Stuffed!!

After three Thanksgivings, we are stuffed to the brim. Really feels like I've been eating non-stop for 4 days now! Having a few extra days of 'vacation' was nice but where did it go???

We managed to put up Christmas decorations and the tree up over the weekend (I've learned already with 3 kids I'll be fixing the tree every 5 minutes). Kyle play Clark Griswold and hung the lights on the house. Friday I took the annual shopping trip with my sister, Mom and Grandma to Waterloo. This year we traveled to Waterloo instead of the annual Des Moines trip. I have to say this was the best shopping experience I have had. So many items crossed of my list on the first day of Christmas shopping! I will admit I'm quite proud of the job I did!!! Kyle started his basketball reffing season with a game on Saturday.

Today we did something that I hope to make a yearly tradition. We headed to Des Moines for the Festival of Trees which is a charity event for Blank Children's Hospital. There were so many beautifully decorated trees, activities for the kids and Santa and the money going to help the hospital and children who stay there. In with the path of trees were posters with a child's picture and story about when they were at the hospital. I don't think I read one without a tear...even the one with a story of a broken finger at a girl's soccer game!

It was a good way to end the Thanksgiving weekend and remember just how lucky each one of us really are!

Split weekend

Last weekend we were split between two places as Kyle and I were in Iowa City and the girls were in Ames, both during the Hawks and Cyclone home games.

Kyle was my escort to Iowa City on Friday morning with a pre-sunrise departure time of 3:30 Am from Conrad. We were heading there because I was having my right ear 'fixed'. After my left ear was operated on in April we decided that if I wanted to have the right ear done it would need to be this year...we are looking for BIG tax return in '09...lots of children and lots of medical bills. The procedure was scheduled for a early time of 7:15 Am. A bone in my hear was removed and a piece replaced it so I can hear without assistance. Everything went well, much better than the first one. It is an overnight stay and by the time I was discharged it was about 1 hour from kickoff. Since the hospital is literally a few feet away from the stadium, Kyle had time to locate a couple of friends and join in the Hawk tailgating festivities while I got ready to head home.

Over in Cyclone country was a tailgating party we were sad to miss. My family headed to Ames to watch the proposal of my brother, Marcus, to his girlfriend, Tanya. It all took place at the tailgate party her parents have at each home game.

Marcus posing with Jack (Marcy's son), Morgan, and Cameron.

Plans are now in the works. Congrats to Marcus and Tanya!!!

Happy Halloween

Here is a little glimpse of Halloween at the Bergman's this year.

This was taken of Tinkerbell and Dora before went took them to preschool for the Halloween party.

Parker relaxing comfortably in her favorite bean-bag chair.

Tinkerbell, a UNI cheerleader and a cow were the choices this year. Having a tub full of girl Halloween costumes was great for the checkbook this year. We hope they are this easy every year!!

Morgan practing her spirit fingers before walking around the block.

Parker staying warm while trick-or-treating.

Favorite quote while collecting way too much candy.

Cameron: "My basket is getting too heavy!"

Kyle: "Do you want to put in in the wagon for a while?"

Cameron: "No, Dad, you make such bad decisions sometimes."

Just a little afraid of not getting the candy back, perhaps???