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#starquest dance blog
kimkimberhelen · 3 years
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Made an attempt to educate the youth about Josephine Baker.
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mnranger5 · 7 years
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Planes, Trains and Motorhomes: A preview of 2017
2017 promises to be an amazing year on and off of the water.  Aside from the Tuesday night tournaments I will be fishing in, I have several unique fishing opportunities lined up.  But overshadowing all of that are a handful of amazing vacations planned over the next nine months.  Although our summer calendar is nearly full, here are some of the exciting experiences we are looking forward to.
3/4/17 – 3/7/17: For my mom’s birthday this year, my dad bought her a plane ticket to Minneapolis! The one stipulation is that the kids have to throw her a big party.  I am sure that will not be a problem.  I’ve already heard rumors of glitter bombs (I don’t even know what those are?), petting zoos and a dinner at Crystal Clear Restaurant.
3/17/17 – 3/21/17: Dyan and I will be headed to Phoenix/Sedona Arizona for some fun in the sun. We rented a convertible Mustang to whisk us around town as we will be hitting up the Royals/Indians spring training game in Surprise Arizona.  After two nights in Phoenix, we will head up to the Hilton Sedona at Bell Rock which will be our base camp for a drive through Red Rock Country and the Grand Canyon. 
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After some fun in Northern Arizona, we will head back to Phoenix for one final relaxing day at the beautiful Westin Kierland Resort.  
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When we return home, we will be celebrating with a birthday-pool-party for Brianna (7), Scarlett & Felicity (8) at the Sheraton Hotel in Woodbury!
4/3/17 – It is the Twins home opener, and the Royals are in town!  Guess who bought me tickets?!?
4/21/17 – 4/23/17 – Ashlynn has her first dance competition.  She is the youngest girl invited onto the competition line this year this year and I couldn’t be more proud of her.
5/5/17 – 5/7/17 – Ashlynn has her second dance competition – the Legacy Competition at Bloomington Jefferson High School.
5/10/17 – 5/14/17 –Ashlynn has the Starquest Dance Completion at the St. Paul River Center. While details are still unknown for which days Ashlynn will be dancing,  Scott, Travis and I are tentatively planning our 2nd Annual Fishing Opener for the same weekend.   Talk about putting a kink into fishing opener plans… Thanks Ashlynn!
5/18/17 – 5/21/17 – Making up for our missed fishing trip in 2016, Aaron and I are heading down to my folks villa on Lake of the Ozarks.  The conditions look to be late-spawn/post-spawn, so fishing could be tough.  We’re hopeful to get into a couple of those Ozark giants!  On the night Aaron and I return, Dyan, her parents and I are double dating with dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse followed by seeing Sebastian Maniscalco at the State Theater.
6/10/17 – 6/11/17 – Ashlynn will be performing in her annual dance recital.  She will be quick to tell you that this isn’t a competition, but for the regular dances!
6/16/17 – 6/18/18 – For Ashlynn’s birthday, she has asked to celebrate her birthday and Father’s Day with a camping weekend at Kamp Dells in Waterville.  The kids (Dyan and I too) have so much fun at Kamp Dells.  This seems like it could be an annual event for us!
6/26/17 – 6/30/17 – Ashlynn’s final dance competition of the year!  It’s the big dog, and the one they have been practicing for since the fall. This is the national competition being held at the Wisconsin Dells.
7/10/17 – 7/17/17 – Probably Definitely our most ambitious trip ever with the kids. During this weeklong vacation, we will be renting a 35’ Class A Motorhome and “taking the whole tribe across country.” 
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The roadtrip will hit various landmarks such as Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands and the Black Hills on our way to the final destinations of Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park.  Everything will be onboard!  Meals (full kitchen), showers (2 bathrooms), sleeping (7 beds). 
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Since we aren’t bringing a trailer car to tour the parks once we arrive, we have arranged for guided park tours, where guides will pick us up, and drop us off at our RV campground.  This is the best investment of the entire trip as it means we can ride through the park and enjoy the wildlife and scenery instead of worrying about park traffic while driving that behemoth through the mountains.  It should be a vacation of a lifetime, and one the kids will ALWAYS remember.  But I am also not naïve.  Seven people living in such a tiny confined space for 7 days is more than likely going to cause lots of button pushing.  Our patience will be tested….  Woosa.
8/26/2017 – Mike bought a new 19’ Nitro Bass boat, and is eager to get it out on the big pond in search of some giant brown fish.  There is a MLS bass tournament on the 26th which runs $400/boat.  It will be the priciest competition I have ever participated in, however, first place price brings home a cool $7,500!  Time to put my Bassmaster learnings to the test!
9/14/2017 – 9/17/2017 – Speaking of Bassmaster….last year in my blog I wrote extensively about how Bassmaster comes to MN once in a blue moon.  Therefore, I was ecstatic when it came twice last year.  When the regular season schedule was published for 2017, I was not surprised that Minnesota or Wisconsin were not on the list.  However, Bassmaster just made a late announcement that their post season Angler of the Year tournament is returning to Mille Lacs this September!  Back to back AOY tournaments on the same body of water is unheard of.  Hopefully I am lucky enough to be selected as a marshal again.
10/18/17 – 10/22/17 – Second trip of the year to the Ozarks!  This time, with the entire fam in tow.  At this point, an agenda has yet to be set, but it’s not a trip to the Ozarks if we don’t do old time photos, a stop by the candy store and fishing off the dock!
12/8/17 – 12/12/17 – Since Dyan is SO amazing, I wanted to give her a small thank you with a getaway to a luxury mountain retreat on Lake Tahoe.  
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We will plan to ski a couple of days (if there is snow!) at Heavenly and Northstar and spend relaxing evenings sipping drinks around the bonfire at the lakeside bar or heated outdoor pool and hot tubs.  
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On our off day, we are going to cruise around the lake exploring the mountains and small mining towns.  And a trip to Tahoe is never complete without a visit to the casinos.  Our hotel, the Hyatt Regency, has a casino on premise which will be convenient yet dangerous!
12/27/17 – 12/29/17 – Santa informed us he is giving the kids another rail excursion to the Wisconsin Dells for Christmas.  Similar to Christmas 2015, we will board the Amtrak in Red Wing where the kids will enjoy breakfast in the dining car and sightseeing in the dome car.  The 3.5 hour train ride will kick off what is sure to be an amazing three days at Kalahari Resort.  
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