Things stayed busy in February with all the kid’s normal activities along with a long skiing weekend in Michigan with some friends from school. We would have enjoyed going to West Virginia, but 50 degrees and rain isn’t ideal ski conditions, so we decided to change our plans based on the weather forecast.
We headed back to where we went last year, Cadillac, MI and skied at Caberfae Peaks. We spent the weekend with the O’Rourke family and everyone had a great time. We picked up all the kids on Wednesday afternoon and drove up. Since we didn’t decide to head to Michigan until the previous weekend, we had to rent 2 separate condos and move units on Friday morning. The kids took some private lessons on Thursday and then we all skied as a group on Thursday afternoon, Friday and Saturday. All the kids could ski on their own and everyone was having a good time. The ski resort got very busy on Saturday, so I was most comfortable with the big kids on the slopes that were more challenging but also had fewer skiers. At the condo, the kids at fun playing on the hills of snow outside and exploring the frozen lake. We all played a game called BeanBoozled where you eat jelly beans that can taste very good…or very awful and you don’t know what you get until you bite into those. The kids also found a way to play hide-and-seek in a 2-bedroom condo and enjoyed the indoor swimming pool one afternoon.
We decided the time had come to trade-in our 2011 Traverse and purchase another one. With Julie’s assistance, we were able to buy a 2020 Traverse in a couple of days. The process was as much fun at car-buying usually is, but having someone that works for GM is really helpful and she gave us some pointers so we can get it done as quickly as possible.
My mom came for a visit in February. She arrived on a Thursday and helped watch the girls so I could go watch some basketball with Jeremy. We went to dinner on Friday with the Dodson’s and Grandma. On Saturday, we all went to the girls’ basketball games. We went to lunch and Dick’s on Sunday to buy some early birthday presents for Sarah (tennis racquet) and Allison (helmet & bat). That afternoon, we went to the Dodson’s house for Erin’s birthday party where the girls entertained Molly with some of the games they made up.
Sarah’s Things of the Month
Sarah was asked to do the opening to the school mass since her class was in-charge of the helping this week. She did a great job reading a few paragraphs in front of the entire school. Sarah is enjoying participating in her Daisy troop and had fun selling cookies to some neighbors. Sarah continued her basketball season and has had fun meeting some new people and improving.
Allison’s Thing of the Month
Allison is continuing her basketball season with an eye on her first season of softball. She has gotten all of the gear and is ready to give it a shot. She went to the evaluations so they could properly place her on the right team and did well. I can help her with catching and swinging a bat, but that is where my talent stopped with that sport.
A few more items from this month:
- We had a fun neighborhood evening earlier in the month. We went to dinner with the Sniadeckis at Ale Emporium and then to The District Tap for the Smith’s going away party.
- We went over to the Dodson’s to watch the Superbowl preparty and had some pizza.
- We had Lawton, Watkins, and Andersons over to our house to show them the renovation and watch IU vs. Purdue. The girls hadn’t really hung out since last year’s spring break, so they had fun with each other.
- I went to a party at the Steffey’s that was a “Chili Cook-off” where they also had a “Basement Olympics” which included several fun games between the 2 teams.
- Lent started this month and our family has decided to do or give up one thing per week during lent. We have completed the weekly schedule and the girls can see what we are aiming to do on a weekly basis.
- We had fun at the first Fish Fry of the lent season at CKS. We have gotten to the point where we walk into the gym and the girls just run away from us and we hope they eat something and behave.
- Deb has continued reading to Allison’s class once a month on Friday mornings.
