Michigan Vacation Part 1

 Last Tuesday through today was our first family vacation with a party of 7! Last year Alex couldn't go because his appendix decided to burst a few days before we left for South Carolina. 

Not only did we visiting where Jeff grew up in Michigan but we are crossed some states off of my list. On the agenda were Indiana, Ohio and Michigan! We rented a big van to take our party of seven. This was the best idea we had of the whole trip. The kids were all able to have a little space as we drove 11 hours to Michigan then to Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Casey, IL! 

In Michigan we got to meet with some of Jeff's Michigan friends. We visited all the restaurants he likes, fished and visited the roller coaster park Michigan Adventure. It rained a little every day but when we had our day at the pool the sun was shining and it was perfect. After our few days in the Muskegon area of Michigan we headed to Cincinnati. In Ohio we enjoyed the River Walk and visited the Ohio Black Music Hall of Fame. It was a cool area and let me check Ohio off of my states list! 

Part 2 coming next so I can include lots of pictures! 

Our rented van for the trip! We didn't tip over!!

Day 1 in Michigan we got to go fishing!

Putting our toes in cold Lake Michigan 

He humored me with a picture by the sign of his Alma Mater

Swinging at the Cincinnati river walk

Our view from the top of the Ferris wheel at Michigan Adventure Land

Belated Last Day of School Lunch!

 Traditions are important, since both Daryl and Alex have been in school, we have had last day of school lunch. In their school district the last day is always a half day. I pick them up and go to the restaurant of their choice to celebrate another school year completed. While the last day of school was last week, we had our traditional lunch yesterday! 

This year we took on and and won 7th grade and 10th grade. The boys both hit their strides, Alex in Middle School and Daryl in High School. Both had really good friend groups and activities they could really shine in. Daryl took on Wrestling and Baseball again and it was a lot of fun! The unknown of his year was the newscast he did in second semester. He had a blast and he was really good at it. Maybe a little of that journalism skill comes from mom ;-). 

Alex almost quit the trumpet but stuck with it and his end of the year concert was a triumph. Then he surprised us all with how good he did at Tennis. We actually all three went to the tennis court today and while we were just goofing he was on one side and Daryl and I were on the other. LOL He could take us both on! 

Way to go boys, enjoy your summer, you earned it! 

At lunch time Daryl drove Alex to my office so I could take us to lunch. Man, has him being able to drive come in handy this year!

Last day of school pictured captured by dad!

Flashback to first day of school!

May Goal Update

Well it's June. Let the summer lack of routine struggles begin! May was so full of activity I am actually ready for a lull to get some stuff done around the house. We are all moved in but our storage room in the basement is a disaster. I also want to spend some quality time with my sewing machine! Happy Summer, Y'all!  

Read 24 Books 8/24

I had two fantastic reads in May. I recommend both titles! 

The Starless Sea, by Erin Morgenstern was my first book of the month. It could have been my only book because it is longer and it is so beautifully written you really want to savor the story. Morgenstern is the writer of one of my favorite books The Night Circus. To me The Night Circus will stay my favorite by Morgenstern but The Starless Sea is still such a unique read, I will read it again. I had to reread the first couple of chapters just to confirm the ending was what I thought it was! So this one is a keeper and is going on the shelf. 

By The Fire We Carry, by Rebecca Nagle was also a wonderful read that I almost finished in one day. I started it on Memorial Day and the weather was perfect for staying in with a book and a coffee. This book is the American History that I was never taught, the history of how Native American tribes were conned and evicted from their home lands in the south and resettled in what is now Oklahoma. It then talks about how time and time again they get the raw end of the US legal and political system. The author has a family connection to the generations-long fight for land and tribal sovereignty. Her story comes together in the outcomes of recent supreme court cases. It was highly addictive. 

Run 650 Miles 231/650

I ran 61 miles in May. I had planned to run 70 but it was really wet for the last part of the month so longer outside runs turned into shorter inside runs. I had a half marathon on the last day of the month, and while I didn't feel as prepared as I should have been, I still shaved off 4 minutes from my last race. I was also unprepared for that one! Next race on the books isn't until November, so hopefully I can stick to a training plan for the first time this year.  

Money Goals

Fund 3-6 month ER Fund- Done April 2025! Yay for selling my house! 

Pay off Car - Done April 2025! Yay for selling my house! 

UFOs (unfinished objects) that need Finished 

T-Shirt Quilt (have the shirts)

Alpaca Quilt I now have the pattern and fabric thanks to a lovely quilt shop, Fabric Bash in La Vista, NE. I cut some squares in May, then I got intimidated by the first block I was supposed to make! I plan to overcome my worries and do some sewing in June.   

Placemats - Done April 2025 

Alex and Daryl Photo Books 2021-I got both boys 2021 books done in May! 2022, 2023

This one is going on my shelf, you need to read this one!

Too pretty not to share!

Ok hear me out, this looks easy but I am already having to watch Youtube videos to figure out the blocks!

Just a couple of kids waiting to run a half marathon!

Two New States!

I'm working on my 50 states map again! This weekend, I knocked off North Dakota and Minnesota. 

Not really having a plan for these states, I signed up for a half marathon in Fargo, ND, and I actually ran in both states! After the race today (finished in 2:22:18!) we went to a museum in Morehead that had a Viking ship that actually sailed to Norway, and then we hit the Fargo Botanical gardens. 

Jeff and I will have a long drive home tomorrow, but it was worth it! Only 10 states to go! 

Best cheerleader ever!

Must have got the giggles in the starting chute!

Had to stop and see Falls park in South Dakota

Hamilton Weekend!

 I had to go back in my Amazon order history to see when I ordered the 2 CD set of Hamilton. It was August of 2020! From that time up until I got my new car last year (no CD player) one of those two CDs lived in rotation of every long car ride. When the boys were younger we all knew our parts and time to sing. I always sang for Washington and Daryl was always King George at one time Alex mastered both parts of the wrap battle between Jefferson and Hamilton. 

All this to say, I have never seen Hamilton. I know it was on Disney but I wanted to see it on stage. Every time a traveling company has been near Topeka I could never make it. But this weekend it was in Omaha and Jeff and I got tickets! We didn't even know what we were going to do with the kids but their grandpa was available so they got a grandpa weekend. A win for everyone! 

I enjoyed the show so much, theatre is such a communal experience. We all cheered, gasped, applauded and laughed together. It was perfect! I even had a hopeful moment when they sang the line "immigrants, we get the job done," and the whole theatre cheered. ❤️

Omaha is a fun city, we also had a great dinner before the show, amazing brunch this morning and did a little shopping for Jeff before heading out. 

It has been years that I have been wanting to see Hamilton, and it was worth the wait! 

In the room where it happens!

We had dinner at Plank Provisions. The same place we ate at last summer! Everything is good.  

Theatre ready!

The stage is set!

Band and Baseball

 I get a daily countdown for school. Today Joseph let me know they have 10 days left. I think Alex started the countdown but since he is with his dad this week Joseph has taken up the torch! 

With the end of school comes all of the "last" things of the year. We had two of those things this week. Tuesday was Alex's last band concert for 7th grade and last night was Daryl's last JV baseball game of the year. It is a bitter sweet time but I think more for the adults. We have to start thinking about our new summer routine! 

I hope everyone is enjoying the good weather and all of the May things! 

Alex was on the end of the row! I finally got pictures of him playing! 

This is a really cool picture because this is the first time the Robinson band, orchestra and choir performed together. It was awesome!

I told Alex I wanted a picture of him and his trumpet, technically this is what I asked for. LOL 

Don't mind me, just trying to convert more students to Topeka High! 
Hoy Hoy! 

Daryl had a really cool catch and one hit in his last game. Topeka High split the double header, they were fun games to watch!

Birthday and Mother's Day Weekend

We had a big weekend here with Anna's birthday on Saturday and Mother's day today. The count of teenagers in now 3 to 2. Alex is ready for July when he can add one more to the teenager side of the ledger. 

The kids were all very good to me for Mother's Day. I am a lucky lady! Joseph made me a card and gave me a plant, the boys took me to Monsoon for lunch yesterday and today they gave me a card and my favorite candy. Jeff got me a book and let me pick where we went out for dinner tonight. 

I even got a game of pickleball and a long run in, that is a full weekend in the books! 

Jeff did a great job baking Anna a cake and wrapping her presents.
One of the twins is 13 now!

We did a little painting for her birthday, we will have a friends gathering in two weeks.

Can't wait to see what we painted, Anna picked a boot and I painted a chicken!

My lunch dates that for the first time ever, paid for my Mother's day lunch! They are growing up.

Spent a couple of hours today watching Alex play tennis, from the shade. LOL 

It was a great day!

April Goals, Adulting edition!

In April I did all of the adult things. I sold a house, I paid off my car and I chased kids from tennis courts to baseball fields! It was a whirlwind of a month. We have something about every night but as a family we make it work. I'm pretty proud of us! 

Maybe next year I'll add some family goals? Or maybe I'll just let people live their lives....we shall see! 

Read 24 Books 6/24

Added a book I checked out from the library and one I got at the library book sale. The Topeka Shawnee County Public library is awesome!

One by One by Ruth Ware, This is the second book I have read by Ware and she writes a great thriller. I pretty much gobbled this up in one chilly weekend. The weather was appropriate since it was about co workers stuck in a ski lodge after an avalanche. I liked it! 

Revenge of the Middle Aged Woman by Elizabeth Buchan, I like a book where the female lead is stronger than she thought she could be. Rose has her life upended by her spouse and her job very early in the book. She is fun to root for as she creates a new life for herself. 

Run 650 Miles 170/650

I ran 60 miles in April. My first half marathon for 2025 was at the end of the month. It was a very fun race in Oklahoma City. It also has a lot of meaning and I was proud to be a part of it. I want to run 70 miles in May to stay on track for my yearly goal. I have another half marathon so that should help keep me motivated. 

Money Goals

Fund 3-6 month ER Fund- Done April 2025! Yay for selling my house! 

Pay off Car - Done April 2025! Yay for selling my house! 

My money goals are done for the year so I am going to look at beefing up 529 accounts. Now I can put that energy into my UFO goals! 

UFOs (unfinished objects) that need Finished 

T-Shirt Quilt (have the shirts)

Alpaca Quilt (have the pattern) 

Placemats - I finished some Bee placemats! I love them! April 

Alex and Daryl Photo Books 2021, 2022, 2023

The table has new clothes! 

Bees! 

Alex got a haircut, it looks great! 

Mittens would like to let everyone know he is still here and very unimpressed with all my adulting. 

Oklahoma City "Run to Remember" Half Marathon

 My cousin and I moved our yearly half marathon from Topeka to Oklahoma City this year. It was the 25th running of the Oklahoma City, Run to Remember, Marathon and Half Marathon. It was the biggest race I've ever participated in and I'm so glad we did it. 

We had signed up to do a challenge of a 5K on Saturday and the Half on Sunday. However, there was rain and lightening on Saturday so the 5K was delayed to Sunday. Since we were already running, we only ran one race. That was ok by me, I don't like running in the rain. Once your feet are soaked, it's just not enjoyable. 

That did make for a very relaxing Saturday and I enjoyed just catching up with Kayleigh, watching some TV and exploring the Brickyard district of OKC. 

This was my slowest half but I was doing intervals for most of the race. I'm not crazy about my time of 2:26:58 but it is what it is. I didn't think the course would be as hilly as it was and the humidity didn't help either. The vibe on the course was top notch! The course was full of great signs, cheering spectators and snacks, I even had pancakes in one of the neighborhoods! (Not kidding, a nice lady had a plate full of dollar size pancakes for runners and I took two!) There were lots of places runners could get a Jell-O shot or a mimosa. While that made me chuckle, I did not partake. I stuck to the water and Gatorade. 

I'm trying to talk Kayleigh into the Salina race in November. She doesn't love the half marathon distance but she beat me this year!! 

Our after race photo! So glad to have this done! 

At the starting line, so many runners you can't even see the start line. 

It's hard to catch the lazer light show in a photo but it was very cool! 

The race expo was very good!

I earned my newest sticker! 

2nd at City Tennis!

This is awkward to say but Alex placed second in the second seat bracket of the Topeka City tennis tournament! Each school ranks their players and then those players with the same rank play each other. Alex was Robinson's #2 and he took home the second place medal. Not bad for his first year playing! He was tied with the student who took home first so it all came down to one point. It was so much fun to watch! 

And this was the first time I saw him play and the wind wasn't horrible! That was a big plus. He grew a lot through this season, not just in his skills but also in his mindset. I'm proud of how he did. I hope to get him into a summer tennis camp so he doesn't get rusty. 

It was also great to have grandma and aunt Sofia come and watch him too. He was so excited, I think he talked them into coming back for his May band concert. LOL