Family Mellmann

Normally, I would probably be a little jealous of watching a member of my family ride off on a motorcycle, but not today. Despite the blue sky and sunny day, it's below freezing outside, and I am what you call a fair-weather rider. Joerg is taking our newest bike to Roadside for the final step in making it fully legal - inspection. Then it can be stored for the winter where it will sit, ready and waiting for a spring ride, once the weather turns warmer.  He'd probably wait for a warmer day for this run, but the deadline is coming up.  It would have been nice to do this when we had our "January thaw", but we didn't have the keys yet.  Sometimes things don't time out the way you wish they would.  Such is life.

Every year since Patrick was in first grade he has taken ski lessons through the Williston Parks and Recreation Department Alpine Ski Program.  From beginner to Level 7, he is about ready to test for the final skill level (8).  Once he passes that test he will be able to volunteer to teach beginner skiers, which he his very excited about. Katherine tried ski lessons last year, as a first grader, but it didn't work out so well and she dropped the program.  This year she said she wanted to try snowboarding...NOT skiing. So, we bought some used equipment and signed her up.  Perhaps she'll be the next snowboarding champion.

Patrick recently discovered that we have a new neighbor.  "He" was so well camouflaged that we didn't see him at first.  He (or she) stayed in that hole for a few weeks.  He would be gone in the evening (hunting) and would be there in his tree all day (sleeping).  We learned from our friend Craig at Outreach for Earth Stewardship (where Patrick volunteers) that this is actually nesting season for the Barred Owl.

Despite her complaints (which I suspect are an echo of what she hears Patrick say) Katherine has reach another milestone in her Tae Kwon Do experience; Yellow Belt.

Tonight we're learning a new family game. This was a Christmas gift to Patrick - you can never go wrong with the train theme in this house. Ticket to Ride!