Misty Run Wildlife, 2016

Wildlife visits in our backyard were fewer and farther between this year, so we caught much less on camera.  I blame the non-stop construction and unfortunate demolition of wetlands and farmland.  As Sawyer says, "the Lorax must be so sad".

The river otter (actually, a lodge of eight of them raced across our basketball court before scurrying into the pond) was a new addition to the list this year.  I swear I saw a fish jump in July, but nobody believes me... and, admittedly, odds are long that our pond can support that species.  No wood ducks or coyotes in 2016 (though we heard them).  The more common repeat sightings include frogs, toads, turtles, muskrats, deer, turkeys, eagles, heron.   

Cragun's

Thanks to some procrastinating our run of New Year's family escapes to Grand View Lodge came to a halt this winter.  Thankfully, Cragun's (just down the road) had room in their inn so we were able to continue our Northwoods tradition.

We skated, shopped Nisswa, swam and hot tubbed, played life-sized Angry Birds, pull tabs, board games in our "cabin" and BINGO at Grand View Lodge, and topped it all off with a day of downhill skiing at Ski Gull.  Both E & S were doing Black Diamond runs be end of day, much to their mother's chagrin.  

The four days of Christmas

Scenes from our Christmas celebrations in Maple Grove, New Ulm, Fairmont and Apple Valley...

The girls favorite moments were getting Rip Sticks from Santa in Maple Grove, winning an M&M dispenser at the adult exchange and Uncle Dan's in New Ulm, making up and acting out plays (Cinderella and Home Alone) in Fairmont, and playing Scrabble in Apple Valley.

Happy Holidays!

Our 2016 holiday card...

Lordy, lordy, I'm freakin' 40!

I celebrated my 40th with a day of fun with neighborhood at the Vikes/Colts game (with a little pre and post-game partying downtown), a breakfast-in-bed with the kiddos, and a surprise evening at Du Nord and Eat Street Social with my BFFs (not pictured... though I get along well with those Old Fashioneds), coordinated by Linds. 

The first 40 were a hell of a ride.  Can't wait for the next round...

The Apprentice

I absolutely LOVE when E & S help me with house projects, especially those that require tools.  Here Evie disassembles the washing machine so we could repair a clogged drain.

Storm

I signed up to coach E's 2nd and 3rd grade hoops squad, the Storm, this season.  Sawyer was pretty disappointed there was no kindergarten league, so I asked her to be my assistant coach... and, after losing a player to injury the first week, she's (illegally) been playing in games too.

I'm not sure who's having more fun, the girls or I.  Either way, it's been a great season so far.  The kids root for one another, share the ball, get better each week... and take the games adorably seriously, e.g. tears when losing, and offering "feedback" to the scorer's table and refs when things aren't going our way (we're working on these things!).

Rosie's specialty is definitely defense and speed dribbling, in fact the league banned stealing after the second week due to the lopsided advantage it gave our team (it's called the "Isabella Rule", as that's the name on the fake ID she's playing with).  Evie's an outstanding passer... patiently waiting for open teammates while pivoting and making careful, crisp bounce passes.  She's a great lay-up'er too, from both the left and right!

Storm (L-R, T-B): Isabella, Evie, Harper, Ashrita, Alayna, Sawyer, Emma

BDO 2016

Only one photo was taken at this year's annual Boys Day Out (Gopher football), and it's probably for the better.  Though, this simple Bryant Lake Bowl scorecard is pretty incriminating too...

GMI Holiday Party

Santa made a visit to General Mills' Holiday Party, so the girls were able to share their wish lists and confirm their "nice list" designations.  

(The "150" is in reference to GMI's milestone birthday this year, BTW.) 

Rudolph

E, S and Lucy with the cast of Rudolph after the show at Stages in Hopkins.

Winter Park

While booking a work trip to Denver, I noticed airfare rates were at an all-time low, so I extended my stay a few days and added the family to my itinerary to squeeze in an impromptu mountain getaway (Nana, a former Coloradan, jumped on the deal too to join in the fun and catch up with old friends).

On day one we grabbed brunch at Sharky's in Fraser, and XC skiied at Devil's thumb with the snow-covered peaks of the Rockies as our backdrop.  After a quick lunch stop, we we snow tubed the Coca-Cola runs at Winter Park... and then, things went south.

Long story short, the rapid ascent from sea level to nearly 10,000' very nearly knocked E out (elevation illness).  We found ourselves in the ER early that evening, and the poor thing was on oxygen and fluids overnight.  When her vitals stabilized the next morning, we were discharged with strict orders to take it easy and to head down in elevation... so, we spent the remainder of our vacation in movie theaters and hotel beds (after a quick stop in the outdoor pool and hot tub, a "bucket item" for Sawyer that she just plain wasn't leaving town without experiencing).

Oh, and speaking of Sawyer, while E & I were in the hospital, she got to spend some time in an ambulance as the fire department showed up to our VRBO to inspect the home for potential carbon monoxide (at 2am, mind you).

Clearly a vacation we'll never forget!

Wolves

A hoops buddy, Gabe, hooked me up with (nearly) courtside seats for the Wolves/Knicks match-up.  The seats were so close to the action that you could hear the on-court banter, and truly appreciate the size, speed and grace of theses "superfreak" athletes... oh, and so close that the back of my head was on national TV all night (that's my mug under the 'Y' in New York).

Glow Bowl

A winter warm-up under black lights at the Medina Lanes...

BDO VII

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Sling

Two hours before we were to be hosting Thanksgiving, this one decided to have a sledding accident that had us zipping to the ER.  No break, no dislocation... but painful extension and rotation, so S was prescribed a sling for four days to ease back into health and activity.  Of course, the Artist couldn't have a plain, white accessory... so we dressed it up immediately upon returning home.

Thanksgiving

We bucked tradition big-time this year, hosting a "Brady Bunch" Thanksgiving, on a Friday, over BBQ pork, chicken and brisket... and all went so well, we may just do it again next year!  

SRB's 1st (lost) tooth

A little pep talk (for both of us... squeamish me doesn't love my tooth-pulling role here any more than S & E love getting their teeth yanked) and a quick pull resulted in Sawyer's first lost tooth!

Roman

La & Opie trusted their first born with L & I as they took their first overnight trip (several nights, and to a whole 'nother country, at that), mostly because they knew Romy would be in good hands with his cousins (who kept him smiling and laughing all week!).

Vegas, baby. Vegas.

Jeremy and I spent a few days and nights in Las Vegas third and fourth-wheeling Linds & Joelle's girls' weekend to see Britney's Piece of Me and Cirque's Zumanity shows, run the Rock-N-Roll Half Marathon (a night time race the ends on the Strip), and sit poolside on Mandalay Bay's "winter" deck (the boys did cut away for blackjack, craps, roulette, poker and sportsbook now and again...OK, maybe more frequently).