NY Capybara & St. Patrick's Day Trap

 

It was so thoughtful of Kit to bring Emerson back the cutest stuffed capybara all the way from New York. He loved it and returned the kindness with a bag of candy and sweet notes.

On St. Patrick’s Day, Emerson was fully prepared with his homemade leprechaun trap—carefully designed and full of hope. That is, until Tego got to it first and ate one of the marshmallows! 

A Winning Weekend in Lexington

 

Winnie and the Lady Nukes had a Saturday/Sunday competition in Lexington, Kentucky. It was a beautiful time to be there, with spring blooms and warmer temperatures making the weekend even more enjoyable.

There was even a little unexpected bonus—we ended up with a free Marriott hotel stay after having some trouble with the heat in our room.

Most of all, we’re so proud of the Lady Nukes. They hit zero both days and took first place in their category. Each girl took home a sweatshirt. Great job all around!

Kit’s NYC Choir Trip

 

Kit loved her New York City trip with the Olentangy Berlin Choir! They left on Wednesday, March 11, and returned Sunday, March 14.

The trip was packed with amazing experiences—a dance workshop with a cast member from Hamilton, a backstage tour of Radio City Music Hall where they even met a Rockette, and several Broadway shows including Maybe Happy Ending, Chess (where she even got Lea Michele’s autograph!), and The Outsiders.

They also explored the city with a Central Park walking tour, visited museums, walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, and stopped by Grand Central Terminal.  The choir also had the special opportunity to perform at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

Kit’s favorite part was definitely the musicals. So grateful she got to have this special experience with her choir friends—it’s one she’ll always remember.

Playtime & Planes

 

Seth and Emerson had a fun trip to Kettering on Thursday and Friday since there was no school. They got to spend the night with GG and Papa, and Bo and Annie were there too, which made it even more special.

The kids played so well together and had a great time. On Friday, the boys went to the Air Force Museum, where they explored and even tried a flight simulator. Papa also treated them to airplanes from the gift shop, which they loved.

Twice the Teams in Dayton

 

It was so special having Papa and GG come to Winnie’s Lady Nuke’s competition at the Dayton Convention Center. They even brought her a bouquet, which meant so much.

Winnie competed with her team and also stepped in to help the Shockwave team when a girl was sick. She had to learn things quickly, and we’re so proud of her for being willing to take on the challenge.

Second Weekend of Frozen

 

The second weekend of Frozen the Musical was just as amazing as the first!

A big crowd came out to support Kit. Sarah and Winnie were there Friday night, and on Sunday we had such a special group cheering her on — Seth, Emerson, me, Kit’s dad, Grandma Jo and Bon Bon, Nana, and Papa and GG, who traveled the farthest and even spent the night Saturday so they wouldn’t miss it.

Nana got to connect with stage manager Sam, who volunteers at The Inn. It’s always special when different parts of your world overlap like that.

The show was slightly delayed Sunday — emotions were running high backstage for the seniors, and there was also a quick repair needed for a broken Olaf! But once it began, it was absolutely wonderful. We all loved every minute.

Now we’re home and singing the songs nonstop. Kit came home, finally kicked off her shoes, and soaked her blistered feet — the sure sign of a performer who gave it her all.

What a weekend. What a show. What a gift to watch Kit shine!

Make It Monday 2.0: CrunchLabs

 

Emerson has been interested in subscribing to monthly CrunchLabs boxes for a long time, so we made a deal with him: if he completes Lexia on weekend days, he earns the box.

He was so excited when the first one arrived! Inside was a disc launcher that he got to build himself.

I love that he’s able to learn about STEM engineering while doing something he truly enjoys. Hands-on learning clicks for him.

Way to work hard at Lexia and build those reading muscles, too! Earning something through effort makes it even more rewarding.

Meeting Baby Philly on Presidents Day

We got to meet baby Philly and spend time on Presidents Day with Matt, Molly, and Maggie at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. He is such a cutie!

The kids also got some good playtime in with Sammy, which made the time even more fun. We tried to be helpful to Grandma and Grandpa while we were there and were glad they felt up to having us over.

Frozen the Musical - Opening Weekend

The opening weekend of Frozen featured three incredible performances, and what a joy it was to be there! Lindsay, my coworker, and I went Friday night and absolutely loved the show.

The students’ talent and hard work were evident in every scene — from the creativity of building Olaf right on stage to the impressive tricks and delightful surprises woven throughout the performance. The humor had the audience laughing, and the production value was truly amazing.

Kit stood out on stage as the natural performer we’ve always known her to be. She carried herself with confidence and grace — such a pro! We couldn’t be more proud.

We were also amazed by the outpouring of support from friends and Young Life leaders who showed up for Kit. It meant so much to see that kind of community surrounding these students. What a special weekend all around.

Slidin’ Into Fun at Slick City

 

I took Vinnie and Emerson to Slick City, and they had a blast on the slides. They raced, laughed, and went again and again without slowing down until it was just about time to go.

There was a tiny bit of rug burn by the end — but totally worth it for all that fun.