Bittersweet Day.....Walk For ALS in Minneapolis!

Sign along route for ALS walk

Team Nadermann all ready for walk around lake to start

We just returned from a wonderful weekend in Minneapolis!   It was just what the Kerian family needed after a difficult week.  One of my best friends, Paula, lost her brother, who was 38, this past week unexpectedly, and it was a week of sadness and laughs as many memories were shared about him.  Paula's husband, Mike, is one of Wayne's best friends so we wanted to be there for them as much as we could.  It was comforting to be there for them; yet, saddening kind of, to relive some emotions one feels when losing their brother.  So after the funeral on Friday, and spending time with Mike and Paula, we loaded up when the kids got home from practices and headed north to Minneapolis for some much needed time with family.  That's just what we needed.......

Alex and Connor with Wayne and Graham behind

As a family, we had signed up to do the ALS walk in Minneapolis.  In the past, some of us have done the walk in Cedar Rapids, but we thought we would try a new place.  This time we walked 3 miles around a beautiful lake on a gorgeous fall day!  Everyone went, except my dad who was not home yet, and we had a super time!  There were thousands and thousands of people there so the support shown was amazing!  I am not sure how much money was raised but on the last announcement they made before we started, it was A LOT!  It was nice to have Wayne and Alex join as well as this was their first ALS walk, and I love them even more (if that is possible) for doing this with our family! 

Along the walk, we saw a sign that said, "We walk in memory of Ken Nadermann".  Of course, we huddled all around to take a picture.  I know Ken was looking down at us saying, "Get moving family!" but he was smiling as well!  Sara and I were joking along the way that we weren't walking too quickly because of the little boys, and we knew Ken was calling both of us "wussies" for not picking up the pace.  Bittersweet!

Kim and Wayne halfway

So once again....we walk for ALS because we can.....and will continue to do so!  Love and Miss you Ken!  We know you were walking with us!

Crestwood Varsity Takes 3rd at Waukon Tournament

Elyse, 14, Middle Blocker as serve comes over

Going for the hit!

While I love watching volleyball and enjoy it, the last two Saturdays have been spent at varsity volleyball tournaments.  Yes, they are exciting......but not when there is a 3 hour "wait time" for your team to play.....that is not fun!  It would be better if it were at least in a place where I could do some shopping or something, but that wasn't the fact either.  So.....I waited!  Didn't have my Nook, didn't have my ipod, didn't have my computer......what was I thinking when I left home???? Obviously I wasn't!

Wayne was home doing some "stuff" at the country club and Alex stayed home to rest as the two of them, along with Elyse, have been suffering from a terrible sore throat and coughing.  Elyse had someone carry a tissue box around all day at the tournament for her as she was sniffing constantly. (You are a good friend, Molly)  I am just waiting for it to him me.....hoping it doesn't.  So for today, it was just me at the tourney.

The Crestwood Varsity girls did play in a 12 team tournament yesterday in Waukon.  While it was a day of ups and downs, they girls looked great overall and pulled out claiming 3rd place. Some of the teams we played were from Minnesota while a few were in our conference.  For some reason, we struggle with the teams from our conference (have yet to beat a team in our conference).  Elyse, and a two others sophomores who dress varsity but are mainly JV players, got some "game time" and were excited to participate in a super day of volleyball.  It may not have been much for any of the three, but it was time on the floor.  Elyse even had a spike as well as a set to claim an assist.  She's "in the books"!!!! :)

Great job Crestwood Girls Varsity!

Crestwood 7th Graders 2 and 0

Alex, 82, and Spencer, 41, game captains

Alex, 82,

 Because I forget to write it, Alex is number 82 in these pictures.

Hold him back Alex!

Alex going after runner with ball

Alex, 82, takes him down

Alex blocking as tight end

Alex's 7th grade football team had another win the other night vs. Decorah.  It was a close one, only winning 7 to 0, but a win is a win.

As my mom said when she arrived, "I don't know who is more excited, Alex, Gma, Wayne, or Papa?"  :)  Well.....Wayne being excited is an understatement.   He has always cheered loud for the kids when they are in sporting events but he just might get kicked out of one of Alex's football games? Wow!  Good thing Grandpa wasn't there or it would have been even louder!  :)  Hopefully Alex's grandpa will be at the game Tuesday night as he only has 3 games left.  (just teasing you Dad and Wayne...we still love yeah!)  :)

 From what I saw, I thought they did a great job.  Alex, on the other hand, said it was the worse game he has ever played......like he has played so many????? :)   He had some super blocks, opened some holes for the runners, and great tackles.  Oh....for those who asked....he plays tight end on offense and ........"something" on defense. .......not sure what that position is called but he does well! :)

Thanks to Gma Janet, Gma Judy, Randy, Lori, and the boys for coming and cheering on Alex and the Cadets as well as heading to Elyse and Mirandas' volleyball games from there!  We all appreciate it!

Go Cadets!

Volleyball......Bump! Set! Spike!

Elyse strong hit vs. Oelwein

The kids schedules are keeping us on our toes.  So far it has worked out that we have not had to split and send one of us, me or Wayne, one direction and the other, the other direction.  That will change this week so we better get used to it.

Going for block vs Oelwein

Elyse is busy dressing both JV and Varsity volleyball.  Most of her "time playing" is on JV but she has stepped out on the court and played for a few Varsity matches at some weekend tournaments.  Their JV team is struggling a little since their first two wins and haven't been able to pull a win out.  They have won some games but not the complete 2 out of 3 match.  Not sure what seems to be the problem......Wayne will be quick to answer that and say "serving", as would probably my mom as she has been at quite a few games.  Hopefully they can pull it together this week.

Here are some pictures of Crestwood JV vs Oelwein and then Waverly-Shellrock.  Both teams beat  Crestwood in the third games (as they play best 2 out of 3).  Bummer! Elyse continues to play "Middle Blocker" or "Middle Hitter" in the front row.

Right between the hands vs Waverly

Got the tip vs Waverly's big girl

On Rainy Days......Think of Fun Times

Elyse, on left, Alexis, and Molly getting whipped off tube

It is a rainy Sunday here........don't want to clean or do laundry.......just got done with one meeting about confirmation for Elyse and have another one for her trip to Costa Rica in a few hours.  Trying to get caught up on a lot of things and came across some pictures of our quick venture to the cabin Labor Day weekend. Some of the pictures just make me chuckle and were just what I needed on this dreary day! (sure beats laundry and cleaning!)

Alexis, Molly and Elyse, holding on

The kids each took some friends along.  Elyse took Alexis and Molly while Alex took Spencer.  Although one of the days was chilly and cloudy, the kids made the best of it and enjoyed time on the water.   Sunday was a very "choppy" day on the water, but the kids thought it was the best as they were thrown everywhere on the tube as Wayne pulled them on the jet ski.  There was no one on the lake and all you could hear were the kids screaming.  They were screaming so loud that the neighbors on both sides of the cabin came out to see what was going on!  You could hear the girls, and the boys, everywhere and it was quite funny.

Spencer, Alexis, and Molly screaming for dear life!

So as I sit here in watching the rain come down, maybe I will perk up thinking about sunshine and water....and how the kids always make me laugh!

Spencer and Alex showing off

Pretty Girls!

Elyse, Alexis, Spencer, and Molly

Spencer and Alex

Alex's First Football Game! So exciting!

Thirsty boy at halftime

Alex at bottom on ball for "safety".  Yeah Alex!

Alex going in for tackle 

It was the moment we had been waiting for.....I don't know who was more excited, Wayne or Alex.  First real, legit football game in Jr High.  Alex was ready and anxious.  Playing offense and defense, he knew he wasn't going to get a break until the game was over so he thought he should stock up on "energy bars" because "Mom, I am going to need that energy before the game."  Needless to say, he said he tasted them and didn't like that taste....that took care of that....

almost there.......

Almost got him.....

Anyway, it was a great night for football.  Alex's team came out and dominated.....by the middle of the 3rd quarter it was 30 to 0 and the other team came in (usually two games with two teams but tonight, only one game).  Score ended up being 30 to 14 with Crestwood pulling off the big win.  Alex was exhausted afterwards and was in bed by 8:30 tonight.  He loved every minute of it and had some big plays:  main part of a big tackle in the endzone to get a saftey for Crestwood, swiping the ball as the other team was punting and causing a fumble which we run in for a touchdown, great blocks, and super tackles.  It was so fun to watch them play!  When he got up after tackling for the safety, he was on the bottom of the pile with the ball and got up slowly.  He didn't "run" back to the huddle which of course, Wayne discussed with him afterwards by telling him "he better not jaunt unless he has a stub leg and bleeding to death".  This just made him chuckle.

This morning, when I asked Alex what his number was, his comment was, "Mom, just think Adrienne Peterson backwards.  82 Mom, 82.  Meant to be."  Then he laughed.  So cute!

Anyway, great job Crestwood 7th grade!  It's going to be a fun season watching your team!

Got him!!!

Two "little ones" trying to hold Alex back as runner comes with ball

Volleyball has Begun!

Crestwood JV and Varsity teams were off to a great start last week winning both games in a triangular match.  The teams played well together and had a super time.  Elyse had some nice hits and blocks as did the other girls.  The games were not close and Crestwood won all of them big........might have helped that we were playing 2A schools when we are 3A.....but a win is a win.   Keep it up Crestwood!

Molly, Elyse, and Daron waiting on the serve

Elyse tipping it over

Big hit for Elyse

block

Yes.....The Kerians are Still Alive

School has started.....sports have returned.....and I have not made a blog post in almost a month.  Craziness!  That is the word we can all use to describe our lives when school begins and you have two teenagers to get ready for school.  I told Wayne one of us needs to get another job because getting teenagers ready for school is worse than when they are babies and you needed diapers, formula, etc.  Wow!  The sad part is that I did not get anything for myself at the beginning of the school year......don't you feel bad for me??? :)

I sit here and wonder where the time went.....Elyse, now a sophomore, driving herself to school and home??? No way!  Alex, my "little boy" in 7th grade......no way!  It is an exciting time for them, but Wayne and I have learned to read the emotions every day before we ask "How was practice?" or "How was school?"  You never know what you are going to get.....:)  Typical teenagers I am sure.   Elyse and her two friends, Megan and Molly, all live in the neighborhood (actually right across the street and down the street) and they all drive to school.  The first day they all drove to volleyball practice, they met down at the bottom of the hill and blasted their radio stations on the same channel.....they thought they were so cool......it was a cute moment for a mom to hear from her daughter......the little things....

Elyse's volleyball season began before school started.  A few weeks ago they had "Meet the Team"night so let me begin with some pictures of her at "Meet the Team".  This is a night where all fall sports, volleyball, football, and cross country, introduce their teams and then do some scrimmaging etc. for parents and community.  So...let the games begin....the first picture is of Wayne's niece Miranda, a sophomore, on the football field announcing her name during "Meet the Team".   Both Miranda and Elyse made the varsity volleyball team as sophomores.....Elyse still plays JV as well.  Good luck Miranda and Elyse!

Miranda Kerian at Meet the Team (Elyse is 3 behind her)

Elyse at Meet the Team

Elyse, white headband, after "meet the team"

Gilligan and Skipper - Sit Right Back and You'll Hear a Tale...

The Skipper and Gilligan (or vice versa)

Elyse and Savannah enjoying the ride

You all know the song off of "Gilligan's Island" correct?  Well, it was appropriate for our group as we rented a "skiff" boat and ventured out around the Low Country and ocean.  If you remember, we had done this last year, loving it, yet, we did get lost last year which is quite a scary thing.  There are so many marsh areas and little nooks from the ocean back into the marina that one wonders....what did we do before GPS?

Kim, Brenda, and Kayla riding on front of boat

While the weather all week was close to 100, when you were out on the ocean or beach it was much better.  So our first full day with everyone there, we rented a boat and ventured out.  Wayne and Chris both had their GPS and luckily, we followed another boat headed to the same remote island we were, Bull's Point.  This island is uninhabitated and has wonderful shells to collect.  We thought we would make it a day there so we threw in the fishing gear, some kites, and packed a lunch for everyone as well.

Of course on the drive out there were dolphin everywhere!  This is another site that always amazes me, just like in North Carolina.  I could watch them all day as well!

dolpin alongside boat

Brenda exploring island

With the help of our "lead boat" - that didn't know they were leading us - we made it to Bull's Point and set up camp.  We beat the "shelling tour boat" that brings others out to the island to look for shells so that was nice.  The kids roamed the beaches, finding treasures, while the guys tried to catch the "Big One".  The best moment of the whole day was when Brenda tried fishing and realized she had a bite....it was something huge because her pole almost bent in half.  It was amazing!!!  She worked to reel it in but right before she got it up so we could see it, it jumped off.  Her face during the process was priceless....especially because she was pulling something in bigger than the guys have caught yet.  (and believe me, they tried every day after this).

It was a perfect way to start the week, relaxing in the sun.  The guys brought the rest of us back to Fripp and stayed out fishing for a few more hours.....they never did catch "the Big One that Got Away".  Even though they tried.....:)

Wayne fishing

Elyse exploring

Kayla and starfish Elyse found

kids in ocean cooling off

Chris and his "big shark"...yes...it is a shark....no...not big