A rare occurance

Precsious and Sylester used to sit on Chad's lap like this all the time. Now they are older and jelous and rarely share. If one is tere, the other one won't be. If Prescious tries to join, Sylvester will get miffed and leave in a huff. 

Christmas at the Jessens

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. We have. We had Christmas at Chad's parents home Christmas eve.

Then on Monday we returned to Jamestown. On the way home we stopped in Fargo and took advantage of the after Christmas sales and got me a new winter coat and a nice fake tree. Big sales are fun.

Monday night we opened our presents from each other. I got a gorgous hammock I've really been wanting for years. We're going to set it up in the basement so we don't have to wait for summer. I'll let Chad tell you what he got.

In January Luke will be home on 15-day leave from Iraq. So we'll give him our presents then. Unfortunatley, Katy will probably be on a school trip to Mexico, so we'll have the full Christmas when she gets back.

Here's wishing you a wonderful, happy and prosperous New Year! 

The family picture. 

Christmas kiss. 

We both give each other stockings every year. Chad always gives me an ornament for our Christmas tree because that's how he proposed, with my ring in an ornament. 

Prescious is inspecting my work. 

Here's the lights and garland I put up on the stairway. 

Here's an artsy pic of our Christmas tree and lights around the French doors to the dining room. 

Perfection

Here's a picture I took of our apple tree this fall. I kept meaning to post it, it's so beautiful. I'm not sure why, but it's the only one I took out of a series that turned out so pretty, with the blue sky in the background.

Anyway, since it's cold and blustery and awful here, I thought a beautiful Indian summer (is that politically correct?) photo would be in order. 

A new venture

OK people. Here's the deal.

I haven't really been taking the time to update "That's what I said" very often. I just haven't felt motivated, I guess. To wrapped up in life.

I've been toying with the idea of quitting, it doesn't seem fair to people that check here, only to find out that I've said nothing. But I still enjoy checking the blogs of people I read and commenting there. And I still like posting pictures here, especailly considering how easy it is to post pictures here with the picasa program.

So this is my solution. "That's what I said" is now "1,000 words." Instead of (sporatic) wordy updates on my life, check back for photos. Pictures are, afterall, worth ... well you get my drift.

Here are a few pics of us in the waiting room the weekend Eli was born. The cousins started up a game of Rook, a HUGE Nordvick pasttime. In this pic, Uncle Scott shows his daughter Shania the ropes.

It's also when I realized I never taught Chad how to playRook. I serious oversight on my part. ;-) Most Nordvicks take their Rook (played with special Gatzke rules) very seriously. I never really got into it, but that's no excuse...

Here's Chad trying to learn the rules of the game. I so still can't belelive I didn't teach him Rook before I married him. It's practically a requirment.

The easy way out, again

I know I'm due for a real update but I don't have the energy, seriously. So here is a picture of my nephews, Glen, left, Michael, right. My best friend Jen took the picture and it's a very good one!! Here's hoping the Erickson family is having a wonderful day.