Beginning of March 2026

Isaac and I are signed up for the Goldy Run 10K in April, Kyle is doing the 10 mile. So Isaac and I have ran together a couple times. 

Taking him on this run, down to the sculpture garden. It's one of my favorites when not going around the lakes. Get some hills in and it's a perfect 5K distance 1.5 miles there. 

Last weeks of volleyball. 

Kids were out of school for March 3rd. Winter is nearing an end (but still here) so we utilized our free rental passes to hit the slopes at Hyland hills. 

(Emma not happy about her helmet fit)

After I gave her the hair tie from my head she was better. 

Took a fall and knocked the wind out of himself... and he wanted to stay another couple hours - but had a basketball game later that evening. he learned the hard way how a day of skiing can effect your energy and playing performance. 

We went out to eat Wednesday evening but was running short on time to get the girls to their activities. So I left driving Emma to gymnastics while Kyle and Thomas walked home - taking a shortcut across the lake. 

Mary's last volleyball practice was a fun family vs. players volleyball game. Isaac came, family team won and it was a lot of fun. 

 

The boys won Tuesday night, which meant they had two games on Friday for championship. They won the first and lost the second putting them in 2nd place for the season. They did great! We celebrated with DQ afterwards. 

Mary's volleyball season was wrapped up with 10 hours at the courts on Saturday. 

Isaac and I on another run, with in a mile he was running ahead, longer legs = faster runner. 

Dinner at Yum! with a beautiful rainbow on our way out. This jumper.... The girls ordered some clothes off amazon for our trip, Emma wanted this jumper. After one wash it SHRUNK considerably. Was able to return it and order another.... THEN she got a stain on it in Mexico so I washed it in the hotel room. It was still wet as we were packing up Sunday morning, I asked her to hang it outside to try and dry a bit more before we put it in the suitcase... well Monday night as I was looking for it to continue to work on the stain we realized we never grabbed it from the balcony. OOPS. Thankfully it was only $12 and we ordered another. HA! 

Now that volleyball is over Mary is skating twice a week. It was fun to finally stay and watch her practice. Before this I was running other kids around in this time. (she had a yellow tie around her waist. This means she is the one doing the song at practice. Whoever has the song playing and practicing their routine wears the ribbon so others know to give her the right away. She started private lessons at the beginning of the year)

Mary got a shamrock shake recipe at school so decided to make it for everyone. 

Super bummer news to start our spring break!!!! Sunday's flight got moved to Wednesday. 

Saturday Emma had a fun time bowling with her soccer team. 

And the storm did actually come, 18" of snow. 

Well since we were home... Monday took the girls to open skating. 

Next up, our spring break trip. 

 

June 4th - 9th

Sunday Thomas had a game. Isaac had one too earlier in the morning that we all attended. So by the time it was Thomas's turn the other kids were all hot and tired so I took them home and Kyle and Thomas went to his game. I was kicking myself because it was against a team that had one of my besties and I missed getting to visit with her. But Kyle got this sweet photo of him and Thomas: Lance batting and Thomas catching. I was searching for a photo of them as babies (they are born about a month apart) I couldn't find it but of course this photo popped up a day later in my time hop <3

 

Sunday evening we took a forest walk to look at the kids art rocks before they were picked up that day (or next). We found Emma's and Isaac's but we couldn't locate Mary's (which she did bring home I'll go grab a pic to put at the end of this)

Isaac was not a fan of me taking his photo, lol.

Saw a few busy worker bees walking home from the forest. 

As I mentioned a few posts ago I signed up for a triathlon at the end of August, longer than other's I've completed so a little nervous, but getting in that training time. 

And Monday's I volunteer in the lunchroom : 3 shifts 11:30 kindergarten I see Thomas, following is 3rd grade lunch I get to see the girls then I stay til 1:45 and help with 4th/5th grade lunch to see Isaac. I used to do Wednesdays same shifts but had to drop that when I picked up the Wednesday shift at work. A good neighbor friend had a freak thing happen with her son and was no longer able to do the Monday shift (she also has four kids - 3 at our elementary school and worked all the shifts) so it really worked out because I missed those few week I wasn't in the lunchroom. Anyway all that to say here's Thomas at lunch, they were celebrating July birthdays this day so he got a birthday ribbon and crown. 

Tuesday, my first LONG ride in a really long time. Gotta listen to something better next time cuz the book I was listening to was a drag and made this ride not so fun. 

Tuesday afternoon I had the opportunity to walk with the 5th grade classes to the Sculpture Garden. It's about a thirty minute walk from school. I wasn't too thrilled to do this cuz I was tired and after a full year of volunteering I was feeling the need for a break. But I reminded myself I'll miss this and Isaac will be in Middle School next year when the volunteer opportunities diminish... so I sucked it up and went and I'm sooo glad I did. Had ag read time and really loved walking around the sculpture garden. We should totally go there more often it's SO close to our house! 

Once we got to the garden the teachers divided all the students up into smaller groups amongst the 10 or so parent volunteers. I had 7 boys including Isaac in my group. 

The walk there was pleasant, the walk back it was starting to get warm. And we had a creeper follow us from the park which was weird and thankful we had big strong dad's along that took care of it and got the school's security notified. 

Few things from home: Cute bunny in the window! We have had so many buddies in the yard they are a joy to watch. And journals I made for teachers this year as appreciation gifts. 

Wednesday, June 7th, soccer for Emma, boys in tow while Kyle took Mary to her lacrosse practice. Emma is really good at soccer, it's fun to watch her play.

In addition to my Wednesday work shift in radiology I also picked up Thursday and Friday, so full days. Friday morning I got up early for a run before work. 

Caught sight of this muskrat crossing the lake, even got a selfie with it :-) 

 

Beautiful, beautiful morning, despite the haze of poor air quality. 

Friday, Thomas had a field trip to Como zoo. I wasn't able to go since I was working but a neighbor sent me these photos of him while there <3

Emma brought home this fun award! Proud of her, she's becoming quite the reader. 

Friday evening was St. Louis Park Little League night at the Saints game. They had an on field time before the game... but we didn't make it and decided dinner was more important. We ate at this fun place in the Union Depot (train station) over in St. Paul just across from the new Saint's CHS Field.