Happy New Year 2006

Christmas has come and gone and with 2006 here, we find ourselves halfway through the school year and nearing our one year anniversary of moving here last January. Our Christmas was very enjoyable as expected. We spent the day as planned with Jerry and Marilyn Wigness, their kids, Doug & Kim Williams, and Steve Wigness along with Steve's boys, Drew (17), Sam (14), and Dylan (12). The boys spent time in their hot tub, which overlooks the river. It looks kind of funny out there as you stand out on the deck with the hot tub and about 20 yards away is a guy sitting on an upside down 5-gallon bucket ice fishing on the river. There's about two dozen ice houses on the river at this point, though it remains to be seen how successful they are at fishing this year. We had a lot to eat thanks to Marilyn including the obligatory meatballs and lefse and the boys received a lot of gifts there including blankets, uno card sets, drawing materials, etc. Andrew couldn't believe how stuffed he was and that the food just kept coming. We also played pool in the basement and had a rousing electronic game of "Catch Phrase" that lasted about two hours or so with Doug and Kim's three daughters and a couple of Steve's boys along with Marilyn and Jerry. Marilyn was the highlight of the evening, mixing up the timer button with the other button to advance trivia topics. We were all about to fall backwards in our chairs from laughing so hard when she kept pressing the wrong button.

As for our post-Christmas activities, we invited Joe Drevlow out to the recent hockey game between the Prowlers and Forest Park Rangers and he brought his "six eldest" kids with him, so it was quite the party. I'll post a pic here of most of them with Aaron (Danny was shy that night). The Prowlers won 5 to 3. We are expecting an interesting hockey event, though, on Wednesday or Thursday here in town. I opened the paper right after mom and dad called for New Year's to find that the USA Women's Hockey Team (for the 2006 Olympics) will be in town for a scrimmage game against the Prowler BOYS!! Talk about a once in a long time opportunity. The boys are looking forward to seeing that. I wonder if the Prowlers have a chance... :o)

School will be resuming as of tomorrow morning, so we took the opportunity Saturday night to bring Dusty and Kasey out with us to the water park at Seven Clans Casino. Dusty spent the night afterward. I could tell the boys really needed the opportunity to blow off some steam before classes resume. Aaron is also asking me daily now to take him there for his 9th birthday on January 13th.

Andrew is still working on gaining his "snow feet." He's fallen a few times already delivering for Domino's and finally broke down last week and got special oversoles for his shoes that grip the ice. He also has a heckuva time getting in and out of the back parking area in the back alley. I've had to push him either in or out about three times now. He hasn't gotten the hang of rocking a stickshift yet and has a habit of creating ice under his frontwheel drive Honda. The good news is we should only have another 3 1/2 months or so to go and the temperature has been kind lately. It's been hovering consistently around the high 20s and low 30s for a few weeks and we haven't had any subzero temps for some time (knock on frozen wood).

That's about all there is to report at this point. Hopefully all is well with everyone and all of you have a great New Year's.