January
Watched Will and Sophie win their respective basketball tournaments. Scott is coaching Sophie’s team.
Steve went ice fishing in Canada with long time friend Mark Cunningham. Click Here to read more.
Steve has his left knee replaced. A much longer recovery than the hip replacement in 2020. After lots of physical therapy and TLC from Linda, the knee feels so much better!
February
Spending our first winter in Wisconsin for the first time in several years, we were able to celebrate February birthdays with Avery (12), Aiden (9) and Will (12).
Avery is getting so tall and she is adjusting well to Junior High.
Aiden is an energetic boy who loves being in the woods or on the water with his Dad.
Celebrated Valentine’s Day with Linda.
Deeply saddened by the passing of our grandson Donovan at age 16 from a congenital blood disorder that caused a blood clot in his lung. Devastating to his parents Nicole and Andrew. We think about and miss Donovan everyday.
It was a sad way to bring our family together.
March
Birthday month! With Jed (41), Angie (42), Andrew (36), Alex (16), Nona (40), and Ashley (40) and Jim all celebrating birthdays.
Met friend John Kitsar at Canoecopia in Madison and got more excited about planning more wilderness canoe trips! Saw cousin Jeff Westra as well. Missed nephew Taki, but caught up with his wife Taylor and little Olin.
Celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary.
Got away from the Wisconsin winter for a couple weeks to enjoy the beautiful Panama City Beach.
April
Scott celebrated the big 40 as well.
Attended the funeral in Indiana of our dear friend from Florida Joyce Radbel at age 96.
Enjoyed watching the Twins win their Home Opener with Tim and many friends.
Linda had her right knee replaced and handled the recovery very well.
Along with many friends, celebrated Mark Cunningham’s retirement after a long and successful career managing the Knights of Columbus in Owatonna.
May
Began another golf league season with my partner of over 30 years, John Finbraaten.
Celebrated birthdays with Mattie (16), Harry (13) and Jenna (18).
Jenna graduated from Marshfield High School. She is now pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice -Law Enforcement at North Central Technical College.
Mattie got her drivers license, a job at the pet store and a shiny red car.
Debbie and Angelo flew from their home in South Carolina to Minneapolis to celebrate the first birthday of their grandson Rio. A fun time to spend together.
Brianna moved into a very cool apartment in downtown Minneapolis, just a couple blocks from US Bank Stadium. She is in a Masters program in Forensic Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
Watched Harry play baseball for Stratford Middle School through the summer months.
Had tremendous fishing in Canada during our traditional Memorial Day trip. Click Here to read more.
June
Celebrated Kara’s 45th birthday.
Watched Sophie play a basketball tournament in the Twin Cities. Great to have so many family members come out and cheer her on.
Took Mom to a Twins game at Target Field.
Andrew, Nicole and their two dogs had a nice visit with us at the lake.
Thanks to Kara and Jim, we watched the US Senior Open at SentryWorld in Stevens Point.
Steve played the course with Jim, his son Austin and his buddy Sam after the tournament was over, the 6” rough was brutal! The pros are really good!
July
Jenna’s graduation party was well attended by family and friends – what a great day! Scott and Sophie enjoyed a couple days at the lake.
We enjoyed a couple days in Duluth. Took the train from Duluth to Two Harbors and back. Great experience!
Tim organized a large group to attend a Twins game on the way home from Duluth.
Celebrated Steve’s birthday with some of the kids and grandkids at the lake. Aiden, Avery, Harry and all the grandkids love the Lilly pad. Everyone enjoys Angie’s Jet Skis.
Nicole celebrated her birthday with Andrew.
Traveled to Cooperstown NY to watch Will play baseball at Cooperstown Dream Park. Organizing 90 teams of 12 year old boys was incredible! The kids exchanged pins from each team from around the country. Stayed at a nice resort on one of the Finger Lakes in Upstate New York, a beautiful area. Steve was able to golf with Scott.
Drove across the border into Canada at Niagara Falls and cut across the southern part of Ontario to get to the bridge to Michigan. Drove to Grand Rapids to stay with friends Jerry and Kathy. Walked through the impressive Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and enjoyed walking the beach along Lake Michigan near Holland MI.
Spent a couple days in Northern Michigan at the lake home of friends Bob & Sherry. Enjoyed a pontoon ride with live music and a trip to Ludington and another beautiful beach along Lake Michigan.
Took the ferry to enjoy two days on Mackinac Island. No cars, so we hiked around the island and took a guided tour behind a horse drawn carriage.
August
Grandson Alex completed a 9 days Nor’Wester canoe trip through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. He and his buddies paddled 58 miles in just 7 days! They also tackled a 515 rod (8,500 feet) portage! A tremendous experience!
Alex joined Steve on another fishing trip to Canada. Fun trip despite the rain. Click Here to read more.
Tim organized a large Pelton family reunion at the Twins vs Brewers game in Milwaukee. A fun day regardless of the +100 temperatures.
Took Mom to visit her brother Jerry at their lake place in Cambridge WI and brother Robert in Hustler WI as we made it back from Milwaukee.
Golfed with Tim and cousin Jeff Westra – Tim retained his title as top golfer.
Took Grace and Brianna on a canoe trip in the Sylvania Wilderness Area in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Nice weather and a fun trip. Click Here to read more.
Celebrated Grace’s birthday (20) before she started her Junior year at the University of Wisconsin Stout.
September
Kara bought a beautiful condo in the Highland Woods golf community in Bonita Springs Florida. We spent a couple weeks at her condo in early September. With our condo on Fort Myers Beach still being repaired after Hurricane Ian, we plan to rent Kara’s place from January through April 2024.
We got back to Wisconsin in time to watch Will play football (Scott is a coach) and Sophie play volleyball (Ashley is the coach). We also celebrated Sophie’s 11th birthday.
Steve had outstanding grouse hunting and good fishing in Canada. Click Here to read more.
October
Celebrated Brianna’s (25) and Mom’s birthday in St Paul.
The National Geographic cruise up the Columbia and Snake Rivers was a tremendous experience! Nice to see step sister Chrissy in Portland. Click Here to read more.
Steve had good duck and pheasant hunting in South Dakota with Ron Cunningham, his three dogs and his two sons Peter and John. Click Here to read more about my Hunting trips.
Took Mom to see the Jersey Boys at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater. Great music!
November
Watched Harry, Will and Sophie play basketball.
Attended a Packers game with Andrew and Nicole.
Played golf for the first time in November in Wisconsin!
Linda prepared a wonderful Thanksgiving day feast.
Visited Brianna in Minneapolis, Mom in St. Paul, Tim, Cindy and several friends in Owatonna. Linda met the Hilstad Twins.
December
Steve, Tim and a great group of guys made our annual trip to Lambeau Field. Always a fun trip.
Linda, Kara, Angie and Nona greatly enjoyed their annual Christmas shopping trip to LaCrosse and Winona.
Kara graduated with her MBA – an impressive accomplishment balancing family and a full time job.
The Pelton family Christmas was held at the Green Valley Town Hall near our home the afternoon after Kara’s graduation ceremony.
Enjoyed watching the Milwaukee Bucks win with Scott and Andrew.
Summary
It was an emotional up and down year, but we have much to be thankful for.
Best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Steve Pelton 