Given all the cooped up energy, the kids have largely been great. We're working on the usual: sharing toys, not running in the house (unless we've made it into a game to burn energy so they SLEEP), patience...all the things that come with a 5 year and 1.5 year old. I'm grateful that they both like drawing, building sets and books!
Max has taken possession on the new Northview Fitness center and it's an amazing 6,500 sq foot of space and equipment. He's able to have up to 100 kids transitioning through different workouts after school. Numbers like that are the new norm, even in the off-season for football players. There are still lots of hiccups that he's transitioning through since the school is largely still a war zone as they tear off the front of the building, but all in all, it's great!
Work is work. That's all I should say about that. We're entering our March of Dimes (Save the babies) time of the year, so be on the look out if I ask for you to sponsor Team Kerry on the annual walk!
Other than that, we're working HARD to keep a major secret from Ryan. We're headed to Florida on Wed and he has NO IDEA. Lot's of fun planned in store as we fly with Auntie K and Uncle E (Max joins us the next day). We then meet up with my parents—whom Ryan believes are in Arizona—only to find out about more adventures. You can imagine what else will happen in Orlando as we celebrate my parent's 40th wedding anniversary. It will be Magical [wink, wink]....So if you see me and the kids, mums the word!
That's the news from the frozen tundra we call Rockford. Love to each of you,
Court, Max, Ryan + Elise
Elise is reading "I Stink"... So representative of our lives.
Ry had a great parent-teacher conference and is ready for kindergarten! (And mommy was ready for the start of Oberon season after a VERY long day, as shown here).
The proud parents sitting in very tiny chairs waiting for the conference to begin. And we mean SMALL CHAIRS.
Ryan and Connor have been friends since birth. Here they are at C's 6th birthday party!
Ryan and Ella (Connor's sister) are besties too.
They are 9 months and a whole head apart. We call this "preview of prom 2020."
They are 9 months and a whole head apart. We call this "preview of prom 2020."
Tuckered out.
Cold season has hit Elise hardcore. Here she is after getting sick from all the yuck...10pm and ready to play. Max couln't resist one last story before bedtime #2.
The view of Elise in her classroom at Milestones as I leave for work.
March Madness has taken over our house. The kids anxiously watched Selection Sunday to see where their Spartans would land after clinching the Big Ten Championship over Michigan. Elite Eight, here we come!
Elise, mining her big brother's room for toys.
Me and my girl in my great-grandma's mirror.
It's cracked, but I love it's history...it's hanging in Elise's room.
It's cracked, but I love it's history...it's hanging in Elise's room.
Ryan and Ella learning about caterpillars at Meijer Gardens.
We're sprucing up the play space. Here Ryan helps me paint stripes around the room.
Cuddles with Cali. Elise has the gentlest touch, but is also going through a major hitting phase...Apparently being in daycare since 3 months old means you have to fight for your toys and food. And without language, hits are the way to do it. I think it's like Hunger Games. (Ryan was home until 2 so we never saw this with him.)
It's magical when they play together.
Our little leprechaun... And yes, he wears his MSU jersey just about every other day.
Ryan is a great builder with his Magnatiles. Every day we're amazed at what he builds.
Little Ms. trying to get her clothes on. She loves changing her shoes and wearing her hats and jackets throughout the house.
She's known as "The Dancer" at school. Clearly she's got moves.
Window markers have been a saving grace this long winter, though we're working on distinguishing exactly WHAT can be drawn on.
