MERRY CHRISTMAS 2011

                        Christmas is such a happy time, especially if you are able to spend it with the entire family.
 Donna and I spent Christmas eve by ourselves and that was pretty awesome to.

                         But before that evening we were busy several days preparing for a successful Christmas

We were busy setting up a beautiful tree. Yes it is a silk tree and a lot of people like only natural trees, but we are very proud of ours and have been using the same tree for the past 24 years. how about that?

We also had to wrap all the gifts Santa brought for us

I was trying to make a Christmas card for Donna while she was at work

I  baked 1400 cookies and Donna organized them for our family and all the neighbors.

We sent out some Christmas greetings and also received quite a few. It is so nice to receive cards in the mail from friends, we know they have been thinking about us. ( at least while they addressed the envelop.)



                   After all this the 24th arrived and we were ready to celebrate. We started with a good bottle of Merlot and watched a Christmas movie, then we had a great dinner and later we opened a few gifts.

Fillets Mignon with fried onions and jalapenos, asparagus and sauce Bearnaise

We had great fun

 I love my Christmas gift, it will make it so much easier to bake in the future, I wish I had the machine before I made all this cookies.

                       On Christmas day everybody came to join us to celebrate. In the morning we watched  the Disney Christmas parade and waited for the kids to arrive.



Donna is in great Christmas spirit , she even has a jingle bell around her neck.

watching the parade

ready to party myself

Nitro arrived first

finally everybody was here and we took our 2011 Christmas portrait

                          We had a few drinks and also enjoyed some snacks Gina and Windy brought over.

Daniel was on call from work and had to have on eye on his lap top.

Luke is entertaining grandma

It looks like they are singing Christmas songs.

Brian was totally exhausted from his new job and needed a nap



                          Finally we, actually Luke, could not wait any more and one by one opened their gifts, all ways the most exciting part of Christmas.

Jacob and Luke

Daniels turn

My turn

Nice picture of Jacob and Luke, I also got a fire protector safe and  a box of Toblerone

They are in their own world right now

Windy got here jewelry box

Brian woke up long enough to unwrap his gift.

Luke needs grandma's help with his complicated Lego.

 

After all this everybody went home safely and I think is was another memorable Christmas in the Ackermann household. 

NOVEMBER STRESS

                        
                         Not  for me, stress I mean. But for specific  persons like Brian and Gina, both found a new job, and both started on the 28th of November. My observation was that they were both excited about their new jobs, but also nervous and stressed out about the new beginning. Three weeks have passed since then and I am happy  to inform you, they both love their new jobs and they both believe they made the right decision to start a new chapter in their work environment. It takes guts to do that, so congratulation to both of you.

                         As for me and Donna we had a great November. We celebrated birthdays for Luke, Jacob and Gina and had Thanksgiving at our house and Thanksgiving dinner at Karla and Eric's.
                          On the down side we had to babysit 4 dogs at the same time for a weekend. Don't take me wrong, we love dogs, but this was like a professional kennel. There was a lot of dog walking and cleaning involved. I definitely was glad when it was over.

Thanksgiving at Home

Traditional as always

Brian's expression is not about the food, worried about his new job starting in 3 days

Enjoying the feast

Gina's birthday

Birthday dinner at

Gina's birthday gift,  Interesting?

Jacob and Luke's birthday party

Playing at the Magic house.

Wounded warriors.

Luke looks great in the oval office.

Luke as on artist

Jacob as on Architect

They both got  Lego's as birthday gift

Jacob can handle this by himself

Luke needs Grandmas help

Special birthday breakfast:  French toast with Swiss bread and homemade caramel sauce.

Thanksgiving dinner at the Kendrick's

Beautiful table setting

Party before dinner 

The boys adore Daniel

Karla in action

.

anticipating dinner

Eric carving the turkey

two chefs at work

enjoying the dinner

Gina's expression, worried about the new job starting in two days.

everybody happy

Dog sitting

Donna has her hand full

but keeps up her good spirit.

here we are resting after waking them for hours

some squirrels keep them entertained.

thank god for Bacardi and coke

Donna loved taking care of them