Happy Belated Birthday Elyse and Kirstin's Ventures

My baby girl turned 14 last weekend. Hard to believe how fast time flies by with the kids. Not only did she turn 14, but we had our first meeting for her high school registration last week as well. We were walking in to the high school and it was like everything just hit me. . . .Elyse is going to be in high school!!!! I am going to miss seeing her face every day in school (and I think she will miss not being able to ask me for money sometimes in the middle of the day). Very excited for this new venture in her life. She has been spending time doing her "4 year plan" for classes. Now this week - driver's test for permit!!!! AHHHH!

Anyway, we had a great birthday weekend for her. Alex's AAU team had their last tourney last weekend so we took 4 of Elyse's friends along down to Cedar Falls last Friday night to stay in a hotel with some of the other families of Alex's team. The girls had their own suite and had a great time. Spent the evening swimming, chatting, and eating. We woke up and took Alex to his tourney while the girls slept in, or tried to. The girls joined us later to watch Alex's last game. We then headed to Cedar Falls to the UNI women's basketball game, which they won. Being the UNI men's team was playing in St. Louis, the crowd was very small at the women's game so we had pick of seats. Alex and Spencer decided to move in right behind the UNI women's team. . . .it was cute and they were smiling. We then went to eat on the Hill at Beck's and met Kirstin for the evening. This was a great wrap up for Elyse's bday as she thinks Becks has the greatest burgers ever. Wayne and I were expecting a quiet ride home, thinking everyone would be a little tired, but not so much. 4 teenage girls and 2 boys in a car do not equal quietness. Love it! It was fun though and I posted pictures.

I think the funniest part of the weekend was when Elyse and her friends were at Alex's last basketball game. Elyse's great uncles, Dean and Jim, walked over to where Elyse and her friends were sitting, without her knowing, and sat right between her and her friends and tried to embarrass her. It was cute and funny. I took pictures, but I was too far away and they were too dark to post. Her friends told me afterwards they had no idea who these two men were asking them to move over and it kind of freaked them out at first. Then then thought it was funny. They also couldn't believe one of Elyse's GREAT uncles, Dean, was the same age as Wayne, Elyse's DAD. and the other one, Jim, looked too young to be a great uncle also. (compliments to you Jim, from the girls). Thanks for the laughs Dean and Jim!

Alex's team ended their AAU season at the Waverly tourney. They did not play real strong the first two games but turned it around the last game and won by a lot. Alex did fine the first two games but then did very well the last game. Thanks to Ken, G'ma Janet, Jim, JoAnne, and Dean for cheering him on. It was fun to have lots of family there. We also got to watch my cousin, Blake's, 6th grade AAU team play as well. Great day of basketball!

Now comes baseball, track and softball for Elyse. Alex's AAU baseball team starts practice this weekend, and Elyse has already started batting practice with a former baseball coach. She started last week and was in a little pain the day after so it is good she is starting batting practice now. Softball is not her favorite sport, but she decided to go out to keep active through the summer, which we were glad to hear. I was in a meeting yesterday with the high school softball and basketball coach, and someone asked me if my family was going to North/South Carolina like we have the past 7 years. I looked at him, smiled, and said, "Not in June as my daughter decided she better go out for softball." He just smiled and said, "That's right. Good answer. Blame me for it. I have tough skin." I guess there is a week in July she doesn't have softball or basketball camp before volleyball starts in August. Maybe we will get a vacation in sometime. Life is changing for the Kerians.

Last but not least, I had to make a post about Kirstin. We are so proud of everything she has done and even more proud of the "ventures" she is taking in life. Today she left for Cancun for Spring Break. That venture is for fun, not one I am specifically talking about here, hoping she makes good choices but it's her senior year so she deserves it. The day she returns she is driving down to Texas to do her level III teaching experience. She will be in a 5th grade room for a week. Her roommates decided to take advantage of the opportunity as well, and we have been encouraging Kirstin to broaden her horizons while she can, so there she goes. I think she will be very tired just getting back from Spring Break, but she is very excited. She also just received confirmation that she will be doing part of her student teaching in New York outside New York City in a 2nd grade room. She is WAY excited about that!!!!! Thanks to Dennis and Connie for your help and "adopting" her for 8 weeks this fall. We can't thank you enough. Looks like we might be traveling to New York City for Thanksgiving????!!!!!! Might be just Kim and Wayne though. . . .Elyse will probably have basketball. Poor Elyse! :)

Have a great week and enjoy the sunshine. . .we have fog but at least the snow is melting!