Wrapping Up Winter Sports

This weekend brought a close to the Northeast Swim season and the Junior Stars hockey season.  Cody and Drew were both on the team and had great seasons.  As a freshman, Drew was part of several relay teams and competed in the 500 Free.  Over the course of the season, he improved his times steadily.  It will be great to see how his high school swim career progresses over time!

Cody, too, was part of several different relays and competed in the 50, 100 and 200 Free.  His times improved, too, and his relay teams made it to Boys State Swim this past weekend.  Even at State, his individual and relay times improved.  Already looking forward to his senior year of swimming!

Trent's hockey season with the Rangers team of the Jr. Stars wrapped up this weekend, too.  I think the team ended up about in the middle of the pack with the Squirts division which including teams from Omaha and Fremont.  This was his first year skating and playing so he had a lot to learn.  In the last game of the season, he had an assist with the only goal scored in that game and had some great shots on goal.  He has a pretty impressive slap shot.  As he should--since he practices that at home in the living, in his bedroom, downstairs, etc. seemingly ALL of the time.  :)

So while it's hard to imagine that spring is around the corner since the "feels like" temperature right now is -19 degrees, Cody checks in with golf on Monday and the LNE Spring Play, "320 College Ave" in which Drew is the poet, all start next week.

And a big THANK YOU to Bailey for taking several of these actions shots of both Cody and Trent.  Keep up the great work!

Kussatz Christmas 2013

The Ahlberg family Christmas was on Christmas Eve this year 

and it seems that Santa was good to all.

We love the smiling pictures of Bailey.  It's great to see her happy and having fun.

Cody cashed in with the always needed items for a teen: gaming, golfing and looking good.

Drew is always excited about the gifts he gets and this year was no exception.  There were a few other pics that were fun but he was moving too fast in them to post.  :)   My sister created the Viking beard and hat and Drew was the winner of the family exchange for that gift.  He loved it and said it was really warm!

 

Trent, too, is always excited about his gifts and showed Dad his thankfulness with a big ol' Christmas hug.  

Jace and I had fun opening our presents, too.  We got each other clothes--I wonder what that means.  Jace was also the recipient of the ceramic cat this year.  Long family story here...

If I looked back through the last couple of years that I've been posting information, I think I end each post saying what a wonderful family I have.  And this year is no different.  I am definitely blessed to have a family who all get along and enjoy spending time together.  This year again we all came together in a large, four bedroom cabin and all 16 of us were able to get together and enjoy food and festivities.  And to top it all off, the weather was wonderful so we were able to get out and do quite a bit of hiking and geocaching.

The family geocaching at Mahoney State Park.  Cody, in shorts (it was almost 60 degrees) searching for the cache.  Drew and Trent celebrating that they found it.  Success!

All 16 of our stockings were hung by the fireplace with care.

And the entire Kussatz clan looking pretty good.

And then the real personalities come out...

My brother caught us just before we smiled.  :)

This wraps up 2013.  Looking forward to 2014!