Lydia's club volleyball highlights

I need to get through these highlight videos faster than I am.  This video features highlights from Lydia's club volleyball season, which took place from January to April.  We are now in full swing of her high school season! 

spring break service week and weekend fun

Our spring break this year was a little underwhelming, but it did have some special highlights.

We stayed close to home this year, so I decided to plan a service project week. It was tricky to find volunteer opportunities that were one-time commitments, welcomed fifteen-year-olds, and fit into our schedule.  It was easy and familiar to volunteer at a Special Olympics competition.  The events were poly-hockey and powerlifting. Brett volunteered with serving lunches, Reggie and Bryan helped reset the weights for powerlifting, and Lydia and I worked in the mental health screening booth.  It was also fun to watch the events!  There are some very strong athletes!  Next, we volunteered at a commissary kitchen. We chopped a lot of carrots and chicken for soup, and learned about food insecurity.  We also visited a homeless encampment and distributed supplies with a ministry that is affiliated with our church.  Finally, we volunteered at Today's Harvest.  Today's Harvest is a food rescue that distributes mostly perishable and expiring foods at two free grocery stores.  A while back, it had to close one of its locations and our church made room for it in the north wing of our building.  We have been back several times to volunteer for more shifts.  

We had one volunteer opportunity fall through at the last minute, but that made room for a spontaneous service project that was ultimately our favorite.  When the volunteer opportunity canceled, Reggie asked if we could stop at the animal humane society.  His guinea pig died in the fall and he had been searching for an available single female friend to join our other girls.  Just the right one arrived at the shelter that day.  She had been found hiding near a dumpster in an area state park. We named her Suzy Bean and she is the sweetest little piggy.  At first, she was underweight and shy and didn't eat much, but that didn't last!  She's plump and a good roommate now!

Lydia reached a big milestone over spring break.  She passed her driver's exam and got her license! Uffdah!  That was so much work!  She also worked a few extra hours refereeing volleyball.

Over the weekend, we took a road trip to South Dakota.  We stayed a night in Sioux Falls and went to a comedy show.  We spent the next day with my sister and her family.  My sister operates a woodworking shop and teaches classes. She showed the kids how to whittle a butter knife.  I loved seeing my nieces and nephew and their growing families. We drove on to a South Dakota state park and stayed in a cabin.  It was definitely the off-season, so we pretty much had the place to ourselves.  We enjoyed a walk by the lake, a fire, and bowling!

the things we did in the winter...

 ...besides sports.

When I scroll through my picture library of January, February, and March, it is stocked with photos of wrestling, volleyball, and basketball.  It appears as though we don't have anything going on outside of our kids' sports...and that is not altogether inaccurate.  I mean...there's work, but who takes picture of work?  

OnValentine's Day, we attended my nephew Josh's wedding. His bride is from the Cities, so that worked out well for us! We were even able to make it back to Reggie's wrestling competion, despite a major snow storm blowing through.

We participated in the Special Olympics Frozen 5k for the 4th time.  It was 11 degrees when we lined up at the startline. Our group is now 9 strong, and we enjoy going to breakfast afterwards.

Reggie's wrestling highlights

Reggie had a full wrestling season as a varsity alternate.  He was sitting behind Brad, who ultimately placed 2nd at State and will be wrestling for St. Cloud State next year.  He had many shining moments...and a few disappointing ones...both on the JV mat and on the Varsity mat.

Still alive on Day 2 of Rumble on the Red.  His bracket had over 70 wrestlers and he was eliminated when there were 12 remaining. One more win and he would have medaled! It's a tradition that anyone who is eliminated on the first day has to climb all the stairs in the Fargodome.

Three 9th graders qualified for 9th Grade State.

Reggie won his bracket at the JV SEC.

There was room for Reggie in the varsity lineup at team sections and he pinned both of his opponents.  The Royals placed 2nd.

To receive the All-Academic Award, you must be in the varsity lineup and have a cumulative gpa above 3.5.

Reggie placed 4th at Team Sections.  1st and 2nd advance to State.

Reggie won his "Last Chance" bracket at the Christmas Tournament.  

Stats and highlights from Reggie's freshman wrestling season: Wrestled 160

JV Record: 19-5 9th Grade State Entrant JV SEC Champ Day 2 of Rumble on the Red Varsity Record: 10-9 Varsity Pins: 6 All-Academic Award Team voted "Hardest Worker"