Family Time - Round 2

It has been a week filled with lots of family and friends. Yesterday we got to spend the day celebrating Christmas with the Allex/Krause side of the family. Everyone came over for dinner and then an afternoon playing in the snow. It was a wonderful way to also celebrate my birthday! (Shelly) We had lots of goodies and lots of laughs.

Here's a photo and video from the day:

We have had a great time gathering together with all the extended families this past week. It is sad to see this time come to an end. There has been lots of talk this year of getting together more often. Let's make some plans to get together again soon!

Next Gen Photographer?

Ah...this is what I like to see. It is ten at night and Sean is sitting down and reading "The Missing Manual: Photoshop Elements 5". I don't know what to say, but it was really awesome to see. How do you tell them it is bedtime when they are sitting down with a program manual?


Since we have been homeschooling these are the moments that make it all worth it. The moments when they are learning and preparing for the future and it's fun!

Christmas Joy

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:1-14

May you find the peace and joy of the Christ this Christmas season.

Family Time

Spending time with family and friends is one of our favorite things. Last night we celebrated Christmas with the Wiethoff side of the family. We enjoyed a great meal, good fellowship, and a couple of competitive rounds of bowling on the Wii.

Here are some of the photos from our little get together.


Our family...


Our family chaos...


Gramarazzi!!


Grandma with photo blanket of the grandkids.

Killer Night

Last night was killer! We had the opportunity to attend Scott's Christmas party for work and we had the best time. Over the course of the week we have been receiving envelopes with information on the characters we were to play for the evening.

As you can see I was Sophia and my hot date for the night was Vitto - aka Scott. So off we went to find the killer or to hide the fact that maybe, just maybe one of us did the dirty deed. No one but the actual killer knew that truth. Falling into character was easy. It is taking the heat for those characters, well that is a whole new post.

We spent the first hour or so interrogating each other before having to cast our vote on who did it. I would encourage you to check out the company who helps put these types of events together. Murder Mystery Maniacs They have lots to choose from.

Once our votes were cast we then moved on to a delicious meal and great fellowship for the rest of the evening. Before we headed out for the evening we had the opportunity to check out the rest of the lodge the party was hosted at. It was amazing. It has all the makings for a great getaway.

Thanks for hosting a great party Todd and Amber. It was a great time!

Here is some additional pictures.

Traveling Fun

Last night we got to travel around the neighborhood as we enjoyed a progressive dinner with a few other families from the "block". It was such a neat time of getting to know each other and to enjoy a lot of laughs. We initially planned the dinner to last until 10:00, ending with desserts at our house, but much to our amazement and delight it was almost eleven before we even made it here. We all decided since we were having such a great time that this would now become an annual event. (Or possibly even a semi-annual event!)

We would encourage you today to take sometime to stop and say hi to your neighbor. You just never know when they might become great friends.

Thanks for such a great time everyone! We look forward to our next get together.

2007 Rewind: Sarah and Matt's Wedding

Sarah and Matt were married on very beautiful fall day. September 29th was so full of love and laughter as we helped them celebrate their love. It was so great to see some of our family members that we haven't seen in a few years. Everyone has grow and changed and yet it felt like it was just yesterday we were all together last.

Sarah and Matt, you two are such a blessing to each other. Through all the laughter and tears to come hang on tight to each other. God will bless you with his strength when you need it and His joy to fill your days.

Beautiful Mystery

There is something magical about the mystery of a lake covered in fog to get the romantic in me stirring. It was such a beautiful morning on Sunday even though the temperature in Duluth was still somewhere below zero. We sat by the windows in the hotel and just watched as the fog rolled in and out of the bay. It was a little slice of heaven.

Peter and Rebecca's Wedding

Yesterday was Peter and Rebecca's wedding in Duluth. It was a day filled with lots of laughter and tears of joy. This was the second wedding in the Krause family this year and it was great to see everyone again. I will try and get a small video up from Sarah and Matt's wedding soon.

Peter and Becca, we wish you the best as you enter into this new chapter in life. It is very apparent that the two of you were made for each other. May God's blessing be upon your days as you live out the quiet reflections of your hearts. Congratulations!

2007 Rewind: Getting Wet

Here is a video of some of the fun the Allex cousins had this summer on the lake at Mom and Dad's. Between knee boarding and tubing they definitely stayed wet a lot of the summer.

2007 Rewind

Over the month of December we will be posting pictures and videos of the events from this past year. Check back often and see what happened this past year along with current happenings in our daily journeys. Blessings to you all...

First Snow

Today we received our first major snow fall of the year. Sean was the first one out the door to go sledding and snowboarding in the afternoon.



Autumn on the other hand decided that it would be better to be inside. This is the face I was greeted with as I open the door.



You can really tell we have grown up in the midwest because the minute it starts snowing someone in the house starts singing "IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS...EVERY WHERE WE GO..."

Ah yes, it is that time of year again. Stay warm and well.

Welcome Aboard!

We are so glad you could join us on this journey. We are looking forward to setting sail soon! Keep watching for further updates.