Minnesota Laingens

Happy New Year - 2012!

2012-01-28T17:56:00.000-08:00

Christmas is Coming!

2011-12-22T20:11:00.001-08:00

Hi Everyone! Our family got into the Christmas spirit this week with an outing to the Guthrie Theater, to see "A Christmas Carol." We had a huge spaghetti dinner before hand, and enjoyed an inch of new, falling snow to add to the evening. We hope you and yours have a blessed Christmas!

Thanksgiving Runners!

2011-11-24T15:50:00.000-08:00

Here are the runners who braved the cold, early morning for the "Fast Before the Feast" run in White Bear Lake on Thanksgiving day! Actually, it was a beautiful, mild day - not too cold, and no rain, or snow on the ground. Important running tip: don't run in wool socks when it's not that cold out!

L-R: Kim (5K), Janet (5K), Rachel (10K), Ruth (10K), Chip (10K), Jack (10K) and Mike (10K)... We did it - congrulations, everyone!

...And here are all the cousins hanging out at Ruth & Craig's house after the race. They put on a huge brunch spread for Thanksgiving - thank you!!!

Reporting for... Halloween!

2011-11-12T19:41:00.000-08:00

Rocket Boys!

2011-10-08T13:24:00.000-07:00

Ethan, Grayden and Jack joined Luke for an outing to celebrate his 11th birthday. We went all the way up to North Branch, Minnesota, to see a rocket launching event! There were the normal Estes brand rockets (that we used to launch in Afghanistan, and on the farm, as kids!), larger "M" class rockets that were 12 feet tall - and even a "Spider" rocket. The kids were able to launch their own, and even had their names announced as their own space vehicles left the launch pad!

High School Stars!

2011-10-05T18:46:00.000-07:00

Luke is Eleven!

2011-10-02T15:43:00.001-07:00

Luke turned 11 today! He had a great day, visiting Minnehaha Falls and renting some crazy bikes to roll along the Mississippi! We got a little lost thanks to some poor navigation by Mom and Dad, but a stop at Dairy Queen made that a distant memory. He got a "Ripstik" and some other great gifts from the family!

It was a beautiful fall day - almost 80 degrees and not a cloud in the sky... truly an Indian Summer!

...and on Saturday, Luke joined us on a drive to Western Wisconsin and the Rum River Valley, to see the fall colors at their peak. We stopped at Vino in the Valley... can't say much for Wisconsin wine, but a wagon ride through the vineyard pulled by two Belgian horses, and a wine (and root beer) in the garden made for a beautiful day!

Afton Apple Orchard

2011-09-24T19:34:00.000-07:00

A beautiful, early fall day was spent at the Afton Apple Orchard, down by the St. Croix River! The Raymond family came with us, and the kids had a great time picking apples, pumpkins and raspberries, going to the petting zoo, riding wagons behind tractors and hanging out in the warm sunshine!

Back 2 School!

2011-09-06T16:00:00.001-07:00

Afternoon on the Lake - Shark Video Below!!!

2011-08-27T16:08:00.000-07:00

Luke waterskis on White Bear... There were a few spectacular wipe outs today!

Janet and Bill & family joined the fleet!

Cabin Fever!

2011-08-07T13:07:00.001-07:00

Jack vs. Loon

2011-08-01T12:15:00.001-07:00

Jack risks the wrath of the Department of Natural Resources as he speeds toward a Minnesota state bird on water skis... The Loon ducks under the early morning ripples on White Bear Lake just in time... Next, he tries out his new self-propelled water ski - amazing!

Sailing on the St. Croix!

2011-07-28T20:17:00.000-07:00

It's summer on the St. Croix River, the beautiful waterway between Minnesota and Wisconsin. That means sailing! Libby and Luke have braved the waters this week, sailing in the 420 class sloops with the St. Croix Sailing School out of Hudson, Wisconsin. The all-day camp runs for a week, and they have already done it all, from "turtling" their boats and righting them, to single-handing, to acting as skipper and even some basic racing...

Happy Birthday, Vern!

2011-07-17T08:41:00.000-07:00

Vern celebrated his 80th birthday on Saturday at the Stonemill Farms community center. The whole family, including the Jaye cousins, showed up to honor Vern... he even received one of his "bucket list" items - a glider ride! Many happy returns, Vernon!

Starbase!

2011-07-17T08:33:00.001-07:00

Luke was lucky enough to attend "Starbase," a program designed to accelerate 4th, 5th and 6th graders in Science & Technology. The Pentagon-sponsored program is in various cities around the country, and Minnesota has been the leading program for years. It is normally for low-income kids, but during the summer, companies that help sponsor the program can send their kids. The week-long program this year revolved around planning a mission to Mars. The kids designed, built and fired off rockets, worked with computer-aided design programs (CAD), and learned about all kinds of things like robotics, and life in space.

Luke, call sign "White Bear" is pictured here with his team leader, "Sky." Learn more about the Starbase program here.

The Three Amigos - Summer Edition!

2011-07-10T19:08:00.001-07:00

Jack's Baseball Team Takes First Place!

2011-07-10T19:02:00.001-07:00

Jack's Woodbury Team took first place this year, both for the season (15-0!), and in the last tournament, where they went undefeated again. The coach commended Jack for his work at first base, and for being their best outfielder.

Happy Fourth!

2011-07-10T18:55:00.000-07:00

We spent a lot of the Fourth of July on White Bear Lake... skiing in the early morning, then viewing the fireworks from the boat! In between, we benefited from Nancy's wonderful open house at her perfect house on the lake. The kids were able to sail, kayak and water ski!

Rotorheads!

2011-07-02T15:03:00.001-07:00

Libby picked a perfect day to tour the Twin Cities by air! She got a half-hour helicopter ride for her birthday back in April, and finally got up in the skies today. She took brother Luke with her, and the pilot agreed to take their Dad, too. We flew the R-44 out of the Anoka-Blaine Airport, and got to see downtown Minneapolis (including Target Field, the still-collapsed Metrodome, the new I-35W bridge and all of the skyscrapers). We then transitioned down I-94 past the U of M, St. Thomas, Minnesota Wire, and over to St. Paul to see the Cathedral, the State Capitol and the Mississippi. Then it was back to the airport, but not before the pilot demonstrated an engine failure and an autorotation into a field... awesome!

Ski Day!

2011-07-02T14:58:00.000-07:00

Luke and Libby hit the lake on skis today, now that the water is finally getting warm enough... they look like pros already!

A Heady Day at Soccer!

2011-06-26T08:34:00.000-07:00

Libby had a big day at the Burnsville Cup Soccer Tournament on Saturday... lots of headwork!

Manitou Days 5K at White Bear Lake

2011-06-18T08:09:00.001-07:00

Here are the veteran runners at yet another area race! Chip, Jack and Ruth helped kick off Manitou Days at White Bear Lake by running the 5K just before the kickoff parade. It was hot (by Minnesota standards... as in, not really), and humid - but we all finished in under 30 minutes.

Montana!

2011-06-18T07:49:00.001-07:00

Laura, Libby and Luke went on a great adventure out West, to cousin Curt Laingen's ranch in Shepherd, Montanta - just outside of Billings. They had a great time with all of Curt's animals, including cows, horses and dogs. A day trip to Yellowstone was a first for them, and the sights were amazing. Tractor rides, great meals, chores around the ranch and sightseeing made for a fantastic week... thanks, Curt!

Kenzie's Memorial.

Back on the Water - 2011!

2011-06-18T07:48:00.001-07:00

CC - The Greatest Dog EVER!

2011-06-04T08:40:00.000-07:00

Jack Has Wheels!

2011-05-31T14:10:00.000-07:00

After several days of car shopping, Jack has his own set of wheels... here he is with his "new" 1999 Isuzu Rodeo! We are very proud of him, because he paid for it entirely with his gas-mowing money from last summer. Just don't ask how many miles are on it! Jack will now be able to throw his mower in the back (rather than in his Dad's car), so he can earn more money for the gas and repairs this car will surely need! Drive safe, Jack!

OMG - FIFTY?!

2011-05-21T08:52:00.000-07:00

Prom Night for Jack!

2011-05-15T15:37:00.000-07:00

Who is that handsome devil! That's Jackson Knight Laingen all dressed up for his first prom (junior year) at East Ridge High School. He and his date, Jenna, and two other couples had a great night out!

Futbol is Back!

2011-05-15T15:34:00.001-07:00

Girls soccer is back! It's not really warm enough (hence the full-body Under Armor worn by the athletes), but spring is here and Libby is back on the field - as Captain, no less!

Cinco de Mayo 5 Mile Run!

2011-05-07T15:16:00.001-07:00

This is the "After" photo of Chip, Jack and Ruth, following the 5 Mile race around Lake Nokomis in South Minneapolis on Saturday! We look pretty good after 45 minutes (give or take) of running on a beautiful sunny morning... The race began and ended at the legendary Tex-Mex restaurant Pepitos.

Ruth sprints across the finish!

Here is the "Before" shot - we think we looked better after the run... especially with Pepitos food and drink in our hands!

Scuba-Amigos!

2011-04-09T08:12:00.001-07:00

Libby is.... 14??!!

2011-04-03T15:59:00.001-07:00

Olivia Mary Laingen turned 14 today! She has come a long way since that blizzard weekend in Boston, in 1997...

Our big reader got her dream gift - a Kindle reader.

Thanks for the clock, Gramps & Grandma Penne!

And the cool blouse, Aunt Gayle!

Here is our birthday girl, dreaming about her helicopter ride (yes, she got that, too) - once it gets a little warmer!

Luke has been busy in school. This is his state project; he did Maine - one place where it's even colder than it is here!

Spring Break in D.C.!

2011-03-17T16:48:00.001-07:00

Wow - what a vacation we had in Washington, D.C.! Spring break was a great opportunity to re-connect with Mom and Dad in the Nation's capital. The kids had a great time being entertained by Gramps and Grandma Penne, and we saw lots of things we hadn't seen in the past.

Jim and Hope were gracious enough to lend us their big Chevy Tahoe that got us around in style. We spent the first night at their beautiful new home in Virginia, had a gourmet, home-cooked Italian meal, and even got to ride in Jim's vintage WW II Willy's Jeep!

Luke was in his element with the Virginia Laingens' Airsoft gun arsenal!

Everybody point North!

Dinner at Clyde's in Friendship Heights...

We went to a special memorial to the fallen from the Gulf War (Desert Storm - 1991). It was a beautiful tribute for the families who lost loved ones in that conflict. The two hour ceremony included music from the U.S. Army Pershing Band (known as "the President's Own"), tributes from flag officers of every service, speeches from such dignitaries as "Dear Abby" and the Kuwaiti Ambassador to the U.S., and gold medals presented by a Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient to the children who lost a parent in the war. Jim and I both served in theater during Desert Storm.

A special tour of the the U.S. Capitol was next up! Dad arranged a private tour through the office of his Maryland Representative, Congressman Van Hollen. The tour took us through the newly-opened Capitol Visitor's Center, and to the chamber of the House of Representatives!

Legos are everywhere! Even at a new exhibit of architecture at the National Building Museum...

Luke was a great helper for Gramps in the backyard gardens of Old Chester. Here, Luke is re-loading the bird feeders, with all of the gizmos in place to ward off the evil squirrels!

The new U.S. Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, Virginia was the next stop! This is a fantastic, interactive tribute to the Corps, and even included a live shooting range. Luke was - once again - in heaven!

But Dad was the only "Expert" for the day!

While we were "down South," we used the opportunity to visit with Paul Jaszewski and family - Glynnis, Taylor and Heather. They looked great, and we sat and ate pizza and talked for hours in Fredericksburg...

The new annex for the National Air and Space Museum, out at Dulles Airport was also a great experience. We saw the original B-29 that dropped the first atomic bomb, a full size Space Shuttle (Enterprise), and the SR-71 Blackbird, made famous in the latest Transformers movie...

Most of all we had a great time with Mom and Dad, who entertained us with fabulous meals, wild Bingo games, and amazing stories from our childhood and the more distant past!

Will Winter Ever End?!

2011-02-27T09:53:00.000-08:00

Well, it is still February, but it has already been a long winter, and we are still piling up the snow! This is like we rememer it as kids...

CC has a fur coat, but she wants to know if the end is in sight, too!

Hoopin' With Luke!

2011-02-27T09:45:00.000-08:00

The East Ridge "Tin Foil" finished another awesome season of basketball last week. Luke's team took third place in the highly competitive tournament... way to go, Luke (#41)!

Luke Goes Scuba Diving!

2011-01-22T14:39:00.000-08:00

Why is this kid smiling? A trip to the Minneapolis Boat Show led to a real surprise - a chance to do something Luke has dreamed about doing for years... scuba dive! You can see the video proof below. This was a free deal put on by a scuba school at the Boat Show inside the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Luke and Dad play Navy SEAL in the heated tank!

A Very White Christmas!

2010-12-26T16:33:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas, everyone! It was a very white Christmas here in Woodbury, so we got to the slopes on the 23rd...

Christmas morning was filled with flying machines, monkeys and beautiful gifts from grandparents!

The family party at John and Karen's was lots of fun... Char and Marissa put on quite the show... and so did Mary and Very who were the lucky recipients of "the jacket!"

Carolers on Horseback!

2010-12-19T18:51:00.001-08:00

It must be Christmas time in Stonemill Farms! We know that because the carolers on horseback from nearby Windy Ridge Ranch appeared in our neighborhood today. We were visited by at least 30 horses and their riders, and were wished a Merry Christmas in song on a cold winter's late afternoon!

Um... I't's Still Fall, Actually

2010-12-12T11:30:00.001-08:00

Winter doesn't officially start for a few more weeks, but the Twin Cities just got hit with the biggest snowstorm since the Halloween blizzard of 1991. We had at least 18 inches in Woodbury, in less than 24 hours, and other areas got more. The Metrodome even caved in, cancelling the Vikings game for today.

Jack takes out the new snowblower - the GTS 4000, courtesty of our neighbors that moved to the South, and left it behind for us... thanks Corbetts!

Here's Libby... as you can see, she was mesmerized by the snowfall!

St. Olaf Christmas Concert!

2010-12-05T19:06:00.001-08:00

It's not quite Christmas in Minnesota until you've been to the St. Olaf Christmas Concert! Gramps arranged for all of us, and Norma, to attend the popular choir concert at the college's beautiful campus in Northfield. Hundreds of student singers, accompanied by a huge orchestra, sang for two hours on this chilly day, warming us up to the season!

Libby got into the college spirit with some "Ole" wear from the campus store... The "Um Ya Ya" cheer of St. Olaf appears on her gloves. Luke, meanwhile, posed in front of the wind turbine that helps to power this "green" campus.

Jack Letters in Varsity Sports!

2010-11-10T16:19:00.000-08:00

We are very proud of Jack - once again! Last night was the annual soccer banquet at Tinucci's Restaurant in Newport, at which the East Ridge High School soccer program recognized its stellar atheltes and scolars. Jack received 4 awards!

Most Valuable Player - Junior Varsity Soccer

Varsity Letter - Soccer

"Hidden Hero" Award - from his teammates

Scholar's Award - for maintaining a 4.0 GPA while in a varsity sport

Jack was on the Junior Varsity team, officially - but was continuously called up to play in at least half of the Varsity games... his "Hidden Hero" award was recognition from the Varsity squad for all of his great saves as goalie during some pretty challenging games... great job, Jack - you can add the soccer letter to your academic letter!

Spooky Kids!

2010-11-01T16:01:00.001-07:00

It's Halloween time around Stonemill Farms... and the kids are getting spookier than they usually are!

That would be Libby on the far right... some sort of vampire-lion-bad jacket thing. Who knows?

And here are Luke and his friends - the far left and right are stuffed, I think - Grayden the banana, Luke the Army sniper in his Ghillie Suit (look it up), and Jose the bandito, or something...

Fellowship at the U of M

2010-10-26T18:31:00.000-07:00

I am privileged this year to be one of the Executive Leadership Fellows for the University of Minnesota's Center for Integrative Leadership - a joint effort of the Carlson School of Management and the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. This is an exciting opportunity to bring to bear applied leadership experience in an academic environment. Each year, the program "...selects highly accomplised leaders from the public, private or nonprofit sectors to enhance the academic environment of the Center by sharing their professional expertise, through writing projects, original research, student consultation, faculty engagement, and teaching related to cross sector leadership." See this year's three Executive Leadership Fellows HERE...

Wisconsin Dells!

2010-10-24T18:49:00.001-07:00

After six years in Minnesota, we finally made it to the Wisconsin Dells, the typical MEA weekend getaway! It was not too crowded, and we had lots fun in the water... including riding the really fast and infamous "toilet bowel" slide!

It was especially fun, because we went with our good friends and neighbors, the Varelas! We had a great time together, and we played games late into the night in our rooms... We even learned a new version of the traditional board game, Pictionary - La Pictionaria!

Here's Dad in a series of photos showing how NOT to get up on your knees on a boogie board...

WIPEOUT!!!

Despite some car troubles on the last night, everyone played hard, and got good and tired!

The ride home reminded us just how beautiful the Upper Midwest can be in the fall!

85 Degrees in October!

2010-10-09T19:10:00.000-07:00

Wow - what a fall day in Minnesota! 85 degrees and sunny all day. We took yet another cruise up the St. Croix river - this time from St. Croix Bluffs all the way to Hudson... and we did it under 5 m.p.h. the whole way because the river is a no-wake zone - the heavy rains from a week ago have raised the river nearly 10 feet, and lots of shoreline property is flooded.

You can see the flooding in Hudson - our boat is "anchored" on the blacktop surface of the parking lot near the boat ramp - all of which is now underwater!

Hooray for Global Warming!

2010-10-07T15:32:00.000-07:00

It hit 80 degrees today, in the middle of October in Minnesota. Good thing we didn't winterize the boat yet! Here we are on the beautiful St. Croix River - all of which is a no-wake zone because the rains from last week have brought the level up 6 t0 8 feet!

Luke is 10 Years Old!

2010-10-02T20:02:00.000-07:00

Wow! It is hard to believe, but our youngest is now in the double digits! Luke turned 10 on Saturday, and he and his friends - Ethan, Jose and Grayden (and big brother Jack) went to the Minnesota Air National Guard Museum on the air base for a party!

Their tour guide was Stan, a naval aviator and combat-tested pilot from the Korean War - he flew the awesome Skyraider. Stan showed the kids some incredible aircraft, and told some really interesting stories about aviation!

The kids even tried on some old helmets from World War I and World War II! As they were sitting in the C-130 cockpit, they saw a jumbo jet taking off on the Twin Cities International airport's runway, bound for Narita, Japan.

The afternoon ended up at Fudrucker's for some awesome burgers and root beer... then it was home for cake and a movie!

Brother and Sister were down with Luke turning 10, too!

Happy Birthday, Lucas!!! We are very proud of you!

Jack Needed by Varsity!

2010-10-02T19:57:00.000-07:00

Jack was called up to the Varsity soccer team on Thursday night! The East Ridge High School "Raptors" needed him for a critical game against the Park High School of Cottage Grove. He was awesome, playing under the big lights at the high school...

Jack's nervous soccer Mom and Dad were really nervous - other parents could tell that we were "goalie parents..." But Jack played the entire game - PLUS two overtime periods, and didn't let a single ball by him. The game ended in a tie, 0 - 0.

Jack Honored at High School

2010-09-20T19:13:00.000-07:00

We are very proud of our 11th grade "Raptor" of East Ridge High School! Jack earned a 4.0 grade point average during last year, and earned his first letter in high school - in academics! Way to go Jack!

Goofin' on the River

2010-09-20T19:09:00.001-07:00

The summer of 2010 isn't over yet! We spent a glorious Sunday afternoon on the tranquil St. Croix River... all the way up to Stillwater for some ice cream - then back down to "Donut Island" for some exploring!

Destroyers Attack!

2010-08-29T08:54:00.001-07:00

U-10 Soccer is underway in Woodbury, Minnesota! Luke Laingen was goalie for most of game one, helping the "Destroyers" of the Woodbury Soccer Club win over the Pickles.

Here, Luke's good friend Jose Varela (left, front) helps advance the ball to yet another goal, making the Pickles... well... pickle juice after their thrashing by the Destroyers!

Sandstone Olympics 2010!

2010-08-16T18:10:00.000-07:00

The 2nd annual Sandstone Olympics took place this last weekend in Woodbury! Nearly 60 kids competed as athletes in the traditional summer Olympic events - high jump, long jump, running long jump, softball throw, "marathon" (around the block) and the 50-yard dash.

11 of Woodbury's finest teens also took place as judges and team leaders for the athletes. Jack and Libby were among the judges, who did an amazing job of encouraging their kids, demonstrating sportsmanship and recording their scores.

This year we expanded the Olympics to include two more streets, and we even had a couple of sponsors - chips from PepsiCo, and some gift cards from a local coffee shop! Our dreams of a band didn't materialize from lack of sponsor funds - but next year we are counting on it!

Lots of the neighbors pitched in this year with food and ice runs, beer for the adults, equipment for the different events and registration needs! The 50+ adults that showed up had a great time... and we even had a visit from a local resident running for state legislature!

The weather was spectacular... nice and warm, but no humidity. The two to four year olds competed too... with an obstacle course, bike races, water balloon toss and some other fun events.

What a great afternoon of athletic effort, sportsmanship and camaraderie... Thanks to everyone who pitched in and competed.

Sailing on Lake Pepin!

2010-08-01T16:49:00.001-07:00

Vern's neighbor, John, took the boys out on Lake Pepin today, for a beautiful day on the water. The boat is a 27-foot sloop that is moored right on the lake, at Lake City, Minnesota. Jack and Luke manned the helm in light winds, and our host John served up a delicious lunch!

Lake Pepin is actually a very wide area of the Mississippi River, just south of Red Wing, Minnesota.

Nevada Laingens' Visit

2010-08-01T06:03:00.000-07:00

Jim and Hope, and Will, Bonnie and Chris paid us a fun visit this weekend - on their way from Nevada to Virginia! They are moving to the D.C. area for thier next big adventure, as Jim does his next tour in the Pentagon.

We spent Saturday on White Bear Lake! The kids went tubing, and Will got up on water skis for the first time - with some expert in-water instruction from Luke. And we took in some amazing sunshine on "the point."

We had s'mores on the patio before we had to say goodbye! Good luck Jim, Hope and family!

Red Bull Flugtag USA!

2010-07-24T15:08:00.000-07:00

Okay... this was about the coolest thing we have ever seen! The Red Bull Flugtag USA is a national event that hits four cities every year - this year Miami, Philadelphia, Long Beach and the Twin Cities! Teams launch themselves off a 30-foot platform into the water; in this case the Mississippi River in downtown St. Paul.

We were able to watch from our boat, as the 35 teams defied gravity and sanity. Here, a B-25 replica achieves the world record for Flugtag (German for flying day) - over 200 feet! Most of the contraptions didn't do so well, or even look like flying machines at all. Teams are graded on distance, showmanship and creativity, and all of the teams do a skit to music on the platform before the launch... awesome!

To learn more, go to the Flugtag website, here.

Click on the video below to see the "Family Truckster" from the Family Vacation movie attempt to take flight!

Navy Seal Training!

2010-07-16T15:11:00.000-07:00

Look carefully at the steely eyes... the supreme level of concentration... ...and yes - the fear! Here is a would-be Navy Seal in training on Briggs Lake, Minnesota, taking to the choppy waves on a windy day on a pair of skis.

This is courage... this - is Luke.

Up and away!

Wipeout!!!

Success!!!

Fight to the Finish!

2010-07-11T14:33:00.000-07:00

Jack and Luke played in their final tournament this weekend. Jack's team finished 2nd overall, and Luke's team came in fourth. It was an awesome couple of days of baseball. Here are some final photos of the best that Woodbury has to offer!

Grapes Baseball!

2010-07-10T10:56:00.001-07:00

Luke is in a big baseball tournament with his Woodbury Athletic Association Team, the Grapes! He has already been awesome as catcher - and his buddy Grayden has thrown some amazing pitches - as they took game one on their way to the championship... Go Grapes!

Regatta on the St. Croix

2010-07-10T10:45:00.000-07:00

It was the last day of Sail Racing for Jack and Kanad... and their school - St. Croix Sailing Club - hosted the 2nd and final regatta of the season, on the river. Here, the boys lead the pack as they head for the leeward mark, spinnaker flying!

We all headed down to Afton on the boat afterwards for a beautiful dinner on the river!

234 Years!

2010-07-05T08:25:00.001-07:00

Oh, what a night! Libby and I made it to Nancy's annual 4th of July bash on White Bear Lake, then boated over to the fireworks at 10:00 pm... it was a fantastic show!

View the Grand Finale here!

Oh Suzanna!

2010-07-05T08:15:00.001-07:00

It was a special Independence Day for the Raymond family this year... they baptised Suzanna Jewel at St. Charles Catholic Church in St. Anthony! Libby was so proud to be the honorary God Mother, along with Christopher as the God Father. Mark hosted a super fun party at his place afterwards... thanks, Mark!

Jack on the High Seas!

2010-07-03T09:55:00.000-07:00

Jack and his good friend Kanad headed out to their first sailing regatta of the season on Friday - all day on the metro area's largest lake, Lake Minnetonka!

The boys are part of the St. Croix Sailing program this year - and faced their former mates from the Lake Calhoun Club, as well as more than 30 420-class sloops from sailing clubs in the area.

The winds were heavy... sustained all day at 30 knots! That made for fast sailing but really rough waters by the end of the day. They raced in 5 races altogether - you can see the fatigue in their faces if you look carefully!

Luke came along on our own boat, and we chased them all over to get some good photos. He spent some time jumping off the dock at the Minnetonka Yacht Club's island facility with lots of other kids, and we toured some of the shoreline to see the mult-million dollar homes on this gorgeous lake.

Kanad's family came out on our boat too, during the windiest part of the day - and we ended up "rescuing" one of the regatta's chase boats that had broken down... we towed it all the way back to the island in some pretty heavy waves!

Great job, Jack and Kanad of Team St. Croix - the only crew from that club to last for the whole regatta in some really tough conditions!

Next week the club is host to all the clubs on the St. Croix River, not far from our house... stay tuned!

Chip's Company in the News

2010-07-03T09:50:00.000-07:00

Minnesota Wire was recently featured on the front page of the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Business Section. The story covers our company's use of government R&D funding to help transform our product and capability base... Read the full story here.

Jack is Back!

2010-06-30T18:18:00.000-07:00

Well, Jack is back from his nine-day mission trip with St. Ambrose Catholic Church of Woodbury. Their group of teenagers went to the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana to work with the community. They did some really extensive, hard labor in the neighborhoods there - cleaning, painting and repairing... and lots of interaction with the kids. Jack was known for his piggy back rides with the little kids... he gave lots of them every day!

They got to see some beautiful parts of the country along the way, including the Badlands of South Dakota and Mount Rushmore...

We will post more when Jack writes his "report"... but by far the highlight for Mom and Dad was when one of the parents on the trip took us aside, unsolicited, and said that he had never seen any teenager with the work ethic that Jack has. He was the example that everyone had to keep up with when it came to hard work and lots of it... we are very proud of our Jack!!!

The Great Minnesota Air Show!

2010-06-26T18:54:00.000-07:00

"The Great Minnesota Airshow" was held in St. Cloud, Minnesota this weekend - about 1.5 hours northwest of the Twin Cities. The show featured the Blue Angels, some great aerobatic flying and tons of static displays. By far the most amazing show was put on by the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor (above) - doing things that an airplane just should not be able to do!

Here is Luke in front of the Marine Corps' new V-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft, being used heavily in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Here is a brand new CH-6OS Knighthawk helicopter, a new variant of what I used to fly in the fleet.

Even the U.S. Navy has tractors in Minnesota!!!

Jack Heads to Montana!

2010-06-19T06:52:00.000-07:00

Jack (3rd row, 4th from left) left today for his 9-day mission trip with St. Ambrose Catholic Church. The group of high school kids is driving to the Crow Indian Reservation in south-central Montana. They will work with kids at the Reservation, and will be working and sleeping in some fairly primitive conditions - and no electronics at all (games, cell phones, TV) for a whole week!)

We are proud of Jack as he heads off to a week of service!

Learn more about the Crow Reservation HERE.

New York City!

2010-06-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

We spent a few wonderful days and nights in the Big Apple - just the two of us! I had to give a presentation on our company's R&D projects at the Medical Device and Manufacturing - East show on Manhattan, so Laura came along, too! She was last there as a midshipman on a YP Cruise from the Naval Academy... and I was last there for just a day, to board the SS United States when I was 7!

Times Square is a menagerie of people, stores and messages... here is one about Iran's president that we can all agree with!

This is the new High Line in the Lower West Side... the High Line is a re-purposed railway that runs for a long ways from north to south, 3o feet above the NYC streets - with gardens, benches and places to sun bathe!

The highlight of our visit was a show on Broadway... we were able to get great same-day discount tickets to Billy Elliott - what an awesome show!

Laura went to see the exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and walk the Garment District, Rockefeller Center, and many other Manhattan neighborhoods.

We made it to "Ground Zero" to pay our respects, and to see the progress being made on the memorial to 9/11. It is hard to see much of anything, but one really gets a sense for how much work is going into the project that will be complete by 2014.

Here we are on our last day, in Central Park near the "Boat House" restaurant. We took a rickshaw ride throught he park, with our young guide TJ, from Tajikistan.

Morning on the St. Croix

2010-06-07T19:57:00.001-07:00

We discovered a beautiful time to get out on the St. Croix River in the early summer... very early on Sunday morning! It was beautiful - water like glass, herons and eagles everywhere, fog in the low-lying areas... just spectacular.

We came across some big turtles near the launch at St. Croix Bluffs Park. They were already basking in the early morning sun and didn't seem too bothered by a passing motorboat.

Here is my crew, contemplating the day after the arduous passage from St. Croix Bluffs to the docks at the town of Afton - where we stopped for coffee and a snack.

Memorial Day in Minnesota

2010-05-31T18:34:00.001-07:00

Today we went to the St. Mary's Cemetery in St. Anthony for the Memorial Day service that honors those Veterans from the Russian Orthodox Church who died in service to their nation. That distinguished group includes Grandma Mary's brother Martin Kostik, who was killed in combat in Germany not long after the Normandy invasion.

It was a very moving dedication outdoors on a beautiful day, complete with honor guard, rifle squad, a guest speaker who was a POW in WWII Germany, and beautiful music. Afterwards there was a reception at the church where we displayed the scrapbook that Laura just finished putting together, honoring her uncle that we never had the privilege to know, Martin Kostik.

What we do know is that those who served and gave their lives for our freedoms have given us the ability to enjoy spectacular days like we had today. The afternoon was spent on the boat and at "the point" on White Bear Lake!

A Military Saturday

2010-05-31T18:26:00.000-07:00

Luke and his friend Grayden went to a military model show at South St. Paul's Fleming Field on Saturday... they saw some really detailed diaramas of military vehicle models.

Afterwards, we dropped into the the Minnesota Army National Guard's Aviation facility at the St. Paul Downtown Airport. They were able to sit in a few of the Guard's Blackhawk helicopters and look at some aircraft that were undergoing extensive maintenance.

Jack's Piano Recital

2010-05-24T19:14:00.000-07:00

Jack had his piano recital on Sunday afternoon... he played Bossa Rio by Baumgartner; and Snowspell by Yaeger. He was awesome... At one point, his $86,000 Steinway got a stuck key, and it held all the way through his piece - he didn't miss a beat!

Check out a one-minute video here...

Jack's Confirmation!

2010-05-15T17:40:00.001-07:00

Jackson Knight Charles Laingen made his confirmation today at the Cathedral of St. Paul, in downtown St. Paul. It was a two-hour mass, with hundreds of 15-year-olds from St. Ambrose of Woodbury, and Stillwater Catholic churches.

Jack's Sponsor throughout the confirmation process was his Uncle Mike Jindra - thanks Mike, for being such a good role model for Jack!

Jack's confirmation name - Charles - is taken from the church in which his Mom and Dad were married, St. Charles Borromeo, in St. Anthony, Minnesota.

The St. Paul Cathedral is also a National Shrine to the Apostle Paul... Learn more about this beautiful church HERE.

Luke Flies an Aerial Tanker!

2010-05-04T16:10:00.001-07:00

Luke skipped some school this morning in order to fly the Boeing corporation's Next Generation aerial refueling aircraft... well - a simulator, anyway. Boeing trucked in a trailer to the State Capitol as part of its effort to get the U.S. Air Force to reverse its decision to buy a foreign aircaft (Airbus Industries) to fulfill the role of aerial refueling for the next generation. The contract is currently in dispute.

What was NOT in dispute was Luke's ability to fly a 767 jet for the very first time - must be all of those video games! He took off from a runway on an Air Force base and returned safely to the ground!

Here, Luke is wearing 3-D glasses as the Air Force Reserve instructor (and Boeing employee) shows him how to operate the boom that "flies" to the aicraft approaching the tanker from the rear to take on fuel. He mastered this part easily, and ended up re-fueling an F-15, a Joint Strike Fighter and a Stealth Bomber!

All Dad did was raise and lower the landing gear for the "captain" (it's not that helicopter pilots can't handle it... we're just lazy).

Learn more about the Boeing NextGen Tanker HERE.

Soccer Tournament in Des Moines

2010-04-25T15:12:00.001-07:00

Libby and the Woodbury "Attack" had a soccer tournament in Des Moines, Iowa this weekend. The girls had a great time on and off the field - despite some wet, windy and cold conditions! They had a rough time of it - one loss and two ties; but they were playing some tough teams, and it was a good early wake up call early in the season before it counts in their league...

Luke came along, too, and managed to have some fun along the sidelines!

Here is the Iowa state capitol building in Des Moines.

The Original Yellow Ribbon is FOUND!!!

2010-04-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

Here is a note from my cousin, Chris Laingen (this is about the ribbon that was around the oak tree in our front yard in Bethesda during the Hostage Crisis):

Bruce & Penne: It was great meeting you both for lunch the other day. I made my way to the Library of Congress (Madison Building) yesterday to try to track down the yellow ribbon. After 30 minutes of trying to track down the right person (who knew exactly where it was at), we were soon directed to the Jefferson Building and the American Folklife Center...

So it is at the Library of Congress, just in a different building than you thought, and it's kept in a box in the archive room. We were told that the reason you thought it was in the Madison Building was because during the Gulf War they had it up as part of a display which was in the Madison Building. It was great to be able to see it! All the best, Chris

Outdoor Baseball Returns to Minnesota!

2010-04-14T15:26:00.000-07:00

Here we are at the brand new, beautiful Target Field! Minnesota has been waiting nearly 30 years to get baseball back outside, and the day finally came this week. We made it to Game #2 against the Boston Red Sox!

It was a day game, with periods of rain and sun, but the game was never delayed, we were under the overhang out of the rain, and it was a balmy 70 degrees!

The Twins didn't win today, but it was an exciting game, and they are already at 6-3 on the season. Below is our very own Joe Mauer showing off his unbelievable swing!

The Red Bulls Return!

2010-04-10T19:57:00.000-07:00

The "Red Bulls" of the 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota National Guard, have returned from Iraq after a year in the combat zone. The Red Bulls, which became renowned in World War II, were the command and control division for Ground Forces, South, Iraq, and just last month passed the flag to the Army's 1st Infantry Division. Their successful tour was celebrated at the official return ceremony at the Minneapolis Convention Center this afternoon.

Luke and his Dad went to the reception and met just a few of the VIPs, including: Senator Al Franken and his wife; the Mayor of St. Paul, Chris Coleman; TV anchor Don Shelby; and the Commanding General of the Minnesota National Guard... Luke was most interested in the Deputy CG of the 34th, Brigadier General Dave Elicerio, who said to Luke: "Tanks... heck yeah, we have tanks young man... I own them. Come on up to Camp Ripley anytime and I'll get you into a few!" Luke plans on holding him to it.

It was a fantastic tribute to the men and women who brought security to the southern half of Iraq for the past year, and helped to build infrastructure and democratic institutions. If this young democracy survives, Minnesota citizen-Soldiers will have been a large part of their success... how great is that!

The ceremony included a flag presentation, the playing of Taps for the 14 who were killed in action during the deployment, and a special performance by the Minnesota band GB Leighton, in their honor.

Learn more about the 34th Infantry Division HERE...

... and see the awesome 4 minute rock video "Troop" featuring the Red Bulls HERE!

Malta Re-visited II

2010-04-06T19:38:00.001-07:00

More memories from Malta - 1977 - 1979... here is the entire family at our Malta-shaped pool in our beautiful back yard of the Ambassador's residence. The silver spoon was truly yanked out of our mouths after we left this little paradise!

Here are the Laingen brothers at the Marina where we kept our boat, in Marxamxett Harbor, "around the bend" from the historic Grand Harbor of Malta.

And here are the three dudes at the Malta International Airport. We used to go there just to check out the planes - both commercial and military; for this was still a British colony until 1979, and the Royal Air Force was there with Nimrod patrol aircraft and Canberra light fighter-bombers.

Stylin' in front of the limo... (Starsky and Hutch?)

This is at the U.S. Embassy in Valetta, during the visit of U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young (L-R: Will Wilson, Mike Radday, Jim Laingen, Ambassador Young, Chip Laingen, Tom Jellison, Jim Wilson). Note the cool Catholic school uniforms from De Le Salle...

Ambassador Laingen in front of the "tank" - so named after it was bullet-proofed in 1978.

This is our afore-mentioned "back yard..." Note the grove of orange trees that provided fresh-squeezed orange juice on most mornings. Why did we leave?

Happy Easter Birthday!

2010-04-04T18:41:00.000-07:00

Libby enjoyed a fun Easter the day after her birthday, with many of her cousins at our house. She also shares her birthday with her Godmother and virtual twin, Aunt Gayle!

The younger cousins enjoyed an egg hunt outside on a beautiful spring day, while some of the guys took a beer break on the patio...

Malta Memories

2010-04-04T12:03:00.001-07:00

Here are some old images from the island country of Malta, circa 1977-1979... they are a bit grainy, but it's fun to look back at those great times. Liz (Radday) Starr has managed to re-surface some friends from those times, and they have shared some images with me on Facebook!

Above: Sailing in Marxamxett Harbor, Christmas Day, 1977 - that's us in the lower left hand corner, in the leaky but great-sailing USS Enterprise (Jim and me). Below: in the Grand Harbor, in front of the Italian tall ship training vessel Amerigo Vespuci.

... and here we are greeting the HMS Ark Royal... This photo made the front page of the Malta Times!

Here are Mom and Dad square dancing at the American School on the 4th of July - and the Raddays, too, at the very left!

Rock climbing - unbeknownst to our parents... if they only knew - how crazy were we!

With the Wilsons - Jim and Will.

This is me diving into one of our favorite places - Peter's Pool!

Libby is a Teenager!

2010-04-04T04:43:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Libby! Turning 13 is worthy of a 'girls night out.' So she took two good friends to see the Minnesota Roller Girls at the River Centre in St. Paul.

What a crazy deal the Roller Derby is! Two hours of women on a short track with skates, trying to knock each other out of the rink - with names like "Glitter Ninja" and "Hanna-Belle Lechter."

Half time was just as awesome, because there was a live polka band, and we all got to dance on the roller rink floor. Libby learned to polka for the first time!

The Summit Brewery!

2010-03-30T14:20:00.000-07:00

Spring break continues... we went to our very own hometown craft brewery, Summit Beer! The lone factory for this great lager is in St. Paul, right along the Mississippi. It has been in operation only since 1986, but already has a national reputation with its 11 varieties. The Winter Ale is my favorite!

The tour gave us a view of the giant copper vats from Germany, the bottling and packaging center and the "hot room" where the hops, water, yeast and, er... one more ingredient is added.

Luke really enjoyed the giant stacks of empty bottles, all ready to be filled up and shipped out... 80% of Summit - which gets its name from the historic Summit Avenue area of St. Paul - is consumed in this state, and the rest has a following around the country.

The kids couldn't sample the beer at the end of the tour... but did get some great, ice cold root beer instead!

Spring Break "Stay-cation"

2010-03-29T19:11:00.001-07:00

The kids are on spring break this week, and we are making it a "stay-cation" (as in, we are staying around here). The weather is looking good for the week (no rain or snow anyway - maybe even 75 on Wednesday!), and we are taking some day trips for some activities around the local area. Here we are at one of our favorite restaurants - Benihanas!

Rock Climbing!

2010-03-29T19:05:00.000-07:00

Activity One on the "Stay-cation" was rock climbing at "Vertical Endeavors" in St. Paul. This is just like what their Dad did in Malta when he was Jack's age... only this is a bit safer, with harnesses and ropes.

Luke is the one who insisted that they do this on Spring Break... he went to a birthday party here a couple of weeks ago, and has been talking about it ever since. He is fearless!

Luke Dreams of Olympic Gold!

2010-02-27T19:22:00.001-08:00

Luke took a two-hour ski lesson today at Afton Alps... he learned an amazing amount in a short time, perfecting his parallel turns, "hockey stop" and where to put his weight on his skis. He's still flying down the hills, including the black diamond runs, but now he is doing it in real style! Go for the gold, Luke!

Meanwhile, back in nearby Woodbury, there is evidence that winter might be winding down... we can only hope and pray!!!

"Tin Cans" Basketball Rocks Woodbury!

2010-02-21T19:02:00.000-08:00

The "Tin Cans" of the East Ridge Athletic Association finished their awesome basketball season this weekend! They had the winning-est record, so were the number one seed for the tournament. The team won its first game handily, then fell to a couple of tough teams in the last two games. It was an incredible ride - thanks Coach George... you were a-mazing!!!

A New Car...

2010-02-21T18:57:00.000-08:00

My prized Jeep Liberty just turned over 100,000 miles last month... and promptly threw a rod and destroyed its engine - no explanation for this heretofore loyal. and well-maintained vehicle. It was a sad day, indeed. Here is the Jeep's replacement, a 2006 Dodge Durango. At least we have a vehicle with a third seat again, and capable of pulling the boat. P.S., the snow mountain behind the vehicle is Minnesota's answer to the climate change myth...

He Shoots... He Scores!!!

2010-01-13T18:38:00.001-08:00

Tonight the "Tin Cans" of Woodbury defeated the young rubes of Cottage Grove... Luke Laingen, number 3, scored the winning basket in the closing moments from center court, making the final score 13-12! Not bad for this awesome young rookie... click the video to see this exciting finish!

All the parents continue to be impressed with the leadership and enthusiasm of our neighbor, Coach George Yoshida (not to mention his son Grayden!)... good work George, and thank you for caring so much about our boys!

Winter Riding

2010-01-10T18:35:00.001-08:00

Lucky Libby got to do some winter trail riding today, with our friend Nancy! Here she is riding Vegas! It was only 10 degrees today, but it was a beautiful ride, with lots of deer along the way - and they went bare-back!

Luke on the Slopes

2009-12-29T06:02:00.000-08:00

Here is a very short video of Luke bombing down a hill at Afton Alps. He knew he was on camera so he decided to go for speed over style... that's Luke! He is equally comfortable on the black diamond slopes!

Christmas 2009...

2009-12-25T19:46:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas, everyone! The armageddon blizzard of 2009 that was predicted sort of fizzled out, so we were able to make it to two different family Christmas parties: Mark's on Christmas eve, and Janet and Bill's on Christmas day! Great times, everyone - thanks for your hospitality!

The goat cheese made it out from under the tree, all the way from Bethesda, Maryland... we won't say where it went after that! Libby modeled her new scarf from Grandma Penne - she will be an original on the slopes, that's for sure!

Luke managed to get more guns out of Santa, it looks like... at least they are Nerf toys...

The snow did manage to pile up over the past several days, so we took time out from presents to do some shoveling...

Another one of Laura's masterpieces appeared... this time a painting of a chateau near where we stayed in Tuscany this past spring!

A game of Guesstures at Janet and Bill's was the perfect ending to a fun couple of days of Christmas cheer!

Back on the Slopes!

2009-12-12T16:28:00.001-08:00

It has been cold, but at least we are back on the slopes at nearby Afton Alps!

Santa's Reindeer Come to Hudson!

2009-12-12T16:26:00.001-08:00

Luke got a special treat last week when he got to visit with Santa's reindeer! They came to the river-front park in Hudson, Wisconsin, just a few minutes from our house...

Basketball Boy!

2009-12-12T16:20:00.000-08:00

Luke is in 3rd grade recreational basketball and he loves it! He really has an aggressive, competitive attitude on the court, and pays attention to the coach... who just happens to be our neighbor, George Yoshida. The "Tin Cans" of East Ridge are a winning team. Way to go Luke!

Libby's Concert

2009-12-12T16:14:00.001-08:00

Libby had a band concert recently at Lake Junior High School... She was awesome on the flute! All of the kids are really musical. Jack is excelling with the piano, and loves to just close the door of my office and play to help him relax after school.

Luke plays the piano a little bit... but he is really a closet rocker/drummer. He's the only one with genuine rhythm in the family, we think!

Skating in St. Paul

2009-11-29T14:19:00.000-08:00

It's finally looking like winter outside (even though it is still fall) - so Libby and Luke spent a chilly afternoon outside, skating at Rice Park in downtown St. Paul. They are pretty good skaters, considering their warmer-climate roots!

Afterwards we wandered into the Landmark Center which is right next to the skating rink. It was originally a courthouse, and has been restored beautifully for use with special events. There are also some really interesting museums inside, including the Schubert museum of music. The kids had a great time looking at the old instruments, and making their own music with Chinese instruments, and computer devices!

Learn more about the historic Landmark Center HERE.

Farewell, Arvid...

2009-11-22T19:16:00.000-08:00

Gramps and Grandma Penne came to visit us in Minneapolis this past weekend. It was a sad occasion, because we gathered to say goodbye to Arvid - stalwart, calm, unflappable, warm, gentle, kind, faithful Arvid. He gave all of us so much, in his subtle way, and he will be missed. Bill said it so well, when he mentioned that Arvid's gentle character could be summed up by the Bible verse in Galatians 5:23-24.

Here is Arvid and Lorraine's headstone at the St. Olaf Zion Lutheran Church of Odin, Minnesota. The kids were interested in seeing the prevalent Laingen name all around this little church. Dad gave a beautiful eulogy for Arvid... and reminded all of us what arvid sprayed on his Odin Feed Mill window way back in 1981 when the hostages returned... "Amen." Curt went to the Feed Mill after Arvid's funeral on Saturday and sprayed the same word again, in the same spot!

Here are my cousins on Arvid's side... Steve, Patti, Brad, Karen, Bruce and Curt.

We had a really nice visit with all of the relatives at Arvid and Lorraine's house... It doens't feel right without the two of them there... yet they were all around us.

The kids really enjoyed the farm atmosphere, as always... Curt dragged out the John Deere Gator that he gave to Arvid a couple of years ago, and they had a ball driving that around the farm.

On Sunday night, we went to the historic Foshay Tower in downtown Minneapolis, where Gramps raised money for a trip to Norway while he was in college... and where a giant yellow ribbon was displayed for the hostages over 3o years ago! The beautiful skyscraper looks like a Washington Monument... and in fact we learned that indeed the architect had built it to honor George Washington... it is now a luxury "W" hotel, and is beautifully restored. There is a small museum on the 30th floor, where a history of the Foshay is displayed - including a small tribute to the yellow ribbon around the building.

Veterans Day!

2009-11-13T17:03:00.001-08:00

Happy Veterans Day! Minnesota Wire held our 2nd annual Veterans Day BBQ at the plant in Eau Claire, Wisconsin (above is the logo I designed). We had almost 400 people attend, along with 17 exhibitors, antique cars, and a ton of sponsors... including Famous Dave's with the BBQ sandwiches, Culvers with ice cream, and Leinenkugels with the beer! The Wisconsin Army National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve from Fort McCoy sent 9 vehicles including some armored Humvees and some large trucks for which we make cables. There were a lot of Veterans present, and active duty, Guard and Reserve members from all the services.

I was the emcee again for the program, and our keynote speaker was Brigadier General Cipolla, deputy commanding general of the 88th Army Regional Support Command at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. The "Memorial Madrigals" from the Eau Claire High School sang the National Anthem. Note the two blue stars on the front of the dedication rock - denoting our 2nd annual event!

This octogenerian Army Air Corps Veteran actually flew a glider into France on D-Day, August 6, 1944!

The event... "Serving Freedom's Finest" was a great success. We raised a large sum for the Chippewa Falls Veterans Assistance Program, and it was a great afternoon to reflect on the sacrifice of our Veterans.

Libby Goes to "Career Day" at the Zoo!

2009-11-07T14:25:00.000-08:00

Libby and I spent Saturday at the Minnesota Zoo... it was "Career Day!" We heard some pretty interesting things about jobs relating to animals from zoo keepers, feeders, veterinary technicians and veterinarians. The tour included some behind the scenes looks at how and where the animals are fed and cared for, and where they live when they are not in an exhibit.

The bird show was included, which was amazing. We had eagles and hawks flying over our heads, and parrots talking and making some ridiculous sounds. A beautiful bald eagle came out to finish the show.

There isn't a dolphin show at the zoo, but the "enrichment period" - where they do many of the same tricks they do at shows - was just as good!

Yes... this is a bowl of live maggots... Ewww!