JHS 2022 season

The girls had an interesting 2022 season, playing nearly half of their games in the last 3 weeks of the season due to weather. Coupled with fielding extra-large teams due to record turn out and minimal cuts, it was definitely an experience. 

Regan and her pitcher Lizzie tend to pick up each season where they left off the prior season. They don't play together during the summer, fall or winter seasons as they are in different clubs. 

 Lizzie threw a no-hitter one game, with some credit to Regan for calling an excellent game and knowing where to send each ball.  They make quite the team. 

As high school ball would have it, occasionally we meet up with our summer teammates too. 

Regan and Shayden under the lights.

These girls earned Academic letters for their work in the classroom too. And of course, the ceremony was after a game so we all sprinted into the school, full of dirt and still wearing their uniforms. They sat front and center waiting for their names to be called recognizing their academic efforts. 

Regan worked hard behind the plate, serving as the primary catcher for JV. She caught all but approximately 10 innings the entire season. It was great to watch her improve and develop. 

By the time sections came along, there were more teammates playing in the same complex. They were getting pretty excited to get back on the fields together again. 

Sidney had an opportunity as well to meet up against a teammate. They were all smiles after the game, having split the double header and each taking home a win. 

I will never tire of looking at professional pictures of our girls in action. The focus and concentration, the form and all the hard work, paying off in a single image. 

Regan had an opportunity this season to dress/sit and occasionally pinch run on the Varsity team as well. She was happy to be asked to attend their game at the U of M fields one Saturday afternoon.

Playing on that field never gets old , and all the photo ops are pretty awesome too!

Especially when the moms jump in for a quick snap too :) 

With the weather as crummy as it was, Lincoln spent many games in my chair covered up like this, desperately wishing it was warmer so he could race around on his beloved dirt bike. 

Both girls had teams of 16 players, and unfortunately, that meant rotating positions. For the girls who primarily play club level ball, it was a little strange to spend time on the bench, rotating per the high school decisions on playing time. It also meant playing positions that aren't your first or second. Sidney was lucky to see most of her time at short and 3rd base, where she will spend her summer season as well. 

Regan attended the end of the season banquet (Sidney opted to skip and attend her summer club team practice), where she received her second letter of the year and Best Defensive Player. 

Congrats to your seasons girls, we're so proud of you both! 

 

School year 2020-21

Well, we’ve finished week 2 of distance learning, and have what feels like eternity left to go. It’s not easy, it’s disappointing and frustrating and difficult and sometimes maddening. 

But we’re doing it. 

There is a silver lining, we are learning a new way of going about school work, and we have experienced more family togetherness than we have in the last 14 years (....is that a good thing!? haha!). 

Bonus, the toy room got a little cleaned out! 

We rearranged the toy/game room to accommodate this table set up for Lincoln and it’s working quite well. 

He knows when he sits there, it’s time for school. 

We aren’t perfect, we’ve missed a google meet (because whoops!) and sometimes his assignments don’t get finished until late in the day. But he’s in first grade, and he needs a lot of help to understand the lesson and so I give myself grace. Having 2 parents working full time means we don’t have the luxury of sitting beside him 6 hours/day to provide instruction. So instead, life becomes a lesson. 

For example, Regan took him on a bike ride the other day, he asked about a yard sign with MLK’s picture. She gave an excellent (first grade) lesson about MLK as they rode home. 

The girls pretty much hang out in their rooms for their "school" day, participating in their video classes or doing assignments. They appear to grab breakfast, lunch or ask a question, and then disappear back to their rooms. We are incredibly blessed that they are self-starters, self-sufficient and just get it done day after day. We know they don't love it, and would much prefer to see their friends in person. Although on mornings like today, where Regan missed her alarm and rolled out of bed at 9:05am and still wasn't late for class, I think she sort of appreciated it :) 

 

From baby to kindergarten to high school registration

It almost doesn't feel real to even say out loud: high school registration.

I'm only 29, how can I have a high schooler :) ha! Yea right. 29.

 

Oh this sweet baby girl who loved me to pieces, wore whatever I put on her and loved to play in my arm....., she's growing up so fast!

 

I remember getting this pamphlet in January of 2011 and thinking "kindergarten....already!"

 

 

And now here we are, a mere 9 years later, staring at this not-so-tiny-book below, wishing we were looking at that pamphlet. A time when we were worried about lost loveis and missing favorite toys. There's some truth to what they say "little kids, little problems; big kids big problems".

 

Tonight, I sat in an auditorium filled with parents of soon-to-be-freshman and listened as all of her options were laid out before me: geometry, world language, STEM classes and fine arts. Don't forget AP and honors courses and if you want to be considered for something extra-special, there's the pre-ACT requirement next month.

 My head was spinning and my hand was writing frantically.

Us moms gathered afterwards to compare notes, huddled around my cell phone looking at websites to hopefully help our kiddos make the right decisions to prepare them for a future.

One that their 8th grade mind has no idea what it wants (nor should it!).

The pressure is huge, and I vow not to ask her "what do you want to be when you grow up?", so she can choose the correct high school classes.

At least not this month.

 

 

Oh baby girl, your future is bright. And although I still cannot believe we are heading to high school, we are so excited for whatever your future may bring! This mom who loves to learn, is begging you to take me along on this journey because I'd love to take some of those classes with you!

 

 

Pretty please!