani wanted to make sure she stayed warm, so here she is sporting at least three layers of clothes.

Sheila

     Recently my lovely friend, Sheila, was in town from Illinois.  She and her family were just here for Christmas, but then a week later, her grandmother passed away.  Actually, she had a horrible week when her grandma died since she hit a deer with their rental car, broke her big toe, and ended up with a walking boot. ):  However, we were able to spend some time together, which was very nice.  Our friendship has survived her move from Minnesota, and I am so grateful for that!! 

Kawulok Christmas 2012

Create a scrapbook

Oh, to be 30 Again!!

     We had a little fun at work today celebrating one of the younger one's birthday!! Most of us have hit that 40th mark (or are almost there).  Becca turned 30 today, and she was surprised not by one, but three, birthday treats: frosted cheesecake brownies, a yummy homemade birthday cake, and a mini-

sized cake.  Needless to say, a few of us were on a sugar high this afternoon!!!

 Up she went for her birthday photo...

Then we decided that we'd take a nice photo commemorating Becca's 30th birthday!!  

Happy 30th, Becca!!!

Cookie Exchange

     Before Christmas we had a wonderful time with our cookie exchange.  Lots of very yummy cookies and a fabulous apple bread were shared.  We each brought 1/2 dozen to exchange and a plate to sample/share.  It was fun to see the differences among the treats; everything was so yummy too!!  I took mine the next day to Wyoming, and my family really enjoyed them!! :)

 A sampling of our cookie exchange...a new annual tradition :0)

 April, Heidi, Deb, Me, Bridget, Alison, and Claudia

"Laughing All the Way"

     In December some friends and I enjoyed a performance at a local theater titled, "Laughing All the Way."  It was very funny, and a great time was had by all!!

Pictures from the performance...

A glass of wine could be had while enjoying the show as seen here with Jill. :0)

After the show, we headed to Ciatti's to celebrate Jenny's last round of treatment for cancer.  

Christmas With the Kids

Before we left for Wyoming, we celebrated an early Christmas with our kids.  

Here are the highlights:

Dinner

Amber is finally warming up to Dakota...four years later!! :0)  

As you can see, he thoroughly enjoys her attention!!

Unwrapping presents meant wearing bows as hats for Michael (per Amber)!!

Of course, Benji had to have his share of attention.

Now that Michael is headed to Carleton College for his master's degree, Dani gifted him with some neat U of M items.

Dakota thought that he should help unwrap gifts.

Our tree :0)

Amber didn't forget to put ribbons on Dakota...

and JJ 

Dani gave me such a neat gift of Polish pottery.  

She bought it when she went to Seattle in October.  

More impressive, this very fragile pottery made it back to Sartell safely!!

JJ and Me

That's it for tonight...

Merry Christmas From Wyoming

A beautiful Christmas morning from Sheridan...

 from our family to yours!!

Ugly Christmas Sweater Day

     One of our favorite days of the year...Ugly (or Festive...whatever you prefer to call it) Christmas Sweater Day!!!  We always have a lot of fun with this day!!  A lot of people participated this year which made it even more fun.  Unfortunately, not everyone could make it for this morning's photo before school.  We must have had another 10-12 people who wore ugly sweaters that aren't pictured.  It's fun for the kids to see us dressed like this as well.

 Claud wanted a picture of us acting goofy.

 Simona, Jill, and Kevin

The top two ugliest sweaters... 

 These definitely are close in the running!!

Some ugly sweater vests and one "festive" sweater...

 Even the guys participated!!

 What a pair!! 

 Santa's little elf was caught in the candy stash!!

April and Ann even sported Christmas socks to compliment their sweaters.  

What a fun day it was!! :0)