We got together with Roy and Sharon ( she is "working" the dough) and made our Lefse for the season. No true Norsky Christmas is complete without it!!! Growing up, my family always filled them with meatballs and cranberry sauce. Liz's family would spread them with butter and a generous amount of sugar.

Roy was in charge of cooling and stacking... We ended up with 47 Lefse and will split the 'bounty' to take to our various Christmas celebrations coming shortly.

I think he was just told that he got Steph and Shawn as parents... he is one lucky young man !!!

Meet Mr Jacob Ryan Zerbe, our new grandson from North Carolina. He looks like his Dad for sure.

Snowed 8" so far today. The bridge will have to wait till Spring for its handrails... ( Darn, I was just going to do that today too! )

Just before it snowed this week, these Snow's and Blue's stopped by for a little rest before continuing South. Can you tell if they are LANDING or TAKING FLIGHT???

YES, YES I know. I already got the SPANKIN'. Stop back in a couple days and see if maybe something has been posted... Many things have been going on, so I will bring this space back to life!! In the meantime be thinking GRANDPARENTS...

We boarded Ryan's ship in San Diego for a 4 day "cruise" up to Bremerton, Wa. After the BATTLE with claustrophobia (which I WON through lots of prayer), it was absolutely fantastic. The Stennis was just coming back from an 8 month deployment which included the Persian Gulf region. What an experience to live with these great American Sailors for their last 4 days at sea, and to see the reception and appreciation of the WELCOME HOME crowd at the dock. It was very moving for us and the other family members on board.

This is what the Captain sees as he and the bridge crew steer the ship.

We stood "WATCH" with Ryan a couple times over these 4 days. This is the steering room where all the hydraulics move the rudders.

Over 3 football fields worth of flight deck.
We could roam up here most any time unless the wind was too strong.

hangar bay with door open and elevator up

Maybe these were used when they were in Persian Gulf, but not this day.

Ryan and Liz in a mess hall. (one of several) Yup.. thats a flat screen TV behind them. This ship is basically a small city, they make around 400,000 gallons of water a day and serve up to 18,000 meals per day.

Stored in the hanger bay is this Fleet Admirals 'Barge'. Its maybe 38' and used to shuttle the "brass" around in certain ports...

TV lounge connected to our berthing area. There were several of these on the ship

Liz keeps finding all these cool places to watch the sea.

As Crystal would say, "these binoculars ROCK!!!"

These canisters (approx 3'x5') are the life boats. When released and dropped to a depth of about 12 ft below the surface, a sensor pops the whole thing open to make a rubber raft that will hold 25 people. Oh ya... and enough food and water to last 5 days. Both sides of the ship have lots of these since the Stennis can accomodate over 5000 Sailors.

We are closing in on a resupply ship 40 miles offshore. Once both are side by side and maintaining 13 knots, the supply lines are "shot" across to take on more provisions.