Doneux Family Holiday Gazette Volume 24 Issue 1
December 2009
Washington, D.C., Wyoming and Lutsen Washington, D.C. — (AP) We had an educational Spring Break this year, driving to Washington, D.C. where we enjoyed many of the museums, memorials, and government sites. Once there, we parked the car, and walked and took the Metro which got us everywhere we needed to go. Highlights included the Natural History Museum, Air and Space Museum as well as the Capitol and National Archives where we saw the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. We had also arranged a tour of the Capitol, and were lucky to be able to visit our Senator Amy Klobuchar. Lutsen, MN
The whole Lemke family enjoying the campfire at Lutsen on Lake Superior
Mark, Matt, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Jake and Brenda
In June, we enjoyed a long weekend with Brenda’s family at Lutsen, on the North Shore, to celebrate her parents’ 50th anniversary. Brian and his family came from Colorado, and along with Beth’s family from Mankato, we had everyone there. We enjoyed a condo right on Lake Superior, an afternoon in Grand Marais, and some hiking on the Superior Hiking Trail.
Wyoming
Matt, Mark and Jake at Mount Rushmore before the closing Flag Ceremony
In August, Mark & the boys spent 9 days on a backpacking trip with the Boy Scout Troop to the Bighorn Mountains. Mark planned the trip, which included 12 Scouts and 9 adults. They drove out to Wyoming in two rented vans (plus Mark’s Jeep) and then split into three crews for the weeklong backpacking trip. In addition to the beautiful scenery, they enjoyed catching Trout in the mountain lakes and seeing moose and other wildlife. They topped off the week by leading the closing flag ceremony at Mount Rushmore. Jake was selected by the Ranger to lead the Pledge of Allegiance as part of the closing cereJake and Mark in the Cloud Peak Wilderness, Wyoming mony.
Garage Finished (almost), still married After several years of tossing the idea around, Mark got serious about building a 2nd garage. The slab was poured in late August, and by Thanksgiving weekend, the roof was on. This couldn’t have happened without lots of help from family & friends, especially Brenda’s dad, and Mark’s dad. In addition to the extra storage space, a bonus room in the upper level will be a good teenager hang-out. There is plenty left to do, but it is already providing a parking place for the third car.
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D ONE UX F A MI LY HOLI D AY GAZE TTE
V OLUME 2 4 IS SUE 1
Jacob
Matt
This has been a year of camps and new Becoming an Eagle Scout was leadership experiences for Jake. He at- the highlight of Matt’s year. He tended Jazz Band camp in June, followed earned the rank in late January, by two Scout camps - Grey Wolf Leadership Camp and and we held his Eagle Court of Tomahawk. He earned his STAR rank in May, and is close to Honor in April. He did his final completing his requirements for LIFE. He was elected Assis- week of Tomahawk Scout tant Senior Patrol Leader for the Troop camp, and backat the end of Tomahawk. Early in his packed in the Big9th grade year, Jake fulfilled a goal he horn Mountains in set in 7th grade, and was elected as August. Now 18, President of Student Government for Matt has “aged Stillwater Jr. High. He is playing out” of Boy Scouts, Trombone in the Eagle Band and the but other activities jazz band, and continues to enjoy many keep him busy. sports. He has been lucky to be part of a basketball team that is on its third Matt ran Track last year together. They play most of the spring , and used school year, with a weekend tournahis training to Matt was awarded the Eagle ment or two each month. Jake ran Jake and Matt on the first day of run a Half- rank and turned 18 this past year Track last spring, and played traveling Marathon in school this September soccer this summer, as well as school May. After a final season playsoccer this fall. He is now on the Nordic ski team for the 2nd ing St Croix traveling soccer this summer, year. Highlights for Jake this past year were playing a basket- he hung up his cleats, and joined the Cross ball game at Country team this fall. He enjoyed Cross the Target Country and it was good conditioning for Center i n Nordic Skiing. March, finishing a 12K as Matt is playing in the Concert Band this part of the year, and looking forward to a band trip to S t i l l w a t e r San Francisco in April. He is the youth Marathon in member on our church’s Rector Search May, and go- Committee, which has been a great learning ing to the State experience for him. He is busy applying to T o u r n a m e n t colleges and deciding where he wants to go with his St next year. His Final Four consist of the U Croix United of M, UMD, Michigan Tech and Matt ran Cross Country for soccer team in UW-Madison. Stay tuned! Jake rappelling at Camp this Summer Stillwater this fall July.
Brenda and Mark
Brenda passed the 20 year milestone with FIS in October, and will have spent 10 of that working from home as of February. Her company has weathered the economic challenges fairly well, so we hope her situation will continue. She gets to as many of the boys’ sporting events as possible, but spends a little less time running them around now that Matt drives. We had a fairly good gardening year, and Brenda canned many jars of tomatoes & salsa. She still enjoys knitting, reading & quilting in her spare time, and still works with the Boy Scout Troop with fundraising and Merit Badges. A highlight of the year was her 30th High School Reunion in July. Mark is celebrating 7 years this month as the administrator of the Capitol Region Watershed District. He continues to play an active role in the Boy Scout Troop. This year he spent 24 nights camping or backpacking with the Troop and logged over 150 miles on the trail. The new garage has taken all of his free time since Labor Day. Fishing is still a passion for Mark. He hopes to take a break from the garage construction to get on the ice with his fishing gear now that winter is here.
Mark and Brenda at Gooseberry Falls during the Lemke Reunion in June.
We wish you the many blessings of the season and a hope filled 2010!