Happy Holiday's Everyone!

Generally, a good year for one and all.

Laura's consulting company, Aleami Marketing Services, has gained traction from a few very good clients and things look promising for the early months in 2010. She is also an adjunct teacher for the University of Iowa. Meanwhile, Alex's contract work with the City Manager's Office in Cedar Rapids ended. He has since moved on to help with the Executive MBA program at the University of Iowa. Like Laura, he is also an adjunct teacher at the business school.

Kids are well and busy with all sorts of activities to include piano, tennis, soccer, basketball, cross country, cub scouts, and a few other activities and events of all sorts. Unfortunately through all the activities and changes we never got holiday cards in the mail.

What started out as a grim looking year, turned out to be a year of generally positive change. Our personal economic outlook, like the National economy, is cautiously optimistic. We believe we'll sell our house in Mankato at some point, and when that happens things will be right with the world. Maybe 2010 will be the beginning of a more stable and enlightening decade? We'll see.

Best wishes to one and all and have a terrific New Year!!! The salutation for 2010 is this: If you can't LIVE LARGE, then you might as well stay in bed!! Cheers!!!

Big Dawg & Herky

Here we see Big Dawg and Herky Hawk during halftime. Hawks were beating #4 Purdue by a point and held on well into the second half before the Boilermakers put it to the Iowa. The final score was Iowa 56, Purdue 67. What you see here, is one of the few major highlights of the evening.

Chicago X-mas '09

Waiting at the West Egg Cafe for breakfast. On the corner of Ontario and Columbia. Very good nosh!

The night before we see the crew with "Uncle" Murph about to dine on Geno's East Pizza. Traditional Chicago Pizza. Two pieces and out. Wow what pies! If you look closely, Chalupa's got Hefner in tow!
This picture was taken at Millennium Park next to the "Bean", overlooking the cafe and ice skating. It appears to be Chicago's version of Rockefeller Center.
Big Dawg outside of the Penguin display at the Field Museum. We spent most of our time in the Animal section. There is so much to see! We dragged Big Dawg into the Egypt section and Big Dawg was absolutely terrified by the mummy's. He had to be carried like a two year old. "Dad, PUT ME DOWN. I WANT TO EXIT THIS PLACE!!!". Of course the girls laughed out loud at this outburst, which only made matters worse.
Here is a statue of the American Gothic. Hefner is a posed just above Beaner's head on the edge of the suitcase. The original "American Gothic" painting, by Grant Wood is part of the permanent collection at the Chicago Art Institute. Grant Wood's artistic inspiration came from Eastern Iowa and he remains one of America's most recognizable painters.

Tree Trimming 09

Beaner and Chalupa begin to load 'er up.

Not sure where Big Dawg gets his tree-trimming fashion tips, but they certainly are "revealing".

Chalupa, Peanut, Big Dawg, Beaner and a glimpse of Side Track all busy trimming to Christmas songs.

Beaner reaches for another ornament to place on the tree.

Post-trimming movie... "Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, and the Island of Misfit Toys." Peanut! Don't look so excited!!! Great pic of Beaner!

Study Hall

No matter how you look at it...

It's still studying. Ugh!

Snow on Campus

Red, white and blue... makes for a nice winter image if not a bit patriotic.

The lone student walking to (or from) class. It was 7 degrees when this photo was taken. Wind chills will not be mentioned. BRRrrrRr!

Big Dawg Turns Seven!

Playing with a new set of lego's. He scored big in the lego and puzzle department. Now, if I can remember to wear slippers throughout the house, I won't destroy my feet and curse ever time I step on a lego in my bare feet? Why couldn't they be made out of foam rubber?

And as birthday traditions go... the annual ritual of breaking an egg on Dad's head... continues.

This year I'd have to say was a smashing success. See for yourself!

Beaner, Chalupa and Peanut watch as Big Dawg opens a Birthday present. It was a great time. JA Mandy joined us as did Jonathan (now an Iowa student from our old stomping grounds in Wisconsin) and his girlfriend Callie.

Campus Waiting for Snow.

Here is the view out of my office window ... looking East. I didn't bring the camera into work today, so I didn't get shots of the the post blizzard campus. Trust me... it's snowy and cold.

In front of the Pomerantz Center looking due south at the Old Capital. Again you can see some snow but it's nothing compared to what we got later that night.
Looking North, the Pappajohn Business Building is on the right. Ahead to the right is the Pomerantz Building where my office is located. As you can see, students are beginning the migration to and from classes. In about 5 more minutes, this place is packed with the hourly herd of students coming and going.

ANOTHER lost tooth!!!

Big Dawg lost his third tooth in less than a month. It's CRAZY.