Back on the Slopes!

The weather has finally warmed up here... sort of. It was in the 20s today, after being below zero for a couple of weeks; so we ventured out onto the slopes for the first time this season. Here we are at Afton Alps, just a few short minutes from our house. The St. Croix River is visible in the background... it's hard to believe that we were boating on that body of water in the warm sunshine just a short time ago!

Merry Christmas from the Cold North!

Merry Christmas, everyone! We most certainly are having a white Christmas this year, along with frigid temperatures! But the forecast is for mid 30s, so we can go skiing later this week. Yay! We went to Christmas Eve mass at our crowded church, then went off to Mark's apartment for the big Jaszewski family party - almost everyone was there, and we had a great time in the pool, and having an incredible feast!

Luke tried, as usual, to get a beer at the bar - his Uncle Bill was happy to oblige... I think the drinking age in England is lower than it is here... so what does he know?

Luke declared that it was the "best day ever" on Christmas Day, since Santa was inexplicably good to him. He got into the Christmas spirit with, what else... guns! Oh dear...

Libby was thrilled to get new cowboy boots - now if she just had a horse to go with them!

Thanks to everyone for their wonderful, generous gifts this year!

'Tis the Season for... Trains! (...& Jewelry)

It's the Christmas season, and in our house that means the trains come out. We haven't put out the big set in a couple of years, so it was time to do it once again.


Luke is really into them this year, and is enjoying running them for his friends! The 16-foot table is not the easiest thing to store... especially with the heavy mountain attached. I guess that's just one of the reasons we moved into a big house.


Meanwhile, Laura is busy in her Jewelry shop again, producing really beautiful items - including some for herself for a change!