Celebrate 60!

We all celebrated dad's 60th birthday this weekend.  A couple siblings celebrated via facebook... which is okay... I guess.

Jill's tribute went a little like... "Happy birthday to my dad; he's still barefoot waterskiing, he loves breathing life into old cars, trucks, and campers, he can plant a row a corn a straight as yard stick, and he makes the most delicious pancakes over an open fire. He's been loving my mom for 40 years and makes having 9 fingers look easy.
Happy 60th, Dad. I count the memories I have chasing elk around Colorado and Montana with you among the most precious in my life. I can't wait to do it again and again until those wapiti know us by our boot prints. I love you, Pa!"  A little sappy if you ask me.  ;)

Alli's competitive spirit kicked in with "Happy 60th Birthday Dad! Jill had to Google how to spell Wapiti, but I've always known how to spell it. Boom who looks like the jerk now!"  I think she wants to be dad's favorite daughter.  But we all know who that is... it's the one who makes a cake.  And not just any cake.  A melt in your mouth Pioneer Woman coffee cake.  Yup.  I did that.  Not that i'm competing for favorite daughter or anything...


Cake with a candle for each decade served on his mom's special Birthday cake platter.

Other hometown happenings...

Fresh caught walleye competition!  Mom cooked her's over the stovetop and dad cooked his in the fireplace.  They were both good... mom's were extra crispy and dad's were bursting with flavor.  I'll let you guess which one was better.

Dutch Blitz!  The new Balgaard game! 

Ice fishing on secret lake!  I could tell you which lake we were fishing but then I would have to kill you.  We wouldn't want that now would we?

Frosty!

We gave a snowman kit to our nieces for Christmas.  I made all of the pieces and then put them in a gift bag and when they opened it they had to figure out what all of the pieces were for.  The snow was definitely not sticky enough to make a snowman but with a little water we were able to make a Frosty.  We danced around Frosty after he was made... because rumor has it that is how he comes alive!  When the girls woke up the next morning the first thing they checked was if Frosty was still there.  So cute! :)

Santa, Is it you?

Santa came to the Balgaard's for Christmas this year.  He looked and sounded strangely like uncle Peter.  We all know it wasn't Peter though because he was definitely in the bathroom (wink, wink).  He thought of a more casual approach... through the door instead of the chimney.  He is so wise these days.