Red Bull Flugtag USA!

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!

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!

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!

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

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!

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!

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!