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!

We stepped off the plane into a wall of warmth...77° and sunny. ☀️🌴 After weeks of Minnesota’s negative temps, the blast of heat felt both glorious. I joked that I’d miss those subzero mornings… but let’s be honest, I didn’t miss them that much. 🥶🤣

Before race day, we explored a local wildlife sanctuary where we met a very old tortoise and watched lions and tigers being fed. It was one of those experiences that makes you pause and appreciate how wild and varied the world really is.

Then came the main event:
State #39 — Florida is officially checked off the list!
Palm Beaches Half Marathon ☀️🏃‍♂️

The race started hot and humid — 70° with what felt like 1,000% humidity. A far cry from the -10° waiting for us back home ❄️😅. It wasn’t my fastest race by any stretch, but honestly, that didn’t matter. The real highlight was meeting a new friend running her first-ever half marathon. We found each other at mile 1, stuck together the whole way, and crossed the finish line side by side. Whoop whoop 🙌.

Some races are about chasing a time.
This one was about the experience...the heat, the scenery, the camaraderie, and the joy of simply being out there.

After the race, we kept the adventure going with a trip into the Everglades, where the landscape felt like a world of its own — wide, wild, and buzzing with life. It was the perfect way to unwind after 13.1 hot miles.

Before heading to the airport, we made one last stop at Manatee Lagoon, hoping to catch a glimpse of those gentle giants. Even just being by the water, learning about them, and soaking in the warm Florida air made it a peaceful and memorable end to the trip.

As much as I loved the warm temps, it felt good to return to Minnesota’s cold, white winter ❄️☃️. And of course, Reba was thrilled to have us home...and even more thrilled to model the new medal, as always.

Another state done. Another story added to the journey. Onward to the next adventure.