The five days of Christmas

Pictured above are scenes from our annual Christmas celebration tour from Inver Grove Heights (our McBackFur Friendsmas) to Maple Grove to Apple Valley to New Ulm to Fairmont.  Keeping with tradition the girls were once again thoroughly spoiled.  

The biggest gift hits this year were: rock climbing gear, a sewing machine, Little Bits, Choose-Your-Own-Adventure books, a microphone, faux fur coats, and a Slip-N-Slide.

Merry Christmas to all!

Happy Holidays!

2016's holiday card from the Backers came with a B-side, which was more representative of the mood during this year's photoshoot... but didn't pass the editor's (L's) standards for the cover shot.

Choir birds

E & S and their Sunday School classes performed a few Christmas songs in front of the congregation this week.  Like last year, it seems we've got one kid who's a little more comfortable on stage than the other.  Here's a hint, the latter is hiding behind another kid... and the former... well, you'll see/hear.

Happy 39th

Yikes.  Dear Old Dad is nearing a milestone.  

Though, kicking off this final lap before the big 4-0 with breakfast in bed with my girls (and man's best friend), then pub crawling with the missus made it feel a whole lot better!

Peanuts at Peanuts

Nana and Linds took the girls to see the Peanuts crew in a Charlie Brown Christmas at Stages Theatre in Hopkins, MN.  

S especially loves the post-show autographs and photo opp.

Gopher Volleyball

While the men's college and professional sports in Minnesota are in a 24 year title drought, our women continue to bring home hardware.  The 2015 Lady Gopher volleyball team lookes to be the next in line, currently ranked #2 in the land and working their way through the December Madness NCAA tournament.  Naturally, we had to check them out!

BDO 2015

Opie pinch hit for Jason at this year's Gopher Football Boys Day Out.  Per usual, we started tailgating way to early, and stayed out way too late... hitting up Surly, Playoffs, Hop21, Bryant Lake Bowl (post-game selfie above), the VFW and Galactic Pizza.  I think.  The night was about as blurry as this picture... 

Cousins

E & S with first cousins Lucy and Alex, and second cousins Owen and Andee (of AZ) ... in the best pose we could get them in on Thanksgiving.

MSM

MN's unseasonably long fall looks to be wrapping up, and temps are hovering in the 20s and 30s... which means the shift to more indoor weekend fun, like zipping over to the Minnesota Science Museum in St. Paul (our first time, somehow?).

T-Rex made the biggest impression on the girls, literally.  And, the Human exhibits had their wheels turning (Rose's more than Ev's), discovering our bodies' insides.  My favorite moment was when we sent them off to the newscasters booth, they said "what's The News?".  Clearly children of the Millennials (well, at least one).  

1st Grade & Pre-K

School photos.  Fall 2015.  E (1st Grade) & S (Pre-K).

Lady Gophers

The family took in the Gopher Women's Hoops opener at Williams Arena.  

These games are hidden gems for young fans, as the team is outstanding (they nearly put up 100 on Wofford that evening), and the players, band, cheerleaders and Goldy are all amazingly accessible.

Maddie's 5th / Lucy's 1st

Nobody throws a better party than the McNerneys, and the Maddie/Lucy double-decker was a classic... three cakes, a giant bounce house, and, of course, ponies!

Gopher broke

While the kids and L were Halloweening with Tisha, Lucy and Alex, my dad and I joined Joe and a bunch of his Chicago buddies (and Wolverine fans) for a rare night game for the Gophers.  

Michigan won the Battle for the Jug 29-26 in a roller coaster of a game, on an emotional evening (days after Jerry Kill's resignation due to health concerns).  The Gophs elected to go for the win on the game's final play, instead of kicking a FG for the tie, but the Wolverine defense held strong.  Another deflating, and sadly classic, Minnesota sports moment.

Trick or Treat

E, Rapunzel.  S, a raccoon (again).  G, Captain America.  

Not pictured, fellow T-or-T'ers Lucy the ladybug and Alex the dragon.

Duluth, Take 2

We had so much fun at our end-of-summer Duluth trip, that Nana, Joe, La and their families wanted us to run it back over MEA weekend... this time with all of them!

We hit many of the same stops (Jay Cooke, Enger, Grandma's, Vikre, Northern Waters, DeWitt), while sprinkling in a few of other Duluth classics we missed last time (Tobie's, Fitger's, Bent Paddle, Canal Park Brewery). 

Court of Dreams

A basketball junkie, I'd always wanted a hoop in my driveway.  After a 20 years, I finally made it happen this summer.  To make up for lost time, I went all-in... excavating half of my backyard to create space for an "official" Sport Court!

Oh, and I suppose it'll be fun for the kids too...

SRB's 5th

On October 13th, Little Miss SRB turned five!  

All the Rose wanted for her birthday was a party at Chuck-E-Cheese, a rainbow cake and no bedtime... so we celebrated with her closest friends over pizza, the world's most colorful cakes (thanks, Jaryn!), endless arcade games... and late night movies until she conked out. 

[Pictured (L-R): Sydney, Kianna, Lauren, S, Chelsea, Kennedi]

Minnetonka Orchards

The annual fall Minnetonka Orchards trip was a hit, as always.  In year's past the hay ride and playground were the girls' favorites, but this year the corn maze and apple picking were the big winners...

Menver

The Men of Misty Run (my neighbor guys and I) made an impromptu trip to "the sunshine state" (Denver, CO... for non-Dumb & Dumber fans) to watch the Vikings play the Broncos at Mile High, and to bond while eating and drinking our way through the city.  The Vikes lost on the game's final play, 20-23... but the weekend was a blast, nonetheless.  

Highlights include the Double Cheese at the Burger Radiofood truck, cocktails at the Green Russell, fried green chili wontons at Paramount Cafe, beers at the Great Divide and Dam breweries, late night pizza at Two Fisted Mario's, omelettes at Sam's No. 3, "hiking" at Loveland Pass, and tailgating with TONS of Vikings fans... and the weekend full of notable quotables.  

Junior Jammer

E's back for season two of Junior Jammers.  Goose neck, check.  Elevation, check.  Jordan tounge wave, check.

The back woods

One of our favorite "features" of our new home is the wildlife that routinely hang out in and around the wooded area and pond on the backside of our lot... and sometimes right next to our house!  One of my favorite joys of this experience is hearing my city-slicker wife squeal and describe these creatures when seeing them for the first time:

"Look, an ostrich!" (actually, a heron)
"Look, a giant rat!" (actually, a muskrat)
"Look, a wolf!" (actually, a coyote)
"Look, a vulture!" (actually, a turkey)
"Look, a frog!" (actually, a toad)
"Look, a swan!" (actually, a great egret)
"Look, a ... what the heck kind of duck is that?" (actually, a pheasant)

To be fair, she got the turtle, snake, duck, mouse, eagle, and deer right on the first attempt!