Winter Fun

Winter can get old after awhile but we have stayed busy with plenty of activities.  Winter games still happened this year (yeah!)  and we were happy to enjoy them with decent weather, along with Nate, Maxine, Grammy and Papa.  As always we ended with the fireworks and burning of the greens.

 

We have had a few concerts - singing (with masks), band - Marie is playing the saxophone.  They are different but we are happy to still get the experience.

Snow was plentiful after the new year - snowmen, snow ice cream, and several batches of hot cocoa with fires.

Puzzles, reading (Brooks is becoming quite the reader)  and Lego building also keep us busy.

We surprised the kids with a trip to Great Wolf Lodge in Minneapolis this winter on one of the coldest weekends.  We played games, swam a lot, went down water slides, body surfed, and enjoyed some quality family time.

 

Basketball 2020-2021

                                         

Marie spent another winter staying busy in the gym with her friends and coaches.  This girl has found a love and desire for this sport and it is so much fun to watch. Joe and Andy once again teamed up with another dad to coach the 5th grade girls.  They learned a lot and improved every tournament.  

 

 

 

 

With the uncertainty of it all this year, we weren't sure basketball would happen.  We realize this was a risk but the team was as safe as they could be while still being somewhat carefree 5th graders having fun and learning more about the game. Friday nights she'd set her alarm for early tournaments and be ready to go - never complaining.

 

 

Marie learned a few lessons...especially about jump balls and not giving up till the whistle blows.  She was dedicated and a good teammate, coachable, and still hungry to get after the teams that beat them. They took first place at a tournament and it was pure joy on their faces after that hard fought win.

The boys were troopers - getting up early for tournaments and cheering on their sister in the stands.  She will have to repay the favor eventually!

December 2020

 

December was abnormally warm and not white for the most part...but we still got excited to decorate and celebrate Christmas.  I love that the kids help us with more of the decorating now that they're older.  It still is a mess and takes all day but I enjoy watching their creativity and hearing them chatter and sing along with the music that is playing in the background.  

                                                             The dogs are not helpful at all. 

As usual, we decorated many cookies, sugar, gingerbread, and Papa even enlisted help with his Santa Cookies this year. 

Marie and Bennett both had piano recitals in December - they were different due to Covid but they still were able to showcase their hard work. 

Marie also had her first band concert with her alto sax!

The kids enjoyed time with families over the holidays, playing games, watching movies, slumber parties with cousins, and many goodies.  

Andy worked Christmas, but we still got to spend a lot of time together in between his duties at the hospital.   This Christmas eve we made our own surf and turf meal - the crab legs were a hit!

During break from school we headed to Sioux City for some snow tubing - the kids had fun and we got to hit up a few of our favorite eating spots too. 

Brooks is 6!

 There is something about a child having to use both hands to explain how old he is that makes me choke up...how can this be?

Brooks Richard is 6 years old!

When Andy and I thought about having a third child, I knew in my heart it was our last.  Everything about the experience of trying to get pregnant to carrying him to delivering him told me it was the end of the line.  When he was born, I felt this sense of relief and calm come over me.  As a baby he was content and always loved to be where the action was.  Everyone will remember the scare of a lifetime he gave us, but what I remember most about that time was how strong he was.

He knows how to captivate the room, he loves adventure, will try almost anything, and somehow everyone knows who he is!  We will be around town and hear people yell, "hey Brooks,"  and Andy and I will have no idea who that person is. He makes people smile and laugh, he gives the best cuddles, and I know he has many adventures ahead of him.

 He loves to hunt, practice his aim with his bow and arrow and BB gun, play sports, read books, watch movies, build Lego sets, and pretend the floor is lava.  He raises the bar all the time for us and his birthday cake request was a perfect example of this - an ocean battle with a sperm whale and a giant squid!

 Brooks-you are just what we needed when we asked God for a 3rd child and we are so thankful for you. 

 Love you buddy, Mom & Dad

November 2020

November brought the excitement of holidays...with Covid we didn't know what our holidays would be like, but thankfully our families were healthy and close by so we chose to gather.  We enjoyed time with both sides of the family and had beautiful weather.  

The kids had plenty of play time with cousins and even got to spend a night in Sioux Falls with Paul and Keri. Nathan and Maxine ran an official Turkey Trot and the we all got to cheer them on at the finish.  Pip got to run too! 

November also brought plenty of opportunities for hunting.  Our good friends Eddie and Jess came over with their new dog, Boomer.  Boomer was introduced to hunting and we all had fun shooting at the range. One very special event was Brooks hunting with his Dad and Papa and getting to carry his own pheasant in his vest.  That was a special moment for that boy. 

Swimming with the Dickes kids at Bridge's Bay Water Park

Eddie and Andy with a few of their birds

One final warm November day we played at the brand new park in town along the lake.  Our kids are getting old for parks but that afternoon brought back memories of park play dates and it made this mama's heart happy.