Bowling in Baldwin

One afternoon closer to New Year's some of us went to Baldwin, Wisconsin (a small town close to where I grew up in Spring Valley). Brooke had two strikes right off the bat. Stewart received the highest score of all of us. One of the cutest things was watching our nephew, Isaac (almost 4) bowl for one of his first times. He was thrilled to roll the ball down the alley and squealed in excitement! His ball slowly but consistently knocked pins down. By the end of the game Amy was amazed that she and Isaac had final scores that were tied! :)

Time with Grandma June

We spent a couple of days visiting Grandma June (my mom's mom) and the Polzin side near Christmas Eve.

My aunt Barb and uncle Fred gave us a tour of their new spacious home they had designed on Lake Francis in Minnesota. It replaces the cabin that had been there for many years where we had gone every summer as children - great memories with relatives, playing in the sand, water-skiing, fishing, and boating on that lake. Their new beautiful home has breath-taking views of the lake.

Christmas 2008

Brooke (age 10) at home in Nebraska

The rest of the photos below were taken in Wisconsin at Mom and Dad's. It was really nice to spend time together. We were also grateful to talk on the phone with Logan in Iraq, Brent in Moscow, Brandee and kids in Germany, and Stewart's family with Sue and Steve in Utah, Jerry and Jen in Minnesota, and Robin and Darren in Virginia.


Gma, Baby Will, and Gpa




Amy and Derrick and Baby Will


Brooke, Will, and Isaac


Gma and Gpa with William


The Hulk - Ice Man


Brooke and Isaac curled up watching a movie


Isaac and Gma

Isaac (almost 4) and Jake (2.5)

Derrick and Taylor


Baby Samantha (7 months) and Stewart


Gma and Samantha


Gma and Gpa babysat the 5 grandchildren while Stewart and I went on a triple date with Derrick, Amy, Taylor, and Darin to a movie in Hudson. We came home to find the kids had all finally konked out.

Wisconsin Winter Wonderland

We had good memories of Christmas 2008 with Mom and Dad in Wisconsin. Here are some scenes with family out in the snow in Spring Valley - The snow was beautiful and made for some fun winter activities.


Amy bundling up Isaac
Derrick with Brooke and Isaac on the snowmobile and sled

Bella wishing she were a snowmobile dog



Taylor and Jake, Shannon and Brooke (the masked lady)
working on a snowfort and Jake tearing down the 5-story snowman


Darin keeping the fire roasting

Where's Bella?

Bella barking at the snowmobile in Wisconsin


Brooke has a collection of stuffed pug animals that Bella wishes were her own.


This is really the "Where's Waldo [Bella]?" picture. Brooke created this set-up herself and snapped the picture while Bella tolerated being encircled by furry toys. Can you see Bella's face in there?


Again, Brooke dressed up Bella. Ho ho ho!!!

Back in NY

I'm back in New York City for a conference of the AHA (American Historical Association). It is nice to be back here after seven years, and I realize that the taxi drivers are just as bad as I remember. So far I have been honked at three times (all in a 2o-minute period). Oh, and I am enjoying the conference too.
Stewart