May 2021 recap

Things are starting to feel a little more normal, despite the pandemic and the ongoing difficulties it has created. The kids are getting back into their activities and spent the spring in-person classes, all of which has been incredible for them! 

Lincoln was so excited in 2020 to sign up for Flag Football. Unfortunately it was cancelled along with many other activities. Of course he was so eager to sign up again this year and thrilled when we learned they would be holding the season! 

He's played his heart out, learning to throw passes and make running plays. He has a lot to learn, and he's not the most aggressive at ripping off those flags. But he loves to play and is having a great time. 

We headed down to Quad City for another tournament with Sidney's team. Unfortunately for us, day 1 of the tournament was completely rained out so the tournament turned into round-robin games. We salvaged the weekend with a lot of team bonding and some extra indoor practices. Gotta love Mother Nature! 

Lincoln also signed up to play for baseball this summer; he always told us there was absolutely no way he wanted to play baseball. And suddenly this spring, he changed his mind and insisted he wanted to play. 

He admits that he loves hockey better, but he's learning about baseball and giving it a try. And he was sooooo very excited to play catcher like his big sister! 

Our neighbors headed out of town one weekend and asked us to keep Quinn. She is a sweetheart and such a well behaved one-year old 'puppy'. I loved watching her just hope and beg that Lincoln would share his snack. ha! 

Unfortunately, Regan broke her hand this spring, landing in an unfortunate manner while doing some conditioning drills. Although she and her coach heard the crack, we weren't convinced it was broken. And she insisted that she would catch the next day's game and only then, would we head to the doctor. 

See?, she was smiling the night of the fall. 

 

Well, she didn't make it to the next night's game. I brought her in around noon the next day because the swelling and bruising was getting pretty intense. 

And darn it, that middle bone, in the middle of her hand, had a displaced spiral fracture. 

Although the urgent care doc painted a grim picture, he sent us to an amazing specialist immediately the next day. She listened carefully to Regan's goal (get back on the field as quickly as possible) and we're on our way to achieving her goal. 

Unfortunately, she missed the rest of her high school season as a result. 

To help lift her spirits, my dear friend and UMD softball alum, invited us to attend alumni weekend. We got to hang out and have dinner with the current UMD coach and then take in some games. Regan was more than delighted that she got to also hang with her own coach (also UMD alum).  

Lincoln has spent nearly every waking moment cruising around on his electric bike. Grandma Jan gifted this to him for Christmas and he has been so in love with it ever since. We bring it along to all of the softball fields (even Quad City!) and he darts in/out of people and all over the complexes. 

It's hilarious to hear everyone comment about how cool he is on his bike; and grown men saying they wish they could take a spin! 

Sideline conversations with a 16U coach during one of Sidney's many games this spring. Regan loves learning from these experts, and I love that she is mature enough to hold conversations with them. 

With vaccines on board and sufficient PPE, I've been heading back into the hospital to work. And I'm lucky enough to get to see my BFF's service dog when I'm there. Sometimes I even get to dog-sit :) Pepper has a thing for giving me unprompted hugs, and will jump up on my lap and place her paws on my shoulder. She's even done this in the middle of a meeting!

Seeing her may be the best part about being back on campus.....

When I went to Lincoln's first game this spring, I noticed he was given #4. 

Which is ironic because Sidney is #5

And Regan is #6

It's been a very busy May, and likely a glimpse of what our upcoming summer is going to look like! We are so excited to have a busy calendar again :)  

 

MEA break and a big fall

I got an extended weekend to hang with the kiddos over MEA break and the weather surely cooperated with our plans. 

We spent day one checking out some fall colors at a nearby lake and they sure didn't disappoint! 

Regan sort of giggles at me these days, saying she can't really understand how I think all of those colors are so pretty....she claims "maybe if they were all red I would agree!" So I found a pretty awesome red one and had to snap their picture. 

The lake is about 2 miles around and we opted to bring along the hooverboards and Lincoln's strider bike for a little exercise. Sidney isn't nearly as comfortable on her board as Regan is. She gets nervous and her muscles work overtime to stay balanced. 

I could've stared at this scenery for hours, but my crew quickly got bored and insisted we keep moving along. So I snapped a mental picture, one that I hope sticks with me through the bitter winter cold that is coming far too quickly. 

Lincoln does amazingly well on this little strider bike of his. He can keep up with those girls with no problem and enjoys himself even more when he has a hill to descend! 

 Part way around the lake is a small waterfall, and the same stunning colors in the background. I perched myself on a ledge as the kids climbed trees and Lincoln tossed rocks into the water. I can't ever remember a previous fall with such amazing weather. 

Sadly, just as we departed the waterfall, Sidney, in her uneasiness on her hooverboard took a pretty hard fall. She screamed in agony and I honestly wasn't sure if she was scared, hurt or seriously injured. Turns out it was the former two causing her tears. She managed to scrape herself real good but thankfully nothing was broken. Lucky for me....I got to pick up that 30 lb hooverboard and carry it the remaining mile and a half around the lake as she promises never to step back on it again.