Luke Goes Scuba Diving!

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!

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!

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

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!

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!

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!

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...