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Friends, something funny has been happening at work recently that wanted to share here on our family blog. As most of you know, I left still photography at newspapers and now shoot video (and some stills!) at KARE11 , an incredible TV station here in the Twin Cities. Anyway, lately I’ve been perpetually annoyed by how often I’m in live-shots in the newsroom. I get a weekly text along the lines of “Ben! I see you on TV!” It’s so weird, there’s a newsroom full of beautiful people and they choose me, a balding middle-age white fellow as the background. Never understood that. And it’s a total bummer to have to keep my desk clean :) I’ve since learned that everything in TV news is super analyzed in terms of how things look — how the set makes you feel , etc. Apparently Tegna, our corporate owner (who owns bunches of stations around the country) has a 6-person Washington DC-based “Perception Development” team where they use focus groups to study local news broadcasts from around the country....

Art admiring his treat

In our old house Netta had drawn a bunch of wonderful inspired drawings of her family on her bedroom wall. This is a day before we had to paint over the masterpiece in preparation to sell the new place. This is a portrait of our whole family. Wish she was here to explain it all.

We visited the cool Ice Shanty Project on White Bear Lake a few weeks ago. A couple photos.

posted this on facebook last week and wanted to share here.  "We moved a week ago and are all feeling thankful in a world where many have much less. We love our new home, the closeness to nature, the ping-pong friendly basement (!). Jessica,  a chef among other many things, adores the galley kitchen (which is perk for everyone who likes to eat). We successfully implemented phase one of destroy-everything-our-children-know-and-love by moving. Phase two: new school next year (noooo!!!!). That will be hard (but within walking distance). In  truth the kids are digging the new house and neighborhood, especially Lewis who many times over the past few months unflinchingly said "Papa, I'm not moving." So that's a great relief. This is a photo I took tonight on my first run around nearby Lake Nokomis, a real beautiful place. I'm actually not a runner runner, just a runner, but having this lake nearby makes me want to be a runner runner runner." Here's our n...

Last weekend we moved after a dozen years of life and child rearing at our home on Chicago Avenue. It was a long overdue departure as we're now on a wonderful quiet street, actually have neighbors with kids, a larger home that's a better fit for our larger family and we're super close to nature . I'm sure we'll post more photos of the new house over time but wanted to share these images taken by the real estate folks of 4032 Chicago . We're going to miss you lots! more photos after jump and a drone-high view from above the house looking downtown. Finally, an excuse to relive the box for we made in the basement there a few years ago: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSEUGxa-lLg?rel=0&showinfo=0]

This, from my cousin, Amy, after watching the girls while we moved yesterday; "One funny thing was that while we were eating lunch, they had a little quiet side conference together and then looked at each other and said at the same time, "We're done" ☺️👯" (Posted by Jessie from Ben's account)

A few months ago the girls finally stopped sucking their thumbs. It was a hard couple days! :( We put this special yucky stuff (from the dentist's office) on their thumbnails and it is truly horrible. We know cause we all put it our thumbs, too (except Lewis). I tried sucking my thumb and OHHH! So yucky! A few times Bailey would wake crying at night after it slipped in unconsciously, so sad. We employed a new policy that if  we would give them one spoonful of ice cream to take away the taste. The least we could do! Anyway, this is a photo of the first (or second?) night they went without sucking their thumbs. We let them sleep in our bed and Bailey insisted on wearing gloves just in case. It's wonderful too see them try and comfort each other in hard moments in their life. They're best friends.

Jessica late father Jim loved this restaurant, I've wished many times I could've met the fellow.  

Don't I looke THRILLED? Such a thoughtful cake made with help from the girls. My childhood favorite!

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