My Minnesota Family

I found some pictures taken around xmas of Julie and her gang. Thought I would post the pics so whoever may read this will know the people that have become a large part of my life.

Of course, the photos should start with the "Southern Star", otherwise known as Julie's grand daughter Finley Vi Peterson. Finley is just a month younger than the "Northern Star", otherwise known as Shaya. Finley is the daughter of Julie's son Cam, and his wife Cassie. Cam works for a paper company in Minneapolis and Cassie is a very talented art teacher in the local school system. They live in Minneapolis. The photos were taken at Great Grandpa and Grandma Lavens who are located in a beautiful area in the northern part of the state called Cross Lake. They have a large log house which dresses up wonderfully when decorated for Christmas and full of people.

Next, we have from the great state of Wisconsin, Josh and Jill Peterson. Josh is Julie's oldest son and he and Jill were married two summers ago in a great resort called Lake Ojiekabojie. They live in Milwaukee where Josh works for the Boys and Girls Club of America and Jill has a marketing position with Miller Brewery. Jill has a wonderful position as Miller sponsors a lot of the pro sporting events so Josh gets to go to the Brewers and Green Bay Packers games as well as a lot of big name concerts. Julie and I had a great visit with them over the July long weekend last summer and took in the July 4th fireworks and music at the waterfront park in Milwaukee.

Last, but not least, we have Luke and Annie Anderson. Annie is Julie's baby and she and Luke were married almost three years ago on her Dad's farm in Trimont MN. Luke (not in this photo) is also an art teacher employed in the local school system and is an avid skate and snow boarder who designs skate and snow boards as a hobby. Annie is still in college taking her Masters in Science , works part time as a landscape gardener and has a dream of an organic farm or co-op somewhere out in the hills of Wisconsin. Luke and Annie live in Minneapolis.

You will note from the photos above that there is a common thread for all of them and like Shaya, Finley is the star of the show down here, well deserved of course, as she is a very special little girl.

Whoops.. after the fact, I found a nice photo of the Laven family. On the deck at Mom and Dads there is Scott, Tom, Judy, Bob, Tab, and Jewels.