2019 Misty Run Wildlife

We used to see so much wildlife in our backyard, but there's just not much habitat remaining sadly.  Literally 100s of houses have been built in the few square miles around our home since we moved in just six years ago.  

This year, I was only able to capture a shot of a rabbit on our doorstep, a turtle on our driveway (that had both Buster and Linds on edge), and a deer near our pond.

SKOL

Just me, S and Burnsy taking in a Vikes game...

Grand View Lodge

This year's GVL trip overlapped exactly with our good friends', the Kiesers, annual vacation tradition as well.  Same standard stops at Ski Gull, the GVL ice rink and pool, Big Axe and the Chocolate Ox... but with twice the fun!

Sporty Spice

I'm not sure how this one does it, but S finds a way to play her heart out with both rec hockey and hoops, and in just a few days will be adding travel basketball into the mix.  

Here are back to back shots of #15 and #6 playing games on the ice and court, respectively, just hours apart.

Our Xmas

Santa was kind the the Backer family again this year...

Matching ties, purses, Harry Potter and NBA bedding, books, bully sticks, gaming chairs... oh my!

(After a quick stop to the ER to put seven stitches in my Dad's hand after a box-cutter injury opening a dog toy, that is).

Xmas with G'Pa Tom

Arcade, laser tag, also too many gifts, and brews at Unmapped...

Happy Holidays!

Happy holidays from our family to yours...

Xmas with Nana

Sledding, skating, NFL football, too many presents and a happy hour at Backer's Bar...

Happy 43rd

A ho-hum birthday day given the holiday hustle & bustle, but an amazing start with breakfast in bed with these three!

Play Where the Pros Play

  

E's 5-2 squad go to participate in an NBA "Play Where the Pros Play" day, playing a game on the Timberwolves court vs. Minnetonka... complete with lights out introductions, announcers, the jumbotron scoreboard, use of the T-Wolves bench, and unlimited Gatorade.

The girls were all smiles and electric with excitement.  Quite the unforgettable experience.

Afterwards, the team grabbed dinner at Rock Bottom and caught about half of the Wolves/Pelicans game before crashing hard and heading home for one final day of school before the holiday break.

Rockstar

S negotiated to make the switch from piano to guitar this year.  She won't admit to liking it, but deep down I think she's pretty proud of her skills on the strings.

Here's her performance of the Surfaris' Wipe Out at her first recital.

D.A.R.E.

E and girlfriends at their D.A.R.E. graduation.  Her pledge was video-recorded and will be played before she leaves the house every day in high school.

Chanhassen Basketball Tournament

Another trophy for E's 5-2 goofballs.  Getting better every week.

Minnetonka Holiday Classic

E's 5-2 hoops squad went 3-1, losing in the championship to a tough, tough A team from Roseville in their best game of the season.  They rallied back from a 22-6 deficit, tying the game with a baseline three by Evie with under a minute to play, ultimately losing by one after two good looks rimmed in & out in the final seconds.

Fun game.  Fun squad.

Thin ice

Buster, looking very uncomfortable with the girls' decision to test the (hardly frozen) waters of Fish Lake

Vegas

Crazy high airfare and even crazier family calendars threw a wrinkle into this year's Misty Run Men's Viking Road Trip and had us in Vegas watching from the Sports Book versus in the unfriendly confines of a road opponent.

The Vikes lost a big game to the Seahawks, and Gophs lost a bigger one to the Badgers, the temps were in uncharacteristically low (in the 40s) and the blackjack, Pai Gow and poker tables weren't terribly friendly... but we managed to find a way to have a good time!

Thanksgiving

Punch Bowl Social with Grandpa Tom, Fairmont with Nana and working off the calories at the FHS Alumni Tournament with the Team 1990s (check out the reduction in speed of the game in this photo).