MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Fa! La! La! and Ho! Ho! Ho! – Egg Nog,.. Lefsa… Mistletoe.

Tis’ the season for holiday cheer.  The presents are wrapped and the kids are all here!!

It’s a busy time of the year, these few months.  Everything seems to happen at once.

The Vikings are stinking. There’s some hope for the Wild –  The carols sound pretty and the weather’s been mild.

Procrastination hit me hard this year.  Christmas seemed far off - And then Bam! It was here.

I still haven’t baked and I’m only now writing… This letter of bountiful, Christmas glad tidings.

Kyle came home in the middle of May – And worked for the city all summer, each day.

He went back in the fall to electrician school.  He likes it, he says, and the classes are cool.

He’s getting hours on break and he’s making some green. And seeing Cierra every chance in between.

Kirstin and Ben are buried in bins – They just bought a house and are still moving in.

It’s here in Baxter not too far of a jog - to the new home of the couple, two kids and their dog.

She works at our hospital as an RN- The ambulance makes a great gig for Ben.

Lucy arrived here the tail end of May - She’s learning to do some thing new every day.

She’s babbling and sitting and tasting new chow. She’s getting more fun every day for us now.

And Audrey – oh Audrey! She’s a crazy, sweet girl. She has added such joy and new fun to our world.

She talks up a storm and climbs like a pro. Every day we’re surprised at the new things she knows.

Kayla is still a big city girl. She works down in Eagan and her free time’s a whirl.

She plays hockey and softball for something to do. And this year she added something else new.

She hits the lanes each week for a night – of some rad bowling action and her game is real tight.

We all get excited when she comes home again. She likes her job and she has lots of friends.    

For the Fourth of July, Kirk and I took a pass. Booked a trip with some friends and traveled First Class.

“This is the way to fly!”  I exclaimed…and then vowed to have a few drinks on the plane.

A sip in the air at 6 a.m. sounded fine!  I had one, then another, and then mmmmaybe some wine.

I was enjoying the flight – as well as the perks… Until, a Mimosa, landed all over Kirk.

So it no longer matters what method I fly. Kirk says all of my travels, henceforth, will be dry.

We went to Key West with our friends and their son, we checked out the sights and had six days of fun.

We rented a house that sat right on the blue; with a pool and a tiki bar, and one breathtaking view.

I stay busy each day and sit at a screen, writing copy on-line and for magazines.

I interview people and share what they say; And keep Audrey and Lucy, too, on some days.

This fall Kirk took care of a bum right-side shoulder –Just one more sign that we’re both getting older.

He stepped down at his job to slow down the pace. And take a breather from the crazy, rat race.

More time for hunting for fishing and friends; More time for grandkids and some down time again.

That’s it in a nutshell, that’s all that we know. And who cares if there’s any Christmas snow?

I’ll still hum with carols and open some gifts, and live in the moment and all of this bliss:

Kids that are here, and babies that coo - and everything we have been able to do.

May your Christmas be jolly and your hearts filled with glee. And a Happy New Year for 2015!!

Love, Sheila and Kirk