Mom's birthday is the 28th of December, so we have a family gathering to celebrate the holidays, our heritage, and Mom's birthday. Katie and Troy, my sister, Laurie's daughter and son-in-law, have hosted the celebration last year and this year. It is wonderful that our children are now grown-ups and are willing to share the hosting.
We try to share Norwegian, Swedish, and German food. My sister, Linda, is famous for her lefse. Katie made the meatballs and rice pudding. Arnold brought the dried meat, jerky, but we also had a nice variety of salads, other wonderful dishes, and desserts. Our family has wonderful potlucks.
The children like to play together, the grown-ups like to share stories and catch up with each other, and there is plenty of laughter and fun.
Each year the family saves their change during the year and we give it to a good cause, rather than buy presents for each other. One year we gave to the cancer society (our sister-in-law, Maggie, died of cancer). Last year we gave to disabled veterans. This year the money will go to Stewart, our son, that lost his home in a fire. I am so proud of my family, and thank you very much.
It was a wonderful way to end the holiday season.
Hostess Katie and Heidi
Mike and Arnold catch up on the happenings
Cindy, my brother's fiance, Laurie, and Katie
Mom
Kendall, my granddaughter, Jordan, and Mia
The cousins are enjoying dinner
Hannah shares a smile
Hans has a great smile, also
My brother, Henry, Cindy, and his children, Jason, and Jessica
Mom had help blowing out the candles
Heidi enjoyed her cupcake
Mom's present from Henry
Game time
The young men enjoy each other and the football game
The little boys play together
Mom and we siblings, minus my brother, Don. He lives in Boston and made the trip west this summer, so didn't come all the way for this party.
The big boys enjoy the cigars
More conversation as the day comes to an end. 
Nathan, you made the blog
7 comments:
Good job, Ilene! I'm going to send out an email and hope family members check out your blog. Just don't expect them to comment!
Great pictures aunt Ilene, it was a fun day. appreciate you being the picture taker and historian. also love the calendar, thanks for doing it for us-we really appreciate it. Love katie
Loved seeing more pictures of your family. Surprised to learn you and Linda are sisters. I love a large family. My husband is one of ten, I'm an only child. I've always enjoyed his family so much and feel so fortunate to have family through him.
Looks like it was a lot of fun and that your mother enjoyed her special day.
Thank you, Ilene for the pictures! It was fun to see you at the party, and thanks again for the family calendar.
Ericka
I've been a reader of Linda's blog for a while, fun to find you -- thru her blog -- and see all the fun pictures of your family gathering. Glad you've joined the blogging world! It's a lot of fun!
I'm glad Linda sent me to your blog. You have a very beautiful family, Ilene.
Post a Comment