There was some drama over the graduation venue this year. It was supposed to be held at an arena on the U of M's campus - as it was held the previous year. However, due to security concerns, the U of M canceled all high school graduation bookings without much time to pivot. The district was able to secure the Vikings' practice facility as the venue. What worked out in our favor was that each graduate could have up to 10 guests, but the disadvantage was that it was an outdoor facility, and there was rain in the forecast. There wasn't a rainout plan. It did rain - just enough to create a rainbow for a breathtaking backdrop!
In the spring, Reggie was inducted into the National Honor Society. He was the only black male on the stage, which simultaneously made me proud and broke my heart.
I went back to look at my pictures from April and May and came up with two that wouldn't necessarily fit in my online journal if today wasn't my Grandma Alvina's birthday, who passed in 2019.
I made my version of her bunny cake for Easter. Grandma loved baking - and holidays!
Here are my lovely irises. Grandma gave me some from her garden when we bought our first home. I've moved them with me three times!
My kids are extra blessed. They have three grandmas!
Ironically, I'm posting about prom while I'm waiting for the last teenager to come home from homecoming. I've come to the conclusion that parenting babies and teens have this in common: sleep deprivation.
Lydia and Brett both went to prom with friends this spring. We made a little bigger deal out of it for Brett since it was his senior year and only prom. I told Lydia we would pay for one prom and she decided it would be her senior year. So she bought a used dress for $4 and Grandma altered it.
Brett went with his group of 8 besties plus two of their dates. The eight played adaptive sports (Thunderbolt's) together and were all seniors! The parents split the cost of a limo party bus, and it was a night to remember for sure!
Here are some pictures of the spring break I missed. Two days before our trip, I was admitted to the hospital after emergency surgery due to kidney stones. I was in the hospital the day of the Special Olympics Frozen 5k and Polar Plunge. The next day, we were supposed to go to Seattle, but the doctor said I would not be well enough to travel. Bryan wanted to cancel the trip altogether, but he agreed to go with the kids if I was discharged. They let me out only hours before their flight! Our dear friend Bonnie kept good tabs on me while I recovered!
Some of the highlights from Seattle were the Luman Field tour, the Air and Flight Museum, the Space Needle, a whale-watching tour, and a Kraken hockey game.
I'm very grateful Bryan and the kids enjoyed the trip. I had a second surgery six weeks later and have made a complete recovery.
Brett decided to try some new things this year. One was floor hockey, and another was DECA. Having taken all the ceramics classes, he took some business and marketing, and personal finance classes this year. He made a connection with the teacher, and joined DECA. Brett had the opportunity to attend regional and state competitions! His teacher also awarded him with the Student of the Trimester for the business department.
Another milestone for Brett in January was he voted for the first time! It was a special election and ironically we got to vote for a good friend of ours. That was easy for him to decide!
Reggie's wrestling season started out with a nice trajectory, but unfortunately came to a screeching halt when he tore his meniscus and needed knee surgery. There were two potential outcomes: repair or partially remove. Repair would mean a longer recovery (3-6 months). Partial removal could invite longer-term problems later, but would mean about 4 weeks of recovery. Although it would definitely mean no more wrestling and probably not baseball this spring, we were hoping for repair. But when the surgeon got into the knee, it was too damaged to repair.
The silver lining was a possible return in time for the post-season of wrestling, and Reggie was extremely hungry. He competed two days after being cleared to practice and, though he was not 100 percent, he got the pin in his first match back in team sections. The next weekend in individual sections, he ended up wrestling for "true second". This happens when two wrestlers won all of their matches in the tournament, except they both lost to the champion. So they have a "true second" match to determine who will advance to State (1st and 2nd from each section go to State).
His opponent was someone he had won by points to earlier in the season, but that was prior to injury and being unable to practice or compete for almost 4 weeks. It came down to the last few seconds of the match - whoever scored next would win, and his opponent got the takedown. It was heartbreaking, but at least he's only a sophomore.
Reggie went 19-8 for the season, racking up 13 pins and a tech fall. (A healthy varsity wrestler will usually have 40-50 matches during the season). He won the Cannon Falls tournament. He received the All-Academic Award, and his team voted him "Royal Sacrificer". He was also voted in as a captain for next year. Two of his teammates advanced to State, and one of them, a senior, placed 5th.
This spring, his coach resigned so he could be more involved with his kids' wrestling, who are entering high school in another district. The next wrestling season is just around the corner and it will be a whole new adventure!
