Summer 2025

 Kayla played club softball and had so much fun!  She was usually in the outfield although played first once or twice.  She was also quite consistent in hitting when up to bat.

We hosted our annual Fourth of July fireworks again and had so much fun.  Each year gets just a little bit bigger!

Backyard sunset

Colin & Jett

We took our annual camping trip with friends up north.  Great time as always.

Me and Toad!  He was the one rooster I decided to keep from the three roosters that hatched.  Unfortunately, he was eaten by a hawk in November so we'll be looking for more chicks this spring.

Colin hosted his own fantasy football draft.  So far, his team seems to be doing well!

Spring 2025 & Colin's Birthday

 Kayla got her driving temps!  We started practicing around a little industrial park and she now excels at getting to and from town.

Colin played club soccer and middle school track where he enjoyed the 400m dash the best.  It was fun watching him shave seconds off his time throughout the season.

Chicken became a mom!  She was feeling broody so I let her hatch out three chicks.  Unfortunately, each one ended up being a rooster...

Colin bought an e-bike for his birthday!  His friend came over to help put it together and then they went for a ride.  That kid put a lot of miles on that bike over the summer.

For his birthday, he took his friends to go play airsoft and had a blast.  Kayla and I went shopping.  :)

Chester eyeballing those chickens

Last day of school!

Happy 8th grade graduation to Colin!  And yes, he wore a pink carebear onesie to his graduation. 😂

Winter 2025

 Kayla kept up with soccer at an indoor league.

As the DNR Falconry Coordinator, I was able to attend the falconers' winter meet.  Always a good time watching their birds hunt!

Sadie's Dance

The kids and I went to Arizona for spring break to visit the fam.

Brewers game!

Watched a prairie chicken lek!

Dyeing eggs

Happy Easter!

Florida 2024

 We left Christmas Eve to stay with Jordan's parents in Florida.  They rented a house only a couple blocks away from the beach so we walked there quite often to play in the sand and look for shark teeth.  And Colin caught a lizard!

Jordan and I took a trip to the Everglades (of course!) and went on a swamp buggy tour with an old timer from the swamp.  Started out cold and misty so we didn't see too much except a dead python which was the highlight for Jordan. That and driving the buggy!  We also stopped at our favorite restaurant.

There is a nature trail by the house that we walked down and found some very friendly endangered scrub jays.  And an endangered gopher tortoise!

Hanging at the house

                                        

More beach time

On our last day heading to the airport, we rescued a softshell turtle and brought it to safer waters.  The road it was crossing was very busy with no water nearby!