I got Al a framed map of the world so we can put pins in all the places we have gone.
The only thing Al has left to do is find the pickle in our tree, I wonder how long it will take him??????
The family, we are just missing Al.
Me and my big sis!
Me and Chase, we had to bribe him with opening presents to get some pictures, he was pretty excited!
Mom and Dad with their 3 kids.
Me, Mom and Dad
The Girls, all in red, and we didn't even plan it!
The Oslowskis
The Hendricksons
Siblings
The dinner table all set, Chase was ready to eat. He was ready because he knew that once we were done eating we would open some presents.
Chase helping Grandpa with his new fishing rod.
Then we moved to downstairs where we of course need to look for the pickle ornament. As you can see Chase was even helping this year. I was the lucky one to find it this year.
After a busy night, Chase was in his PJ's and ready to play a bit more before he headed home.
The stockings hung by the fire, just waiting for us to get into them. 
Since Al couldn't come home with me, darn work, Chase decided to talk to him on the phone.
Thursday night I was able to meet up with some highschool friends. Anna, Rachel, Jill, Melanie, me holding Cole (one of Rachel's twins) and Kelly. We had a nice time catching up.
Then on Friday night I was able to see Jerah, we had a nice time catching up.
Then on Saturday I braved the wonderful MN weather and headed to Chris and Laura's to meet their new daughter, Kacie, she is so cute and it was so fun to see her and her parents!
After my visit with Kacie, I went to Sara and Jake's to hang out with Emma, last time I saw her she was Kacie's size. Emma is so fun, she always has a smile on her face.
After visiting with Emma, Sara and I headed to Erin's house for our annual "Girl's Christmas" It was a great time. I got to see so many friends.
On Sunday I had a few visitors at Mom and Dad's house. Grandma, Joey, Janie, Mariah, Kinzie and Tillie came out to visit. It was nice.
Mom, Grandma and I
Then Sunday night we had some surprise visitors, Adam and Sarah stopped in. They were on their way up north and the weather was not good so they stayed over and I was able to see them on Christmas Eve morning as well. Al had called before they left so he even got to talk to his brother.
If you look hard enough you can see the present that my mom gave to Adam, a disc shooter. I had a present for Sarah and mom didn't want Adam to feel left out, needless to say I am sure that was used on the rest of the drive up north! I am so glad they stopped, not only was I able to see my family for Christmas, but I was able to see some of the Kerkman side as well! 
According to an old German Tradition, a couple's Christmas tree should include these 12 ornaments to ensure happiness for their life together:
Here are a few pictures of some of our Holiday Decorations. Above are our stockings and below is our tree. Now we just need to get some presents wrapped and under the tree:)
Christmas is such a wonderful time of year! We hope you have a wonderful Holiday Season!
Here is the table before all the good stuff was added!
Al and Dallas were very helpfull and peeled and cut the potatoes and yams for me!
Al got to carve his first turkey, the first turkey I made:) It was great, you have to love those cook in a bag deals!
Here is the table all ready for us to eat. We had a great meal.
All of us sitting down for dinner, we were a bit hungry at this point!
Al and I at the dinner table for our first Thanksgiving in California. See the wonderful candle stick holders that Mom and Dad gave us and look at that Cornicopia that I created, pretty nice!
Here we are in front of the chapel, it was very pretty, and we had a beautiful day.
After a day of touring around Colorado Springs, we met up with a high school friend of mine and his wife, Eric and Elizabeth.
As we were leaving Colorado Springs we saw Pike's Peak, something we need to get back to CO and see, the main road had just been closed the weekend we were in CO.
Then we got to go and see one of my college friends and his family. Here we have Cameron, his wife Christine and their two kids, Mason and Lily. 
Before we headed to the airport we had a chance to see one of Al's college buddies, Clifford and his wife Dara and their son Carson.
Al and I finally had a fire in our fireplace, it was great. We learned a few things to make it better next time. Of course we didn't have the right fireplace cleaning tools etc., so we had to go out and buy those the next day. Having a fire like this reminds me of MN and home. The temperature really does get cold here at night, nothing like MN, but chilly enought to want a fire!
Saturday we headed up to Napa and started at Flora Springs. After we had a great tasting at Flora Springs, we got some lunch. Then we visited a few more wineries before we ended at Domain Chandon. We had a great day, the weather was wonderful, a great day to have a glass of wine and sit outside!
On Sunday we headed into San Francisco, the clouds were not really cooperating with us, but we still had a great time. We took a tour around the bay that took us under the Golden Gate and back to Pier 39.
Here we are on the boat with the Golden Gate in the background. While we were getting our Bay Tour on the boat, we saw some dolphins swimming in the bay, it was great, the first time seeing dolphins in the bay!
We walked all over. At Pier 39 we had some lunch, bought some salt water taffy, and as we walked to Fisherman's Warf we enjoyed some of the street performers. Before we started for home, we decided on one more picture on the pier.
Anna had to go home on Monday, but we had a great time. 
Erin and Tony were in town for a family wedding and took time to have dinner with me. It was so great to see them. We ate at Fior, the oldest Italian resturant in America, it was great. 
Me and Al, I think we were on hole 6 or so, doing alright.
After a nice day out golfing, we cleaned up and decided to go out. Of course we had to take a picture before we headed out.
Me and the Sailor 
