Happy New Year.
I was reminded a few days ago that I still maintained this space on the 'inter webs'. A space I carved out for myself that I just don't utilize anymore.
I wish I could give a reason why.
The excuse, which is my reality, is that I am just so darn busy.
I am a professional over-whelmer of my self and I say yes to everything else. Why not return to something I at least enjoy if I am going to look like this lady regardless?
So what on earth has been happening?
2024 began much as it always has the last few years. Hockey. Hockey. More Hockey. Mr. Blue Eyes and his team ventured to Minnesota in January for a ridiculous tournament. I mean, who knowingly chooses to go to the northern mid-west in January? Crazy hockey coaches, that's who. In February, the Team Managers (me) chose a warmer destination by way of Florida.
Life Update: Against Handy Man's best wishes, this was the third season that I have volunteered as one of the Team Managers for Mr. Blue Eyes' hockey team. Another plate spinning
Being a team manager for traveling sports is a lot of work. However, I have to admit that this team was so very special. It was made up of almost all of my favorite hockey families. I enjoyed every minute.
A core group of our favorite hockey families also head to Keystone the end of January for the annual 9280 Pond Hockey weekend. (of which, I am also a Team Manager for...) It is by far one of the best hockey weekends. It is so much fun that even our Brown Eyed Girl enjoys attending with us. This was the second year Handy Man played in the "old guy division" and filled in on two different teams, really testing his 40+ year old stamina, joints, muscles and asthmatic lungs.
A quick turn around from pond hockey and the beginning of February, Handy Man and I left for Costa Rica on one of his work trips. A bucket list destination that left mixed reviews. I loved seeing the howler monkeys all over the hotel property. Their howling calls echoed from the treetop canopies. I enjoyed my first ever ziplining adventure and managed to not get sea sick on this year's sunset catamaran snorkel trip (success!)
But that is where it ended for us... the beaches were crawling with aggressive locals selling everything from key chains to massages. It was impossible to enjoy a walk on the beach as every 4 feet you heard, "Hey lady! You want massage?" We had to lean into our D.A.R.E. training and confidently Just Say No when offered narcotics on the beach or shopping in town.
The best part of Costa Rica was half of our group - including Handy Man - ended up with a lovely E.coli souvenir that dampened their vacation and followed them home. Maybe it was the ice... maybe it was the iguanas I saw swimming in the pool early in the morning or the howler monkeys defecating from the treetops around the pool area before the vacationers spent the rest of the day bellied up to the swim-up bar, sipping their tropical cocktails - one will never know.
February also brought a new level of anxiety as my Brown Eyed Girl passed her learners permit! How did we get here? I can't believe she is driving and this is the next chapter in our story. Truthfully, it will be an amazing day when I can pass her at least one of my spinning plates.
Mr. Blue Eyes also gained a mouth full of hardware, with a promise of a movie star smile one day.
Okay! So far in the first 45-ish days of 2024 we had packed in a hockey tournament to MN, mountain pond hockey, drivers permit, trip to Costa Rica, hockey tournament to Florida, braces, while looking forward to our upcoming plans for spring break, ATV camping trips, and summer horse shows...
I mean why wouldn't fate be like, "Man! Your year is going AMAZING! 2024 looks like it's on track to be totally epic! You are so busy jam packing all of this crazy fun into your life right now. Spinning all of these plates like a pro. Have you ever tried to spin a couple of those really, REALY heavy serving platters at the same time as all of those really cute plates you have going on? No? Well... let's see how you manage these."
Just before leaving for Florida, we received news that my step-brother was in a horrible tree cutting accident. A broken neck, back, and head injury leaving our Lineman to spend the last eleven months in a hospital or rehab facility trying to regain the use of his right arm, legs and independence. His story is a post for another day, but one that has been heavy on all of our hearts this last year.
Then, the day after returning from Florida, I was stricken with sever back pain and debilitating sciatica. Two weeks of physical therapy and chiropractor appointments, desperately seeking relief and getting no where, I had an appointment to see spine doctor. Within a week, I had an MRI and was diagnosed with a severely herniated L5-S1 disk and partially dropped foot. Nothing says welcome to your 40's like being told you have to have back surgery.
Needless to say, February was a health doozy for Grandpop & Grandma Joan. If they both weren't already gray haired, they would have been after this year. It's a good thing their shoulders are so strong.
I asked the surgeon if I should cancel our Spring Break vacation to Orlando in March. He said, "Not unless you want to. What is done, is done. Let pain be your guide. If you want to ride roller coasters with your kids - do it! You won't hurt anything. Well... unless you lose control of your bowels and or get a full dropped foot. Then you should probably get to the ER right away."
Ummmm I am sorry. What did you just say?
With only four more spring breaks left (this is how we now count down the years) I decided it was Spring Break or Bust! I shall not fear depends.
We rode roller coasters at Universal Studios and Sea World, we went to the Kennedy Space Center, had a day at the beach where we were able to watch SpaceX launch a rocket. I moved a little slower, lived on Tylenol and wore slip on shoes, but I was right there enjoying our vacation.
We returned and I had a successful microdiscectomy. The first two weeks I was forbidden from bending, lifting or twisting which basically equated to not being able to do anything from the waste down. God bless Grandma Rhonda for being the best day nurse, my Brown Eyed Girl for helping to towel dry and dress from the waste down (payback for all those diaper changes) and Mr. Blue Eyes for being my official socks and shoes pit crew. 12 weeks of physically therapy and I was almost back to life as we knew it INCLUDING riding horses again!
This spring, my Brown Eyed girl signed up for her high school track team!
I asked her, "You do know that you have to run, like a lot, to be on a track team?"
Well, this girl never ceases to amaze me! She loved running track. Definitely a sprinter, she primarily ran shorter distances like to 100m and 200m as well as participating on several relay teams. The biggest surprise was what a natural she was at the hurdles - running both the 100m and 300m hurdle events.
Parent Note: When ranking youth spectator sports, I would rank hockey & volleyball as an 8+ rating. Track a solid 2. Nothing like driving an hour, to sit in the stands for another hour, only to watch your daughter run a 100m race in 21 seconds and then gather her belongings and drive an hour home.
My Brown Eyed Girl's first track season was a success. She secured an alternate position on the State 4x200m relay team and lettered in Varsity Track!
My Brown Eyed girl rounded out her freshman year also lettering in Varsity Volleyball in the fall and she earned her Academic Letter for maintaining a 3.8 GPA. Mr. Blue Eyes also received several academic accolades from his teachers and maintained a 4.0 GPA all year, earning a crisp $100.
Still recovering from back surgery, I was not able to show at our first horse show of the year. I dusted off my "horseshow mom" hat and also managed our horse club's youth silent auction fundraiser (as I am the Youth Director for the club. Another plate...)
I was awarded the Club's 2023 Volunteer of the Year Award by the Club's President and received a very nice, embroidered vest!
This spring was the end of a hockey era. It was Mr. Blue Eye's last year of Peewee Hockey. He was graduating to the whole enchilada - full contact checking. We had him play a short spring season to determine if Bantam (checking) hockey was in his future... or he planned to transition to something like golf.
Day one of tryouts and there were two older boys who's sole purposes that day was "new kid orientation."
Mr. Blue Eyes came on to the ice, went right into the corner to get the puck and was met with a BIG "Hello! Welcome to Bantams!" As he crumpled to the ice, then limp-skated back to the bench and collapsed, I tried to get his attention from across the ice. He finally made eye contact with me so I gave him a smile and an inquiring thumbs up. To which was answered with a frantic shaking of the head. Golf it is!
Next shift, he avoided getting anywhere near the boards only to be educated by goon number two - you can still get hit on open ice. Another limp-skate back to the bench and collapse. I'm really not going to love watching him play chess.
However, I give him credit. He didn't give up. He kept getting back out there and by the end of the tryout he was playing more on the body and trying to time a few checks of his own - which unfortunately resembled a stuffed animal trying to overpower a grizzly bear. But he didn't quit. AND he made the B Spring Bantam Team! Looks like he plans to keep playing hockey. He just needs to find about 8 inches and 25-30 pounds before his fall tryouts.
Spring Hockey sent us to Chicago in May where we were able to see some of Handy Man's Cousins.
As soon as school was out we loaded up the camper (new toy purchase in 2023), the RZRs and headed to Moab for some riding. We met Grandpa Matt and Grandma Debbie for a thrill seeking adventure. (not exactly their bucket list vacation but time spent with family none the less) Our Brown Eyed Girl and her learner's permit slid right into the driver's seat of the four-seater and I suddenly found myself demoted to passenger. She did absolutely awesome handling the machines and the terrain.
Handy Man and our Brown Eyed Girl share the same thrill seeking gene. The bigger the roller coaster, the tougher the rocks - they live for the thrills.
In 2024, we did a LOT of fishing. Everyone caught the fishing bug. I was asked several days a week to drop the kids off for hours at random local ponds. Handy Man bought them their own tackle bags so they could keep their growing lure collection organized. The day my Brown Eyed Girl asked me to go lure shopping at a sportsman's store, I might have pinched myself.
My Brown Eyed Girl and I spent 16 days in Oklahoma City in July! It was our second year competing at the National level with Gus Gus. 2024 was our year! Gus won 5 National Championships in Arabian Western Trail Open with our trainer, Amateur Arabian Western Trail with myself and Youth Arabian Western Trail with my Brown Eyed Girl, Amateur Arabian English Trail with myself, and Limited Ranch Cow Work with my Brown Eyed Girl. My trainer and Gus also brought home a Reserve National Championship in the Herd Work.
Not to mention, we collectively earned 12 Top Ten honors in other classes.
It is a really long, hot show. However, it's been one of my most cherished experiences I have been fortunate enough to share with my Brown Eyed Girl. All of it made possible by the unicorn horse we are able to call our own.
Two weeks spent laughing with our barn family.
What more could we ask for!
Just before we had to return to reality and the start of a new school year, we snuck away for one last camping trip with the RZRs and fishing poles.
My Brown Eyed Girl is a Sophomore and just wrapped up a great volleyball season. She played starting outside hitter on the JV team. They ended their season as League Champions.
She will also be playing club volleyball until June. This will be her first year on a travel sports team. She is very excited!
Mr. Blue Eyes successfully made a Bantam team this fall and believe it or not he is one of a handful of boys not afraid to hand out those checks. Who would have thought! We have been blessed with an outstanding group of young gentlemen on this team and equally lovely families. I am of course the Team Manager, again. The boys won their first fall tournament and we are excited to see how the next two out-of-state tournaments go this spring.
The end of October, the team was fortunate to play a team that came here from the Ukraine. It was quite the experience for all.
One of the biggest gifts in my life the last few years has been the privilege of being surrounded by some of the most amazing women I know. These Hockey Mom's are everything!
This fall we attended our last horse show of the season - Ranch Horse Championships. It's a two day show that features seven classes - Cutting/Herd Work, Reining, Working Cow Horse, Ranch Riding, Ranch Rail, Ranch Trail, and a Confirmation class. The show management will then calculate the All-Around or High Point winner for each division. Division Champions win a custom Tim Bauer Saddle. Gus won a saddle in 2022, 2023 and this year, he was the Open Arabian Champion as well as the Amateur Arabian Champion winning TWO saddles! He is just the best boy ever!
Handy Man asked what we were going to do with 4 saddles... Easy. Buy more horses.
Handy Man had his work cut out for him this fall when we discovered a "leak" near our well. All hands on deck as we took turns hand shoveling six feet down to locate the issue. Both kids really stepped up helping Handy Man. I took it a little easy due to my back and was the honorary tractor driver, dumping dirt. A full day of digging and we figured out the culprit - a worn pipe fitting right at the main well connection. Handy Man used some random sprinkler parts as a temporary band aid until he could get the exact parts he needed. MacGyver would be proud.
Other moments sprinkled throughout our year were Homecoming, first boyfriends and girlfriends, team acknowledgements, a visit from Grandma Debbie for holiday shopping, and several barn gatherings including a Friends-giving!
We took our first spontaneous family adventure in November. A customer offered Handy Man four tickets to a Nebraska Women's Volleyball game - in Lincoln, Nebraska! If you are not familiar, these tickets are next to impossible to come by. With around ten days notice we booked plane tickets, a rental car and one night hotel for a 36 hour family adventure. It did not disappoint!
Our Holidays were low key, hosted by Grandma Rhonda and Mike. Rah-Rah ventured north for Christmas and we had the BEST Christmas Day spent playing board games and laughing.
Mr. Blue Eyes braved the goose pit with Handy Man this year for the first time. Both kids earned their hunter's safety certification last summer. His big gift under the tree should make those father-son adventures more memorable.
Our Brown Eyed Girl really wanted a high school letter jacket. Neither Hand Man nor I ever had a letter jacket - although I did letter in Lacrosse my senior year. How do you say, "No." to a girl that lettered three times her freshmen year? Together we picked out the jacket but she did have to wait until Christmas to open it. She was still extremely excited and we are very proud of her successes.
And that was our 2024 for the most part. Hopefully with some conscious effort I can get back to sharing some of this life we live - even if it is a little windy at times.
