Sunsets

 I was on my way to pick Reagan up from the ski hill when the sky suddenly caught fire.  It was just incredible.  I had to pull over and take a picture.  I posted the picture on a Yooper site, and it eventually hit over 700 likes.  Them are Yooper Viral Numbers.  

It was a stunning sunset - no filters, no editing.

Man About Town

 Quinn and Detroit.  

Houghton High School Ski Team

 There have been several cancelled meets due to our unseasonable lack of snow, which disappoints the daughter greatly.  All of her meets are out of town and during working hours, which disappoints the mama greatly.  This ski team thing isn't working out quite like either of us had hoped, but she is doing well thus far, and does enjoy it.  

In other news, we continue to have gorgeous sunrises and sunsets this winter!

Sit Ski Practices

 Equipment Loans of the Keweenaw has started regular season sit ski practices!  

Skiing

 We are trying to get out skiing, but the winter is only nominally cooperating.  We have a pretty severe lack of snow, which is not typical for us at all!  Regardless, it's Jen's birthday, so we had to ski, which is her absolute favorite thing to do!

Maybe not much snow, but the sunrises and sunsets have been spectacular lately!

Faith Formation Ice Chapel Build

 Every year, the University Parish of St. Albert the Great builds a chapel for Winter Carnival and calls it "Our Lady of the Snows".  Then they hold masses there, outside.  It's a beautiful event every year, and this year, we brought the faith formation kids to help with the build!  I was worried the kids would get cold and whiny and not get much actual WORK done, so we had all kinds of pizza and cake and hot cocoa and games planned for indoors for such an eventuality.  As it turned out, though, those kids are TOUGH.  They worked and worked and built three whole forms for the ice chapel and did just a fantastic job!  Man did it make me smile, seeing these families working together!  We made colored ice votives for use in the chapel as well, and of course had a pinata, because I guess that's what we do now.  It was such a great evening.  We may have scared a college kid or two, but it was totally worth it.

Robotics and the Girl

 Now that she's in high school, Reagan wants to do all the things.  ALL the things.  She currently has ski practice daily from 4-6pm, cello lessons from 6-7pm one day a week, baritone lessons from 3:30-4:30 pm one day a week, and now robotics from 6-9pm on weekdays and 11-3 on Saturdays.  This is on top of "mandatory" pep band performances at basketball games at least once per week.  How does it all fit, you ask?  Good question.  She wants to squeeze drama in there as well, and the mama put a kibosh on that.  At some point she's going to need to sleep.  Given that she does not yet drive herself to these events, I do have some say in her schedule.  I will miss this busy-ness when she's grown and flown.  I know that.  So I'll enjoy our time together in the car, and my seemingly endless hours waiting in parking lots for her, and be happy.

Her First High School Sporting Event

 Reagan is on the Houghton High Ski Team, and her first three meets were cancelled due to the utter lack of snow we've had this winter.  Today, the team travelled to Marquette Mountain to participate in their first meet!  We had to get to the school at o'dark thirty to catch the bus.  That parts not especially fun.  

There was considerable drama over the lack of an appropriately zipping and unmoldy ski bag that would hold two pairs of skis.  My "just duct tape it" solution was met with grand skepticism.  But she survived, and a new ski bag is on order.

The girl did AWESOME.  She came in 14th over all, out of about 35 female racers.  As a freshman, she was only seconds behind the captain of the team on a few runs.  Super proud of her efforts!  GOOD JOB, REAGAN!

And They're Off

 It was fun having a full house again for a few short weeks.  I miss the boys, even though they bring with them a holy mess when they're home.  But they are launching and spreading their wings and all of that good stuff.  They are turning into men, and that's a good thing.  The couldn't fit everything into the car on the way back home.  I'm surprised they fit in the car themselves.  It was packed literally to the roof.  And our disloyal dog begged to be taken with them.  Thanks a lot, Gunny.

The cat wanted to go to Detroit, too.  

They pulled out, I waved my teary goodbye, and then walked slowly back into the house and saw.... Colby's winter coat.  He's gonna need that.  So I called, and they turned around to collect it.  Cue homecoming.  

Goodbye again, young adults.  Go get smart at college!