3rd grade

Kate is in third grade. What has recently become part of life with a third grade daughter is girl drama. For the last few weeks, I pick Kate up from daycare, and she tells me all about the fighting that happens between her friends. From what I can gather, Kate has a group of friends. Two of the girls in the group are very strong-willed and butt heads a lot.
Kate, thankfully, has made it very clear that she wants no part in the fighting. She has avoided the drama, and I am proud of her. Today, though, she said that one of the girls said something mean to her for being friends with the other girl.
Now let me remind you all that Kate is normally very sensitive. She is tender hearted. So I half expected her to tell me in the next breath that her feelings were hurt. Nope! She totally blew it off. She said, "Mom I just ignored her. I don't want to fight with either of them, and so *** and I are trying to play alone now. I don't want to get in trouble."
Maybe her motivation is that she doesn't want to get in trouble with her teacher, but I am glad that she is able to a) avoid the fighting and b) blows off rude comments to try to get her upset.
Who would have thought that this would be happening so early???

A lesson on inspiration and humility

If you so desire, check out my friend Vicky's blog.
Vicky is kind, humble, fun, sweet, a deep thinker, creative, and happy. She is the mother to two sweet boys, Nolan and Colton. Nolan and Ryan have played hockey together for years and have been on the same travel team the last two years. Colton is a sweetheart. My girls love Vicky. We all love her really.
Vicky was diagnosed with breast cancer a week ago. Yesterday she received the news that it's stage 4. She isn't giving up, nor are her friends and family who love her dearly.
Read her blog and follow her journey. She is finding the good in the crappiest of situations.
If you are even further inclined, add the little graphic to your blog like I have. I'd love to tell you how I did it, but...yeah I'm not that smart.
Here's to Vicky--a mom, a friend, a wife, and now more than ever, a fighter with so much grace and dignity, it will leave you humbled.

Guess where I'm going--today!?

Miss Kate Elizabeth and I are going to Washington DC today. I am so excited--which is why I have been up since 4:30 and am sitting her blogging at 5 bells. Dang! We are going to stay with my dear friends Kara and Ryan. Here's the coolest part. They have a two year old named Kate!
Ryan and I go all the way back to the good old Edison years. Kara and I go all the way back to my years working at Kohls in college. The cool part is that I have good friendships with both of these people who happened to be married to one another. Small world!
We are driving to the cities this afternoon and flying there tonight. Hopefully I don't fall asleep on the drive down.
Kate and I are going to see Mt. Vernon, the White House, Ford's Theater, The Smithsonian (Dorothy's ruby red slippers are there!), the monuments, Arlington, the Capitol, AND...we are eating at the Melting Pot. Oh AND we are getting some Georgetown cupcakes which Kara tells me are amazing. They are actually featured in this week's People magazine too.
Friends, frosting, food, my sweet daughter, and sunshine. What more could a girl ask for??

Go Spuds!

Go Spuds! I'm watching them play right now...if they win I go to the cities tomorrow. Heck I think I need to go regardless.
Some of my best high school memories are being at the state tournament in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade. So.Dang.Fun.

Help me please

Girls I need some help. If there are any boys...which I doubt there are...who read this, just stop now okay? Thanks.
So the other day I went to Victoria's Secret as my current supply of necessities are a little.....too big. Lovely. They measured me. I about fell over when she told me my size. Am I back in high school? I guess so.
I tried that size....it fit, but suddenly I had a slew of side back skin that looked....gross. So I tried the size up....too big. I tried every bra in about three different sizes. No luck.
Okay if VS can't help me, girls tell me where to go, what brand to try, and I will be there.
I am desperate.

Squrit International & a Dance Competition

It was (another) busy weekend for us. On Friday morning I heard Ryan showering at 5:45am. Thad and Ryan had to leave the house by 6:30 for their first game of the tournament--a St. Paul team. I taught, but I got a lot of updates and found out that they won. The next game was at 2:30 against Mankato. They won that game too!
Friday night, the team (and families) had a party at one of the family's homes. I now know what fun a Wii is. I want one. Thad says no, but he will find one in our house soon. I played Just Dance...with the boys! I was playing with the girls, but suddenly this slew of boys wanted to compete against me. Bring it! It was a blast.
Saturday morning, I heard the shower going before 5am. They had to be at the rink at 6am for a 7am game. Big yawn. I wanted to go, but I Kate needed to sleep as she had a dance competition in Wahpeton. (more on that later)
But...they won again! So excited for those kids...

At 10am, on Saturday, Kate and I headed out of town for her competition. Well, we hit McDonalds first for a some McCafes.

Lord there were a LOT of screaming girls of all ages. I had no idea what to expect, but there were teams from St. Cloud to northern MN to Bismarck. Dang. Kate's friend was sick, so their group was a little short, but they did well. They took third in their group.

So we raced home to make it to the next game at 2:30 against...Edina. After 2 periods, I was receiving texts about the score--10-0 (not us). Edina won the entire division. The rumor was that they practice four hours a day. I'm a little skeptical about that, but Thad said that they were amazing. So I decided to not watch the last period of that game.
You'd think these boys would have been exhausted, but oh no, they had a section championship game to go to--Spuds vs. Roseau. Hello...it was way more exciting in 1992, 93, and 94! I'm kidding...it's exciting. They won. So the high schoolers play on Wednesday in Thief River Falls. Ryan has been told that if he wants to go, he needs a haircut. Short hair does not suit him at all. Ugh....
Here is a picture of the final game today against Eagen. They won!

Thad and his last photo with Ryan as his coach just about. Tomorrow the in house Jamboree begins. He is sad to be done. He's been on the ice with all these boys since they were four years old. That's a long time.

I had to put this picture in of Ryan's grandparents...my dad NEVER goes to hockey games. It's not his thing. The funniest part? Wayne got there after Ryan's game was over...but Ryan doesn't know that. He did come in time to feed our crew hot dogs and nachos...thanks dad.
So hockey has a week to go....or not. Thad informed me that during March, Ryan has a checking clinic since Pee Wees get to check. And then it's baseball...

Our weekend

Here's a rundown of the weekend:
Friday: Ryan came in at 6:30 and stated that he had strep throat. What??I just heard you showering, and you are acting fine. But...call it a hunch, but we let him stay home. At 2:30 I called my mom (he somehow got over there for the day), and she thought he wasn't feeling well. So we went to the walkin like many other people. The wait was an hour and a half. Sure enough--strep. (I might add this was the sixth case in our house since December 22. Kate's had it three times, Olivia, Ryan, and I have had it once.)
Saturday, Ryan missed both his games, but seemed to feel better. I have no recollection of what the girls, Brady, or I did.
Sunday: the girls had performances at three (yes three) different times. Yeah bad mom, this is the only picture I took all weekend.

Ryan had a game in Fargo.
Immediately following Ryan's game, Brady became clingy and fussy. He had a rough night of sleep...as did I. He barely napped, and so I brought him in...ear infection. He is screaming as we speak in his crib. He just needs to crash.
Is today a holiday? I thought it was....but today hasn't been much of a holiday. Oh well.