Track Season has Begun - Baseball Starts Next Week

Elyse's track season is in full swing and she is enjoying it much more than she expected. Last year she popped her hip and was out for 2 weeks. This year, no injuries thus far (knock on wood). She had two track meets this past week, the first in Decorah and then in Cresco. She has spent every weekend practicing her high jump up at the high school and her extra practice is paying off. She placed 4th in Decorah in the high jump after three girls from different schools. The sucky part about the high jump is that if you also run a track event, you have to go do that and then return to finish your jumps if you continue on and have made it. Elyse just finished running a 400 and had to go finish her jumps. Tired legs! One picture above is from Decorah meet. (She is the girl with the blue shirt and black shorts in the pictures of running events).

Thursday night was in Cresco (home terf) in a 4 team meet. She placed 2nd and did fabulous by jumping and clearing 4'6"! She almost made 4'8"! She has never really practiced 4'8" so when it came time to jump that, she kind of freaked out and couldn't get her approach down. It was between her and another girl for 1st and 2nd. The other girl won by jumping 4'10". Elyse was very excited and still working hard on her high jump. I was not a "track girl" in high school, but my excitement to watch the track team is growing. :) Elyse also placed 5th in the 400 (yes Ken, once around the track. . . . can you believe it? :) So great job Elyse! Keep it up!

Congrats also go out to Wayne's niece, Miranda, who broke the 8th grade 100 meter dash!! Great job Miranda!!! (she is so fast!!!). Wayne's nephew, Brandon, continues to shine on the high school track team as well placing 1st in almost every running event he does. Great job Kerian kids!!!!

Alex has his first baseball tournament next Saturday. His team has been practicing twice a week and are ready to get started. It will be a busy weekend for us as we also have a wedding in Rochester, but business is what we are used to. :) Look for posting on how the tournament goes as we are headed to Denver, Iowa, to play. Alex will have the pleasure of possibly playing against his cousin, Blake, who lives in Denver. Nothing wrong with a little friendly, cousin competition. :) Go Cadets!!!

Kirstin is enjoying her final full week at UNI. I heard she had "the worst hangover of her life" last Friday as she went out the night she finished her tutoring/remedial teaching class. Wayne and I figure we don't need to know what all happened - some things are better left that way. :) Wayne is ready to go down to UNI for one final "move back home". One last time (for now. . . until she moves to get a job. . . .)

Wayne just walked in from spending all Saturday and Sunday morning at the cabin doing some "fixins". He took up our old microwave and mounted that to replace the old one as well as did some rewiring for some different TV arrangements I guess they have discussed. We are all anxious to get up north and spend some sunny days at the Kerian cabin - although that usually doesn't work out for us until end of July or August. Looks like Elyse will have softball (high school coach informed me that they start games already end of May) tourneys almost every weekend until mid July and usually 3 games a week. We go on vacation end of July, basketball camps, and then volleyball starts. We may never get to the cabin. . . . . should have went up this weekend with Wayne. Oh well. . . . .

Kevin and Kelly - Brandon looked handsome for prom!!! Hard to believe he is a junior already! Looked awesome Brandon!

"Fussin' and a Feudin'' 8th Grade Musical

It has been a busy start to the month of April for the Kerian family. Where does time go? So what is going on in our lives? Let's see. . .

Not only did Elyse turn 14, she passed her driver's permit test with flying colors on the first try! Yeah Elyse! This was much to my surprise, not that I didn't think she could do it, but because I didn't think she studied much. I thought it would be good for her just to take the test and see what it was like even if she didn't pass. I guess she showed me. . . .passed first attempt. So, she has been out driving around a few times. She is not that eager to jump behind the wheel. I keep forgetting that she didn't learn to drive like I did on the farm way before I was 14. Over Easter weekend I tried to get her to go for a drive with her grandpa around the fields on the farm, but she conveniently forgot her driver's license, which she really didn't need out there. But oh well, she is now a driver in the Kerian family.

She was also recently in the jr. high musical at our school called "Fussin' and a Feudin'" about two hillbilly families that have had a feud going on for years. She was the store owner and mother to a boy that was so much shorter than her, it was fitting! She did a great job and I have included some pictures in this post. She is enjoying track right now, having batting practice once a week for softball, busy babysitting and saving her money, and of course, enjoying a lot of time with her friends! Our weekends continue to have a house full of kids, which we love. Friday night the house was full of girls after they went to the movies for a sleep over, and Saturday night was Alex's turn to have a house full of boys for the night. Funny how they don't want their parents around when their friends are here. . . .unless they need food of course. :)

Alex. . . he is busy with baseball now. Practice twice a week for his AAU team and loving every minute of it. The have their first tournament already in early May so that will be here before you know it as well. Dick's Sporting Goods store has become a frequent stop for us, even more than it was before, as the kids seem to always need gear for their sports (Elyse with track and softball coming up, and Alex with baseball). Alex is now the one going through the growth spurt and we can't keep up with clothes that fit him.. . . or shoes. . . .

Kirstin. . . she has been the family traveler the past month. She loved her week in Mexico for Spring Break, enjoyed her week at a school in Texas for a practicum, and is now gearing up to finish her college life at UNI. She is pretty sad about having to leave college life and "grow up". Her saving grace is that she is really still a college student because she student teaches in the fall! It has been awesome watching her travel and enjoy life with more confidence and courage. We are all excited for her experiences this fall - not only because she will be learning new life lessons in Virginia and New York - but we will get to visit!!!! (Selfish I know)

Wayne enjoyed his yearly golf trip to Georgia and is loving the sunshine lately. He and Alex have already spent a lot of time on the golf course. I think Alex is a chip of the ol' block as he has a pretty sweet golf game! They are enjoying the time together (and avoiding chores around the house). Just kidding.

I am continue to be busy with school. Hard for me to believe the year is almost over. Our students are still done before Memorial Day, which is kind of a miracle considering all the snow days we had. The last two years I have had to stay back and teach the week after Memorial Day while my family ventured off to the Carolinas a week before me for our 3 week vacation. Funny how this year, we aren't going to the Carolinas in June (moved it to July) and I will be done with school. Just my luck! Oh well, you will find me at many softball and baseball games I guess that week instead.

Enjoy the sunshine!