I DID IT!!!

I found out this morning that I passed my nursing boards!! What a relief. I have never been so terrified in my life to find out my results. I can't believe I'm finished. Completely. SO exciting!!! We're celebrating tonight!

And I mean business!

Oh boy. Katie just sent us this email with this picture of Noah in it. There is something troubling on his mind, don't you think? I just had to share this.

All Alone

Well, Benjamin headed up north the Alexandria with Justin, Mandy and some of her family to go ice fishing for the weekend. They left around 6:00 Friday evening, and I realized as I was walking out the door a few minutes before 7:00, that Ben's winter boots were sitting by the door. Hmmm... it's supposed to be a high of zero degrees this weekend, and he'll be in a fish house, on ice, all weekend. I think he might want his boots. After a minor freak out, I met them in Hampton to deliver the goods. Poor boy, he'd be lost without a good wife. HA! Have fun this weekend Benji- I love you. Everyone-- stay warm!

My lovely wife. What a smile (she sure knows how to act nice when the camera is on)


















Dad and his new John Deere sweatshirt.


















For the love of God Pam...you're a working girl now. Buy the boy some socks (although Gray didn't seem to care).

















Here I'm trying to pass on to Tex a very important Bakken tradition... the post-meal nap! He'll catch on.











Mom and Chris in a heated "Lost" discussion... Are they actually lost? Is it all just a dream? Why don't their beards ever get any longer?

*The Love Birds*

Our friends Jamie and Michelle Stay had a little girl on October 27. Katherine Olivia. Her and Noah are buds.












I can't figure out how to rotate this picture, but turn your head and look-- they're holding hands.












Big Ben and the kids.














Tough day. I guess she can't handle partying at the Bakken's.


















This guy is tuckered out too.

Miley Kay and more!

Chubby little Miley Kay Pagel!! About 12 hours old. So cute!

A new family!






































Katie's girlfriends Hollie and Andrea hosted another baby shower for Katie and Noah at Hollie's house in Goodhue. Starting from the bottom of the stairs is Hollie, Andrea behind her, Nicole up front, Casey, Katie, Bekki, Noah and Erin. A fun afternoon.









This was our "Steel Magnolias" salon day. Katie was getting her hair done at our friend Jamie's shop in Wanamingo, and Noah was fussy. So they called me to come down and hold him since I was scheduled to get a trim after Katie. But earlier in the day, I asked Katie if she would rub my neck since I had a headache. So- as Katie's hair is processing, she's massaging my neck in the salon chair, while the hairdresser is babysitting! Oh welcome to Wanamingo. It was so nice to have Katie get some time for herself and get pampered.

Merry Christmas Lindell Family!! We're HUGE!

Dad and Mom. He looked away right as the flash went off. Hmm.

















Margene and Julie. Can you tell they're related?

Jim with a Ninja headscarf??






































Playing cards in the garage.













Jeff and Nicholas. The first picture I took of him was a little dull, so I asked him to smile like he was laughing. Maybe it was overkill.












The happy couple!

Cousin Maddox. Mom's little clone!


















Heidi Sue and Noah.


















Jada and Rowan were playing so cute together in the stairway.












Gabriel Knowlton. The most perfectly round face. Like a doll.


















Even Santa Clause came to visit us!! Noah's first time on Santa's lap. He couldn't wait.

Clauson Baby Shower for Katie and Noah Jan. 5, 2008

Guess the baby food??? Who can- it's all gross!













Auntie Deb flew all the way from Florida to come to the shower! It was her first time meeting Noah.

















Proud Grandma Val.

The Clauson sisters who hosted the baby shower for Katie and Noah.































Look at that face.


















The girls and Noah.













Playing a game with the Grandmas- Val and Ruthie

More randon shots

Randon Pictures

We got to see 2nd cousin Brady (Katie and Chuck's). They stopped by on the "Grove Home Tour '07."

Twins Daniel and John (our little pirates). I didn't get a picture of John on here earlier, so here it is!














Good Morning uncle Ben!! Watching The Emperor's New Groove before everyone else got up.












Daniel and his Yahtzee game from Ben and Bekki.












Grayson with Guess Who? (Superhero Version) Uncle Ben remains undefeated!












Matthew got Apples to Apples Jr. (What a fruit!) Smell ya' later buddy.

A visit to the Spam Museum in Austin, MN

Ben's sister and brother-in-law invited us to go to the Spam Museum the day after Chirstmas. Ben couldn't make it, because he was working. But we sure had fun without him! In the Spam doorway is niece Dana, sister Kristi, Don, brother-in-law Jake and nephew Aiden.














Can't go the Spam Museum without discovering how it's made! Here we are, dressed up as the factory workers.











Throughout the entire museum is a swirly track of Spam containers running above our heads.












Jake being timed on how quickly he can can the Spam! Does that make sense?

















Avonne and Don at the last stop out the door, the giant can of Spam with his festive santa hat.

Grove Chirstmas Eve

Having dinner. In line Jenny, Allie, Paige and Shirly in back.












Ethan, Ruthie (turned away), Scott, Micah, Ben, Avonne and Jenny.













Ben trying to teach Walker how to say F's instead of P's. Like Five instead of Pive, and Fork instead of Pork. He'd say "ffffpork!" Almost there.











Some of the kids playing Wii. Who's going first?














Nate Sommer holding Reed. Reed grabbing John's face.