Spring has come

It has been awhile since I checked in last.
Basketball season came to an end. Brandon's team won their last game and now their coach has challenged them to make 100 three pointers a week.  Its not going to happen at this house, but maybe during the summer.  Anika's team lost in the second round of playoffs. Jessica's team lost their last game, but we had fun as did Maria's local recreational team.
There have been band festivals - they got a superior rating so they go to the State festival tomorrow.
Brandon and Anika have had to figure out their school schedules for next year.
Anika has gone on five college visits!  Calvin, Dordt, Trinity, Grand Valley State, and Cornerstone. Right now she is thinking about physical therapy. There is a program at a local college where she can become a PTA in two years. Because her GPA is above a 3.5, she could go for free. So that is definitely an option as well! Right now, she really liked Cornerstone - time will tell.
She hates the two most popular questions - Where are you planning on going and What are you planning on doing? I remind her that I was going to be a nurse, decided to be a business major, got a math teaching degree and now work at a YMCA. There are very few 17 year olds that KNOW what they are going to be, let alone 45 year olds.
Last weekend was prom, the church carnival, Matt reffed two games, and Maria has a soccer tournament in Ann Arbor.  Five days earlier we didn't have school because of snow and icy roads. Crazy spring weather.
In March, the YMCA had its annual fundraiser, the Black Tie for the YMCA. I am the staff person in charge of the event and we made a bunch of changes this year, including the venue.  I didn't have many volunteers so Matt, Anika (and two friends), and Brandon (and one friend) all joined the party.
We ended up making around $24,000 but its a stinking lot of work.

Easter week is always a bit crazy around here. Wednesday was a service night with the church the kids go to youth  group -we raked a public garden/park area; Thursday and Friday are joint services with several area churches and both are always a good time; then Easter we spent at our church for the service and at our friends Mike and Connie for lunch. I didn't take one picture the whole weekend and I ALWAYS take an Easter Sunday morning picture.  Brandon and Anika had a breakfast fundraiser - which was delicious - and I forgot! They are headed to St Thomas for a SERVE project this summer, and the church they go with serves a great breakfast on special days. We attend the breakfast - its amazing!
Easter afternoon we hopped in the van and drove to Newton, IA - nothing special there, just the first leg of our 45 hour in the van Spring Break Trip. We were making plans as we went as some of our preplanned activities fell through.
Monday night we ate supper at my cousins Gary and Paula's house in Denver, CO. Tuesday morning we toured the Denver mint and explored the capital building, the library, and the hall of justice building. Tuesday night we made it to Winter Park, CO and went tubing, got our ski equipment, played human hungry hippos, and then played Phase 10 in our cabin. Wednesday morning we spent downhill skiing. Thursday we hiked in Estes Park and then got all the way back to Sioux Center, IA. Friday, Anika and I did a visit day at Dordt, and Saturday we visited my Uncle Don in Sibley, my parents in Hollandale and made it home to our beds. WHEW!
The mountains were amazing - just to take in all the views.

clouds over the mountain peak

Skiing was the highlight for the kids. Our first run we went down a blue - and it didn't go so well. We talked with someone later how they had avoided that run because it was so iced over. Not pleasant. At that point we split up and Jessica and Maria came with me while Anika, Brandon and Matt went off on their own. We three stuck to the green routes. Our favorite was called Village Way. From the bottom of the mountain you would take a chair lift 1/3 of the way up, ski to the second chair lift which took you the next 1/3 of the way up, then you would ski down to the bottom.  The whole process took us one hour and by 4:00 pm we were EXHAUSTED! The ski lift to the highest peak was closed but we got to the top of the lower peak and it was gorgeous! We were at about 10,000 ft elevation.

Jessica is in green and Maria is pink/orange

We stayed at the YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch near Winter Park and had a wonderful cabin with a great view. We also drove to the YMCA in Estes Park because when you work for a YMCA, you have to check out the school statue with the great view.
The hike in Estes Park was to Gem Lake. I LOVE LOVE LOVE hiking and Brandon was ready to go with me. Needless to say, the others needed some convincing - primarily because they didn't want to rush (ie, keep up with me), but I knew we had to drive to IA yet that night so I knew we had to keep moving. I kept reminding them hiking is more about the journey than the destination. The cool views, rocks, etc we saw along the way. Again, pictures don't do it justice.

Gem Lake hike in Estes Park

We made it to Gem Lake!

Views from the Gem Lake hike

Estes Park YMCA - that is Rocky Mt National Park

Prom 2018 has come and gone. Originally Anika planned on going with friends, but a few weeks before prom a senior asked if she would like to go as his date, so that is what they did.

For years - since third grade - Anika has planned on sewing her own prom dress someday. And she made it happen her first go round!  We bought the pattern Thanksgiving weekend, bought the fabric one weekend, figured out it was too thin and would need a lining, so bought that fabric the next weekend, and then the next weekend bought the zipper. From beginning to end she had it complete in less than 14 days!

And now spring sports have begun. Maria is playing soccer and had a tournament in Ann Arbor. We explored the city a bit including stopping at a nature center and looking at the owls - her favorite animal. We also stopped by the Big House and took a picture.

Brandon is trying lacrosse for the first time. The team is a coop of four schools. They haven't won a game yet - in fact -they lose by huge margins, but he is learning a lot, getting better, and getting exercise so it works for me!

Anika is at track once again and loves doing the 100 m hurdles. She is hoping to go to state again this year. And Jessica is playing soccer for school. They have exactly 11 girls so there are no subs - everyone gets lots of playing time - lots of running - and hopefully no injuries!

And Jessica tried her hand at soccer reffing.  She thinks she'll keep going, take the class and ref some older kids with Matt - time will tell!