Homecoming parade

This afternoon we went to Valley’s Homecoming parade. We almost went to the completely wrong place because we had the wrong parade route, but we realized it just in time and made it to the parade in time.

Lila and Mari in the boys truck
Elliot wearing a grass skirt.

Late Summer Happenings

Lucia’s first time going off the diving board.
Susan and Shelly in Shelly’s classic car.
We went to a Des Moines Menace playoff game. They lost on PKs.
We went to a car show.
We decorated the sidewalk.
We went for a walk along the Des Moines river while Mari was at soccer tryouts.
Making bracelets was a popular activity this summer.
I was a referee at Keeper Wars, a goalie competition.
The kids made our foam float into a slide for the pool.
The girls played in the creek on a walk with Susan.
We got a cool volleyball net for the pool.
We went for a hike at Greenwood Park.
Rose, Lucia, and I went to the state fair.
Andrew and Susan went to Eatery A for a final meal. College departure is close.
Boy Cousins. They had a final weekend together, spending the night and doing some fun activities.
Mari’s soccer season started, with a new club. She is in the white.
We got a new couch.
8/16 – We had the Liesses and Reagens over for one last dinner before Andrew and Ian head off to college.

April 2022

Girls at the park
Andrew played high school soccer this spring, for the first time. His team was a blast and had a lot of fun.
Andrew and his friends were the fan club for the girls soccer team.
We went out for dinner after church on Easter. Our kids mostly just didn’t know what to order.
Easter Family Pic
Looking for hidden Easter baskets.
Easter Egg Hunt
Andrew and Claudia, headed to prom
Prom group
Easter party
Andrew in the act of shooting
The girls making a fancy cake for Lucia and Rose’s First Communion

March 2022

Rose is missing some teeth.
Andrew had an orchestra concert.
Lucia had a choir concert.
We visited Cincinnati. Lucia and Des
We celebrated Elsie’s birthday.
Henry and Andrew
Elliot and Sawyer
Rose, Mari, and Annie
At Graeters.
Rose and Annie
Cousins
Everyone
Driving

NXR

Andrew traveled to Sioux Falls, South Dakota this weekend for Nike Cross Regionals, a national Cros Country championship series, although there are no nationals this year because of Covid. Andrew attended this race his freshman and sophomore years and it was canceled last year.

Will and Andrew
Seniors
whole group

State Qualifying Meet

Andrew ran in the State Qualifying Meet today. It was his first race in a few weeks and it could have gone better. Andrew and I have had a discussion a few times about whether you should collapse at the end of a race. We generally agree that you should collapse because you should be giving it every last ounce of energy.

After today’s race, Andrew collapsed. He was exhausted and his lungs hurt from the effects of his cold. Not his greatest finish, but one of his greatest races because he really gave it his all. This was the last official race of Andrew’s cross country career at Valley. It was emotional then and even writing this now I can feel it. One of the things I love about being a cross country parent for all 3 kids is that you know they all work so hard and it is great to cheer for all the kids. There is little glory in cross country, and a lot of effort.

Freshman Year at DMACC
Senior Year at DMACC
Finishing

Only Runner

Elliot was our only runner at the conference cross country meet this afternoon. It has been a rough season for all our kids because we have had several colds and Mari has been dealing with an abdominal strain, or something of that sort. We all had a cold in September that I know took me a while to recover from. Elliot had the cold and Andrew is still coughing and unable to run. Hopefully everyone can get healthy and have a strong finish to the season.