Sweet 16 for Sophia

Sophia hit the legal driving age and will get her license in a couple weeks.  It was good haul for her with shoes and clothes and some chocolate cake thrown in to sweeten the pot.

Settling into June....

 

 

The school year is done and the soccer and basketball are getting closer to wrapping up.  Grace had a Milwaukee tournament to end the season and Merrick played in a two day tournament near Howard.  We are spending plenty of time close to home as well with evening fires and general relaxation.  Grace and I made a drive back to Eau Claire and stopped to hike Granite Peak on the way.  Nice trails and we will plan on getting over there when the leaves are full peak autumn colors.

Memorial Day and More

 

Memorial day has been a little cool and overcast but the band marches on.  Ella Performed in the downtown parade and it was a substantial parade at that.  Grace played in the Appleton tournament and we wove our way over hill and dale through a maze of construction to get there.  Sophia finished off her High School Season and was named mvp for the team.  The overcast days eventually gave way to a rainy Saturday and keeping a promise we headed to the Chatterbox for some pool and pub grub to pass the afternoon

Ella ages...

Ella's friends came over to celebrate her birthday and another successful year.  She willingly supported Grace at a tournament in Madtown.  The tourney was great and Grace rebounds like an animal...the hotel was just described as an adventure.

Spring in our steps...

 
 Spring is here and the weather has been cooperating.  It is time for Spring concerts.  Merrick had a drum solo and Ella is in charge of tuning up the whole band.  It has been fun watching them progress.  Ella and Grace headed to TR for a color run with Amy and Hazel spent a day at work with me.  Merrick's soccer team is playing around the area but it seems this will be his last season with the club as he plans on playing for the school team in the fall.

Let them eat cake...

 

April is already drawing to an end, birthday month around here, and we are staying busy enough for only monthly updates it seems.  The dogs have adjusted to each other and Hazel is fitting in with her new pack.  The are exhausted from all the festivities but find time to rest.  Sophia's made the high school team and is the captain.  That doesn't mean the weather is any nicer with many games played in sub 40 weather, if they get played an not cancelled from the rain.  Grace's new team is taking shape and has had its first tournament already and is getting ready for others through out the state.  The weather is warming a bit and there are plenty of games of PIG being played on the driveway court.  The school year is coming to an end and we are looking forward to some more outdoor adventures.

March Madness

 
 

The snow came in full.  We headed north to Iron Mountain and Ski Brule.  We had a blast in the later winter early spring sunshine.  The ski conditions were perfect although the wind blew in late in the afternoon as we were heading home.  No injuries to report and we did our darndest, with every kid hitting a black diamond and plenty of time spent on the narrow, tree swerving terrain runs.  Merrick had his snow board and the rest of us were on skis.  Hazel showed up and became part of the family.  Just in time for have a path snow blown through the early spring snow for her little legs.  Soccer is going in full force for Merrick and Sophia is playing indoors with tryouts starting soon.  Ella had both a piano festival (less than excited) and a clarinet competition (couldn't be more excited).  She did awesome and had a blast.  Amy and her are off to Disney World for a week with the Marching band, so it is busy around here like normal.  Grace is coming to the end of the her basketball season and will have about 3 weeks off before the summer league starts up.