The Final Piece of the Pie

There's one thing that my kids did in 5th grade art class that I absolutely loved. Austen came home with it at the end of the 5th grade and I couldn't believe how he could create something so beautiful in just the 5th grade. It was a cherry pie. The level of detail on that pie was astounding from the carefully rolled cherries to the lattice work crust to the carefully placed circles of whip cream with the cherry on top. Not only was I very impressed with his eye for detail but I thought it was a huge credit to his art teacher, Mrs. Tiemstra, at the time. 

Austen's Cherry Pie

A few years later came Peyton's piece of pie. By this time Mrs. Tiemstra had retired and we had a new art teacher so we weren't sure if she was going to continue the tradition of having the 5th graders make these pies. We found out the good news that she was going to continue the tradition but the bad news was since it was COVID, they weren't allowed to use the kiln that year. So Peyton didn't make a pie. But Peyton was artistic so she took art classes in middle school and did join the afterschool art club so she had an opportunity to work with clay and she knew that I really wanted another piece of pie. And, one day she did surprise me with her lemon pie (I don't think it was a meringue so not sure where her idea for a lemon pie came from). But, I was thrilled to get another piece of pie. You look at Peyton's pie and it really represents how I've seen her work when we've been paired together doing gingerbread houses. She doesn't like to come up with a plan beforehand, she just likes to see where her art will take her. And, without a teacher guiding her to think about all the details of the pie, she threw all her ingredients in the bowl and came up with something that was very much her.

Peyton's Lemon Pie

Hailey knew how important the final piece of the pie was going to be so she told me halfway through 5th grade that they were working on their pies. She not only had a great teacher guiding her in Mrs. Andrilik but she also had two examples which sat on our island every day and she could study. She chose to make a blueberry pie. But she had studied Austen's as making a blueberry pie is similar to a cherry one. She rolled the clay into little blueberries and painted them after they were fired. Made a crust (not a lattice one) and remembered to put a dollop of whipped cream on the top too. She was so proud when her piece of the pie was complete. And, while I don't have all three at home yet, I'm confident that they will sit somewhere in my kitchen as a reminder of their 5th grade (or middle school as in Peyton's case) years. 

Hailey's Blueberry Pie

I love these cutie pies!

Hailey's Basketball Season Ends W/ 3rd Place Medal

Hailey ended her first travel basketball season this past weekend. It was a good ride for Hailey considering she'd only played rec basketball before this year. While she still has some catching up to do skill wise compared to other travel girl basketball players her age, she learned a lot this year and had a lot of fun. 

3rd Place Champs

Her team was kind and her coach was great about giving them all an opportunity to play. Playoffs were a bit different where they were gunning to win and while she didn't get major minutes, she didn't let that affect her and made it count when she did hit the court. In their first playoff game, they knocked off the #2 seed (they were the #7 seed) and advanced to play the #3 seed. They ended up losing that game to go to the final but did end up getting 3rd place in the consolation game. 

Hailey's defensive skills are solid as she likes to make the steals. If she was a bit more aggressive like her mama, she could have had lots of steals, rebounds and jump balls but she's coming into her own and exploring a game that she likes and it kept her busy all winter season. I think she'll play again next year if she makes the team again. Hopefully, that sleepover basketball camp that she's going to this summer with some of her friends will provide her with some useful skills. But, as I told her (quoting one of Austen's soccer coaches), if all you do is go to practice, you're going to be average. Go out there and shoot some hoops and free throws. Practice your lay ups. Choose to get better. So we'll see if in the off season she takes this advice. 

As for me, I don't think I've watched more basketball in my life than this season between Hailey's games and Peyton's cheering for basketball. The games do go quick but sometimes we were sitting through two games in a row or in a day and then that was long! But it was nice being inside and not having to brave the cold or rain. I could get used to this sport if Hailey likes it enough to stick with it. 

Last regular season game

Waiting for the consolation game to start

Bittersweet Victory - Nationals Finally!

Austen's club soccer team traveled to Texas two weekends ago to compete in the semifinals of their National League. In January, they were in Arizona for the quarterfinals where they just had to win one game to advance to the semifinals (due to their record last year). Good thing too because they only won one game and lost the next two (albeit one was in PKs). Anyway, they had advanced to these semifinal games but now needed to win all 3 games to advance to Nationals in Florida at the ESPN Complex. We had been hoping for Nationals the last two years especially for these boys. They were so close so many times. It was heartbreaking to watch. Such a good team. They had the chemistry and even the skill but somehow luck never ended up on their side. 

Ticket punched! (Austen on the left)

That luck changed hands in Texas. The boys won their first game 4-0 against a physical but not so strong Maryland team. Our team looked good - for once this year. I say that because gone is the chemistry. In, are a bunch of new players (some coach recruits - look back at my high school soccer post where Austen scores the game winner against these new "favorite" recruits to head to state) looking for a new club for one year only (who changes clubs their senior year?!). Totally destroyed the entire chemistry of this team. Kids quit, others aren't rostered in major games. Kids sit the bench in favor of the new players (who in my "expert" opinion are not any better than our current players) who haven't even played at this level. I've seen first hand how you can be a star player in high school as that level of competition is not the same and you can be a star on your lower level club team but now when you have to play real talent we get to see how you really compare. And they can't. 

Anyway, second game, they go down 2-0 in the first half. Coach continues to scream his head off at them. What a psycho we all think. So many parents are so over him. We almost beg for a new coach the third year in a row for these boys at midseason. We don't even care. Austen and one of their D1 recruits on their team sit most of the second half while his new favorite recruits continue to do nothing. No changes made. Club president is there and tells the coach to put both of them in with 10 minutes to play. They go in and Austen immediately assists the first goal to the D1 recruit. Second goal happens minutes later off a beautiful corner from Austen to the far post where another one of our original players puts a beautiful cross to the middle for an easy tap in by the "favorite." Next comes a major PK on a blatant foul by the other team right in front of the referee in the last minute. We end up winning in the last 10 minutes 3-2. 

Next game is a big deal. We must win. Coach sits on the bench sulking the entire game. Who knows why. Barely coaches them. A true 180 from his screaming and yelling the last two games. His line up also makes no sense. It doesn't seem like he wants the boys to win at all. They end the game scoreless and must go to PKs. The boys take over coaching and line themselves up for PKs. Amazingly none of the favorites are the top five shooters. Thank God he doesn't mess with that because we win when all five our original boys make their PKs (including Austen) and the other team misses one of theirs. We win 5-4 in PKs. The boys are happy to finally be going to Nationals. Coach barely says congratulations to them. Bittersweet for sure. The soccer wasn't great. The chemistry surely wasn't there but somehow these boys advance. And our coach sure as hell can't take credit. He's a disaster and an embarrassment. I wish I could make the season go faster so he doesn't destroy their self confidence even more. 

As for Austen - he is so over it. He wanted to win it all his senior year with his original team. Not with these kids. And, because he's one of only two seniors not committed to playing in college on his team (one is pre med an the other is Austen for architecture), he's especially done with trying to impress a coach who clearly has played favorites. My response to Austen was he should have told the coach when he sent Austen a text on his game winning last minute goal to advance to the high school state tournament over the "favorites" and the coach's son's high school should have been, "I know how to win." And he does. In the words of the now famous IU football coach, Curt Cignetti, "I know how to win. Google me." 

We're going to Disney!

Happy boys!

All smiles after a PK shootout win!

Missing Our Sweet Sadie on Her 9th Birthday

Happy Birthday to our sweet Sadie girl. She would have been 9 today. In Berner years that's still quite a feat. I can't get over how many times I've read recently that another Berner has passed away at such a young age that I feel quite lucky that despite all of Sadie's problems that she lived to be almost 9 years old. We were lucky. Lucky to have had her that long. Lucky that we could afford to give her the best life despite her ailments. Lucky that she was just shy of the average maximum life expectancy of the Bernese Mountain Dog. 

She's home with us now. Resting next to her sister, Adler, and amongst her family. We carefully selected an urn from the same company where we bought Adler's. Sadie's urn is a bit bigger given her size but just as beautiful. She actually came home in a different urn but it was non-descript and looked like an urn and I wanted to give her something as beautiful as Adler's. And we did. We adorned it with her name and like Adler's a meaningful quote: 

"When the day comes when we can't be together, keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever." 

I will, Sadie. I will. Forever. 

As for me, I'm doing okay. Going and getting all of her things from the boarding facility and then the vet and then the vet again (they forgot to give me her harness she was wearing at the end) was hard. I didn't want to go into those places. Didn't want to see her things and face the reality that she was gone. I cleaned out her closet and donated everything that I could including hundreds of dollars worth of medications. I kept a few things if we ever decide to get another dog but I don't think so. I said that I would give it a year and see how I feel but I'm at peace. We gave so much for so long to both Adler and Sadie. Twenty years of caring for them combined. I'm good. The bookends to our family will always be Adler and Sadie. 

Her quote

Adler and Sadie - Our Bookends

Peyton's On the Road!

Peyton started drivers education at school this semester and received her permit on the first day of second semester. Taking drivers ed at school was different than what we did with Austen. Due to Peyton's birthday, it made sense for her to take drivers ed at school. Even better, I didn't need to schedule those hard to get driving appointments and take her to class each week. Plus, at school they give them the permit and driving test so less DMV visits which I'm all for!  

We have taken her out a few times to drive too and it seems she's getting in a lot of driving at school as well. Her easing into braking needs some work and she still isn't sure when it's her turn to go at a four way stop so lots to still work on with her but she's out there - on the road so be aware!

Last weekend, Tom and I tricked her and secretly stashed our reusable grocery bags in the back of her car and then told her to drive to Western Springs (where she panicked because she needed to change lanes for the first time!). When she arrived in the grocery store parking lot, she thought we were just parking to switch drivers but we told her to get out because we were going to the grocery store. She was thrilled! Hey, that's the price you pay for us helping you learn how to drive - you help too! 

She definitely is less afraid than Austen was to drive in the beginning and is asking us to go out most weekends to practice. So she has a new obsession besides her tumbling classes (especially now that cheer is over for the year). She told me she's recording all the hours she is out with us (I don't think Austen ever did that) and is excited for that freedom that comes from being able to drive yourself (and your friends) somewhere without your parents. She's already planning our Xmas vacation around her ability to go to the DMV and get her drivers license before she goes back to school next year. The only drawback may be that her brother will still be home from college and will be using that car! 

Battle of the Books Champions!

The winners!

For the past two years, my little bookworm (Hailey) has been part of her elementary school "Battle of the Books" program. Neither her brother nor her sister joined this program when they were in elementary school, but Hailey loved having to read books and answer questions pertaining to the books. This year, her team was comprised of five 5th grade girls who are all her very good friends. There were 20 books in the "Battle" so they each were supposed to read as many as they could and try to be experts on that book. Hailey read 10 of the 20. 

Week after week on Tuesdays, she stayed after school while her team vied for the most points so they'd be selected the best team to compete against the seven other elementary schools in our district for the District "Battle of the Books." Never mind that she ran right from Battle to Religious Ed and then straight to basketball practice, not getting home til 7pm most Tuesdays. She didn't complain even if it was an 11 hour day for her. She loved it. 

Then came the announcement two weeks ago, her team had been selected as the best team from Prospect Elementary to head to the District "Battle of the Books." She was so excited as were the other girls on her team. 

They had one week of just them practicing with their librarian and sponsor teacher and then it was time for the District "Battle." 

Getting ready to "Battle"

So yesterday after school, I brought her home for a quick snack and then right to the District "Battle." I, like most other parents, had never experienced  "Battle of the Books" before, but learned as they jumped right into asking the kids questions - figuring out steals and then trying to mentally keep track of which schools missed and who had the most points. They didn't reveal which teams had the most points, even in-between rounds, which made it much more exciting when they announced the winners. 

They started with 3rd place. They weren't called. Maybe they got second, I thought. They had to at least get second as I knew they did pretty well from my mental calculations. But they didn't call them for 2nd place either. Then I knew they had to be in 1st and they were! Prospect Elementary secured 1st place in the District "Battle of the Books" for the first time in 11 years! Our principal, librarian and sponsor teacher celebrated with the girls. Hailey almost cried tears of happiness. They were all genuinely proud. 

After a lot of pictures, hugs and congratulatory remarks from the parents, the girls went out for pizza to continue their celebration. And, even better, today on their morning announcements, they applauded the girls for bringing home the District "Battle of the Books" plaque for the first time in more than than a decade. Congratulation Hailey and teammates, we are so proud of you!

Excited to celebrate w/ pizza!

Good teammates and friends!

Peyton's Obsession

Holding the "A"

Is it a boy? A new friend? A favorite class? A vacation she wants to take? Nope. None of those. It's improving her tumbling for cheer. She's obsessed with going to her semi-private training classes so she can now get her back tuck. She was once obsessed with a back hand spring but has moved on to the back tuck (which is way harder). 

I'm so impressed with how far she's come in less than a year. From only being able to do a cartwheel and round off at this time last year before tryouts approached, to being close to even throwing any of these in a performance. Not sure I ever really thought she could tumble because she was never truly interested in any of that to give it enough of a chance. But she's strong because of her swim background and surprisingly isn't afraid (with her coach's support) to try these new elements. 

She's rounding out her first high school basketball cheer season with a halftime performance tomorrow and then will take some time off to prepare for spring tryouts for next year. She really wants to make varsity cheer but I think there are still many things she can improve on as a JV cheerleader. Besides making JV means she gets to cheer for her own age group for basketball and football next year. Plus, she gets to work on some leadership skills too and her smiling! 

Here she is cheering in a few basketball games this season. 

Second from left