Spring 2017

Thanksgiving was spent in South Carolina. We spent two days in Atlanta. We went to the zoo to see Pandas and to the Coca Cola World. We then went to South Carolina for the rest of the week. We ran a 5k, went ice skating, and enjoyed spending time with Janice and family.

Christmas was spend in Illinois, which was a good thing. I came down with influenza which turned into pneumonia which meant Christmas was pretty low key.

I coached Kyra's basketball team this year, they won about half their games. She had fun and scored a few baskets. I also coached Kyra's volleyball team, she did very well and had fun. She also played soccer this spring, they won their last tournament. She had decided to not play soccer next year.

Mason played junior high basketball, the season didn't go as well as he would have liked, he ended up getting a concussion. Track went well, he went to state in the 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m relays. They placed 9th in the 4 x 400m relay, so close to medalling. His soccer season went well, they won one tournament and came close in the others. He also played chess.

Valynn had a successful track season with her mom as a coach. She was all conference in the 4 X 800m relay, the 1600m, and the 4 X 400m relay. Valynn also was on the chess team and scholastic bowl team. She placed first at the Regional Math contest.

Kyleigh played basketball this winter. She also had her First Communion.

Mark just got back from Germany where he went for work.

All four kids did the Tri2beatMS triathlon on June 10th. They did well and improved their times from last year. We also went to Wisconsin Dells for Spring Break. We had a lot of fun and took a boat tour.

Fall Sports!

We had a very successful Fall Sports season. Kyra's soccer team won two out of three tournaments. Kyra played defense and really stepped up  her playing even though she was playing girls up to two years older than her.

Kyleigh played her first year of travel soccer. She improved quite a bit, and enjoyed playing goalie and did a good job. Most of all she had fun.

Valynn ran High School Cross Country. She made the Lincoln Trail Conference team by placing 9th at the Conference Meet. She ran a very good race at Regionals and placed 30th and missed going to sectionals by one runner (top five not on a team goes and she was number 6), her team also missed running at sectionals by 7 points. Next year they will hopefully make it!

Mason's cross country team placed 3rd at the State Cross Country meet, he placed 74th overall. The whole team ran very well and they were very excited to bring home Princeville's first cross country trophy home. His soccer team also won 3 out of 4 tournaments, although Mason didn't play in the last tournament that they won (it was the same weekend as the State Cross Country meet). I didn't take any pictures of him playing soccer.

So what else were we up to this Fall? Well, Valynn went to her first homecoming dance, got her driving permit, she was also in the marching band. The kids have been doing well in school. Kyra will be starting up with basketball and I will be helping coach. Mason is playing Junior High Basketball, they have had two games and have won both of them. Valynn is on the chess team and the scholastic bowl team. They are just getting started. We are getting ready to go to South Carolina for Thanksgiving and enjoying things slightly slowing down.

Our Trip Out East

At the end of July we set out east on a family vacation. We had no set plans and no definitive destination except Washington D.C. The first day we stopped in downtown Indianapolis. We rented a sculley and biked along the river and canal. It was hot but we had a blast and played Pokemon Go while there. After that we traveled to Columbus, OH to spend the night. The next day we drove to downtown Pittsburgh. What a beautiful downtown. We spent a couple of hours walking around before driving to Gettysburg, PA for the night.

 We walked around Gettysburg for a couple of hours and took a bus tour. We also went to the museum to watch a video and see a painting in 360 degrees of the battle.

 After Gettysburg we drove to Washington . It was a hot one! We saw all the tourist sites on the mall, Arlington cemetery, and the air and space museum. It was a packed two days.

 After Washington, we headed further east to Delaware and went to the beach. We had a great time and even got to see dolphins swim by. After a day at the beach we headed to Philadelphia.

 We spend the day in Philadelphia seeing the Liberty Bell, and Independence Hall. We even took a carriage ride.

 Where should you go after Philadelphia, New York City of course. We can say we survived driving in New York City. We saw the Statue of Liberty from a distance, drove past Times Square, and just took in the craziness of the big city. After surviving the drive, we drove to Connecticut.

 We spend the night in Connecticut and then started the drive back home. On the way home we stopped in Hershey, PA to see the Chocolate Store. Everyone was happy to shop for chocolate.

 It was a great trip and everyone was glad to be home. It's been a whirlwind since we've gotten back. Sports started up and school. I have taken a job in Princeville as a one on one aide with a Kindergartener. It was a rough few days for the older two but they've adjusted to High School and a new Junior High wing at the school. Valynn has had one cross country race, she had a good run. Mason has had a few more races and his time is better than last year, but so have many on the team. His team placed second at the Mossville meet and has won many of the others. Kyra's soccer team has had two tournaments and they have won the Championship at both, so she's off to a much better year. Kyra has stepped up her game as a defender this year and is holding her own. Kyleigh played in her first soccer tournament this past weekend. They didn't win any games but she had fun and did a great job as goalie in one half of a game.

We are have a great start to the school year.