Star of the Week

Team Utzig had a mini-celebrity in their midst this past week. Summer was the "Star of the Week" in her Kindergarten section. This meant she was the line leader, she got to take 10 photos of herself to school and tell the other kids about them, we could join her in her classroom and take a "quiz" on her, brought one of her favorite books to read to the class, (Sum picked big brother Sam to read it - he even held it like a teacher - we never told him how!) watch her and her class work in the computer lab, and eat lunch with her. It was FUN!!

The class of 22 Kindergateners was very well behaved, had great listening skills, and seemed excited to see and learn about Summer's family. When the festivities were done, I went to thank her teacher, Mrs. Preheim, on what a great job she is doing. She said "Dare I say this has been my favorite class yet. They are a great bunch of kids and Summer is such a sweetheart." Those words warmed our hearts and made us feel proud of Sum, her classmates, and thankful to be part of the SFC family. They're all Stars!!

Steven Curtis Chapman Cinderella Music Video and story

Beware: hang on to your hankies if you click "play" and watch this video. When I heard this song on the radio; pictures of Summer prancing around the house without a care in the world, came to my mind. As the song shows the girl growing up through the years, it reminds me to not take the time with our "Cinderella" or "Tinkerbell" as we call her (we think she looks like Tink and Sum loves Tinkerbell) for granted. Time slips too quickly away. She might be prancing from room to room today, but the tomorrows are filled with school dances, prom, and her wedding day. We love you Tink! Dad or Mom would be happy to be your dance partner anytime!

CABIN FEVER!

This is what happens to Team Utzig when living on the frozen tundra keeps you inside to long. Add music, a 70's wig from Halloween a few years back, and there you have it...craziness! Let's hope, for our own sanity, that Spring isn't to far away!

Packer Fan???

Grandpa U. & Great Uncle Roger - this one's for you. Sam's blood usually runs Vikings purple. He received this shirt as a gift a while ago. He decided that since the Pack is headed to the Super Bowl, it might be okay to support them. On Sam's way out the door to school he said "I can't BELIEVE I'm WEARING this!!" He did get a little ribbing at school for it. However, he's not the only one whose blood might be getting a twinge of gold & green in, if only for a couple weeks anyway!

HoliDAZE

Sam will cream me when he finds out I put the first photo up on the blog...oh well!! This was how we were when we took our Christmas tree down...perhaps one to many late nights or perhaps we're just CRAZY!

On the last day of school before Christmas vacation, Sam's 4th grade class made tied blankets for sick kids in the hospital. He told us he would like to show us how to make one. Summer heard that and wanted one too. Coach Mom decided making these would be a nice keepsake, and good time sucker project for the kids to tackle. Off to the store we went where the kids each picked two flannel fabrics. Sam picked footballs in brown tones for one, and all different sports balls for the other. Summer picked soccer balls for one and princess' for the other. Once we got home, we spread them out on the floor. Sam showed us how to cut, & then tie them together. Sam did his completely on his own...took quite a while but he stuck with it and did a good job. The kids both like their blankets, especially Summer, and are proud of the work they did. They wanted me to show them off to you.

Hope you can stay warm in these Winter days. If you need help in that department, I know two kids that will take blanket orders!

Snapshots of Christmas 2010

Team Utzig had a nice Christmas 2010. We kicked off our Christmas Eve by celebrating His birth at Celebrate Church. We love our church and are so thankful for God leading us to it! Anyway, after the service it was present time. A couple of the biggest "hits" were Summer's pillow pet - a blue dolphin. (Her favorite color is blue, favorite animal the dolphin...this thing was meant for her!) Sam loved his book for his baseball/football card collections and a new Tim Tebow poster. (Tim is a Bronco, not a Viking, yet he is a Christian & a good role model in the sea of not-so-great-ones in sports.) The kids seem to enjoy "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader" & "Fan Favorite Sports" Wii games. Let's just say that by watching Summer drive her go-kart & dirt bike in this sports game we won't be handing over keys to a brand new car when she turns 16. She likes to go fast and thinks it's funny to run into things!

After presents it is time to get cozy downstairs by the fireplace. We bring a mattress out on the floor, eat lots of snacks, watch "The Polar Express" and fall asleep happy and all together.

Christmas morning we headed for G & G Utzig for more fun. We not only celebrated Christmas with them but also their 40th Wedding Anniversary. Summer and Grandma played dress-up, Sam & the guys watched football. You'll see a photo of S & S with their Great-grandparents who have been married 60 + years, and them sitting with 2 of their 4 cousins that live in the Twin Cities.

We are thankful for time to visit family, good roads for traveling, health for everyone, and most of all just time together to make memories, and remember who and what is important. Hope you liked our little peak into our holiday.