Cellars wine shop was sampling three New Year's Eve "champagne" options. Did you know that only "champagne" produced in the Champagne region of France can be called "champagne?" All others are called "sparkling wine." Cellars carries 25 varieties of champagne or sparkling wine bottles ranging from $5.99 to $200. Their options come from France, Italy, Spain and California.
Our daughters met another family ice skating at a city outdoor rink at the corner of Pilot Knob Road and Cliff Road at dinner time on Wednesday evening. Their 4 and 3 year old sons were trying the ice for the first time! 
An independent beauty consultant with Mary Kay Cosmetics has earned this pink Cadillac. She's a hard working business owner who sells lipsticks, mascara, hand lotions and much more to women in our area. She must have been one of the women in the huge line at the post office...
Coborns Delivers brings fresh groceries to your front door from your internet order, quick and easy. They used to be called "Simon Delivers;" click here to see a previous summer delivery.
We drove to neighboring Apple Valley to visit my twin brother and his family on Christmas Day. Our parents and my brother's parents-in-law were also there. The dinner menu included: mashed potatoes & gravy, turkey, baked carrot dish, cranberry fruit salad, raisin stuffing, lefse, breads, and cranberry cake with butter sauce for dessert. 
My family and I wish you a very Merry Christmas and hope that you are enjoying a special holiday season! This photo was taken after the Christmas Eve worship service at our church, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in St. Paul.
It's Christmas Eve day and we drove to the nearby Burnsville Center shopping mall this afternoon for a photo with Santa. I felt like the GRINCH because they wouldn't let me take my own photo but I was able to scan our purchased photo later....
This home in a cul-de-sac in neighboring Inver Grove Heights is all lit up for Christmas. It was on a newspaper list of most illuminated houses in the Twin Cities. His neighbors also had LOTS of lights!
An Eagan High School choir sang Christmas carols at the Eagan Rotary Club's lunch meeting today. The students were all dressed in pajamas since today was "Pajama Wednesday" at their school. 
For many years, a main department store in Minnesota was known as Daytons. Then it was called Marshall Fields and finally Macy's became the new name! Take a swing over to the Mall of America for dazzling holiday options at Macy's!
Tim Strand, our Gloria Dei Lutheran Church organist and music director, joined us for coffee and a Swedish Christmas pastry on Saturday morning.
Out on a "night photo safari," I spotted this lovely house decorated for Christmas.
Mount Calvary Lutheran Church has offered worship and service opportunities in Eagan for over 50 years. Their sanctuary is decorated for Advent - come and worship!
These mailboxes are up to their necks in snow from last weekend's blizzard! And the red fire hydrant is almost covered up with white fluffy powder. (Yes, that homeowner SHOULD uncover it!)
On Thursday afternoon, our 5 year old daughter's preschool presented their Christmas program at a local church.
Thinking back to Thanksgiving, I sure enjoyed turkey for the holiday meal and turkey leftovers in the following days. I think we should cook another turkey.... What do you think? See other "food for thought" here.
Tami's Fast Frame next to Cub Foods won a front window decoration prize. And last week, Tami invited photographer Wayne Moran to display his photos during a "Meet the Artist" evening in her store! Cheers!
Aren't the pine trees lovely all covered with snow?! Over 14 inches (35 cm) of snow fell this past weekend and the temperature was 5 degrees Fahrenheit (- 15 Celsius)!
At Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, the sanctuary is decorated for Advent. Every Sunday, more Christmas ornamentations are added as we wait and anticipate Christmas. 
Great Kate, one of the St. Paul city daily photo bloggers, and I enjoyed cafe' mochas and treats together in St. Paul on a quiet Friday afternoon. We chatted about our favorite CDP blogs and caught up since our last visit in Eagan a year ago.
Some church friends came over tonight for knitting, crocheting, talking and fun. From left: Jeanette, Judith, Pat, Ann, my wife Anne, Julie and Sarah. Wine or coffee and a smorgasbord of treats and snacks were enjoyed by all before some "serious" stitching!
Eight Eagan Rotarians met at Walmart on Thursday morning at 7 am to shop for Christmas gifts for 10 local, needy families through the "Armful of Love" program. Photo by Rotarian Jerry Swanson. 
Mayor Mike Maguire cut the celebratory red ribbon for Eagan's new "Pantry" with the help of many community volunteers. This new, larger, brighter, better equipped food shelf aims to serve the growing hunger problem in our area.
Bad news: in 2005, just 38 families benefited from this service but now 525 families need monthly help with food.
The Eagan Lioness Club joined with the Eagan Lion's Club for a de-licious potluck dinner on Monday night at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. After dinner, 35 people wrapped 350 Christmas gifts for 15 local families and 3 flood victim families. This "Armful of Love" project is a fun annual team effort!
Loads of lovely, Lutheran ladies met for a Christmas Tea at Easter Lutheran Church (by the lake) on Monday evening. Each hostess decorated a table with her Christmas dishes and finery which made for a colorful, beautifully decorated room. Pastor Deb Stehlin spoke and music was provided by "Amy & Carol."
