christmas part deux...

the party continued at grandma and grandpa's on sunday. at one point there were 24 people and 2 dogs in the house. more memories...

christmas 2010...

we celebrated christmas by having breakfast and presents at grandpa martin's followed by visiting and feasting at our place with the rest of the family. a great day and more fun to follow tomorrow with the extended family at my folks.

merry christmas!

from all of us, to all of you

The Parable of the Birds

Louis Cassels

Once upon a time, there was a man who looked upon Christmas as a lot of humbug. He wasn't a Scrooge. He was a very kind and decent person, generous to his family, upright in all his dealings with other men.

But he didn't believe all that stuff about God becoming man, which churches proclaim at Christmas. Why would God want to do anything like that?

So when his family left to attend midnight services on Christmas Eve, he stayed home.

Shortly after the family drove away snow began to fall. He went to the window and watched the flurries getting heavier and heavier. Sometime later, as he was reading his newspaper by the fire, he was startled by a thudding sound that was quickly followed by another. Then another.

When he went to investigate, he found a flock of birds huddled miserably in the snow. They had been caught in the storm, and in a desperate search for shelter had tried to fly through the window.

"I can't let these poor creatures lie there and freeze," he thought. "But how can I help them?"

Then he remembered the barn. It would provide a warm shelter. He quickly put on his coat and boots and tramped through the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the doors wide and turned on the light.

But the birds didn't come in.

"Food will bring them in," he thought. So he hurried back to the house for bread crumbs, which he sprinkled on the snow to make a trail into the barn.

To his dismay, the birds ignored the bread crumbs and continued to flop around helplessly in the snow. He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around and waving his arms. They scattered in every direction -- except into the warm, lighted barn.

"They find me a strange and terrifying creature," he said to himself, "and I can't seem to think of any way to let them know they can trust me."

"If only I could be a bird myself for a few minutes, perhaps I could lead them to safety."

Just at that moment the church bells began to ring. He stood silently for awhile, listening to the bells pealing the glad tidings of Christmas.

Then he sank to his knees in the snow. "Now I understand," he whispered. "Now I see why You had to do it."

snow ball 2010

had a great time at the annual snow ball gala at the st. paul hotel last night. attendance amongst our group has been trending downward over the last few years, i'm hoping more of our friends will get back on board. still, it was fun hanging with friends who did make it, even made the obligatory appearance on the dance floor. home by midnight, back into weekend groove.

band & choir Christmas recital...

both girls had key roles in the christmas recital, alaina accompanied the choir on piano, (the song is "snow begins to fall") and noelle played "white christmas" on the flute in advanced band. proud of my talented kids!

happy birthday allie!

happy birthday to my gal today! we love you!

the season begins...

owen sang in the choir at the school advent program this week. here are a couple post-show pics. thanks to the grandparents for making the trip!

game on...

 i've got two girls playing basketball for st charles this winter, alaina playing 8th grade varsity and noelle playing 6th grade cub. gonna be a busy couple of months!

Sun Dec 5, 2010 3:15pm – 4:15pm
Alaina St. Charles ICS Tourny

Mon Dec 6, 2010 5pm – 6pm
Alaina St. Charles vs ? - Home

Wed Dec 8, 2010 7pm – 7:30pm
Alaina St. Charles vs O.L.P. - Away

Fri Dec 10, 2010 7:15pm – 8:15pm
Alaina - St. Charles Audrey Puchtel Tourny – Home

Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Alaina St. Charles Audrey Pachtel Tourny – Home

Mon Dec 13, 2010 6:15pm – 7:15pm
Alaina St. Charles vs ? - Home

Sat Dec 18, 2010 10am – 11am
Noelle - St. Charles vs ? - Home

Wed Jan 5, 2011 5pm – 6pm
Alaina - St. Charles vs Ascension – Away

Thu Jan 6, 2011 All day
Alaina - St. Charles St. Rose Tourny

Sat Jan 8, 2011 All day
Alaina - St Charles St Rose Tourny

 9am – 10am
Noelle St Charles vs ? – Home

Sun Jan 9, 2011 All day
Alaina St Charles St Rose Tourny

 Mon Jan 10, 2011 6pm – 7pm
Alaina St Charles vs ? - Home

Wed Jan 12, 2011 5pm – 6pm
Noelle St Charles vs ?

Fri Jan 14, 2011 All day
Alaina St Charles CAA Games TBD

Tue Jan 18, 2011 5pm – 6pm
Alaina St Charles vs OLP – Away

Wed Jan 19, 2011 5pm-6pm
Alaina St Charles vs ? - Home

Sat Jan 22, 2011 10am – 11am
Noelle St Charles vs Pope JPIII - Away

Wed Jan 26, 2011 6:15pm – 7:15pm
Alaina St Charles vs ? – Home

Fri Jan 28, 2011 All day
Alaina St Charles Presentation Tourny

Sat Jan 29, 2011 All day
Alaina St Charles Presentation Tourny
9am – 10am
Noelle St Charles vs ? - Home

Sun Jan 30, 2011 All day
Alaina St Charles Presentation Tourny

Tue Feb 1, 2011 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Noelle St Charles vs ? - Home

Wed Feb 2, 2011 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Noelle St Charles vs ? – Home

Sat Feb 5, 2011 10am – 11am
Noelle St Charles vs St Johns – Away

Mon Feb 7, 2011 6:15pm – 7:15pm
Alaina St Charles vs ? – Home

Wed Feb 9, 2011 6:15pm – 7:15pm
Alaina St Charles vs Ascension – Away

Fri Feb 11, 2011 All day
Alaina St Charles CAA Games TBD

Sat Feb 12, 2011 12pm – 1pm
Noelle St Charles vs ? - Home
 6pm – 7pm
Alaina St Charles vs ? - Home