guys road trip, girls night out

It started like many of Brett's hairbrained ideas. He wanted to go to a Brewers game to get the giveaway thermal cup.  We talked through how the cup isn't free after you buy tickets, pay for parking, gas, eat, and stay at a hotel.  A conservative estimate was $350. But after he went to bed, Bryan and I looked at our family calendar, and were surprised to see the dates would work for everyone except Lydia.  We decided "the cup" would be worth $350.

The guys had a fun roadtrip to Milwaukee to collect their free cups, and take in a game.

But what should the girls do with the guys out of town? How about a girls night out, and let's invite Bonnie!  We went out to a nice restaurant and then did a painting class!  We had so much fun!

Good idea, Brett.

Lydia's JO volleyball highlights

Lydia had volleyball tryouts at the high school this week so it's about time I get a highlight video together for her club season from last winter!😊 (Spoiler alert: she made the team!)

A normal part of volleyball is helping ref the other matches.  Here Lydia is watching for ball touches and net violations.

Lydia ended up being the backup hitter.  She has a lot of fun at this position.  Even though she doesn't have the typical height for it, she has the vertical to get the job done!

Club volleyball is definitely a business and a prime example of the excessive monitary consumption of youth sports.  In a sea of competive, elite private clubs, we like our local city club because she plays with many of the same kids she plays with at the high school, the practices are held in district gyms, and the cost is manageable. 

I love watching Lydia play volleyball because she is so intense and clearly loves it. She plays with confidence and she plays to win to the very last point!

easter

Sadly the kids have outgrown the easter bunny, egg hunts, and fancy easter outfits.  But they have not outgrown silly games!

My little indoor garden helps me through the long Minnesota winters.

spring break in AZ

Over spring break, we spent a few days in Arizona with my parents.  We spent a rainy day watching the Brewers' Spring Training.

We stayed in a nice little vrbo with a private backyard.  Enough space for everyone!

We had some fun at Top Golf.

Mom and Dad had an emu for a neighbor and it tried to eat my phone!

Going to a Phoenix Suns game was definitely the highlight of the trip for Brett!

We also went bowling.

And to Organ Pizza.  The organ player takes requests from the audience and plays on a pipe organ with over 1000 keys linked to xylophones, symbols, lights, puppets and more.  It was very entertaining and the pizza was good, too!

oreo dunkers take the plunge

Team "Oreo Dunkers" participated in the Frozen 5K and Polar Plunge to raise money for Special Olympics Minnesota!  While we've done the Frozen 5K three times now, this was the first year that anyone took the plunge!  Also, we added another member to our team - my nephew Taylor!  

This was an extremely unusual year where the lake was actually not frozen but still very cold and the outside temperature was in the low 30's that morning!  Taylor, Bonnie, Lydia, and Reggie took the plunge. Bryan organized a group from work and did the plunge the day before.

We had a blast raising money for Special Olympics!