2013

Christmas 2013

Hello all,

Mike continues to work at the U. He bought a new digital camera recently and now spends a lot of time looking at lenses and other paraphernalia online.

I am continuing to homeschool Stephen and Serena. I am also continuing my role as "play mom." I am producer again. Since I didn't think I was busy enough, I decided to co-chair a booth at the St Raphael parish festival, become treasurer for the parish women's group (Rosary Society) and chair a game booth at the parish Christmas bazaar.

Joel (age 22) flew the coop. His new nest is in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, a suburb of Madison. He has his first full- time job working for Epic, a medical software company. He has made several trips back to Minnesota, including three in his two months of living in Wisconsin. Although he finished his UST classes in December 2012, his graduation ceremony wasn't until May 2013 (which was one of his first three trips back to Minnesota.

Paul (age 19) decided to attend college closer to home this year. He is now enrolled at Saint John Vianney Seminary and attends classes at the University of Saint Thomas. So far he loves it, although he misses his friends from Loras. In October, he had a “free” weekend and brought two other seminarians home with him. And no, this wasn't a total surprise as he played “priest” when he was younger and always enjoyed (and still does enjoy) altar serving.

Stephen (age 14) is still involved in his Squires club and recently joined the Core Team, the Saint Raphael senior high youth group that has spiritual activities and plans events for the junior high school kids. He is also in ROC, the two-year St Raphael confirmation preparation program. He is the oldest child at home (most of time) with Joel moved out and Paul at college most of the year.

Serena (age 12) is gearing up for her fourth theatrical performance, this time as a talking tree and a Munchkin in The Wizard of OZ. Serena is singing in the St Raphael school choir and participated on the St Raphael soccer team again. She enjoys going Saturday Night Alive, the monthly junior high youth activity at St Raphael.

Merry Christmas,

The Hedmans

2012

Christmas 2012

Hello all,

On the fourth day of Christmas, Sharon wrote the annual Christmas letter.

Mike's mystery illness of last year remained a mystery. It never was definitely diagnosed. He was given a prescription on a hunch of middle ear infection and whatever it was went away. Mike continues to work at the U.

I am continuing to homeschool Stephen and Serena. I am also continuing my role as "play mom." Serena will be in another homeschool play in February. I am producer this time around which is much easier than stage manager. I made my temporary promise as Secular Discalced Carmelite in September.

Joel (age 21) just finish his Bachelor of Arts in Applied Mathematics. He is still playing guitar and worked five part-time jobs in 2012---lifeguard at UST, math tutor at UST, math researcher at UST, math scribe at UST (for a blind student) and swim instructor for the city of Brooklyn Park. He will present his research project at a conference in San Diego in January. His next major project is to find a job.

Paul (age 18) is beginning his college career at Loras College in Dubuque. We are very happy he has found a carpool partner so Mike won't have to drive as much to/from Dubuque. Paul is continuing his love of theater at Loras. He performed in the musical The Adding Machine and participated in the 24-hour Theater project where students have 24 hours to write and perform a one act play. Mike drove to Dubuque in October to see Paul join the Knights of Columbus.

Stephen (age 13) is still involved in his Squires club. I am waiting for his body to start growing and catch with his feet. Stephen took over Paul's bedroom when Paul made his escape to Dubuque, but is back to sharing a room until Paul leaves again. Stephen (and Serena) participated on the St Raphael Junior Varsity soccer team. The team place 2^nd out of 6 teams in their league.

Serena (age 11) is gearing up for her third theatrical performance, this time as a dwarf in The Princess without a Name. Serena is also enjoying singing in the St Raphael school choir. St Raphael opened up extracurricular activities this year to parish homeschoolers. She has made several friends that are both in soccer and choir with her.

Merry Christmas,

The Hedmans

2010

Christmas 2010

Hello all,

Mike biked his goal of surpassing last year's miles (3044) this year (3177.8). Mike's office at the U of M moved again. He has moved from Lind Hall to UPP to WBOB to UOP--three moves in four years. Pretty soon the locations he has been at will catch up to the departments he has been in (UCC, ACSS, ACS, CIS, OIT/OS). Mike, using Sharon's organizational skills, became Green Room Co-ordinator for this winter's production of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever." The Green Room is where actors go when they are not needed on stage. This year, the actors were flitting on and off stage so much the "room" became the hallway behind the stage. The co-ordinator and helpers make sure the kids behave.

I am now a novice in the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites. This means basically that I am taking on a way of life that incorporates prayer. I will be novice for two years. Since there are "soccer moms", I must be a "play mom". I drove the kids to most of their play rehearsals this year and earned the title "House Manager" for the production of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever." That means I made sure the chairs were set out and the floor swept and mopped afterward. The first performance (Dec 5) was almost snowed out and had 30 attendees. ( We arrived too late for me to set out the chairs. It took us only 1 hr 20 minutes for a drive that usually takes 20-30 minutes.) The last performance was canceled (Dec 11) due to a mere 16" snowfall.

Joel (age 19)is enjoying his second year at the University of St. Thomas. He bought his Uncle Pat's car and now has more freedom to do things (too much thinks Mom). He is still playing guitar and working three part-time jobs---lifeguard UST, math tutor at UST, and swim instructor for the city of Brooklyn Park. Yes the second job is math tutor. He has officially declared a math major.

Paul (age 16) just performed in "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever." He portrayed Reverend Hopkins and also helped as stage crew. He took two PSEO classes at North Hennepin Community College and will take two more for spring semester. This is in addition to his homeschool studies.

Stephen (age 11) was on the stage crew of two plays this year---"Anne of Green Gables" in February and "The Best Christmas Pagaent Ever" in December. He very happily joined a Squires club (a boys club sponsored by the Knights of Columbus) this fall and looks forward to the monthly meetings.

Serena (age 9) is happily attending her Little Flowers Girls Club. She made her stage debut this month in (you guessed it!) "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever." She portrayed Doris, a member of the "Angel Choir." She had the opportunity to off-key (on purpose) and well as angelically in this role.

Merry Christmas,

The Hedmans

2009

Christmas 2009

No attempt to make fancy paper this year....This letter again will be more of a Christmas season/Epiphany letter.

Mike biked his goal of 3000 miles this year. With all the car problems we had this fall, he might have gotten more if it hadn't been so dark in mornings. Our 16 year old Saturn gave up the ghost. Mike found a 2001 Focus and happily drove it off the lot. The next day (yes the next day) the check engine light came on. It needed a catalytic converter. A few weeks later, our 2000 Grand Caravan had valve cover replaced and many "routine" maintenance items done to the tune of $2000. (One routine item done was replace timing belt. The Saturn's timing chain broke and caused its demise).

I ended up back in physical therapy with a "frozen shoulder." Today (12/29), I learned that a pinched nerve in my neck may be adding to problem. I am finally beginning to fulfill my childhood dream of becoming a nun. Well, actually I am a postulant in the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites. This means basically that I am taking on a way of life that incorporates prayer. (And no, I will not be wearing a habit or going barefoot--discalced means shoeless).

Joel is enjoying his first year at the University of St. Thomas. He has a great dorm room--he even shares it with his 10 yr old brother. He is able to carpool some days with Mike which saves even more money and allows Mom to have a car to drive to orthodontist appointments. Joel was in a Math/Science/Engineering scholarship contest and was named runner-up (boo hoo). But then my (Sharon) mother's cousin's grandson (Joel's 3rd cousin, I think) who won one of the four scholarships turned it down to attend St John's University (yeah). Joel recently bought a guitar amp, which is now "in the shop" awaiting replacement. He doesn't have an electric guitar yet, but Paul does (see below).

Paul bought an electric guitar from the youth minister at St Raphael. He has no amp, but originally used Mom's (Sharon) bass guitar amp (yes I played bass guitar in my BP days{before Paul} at St. Raphael). His interest in theater is continuing. He played Devlin Scarp in "Dick Wittington" in February, was technical director for "Little Princess" in November, and has a bit part in "Anne of Green Gables" this coming February. These plays are all with our home school group.

Stephen's braces are off. He woke up one morning with his "permanent" retainer missing. We never did find it, but the orthodontist is doubtful he would have swallowed it. He had a tooth pulled in November because the adult tooth was coming in and baby tooth did not want to leave its happy home. He has long way to go to catch up to Joel. Joel had 11 teeth pulled; Stephen has had two removed .

Serena (alias Pip/Pippi) is happily attending her Little Flowers Girls Club. She has earned four patches for learning about various virtues. Serena has two permanent 6 yr molars with little to no enamel on them. We knew that eventually she would need major dental work done to these two teeth. In November, the dentist told us that she needs some type of temporary fix now (he suggested stainless steel crowns) and some type of permanent solution when she is little older. We are investigating various options. Please pray for guidance for us as we make our decision.

Merry Christmas,

The Hedmans

2008

Christmas 2008

Hello all,

No graphics this year as Sharon is speed typing to get this done, but we will experiment with changing the font color. We did pull a photocard together this morning that has pictures of our North Shore trip with the kids and Mike and Sharon's overnight at Stillwater thanks to Mike's digital camera and ritzpix.com.

Mike is still at the U although he isn't quite sure these days which department or floor he should be in. He moved from his building on University Ave in October (he had been it for only a year). He is being moved to a different floor in the new building next week. The U is ever consolidating and shifting his whole department and now he has a new manager although it has taken since he moved in October to decide which department to assign him to after breaking up his old department.

Sharon is still homeschooling the kids although she will be losing a pupil as Joel graduates in May. She has been trying to stay on top Joel's college applications, scholarship deadlines, and deposits required. After Mike purchased a “spa basket” at the St. Raphael School Wine Tasting fundraiser (of which Sharon can't taste any due to stomach problems), Mike and Sharon stayed at bed and breakfast in Stillwater to purchase items with the spa gift card.

In January 2008, Joel's braces were removed and he got contact lenses. Joel has a new hobby-playing guitar. He took a PSEO guitar class at North Hennepin College spring semester 2008 and loved it. He bought a guitar in October. Joel is now a certified Water Safety Instructor for the City of Brooklyn Park. Between working two nights a week and two PSEO classes fall semester, he was kept very busy. He is hoping things will slow down a bit spring semester as he is only taking one class (calculus) at the college in addition to his homeschool classes.

Paul is now in high school as well. Paul bought an electric guitar that the St Raphael youth minister was selling. After playing a pirate in Peter Pan earlier this year, he is now gearing up to play Devlin Scarp in Dick Wittington and His Magical Cat. He had braces put on this year.

Stephen is in fourth grade and in braces. Several years ago he had a “supernumeral tooth” (an extra tooth). It was a very pointed tooth that came in upper front. After the tooth was pulled, his adult tooth

came in crooked so the orthodonist suggested straightening the upper four adult teeth as long I was driving Paul in anyway. A few months later, he suggested we straighten Stephen's lower adult teeth as long I was bring him for upper teeth.

Serena is second grade. After our trek to LaCrosse in June to the allergist, she is now being treated for a mosquito allergy. I made the remark that Serena had a good spring allergy-wise and I only gave her Benadryl to help with mosquito bites. The allergist immediately tested her for mosquitos and found out that, yes indeed, she does an have allergy to mosquitos (which explains why her mosquito bite welts take a long time to go away). Isn't Serena lucky our unofficial state bird is the mosquito?

The Hedmans