Gallery
- Papillion-La Vista South HS (Papillion, NE)
- Grand Rapids HS (Grand Rapids, MN)
- Farmington HS (Farmington, MN)
- Irondale HS (New Brighton, MN)
- Marshall HS (Marshall, MN)
- Millard West HS (Omaha, NE)
- Brandon Valley HS (Brandon, SD)
- Millard North HS (Omaha, NE)
- Sioux Falls Lincoln HS (Sioux Falls SD)
- Eden Prairie HS (Eden Prairie, MN)
- Eastview HS (Apple Valley, MN)
- Rosemount HS (Rosemount , MN)
First Time Ice Fishing
I had a lot of fun out ice fishing for the first time tonight. Andy invited Liam, Mike, and I out to his ice house in Piersons Lake for the evening. Mike had also not been ice fishing and living in Texas it was all a new experience. To make sure we got the full experience Andy had us auger holes, just for fun though. I had no idea that ice fishing could involve all this gear. We were fishing by sonar watching our jig float in the water and seeing fish as they came by. Everyone caught some! 🎣🧊
Tammy and I went to the newly opened Dario for dinner tonight. The meal, wine, ambiance, and service were fantastic. We had the Gem Lettuces followed by the Fall Vegetable Salad and the Spicy Rigatoni alla Vodka for pasta. Dessert was Cake & Ice Cream. The pasta blew me away with the flavors!
Tubing Minnehaha Creek
It was a nice hot day to enjoy a float down Minnehaha Creek today. Tiffany and Andrew were visiting so we got the tubes inflated, drove to Utley Park in Edina to put in and floated right back to our house taking out in Minnehaha Creek Park. This was the furthest we’ve gone on the tubes going 3.7 miles and took just over 2 hours. 💦
Harley-Davidson Museum
We visited the Harley-Davidson Museum while in Milwaukee. None of us are huge motorcycle fans but it was still fun to see the history and progression of all the bikes over the years.
Part of the Milwaukee Spring Break collection.
Milwaukee Art Museum
The Milwaukee Art Museum was incredible. It was one of our favorite art museums that we have ever been to. Incredible art set in an incredible museum.
Part of the Milwaukee Spring Break collection.
Bee Lab at University of Minnesota
When Tammy’s Dad passed away one of the organizations that he supported was the Bee Lab at the University of Minnesota. As a thank you from the Bee Lab Tammy and I were able to visit today, meet Dr. Marla Spivak, and get a tour of the facility.
It was cool to see how Dr. Spivak had designed the lab and to see some of the work they are doing with the incredible variety of bee species in Minnesota and elsewhere.
For more about Dr. Spivak and her work with bees watch her TED Talk on why bees are disappearing and an interview about her research on Propolis and Honey Bees.
Youth in Music 2023
We went to the 2023 Youth in Music Show at US Bank Stadium today to see my nephew perform in the Marching Band competition for Grand Rapids High School. We saw all the AAA and AAAA performances.
The performances were impressive and each one is like a 10 minute show. For the finale, Iowa State University MB (Ames, IA) gave an exhibition performance with a Metallica theme that was incredible.
Renaissance Festival 2023
We made our regular visit to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival today! We hit all of our favorites. Both kids made their regular attempts at Jacob’s Ladder but it still eludes them. Cheese curds, Turtles on a stick, and a Beef Stick for me.
Family selfie at the King’s Gate.
Knights Guard.
There was a race up the climbing wall, and then Mazie and Tyler both did it again.
Tyler trying out the archery.
Tyler likes to whip tomatoes while being insulted.
It is a tradition that I have to do the sledge hammer each year. I dinged it!
Both kids love the trampoline jumping.
We see Tuey everytime we go to the RenFest. He’s been performing at the RenFest for 42 years! (He’s 61 years old!)
Hike to Soglio
Our sixth and final day of hiking into the beautiful town of Soglio.
Part of Switzerland & Italy 2023 collection. Also see Casaccia to Soglio from Europe 2004 Collection collection.
Sils Maria - Maloja Loop
Today’s hike left right from the front steps of the Hotel Edelweiss and walked out of Sils Maria to a ascent above the tree line. The ascent was a bit more gradual which I was very appreciated of. We had a great time experiencing Grevasalvas on the trail, a wonderful rest at the top, and a nice hike back along the lack. A bit over 9.5 miles today.
Part of Switzerland & Italy 2023 collection. Also see Piz Lunghin Summit from Europe 2004 Collection collection.
Hike Pontresina to Sils Maria
I didn’t join the hike today and instead ran my wallet recovery mission. However, I asked that the family take a lot of pictures and here is there journey to the amazing Lake Hahnensee from Pontresina and ending in Silvaplana.
Part of Switzerland & Italy 2023 collection. Also see Pontresina to Sils Maria from Europe 2004 Collection collection.
Hike to Segantini Hütte and Pontresina
Another day of great hiking. Started with train ride to funicular and then a big hike up to the amazing hut followed by a traverse on the mountain and a cold, rainy, stormy descent on a chair lift.
Part of Switzerland & Italy 2023 collection. Also see Zuoz to Pontresina from Europe 2004 Collection collection.
Hiking Guarda Out-n-Back to Chamonna Tuoi
Day 2 of our Engadine Hiking adventure and today we hiked up the valley toward Piz Buin ending at Chamonna Tuoi for a delicious lunch of rösti and grilled cheese. The day started with a serious uphill section right away, climbing about 1,600 feet over the first 90 minutes. We stayed at a steady elevation with a little descent, and then finished with a more gradual ascent up to the hut. This route was totally new, and part of the trip spending two nights in Guarda.
Part of Switzerland & Italy 2023 collection. Also see Zuoz to Chamanna Des-Cha Hut and back from Europe 2004 Collection collection.
Hiking Scuol to Guarda
We got into Guarda this afternoon just before 4pm. We made our way through the town to the Messier Lodge and unlacing the hiking boots felt so unbelievably good. We hiked 10.7 miles over 5h 25m. It was a long day and the last couple of miles my feet and legs were feeling it. It was a great accomplishment and I’m going to rest the legs and body for tomorrow!
Part of Switzerland & Italy 2023 collection. Also see Scuol to Guarda from Europe 2004 Collection collection.
TeamSPS 5th Floor Remodel
The remodel of #TeamSPS 5th floor is nearly done and we were able to move this week. It is great to be back on our “home” floor with a so many improvements!
Space Camp
We had a fun weekend at Family Space Camp! 🚀 Our program included runs in the Multi Axis Trainer, the 5D weightlessness trainer. We ran an entire simulation of a Space Shuttle mission where Tyler was EECOM, Mazie PAYCOM, Tammy CAPCOM, and I was FDO. I got to do the countdown to launch. 🤩 We got to see an incredibly impressive planetarium showing as well as a great IMAX experience on the International Space Station. We also learned a bunch about NASA’s Artemis program. And the whole time we got to see a real Saturn V and Saturn IB rocket, as well as a capsule that went into space and a moon rock. And we got great astronaut suits.
Snowmobiling Around Tower
We had a fabulous day on the trails with snowmobiles! We got to Lake Vermillion Houseboats right at 9a to get our snowmobiles and helmets. We were on the trail in no time. We hadn’t had breakfast so we stopped in Tower after a short ride across Pike Bay at Good Ol’ Days Cafe for a “greasy spoon” breakfast. It also served as a quick gear test and we realized the folks were going to need some help with warm hands. We picked up a bunch of hand warmers at the gas station and then we hit the trail for pretty good loop.
I’m not sure on the total distance but we were out on the trail for a bit over 3 hours after breakfast. The hand warmers were a big help and we had a great time. I thought the distance was just right but mostly everyone else thought we could have ended an hour earlier. 🙂 I also wasn’t that cold when we got done and everyone else felt pretty cold. 🥶
Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
We went to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory today. Learned that it takes 47 seconds for a computer to lathe a professional bat. And the many batters have custom specifications that their bats are made to. Very cool place.
