Christmas letter with accompanying pictures!

So you see, mom and dad are very busy, so I am going to help them out, and write our Christmas letter. You will have to hang in there because I haven’t done this before. We have had a busy year, and had many changes too. (Writing the Christmas Card)

We started out the year with my 6 month doctor visit in February. Dr. said I was growing pretty good, but I had a big big head. So mom and dad took me to the doctor, and they did an ultrasound, and then a week later did a CT scan. We did get the results back, and mom and dad were pretty worried that my head being to big was a big big problem, but the DR said it was just hydrocephalus, and not to worry because it was only water around my brain, and not inside my brain. Mom kept saying, it will be OK, but I think she was pretty worried. DR told us that things would be OK, and I would grow into my big head. It’s just like grandpa Ricks big head.

(Me with my big head)

In April my ears kept hurting, and I had to have surgery for tubes in my ears. The nice nurses took me in the wagon, and gave me stuffed animals and made me wear this blue dress that let my butt hang out. They thought I was pretty cute!
(My cute butt, in the blue dress)

(Again in my cute blue dress)

My next adventure we went on in May. Mommy, Daddy, Grandma B, my great great Aunt Karen, Great Great Uncle Roger, Grandmas Cousin Julie and her son Lucas, and great grandpa’s cousin Karin all went over the ocean to Norway. It was a pretty big adventure for me. My mom kept making me drink my bottle so I got sick when we were on the Airplane. Once we got to Amsterdam, Grandma couldn’t find our flight, so we had problems, and then we found our plane. When we got on the plane the people told us that we were going to Stavanger, and not Bergen. Mom and Dad had some pretty weird looks on their face. When we got to Stavanger, we got to take a bus. The bus got to ride on the ferry and when the bus got on the first ferry, they almost left us, but we ran to catch the ferry. It was all my fault too cause my food was in the bottom of the bus, and grandma and dad had to yell at the bus driver so I didn’t starve. After like 5 hours on the bus we finally got to Bergen Norway. In Bergen we got to see a lot of sights, and see their Independence Day celebration. It was very very fun. We were going to have McDonalds, but it cost sixty bucks so we passed. In Bergen we met with some of grandmas dad’s cousins. I had fun with Agnes; she would always say Deet-Day (which meant nothing). We got to take a boat ride up to Floro, and see more family. We spent a lot of time walking and sightseeing. We went to different families houses and ate good good food. The last Saturday we were there, there was a bunch of family that got together on the island of Reksta. Reksta is where my Great Great Grandpa George was from, and where he died. I got to see the home place of where he grew up. I also got to see many relatives.

(Grandma B and me on the ferry)

(Me and Lucas after lunch at the Cafe)

(Mom, Dad and I holding the paper in Bergen)

(Lucas and I with my great great uncle Roger on the Island of Kinn)

In July Grandma B, Grandma R, Mommy and Daddy and I all went to the Minnesota Zoo. My favorite part was the water mists that daddy ran through with me. I liked the animals too.

(After going through the sprinklers)
(At the Farm at the Zoo)

August was a big month for me. I had my first birthday, which was very very fun, and I made a big mess for mom and dad too. Then I started a new daycare. I really liked it at Little Saints, but it was to much money for the time I was there. So now I get to go play with all the kids at Colleen’s daycare. Its fun and I like getting to play with all the big kids too. August was filled with the Nicollet County and the Minnesota State fair too. Dad didn’t like pushing me at the State Fair cause people didn’t know how to walk around up there. But we had fun anyways.

(Me making a big mess with my birthday cake)

(With my new four-wheeler)

(Watching Cousin Chads pig at the fair)

(Auntie Devan showing me the water at the fair)

(With my pig ears at the State Fair)(At the State Fair)

September we enjoyed a weekend away at Great Uncle Tim and Great Aunt Tammy’s cabin. I got to go on four wheeler rides, a parade with Grandma B, rescue clothes to the people riding the four wheelers, and entertaining all the grown ups with my silly acts. (With cousin Chad up north)

October was pretty spooky…he he he. I was dressed up as a Monkey. After modeling my costume I handed out candy at Grandma and Grandpa B’s house. It was fun, and I saw a lot of cute kids. Mom and Dad invested some pretty sweet money into a swing set for me. Uncle Ben put it together, with some help from me. I loved playing on it everyday after daycare, but now its too cold to sit outside and swing. So come spring Mom and Dad better be ready to do some serious playing outside.

(Cutest little monkey you have seen)

(Uncle Ben helping me put the swing set together)

November Mommy and Daddy started thinking about a remodel and it would be done by Uncle Ben. The best part is I would get to see Ben so much, and get a Toy room for all my Toys. Mom says she would get her living room back. So hopefully they think really hard on the remodel so that I can get the toy room that I need. We had our first Thanksgiving as a family this year. Mom and dad made a turkey, stuffing (my favorite), green beans (my favorite), pumpkin pie, cranberries, and dinner rolls. It was pretty good. I made sure that I helped by checking the turkey through the window too.

(The start of the remodel)

(Checking the turkey)
December is just about mommy and daddy hiding things, and not letting me go shopping with them. They keep saying that if I am a good boy Santa will bring me presents, otherwise Santa is going to save them for the good kids. So I am going to be the best that I can, and hopefully Santa will visit my house. When mommy and daddy let me go shopping with them they do let me put money in the little red pots, where the people are ringing bells. I like to hold the money, but I sometimes want to keep the money. Mom just says we have to share because the Holidays are about sharing.

I better tell you a little about mom and dad this year too. Mom is going to be finished with her AS Accounting degree in December, and she loves school so much she is going to keep going. I think shes crazy, but dad says that too. Dad started a new job in November, and no longer works for Alltel. He is really happy now and he is working for Hickorytech and doesn’t complain about work anymore. I get to spend every weekend with Dad. I miss spending time with my grandparents on the weekends, but I love playing with Dad. Oh yeah and Bailey, she’s still here, being a pain mom says, and I love to give her kisses now. We play pretty good together, but she wont let me ride on her back yet, not sure why. Uncle Ben and Auntie Devan got a new puppy now too. They named her Marley. She’s cute, and dad says she’s going to be a mini horse for me to ride. I guess she gets pretty big since she’s an English Mastiff.

(Trying to teach Bailey a lesson or two)

(Marley and Me)