One of my favorite parts of winter is chillin’ with Grandpa and Dad… literally.

That’s right… ever since last year’s adventure with the sport, dad got me hooked on ice fishing.

This year, we fished even smarter: First, we invested in a 4-wheeler with the proper registration tags so we didn’t end up on the DNR’s’ Most Wanted List. Then, we implemented new safety measures to avoid dropping our phones into the ice holes (after learning about Dad’s friend who lost three phones to the ice fishing underworld). Finally, we decided to upgrade our ice shanty to take some of the ice out of fishing.

Ice fishing is so cool! And yet, so warm.

I just love getting pulled on the sled, practicing my ice skating skills, and of course, I live for those visits to Kwik Trip after such a hard day of work. Oh, and the fishing! I like that part, too.

So, if you’re looking for me this winter, catch me on the frozen lakes because I’m probably gone fishing.

In case you didn’t know, my sister now offers professional dog snuggling services. As you’ll see demonstrated below with our canine model, Ginger, Genesee provides several different hugging techniques, which are sure to leave your furry companion feeling smothered with love. Snuggles can take place on wood floors, carpet, or even on public sidewalks if Genesee happens to meet you while you’re walking your dog. In fact, if you’re not sure if you own a dog, let Genesee into your life and she’ll likely find it; she can spot a dog from miles away, even with her eyes closed. I mean, this girl LOVES dogs. Let her love yours today!

*No animals were harmed in the testing of these services.

You know 2023 is off to a good start when you get to host an out-of-state artist in residency for a week (a.k.a. my aunt Cha Cha). We eagerly planned for Chelsee’s arrival so that we could be her personal welcoming committee at the airport, and sure enough, we saw her plane descent from the clouds just as we approached the French Island exit ramp!

Of course, this was strictly a work trip, but Genesee and I were determined to sneak in some cooking, sledding, and board game shenanigans with Cha Cha. We also invited her to pick us up from school one day to see our lockers, classrooms, and Mel-Min’s revered pet therapy dog, and then I requested her presence at my indoor soccer match so I could have a superfan! But after that, it was down to business for Cha Cha because she had to kick off an Arts and Healing program at a local middle school.

It’s no surprise that Cha Cha worked wonders in that art room, and I was also not shocked that all the kids loved her, but just to be clear, she’s OUR aunt and while sharing is caring, giving her back to us is a non-negotiable.