2009 Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas,

We all hope that this letter finds you in good health and spirits. It is looking a lot like Christmas here this year as we just had about 8 inches of snow last week and have some more on the way, so we should be set up nicely for a white Christmas.

Mariah (18) started her freshman year at the University of Denver in September. She is enjoying the new experiences, the challenges of school, and meeting many new friends. Her first quarter is complete and she is home all during the month of December, giving us a chance to reconnect (when she is not busy reconnecting with her Eagan friends). Besides studying, she stays busy with intramurals, volunteering at the Platte Forum Art Studio, and many school and dorm sponsored activities. Last spring she was very busy with prom, graduation, her open house, and numerous other senior events. She went on a spring break trip to Gulf Shores, AL with some of her friends and parents where they saw the Blue Angels, relaxed on the beach, and toured around the area.

Kara (15) is a sophomore at Eagan High School. She now has her learner’s driving permit, and is testing out her ability in snowy conditions. She continues to play the clarinet in band, and is getting excited about the spring band trip to Puerto Rico. Last spring she tried out for the golf team and made the JV squad, giving her a chance to play against some older golfers at the various local high schools. She continued to play in a Jr. PGA league over the summer, experiencing many nice local courses. During the summer, she played soccer, even playing some games in goal for the first time. Earlier this fall Kara completed her confirmation training and was confirmed at Easter Lutheran Church.

Hailey (13) became a teenager last April. She was very busy last spring as she was on the middle school swim team, and played volleyball and indoor soccer. She continues to play soccer during the summer on one of the local traveling teams. When school started, she decided to switch from band to choir. Now she always has her instrument with her. Her big highlight of the year was her trip to Washington, DC with about 90 kids from her middle school. Although the weather was drizzly and cool, they had a good time and got so see many of the monuments, museums, and historical locations that make DC so fascinating.

LeAnn has kept busy working as a pre-school teacher for the city of Eagan. She spent much of the spring preparing scrapbooks and decorations for Mariah’s graduation and open house. The senior party was a big event for Mariah this spring, so LeAnn along with many other parents spent numerous hours designing and preparing decorations for this overnight party. She continues to do a lot a scrap-booking as she tries to keep up with the ongoing activities of Kara and Hailey. She played flag football again in the fall with a couple neighborhood friends. She also keeps busy with golf and bike riding.

Ray went on a 3 day, 18 mile backpacking trip along the north shore of Lake Superior with 3 of his workmates this fall. He did not get in as much bike riding this year as he normally does, but hopes to do a couple of longer rides again next year. He also continues to golf and geocache whenever he gets a chance. Ray still works for Advantek and travels to Asia quite a bit. On one of his trips he toured Corregidor Island in the Philippines, getting some firsthand looks at a very fascinating and strategic location of WWII.

LeAnn, Kara and Hailey went up to Duluth during spring break and toured the Glensheen Mansion and the Great Lakes Aquarium. It was still cold, so they did not spend a lot of time at Canal Park or doing other outdoor activities.

Our summer vacation took us out to Lake Tahoe, on the California and Nevada border. Lake Tahoe is a very large, deep, clear blue, mountain lake. It was pretty cold for swimming, but it was plenty warm on the beaches around the lake. During the winter, it is a big skiing area, and on the Nevada side there are numerous casinos. We stayed in a ski resort condo, so had some easy access to many hiking trails through the woods. We took one day to drive around the lake and stopped at various waterfalls and rivers that feed into the lake. We also stopped at Emerald Bay, home to Vikingholm, a mansion built in Scandinavian style. We took day trip to the Sonoma Valley in California and went on a vineyard tour and wine tasting at Benziger winery, which is practicing organic and natural farming techniques. We also took a paddle-wheel boat tour of the lake, giving us many views we could not get from shore.

Both Ray’s and LeAnn’s moms are doing well and continue to keep busy and stay healthy. Lois spends the winters in Arizona and summers at her home in Iowa. Karren is at home in Minnesota all year long.

The outside Christmas lights are on, the indoor decorations are up along with the tree, so we can know Christmas is near. We hope you are ready for Christmas and enjoy the season. Best wishes for a happy and prosperous 2010.