Spring into Summer 2023

 Horses, bike rides and sunsets dominated our spring, not to mention the end of school and the beginning of the softball season.  

We just love the barn Amelia rides at. It is so welcoming and the people there are so genuine. Amelia couldn't have a better role model than her trainer who now is teaching her guitar as well.

Obviously, our wildlife sightings are not as thrilling as in Alaska, but spotted these guys on a spring morning.

Our rental was near a walking biking path near a small lake...probably the one thing we miss after buying our home on the other side of town. We took full advantage of it. 

Softball began! Will devote a full post at the end of the season.

End of school with the 7th grade dance and Steam Fair where Amelia got to show off her engineering skills.  No prizes or awards like in Elementary, but just showing off was plenty fun!

and just like that...it was over...

Hello Summer.

Next:  A busy summer indeed...A new house and a trip back to Alaska!

Easter 2023

 I am on a roll! Posting Easter 2023 when it is not even Easter 2024!

Amelia loves Easter.  It is her second favorite holiday.  Traditions run strong at our house and when I suggested we try something different with the dying of eggs, I was shot down. "IT'S TRADITION to just dye them as we always do" was what the response Amelia gave me.  My bad.  

Amelia gets two Easter baskets.  She awakens to one egg with a clue inside.  So begins the hunt for the basket from us. 

There are 8 eggs, each holding a riddle to find the next. 

She eventually finds the first basket.

Basket is filled with little fun things. 

She looks through, but is eager to get out and look for eggs AND the basket the Easter Bunny left. 

Every year the basket is hidden in a very elusive spot, so she spends quite awhile looking around before she spies it. 

This year...it was at the neighbors house who doesn't have kids. Had to be hers :)

Then she opens each egg where candy and cash are prevalent. 

Then on to the basket where more goodies are found. 

Dinner is always ham, macaroni and cheese, a salad and asparagus. Always. 

We love traditions. 

No wonder she loves Easter. 

Next Up ... 

Spring 2023 

Horses Bikes and Softball Amongst Other Things

Texas and Magnolia

Spring Break is a great time to travel anywhere warm.  One to get out of the cold and two, it's not too hot. 

No better time than to visit friends we haven't seen in much too long. 

It was a girls trip. Our friends moved out of Alaska when Amelia was a baby. My husband gets to see his friend on occasion on business trips, but I hadn't seen his wife in years. 

I told Amelia she would love her ... and she did.

They live outside Houston so we planned a day trip to Magnolia.  Magnolia of Joanne and Chip fame. 

I absolutely loved it. Amelia did too. 

We explored closer to Houston as well, doing lots of shopping and eating during the trip. 

Got to catch up and promise we would be back and will expect to see them in Chicago soon.

Spring 2023 is the next post. It is the first day of 2024 and my resolution is to catch up and stay current!