A Very Merry Casey Christmas

We were excited to host a wonderful Casey gathering on Wednesday the 23rd at our palatial estate. I wasn't sure we could fit everyone in, but Alison assured me it could be done, so the invites went out.


See? We did it! Everyone hung out upstairs where the appetizers were ...










... and then headed downstairs for the main course.

There was one more card table, so all 18 fit in one room.

Drew provided dinner music and after dinner music and before dinner music and ... more. Beautifully done, Drew!

After dinner we hung out, played some carrom and Wii - a 100 year old game and our hi tech new game - both super fun. Tessa, Christie and Brenner caught up on what's happening in their lives these days.


The cousins enjoy each others company - Drew and Callen.


Brothers and wives.
Getting ready for the annual white elephant gift exchange.

Anna hands out the numbers in Santa's hat.

Roger and Elaine get the guest of honor chairs - right by the Christmas tree.

Ok, Bob - will you keep it or trade?

I'm sure you want to keep that, right Roger? No? You'd rather have the leopard seat cushions?


Downstairs Leslee, Callen and Brenner check out the Christmas lights while I get Wii lessons in bowling. STRIKE on my first turn!
We always take a girl cousins picture on Christmas.

We missed Annie, Ryan and our newest Casey - Scarlet - who is only two weeks old, and a bit small to travel in the Winter Wonderland we had this year. We missed Tyler, too, who had to work late and then the roads were just a mess by the time he got off. Casey and Dian were in California, and more cousins, Sue and Bob ...?

We pray for a wonderful New Year for all who read this - look for our New Year's letter coming soon to a mail box near you!

Waterbrooke Christmas Cross Talk

We had a very busy weekend before Christmas. Saturday morning we practiced with 35 kids for the Sunday School Christmas Program at Waterbrooke. Karen Kowalke wrote the program, and I directed all the music. The kids did an AWESOME job.
We didn't even need to use the canned voices on the songs this year to add volume - the kids did it all themselves!
We added a few teens to the cast - this is "Joe and Mary Carpenter" the winners of a night at the Starlight Stall Inn - there was no room at any of the posh hotels.
"Marcia Suet and her sister Decorah" demonstrate holiday decorating tips.
Taylor Switch and host Opal Windy from the popular TV show - "Christmas Cross Talk" share their views on what Christmas REALLY means. Maybe you'll be able to watch the program on YOU Tube soon!

A Double Dose of Thanksgiving

We had a real blessing on Thanksgiving - we got to eat it twice in one day! Ted and Teddy carved the bird over at Ted and Pat's around 1:30. We spent the first two hours munching on snacks and playing with Matthew and Maddox, so we were ready for the main course.

Matthew got to open a late birthday gift from us - and I really thought he would enjoy the 3 little fishies more than the gift! Those musical cards are a hit with little boys!

He DID like the DVD that had musical videos where every song had his name in it. In fact, he watched it twice after Maddox left, and fell asleep in the process.

We missed Jenna and Andy who were in Pennsylvania, but they sent a representative - their 6 month old puppy Cooper! Jane and Chuck were puppy-sitting, and had to bring him along. He loved Ted and Pat's back yard.

Matthew and Maddox became best buddies and we all enjoyed watching them entertain us.


It was really a boys club day - Jane, Pat and I were the only females, since Angie was sick and Heidi didn't make it either. The guys watched football, of course, and Matthew and Maddox were in and out. Maddox really like Matthew's motorized 4 wheeler, and they played with the animals from Madagascar all day.


Then we were off to Phil and Leslee's for the Casey dinner. Alison and Callen helped out in the kitchen. I wonder if Matthew and Maddox will be as good friends as Alison and her cousins?

Grandpa Roger enjoys hanging out with the grandchildren - Tessa, Alison, and Brenner. We didn't have the whole crew - maybe at Casey Christmas at our house! It will be a squeeze, but I do have the day of the 23rd off, so I'll have all day to get ready:)


Callen's cat, Ed, enjoyed the day, too. He's lucky he didn't get shut up inside that thing.


We ate our second meal around 6:00, and I am proud to say, I DIDN'T over eat. However, I have been exercising every day since!

A Family Tradition

Last Saturday, Jane and I got together at my house to make Grandma's bread. It's an all day process, and when we do it at Jane's house, we go shopping while the bread is raising, or play duets on her baby grand. However, this time, Maddox came along to learn all there is to know about Grandma's bread.
He was great at counting the cups of flour. I think there are 10 cups in all, at various times in the process. He also enjoyed throwing in the raisins - because it just wouldn't be Swedish Raisin Rye without the raisins!


He helped knead the bread, and punch it down in the bowl. He even got to make his own little loaf when it came time to put it in the pans.

We didn't have time for playing duets - Maddox thought bowling was a much better idea. He also discovered my mom's old L.C. Smith typewriter, and the magnetic dartboard, and the 100 year old carrom board, and ...


We had to run over to Target to pick up some batteries, and Maddox discovered the $1.00 shelves with baskets of fruit, veggies, and meat. So ... we played chef for a while. I think we went through parts of 4 or 5 DVD's. He seems to have a little trouble staying focused for the whole movie.


Finally, the bread was done, and we had a taste test. Turns out, Maddox hasn't developed a taste for Grandma's bread yet. Is there anything else in Grandma's cookbook I might like?

We had a fun day - and we saved a loaf for Thanksgiving. It's a good thing, because MY loaf is all gone.

Publish Post

Forty Years and Counting

Well, Paul had his fortieth in September, so I guess it was my turn this month. Hard to believe that many years have gone by since high school. Our Patrick Henry reunion was at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Brooklyn Park, and I went with 2 other gals who's husbands did other things that night. I brought Paul to the 35th, but he didn't really know a soul - and I didn't know a soul at his, so we went alone and both of us had a great time!


I even won a $25 Target gift card - someone at my table won the bottle of wine. I already spent my card on new socks!



It was fun catching up on people I hadn't even thought of for years!


The following Saturday was Halloween, and we had a Harvest Party at Waterbrooke for all the kids and friends and neighbors. I did three 15 minute magic shows with a gospel message, so kids could hear the good news of how a Christian is like a pumpkin! God takes all the yucky stuff in our lives and cleans us up and carves a beautiful smile on our faces so we can shine for Him!


The kids had a great time - we gave double candy and prizes after they used up their first 16 tickets! Parents are going to have to ration the candy from now until Valentine's Day!

One of the guys made the Plinko Board - it was one of the most popular games at the Carnival. Our teens helped run all the stations, and I think they had just as much fun as the little ones!

Pick a duck and see if you are a winner, Tucker!


It wasn't too cold for outdoor games - and the s'more station was a big hit with all ages.


From the Harvest Carnival to the football game - I had to be really organized and bring my warm clothes in the car and change after the party. We sat on a blanket, and put another one over our legs. I was so warm, i didn't even zip my ski jacket or put on my mittens until half time!. The hat, I just carried home with me.


Go Goldie! He had to do 38 pushups at the end of the game. Rah!

The best costume I saw all night was two Northwest pilots in uniform. They really got razzed about leaving their laptops at home!

The half time show was great, but the reffing was the pits. Good thing they decided to even things up in the 4th quarter after penalizing the Gophers constantly in the first three quarters.



We won! M-I-N-N-E-S-O-T-A , M-I-N-N-E-S-O-T-A , yeah, GOPHERS, RAH!

Fall Happenings

Lucky us! Paul and his 3 brothers went together on Gopher football season tickets. We got to go to the very first game in TCF stadium! These pictures are actually from a later game, since Paul, looking online, thought I couldn't bring my camera. Turns out it only meant BIG camers, and mine would have been fine. We saw a great game, and a beautiful sunset over the downtown skyline. It was also WARM - about 80 at game time. Our next tickets are for Halloween night, so we will definately bundle up!


My next adventure was the Fall Refeshment Wormen's Retreat at Trout Lake up near Pine River. We had a group of 8 women from Waterbrooke attend, and there were 280 women there from all over Minnesota. Sara Renner was the guest artist and her music and worship times were wonderful.


The food was fantastic, and we enjoyed a sit down banquet on Saturday night with a concert afterwards. Kids from Bethel did all the serving and clean up. What a treat!

On Saturday afternoon after the Bible classes, we had a chance to try the zip line. We had to suit up first with all the harnesses and safety gear.


Then we hike up a steep hill and climbed the three story tower and a very nice Bethel student hooked us up to the 4 zip lines at the top.

My first reaction as I stood on the edge preparing to step off into nothing whas "What are we DOING?" I scrunched dow to make my connection taut, and went for it! It was actually a piece of cake! I won the race between the four of us.



Later, Karen and I did some canoeing on the lake - it is part of the Whitefish Chain. I realize I much prefer river canoeing, since the current gives you a lot of help! It was a beautiful day.


The last weekend in September, the Waterbrooke folks got together to rebuild the garage on the property. The materials were donated by one of our new familes who runa construction business. All hands on deck amde the work go quickly.


The extra materials will be sold on Craig's List and the money will go to help tar the parking lot!


I joined the picnic table sanding crew, since I know absolutely nothing about leveling a garage or putting on siding. Running the sander was much more my speed.

It will sure be nice to be able to store things in a garage where the door actually goes up and down, and is not closed with a tarp! It looks much better, too!


Paul had a great 3 days golfing 90 holes with his buddies right around his birthday. Of course, he could hardly walk afterwards, but they had a blast. It was a great time of rest, relaxations, and fellowship.

Then, we had the Catlin-Casey-Bracken-Held (or CCBH) Annual Golf Tournament on Oct. 4th. You can read all about it on Janes blog if you click on the link . Paul and I are celebrating a great putt, but we came up short for the day. We played best ball, and Corey and Jane ended up on top by two strokes. It was cold, but fun.


Not everyone wanted to golf, so Ted, Pat, Chuck and Maddox (who took a nap) stayed back at the house to enjoy the Twins game.


We had a great meal after the game, and Teddy and Matthew were able to join us for a while. The boys had lots of fun playing with all of Grandma Jane's toys (left over from Kyle and Corey and Phebe!)

Maddox celebrated his birthday a little early when I brought his present. We got him a DVD at the State Fair and all the songs sing his name! He had to watch it on the computer, since the "elders" were enjoying a football game.


Jenna and Andy announced their exciting news - their first baby is due on May 7 - maybe I'll get a fun birthday present if she can hold off until the 16!!!


Th-th-that's all folks!