Scavenger Hunt 2020

So this week my work sponsored a scavenger hunt for staff to help with self care, morale, and to just provide us an opportunity to connect and have fun.

My team of 5 ended up with me and 4 of my closest coworkers, though it was sort of randomly selected. It was fate. WE ROCKED IT.

Here are some samplings of the tasks we had to accomplish the past 3 days:

Book Club (this book is FAB)
Find a video (like the kind that rewinds)
Picture of a contradiction (I love laundry)
YMCA(I was the A, obviously)

CVA gear
Create a pyramid
Wear a tie

Recreate a statue (I went back into the archives for this one)

Recreate a historical moment (MTM!)

Rockstars!

And my fave: dress like celebrities!  (If you haven't seen Tiger King, here's a snapshot of the crazy)

Just thought I'd document my fun in case it makes anyone else out there smile a bit.  

Timehop Tuesday

Well, a year ago I bought a t-shirt to wear to a gigantic P!nk concert with thousands of people. Hard to imagine a year later it would be used for a face mask...

And then we have me and Maya:

And Cal:

And this crazy  doggy...though she has definitely gotten much better! 

Weekend Wrap-up

The weather this weekend was so beautifully perfect.  We spent a lot of time outside soaking it all up!

On Saturday morning I started a new puzzle and Luna and I did a sprint workout.  The girls played in the front yard while Chris did yard work.

Then we met G-ma, Pa, Auntie Cat, Uncle Dan, Auntie Hanna and Mitchell near our house for outdoor family time.  Maya was SO EXCITED to show off her new biking skills.  Auntie Cat set up an obstacle course and the girls had fun loving up Shambles and watching Mitchell sleep.  Cat and I even wore our Auntie shirts, totally unintenionally!



Then later Maya started helping Chris get rid of stuff with an overgrown part of our backyard that we are hoping to turn into a garden.



This morning we met Boom, Auntie Yoda, Uncle Craigles, Lucy, and Mila at a park for more family time.  The girls had fun kicking the ball with Boom, playing frisbee golf, and we even saw the lock and dam by the river.

We spent more time outside and I'm excited to report that my absolute favorite tree in our front yard is going to be blooming so soon!  The buds have started.

I'll leave you with these freckle faces!

A Picture Update

It is hard to believe that it is May.  We spent half of March and all of April at home (basically).  The week between my birthday and May 1st has been a hard one for 5 years now, and I'm just glad that it is over.  Because I knew it was going to be hard, I spent extra time looking for sun rays.  In fact, a morning sunray picture is the only one I took on Monday.

On Tuesday the girls were already at each others' throats, pants appeared options (at least inside) and scootering in PJs was acceptable.  It was rainy most of the day but we got out after the rain to scooter through puddles, which was exciting.  Check out the video at the end for some of the action.

On Wednesday afternoon G-ma delivered a stash of homemade masks, with awesome fabric on the outside and our former t-shirts on the inside.  Lynx t-shirts made the masks extra meaningful!  It is a weird world to think of wearing masks becoming normal...

On Wednesday evening, despite putting up a big stink, Maya figured out how to ride her bike with no training wheels!!!  Again, see the video at the end for evidence and her proud little face.  Callie made her a little sign for when she woke up the next morning.



Thursday was the 5th anniversary of my dad's death.  It was a gorgeous and sunny day.  I took a walk early in the morning, and then later parked my car at church and ran to the cemetery.  Then I went and met my mom for a long walk and picnic (G-ma made us matching masks!).  Needless to say, I got 20,000 steps in yesterday.

Then later I picked up some of Bops' favorite things.  I drank an afternoon Diet Coke, we enjoyed corn-on-the-cob and Dots, and I enjoyed beautiful bouquets of flowers.



I also channeled "Tropical Lee' with a yummy margarita.  That evening we did more biking outside and soaking in the sunrays.




Today has been quiet.  I have listened to podcasts and done my puzzle.  The girls have played on their iPads, the Switch, and with the toys in their rooms.  We played outside (and Maya hydrated with a giant cup she found from the hospital stay when she was born!). And then Chris took Cal to hit golf balls while Maya made me a very beautiful cheese plate!

I’ll admit that as a raging introvert, I don't mind all this staying home too much.  The days go surprisingly quickly. 

But I REALLY REALLY REALLY miss seeing our families and giving hugs and holding our two sweet M&M babies and squeezing my crazy little Lucy.  I know that we are doing what is best and staying safe.  And maybe as more time goes on we'll be able to open up our bubble a little bit.  But who knows.  I'm extremely grateful for being able to work from home, for Chris being able to work from home, for being able to support the girls with school, and for everyone staying healthy.  I know that is not the case for so many.

Anyway, enough of my quarantine rambling. 

Click here for some fun action videos from the week!

I'll leave you with this.  It is something I saw yesterday that resonates with me, not only in terms of what we are all going through now, but with the grief process as well.

Hope you all have a safe and healthy weekend!

5 Years

I'll be honest.  I have been really struggling with what to write on this day. I started a post on Monday but then just deleted it all.

It has been five years since we lost my dad and I started searching for sunrays.

That's half a decade and it just seems impossible.

To say the world is completely different from what it was five years ago is a gigantic understatement, and I often wonder what Dad would think about everything that has happened.  I have no doubt he would have continued to be a positive light in the world and it is unfair that he didn't get that opportunity.

Pictures from January, February, and March 2015.

The girls are so much bigger now, and that is the hardest part.  If he was still here, they'd have SO MUCH FUN together.  They'd gang up on me together. He'd be the ring leader of the four little girl cousins and they'd get into so much trouble together. It makes me smile and cry thinking about it.

So I don't have anything really profound to say today.  I am just going to post this to mark the passage of time, to say that I miss him every day, and to express once more that I'm still so grateful for the 33 years I had with him.

Love you, Dad.

Timehop Tuesday

The girls and their dad!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Hola!  It was a nice weekend filled with various activities despite it being our 6th week at home.

Yesterday Callie made chocolate-tipped pretzels.  She was going for chocolate-dipped but only ever got the tip.  So it is another Callie Signature Dish, I guess!

Then we took advantage of the lovely afternoon and met G-ma, Pa, Auntie Cat, Auntie Hanna and Mitchell for a social distance hangout at a big field.  It was so nice to be together, even though we couldn't hug or hold the baby (which is TRULY TORTURE).



Then Chris took Maya to go hit some golf balls.  She loved it!



Today I went for a 4 mile run.  I ran past this fence, which had a beautiful chalk mural that said, "Better Days Ahead...Stay Safe MN."  Then Callie helped Chris make Eggs Benedict- a first time adventure for both of them and it turned out pretty well (according to me...it tasted good) and totally horrible (according to Chris because the hollandaise sauce wasn't perfect and the poached egg was cooked a bit too long).  But I hope he keeps trying, because Eggs Benedict is one of my favorite brunch meals.

This morning Boom, Auntie Yoda, Uncle Craigles, Lucy and Mila came over to our side of the tracks and we once again hung out on a big field.  The girls did some scootering too. And once again I was tortured by not being able to hold a baby.  But also once again, it was nice to be together and the sun was shining.



This afternoon I spent a bit of time in the hammock while Luna spent some time in my shade.  It was so beautiful out! And Maya and I later rocked some tie-dye. And have I mentioned that I’m benefitting big time from Callie’s and Chris’ quarantine Master Chef obsession? In addition to Eggs Benedict for breakfast, they made Saffron Risotto again for dinner! Chris adjusted and perfected the recipe he used the first time...this one including a bit of bacon! 

Didn’t make Callie eat it, but at least she enjoyed the cooking experience!

Click here for a couple of various picnic videos.

And I'll leave you with a tweet that I FELT SO HARD IN EVERY FIBER OF MY BEING.




I often get distracted getting everyone going in the mornings that my coffee is always lukewarm at best.

I have an ENTIRE BOX of single socks.  WHERE DO THEY GO?

The amount of times we have had to say "I don't need you to argue with me, I just need you to follow my directions" is in the billions.

SO. MUCH. LAUNDRY. AND. DISHES. ALL. THE. TIME.

Ok that's it.  Have a great week.