Winter 2023

It's been a busy couple months! Here's our Winter Recap.

ICE STORM

It was that time of the year again! Our relaxing, surprise week off of school.

Of course, with perfect accuracy, our week off was also when Ryan was on another international trip (to Japan this time). It's our annual week of winter!

This year we had the pleasure of freezing rain/sleet for 3 days with temperatures hovering right at 30 degrees while it POURED rain. We lost a bunch of branches as well as our peach tree. 

We also lost a panel of the fence, so it was quite the clean-up when Ryan returned, including 2 trailer loads of branches to the dump.

WINTER CAMPOUT

The big boys were supposed to camp the weekend right after the ice storm, but they ended up doing neighborhood clean-up service. It was in the 70s for weeks and weeks, and then the rescheduled camping day arrived... and it was in the 30s again. Luckily, Ryan was in town, so he could attend and keep my Mom-worries at bay all night.

Anyway, apparently there is such a thing as a propane tent heater, and they were all pretty toasty. Now, if only there was such thing as a propane AIR CONDITIONER for our summer camping! 

UIL

Collin & Brennan participated in Academic UIL this year. There were three meets, each one taking at least 12 hours on a Saturday. 

Collin competed in Listening & Science, earning multiple 5ths & 7th s places. Brennan competed in Listening, Science, Number Sense, Editorial Writing, and Math, earning rankings of 8th, multiple 7ths, 6th, multiple 5ths, 3rd, and 2nd. Go Boys! 

P-TECH

Collin is officially enrolled in Alamo College to get his associate's degree in cybersecurity by the end of high school. He'll also have his level one certification in cybersecurity when he graduates, so he can work in cybersecurity while he works on his computer science bachelor's degree. Oh the places this boy will go!

Here's part of his cohort of 65 that he'll spend most of the next four years with on their celebratory welcome night in February.

ALADDIN

Ryan and I went with our friends the Bohmans to see Aladdin on February 8th. We ate at Iron Cactus on the Riverwalk beforehand. They have season tickets, so we were able to get companion tickets down on the floor. It was amazing! 

PIANO RECITAL

Collin started with a new piano teacher this year and has been working on arranging music. He arranged a piece for his recital for him on the piano and Ryan on the violin.

Sooo many hours went into this 2-minute performance, and I was super proud of them both!

EYES

Sigh. Keeping us seeing is becoming a full-time job. 

Brennan

We picked out glasses for B on January 16th. They arrived on February 3rd. They broke on February 11th. We ordered new frames (under warranty) on 13th. The broken ones broke additionally on February 28th while awaiting the arrival of the replacement frames. The replacement frames arrived on March 3rd. They broke on March 6th. We ordered new frames (not replacements, but a different brand and style) on March 8th. I fully expect his partially broken replacement frames to additionally break before the next pair arrives. 

On a brighter note, his new frames are super cute, and Ryan was complimented by the optician multiple times on his duct tape work being the "finest she's ever seen." I wouldn't expect anything less! Haha.

Ethan 

While the saga continued with Brennan's glasses, Ethan's annual exam came due. We ordered his new glasses on February 20th, and they came almost immediately on March 1st. They fit great and haven't broken... yet.

He loves this built-in magnet athletic strap and already uses it for recess and PE. I'm excited for soccer season! 

Lindsey

I went in for my annual eye check-up as well, and they are concerned about non-symmetry of my optic nerves. They both currently look healthy, but one is oval shaped and the other is round. I have never had a doctor mention it before, despite annual exams the last 35 years, so it's concerning. Anyway, I've got a follow-up optic nerve scan as well as a base-line glaucoma screening in my near-future. Oh the joys of aging! 

FIELD TRIPS

I was able to attend Ethan's and Katelyn's field trips in back-to-back weeks. I didn't get to do this much with Collin & Brennan, so I really savor the moments with these two.

Ethan went to the Institute of Texan Cultures downtown. 

We stopped at Snow Heaven afterwards for a little date.

Katelyn went to the San Antonio Botanical Gardens.

It just happened to be cold (55 degrees) and windy that one day, but we had a great time...
and did not get ice cream afterwards!

BIKING

Tis the season for biking! We took the kids on an 8-mile trek into downtown on March 4th, starting at Mission Concepcion with our turn-around point at Hemisfair.

Climbing at Hemisfair Park

Playing at Hemisfair Park

Pitstop at Confluence Park

Confluence Park

Starting and Ending Point Concepcion Park

They did amazing, and we had a perfectly awesome time! The ice cream and burgers at Freddy's didn't hurt either. 

I am also trying to bike every afternoon that I'm not busy. My favorite route is currently from The Rim (our mall) to Camp Bullis via Eisenhower Park. Lots of hard hills to build those leg muscles! I do about 10-miles in an hour.

DRESS-UP DAYS

This elementary school LOVES to dress-up. Here are a few days from the last month or so.

100th Day of School - February 7th

Aww, look at that gray bun

I subbed at the middle school on the 100th Day, and this is definitely not a holiday there! 

Dr Seuss Day

Dr Seuss Day fun hair - March 1st

Texas Independence Day - March 2nd

Texas Independence Day Bubble Hair - March 2nd

BIKE RODEO

Ethan & Katelyn were able to take their bikes and helmets to school for an obstacle course. There were lines already painted on the recess blacktop, and they were scored on accuracy and agility. It was fun to watch, even though it was a lot of work to get the bikes there and home for their one minute of riding! They loved it! 

Ok, I start coverage for a 2nd grade long-term maternity leave next week, and I'll be there until school gets out in May. Therefore, it'll be a busy Spring too - filled with soccer, piano, church activities, and swim team. Hold on tight!