From Nordic Skiing to Rugby!!!

Dear Lerhol Family and Friends,

Well since our last blog update…things have been relatively low-key at the Colehour homestead. 

Good-bye Nordic Skiing; Hello Rugby:

There is a saying in the US when someone is always on the “go”…that they are not “letting the grass grow underneath their feet”, which describes Sondre perfectly.  Now that Nordic skiing is over, he has started practice for Rugby.  Rugby is a sport I literally know nothing about other than I think it has Australian roots and is very physical.    Kevin Sundquist, a friend of Sondre’s, and the son of one of my best life-long friends (Annie Joyce), is the captain of the team and has played for years.  It is gaining popularity in Minnesota for both boys and girls.  I expect Anne and Kevin can teach us the ropes.  To keep in shape, Sondre continues to take long runs along Lake Minnetonka and has joined a Fitness Club near our house (that he can walk to). Active young man!

Below are a few picture of Kevin (Sundquist) playing Rugby.  I have known his Mom since we were 5 years old as neigbors and classmates at Christ-the-King Catholic school in Southwest Minneapolis.  I was also in his Mom and Dad's wedding many years ago!

School continues to go well…and Sondre is really studying hard, especially in his biometrics class.  It is a combination of science, mathematical equations and anatomy.  He seems to really enjoy these types of classes and while they are very challenging (in English) he is doing well.  

Go Skippers!

The Minnetonka Girls Hockey team won the state title last night, for the second year in a row.  They beat Roseville 3-0.  Congratulations girls.  The boy’s hockey team is also very good…and I expect they will make it to the finals as well.  That tournament is in a few weeks.

The Sweetheart Dance:

Sondre had a great time at the dance.  This is the dance where the girls ask the boys. You dress up on costumes and themes...looks like they chose sports jersey's as the theme.  Sondre and Emma went with 22 other kids and rented a party bus to transport them from place to place.   The group had dinner beforehand at BUCA…a wonderful Italian restaurant.  I think BUCA is Italian for “hole in the wall” or something like that but they serve excellent food “family style” which works really well for larger groups.   Here are a few pictures. (Jon and Sigrun…he does not give us any more details about stuff like this than our own kids did….so I really don’t have many details to share!) J

Welcome home Billy: the Stephens(Billy, Pam and Jackson) visit Minnesota:

There is nothing I enjoy more than when all three of our kids are all home (with their spouses) at the same time.  We had a party on Saturday night and then a big sleepover with all the kids and grandkids (plus Dave/Colleen and Greg/Brooke…Billy’s best buddies).  We had lots of laughs and were all able to catch up on almost a year’s worth of conversations.  Jackson and Amelia (or Jaxy and Yaya as they call each other) loved all of the activity around the house and especially playing with each other.  On Sunday, we all just hung around and watched the Super Bowl, which was a really good game with the NY Giants winning.  I think Sondre might be hooked on US sports… 

Another garage party success!

 The arrival home from 8 months at sea.

Just the simple things in life...reading a book to your son.

Annual trek to Florida--PLANNED:

Every year, for many years, we have joined several of our friends in Florida for a week on the beach to relax, enjoy the sun, walks, some good old-fashioned camaraderie with great friends and perhaps a margarita or two.  We just made our travel arrangements and will be heading to Vanderbilt Beach for a week.  It is in-between Fort Myers and Naples.  Normally, all of the kids come (Tore too) with us, but this year it won’t work for the Stephens and Dirks clans…so it will just be Scott, Sondre Alex and me.  I am sure Alex and Sondre will attract a few girls on the beach with their rugged good looks and charming personalities.  We shall see…I will make sure they have a curfew (at least Sondre anyway).  J

We will be there with the Stewart’s (Jim and Robin), Paulson’s (Tom and Ginny) and Lieb’s (Jim and Noonie).  We will be on the beach from April 7 – 13^th and then we are going to…WAIT FOR IT….DISNEYWORLD and UNIVERSAL STUDIOs!!!!!  We figured that it would be crazy to be that close to it and not take Sondre up to Orlando for a few days.  Scott and I love, love, love scary rides.   We will soon see if Sondre can keep up with us…because there is not a ride we are too chicken to go on.  His American brother Alex…the big college quarterback… is still a tiny bit afraid of rides, even though he won’t admit it. 

Getting ready for Baby Boy Dirks’ arrival

Courtney is due at the end of March, but we think the baby will come sooner than that.  They are ready for him. It will be so fun to have a new baby in the family and Amelia is very excited to be a big sister.   We will keep you posted as things progress.  Courtney’s blood pressure is a bit elevated so the doctors are keeping an eye on her.  Thank goodness for medical technology and the ability to monitor Mom and Baby with such precision. 

Not sure...but I think they may be planning on the baby being into sports.  Just sayin....

Happy 21^st Birthday Synne…we hope you had a wonderful day.  It was great to talk to you yesterday.   

That is about all for now…

Lots of Love from Minnesota,

Alix and Scott