2010 in Review Lindgren Style

We had a great 2010 and looking forward to making more memories in 2011!

An afternoon at Spidahls

On Thursday, December 23rd, we were able to make the most of our afternoon by cross-country skiing at Spidahls. It was one of those perfect winter days with absolutely no wind and around 20 degrees. It has actually been two years since we have been to Spidahls and the difference between our first experience and this experience was amazing. The girls were both much more coordinated and we were able to spend a lot more time skiing.
I truly fell in love with Winter during this afternoon. The peaceful serenity and the beauty of the snowy woods touched my heart. I have to admit it may have been due to the fact that my heart was literally racing. I always get cold when I go downhill skiing, but the cardio work required to cross-country ski keeps me warm from the tip of my toes to my fingertips.
After 40 minutes, we were all sweating and had to go back to our vehicle and shed a layer of clothing & drink some water before we headed out for the more challenging intermediate trails.
We were able to go on several trails that we hadn't been on before and put in a solid 2 1/2 hours of skiing. Everyone was tired and happy when we left.
Only one small glitch... which ended up turning into a larger problem on day 2, was a silly little biff I did while cruising downhill. My left ski took a hard left as it came out of the groove, while the right leg tried to stay right and my body got confused and tumbled along twisting my left ankle and wrenching my right shoulder. It really didn't hurt at the time, but that evening the ankle swelled and the shoulder ached. Old age just isn't that fun!

Despite the little set back, I went out cross-country skiing again last weekend and had a wonderful {injury free} time at Glendalough State Park with my friend Kelly. I think I am ready to purchase my own skis and make this a regular Winter-time activity in my life.

Winter wonderland

A beautiful frosty day at the farm the day after Christmas. I love Mother Nature's gorgeous, glitter sprinklings. Can't get enough of hoar frost... even tho' it was brutally cold.

I'm glad I went out and froze my little fingers off trying to capture the beauty. I was particularly intrigued by the fence, as you can see.

A New year and a New theme

Last year (2010) was the first time I picked a theme for the year and I felt like it went pretty well. Not perfect, but I certainly had something to strive for and felt like I hit the mark more than once. It also didn't leave me feeling disappointed in myself like previous New Year's resolutions have. My theme was CLEAN and I managed to work on cleaning up some of the negative things my inner critic (Mic) chirps about in my head - I still have a ways to go, but at least I recognize that Mic is a whack-a-doo {mostly}; I cleaned up a lot of what I had been putting in my mouth, resulting in more energy and better fitting clothes; I cleaned up my act and reached several personal bests in races I had entered; I cleaned out my horrible, dark, scary crap-room and transformed it into a cheery, happy place; Most of all, I hope that I improved as a person, wife, mother, daughter and friend in 2010.

Which now brings me to the new one-word theme for 2011. I thought about this a lot and finally decided that my new theme in 2011 would be POWER.

No, I am not going to work on becoming a body builder, although I greatly admire the dedication it takes to become one. The power I am striving for is related to emPOWERment, feeling POWERful internally, and reducing the feeling of POWERlessness. I like the definition I found online, because I think it has a broad application.

pow·er (pour)n.

The ability or capacity to perform or act effectively.

I can always work on improving my performance in so many aspects of my life. So far, I have made a couple of steps toward this theme.

1. I joined Phatty Natties 6 week weightloss Challenge today. First, because I have felt like sugar has taken over my life. Second, I want to gain back the balance of fitness and nutrition that have slipped in the past several months. I hope to feel more powerful physically and emotionally and in some ways, just accepting the Challenge does that.
2. I signed up for a self defense class for women called IMPACT, offered at UND in March. I'm not sure I am brave enough to confront and share some of my past baggage, so this is a huge step for me, but I really feel like it will be a way to give my self-confidence the boost needed to make me feel more empowered and assertive.

I hope to be mindful of incorporating POWER as my mantra and theme in 2011 and will try to share some of the successes and challenges I encounter.

Happy New YEAR! Share any New Year's resolutions, mantras or themes that you have.

19 years & counting

I feel so very blessed to have had the foresight to pick this man to date when I was a senior in high school and 18 years old. Today we are celebrating the 19th anniversary of our wedding and I love him more than ever. He is kind, generous, giving, loving, hilarious, insightful, strong, intelligent, comforting and so much more.
The first song we danced to on our wedding night was (Everything I do) I do it for you by Brian Adams and the lyrics still resonate with me.

Look into my eyes - you will see
What you mean to me
Search your heart - search your soul
And when you find me there you'll search no more

Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for
You know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you

Look into your heart - you will find
There's nothin' there to hide
Take me as I am - take my life
I would give it all - I would sacrifice

Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for
I can't help it - there's nothin' I want more
Ya know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you

There's no love - like your love
And no other - could give more love
There's nowhere - unless you're there
All the time - all the way

Oh - you can't tell me it's not worth tryin' for

I can't help it - there's nothin' I want more
I would fight for you - I'd lie for you
Walk the wire for you - ya I'd die for you

Ya know it's true Everything I do - I do it for you.

Happy Anniversary, Honey!

A very Merry Christmas indeed.

Christmas 2010 was celebrated in ND back at the farm. The 4 Lindgrens arrived before noon on Christmas Eve and the cousins were off and playing as soon as we got the van unloaded. Russ brought his snowmobile to the farm and that combined with Randy's snowmobile to create outdoor fun for the kids and for the brothers & brother-in-law. {Think extreme sledding & wildlife scouting}

In addition to outdoor activities, there were indoor projects as well. Abby had a zipper tragedy with her favorite purple high-tops which took up a bulk of Grandma's afternoon to remedy. Kristy put her sewing skills to use as she worked on Nixin's t-shirt quilt.

By late afternoon, the smell of traditional Christmas Eve oyster stew filled the house {which is viewed unfavorably by my own sniffer.} Near 4:00 PM, we were dressed up in Christmas finery to attend Christmas Eve Mass. Following Mass, we lined up for some family photos.

Rod & Rose beget Randy, Renae & Russ

Renae & Steve beget Abby & Angelique

Randy & Anna beget Makenzie, Kaleb & Logan

Russ & Kristy beget Noah & Nixin
And the grandparents with 7 smilin' grandkids.

After a hardy supper of oyster stew & potato soup, the elves passed out presents & one by one the gifts were revealed.

A surprise visit from Santa to make sure all the kiddo's were on their best behavior. Nixin was especially enamored with the jolly man.
Reviewing the annual 2011 family calendar which was created this year by Anna.
We thought we would help out the "chic-magnet" with this appropriate tee.
Kippy was especially excited with this Wii drawing gadget from her parents for Christmas.
Abby was totally surprised by the gift of cellular technology from her parents. The real trick will be if she can retain the privilege!!

So many wonderful memories from Christmas 2010:

• Exchanging White Elephant Christmas gifts between the adults with the hilarious addition of Uncle Bob and Aunt Judy. Kristy was the unfortunate winner of the repeat elephant... the singing red-neck hunter. Anna was the lucky scratch-off lotto ticket recipient. Uncle Bob was jubilant over his MacGyver walking stick & the reason I nearly wet my pants laughing.
• Nixin walking into the kitchen loudly asking, "Raise your hand if you want to play with me!" When Abby raised her hand, Nixin responded, "OH YEAH!" in a deep voice & a fist pump. Funny kid.
• Watching the kids play Wii Mario Cart and hearing Logan taunt Uncle Russ, "You're going down!"
• Hearing the kids tell of their respective adventures being pulled through deep snow on a sled behind Uncle Russ' snowmobile and brag about the number of times they DIDN'T fall off.
  
• Helping Kristy tie her first t-shirt quilt using Grandma Nita's quilt frame.
• Giving a very wiggly Nixin a haircut while he played some weird toilet paper game on Noah's ipod.
  
• Learning a new card game at Randy & Anna's called "Oh, Hell" or rather "Oh, Sell's Win".
• And the winning memory from Christmas 2010.... Randy stepped outside with the roaster with intentions to toss the turkey drippings outside and accidentally stepped too close to the foundation dug for their new addition and fell in. He ended up with one leg dangling in a hole and the other leg 90 degrees split on the ground, turkey drippings all over himself and unable to get out. He tried yelling over and over, but the rowdy group indoors couldn't hear his cries for help. He managed to reach his cellphone in the upper pocket of his ever-present bibs and was able to call Mak. He told her that he was stuck outside, but when she looked out the window she couldn't see him. It took some further explaining to understand that he had fallen half-way in a foundation hole and couldn't get out. To further add insult to injury, before helping Randy with his situation, pictures were taken {Anna has the evidence} and there was much laughter. When Steve bent down to pull Randy out he almost fell in himself, so Steve quickly let go of Randy. Gotta love the self-preservation instinct, right? Steve finally got better leverage and was able hoist Randy out of the hole before the hungry farm cats could begin feasting on all the tasty turkey drippings covering Randy.

I think that sums up Christmas 2010! Hope yours was memorable as well!!

O Christmas tree...

Decorating the Christmas tree is something that the girls and I look forward to doing to kick off the Holiday season. We love getting out all the ornaments and remembering the stories behind them. Some are new, some are old, some are homemade, some are boughten, and all are a treasure beyond compare.
Kathy & I made this cinnamon ornament together which is a tracing of Abby's tiny little 2 1/2 year old hand-print 11 years ago. It was a bright spot in a very dark year for me & reminds me that things always get better.
This ornament makes me smile to remember the story behind it. Abby's godparents are the BEST ever!
This beautiful flying fairy melts my heart. It is the last ornament I received from my Grandpa Rudy and always makes me think of both of my grandparents.

Nephew Nixin, was so excited to give this Santa key to his Uncle Steve last year. I still remember the joy and excitement on his face as Steve opened the ornament.

Another beautiful creation from one of my besties in an annual ornament exchange. So many ornaments, so many wonderful memories... our Christmas tree is priceless.