Happy 14th Sidney

We wished sweet Sidney a Happiest 14th Birthday this month. 
In true teenage fashion, she had loose plans for the day which ended up being re-worked a few times but it was a happy ending! Our little ball player spent the morning at practice and then a quick trip to Valleyfair before ending the night making TikToks with friends in the basement. And from the sounds of it, they sure had a good time. Oh teenage girls can sure be loud. 

In no particular order, some photos (new and old) to commemorate her big day :) 

A favorite black sand beach on the southern part of the Big Island of Hawaii

Oh the love these two had for each other at this particular age, melted my heart. Someday it will return! 

The day Sidney showed up to her hitting lesson wearing the same sweatshirt as her hitting coach (who happened to play for the Gophers at one time)

One of my most favorite photos of our sweet Sidney, with her mischevious smile :) 

The requested "cake" again this year for her 14th was actually a cookie cake

She was lucky this summer to get a ride on Uncle Mike's 3 wheeler....just don't tell Lincoln because he wants to go too! 

Happy 14th Sidney! 

 

Girls Night Out

 I have a deep appreciation for this group of gals who met long ago in the dorms of SCSU. For the friendships that have grown over the last 25 years, the laughs, the memories and being able to pick up right up where we left off. So when we decided on a whim to gather up on a Thursday night, someone booked hotels, someone else found the happy hour patio, another found the dinner reservation, and everyone found the bar to close down :) Afterall, some things never change! 

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! 

 

On the softball field

People often ask how (or why) we can spend all of our free time each summer running the kids from field to field, covered in dirt with sun-kissed skin and sweaty clothes.  

We usually chuckle at the question; we truly couldn’t imagine life any other way. This has been a part of the girls’ lives for as long as they can remember, and they love every second of it. (And Lincoln is just starting his adventures on the field) 

The sense of community, the friendships, this is their home away from home. And frankly, ours too. We look forward to the weekends just as much as they do. Gathering with the other families before, or in between games: Bloody Mary bars, “safety meetings”, Fitness Plus, we have created so many memories with each team. 

I recently read that if your family doesn’t look forward to the weekends, you haven’t found the right team. 

I’m thankful beyond words for both girls finding their right teams. 

It is behind those backstops that Ryan and I are making just as many memories as the girls in front of the backstop. And we are very aware that at some point, it will come to a screeching halt. So for now, we are going to soak in all it has to offer us. 
Giant Freeze pops included :) 

So while we laugh about horrible chalk lines (foul, fair, foul, fair), inquire about who has the best chair, or decide who packed the best cooler "dude, your mom hooked you up!", there is no where on earth we would rather spend each weekend. 

These girls and their coaches make some amazing teams and we are grateful for their dedication and drive to help them improve not only as a player, but as a human. 

Because we know it's not always about softball skill, it's about the life skills. Learning to be a great member of a team, learning how to work through difficulty and picking each other up when feeling down.

It's about greeting the umpire behind you during warm-ups, introducing yourself and not being shy to politely ask why a pitch was called a ball and not a strike. 

It's about taking control of your infield and hollering out plays, not being afraid to let the crowd hear you.   

Win or lose, at the end of the day, it's about feeling like you belong. 

Our home away from home. 

On those dirt fields, with sun-kissed cheeks and sweaty clothes. 

 

Easter weekend 2022

And WE'RE BACK!! After spending 2 Easter's in isolation, minimizing risk and exposures, we finally decided to once again hold an Easter celebration. They aren't big, just adding 4 people to our home, but we also got to add one special 4 legged friend for the day...and night! 

My good friend from work always joins us for Easter and she was delighted to be back this year. It was our first Easter celebration with her newest service dog-Pepper. And boy does she love our kiddos. 

She was happy to roam the house, hoping for any dropped food, and eager to play ball in the backyard. She's so well-behaved and we loved having her. So much that she even stayed the night for a sleepover! 

I think Grandma Jan was pretty happy to not spend another Easter alone too; and boy do we love her too! She and Sidney have been exchanging books throughout the pandemic and it was time for another book exchange and a quick "book club" gathering. Such a fun memory for the two of them to share.

Although we held Lincoln off until 10am so the girls could join in on the Easter egg hunt, he still was the only one who participated. Despite a bribe of money, they still declined gathering up any eggs. 

Their loss 

No one was pleased to take this picture, but they took it nonetheless and someday will be happy I forced family photos 

And although he won't admit it, even Ryan enjoys Pepper's company. She really is a super sweet dog and the kiddos wore her out she slept the entire next day! 

 Here's hoping to future Easter celebrations! 

Twins opening weekend

Sometimes you just have to pause and take it all in. 

I had an opportunity to take Lincoln and his good buddy to a Twins game on opening weekend this month. With nothing else on my calendar for the day, we spent over 5 hours at the field and had a great time! 

Of course there was an obligatory glove picture

The boys asked to climb to the tip top of the stadium, where they sat and chatted and enjoyed nearly half the game! They loved having the whole section to themselves. I laughed as I wondered what they were talking about, like two old men "solving the world's problems" watching a game.

I stayed several rows down, enjoying some ballpark snacks and watching homer after homer hit into the stands. Such an exciting offensive game on a beautiful spring day.  

At one point, they heard an announcement that after the game, all kiddos under the age of 12 were allowed to run the bases. And I knew we were destined for an entire 9 inning game, plus running the bases. 

Boy were they excited! 

What a fun experience for a couple of 8 year old baseball players. To be right down on the field, Base running where the professionals play. I'm so glad we took the extra couple of hours to enjoy not only the full game, but to take in such a wonderful memory!

 

Growing up

I am acutely aware of the limited time left with all 5 of us under one roof. And I'm clinging to it for dear life. As much fun as it is to watch our kiddos grow up, it's slightly heartbreaking at the same time. 

Sure, there are moments (frequently) of bickering, arguing, teasing and crying. But I just know that I will miss that noise when it's gone. And the constant song and dance in the kitchen click for a preview

I'll miss turning a corner in the house and seeing a teenager (staring at her phone). Or hearing the humming of the refrigerator while the doors are wide open while listening to someone complain "there's nothing to eat in this house" and shut the door in a huff. Or wonder where all of our cups are when the cupboards are empty, only to discover them divided between the girls' rooms.  

And I am sure to miss the long drives to practice, blasting music and singing to songs from the 1980's, 90's and now, shocked that Regan knows the words to all of those songs from long ago. (thank goodness there are 2 more to keep driving after Regan can drive herself!).

But I'm excited to see these kiddos grow and mature. To watch them hold adult conversations, advocating for themselves and finding their way through life. Because they are all amazing humans who I adore so much. 

And that's a wrap: Hockey 2021-22

Lincoln wrapped up his third season of hockey last month, with eagerness to start the next sport. Although he grumbled before every practice as he put on his gear (it's a lot of work to gear up for hockey), once he was out on the ice, he was full of energy and excitement. Ryan coached him again, and I certainly think he loves having dad on the ice. 

The improvements this year were amazing, watching him stop and cut edges and steal the puck from his opponents. He really made a lot of gains in the last 9 months. 

We love watching number 8 out on the ice and can't wait for the next season! Click to catch a glimpse!