OUR SPECIAL EDITION(As a special service to our readers, we bring you a retrospective of this year’s best loved comics.) Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Morning!GOING PLACES / The Family
We struggled free of our home a few times this year, up to Duluth and to Minneapolis for cousin Asli’s first birthday. Our collection of children’s music grows like dandelions in springtime. The Kids current favorites are My Pretty Pony’s Musical Treasures, Willy Sterba’s Chickens in My Hair, Raffi (various), and a Sesame Street Bert and Ernie CD. Occasionally, Dad will try to play Chemical Brothers when Sandy is not paying attention.
FOR THE LOVE OF TOYS / Owen and Sandy
The boys received an X-Wing fighter from Uncle Erik for their first birthday, and it is a favorite toy of Kurt’s. He looks forward to the day when Sandy will allow him to show Star Wars to the children. The boys’ favorite toys this year have not actually been toys. Alex is very attached to the Swiffer Broom and likes pretending to use the Dust Buster. Owen amuses himself with the broom and diaper boxes, which he can climb on. Annika has developed a fascination for toy birds and is proud of her faux-feathered pets Daweekeus, Dot and Peck. Bunny is still her favorite, and she gets new diapers daily (which the boys reuse) and is dressed appropriately in clothes, socks and shoes for school and other family outings.
MUSICAL TALENT / Sandy and Kurt
In May of this year, we bought a piano at Schmitt Music in Rochester. It is a Kimball Console model. Sandy has much more time to practice on it than I do, and it helps that she can read music. While she is mastering popular tunes, I struggle with Middle C. Still, I have illusions of playing Beethoven. For now, my right hand can play a Bach Minuet.
UNEXPECTED VET BILLS / Our Cat Marcus
Kurt had saved over $700 to install an in-ground basketball hoop this year, but his dreams of slam dunks were shattered by a cat’s bladder the size of a softball. Marcus is doing better after a myriad of tests, a weekend vet stay, and a switch to Magnesium free cat food. On the more positive side, Yorkie’s transition from dejected pet to Wet/Dry Vac has been a blessing at mealtimes.
LEARNING TO WALK (AND MORE) / Owen and Alex
Owen learned to walk with assistance right before his first birthday, and was soon running and pushing Alex in a doll stroller. Alex took more time to walk, preferring the “wounded soldier” crawl, but amazed us with how quickly he learned to walk once he wanted to. We think perhaps he is a perfectionist. Annika, for her part, mastered the art of “pumping” on the swings and enjoys showing others how high she can swing.
KITCHEN CREATIVITY / Children Underfoot and Everywhere
No matter how nicely we lay out our play areas, the children gravitate but to one place, under Sandy’s feet. In the kitchen that means taking out all the cups from the lower cabinets and getting into everything. Annika has transitioned expertly into a caring and inclusive sister and often allows the boys to attend to her stuffed animals. For her part, the intrusions into her kitchen have not seemed to affect Sandy’s uncanny ability to turn out excellent cuisine.
THE PUZZLER
Anyone who completes this puzzle has way too much time on their hands. This maze has been put here to fill up a large amount of white space. To be honest, I just Googled for the biggest Christmas puzzle I could find and slapped it in here. Pay it no mind. Instead of completing it, just go and get yourself a cup of hot chocolate and a candy cane. Honestly, don’t go and find a pen and solve it, there are better games and pictures on the back of this letter, so just admit defeat and turn the page. Thank you!
SHOUTOUTS FROM OUR PEEPS / The Children and Sandy
The best way to make the children talk is to pick up the phone. Feel free to test it out. Our home number is (507) 287-0419. If you listen closely, you should be able to hear Sandy’s blood boiling. Fun and free if you have unlimited long distance. Someone is almost always available. Also, Annika makes up good jokes. The punch line almost always is “Jump up and down” or “Then the Zoo Keeper came” no matter what the joke is about.
CASUAL THURSDAY / The Family Thanksgiving Meal
This Thanksgiving we decided the boys were not ready for Prime Time, and we convinced my Mother it would be easier eat at our place. It was. Sandy and I failed to avoid a last minute Perkins adventure last year, so this year we brined the bird and took its temperature properly. Dinner was over in 5 minutes. Wham, bam, thank you Mrs. Turkey. Next year when we can threaten the youngest children more effectively, we’ll eat at GrannE’s house.
THE CHRISTMAS LETTER / Kurt
I get a lot of compliments on last years Christmas letter. I must admit, some of those Haikus were pretty good. But to be fair, it was Sandy’s idea. This year, the Comics page was also Sandy’s idea. I spent hours in the local library pouring through comic books trying to find art representative of the great year we spent with our children and each other. This one and the next came from a comic book called “Cadillacs and Dinosaurs.” This is what I look like when I take off my glasses.
SHE KEEPS US IN LINE / Sandy
Sandy is the glue that holds our family together, keeps us on time for appointments, pays the bills, cooks the meals, and tells me which days I work early. She finds the time to create beautiful scrapbooks of our children, and even makes homemade hot chocolate mix. When I come from an easy day of call taking, the house is in tip top shape. I don’t know how she does it, but all she asks in return is for me not objectify women or put anything sexy into the Christmas letter. Is that too much to ask? Yes.
OUR BUDDING ARTIST / Annika
This was the year that Annika really grew as an artist and author. She took up writing letters and we started sending them for her. She loves to write letters and make things for people. When we went to the Fire Station, she brought Sparky the firedog a letter. When the carpet cleaners came, they got a letter. Annika started Pre-School this year, and uses the skills she learns to make more art and more letters. Each day we find that she adds more detail to her pictures. When the dinosaurs start to actually look like dinosaurs, you have to acknowledge the skills. Annika even made a few handmade Christmas cards this year using stamps, glue, and lots of sprinkles.
HI / Alex
Alex’s favorite word is “Hi.” He says it in a very shy way when we see him in the morning or when he talks to Owen. Often in the morning we will hear him greet Owen or try to wake him up by saying “Hi.” It is totally cute.
Anyone who completes this puzzle has way too much time on their hands. This maze has been put here to fill up a large amount of white space. To be honest, I just Googled for the biggest Christmas puzzle I could find and slapped it in here. Pay it no mind. Instead of completing it, just go and get yourself a cup of hot chocolate and a candy cane. Honestly, don’t go and find a pen and solve it, there are better games and pictures on the back of this letter, so just admit defeat and turn the page. Thank you!
