Life is about the journey not the destination.

In a few weeks our journey will take us to a new destination...Denver.  We have been so blessed that our life paused for a moment in Fargo.  The friends we have made, obstacles we have overcome, and joyful memories we can add to our book of life are all so precious to us.  Each one of you has a special, irreplaceable, forever home in my heart. Thank you, thank you for sharing a piece of your life with me. No goodbyes ..... just "until next time". 

Country Christmas with the Knutsons

It has been about a month and a half since Christmas and I am just now getting around to the second half of my Christmas post. Sheesh.

In the middle of all of the Christmas festivities we celebrate with my side of the family. Country Christmas with the Knutsons is what I like to call it.  It is so fun to get back to my roots.  We spend a lot of time just being together.  We play games, cards, eat, go sledding, watch movies, eat more, ride 4 wheeler, go downtown to Larson's Service Drug for chocolate cokes, eat, ..... Doesn't get much better than this.

Here of some photos from our trip out to "the Farm".

The kids grabbed sticks because they were scared of mountain lions.

Honestly, I was too but I tried to put on a brave front.

Matty Matt in his natural element. That's his "I am an outdoorsey, worker, tough guy" face.

And, that is his new faux fur hat I got for him from H&M.   It goes well with carharts.

 

 That is Shadai driving the tractor!! 

Look at that sky....beautiful.

In January we finished our Christmas festivities with a trip to Alexandria, MN where the whole gang was able to get together.  We did some skiing, tubing, and bowling.  So fun.

And there you have it - Country Christmas with the Knutsons.

Life Cycle of a "Connect Alien"

by Shia (for Jeffrey)

2010 Christmas with the Natwicks/Bintliffs

I wanted to do two posts about our Christmas so that I could talk about our traditions in a little more detail. We begin our holidays with a little family Christmas at our house and then pack up the car and head to Williston and it goes a little something like this:

 Frances patiently watching over her bbq ribs that she begins making 2 days ahead to be served on Christmas day.  We, unfortunately, do not get to partake in the eating of ribs......we have to "suffer" through fillet mignon made by my Dad. When I say "suffer" I mean mouth watering, cut it with a butter knife, died and gone to heaven - suffering.

 The kumla making begins around 9 a.m. with these girls.  For the last few years they have been in charge of the potato peeling.  I think it is around 30 pounds of potatoes that they peel and it takes them about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to complete.

 Of course they have a good cheerleader.

 Whilst our girls are slaving away the rest of us like to stay informed current events and the weather of course.

 At around 11 a.m. these 2 guys come in.  I don't know what exactly happens but I do know that there is a lot of potato mashing, a lot flour, and at one point I remember a hack saw being involved. 

 

The end result is this: gray, softball size, pieces of deliciousness that are then slathered through butter.  Then next day we slice it, fry it and slather it in more butter.  Ooo it's so good! 

 

 

Christmas day, after fried kumla, we head to Watford City.  After W.C. we get in the car and drive to Fargo for a day to regroup and then head to Minneapolis to be with Matt's Mom, his siblings and their families.

This works great because we get to celebrate this lady.  Matt's mom: Gayle.  She is amazing to say the least.  Her birthday is December 29th.  It is so good to have everyone together on this day.

This year we went to a wonderful restaurant called Bucca.  It is an Italian restaurant where the food is served family style.  So fun!

 

The icing on the cake was just that - the icing on this cake.  

This beauty is a Tres Leche cake and it is sinful!