Somehow between our last post about winter break and today, both spring and summer have flown by. Actually, summer, isn't technically over. I just know the days are numbered. While I am seeing an increasing amount of Facebook posts lamenting the long drone of summer, I am not one of those parents anxious for the school year to start. In fact, with a coach / teacher in the family, the summer feels squeezed. In other words: two-a-days began this week. End of summer.
March and April were spent transitioning Ryan out of Basketball and into Coach-Pitch Baseball. Ry's first year on the court was a huge success and he really enjoyed playing for Northview. Three baskets in all and a new understanding of the game. Elise patiently watched from the side of the tiny gym and was the occasional cheerleader.
This is Ryan's third year playing baseball and he's getting better and better. Though he's playing in his age range, he's the tallest kid on the team and very fast. He might have been a bit of a ball hog, opting to run the ball to any base where there was a play....and usually making it in time to get the out. He's learning to trust his teammates and loved to play 1st and catcher.
Max participated in a few football coaching clinics in late winter and then moved on to coaching Ryan's baseball team. Then the termite surprise hit during Spring Break and our focus changed...on April Fools day. Hopefully we'll look back and feel like we took our fool's luck and made the best of it. So far no regrets.
Cali is getting old. It's very hard to watch. She's moving slowly and getting thin. But her love for the kids—and most specifically Ryan—has not changed. Her face is white now and she's covered in fatty tumors, but still is a very sweet soul. We're bracing for what is to come and trying to prepare the kids hearts for it...as much as you can.
Easter festivities kept us busy as we dyed eggs and spent time with family.
Elise is developing into the quirkiest, most spirited and creative little soul. Her hair says it ALL.
She's also become quite the nurturer. Be it a stuffy, a sick family member or a friend at school, her empathy runs deep.
Big milestones this spring included developing her sense of order as indicated by her play pictures above and transitioning to her big girl bed. As the former inhabitant of this bed, I can say it is a big deal. (Especially after your papa tears his bicep muscles and requires surgery afterwards to repair it.)
The kids spent the majority of the winter months and early spring getting along and playing really well with each other. A new tradition was started: Ryan used to walk to the bus stop and Elise and I would meet him in the car and then head off to daycare once the bus arrived. Now Elise holds Ryan's hand to walk down together and I meet them alone. It's about the sweetest thing you've ever seen.
One of our annual highlights is always the butterflies at Meijer Gardens. This year the girls attended together while the boys (Max, Ryan and Uncle E) headed to the Monster Truck Jam at the arena. Both activities were entirely perfect for their intended audiences.
The new fashion trend is high socks, shorts and tights if it's too cold outside. And no, this in not just Ryan's idea of high fashion. He has been spending HOURS reading all year and is now reading chapter books with normal sized print. He started The Big Friend Giant this week. It's a joy to see him love his quiet time every morning as he starts his day on the couch with a good book(s). I say books since he's bande out the entire 26 book A to Z mysteries series in about a month.
A few of the things Ryan liked to do the most this Spring: making "stuff" in this case Crayons, catching frogs and turtles out back, cuddling Cali and playing sports.
As most of you are aware, my best friend since Freshman year of college and her husband are in the midst of something that few can imagine. Craig has Glioblastoma....and somehow ran a 25k.....at a 6- minute average pace....and finished 90th in a field of 4800+ runners....because that's what you do when you're an Alguire and you get news like this. You train for your 12th River Bank Run. You create a team to inspire the community to raise funds for research. You go back to work. You continue to live the amazing life you've built.
For our little tribe, this diagnosis has been very impactful. It's a terrible thing to watch the people you love and consider family struggle through what this means big picture. It's been sad at times, but also inspirational and has really changed our world view as we vet out everyday and long-term decisions. The snaps above outline race day, but don't come close to explaining the love, support and fundraising that occurred that day (and in the days leading up to and after the race). Though I didn't officially run any of the races that day, I do think I may have completed a 10k running between events while trying to capture all 100 Team Craig runners with my camera. I'm grateful to have been a part of that amazing day.
For those of you wondering, Staci, Craig and four kids are doing amazingly well. You'd never meet them and believe this was their backstory. Craig's in a clinical study that appears to be defying odds, so we continue to pray and rally our energy to walk alongside them as they take it day by day and celebrate his success in his treatment protocol.
So that's the recap of our very busy spring. It's kinda nice to look back on the big picture stuff, though I hope I haven't let go of too much of the everyday details that bring us so much joy. We find ourselves grateful, truth be told, a little tired, but ready for the upcoming school year after an energizing summer. But that story will come another day. Love to you all.
Court, Max, Ryan + Elise
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