Mt. Zion Ski race

 Reagan's first "travel" race.  She was super excited to wear the MRRT bib.  GO #26!

Happy Birthday, Daddy

 Another year, another cake.   Robbie turned 51 in the presence of his loving family, complete with a sauna and a traditional Czech meal (his favorite recipe from his mother).  In order for this simple thing to happen, Reagan had to skip rock climbing, Quinn had to miss a swim meet, and Colby had to skip robotics.  Carving out time for a family sauna and meal is getting harder and harder to do, but we made it happen, because celebrating the Dad is a good thing to do!  Happy Birthday, Robbie!

Reagan, our resident baker, made dad blueberry tarts as her gift to him.

Breaking A Long-held Record

 SO... just last week, Quinn was averaging about 180 points during a dive meet.  Which is really good!  And just as well as he did at the end of last season, during UP Finals.  But, he told me, he wanted to do better.  He wanted to beat the all-time Houghton Gremlin School Record for diving.  Well, that was 220.  Forty points in diving is ALOT, and that didn't seem like a very reachable goal to this mama, who was highly skeptical.  But who am I to say he can't do it?  There were four meets in 7 days, and each meet, Quinn improved his score.  180.  200.  210.  and then... on the fourth meet... NO WAY... 224.25.  He DID IT!  (At an away meet that wasn't video recorded so I had no way of watching at all... GRRRRRRR).  But he DID IT!!!  Holy Cow.  A 21 year record, broken by a kid with no formal dive coaching, just a whole lot of drive and SISU.  So proud of this kid and all the hard work he's put in.  He wanted something, and just went after it.  So, so cool.

On to UP Finals, Quinn!  

The Inaugural Board Meeting of Unite Mental Health and Wellness Services

These lovely ladies are starting a new business providing mental health services to our rural area, and have asked me to be on their board of directors.  We had our inaugural board meeting, and it's so exciting to see what these two are up to!  They will be providing a much-needed service to our area!!  Go Beth and Angela!

Pottery Class

 When Liz left last fall to move north to Copper Harbor, we all chipped in and got her a pottery class as a going away gift.  But then COVID numbers spiked, and the class got cancelled.  Well, things have leveled off on that front, so we were able to have our three week class.  This was SO FUN!  We learned how to sculpt birds out of clay, use the glazes, and just had a grand time playing around in an artist's studio.  Such a fun time.  I'll add final pictures once the pieces are completely fired in the kiln, but this is what we've got so far!

Feast Day Fun: St. Valentine's Day

 We steamed it up a bit this year, by taking a family sauna.  The REST of the family regularly takes saunas, but this mama goes only about once every three years.  I just have this thing about breathing, which seems difficult to do in a sauna.  Anyway... fancy dinner and a sauna it was, including valentine's all around and a discussion on St. Valentine!  Love is in the air!

In Honor of Valentine's Day.... Me and This guy through the years

 Just realized that I have been with Rob for the same amount of time I was without him in my life.  24 years, half my lifetime, together.  Which is crazy to think about.  And here we are, all these years later, still plugging along this life together.  We are blessed.

A Morning Snowshoe

 Our Catholic Women's group is a small bunch these days of COVID pandemics, but us die-hards still try to get together when we can, to enjoy some fellowship in the great outdoors!  This morning, we went for a fabulous snow-shoe hike at Maria's house... in -14 degree weather!  BRRRRR.

He's On the Road - Legally

 I really didn't think he'd pass.  I even texted my husband during the parking portion of the test and said "Welp, there goes $75 down the drain."  It wasn't pretty, this driving test, but it was ENOUGH to get his driver's license.  He's official.  Now to wrap him in buble wrap til Spring!

Da Girls

 Cooking, baking, snow-fort making, and a little pottery.  They had fun!