Ella added another year to the win column and celebrated her birthday in wonderful ways. A personalized grilled chicken dinner and a run to the ice cream shop was a great way to spend a midweek evening and birthday candle at the ice cream shop...well, she tolerated it with a smile! She had been fundraising for the JDRF walk as well as we loaded up three vehicles with her friends to walk for a cure and make type one into type none. The local radio station was announcing the event and when Ella's meter read 101....well she had to tell them about it seeing as how 101 is their broadcasting frequency!! She came back with an arm load of flowers and big smile. There were pizzas and rootbeer floats and plenty of yard games with her friends well into the later afternoon of Saturday. Sunday we had a big party for her and celebrate Mother's day as well. The weather was in the low eighties and the bright sun put a little color into everyone's pasty skin. Sophia was south of town playing in a tournament, she scored a goal and the team took first place as well. Merrick had a pretty good week too and sneaked in a bell solo to surprise us all during his concert. He was all smiles afterwards about keeping his secret. The kids' school days are winding down and Merrick and Grace have soccer seasons that are winding up. The snow is off the fields and they are starting to dry out in time for league play. The spring marches on.
The school year is about wrapped up and we put some time on the road and others spent some road time to come and see us. Munkle Arky stopped in for a while, bringing bikes and laughter and we headed to see the Holmen Clan and celebrate Evan's endings and new beginnings. The final week of the school year bore witness to Ella's 8th grade graduation ceremony as well as Sophia's soccer awards ceremony where she received offensive MVP. Grace and Merrick both started up their summer soccer leagues and the weather has been cooperative. Sophia spent her first week of summer vacation at Med school camp and came away with a new career path of Pathology from the experience.
