WILD game

Luke and Liam with two of their friends at the season opener WILD hockey game

Checking out the suites

Watching the game from the suite

Field trip with Aiden's class to a place where we learned about early settlements, Indians, and pioneer food, dress, etc...

Luke and Liam had the last minute opportunity to attend the season opener WILD game this week.  They have a good friend who invited them at the last minute when they had some extra tickets in a suite that his dad received through work.  We quickly changed plans and they were on their way with John.  They had a blast and got to sit closer to the ice than we have ever been able to do and they enjoyed the free food, and hanging out with friends watching their favorite sport.  What could be better?  

We finished another week of school and we are continuing to get into a routine of getting up early (very early for Luke and Liam) and going to bed much earlier so that we are not too tired the following day.  The boys are enjoying their classes so far and getting to see their friends.  Finn is adjusting to kindergarten and loves his teacher.  He is learning lots of new and exciting things and is definitely ready for bed each night.  

School Schedules

Luke played in a tournament last weekend with some of the best skaters in the state for his age group

Luke and Liam at Finn's age when they started playing hockey

They had a "Border Battle" at school because the Vikings play the Packers tomorrow.  Finn wore purple to support the Vikings. He said he could't smile because this is what the pros look like

And he wanted a picture from the back

The front yard on any given day after school

We survived the first week and a half of school.  We are slowly getting into a routine.  The early middle school bus isn't my favorite, but we are all going to bed early!  Luke and Liam get on the bus at 7:25 am which isn't terrible considering the high school kids get on the bus at 6:30 am, but I am hoping that changes by the time we are in high school.  Regardless, it makes for an early morning to be dressed, fed, and out the door by 7:20 am.

Luke and Liam are enjoying middle school so far.  They have a lot more responsibilities with keeping up with their stuff, changing classes, doing assignments on their own, etc...The classes are much bigger and they are with a few friends, but have also met several new kids.

Aiden and Finn leave an hour later for elementary school and get home a bit later in the afternoons.  They are both enjoying their classes so far.  Aiden has the same teacher from third grade!  She moved up a grade and we were given the option to stay with her and Aiden decided he wanted to stay because he really enjoyed her last year.  Finn's teacher is also a neighbor or ours and he is really enjoying her class.  He knows two other boys, but has met some new friends and was even invited to a birthday party in a few weeks.

Things will pick up once hockey begins in a few weeks.  Luke and Liam will start tryouts at the end of the month and are currently doing some camps to get ready for tryouts.  Aiden will begin camps and then tryouts in October.  He is excited to play his first year of travel hockey as a Squirt.  Finn will begin House level hockey in early November and can't wait for his brothers to watch one of HIS games!  

Wrapping up Summer 2019

Luke's AAA hockey team won two second place trophies in their August tournaments.  Both were heartbreaking losses, but second place was still a very impressive finish.

Liam's team finished 3rd place in one of their two tournaments in August

An Elk that was just a few feet away from us as we drove through Rocky Mountain National Park

We made it to the top!  Our hike 2.5 miles up to see a waterfall and then 2.5 miles back down to get home.

Luke on the ropes course in Vail at Epic Discovery

Liam on the ropes course

Amazing views and heights on the ropes course!

Hiking to and from the waterfall 

Taking a break on the hike

Grandpa Morse and Aiden

More hiking...

Elevation 12,005 feet above sea level at the highest point in Rocky Mountain National Park.  It was windy and chilly!

All three of the older boys loved the ropes course

White water rafting in Glenwood Springs, CO.   Jane and Grandpa followed along on the bike path and took a couple pictures.  This is after we went through some of the biggest rapids.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Gondala going to the top of the mountain in Vail

The water behind the condo where we stayed

Finn's first recess at kindergarten!  I wasn't actually there, but his teacher is also our neighbor so she sent me a few cute pics on the first day of school.

Coloring on the first day of school

So Sad to see the summer end!

Luke and Liam began middle school!

Fourth grade and kindergarten for Aiden and Finn

Luke beat John on the Mac 9 golf range over the summer and was so excited!

We sanded and refinished our deck in August.  The boys still talk about the "family bonding" they would have been happy to miss out on!

Summer got the best of me in terms of blogging.  We had a great month of August that was busy with AAA hockey tournaments (six total), staining and finishing our deck, golfing, swimming, and a quick trip to Colorado with Grandpa Morse and Jane.  The boys all began school on September 3, 2019 so it's been a new normal for me without anyone at home.  I have not run out of projects and things to catch up on after a busy summer, but it has been very quiet until around 3:00 pm.

Our trip to Colorado was amazing again this year.  We stayed with my dad in Avon at a condo he rented for the month of August.  Jane and Grandpa took very good care of us and enjoyed playing games every night with the boys while giving John and I a little break.  We enjoyed some fun lunches and dinners out in Vail and Glenwood Springs and had a blast with all of the activities.  John and I were able to ride together on most of the mornings we were there.  The rides were definitely not easy as we don't get to do much climbing in Minnesota.  The hills and altitude made it challenging, but the views were rewarding.

We went white water rafting again this year in Glenwood Springs and the boys loved that.  We also took our first hike as a family.  It was 2.5 miles up to a waterfall and then 2.5 miles back down the mountain.  Overall, the boys did fantastic as the climb was steep and rocky.  They all enjoyed it when we were finished, but I am not sure it was their favorite thing of the week!

Grandpa Morse took us to the top of a mountain in Vail again this year and we did the Epic Discovery park.  This was by far the favorite thing we did for the boys.  They had 11 different things to do from rope courses, to ziplines, tubing, rock climbing, bungee trampolines, and a mountain roller coaster.  It was super fun and we stayed the entire day.

I will try to get back on track with updates periodically.  Back to school also means back to hockey for us so after school activities and sports will pick up soon.  Enjoy!