Over President’s Day weekend, we enjoyed some beautiful weather up at Deep Portage Conservation Area. It was a bit light on the snow, but a good system moved through on Sunday morning giving us a few inches of fresh powder! This allowed us to get the boys into skis for the first time, and they did pretty well.
Christmas 2017
Merry Christmas!
Halloween 2017
It was a bit chilly (28°), but it was a nice evening for trick or treating. We bumped into a bunch of our neighbors who, like us, set the bowl of candy on the front step and hit the sidewalk.
MEA 2017
With the boys and Elise off of school, we decided to spend our days having fun locally. On Thursday, Elise and the boys went to Fall Harvest Orchard and enjoyed the corn maze, animals, and corn bin. They also brought home a sack of apples to make into some homemade applesauce!
On Friday, I took the day off and we enjoyed a beautiful fall day at the Lowry Nature Center. The sun was shining, and it was a perfect day to enjoy a walk in the woods.
On Saturday, we headed to the Minnesota Transportation Museum in St. Paul, where we were able to see old trains in a working roundhouse! We experienced a short train ride, toured the machine shop, and received a demonstration by a blacksmith. Afterward, we drove to the Mall of America. There, we enjoyed a mirror maze and had the boys each pick out a Lego set from the Lego store. All in all, it was an enjoyable few days!
Laura and Russ Get Married
A bit of sunshine, a bit of rain, and a beautiful Basilica make for a great wedding. Laura and Russ tired the knot on October 14th at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis. With Henry and William as ring bearers, Jacob reading the intercessions, and Elise as the Best Matron, it was a family affair. The reception afterward was at the Marriott Southwest where Elise and I had ours 8 years prior! The weekend was a blast with the chance to visit with the Degens and Kelly’s, the boys grooving on the dance floor, and the opportunity to enjoy the swimming pool the next morning prior to brunch at Mary and Larry’s house.
St. Jude Walk (Vikings Stadium)
On Saturday, we joined Fred and Cathy in the St. Jude Walk for Children’s Cancer. The highlight of this walk was that it started on the pavilion of the new Vikings Stadium and, after walking around it, you ended on the 50 yard line! The boys (and I) enjoyed getting a chance to see this amazing stadium and be right on the field!
Henry’s 5th Birthday
This past week we celebrated Henry’s fifth birthday. Elise delivered on his request for a ninja turtle birthday cake and we enjoyed a grand outing to a Twins game with all of our family members. Prior to the game, the boys received some autographs which was followed by a post game running of the bases. It was pretty awesome to walk right onto the field and get a while new view of the stadium. Most importantly, Henry absolutely loved it!
First Day of School (2017)
The fall has arrived and on September 5th, Henry started preschool at Tiger Kids Club! Jacob returned to the elementary school (1st grade) while William is with Wendy. Here’s the crew on the first day:
Enjoying the Outdoors
As the summer draws to an end, we thought it was the perfect time to get in some last-minute outings. We packed the van and headed down the road to Baker Park. While there’s no privacy, the campground is layed out nicely and has great facilities. We enjoyed cruising the paved bike paths, playing on the playground, and fishing. Grandma and Grandpa even stopped in for some smores!
A few weeks later we tossed the bikes in the van and drive to St. Boni. where we hopped on the Dakota Regional trail. Destination: Big Stone Mini Golf! The mini golf course is right on the trail and you can enjoy the golf, sculpture park, or just relax around the campfire. It’s a fun spot and some good golfing.
State Capitol
At long last, the Minnesota Capitol renovations have been completed. To celebrate the occasion, a weekend of events and tours was held for the public to come and see the changes. It was a great opportunity to bring the boys and have them learn a little about our state government. The highlight for them was the tunnel between buildings and the Lego replica.