We had so much fun thinking about all the things we love about Grace when figuring out what video clips she would love to see from us for her birthday! I hope she loved the outcome as much as we loved making it for her!
We got the Bronco up and running for the first time in the month for the Harshaw's drive by parade before the parents played online Bingo for a Carver fundraiser and one a nice spa kit while the girls were at gymnastics.
Then somehow in the month of February we finally got to perform the Christmas gymnastics holiday show in front of no audience, but was recorded thanks to Mark's amazing co-worker volunteering his time to make the memory last.
The next week we were all very excited to get to doggy sit Elliot for a couple weeks while McKayla and Brion took an important family trip to Florida. During that time the girls had what they thought was their last gymnastics competition for the season. They actually got to compete the next level up (level 7) and nailed all their new skills. We did an awesome photoshoot with all the Lakewood YMCA Gymnastics team girls to send off with a family that has been such a great part of the last almost 6 years of our lives. The Shoenbergs are heading for new adventures in South Carolina. Shannon is the girls head coach and our families have grown together with her two daughters (Shelby and Sadie) and fantastic husband. We are extremely sad to see them go, but excited for them and their new adventures.
That evening Auntie Kimmie had made her amazing Chili and Lemon Poke cake waiting for us upon the request of the girls. Twas DELICIOUS as always.
With Sadie's 13th birthday approaching, we had planned a fun "payback" but thoughtful "party" for her and the rest of the family. The history goes that when Shelby was 13 she had a sleepover birthday in which all the girls made their way to our house for a really well done TP extravaganza. So, with Sadie turning 13 and her not going to have another chance for that kind of experience we turned the table and got everyone together to go and TP their home! Everyone had so much fun even with a little concern of a midnight mass gathering with black on in their neighborhood and the Shoenbergs loved the surprise and cleanup before their drive by parade and party later that day.
We took the Bronco and after stopping to take pictures with the girls we had a little trouble getting it started again. Their neighbors and gymnastics families all chipped in to get us back on the road to home. Earlier that day we made our yearly trip to Gomez Growers to fill our weeded garden with vegetables and herbs to enjoy through Spring and Summer. That night we made Chocolate Soufflé that happen to turn out perfect even with the intricate recipe details.
The next day we spent planting the garden. We were very productive and had a great time all working together. We also had Roman over for the first time brewing beer in over a year. It was practice time getting ready to make beer for summer celebration requests.
The next weekend Daddy represented the gymnastics center and fixed the floor for all the gymnasts to have fewer dead spots and more success as Kaylee and Mommy worked on the Bronco horn together. Cienna got to celebrate her good friend Addie's birthday all day starting with online JackBox, then a ride by celebration followed by online escape rooms which means more socializing with friends!
After many errands together as a family we enjoyed a bike ride to the business park with the Marshalls. And now it is getting real that Kaylee may be going back to school in person on March 29th. We had a Zoom call with 5th grade parents on how we can make the 5th grade graduation meaningful and continuing traditions such as T-shirts, lawn signs, and memory books in place of year books that aren't going to happen. Not sure how this year is going to play out, including Cienna maybe going back on April 20th. It's a day by day adventure.
Kaylee had an exciting Thursday and got her braces off! Hopefully this is it and they won't have to go back on. She was happy to show her gym friends that evening, but then unfortunately one of her best gym buddies had a bad injury that evening. We all felt much better after talking to Leah the next morning and she was in good spirits after her emergency surgery on her arm.
Enjoy the photos:
