Happy Holidays

 ... from our family to yours!

Our Christmas

A Goldbelly brisket dinner from Feges BBQ, with homemade mac & cheese and cornbread as sides. Then, Elf (of course) and tiramisu as a night cap... before the "all quiet" for Santa to do his thing overnight.

We all were too spoiled once again... most of all to be home, healthy and happy.

Merry Christmas to all!

Xmas with G'pa Tom

A pasta bar feast meal, cookie decorating contests, science experiments with dry ice, bowling, holiday movies... and too many gifts!

A holiday tradition

Sawyer placing the star on the Christmas tree for the 11th consecutive year... 

Happy 47th

Celebrated my 47th with breakfast in bed with my girls, lunch at the Red Nose Room at Red Cow in Uptown with my boys, then hoops practice with my squad all evening.

Couldn't ask for a better day!

Middle School Hoops

S and Brie joined CMS' "school ball" squad to get some reps in and some more "chill" sport time with friends. 

Fun team, fun season!

School Choir

S and her fellow 7th grade classmates belting out Taylor Swift's 'All Too Well'. 

These things are actually getting pretty good as the kids grow up! 

JV vs. Prior Lake

The wins continue for E's JV squad. 

As does her streak of 3s and lefty layups...

Thank you, cousins Roman and Aubree, for coming to cheer E on!

(please forgive the photo quality... its a bit more awkward to get the fancy camera out and secure optimal placement at these HS games than it is for the youth ones)

First one in the gym

... always.

This kid insists on arriving before anyone else to all things basketball. We're often the ones flipping lights on, sneaking in some back entrance that probably shouldn't be open to the public. 

Love the work ethic, S. 

7A @ Forest Lake

S's 7A squad swept the competition at the annual Border Battle, knocking off rival Lakeville North at the buzzer in the championship and beating the ONE team we'd never previously beaten, Stewartville, in the semifinal (after taking down both Darlington and Muskeego in earlier rounds).

One of the best hoops weekends of Sawyer's "career" (and mine).

9A & JV vs. Chanhassen

Fun game against AAU buddy Blake and her Chanhassen teammates (9A & JV). E & company won both games. 

The Friedlys, youth hoops teammates, cheered the squad on from the sidelines.

JV @ Chaska

E & company beat up on Chaska to keep the undefeated season rolling...

Facial Friends

Sawyer and friends' post-facial at her buddy Cali's birthday party at Face Foundrie...

7A @ Minnetonka

7A defeated Farview, I mean, Minnetonka, in an outstanding come-from-behind game that was won with clutch FTs and big defensive stops at the Snow Globe Classic championship (after beating STMA and Chanhassen prior).

9A vs. Lakeville South

A lopsided 9A win over Lakeville South  for E at the Breakdown pre-season event, with uncle Joe, Aunt T, and cousins Lucy & Alex in attendance.

JV vs. Rosemount

E played JV vs. Rosemount at the pre-season Breakdown Jamboree and the team walked away with a win. Fun to see E find her way against bigger, stronger competition. 

Her "recipe" seems to 2-3 from three, a couple lefty lay-ups and "pick 6" each game.

Keep it up, girl! 

9A & JV vs. Maple Grove

E's HS basketball career started at home on the 9A squad vs. Maple Grove. The team won big, and E raced down the hall to the "big court" to also play a half of JV ball immediately after.

Things change, but looking like she'll play a blended 9A and Junior Varsity season her freshman year. Not to shabby for a B-squader just a few years ago. 

So impressed by your work ethic, Evie. Whatever your goal, you find your way to it.

BDO XIV

14 years in a row of Boys Day Out with the Gopher football rivalry game, and a day of competition, laughs and memories with my oldest and closest...

(Gophs got pounded by the Badgers 28-14, BTW)

Thanksgiving

Full turkey and all the fixings spread with Nana & Greg in Fairmont and happy hour favorites with Grandpa Tom at J&T's temporary home at the Fred in Edina... and about 6000 calories across the two. 

Thankful for this healthy, happy bunch...

Mara vs. Paige

WHS alum Mara Braun and the MN Gophers hosted former MN Miss Basketball Paige Bueckers and the #2 UConn Huskies in a nearly sold out November classic. Close early, but UConn finished strong. 

Outstanding night for women's hoops in MN! 

Trojan Madness

The annual WGBA + WHS girls hoops kickoff was a success. Always impressive to see this community come together and support one another.

(A bit surreal to see E on the HS side of the event too!)