A Time for Reflection

As the year and the decade draw to a close, it's time to reflect on the decade that was the 00's. The decade started with a new President in George W Bush. Elected by the slimmest margin in our countries history. In effect, decided by a single vote by the Supreme Court. September 11 started for me as a clear cool Southern California Morning. This would all change moments later as terrorists seized control of 4 passenger jets and used them as weapons of mass destruction in New York and DC. Less than six months later the USA hosted the world athletes at the 2002 Winter Olympics at Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2008 we witness history as Barack Obama became the first African American to be elected President. I'll never forget the scene in Chicago as he made his acceptance speech. We started the final year of the decade with the inauguration of President Obama on the steps of the nations capital.

Our family had many highlights over the decade. We had many wonderful family road trips. My Dad and I were blessed to be able to the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake and it was an opportunity of a life time. 2002 trip that included many of the northern National Parks. 2003 was the Grand Circle tour of all the National Parks in Utah and Northern Arizona. 2004 hopped on Amtrak to the Pacific Northwest. 2005 was a tour of the northern California National Parks. 2006 saw us make the move from Santa Clarita to Excelsior Minnesota. We made the most of our drive and did quite a bit of sight seeing on the way. Our oldest son Nik graduated from Minnetonka High School in 2007. Two Years later, Alex graduated from MHS in 2009. Also in 2009, our little girl Catie started high school as a Freshman at Main Street School of Performing Arts and Alex began his Freshman year at the University of Nebraska.

It was an amazing an memorable decade. I look back on 2000's with fondness and the 2010's with hope and anticipation. Happy New Year to all!

Dreaming of a White Christmas

I need to dream no longer. We actually had a white Christmas! Just like the ones I used to know! The tree are all weighed down with a heavy blanket of snow. They remind me of the Flocked trees they sell in California, only way whiter and way prettier. By my best guess, in the last 48 hours we had about 14 inches of the white stuff. The boys and I have been out shoveling 6 times, 3 with the snow blower to try to keep the driveway and side walk clear.

The kids all slept till 9 am then slowly started trickling up stairs. One by one they arrived in the kitchen, a little sleepy and asking when we where going to open the presents from Chris and I and Grandpa and Grandma Wunrow. It was very sweet, and reminded me of those Christmas' past when they were small. I guess it's true that Christmas does bring out the child in all of us.

After opening presents and getting the kitchen cleaned up from the night before, the boys and I headed out to clear the 4 inches of snow that had fallen the night before. This mornings snow as much wetter and therefore heavier than yesterdays, so we were really glad to have the snow blower to clear that away without breaking our backs.

At 11:30 we made the one mile drive over the river and through the woods to Rich and Sheryl's house for Christmas brunch. This is a tradition in their home that goes back to their many years living in Michigan. They served up an amazing spread of food including egg bake, french toast bake, breakfast sausage, bratwurst, hash browns, fresh fruit, mimosa's, and a wonderful selection of home made Christmas cookies. Missing, but not missed (my me since I've never had it) was the fresh Polish sausage that Rich explained was part of their tradition. However, after searching every butcher and specialty meat shop in the twin cities, they learned that the Norwegians and Swedes' that settled in the North Star state where not too fond of Polish sausage. Rich is now contemplating taking up sausage making to assure a reliable supply of this most central part of their holiday tradition!

After brunch we relaxed and chatted for a while. I myself made a trip or two the the cookie tray, they were just too yummy to pass up. And hey, I've been working hard shoveling snow, so I know I'm burning lots of calories! Later, we exchanges gifts between our two families and headed home around 2:00, with the idea (mine anyway) of taking a nap. Well, once we got home we noticed that the neighbors had built a snow man that was gazing intriguingly across the street to our house.

That was all it took to get Chris and Catie motivated to build one of their own. So they got bundled up and off they went. It wasn't long before they called Alex and I away from our basketball game to join them, which we did. Even Lola got geared up and joined us. We had snow ball fights, played with the doggie in the snow (which was over her head by the way!) and of course finished off the construction of Melody Frost, the intended mate of Jack Frost our snow man neighbor from across the street. What a fun and memorable Christmas Day. We are so happy that Alex was home from school to enjoy it with us!

Alex does the heavy lifting

Chris and Lola working the base

The crew that built Melody Frost

Merry Christmas!

Holiday greetings from my gang here in Minnesota. Thanksgiving is over and the leftover turkey is in the freezer. My birthday has come and gone and I am officially one year older. A look at the thermometer shows that is it 11 degree's outside. The Holiday decorations are all up. So, what's next on my list? Oh yeah, it's time to write the Christmas letter! I settle in next to the fire with the Packer game in the background I begin to recount another memorable year.

We had several big milestone events this year. Alex graduated from Minnetonka High School in June in a class of over 700 seniors. After a year of research, applications and campus visits he selected the University of Nebraska the home to his college career. Nik and I drove Alex and his good friend Ed to Lincoln in mid-August where they moved into Abel hall. Journalism is Alex's major. He also writes for two student run newspapers on campus, the campus paper the Daily Nebraskan and the student satirical paper the Daily-er Nebraskan. Between the two he has been published 6 times. We look forward to having him home for the holidays.

Catie finished up her middle school life at Minnetonka West Middle School in June. Her continued passion for dance led her to search for alternative opportunities for high school. In September she began class at the Main Street School of Performing Arts, a charter school in the Hopkins school district. Catie absolutely loves her new school and is doing well academically and is making lots of new friends. She continues to dance at Magic Ballroom and recently got a new dance partner who she will begin competing with in February.

Nik is in his final year at Transitions Plus in St. Louis Park. He is now starting to plan for the next phase of his education and is leaning towards Hennipen County Technical College. He's such a techie kid it only makes sense that there will be opportunities in the tech world. He is also working hard at getting his drivers license. I've been taking him out to practice quite a bit and he's doing a good job. He recently started to learn the daunting skill of parallel parking.

Chris is doing great. Her back is continuing to get stronger, with far more good days than bad. She continues to be the CEO of our little enterprise called, The Wunrow's on Melody Lane. Chris really enjoys having my cousin Sheryl live so close. The two of them enjoy spending time together and are very active doing volunteer work for a local food pantry. Chris and I recently met our weight loss goals with the help of Weight Watchers. Between the two of us we lost almost 30 pounds. Chris also used her immense powers of persuasion to convince me to buy her a dog! She is now the proud mama of a cute little rescue Pug named Lola. Boy that little dog sure does love Chris, and Chris in turn sure loves that little dog.

As for me, all of the events outlined above where highlights. My career highlight this year was the marking of my 25th year working at Quad. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. I still am so grateful for the blessing that my job is in my life. I also had a really great year of paddling. I was able to extend the season with a wetsuit kayaking from late march all the way to mid November. I still love photography, however that is one passion that I have not been as focused on in the last year (no pun intended). Geocaching is still the activity that gives my brothers and I an excuse to spend time together searching for small boxes out in the woods, in the darkest night in the dead of winter...yeah it's an illness for sure!

We are proud of our children's many accomplishments. The obstacles they have all overcome to get where they are today. We are grateful for all the blessings we have received. We also thank all the family and friends that have spent time with us either at our home or on our travels. You are the fabric of our lives and we are happy to have you. We wish all of you a happy and Blessed Christmas and New Year.

God Bless You.

Jeff, Chris, Nik, Alex and Catie
(oh and Cookie the Cat and Lola the Pug too!)

PS: Our ink on paper news letter will be going out in the mail in the next few days. It will contain bonus photos and our annual Christmas Card. I just wanted to get this news part out before Christmas.

Let it Snow!

As most of you know, there is a pretty big winter storm rolling through the plains and upper Midwest this week. The snow started here in Minnesota around 7:00 pm tonight. It's not supposed to stop until sometime Saturday or Sunday this weekend! It's not only going to be a white Christmas, it may also end up being a White Out Christmas. Tonight we had one of those only in Minnesota moments that I had to share.

Our neighbors accross the street, live full time in CA and keep the house here as a vacation retreat. So, when Chris and I went out to take Lola for her evening walk, Less and Alice where outside shoveling their driveway and working out there two Golden Lab's. Now, Lola the and Labs are best friends from all the time they spent last summer playing together. When she saw the other dogs she imediately sprinted over and gave them a big Pug greating. So, while the dogs played and chased each other around in the fresh powdery snow, the four of us stood in the street catching up on all that had gone on in our lives in the last 5 months since we saw each other last. We stood around chatting for so long we all and mounds of snow on our hoods and shoulders. Just another living example that when you live in Minnesota you can't let the weather be the boss. You have to gear up and embrace it for the wonderous unique experience that it is.

Let it snow, let it snow, LET IT SNOW!!!

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

I was a little bit bummed when I woke up on my birthday Friday morning, the last day of a business trip to Denver. Wishing I were home with my family I was looking forward to getting home that evening so I could celebrate with Chris and the kids. My mood soon changed though as I checked my phone and found several birthday greetings from some family and friends on Facebook. Then I got a e-mail from Chris, and a Tweet from Alex and and text from Dad and on and on and on it went all day. I received so many birthday wishes from so many people, it was truly moving. I was struck by how much technology is woven into our daily lives. And today it was technology that allowed family and friends of mine from all over the country to easily, and personally reach out to me and have meaningful communication with me. This was not possible even a few years ago and I am grateful for it.

My flight home was smooth. I even got bumped up from a middle seat to an aisle with out even asking! Arriving home, I walked into the kitchen to a bouquet of delicious smells. After getting hugs from Chris and the kids, they sat me down for dinner. The surprise dinner that Chris had been taunting me with all day was laid out before me. Scrimp, steak, roasted veggies, baked potato, garlic bread and a glass of red wine. What a treat! We enjoyed dinner together, then took a break to open my gifts (as if I needed more than I'd already received today!) before enjoying my favorite birthday cake. What a great way to end up a memorable and special day.


Saturday morning started out nice and quite, having not been home for most of week, it was just what the doctor ordered. Just as I was finishing getting dressed, the doorbell rang. Chris called out that there was someone here to see me. "Who the heck is here to see Me?" I thought. I walk into the dining room and there stand my Dad and Bonnie! I was in complete shock. I gave Dad a huge hug that I just didn't want to end. What a blessing. I haven't spent a birthday with my Dad in forever. The surprises didn't stop there. They had tickets to the Plymouth Playhouse presentation of Away in the Basement a Church Basement Ladies Christmas. A very funny local musical. After the play we went to Kona Grill for dinner. Sushi for appetizers and a seared Ahi tuna entree were delicious. What a wonderful surprise ending to a perfect birthday. Thank you Chris, Dad, Bonnie and all my family and friends that where a part of this memorable celebration.