It's All Fun and Games ...

We like to play games at our house. Especially in the winter. When they were really little, we played a game called "Animal Lotto" over and over and over again. "Go Fish" was another favorite.

As they got older, we started some big-kid games of Scrabble, Monopoly, Life and Sequence. I remember handicapping myself with shorter words and less money in order to keep the kids in the game. Now that the kids are all older, we've had thoughtful card games, clever board games, intense strategy games and somewhat raucous word games. I have a role-play, murder mystery games that I'm "dying" to play.

This Christmas one son gave his younger siblings the game Quelf. You need to have a bit of creative energy to play this interactive game. If you don't mind possibly wearing a bib or saying silly things, I recommend it.

The older kids also enjoyed a few hands of "Hearts at Gramma's house. Less raucous but just as fun.

A Christmas Gift for the Family

On the top of Faith's, Ryan's and Emma's Christmas list this year was a kitty. Earlier this fall, they had launched a campaign to convince their dad that a kitty would be a good idea for our family. We already have a 13 year old cat, Tumnus, who was born in our house. Though we love our cat,the kids wanted a little one.

I thought a kitty would be fun, but Dad was less convinced. However, after visiting a house with a fresh litter of kitties, he softened. It was actually more his idea than mine. On his return trip from picking up Megan from the airport, he stopped to pick up the cutest little black and gray tabby kitty I've seen. Fortunately for us, at 3 months old he was already litter trained and well-socialized. Though he was a barn cat, the original owners think he's part Maine Coon because of his coloring and the "M" on his forehead. (We've just discovered how huge these cats can get ... we may be in trouble!)

One of our biggest challenges was naming the kitty. We spent 3 days discussing, listing names and voting on our favorites. The kids's choices tended towards Narnia and Lord of the Rings options (with a few other literary choices thrown in.) Finally, we narrowed it down to 3: Gimli, Digory & Rilian. We sent Faith, Ryan and Emma off to another room to make the final decision. And they chose "Trumpkin."

Trumpkin has been in the family for over 2 weeks, and we're all in love. (well, everyone except Tumnus) He's really sweet and a bit on the tubby side. When you hold him, he goes limp and snuggles in like a rag doll. Like all kitties, he gets a bit rambunctious, but hasn't really been naughty or difficult. Tonight, he chased around the living room, with no particular purpose except to get from one place to another as fast as he could. Even Dad, the hardest to sell, pulls the kitty on his lap.

A Soup Goddess

I love making soups.

Soups are an excellent venue for various ingredients: meats, spices, liquids, herbs and vegetables. I've never made the same soup twice. In other words, each pot of soup is a fresh creation. Every time it's a different combination for that never-before-tasted bowl of soup. Experimenting with seasonings and fresh ingredients takes time; time makes the best soup!

When I serve soup at the dinner table, I'm usually the first one to comment on how good it tastes. My children like soup and almost always ask for a second helping, but I'm my biggest fan. The more time and experimentation involved in a particular pot of soup, the more I enjoy the product. We had guests one day and the wife commented, "You really love making soups, don't you?" When I asked "Why?" she responded that she could tell how my much my family was enjoying the meal.

One of our family's favorite soups is what I call "Magic Soup." Much like Stone Soup, I feel as if I produce a great soup from water alone. OK, I add turkey bones and fat, a few onions and carrots and simmer it almost forever. The result is a rich turkey broth begging homemade noodles.

As much as I love soup, I rarely order it when we eat out. Most restaurant soups are from mixes or come completely pre-made. (If I wanted to open a can and add water, I'd do that at home.) I did however, have an excellent bowl of Tomato/Basil/Feta Soup at St. Peter's Food Coop.

My track record as a soup maker is pretty good. I've learned a thing or two over the years. If you add pasta to your soup don't let it sit for too long. Pasta continues to absorb liquid, especially just cooked pasta in hot soup. Rutabaga adds a sweet-like flavor that doesn't mesh with well in soups. (Believe me, I've tried.)



As far as I can remember, I've only had one disaster with a soup. I bought a mix at a gift shop at the North Shore for a beer cheese soup. I added the right amounts of milk and beer and IT WAS TERRIBLE! Most unfortunately, it was an evening when my son had invited 2 friends from school for dinner. My family and guests sat politely stiffing their hot soup and taking only the smallest sips of the stuff. I finally took my first spoonful, I almost spit it out. Our guests, though very polite, looked relieved when I whisked the bowls off the table and brought out the bread and peanut butter.

Even the popcorn meant to jauntily float on top of the soup couldn't redeem it.

Family Weekend, Part 2

We have a lot of fun at our Family Weekend. We laugh a lot and enjoy being with one another. We swim as much as possible, eat a great breakfast provided by the hotel, and order pizza. Playing a game of family Bingo with a bed-load of prizes is the highlight of our Saturday night together. The past couple of years we've had free tickets to the Adventureland Park (you can see my post about my awesome ride experience at my other blog) . This year we decided to add sharing "gag gifts" with our siblings.

Our Family Weekend

Years ago my parents started a great annual event for the grandchildren: Cousins Camp. For 7 days in the summer, the older cousins gathered at Gramma and Grampa Olson's house in Des Moines. My mom was a grade school teacher and has always had multiple activities and craft ideas up her sleeves. She planned activities, outings and meals around themes for the day. This week was a highlight for the kids (and for the parents who had a small reprieve from the demands of parenting.)


About 5 years ago, they discontinued the current form of Cousin's Camp and replaced it with the Family Weekend. Renting pool-side rooms and suites at a hotel, all the u, in-laws and grandchildren gathered for 2 days and 2 nights of fun and family bonding. These have become great opportunities for us to spend more focussed time with our extended family members whom we don't see often enough. The younger cousins love hanging out with their "very cool" teenage cousins. As adults, we chat and tease and occaisionally throw one another in the pool.

Family Letter, abridged

This year, our family sent out an "Easter Letter" rather than the customary Christmas family letter. I could say that we didn't want to get lost in the shuffle of the busyness of the season; or maybe we wanted to command more of your attention. The truth of the matter is that we weren't all together until after Christmas for a family picture. And if I can whittle down some of the demands of the Christmas season, I'll gladly do it.


If you didn't get a letter, let me know. The picture was drawn by my son for the front of the card.

Today's My Birthday!

Every year, 2 weeks after Christmas, I celebrate my birthday. Since it's so close to Christmas and New Year's it sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. On the other hand, many years I've been able to combine all the festivities and milk it for all it's worth.

One year, I think I was 10 years old, I had the mumps and had to cancel a big party my mother had planned. Two years in a row my husband forgot my birthday. On the good side, however, I've also had 3 or 4 surprise parties, and I usually have a variety of coffee and lunch dates with friends during my birthday week.

This was a pretty low-key birthday, but it had all of the right ingredients: time with family, special phone, e-mail and Facebook messages, quiet time for myself, great gifts, dinner out, a movie, and a snuggle with the youngest kids.

My husband bought me something special and meaningful this year: an all-cotton blanket and a mug from Gustavus Adolphus College (my alma mater)

My Marvelous Family

While I tire of the shallow hoopla at Christmas, I am overwhelmingly grateful for the long break that we all get each year. Our whole culture seems to say, "Lets have some family time."

Having all of my children home was heaven for me. It went by far too quickly. I could have used more days of conversations, meals, laughter, and "chillaxing" with my delightful offspring. We cooked, cleaned, played, opened gifts, and spent time with cousins. Having 9 people share limited space can be a bit challenging, but they only occasionally annoyed one another.

I love who they are and who they are becoming. I get a kick out of their interactions and more grown up relationships. Each child has a great sense of humor and a fascinating personality. I've always strongly felt that if I didn't think my children were the most wonderful people in the world, who else would? And for these kids, it's the absolute truth!

The "true meaning" of Christmas is not family, but Jesus, Son of God & Son of Man. However, the togetherness and closeness of family is a marvelous perk of the holidays!

Thanksgiving Fun

What I did on Thanksgiving:
Had my 3 college students and teaching daughter from Florida home for 5 days;

Pulled out sleeping bags, extra pillows and all the bath towels;

Had Daughter #3 make spiced applesauce;

Put 2 extra leaves in the table;

Got out all of the good china;

Put the largest table cloths I have on each of the three tables;

Invited 1 brother-in-law, 2 sisters-in-law, 3 nieces, 1 nephew and 1 dog to join us;

Roasted a 22 pound turkey;

Served carrot cake which was a collaborative project of all 3 sons;

Went to Son #3's performance in Cheaper by the Dozen;

Played "In a Pickle" with nieces and nephews;

Ate too much stuffing, but not very much turkey;

Ate rutabaga but not lutefisk;

Was thankful and grateful for God's multitudinous blessings!