christmas in minot - the first day

after spending my last day in new york furiously riding my bike all over town shopping for gifts, it was finally time to head home into the cold, snowy arms of north dakota.

by total random chance during my layover in the minneapolis airport, i ran into my friend lisa.

she was just ending her trip, mine was just getting started.

i ended up getting into minot at midnight. after hanging out with my family for a bit, it was sleepy time.

the next morning i took one of my brothers to the mall to do so very last minute shopping...

the Dakota Square!

it was amazing.

later that night, the entire kulig family went to the always delicious Sammy's Pizza for dinner.

after that, my sister, dad and i went to The Barley Pop and played darts.

then we headed over to the wedding reception of an old childhood friend of mine.

it turned out to be the first get together of the trip.

steve carlson was there. so was his moustache and soon-to-be-cut long hippy hair.


here's larry and my pops chumming it up.


michelle gunderson was there (as were her awesome parents).


me and my smiley dad.

david and larry continued their epic battle for the love of my sister...


you boys had better watch it.


there was even a little dancing. a tiny, wee little bit.

after the party was over, it was off to dylan's house.

aww, downtown minot!

i'll spare you the photos from the rest of the night, though this pretty much sums it up:

in case you can't tell, larry is holding a shot of some terrible pink alcohol. it would prove to be the first of many.

gross...