Change of Focus

Hunter likes my new bird feeder too.

This unplanned break has given us some time to get caught up on yard work the past month.

Time for Lance's shin splints to heal.

Try some new recipes.

Build a home gym in the garage. 

 

Challenge ourselves and our neighbors with math problems.

Watch the bees.

Give Polo a good scrub.

Though he never stays clean long.

Time to be more creative.  As Chris put it, "Ya never know what the kids are doing upstairs until they come down and try to rob us."

And that wraps up March.

Happy Birthday Lance!

We had our traditional morning breakfast celebration today.  Jared added some neat little extra's to the table and Lance sported this new "amazing" hair-do.

In the afternoon, he and some friends (Mac and Connor) sneaked out to a disc golf course.  There was more horsing around than playing I'm sure, but fun was had either way.

Upon his return we celebrated some more with his favorite, yummy lasagna and rootbeer.  This year there was a twist, not knowing you couldn't buy beef literally anywhere, I took a chance and went to the "Butcher's Market" to look for meat.  There we got venison and bison instead; it turned out to be a delicious discovery.

The next day we were rebels and met with the S Family at a new park with lots of different climbing apparatuses to enjoy.  Boys of course eventually took a ball down to the field, all boys need is an open area and a ball to have a good time.

Spring Is Here

March 3, we went with our friends the W family to the Raulston Arboretum Homeschool Days.  They had different labs set up for the kids to learn about plants and then after we explored the arboretum together.

When we got home we made homemade ice cream, you know since it was clearly so hot.

March 5, we went to Prairie Ridge Ecostation site.  Our guide showed us their butterfly garden, the bird observatory, the experimental tree forest and a breeding area for salamanders.  We hope to go back and see the salamanders after they emerge from their jelly balls.

March 8, Titus did an incredible job at baseball tryouts tonight.  He's turning into a formidable pitcher, in addition to his defensive skills.

March 12, Titus attended a very education "Robotics Lab" at the Museum of Natural Science downtown.  While he was in class, Amber and I explored the museum, especially the butterfly conservatory.

After the lab we went straight to Lance's second baseball game of the season.  They won the game handily and Lance did some awesome dives into home to score multiple runs.  We didn't know it at the time but this would be their last game of the season.  So the Storm had an undefeated 2020 Spring Season.

The world was getting nutty during Lance's game but Jared was till able to sneak in the NFAA State and Sectional Indoor Archery Tournament over the weekend.

Then by Monday, the world had come to a complete halt and all field trips and activities stopped.

USA Indoor National Tournament

This has become a special weekend each year for Jared and Chris as they travel up to to Virginia to compete.  They bring Memoir '44 to play in the hotel and have a great time at the tournament and hanging with the team after.  Here's Chris' write-up for the year:

This past weekend, Jared and I (Chris) went up to Harrisonburg, VA for the 51st US Indoor and JOAD National Archery tournament. We did this last year and had a great time. Each day, Jared shot two rounds, each round consisting of 10 "ends" with each end being 3 arrows. On Friday, his two rounds total 518 and one round was a personal best of 264. Saturday he shot a daily best of 521 and on Sunday posted a 519 to finish out a very consistent weekend. This year was his first shooting in the next level up, so he was competing with kids in the 15-18 age group. He has certainly set the tone for his archery future with consistent performances and incrementally improving his scores. I would expect Jared on the podium in the near future.... :-)