all i want for christmas...

 the holiday season is always full of festivities. here are some of those special holiday moments that our family has enjoyed over the past two weeks.

all three girls participated in our church's christmas program by having speaking parts, singing, and the hand bell choir - they all look so serious, put a smile on.

happy holidays from butterscotch. thanks to nesha for the cute chew toy. those lighbulbs lasted three days. oh, butterscotch.

annual visit with santa claus

christmas card outtakes! make that new year's cards. better late than never.

 sisterly love

 barney, the large black lab neighbor dog tried to get in on the action, too. or maybe he made more action.

santa hats?

i guess it will be a surprise to see if i actually got a decent picture...

i'm exhausted!

craft time...

 gingerbread house? wow, who knew the roof would be so hard to keep on. i think we used every option other than super glue to make it stick!

 more wooden snowman

next up, the torgerson christmas gathering in stillwater. fun with cousins!

hammerschlaggin' time

serious competitors

 chaya has her game face on, she ended up being the winner of the kids. drew took first for the adults.

 uncle brent with the girls

 pin the nose on... where's rudolph? he was busy, so donkey from shrek had to take his place.

 even the big boys got in on the action.

 oh, grandpa, don't get too dizzy.

and few fun presents on christmas morning.

 butterscotch loves popcorn and thought there was real popcorn in these cute bowls

 an ipod touch for kenya, and tablets for the little girls. now we will be techno geeks for 2012!

 

one day at a time...

okay, one day at a time, but man the days are flying by. i'm not sure if i'm busier or if the girls are busier. i know drew is busier, so maybe the lack of him makes me have to do more. nah.

on my throne, because i am the queen

a random sunday at the minnesota arboretum

gibson inside of a "house" made of twigs and branches

wow, i can't believe someone made this

making buckthorn ornaments

a little hot chocolate and some buckthorn old maid

chaya's favorite flower inside the greenhouse

u of m family science fair - this was a machine that showed sound waves with fire from propane.

we had a blast with hands on activities and show/demonstration all about energy. sorry, the other pictures are on my phone and i'm not sure how to get them off - darn technology.

wild game with cousins in suite 29 - thanks grandpa gilmore

the wild win 3-2

mostly treats

happy halloween! this year gibson, chaya, butterscotch, drew and i were able to walk door to door for trick-or-treating. the weather was fantastic. a first for us was kenya not being with us. she had a friend over and the two of them went off by themselves (she's growing up, but not too much as they still wanted the treats :) no pics of them.

gibson the gypsy

chaya the ladybug

butterscotch the witch (she wouldn't leave her hat on) she had a blast walking and met some new doggie friends, too.

a pair of happy "ghouls"

their loot

chaya now missing both of her bottom teeth (she is having school pictures retaken due to her putting her tongue through her once one tooth space. hmmm, now she has a larger space, can she do it?)

"mom, there just isn't anywhere for my tongue to go".

15 years ago, andrew torgerson was born and then baptized. last weekend was his confirmation. i am not only his aunt, but also his sponsor. take a trip down memory lane.

andrew with grandma and grandpa t, with the neat walnut chest made by them.

andrew and i 15 years ago (i gave him the cute vikings outfit) isn't he a cutie.
of course my own children do not even recognize me

fast forward 15 years, here we are all grown up. he is still pretty handsome.

fall frenzy

wowzers, fall has been a bit busy with work, fun, and activies.

what a face, saturday soccer

gibson all alone with the big goal. before soccer started she was hoping she had moved up to the bigger goals, the other ones are "babyish"

6th grade volleyball for kenya

homecoming

some spooky treats

bones

cora and chaya with their treats

skulls (kylie and gibson)

cut fingers, oh my

deputy gilmore

drew is officially a part time mcleod county sherriff's deputy. he is loving it!

pumpkin carving

we roasted seeds for the first time, too