February 2009

Hard to believe that its almost March already. Even though this has been the LONGEST and COLDEST winter we have had in a few years, it's flying by. Or perhaps thats just because time flies by the older you get...and I am getting OLD. Keegan informed me not to long ago that 40 is SUPER old...why thank you, Keegs...I wasnt aware of that. And I am 39 thank you very much. Shortly following was the statement to a friend of mine, 'My Mom is chubby.' Why thank you again, sweet boy--he sure has a way with words that will melt your heart...or more like a punch in the face!
January and February...let's see....what did we do? Oh yeah....hockey, a little snowboarding, more hockey, garage hockey, hockey, floor hockey, hockey, knee hockey, hockey, driveway hockey, a little snowboarding, dryland hockey...are you sensing where we spend 95% of our time? I have officially become my Mother, spending weekends at the rink and organizing jamborees and concession stands. I remember the days of my parents spending every waking moment at the rink with my brother, Seth. I thought they were crazy. Apparently, I inherited the crazy gene from them. (as if that was in question, regardless of the 'crazy' due to hockey)
However, I am quickly realizing that what I used to think of as crazy is in reality a ton of fun. However, you will not see me sporting a HOCKEY MOM window cling in the rear window of my Tahoe--I have to draw the line somewhere. We enjoy weekends at the rink watching countless hours of hockey games...we're from the Iron Range--we love hockey! Even though Gregg grew up in Winona, I do believe he has a stronger Iron Range accent than I do these days. Speaking of Iron Range, Keegan made the most hilarious comment last week. I treated the boys to dinner at Rainforest Cafe and Griffin was...well, just being, Griffin. I asked Griffin, 'why are you eating like such a hill billy?' and Keegan replies, 'because he is being raised by a mother from the Iron Range.' I just about choked I was laughing so hard...the kid has quick wit--insightful quick wit.
We are hoping to head to Giants Ridge with Grandpa Joe, Uncle Sethie, Auntie Jenni and Austin before the snow melts. With our city hockey season coming to a close in a few weeks, we will have more time to ride. That also means we will have more time to ride with Uncle Paul, Auntie Jojo, Josh and Ally at Welch Village. So glad our kids enjoy winter sports...living in MN, we really dont have a choice do we? Although, before you know it Spring and Summer will be here....you know, like in July.
That's it for now. Check in again next month for the latest hill billy updates. Dont forget to read older posts if you are visiting for the first time.

Happy New Year 2009!

As our card reads, we wish you peace and love today and throughout 2009. Our holiday letter is merely our blog...at your convenience, read through the posts and check out what we are up to. I try to update it monthly so bookmark our blog to your favorites and check back from time to time to keep up with us.

January for us is HOCKEY season...hockey, hockey and more hockey. Actually its hockey at our house year-round but the official hockey season is in full swing. Griffin starts next year and is excited about being on a real team like his 'brudder'. Keegan still LIVES, EATS and BREATHES hockey. Which we dont mind...hockey is our favorite sport as well and we enjoy going to all of his games--even the games that require a 6:00 am wake up.

December--Happy Holidays!

December...gift shopping, Great-Grandma Josie's birthday, more gift shopping, Christmas, Grandma Candy's birthday, New Years Eve, Christmas break and snowboarding. Whew...thats alot! We had a wonderful Christmas...Santa was very good to all of us this year. The boys have started a 'band' with their new electric guitars and Guitar Hero World Tour. The name of the band is Granite Rocks--it is made up of Keegan on lead guitar and vocals, neighbor-friend Grace on lead vocals, her brother Gus on drums and neighbor-friend Sophie on bass guitar. Griffin is their 'roadie' and plays back-up guitar and drums. Keegan has been busy writing songs and is determined to be the next 'School of Rock'.

We celebrated Christmas in Winona with Gregg's family the weekend before Christmas. We continued the tradition of Nerf gun wars. Uncle Tom and Uncle Paul became the target many times, getting beaned right in the forehead unexpectedly--much to the delight of the nerf gun stalker. Auntie Jojo received her very own Nerf gun this year, which helps the parents have a fighting chance in the war against Josh, Ally, Keegan and Griffin. We celebrated with my family on New Year's Eve at the indoor Waterpark hotel in Duluth--it was so much fun! The waterpark was open until 1:00 am and the boys and their cousin Austin made it until 1:00 am--we rang in the new year, blowing party horns down the water slides--how much fun is that? We stay home for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and celebrate with our own family traditions of baking treats for Santa, leaving carrots for the reindeer and placing Rudolph's bells (which he dropped here 3 years ago) on the tree on Christmas Eve. Every year those darn reindeer poop all over our yard and our sidewalk. And every year they gobble up the carrots and Santa enjoys his treats and can of Coke (we arent total traditionalists)--plus as Keegan pointed out, Santas picture is right on the can of Coke. Apparently Santa has the same addiction to Coke as I do. ;)

Uncle Paul, Aunti Jojo, Josh and Ally came to our house in the afternoon and we went sledding and we all went to see Marley and Me Christmas night. We walked out of the movie with a new appreciation for Cooper, our neurotic chocolate lab and Kingsley, the crazed Cock-A-Poodle-Doo. Marley made these two look like angels...

During Christmas break we did some snowboarding and Griffin even got on a board this year! He loved it. Said it was much more 'funner' than having to make a pizza 'all day long' with his skis. Keegan has gotten to be quite the rider so it's fun for us to go out for a day and ride together. I'm sure the day will come soon that its no longer cool to go snowboarding with Mom and Dad and we'll have to ride 2 chairs behind he and his buddies, so we take advantage of as many opportunities as we can right now.

November--Happy Birthday, Griffin!

Okay...I fell behnd on the ol blog. Back on board.
November brought deer hunting at Lupich's Big Buck Lodge with Grandpa Joe, Uncle Seth--or Uncle Fuffy as Griffin calls him, Cousin Austin and the Johnson Boys; Gregg, Keegan and Griffin. This was Griffin's first year staying at The Shack, so Gregg and the boys built a new taj mahal deer stand to accomodate the three of them. I must say it out does Grandpa Joe's stand which has been coined, The Joe Dome. They had a ton of fun hanging in the stand and staying out at The Shack. Keegan and Griffin learned all of Grandpa Joe's highly coveted hunting secrets and are quite proud that they know these secrets and no one else does. Which....wont be for long. Griffin can not keep secret or remain quiet, for that matter. However, if it is for competitive sport, perhaps he will be able to bite his tongue--we'll see. I bet the entire deer camp learns of Grandpa's secrets next year. Gregg loves to go out to The Shack for the peaceful serenity of the gas lights, the crackle of the woodstove, cool, crisp, quiet air, birds chirping, the occasional howl of wolves....ahhhh...perhaps that scene will surface once again...in about 12 years or so. For now, the gas lights and the crackle of the woodstove remain, but the peaceful serenity is limited to 5 am to 9 am. Once Griffin wakes up, prepare for constant chatter until he crawls into his bunk to go to sleep.

They also went to The Shack during grouse hunting season this Fall. Keegan and Griffin seem to be following in their Dad's footsteps--they are both amazing target shooters. Keegan got a new pellet gun for his birthday this year so this was Griffin's first year with the Daisy Red Rider--and he didnt even shoot his eye out! ;)

November also brought Griffin's 4th birthday on November 30th--4 already--hard to believe. He wanted a 'big kid' Chuck E Cheese birthday party this year, so Chuck E Cheese it was. He has grown up so much over the past year--it's a bit scary--but fun. Griffin also has a 'friend' named, Marley. If Griffin gets in trouble...Marley did it. If Griffin loses something...its at Marley's. If he sees something cool that he wants--and doesnt get....Marley has it has house. If you should ask Griffin, 'who is Marley?' he will tell you just who he is, 'Marley is my imaginary friend'. Yep, good ol Marley. Griffin and I were Christmas shopping and he throws his hands up in the air and lets out a huge sigh and says, 'Mom, I have NO idea what to get Marley'. So he picked out a garden hose adjustable nozzle sprayer, because ironically Marley is obsessed with spraying garden hoses just like Griffin--what a coincidence! That's about it for November. Feel free to browse through our postings from 2008 at the top of our blog.