San Diego: Life is Golden in the Sunshine State

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Day 1: Smooth criminal escapes to California

Missing four days of school for this trip would have officially pushed me over the 10-absence limit and straight onto the Truancy Watch List (as a repeat offender). But then—BOOM: The weather gods came through and turned our travel day into a snow/virtual learning day! Shoutout to Wisconsin weather for keeping me out of jail.

The downside? We had to drive to the airport in a “winter weather advisory” blizzard. For one long, miserable hour, we crawled through terrible road conditions wondering if this vacation was worth it. (Spoiler alert: It was.) Eventually we hit clear roads, made it safely to the airport, and officially began Vacation Mode.

In San Diego, things got dramatic again. We were supposed to rent a luxury Range Rover Defender or a BMW X7… but the people in line ahead of us took the last ones. Devastating! We may or may not have blamed Mom for chatting with her friend Stan at the airport. This delay also caused us to almost miss our luggage, which really added to the suspense. In the end, we claimed our suitcases from the Delta employee who attempted to cart them away, and we found ourselves in a (discounted) Mercedes GL 350, which still (mostly) satisfied our dreams of riding in luxury.

Then we drove 45 miles through rush hour traffic to our Airbnb in the rural foothills of San Diego County (specifically Descanso, California, situated in the Cuyamaca Mountains). While the bumper-to-bumper adventure was not the relaxed traffic scene we’ve grown accustomed to back home, our final destination cured all of our travel woes as we got to enjoy the most impressive accommodations:

  • A sparkling infinity pool
  • A relaxing hot tub
  • Incredible views across 45 private acres
  • Smart bidet toilets (automatic open + heated seats + undercarriage wash + automatic flush = life-changing technology)
  • A Nespresso machine (Dad immediately began living out his retirement dream of becoming a coffee drinker)
  • An old-school record player with new school music
  • A fancy double shower
  • A high tech induction oven
  • Robes and slippers for each of us

This is the good life! No wonder California is nicknamed The Golden State. The Sunshine State. The State You’ll Never Want to Vacate. (Okay, I made that last one up, but it has a nice ring to it, right?)

After settling in and adjusting to the two-hour time change, we made plans for the week before calling it a night.

Day 2: City Mode Activated

Genesee and I started the morning the correct way: in the hot tub, watching the sun come up over the mountains. Then, around 10:30 a.m., we left our peaceful mountain Airbnb life and headed into the city to follow in the footsteps of Lynette and Dr. Bee, who had just left San Diego the day before we arrived. Shucks!

First stop: Mission Beach. We walked the boardwalk, explored Belmont Park, and immediately secured $10 San Diego sweatshirts, which felt like an elite-level bargain. We also tried the viral Dubai chocolate crepe, which lived up to the hype and possibly shortened my lifespan in the best way.

For lunch, we ate at C-Level Lounge, which had incredible breezy views of the San Diego Bay, the downtown skyline, and the Coronado Bridge. Mom and Dad ordered blackened fish tacos like responsible adults. (Because when in San Diego, you must eat tacos!) Meanwhile, Genesee and I ordered filet mignon from the kids’ menu. (Yes, you read that right! No corn dogs or mac n cheese for the California kiddos; they treat you right here!) Unfortunately, it was only a petite 3 ounce cut, which looked a little small for my growing appetite, but mom coached me into eating slowly and enjoying the flavor of every bite!

After lunch, we headed to Coronado, where we walked near the ferry landing and saw the famous Hotel del Coronado. We even tried to meet up with Genesee’s friend Reagan, who was also in San Diego at the same time, but our schedules didn’t line up. Shucks again!

The temperature was cool and windy, with a side of sunshine. But you know what they say: “Beach hair, Don’t care.”

Day 3: Backup Plans & Baby Seals

We had big plans to hike Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve — which Dad was most excited about — until we discovered it was closed for construction. Huge bummer. But we pivoted to La Jolla, and honestly… it might’ve been an upgrade because we saw tons of seals and their babies just lounging on the beach like they owned the place. Super cute!

Then we walked the La Jolla Coast Walk Trail, a scenic path with incredible ocean views and steep cliffs. Much to my mother’s dismay, I loved forging my own path, climbing the rocks like I was in an adventure movie. It was epic!

After my James Bond audition, we ate lunch at Nautilus Tavern, ordered some fancy drinks, and then hit the shopping scene, where Genesee secured a Lululemon purse. As her self-appointed financial adviser, I warned about the dangers of prioritizing “wants” over “needs,” but she remains committed to her spending strategy.

Of course my sister needed to demonstrate how to use her new purse, so she proceeded to spend more money on Italian ice cream at a sweet shop just up the hill from Ellen Browning Scripps Park. It should be noted here, that if Genesee grows up with an aversion to seagulls, it will be because one tried to snatch that ice cream cone straight out of her hand. It was a bold, aggressive move, but that bird quickly learned that no one should go to ice cream war against my sister. It might not be pretty, but Genesee always wins.

We ended the day at Gliderport Park, watching the sunset while paragliders floated over the cliffs. Not a bad way to recover from our failed hiking plans.

Closed trail, but still a solid day.

Day 4: Best. Day. Ever.

On day 4, we went to the San Diego Zoo and I would just like to officially announce that it was my favorite part of the entire trip.

First of all, this zoo is HUGE. Like, “why are Genesee’s legs filing a formal complaint?” huge. It’s one of the largest zoos in the world and covers 100 acres. Our feet can confirm. The zoo was also ridiculously clean and somehow didn’t smell like a zoo, which seems scientifically impossible. Also, the plants alone could qualify it as a botanical garden, showcasing over 700,000 species!

I took my role as Official Family Tour Guide very seriously, navigating with the zoo app like a professional wilderness expert. Thanks to my skills, and maybe a little luck, every animal appeared on cue when we walked up to visit them. It was almost like they had our itinerary.

My favorite animal? The orangutan named Labu. It was wild how human he seemed… his facial expressions, the way he moved, his side-eye. I’m not saying I saw myself in that orangutan… but I’m also not not saying that.

Genesee loved the baboons (chaotic energy recognizes chaotic energy, I guess). Mom appreciated the koalas, flamingos, and the surprisingly graceful hippopotamus. Dad was impressed by the pandas and gorilla. He liked the mountain lion, too, but that thing looked like it could bench press me without warming up!

It was so much fun; I was all smiles all day. I especially enjoyed the Wildlife Wonders at Wegeforth Bowl, the Skyfari aerial tram (which gave us a bird’s-eye view of the whole place and made us feel like we were in a nature documentary), and our sit-down lunch at Albert’s where we reserved the best seats in the house.

The zoo was amazing, but the real talk is that zoos are complicated. On one hand, they do important conservation work and help protect endangered species. On the other hand, it’s a little sad knowing these animals aren’t in their natural habitats. I guess both things can be true at the same time.

Upon closing, we drove next door and walked around Balboa Park, which is massive and full of museums and cool Spanish-style buildings from, like, 100 years ago. Unfortunately, all museums were closed when we arrived, but even without going inside anything, the place felt special and important.

Day 5: Slow Mornings & Small Town Wins

After four straight days of go-go-go, we decided to stay close to “home” and enjoy a lazier Tuesday. So, we slept in, hung out at the Airbnb, and actually enjoyed all the cool stuff we’d barely had time to appreciate: hot tub, gorgeous views, coffee experiments, and the whole mountain-life vibe.

Eventually, we left our luxury bubble and headed out to hike Lake Cuyamaca. It was a peaceful, scenic, calm, muddy loop around the lake, which was surrounded by the freshest air. Dad’s favorite part was discovering the granary tree: a dead tree modified by Acorn Woodpeckers that stores thousands of acorns for winter survival. We learned that these birds “drill, maintain, and defend up to 50,000 precisely sized, individual holes in the wood, often using the same tree for generations.”

After dad was done being wowed by the woodpeckers, we drove into the town of Julian, “a historic, high-elevation mountain town famous for its 1870s gold rush, 4-season climate, and, most notably, its iconic apple pies.” Then, on our way back up to heaven, I mean the house, we ordered delicious tamales to-go from Veronica’s Kitchen, so we could indulge in Mexican goodness while snuggling into the king bed to continue our TV series marathon of Ted Lasso.

Day 6: Go Big or Go Home

Wednesday was our last full day and it did not disappoint.

We hit SeaWorld San Diego right when it opened — actually, before it opened — because that’s how we roll when the ladies aren’t slowing down the departure time.

We scored free entrée vouchers by purchasing tickets through Undercover Tourist, thanks to our savvy dad! Mom called it a win, since each entrée was priced around $20+, but I felt like I was winning when we experienced the sea lion show and the Orca Encounter. The sea lions were so smart and funny and the orcas were massive, powerful, and somehow graceful at the same time. But Genesee’s favorite part? Not the whales. Not the stunts. Instead, it was the sea lion pre-show, where the maintenance guy started dancing with his mop and absolutely stole the spotlight.

We also saw silly walruses, majestic beluga whales, playful penguins, and mesmerizing jellyfish. We rode every ride (some of them multiple times) because there were basically no lines! And we even let tiny fish nibble on our hands, which was ticklish for me, but slightly terrifying for Genesee. It was practically empty in some corners of SeaWorld, so it felt like mom and dad had rented out the park for their VIP children!

But because our parents want to teach us about critical thinking, critical feeling, and general ethics, we learned that, like the zoo, SeaWorld is not without controversy. So while we had lots of fun, we also made space for the complicated reality of appreciating rescue and rehabilitation work while also contemplating the drawbacks of marine life in captivity.

After SeaWorld, we returned to Mission Beach and Belmont Park… where it all began. It was a lovely full circle moment that got tragically interrupted by The Great Slushy Incident. At the end of a long day, we were subjected to a 20-minute unnecessary wait for frozen greatness, only for the slushy machine guy to casually and unapologetically inform us that the machine was not working. The betrayal. The heartbreak. The injustice. And then…. the laughter after Dad’s blood pressure returned to normal. In fact, Genesee and I have since reenacted the entire debacle multiple times for dramatic effect. (see videos below)

Day 7: Farewell, Sunshine

And just like that, our San Diego adventure wrapped up — rides conquered, animals encountered, and slushies denied.

Of course, we made sure to get a late checkout, a final hot tub session, and one more slow morning pretending we lived there.

We had breakfast poolside — scrambled egg, cheese, and bacon sandwiches with fresh fruit — and then executed the grand finale operation: convincing Dad to jump into the “refreshingly” cold pool “with us.” (see video below)

It really was a great trip. Each day got warmer and sunnier. We figured out the traffic patterns. We knew the shortcuts. We had officially adapted to California life. In fact, I’m not sure how I will return to a world where I must manually lift up the toilet seat, after being spoiled in ways I didn’t even know I needed.

But since all good things must come to an end, the time eventually came to fly home to snowy Wisconsin. And as much lust as I have for wandering, I always love coming home. This time, on the return trip, we scored seats in the same row, flew over the Grand Canyon, and I heroically completed my homework packet midair like a responsible almost-12-year-old.

We landed in Minneapolis, drove home in the dark… and almost hit a cow just a few miles from our house.

Only in Wisconsin.

We rolled in around midnight, tired but victorious, and just in time to unpack and repack for a home basketball tournament on Saturday.

But first: Snugglefest with sweet, sweet Artemis. We can visit all the animals in the world, but our favorite will always be Arty-Farty. Of course she was greatly missed while we were away, but we are certain she was well loved in our absence. (Dog-sitting / Dog-spoiling grandparents for the win!!!)

10/10 trip. Would absolutely risk truancy to do it all again.

Lutsen, Take 2 (Colder, but Still Awesome)

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After falling hard last December (falling in love, that is), we returned to Lutsen this year for our second big ski trip. Most of us decided to ski for three full days, except for slacker Mom, who only paid for a one-day lift ticket. She claims she was making the ultimate sacrifice so that the rest of us could have fun while she selflessly reserved a booth in the overcrowded chalet as our homebase. I’m pretty sure she’s just a safety-first scaredy cat, but I will admit: it was nice to have saved VIP seats to call our own, complete with a lunch spread when we got hungry.

This time, instead of staying onsite, we booked four nights at a lovely Airbnb called The Meadows in Grand Marais, about 30 minutes from the slopes. That meant early-morning drives and lots of cozy nights around the kitchen table playing board games & drinking 1919 root beer, or snuggled up together on a queen bed, watching Ted Lasso.

Day one of skiing started off strong… except for that little snafu where I forgot my jacket. Whoops! That’s one drawback of not staying onsite, since dad had to make a 1-hour round trip back to The Meadows to retrieve said jacket. Once the crisis was averted, we were off to conquer the Flapjack Learning Area (for mom). Although we barely practiced since last year (except for one trip to Bruce Mound with Cortney), Genesee and I decided skiing is kind of like riding a bike… unless you’re my mom.

One of the neatest moments was seeing our ski instructor from last year, Tim—and he remembered me and Genesee! He even greeted us by exclaiming, “There’s my favorite family of all time!” Which feels correct.

I must admit, this year was WAY cooler. And by cooler, I mean single digits, brisk winds, and face-freezing kind of cold. [Check out this video below]

But the weather didn’t stop us! Instead, what almost stopped us was when Genesee lost a ski in midair, while on the lift. Fortunately, she’s a pro at getting off the chair on one leg because this wasn’t the first time she pulled that stunt. And then, after riding the Raptor Express, Genesee experienced one brief moment of fear, but it was nothing a good, deep breath couldn’t fix. My sister is pretty fearless and tough, which she definitely inherited from her favorite brother.

Speaking of fearless, Dad and I ventured over to Moose Mountain this year to discover some new terrain, where we “accidentally” went down a few black diamonds (which is how we explained it to my cautious and worrywart mother).

Even more daring, Genesee and I challenged ourselves by taking on a few jumps! That part was actually unintentional, and while we didn’t stick the landing, mom luckily made a full recovery after learning about our perilous adventures. Genesee declared: “I almost took out a whole squad, just like a sniper bullet in Fortnite,” which was a video game reference lost on my mom.

Following a couple full days of shredding the slopes, we rang in 2026 back at the Airbnb with fresh strawberries, blueberries, and marshmallows dipped in chocolate fondue, sparkling mango juice in our plastic champagne glasses, a bubble bath and “room service” for Genesee, and a competitive family game of Farkle.

All in all, Lutsen got to meet a braver, tougher, and better-skilled Goodenough family than last year. (Well 3 out of 4 ain’t bad.) Yet one thing remained the same: Skiing adventures are still my favorite trips ever. They’re exciting, exhilarating… and exhausting. Good thing I only wiped out on the bed and not the slopes.

But there’s no rest for the weary because after tomorrow’s 5½-hour drive home, Dad and I will head straight to basketball practice to get ready for our Top 32 championship league tournament this weekend.

Huge thanks again to Grandma and Grandpa for watching our little sister Artemis while we were gone. We missed our furry friend… even though she probably enjoyed living a scandalous life of McDonald’s cheeseburgers instead of her NutriSource dog food while we weren’t around to hold anyone accountable.

Christmas 2025: Mariah Prepared Us For This

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This year’s Christmas was a quiet kind of wonderful. Mostly because everyone was healthy, which is a top-tier gift — especially if you remember how my holiday started last year.

Genesee has been counting down to this day since about August, blasting Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You during shower time every morning just to prepare. I, too, was excited for the season, but when you’re an established, critical-thinking 11-year-old like me, the magic of the holiday feels different than it did when I was 10. It’s still fun — just in a more grown-up way, you know?

Most traditions stayed intact, with a few new ones added in:

  • Aunt Julie organized some games involving red Solo cups — no alcohol, just silliness, strategy, and high-stakes bragging rights.
  • I greeted guests on Christmas morning by serenading them with my newly acquired saxophone skills, tip jar included. Because that’s what you call a bold entrepreneurial move!
  • We also had some friendly foosball competition on the table I got last year for Christmas… which inconveniently arrived with a crack that is now fixed.

It was the year of vanity mirrors, Ulta makeup, Birkenstocks, Nike socks, and golf gear…. and not a classic white Christmas (it was actually pretty warm), but it was full of good quality time, laughter, rest, and the familiar comfort of being together. And really, that’s the part that matters most. Because even though Mariah Carey has been annoyingly stuck in my head, on repeat for months, she might actually be right: all I want for Christmas is you.

Fall 2025: Sweatshirt Weather & Whatever

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This fall’s vibes felt like adventures with Noah, golf outings with Matt, photo shoots of Artemis, magic shows with the Docan-Morgans, an upgraded Toyota (Grand) Highlander, P90X workouts, sledding, Northern Lights, Rotary Lights, and more. No big milestones (except for my growing biceps); just a highlight reel of all the moments that make this part of year autumn-atically a good time.

My Cousin > Yours

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Bruce Mound. Snow. Boards. Skis. And my cousin Cortney (pro level snowboarder in my book).

She invited me and Genesee for a quick adventure close to home, and somehow made a lesser-known hill feel legendary. She ripped down those slopes while making it look unfairly easy. I learned things. Genesee got braver. Dad was a good chaperone. And we all agreed: having cool cousins is basically a life cheat code.

Best kind of day. 10/10 adventure. Would follow her down a hill again.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

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Basketball season is officially back, which makes it the most wonderful time of the year. And we didn’t ease into it either. Right out of the gate, we hosted our first tournament of the season and came home with the gold.

Because of our stellar record last year, we started this season ranked 5th in the Great Northwest Basketball League. And as the Basketball Gods would have it, we faced off with #4 West Salem and #3 Hillsboro for our big debut. Yikes! But we came out strong, played our game, and beat both of them, plus Aquinas, just to be extra clear that we’re here to compete.

This year looks a little different, too. We still have the best coach ever (a.k.a. Dad), and the most dedicated hype crew (courtesy of Grandma’s strong cheers), but instead of two evenly split teams, we’re rolling with more of an A and B team setup, which basically means: look out, world! And get ready, paparazzi… because we like to win.

I’ve also been asked to help out with the 7th grade team again, so you’ll probably see me at some of their tournaments this season, too. More basketball is always a “heck yeah” from me.

It’s a long season, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Because while it stretches from November-April, it’s also my favorite season. I’m pumped, I’m ready, and I can’t wait to see where this year takes us.

Mental Health Matters

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On December 12, Genesee took a mental health day.

A mental health day can be proactive (like pressing pause before stress turns into something bigger, taking a break from routine, or just having a day to do things on your own terms). Or perhaps more commonly, mental health days can be reactive, when you need a day to take care of yourself after things feel hard or overwhelming… maybe it’s anxiety or depression from social pressures, a breakup, loss of furry friend, or an unexplained struggle. Either way, the point is the same: mental health counts just as much as physical health.

Genesee’s day was the proactive kind, which we are allotted two per year. Hers included a stop at Starbucks (obviously), going out to eat, getting her nails done, and visiting puppies at the Humane Society (which should be prescribed by doctors for all health concerns and non-concerns because puppies make everything better).

It’s not about skipping school or being lazy. It’s about listening to our bodies and choosing rest, joy, care, and connection on purpose. Besides, learning to care for your mental health early might be one of the most important lessons of all.

Toot Toot: In My Band Era

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This year, I decided to join band and play the alto saxophone. This decision may or may not have been influenced by the instruments chosen by some of my friends, but since I am already known for tooting, this felt like a more productive way to blow hot air than my previous methods.

On December 8th, I played in my first band concert, where I successfully accomplished the following: sitting still, counting rests, watching the director, and not squeaking too much. In other words, it was a rockstar performance.

Turns out, band is harder than it looks, but also pretty fun! And now that I’ve learned how to play Jingle Bells, I might just take this show on the road. Please form an orderly line once ticket sales begin.

Trigger Man Comes Through

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This year’s gun deer season did not disappoint.

It was especially exciting because we had a target buck on our radar: an 8-point whitetail with a broken brow tine that had been showing up in our food plot. After missing my 240-yard shot on Thanksgiving afternoon, I was pretty sure I had blown my one big chance. I was bummed.

But on the very last day of the season, he came back! Same spot. Same shot. And this time, I did not miss.

Before the season even started, Dad and I put in some work—fixing the broken blind window and trimming shooting lanes so we could actually see the food plot. Preparation matters. Also, luck helps.

Dad likes to call me the “Trigger Man” because I mostly sit there sleeping or scrolling on my phone until he says, “There’s a deer,” and then suddenly I’m locked in and ready to go. Honestly? Sweet deal.

After the shot, we field dressed the deer, which is how I learned that yes, it is possible to get guts in your mouth, and no, I do not recommend it.

When we weren’t hunting, cabin life was full of delicious food, euchre, checkers, and just enough trash talk to keep things competitive.

All in all, it was an unforgettable season—one target buck, one second chance, and one trigger man who came through when it mattered most.