Winter!

Winter has arrived in the borderlands. We have 8-10 inches of snow and have been cold for the last week. We had a couple of days with the high the single digits above zero. Jeff and I went skiing yesterday afternoon. We haven't been skiing before Christmas since we've been here. It was great. Hopefully this will be a winter with adequate amounts of snow to ski all winter long.

In about ten days we head out for our Christmas travel. We will drive to Grand Forks, North Dakota and catch the empire builder west to Portland where we will rent a car and spend three days with Jeff's folks then drive to Sedro-Woolley and spend three days with my folks then drive back to Portland and catch the train back to Grand Forks and drive home on January 1st so the kids can start school again on January 2nd. A wild busy trip but one we wanted to make before Stephen leaves home.

Speaking of which, he has confirmed with the University of Minnesota, Morris that he will be attending their school beginning Fall 2008 (of course, dependent on his graduating, which shouldn't be a problem). In January, we begin the financial piece of figuring out how to pay for having a child in college.

Rachel completed a successful swim season and is doing a variety of things this winter to stay busy. She will again (with her brother) be competing on the school speech team. Stephen is swimming and participating on the knowledge bowl team and swimming. Rachel and Jeff are beginning a pick up soccer game at the church and are very excited.

Have a wonderful winter and enjoy the season.
Diane