Drawing Up Some Positivity

Today we spread some positive messages with our neighbors with a little chalk art.  It awesome to sit in our office and notice out our front window the neighbors walking by, stopping to admire and snap a few photos of our messages.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

When you're stuck at home and go for a walk or bike ride EVERYDAY...you have to get creative.  We found all our teddy bears and propped them up in our windows.  I sent an email to our neighborhood hoping they would do the same...and they did!  Out on our ride today, we spotted so many house with some adorable bears peeking out at us below.  The kiddos loved riding around and hunting for bears! Just a little something to bring some happiness to our day.

Science Fair

Today would have been the day Ayden shared his science fair project with his teachers and friends.  He worked really hard creating his season diorama...Ayden chose spring as his favorite season! Unfortunately photos will have to do this year instead of a presentation.

School is Canceled!

For all those days I wished, hoped and PRAYED for a snow day...looks like our dreams are coming true...or are they?  School is closed for 3 weeks, but word on the street is that it might be until the fall.  Coronavirus seemed to appear from nowhere to slap us in the face.  At first it was far away...it won't come here.  Then it was here, but not in our neck of the woods.  Overnight it came in like a tsunami and turned our world upside down.  Five days ago I sat with a team of teachers planning what our district would do IF we were to close for a bit.  Four days ago we learned school is closing.  Three days ago teachers gathered materials and planned instruction for students.  Today, we teach from home.

I cannot describe the emotions I'm feeling right now.  I would be lying to say that I'm not just a little bit happy to sleep in, spend time as a family...in the slow lane. How many times has Todd said, "I wish we could just slow down."  Well, here is our chance.  I'm really sad to think our spring break will not happen, it's only a matter of days until the cruise is canceled.  I'm sad to think that all of this years events may not happen...school concerts, Girl Scout cookie reward dinners and our trip to Mackinaw, Lego League World, the cheerleading Summit competition, our summer cruise vacation...and so much more.

For now, we stay at home to stay safe.

UCA 2020

UCA 2020 at Disney World is an experience for the books.  The NBA was canceled due to the rising case of Coronavirus, but cheer competitions GO ON!  Six hours before our flight, I learned that all competitions were canceled…but not UCA, the one where our teams would compete for National Champions.   Sadly our two-day experience was now only a one-day.  Our entire team, minus us, were already in Florida enjoying the sunshine and pool parties.  Not wanting to let our team down, we boarded our plane and learned that Disney World is shutting down.  Confirming one last time that the competition was still on, we took off for warmer weather praying that this trip would be worth it.  Upon arrival, still apprehensive about our travels, we learned that Michigan schools were closing immediately...but UCA was still happening!

I decided to make the best of this trip, knowing that this may be the only version of "spring break" Allie and I would get to experience this year.  Coronovirus already was making an impact on our lives in ways...little did we know things were going to get much worse.

On Friday, I delivered Allie to her one and only practice and then to our Stingray POOL PARTY!  Some fun in the sun is just what we needed to take our sorrows and uncertainties away.  All gym rules were lifted...meaning we could swim for as long as we wanted to.  In fear that President Trump was going to ground all flights, the thought of having to drive back home was not a pleasant one.  When he made no announcements of this, we swam together and drank fancy popsicle beverages!

Competition day at ESPN is a day that Allie has been dreaming of...little did any of us know that her dreams were about to come true.

Although only fans and family were allowed to view their teams, the Patriot Rays put on their best performance yet!  They HIT!  Our girls showed their best routine, yet.  Their tumbling was beautiful and their stunts were in unison.  They were all smiles!

Coronavirus also robbed us of our awards experience...back at the hotel we gathered in a conference room and watched the UCA announcers report our ranking with the other 7 teams that attended.  After seventh through fourth were announced...I was pretty sure we would be third.  No?  Maybe second then!  When the girls didn't hear their name...they knew right away they had WON...FIRST PLACE!  They had WON!!  MEDALS...and JACKETS!!  Allie's dream came true!  The uneasiness, the worrying, the indecisiveness…was all worth it!

So proud of her team's accomplishments, Allie didn't take off her jacket for the rest of the trip.  It became her coat, her swimsuit coverup, and her pajamas too.  UCA 2020 was not all that it was supposed to be...but nonetheless, one we will always remember.

Kindergarten Concert

Take TWO!  Ayden did a super job singing at his second kindergarten concert.  Some of his favorite songs were..."We Are the Penguins," "Winter Wiggles," and "Freeze Dance."  They sang the "Gretchko Stars" song, as well.