Merry Christmas!

We had a couple of days of really nice Christmas celebrations around here. Christmas Eve we were at church for a nice service with some great music by the choir and orchestra at Grace. We then gathered at my mother-in-law's home in Hopkins with some family and had a nice time and a good dinner. The kids opened up some gifts and ate too much suger.

Christmas morning is just the four of us at home, opening gifts to and from each other. The kids seemed pleased with their gifts. We give each of them three gifts, a tradition we started when Abby was young, remembering the three recorded gifts that were brought to the baby Jesus that first Christmas.

After attending the lone Christmas Day service at church, we had Krista's mom, Grandma Lee, and her brother Scott at our house. We opened gifts, watched some football, some had naps and then dinner and dessert.

It was a good Christmas for my family. I thank God for his care this year. As we near the end of 2005, I am thankful for the health and prosperity we enjoy. I look forward to 2006 and all the new experiences life will bring.

Just thought I would post a couple of photos of our home and what it looks like here in Minnesota in the winter. I wanted to post these mostly for Jose Antonio and his wife Angela and kids and our other friends in Peru. 

Our front steps...and yes the light pole is crooked. 

Gabe's Uncle Scott told Gabe for weeks that he was going to give him dress socks for his birthday. Of course Gabe did not believe him because Scott always gives the most fun gifts. Scott wrapped up a bunch of his own socks and Gabe almost cried.......just not believing his Uncle could do such a thing. 

Gabe was much happier once he found the video game he wanted under the socks. 

The four of us as well as a few of the Fries kids after cutting down our Christmas tree. 

Abby and Gabe with Toula. 

Gabe on Thanksgiving day. 

Here I am with Ghassan Thomas, the Pastor of a church in Baghdad. His church is one the sister churches of Grace Church. He was in Eden Prairie for the week for our Missions Festival. 

First day of school 2005 

The following pictures are from our day at the 2005 Minnesota State Fair..this one is a self taken picture of Gabe and I on the Sky Ride. 

Pronto Pups...one of my favorite State Fair foods. Don't be confused, this is no corn dog, this is a wheat batter, not corn batter....get it right or be disappointed. I ate four that day. 

The Fair Grandstand 

Lots and lots of new tractors, and... 

a show of old tractors 

Krista with Peter, a cool guy selling guitar string jewelry, which we bought some of. His website is www.guitarstringjewelry.com....check it out 

Giant Slide..a must do 

Gabe watching my dismount on the Giant Slide..something the kids and I or Krista do every year at the Fair 

Butter heads... 

One of the traditions at the Minnesota State Fair is carving likenesses of the Butter Princesses including Princess Kay in butter 

we ducked into the Colliseum because it was raining and watched some of the cattle judging 

mmmmmm...steak! 

just before looking at the pigs in the Swine barn, we ate some of their brethren at famous Dave's 

The old State Fair Grandstand. The race track is gone now, and most of the rest has been refurbished to continue being used for concerts 

Some of the crowd from above 

Krista and Abby riding behind Gabe and I on the Sky Ride