This weekend we celebrated a very special moment — Aurelia’s baptism. At just five months old, she was absolutely adorable and handled the whole ceremony like a pro. It certainly didn’t hurt that the holy water in the baptismal font was warm, which made the experience a lot more pleasant for a tiny girl suddenly becoming the center of attention.

It was even more meaningful because it fell on the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus. Aurelia was one of five babies baptized that day, and seeing all those families gathered together added such a joyful energy to the celebration.

Her godfather drove up from Mississippi. Welcome to Minnesota Cold! After the ceremony, we all gathered for Famous Dave’s BBQ — Yum!

Aurelia’s baptism was simple and sweet. A beautiful beginning to her spiritual journey.

This weekend we celebrated my great‑nephew’s 5th birthday, and he chose a theme that surprised all of us: chess. Not superheroes, not dinosaurs, not trucks — chess. His entire party was decked out in black and white, from the decorations to the tableware, giving the whole day a fun, vibe that felt both adorable and unexpectedly sophisticated for a five‑year‑old.

Of course, no birthday is complete without a little chaos, and we were happy to contribute. Our gift to him was the game Don’t Step In It, which is exactly as silly as it sounds. The goal is simple: avoid stepping in the fake poop while walking like whatever animal the spinner assigns you. One moment you’re a hopping frog, the next you’re a stomping elephant, and if luck isn’t on your side, you’re a slow, wobbling sloth trying not to land in disaster. Watching everyone take their turns had us laughing.

After the party we lingered at Danielle’s house into the evening, enjoying family time. We wrapped things up with pizza for dinner, a perfect ending to a day full of fun, laughter, and a very proud five‑year‑old birthday boy.

It was one of those simple, joyful days that stays with you...a reminder that sometimes the best celebrations are the ones filled with family, games, and a little bit of pretend poop on the floor.

We kicked off Christmas in a very non‑traditional way this year...by heading to the airport at 5 a.m. on Christmas morning. Nothing says “holiday spirit” quite like TSA before sunrise. After landing in sunny Phoenix, we went straight to Christmas Mass, a grounding and beautiful way to start the trip. The rest of the day was spent relaxing at Samantha’s gorgeous home, soaking in the warmth, the company, and the fact that it was not Minnesota in December.

For our stay, we settled into Daniel and Juliette’s super cool townhouse, complete with a waterfront view...in Phoenix! It felt like a little oasis tucked right into the desert.

The next day brought one of the highlights of the trip: watching the Minnesota Golden Gophers take on the New Mexico Lobos in the Rate Bowl. The weather outside was perfect, but the roof was closed WTH? The game itself was a blast, capped off by an overtime touchdown pass that sealed the win for the Gophers. Lots of cheering, lots of fun, and a great day all around.

Then came my birthday, and Phoenix delivered. We spent the morning hiking the Superstition Mountains with Daniel and Juliette, surrounded by blue skies and desert beauty. That evening, Sam and her kids joined us for a celebratory dinner at The Cheesecake Factory, and we wrapped up the night with some festive ice skating. Not a bad way to turn another year older.

On day four, I met up with my dear friend Mary Linda and her very handsome dog, Dewey. We took a long walk and ended up at an amazing brewery for lunch. 

For our final day, we decided to make the classic Phoenix pilgrimage to Sedona… along with what felt like the entire state of Arizona. At one point, Google Maps warned us it would take an hour to go two miles. Even with the traffic, the red rocks and sweeping views were as stunning as ever. 

We made it back to the airport with time to spare, only to have our flight delayed two hours. We eventually touched down in MSP at 3 a.m. and rolled into home around 4 a.m., exhausted but grateful for the adventure.

Another trip in the books — sunshine, family, friends, football, mountains, and memories. Exactly what a holiday getaway should be.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

2025 was quite the marathon—well, technically a series of half marathons! Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to this year.

We kicked things off in early March by meeting Phil in Georgia for the Combo’s Half Marathon in Albany, bringing us to State #34. We toured the Georgia State Capitol, wandered Centennial Olympic Park, and visited the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site after the race. Kim, a devoted Combo’s fan, was thrilled to return home with several bags.

At the end of April, Kim’s brother and his family joined us in Oregon for the Eugene Half Marathon—State #35. We stopped at Multnomah Falls, toured the Oregon State Capitol, tagged along on Alec’s UO campus tour, and enjoyed a stunning drive along the Oregon Coast with Phil. It was Mike’s first half marathon, and he absolutely smoked Kim. Nicely done, Mike!

Not all of our travels involved running. In May we flew to Nevada for our godson Joseph’s Confirmation, a special day presided over by a very memorable, retired military bishop. He used his crosier as crowd control.

Over Memorial Day weekend we road-tripped to Traverse City, Michigan for the Bayshore Half Marathon—State #36. On the way up we visited the Michigan State Capitol; on the way back we crossed the Mackinac Bridge. We also stopped at Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore, where the turquoise water was breathtaking.

June was full of family time as we celebrated Allista’s baby shower. Many relatives made the trip, and we got to meet our newest nephew, Finn—yes, he shares a name with our cat. We even snapped a photo of the two Finns together. They were not impressed with one another.

At the end of June, we traveled to Rhode Island for the Bristol Independence Half Marathon—State #37. We also visited the Connecticut State Capitol and spent some time exploring beautiful Newport.

August brought a big change: after 40 years of thick glasses and pricey contacts, Kim finally had her eyes corrected. She had to do PRK which meant a slower recovery, but even with the blurry days, she says it was absolutely worth it and wishes she’d done it sooner.

Recovery didn’t slow us down too much. We still made it to the MN State Fair with DJ and the Sever’s Corn Maze and Valleyfair with Nancy, Danielle and family to wrap up summer.

In mid-October, we headed to Sioux Falls for Eric’s brother, Byron’s surprise 40th birthday. We ran the Newton Hills trail race that morning and celebrated with family later on.

In early November we road-tripped to Indianapolis for the Monumental Half Marathon—State #38. Phil joining us again. Along the way we toured the Iowa and Illinois State Capitols and stopped at the Indy 500 Museum.

December is turning into a busy month. Last weekend we traveled to Florida for the Palm Beaches Half Marathon, which brings us to State #39. We are heading to Phoenix for Christmas. We lucked out as the MN Gophers are playing in the Rate Bowl while we are out there so we are going to cheer them on!

On the home front, Kim celebrated 25 years at Ameriprise Financial and is enjoying her extra week of vacation. Eric is still with CenterPoint Energy, though his Minneapolis office closed and he’s now commuting to Brooklyn Park—much farther away. This also means Kim lost her chauffeur and is back to riding the bus. Reba and Finn remain adorable as ever and constantly lobbying for food and attention.

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year!