Spring Break

We finally made it to spring break.  It is a late in the year week of school this year, and students and teachers needed the time away from each other.  Hopefully, we can come back ready for the last six weeks. 

We didn't have big plans.  But I said we needed to get away for at least a night.  So, we went to Columbus – always a good destination.  We left on Sunday afternoon and met Jeremy’s old roommate, Mike, and his kids at Highbanks Metropark.  (His wife was finishing up packing prep for their trip they were leaving on, so she didn’t join us.) We met at the nature center and then started the hike.  It was a bit longer than the kids anticipated, but it was a beautiful day and a fantastic hike.  They played in/around a creek for a short time.  At the end, we made them take the requisite photo – ages 12, 11, 10, 9, 7, 5, 3.  The first one was a smile for the camera; the second one was a show us how you feel about our hike! 

              

That night, we ate at Lucky House, a Chinese restaurant we liked in Westerville.  We got to really fitting fortunes – “Your never alone when you have a good book,” and “Dessert can make you happy”

Then, we did what Ellie had been waiting to do … SWIM.  Jeremy and the girls got in; I sat and watched.  I just wasn’t feeling it.  We went to bed without the usual shower after swimming routine.  I figured we would be getting right back in when they woke up – and they did. 

From there, we ventured out to the Book Loft in German Village to look at books.  Then, we ate Old Mohawk restaurant for nourishment with a cream puff from Schmidt’s to top it off.  (To be honest, I think I make a better cream puff, but I’m just saying…)  Jeremy had the (recommended by his aunts) turtle soup.  It tasted like vegetable beef, but now we can all say we tasted turtle. 

We followed that up with a trip to Barnes and Noble for Madison to use her gift card from Christmas.  They looked at books a long time before finally settling on one each.  The highlight for me was watching Madison gather up the courage to step on the down escalator.  It took longer than I would have thought, but she did it.  So, when we went to the Easton mall for Graeter’s ice cream and Ellie wanted to use the escalators just for fun, I was surprised Madison joined us.  Conquering the fear, I guess. 

    

Other tid bits…

A quick trip to pick up an Orange Julius at Belden Village Mall

And a pile of cups from the March/April birthday party fun at our house with my family.  It was so nice to get together and hang out. 

Hopefully, my next post will happen shortly after Easter and before May.  Here’s to finally catching up!

Erin Gets Out

I had two opportunities to go out with friends in the last month.  Both were fun and a bit out of the norm. 

Outing #1 – Cleveland Museum of Art and Pretty Woman the Musical

I went with Sandy, Tracy, and a friend of theirs to Cleveland.  We started with the art museum.  It had a special exhibit by Alberto Giacometti. I didn’t really know his work, but Sandy said he is one of her favorite.  So here are some of his pieces:

         

As well as some other things that stood out during my meandering.     

We had lunch at the museum cafe.  I had salad with some delicious mac and cheese. 

We headed out to make it to the “preshow” to the musical. (There is an actual term for this time, but I honestly forget what it was called right now.  Hopefully, Sandy doesn’t kill me!)  It was interesting.  There was a man who talked about the making of Pretty Woman the movie as well as how that led to the musical.  We grabbed a pretzel as big as our faces before finding our seats.  Then, we settled in for the show.  It was good.  I really like the movie.  The musical was a very similar (identical) storyline with songs added in.  I’ll still pick the movie over the musical, but both were worth seeing. 

         

Outing #2 – Curling

Sandy had posted a link for Learn to Curl at Mayfield Curling Club.  It was a 2 hour session for $50.  She asked on Facebook if anyone wanted to go.  I was all in.  We rounded up two others to join us – Rachael, a high school friend, and Erin U, the new family life pastor’s wife.  We left on Saturday, April 2nd in time to grab amazing food at Lock 15 Brewing Company in Akron.  Then, headed to the curling facility.  It was a BLAST!  If I could have had 4 hours, I would have been there for every minute.  The first hour we were instructed by Jenny, who had been curling since college (about 10 years).  She was fantastic.  The second hour, we played another Learn to Curl team who was (thankfully) equally as bad as us.  Curling is hard, but so fun.  I so wanted to practice throwing the stone the full length of the ice sheet to get it in the house!  (Yep, reread that sentence… so many good curling terms.)   I did get to be the skip (person who directs the throw and yells for the sweepers to sweep).  I also was a sweeper.  While I didn’t get it in the button (center circle), I think I made one in the house… which was later knocked out.  I definitely have a video (or two) of me falling; ask if you want to see it. 

              

We finished the night at Pav’s Creamery where we each enjoyed a flight of ice cream – 4 kinds!  It was a sweet ending!      

March Madness

Madness because it is gone.  Also madness because for the first time since 2008 the Kansas Jayhawks pulled the championship win out for me and I placed second in my bracket pool.  I was first in 2008.  Jeremy beat me this year by 3 points. Rock Chalk!

Jeremy and I finally went on our date to see the Eagles.  We planned to see them in October in California, but I got COVID.  He learned they would be in Cleveland in March, so we bought tickets, I took a personal day for the day after, and we made it an actual getaway.  We left on Thursday after dropping the girls off at my parents’ house.  We grabbed a quick meal at Chik-Fil-A on our way there.  After checking into our hotel, we walked to Rocket Mortgage Field House (home of the Cavs).  We were by far in the minority age-wise, but that was fine.  We found our seats waaaaay up in the arena.  The first half of the concert was the Eagles playing their Hotel California record from start to finish.  Then there was an intermission. At that point, we stepped out to use the bathroom (with the thousands of other people).  Jeremy found a lesser used bathroom for me to avoid the very long line at the one right by our seats.  In the process, he also found seats on the same level, but closer to the stage, just a side view, and with more space (less people).  So, for the last 2 hours of the concert we enjoyed this view; it was a better location and a great find.  Our two views:

   

While Jeremy pretty much knew every song, every singer and musician.  I knew more songs than I thought and pretty much only knew who Vince Gill was (who was taking the place of the deceased member of the Eagles).  I would say Jeremy loved the concert; I liked the concert.  I loved that we were away together. 

The next day, we checked out of the hotel and headed out of town.  We went to Sand Run Metropark to take a short hike.  It was a pretty hike up a steep hill; it was rated moderate or strenuous.  I would agree with this rating if it rated only the first hill; after that, it wasn’t bad.

We ate at First Watch for a brunch before coming home to get the girls.  We ended our night with our first trip to the Dalton Dariette.

Finish up February

It has been one of my longest times of silence on the blog.  Not sure what has happened to suck me away from this.  Life has just felt like a never-ending hamster wheel.  But there have been some moments where the monotony and speed and expectations relax, and I find myself again.  I guess in those pockets I choose to do something else – probably read.  It is my escape – maybe more than it should be.  It is much easier to watch someone else’s life unfold.  Their problems happen. And be solved.  Characters who are annoying are only with you for the duration of the book.  And those that you love, you tuck away in your memory bank. There are always things I would like to see happen.  Places I would like to go.  Gatherings I would like to organize.  Sometimes a book is just safer and easier than trying to do those things.  At this point, I have about 6 weeks of school left, and I wonder, Will summer be different or will it slip by before I do all the things?  Not sure.  I am trying to just take each day as it comes at this point. 

Deep thoughts.

Here’s to February’s last breath…

Madison participated in the Wayne County Solo and Ensemble Contest this year.  I was proud of her for trying it out.  She played a flute duet with a friend of hers.  She worked hard to get her part down. We listened, and she played along with, a person on YouTube that played the piece with a clarinet.  It was extremely helpful.  The week of the contest, her friend came over two different days to practice a little more with her.  Then on contest day, we could go listen.  They did so well.  The best that I had heard them play.  They earned an Superior rating.

Ellie celebrated her Dia-versary on February 21.  That is the one year anniversary of her diagnosis.  She could pick what she wanted to do to celebrate.  She wanted to roller skate.  So, off we went to improve our skating skills.  She had a lot of fun using her new (hand-me-down) skates.  I laced up a pair of skates that had a tongue hanging on by a thread – literally.  It didn’t matter.  Skating happened for all of us – Ellie on her personal skate.  Jeremy on rollerblades.  Madison on rentals.  And me on rentals.  Grandma and Grandpa Ediger came just to watch the fun and celebrate the date as well. 

This past year has not been without some bumps in it.  But I am so proud of how far Ellie (and all of us) have come.  Dexcom changes happen fairly quickly without the tears now.  Carb counting is getting quicker and more routine.  And she is now giving herself her own shot, which has allowed her to go over to friends’ houses and be a little more independent.  We have a long way to go.  And sometimes, I look at her, and I think it really isn’t fair and this really sucks.  All her life she will have to manage this – think about carbs, dose for all the bites of food she takes, go to bed wondering if she will be low, explain her Dexcom when someone asks, give a tutorial to friends and friends’ parents every time she goes over, and prick, poke, and wear something.  It’s fine.  But that doesn't’ mean it doesn’t still give me pause once in awhile.

February is almost gone…

Not quite sure what has happened to it – a lot of snow, ice, and wind, I think! 

Flip back the calendar a page and let’s wrap up the last weekend in January.  Madison went to Youth Winter Retreat at Camp Luz with a lot of jr. high kids from our church (and other churches).  It is only a weekend, so it is a different vibe from summer camp.  You also stay specifically with your church group, so that is different.  She was a little hesitant to go, but she ended up really enjoying it.  The first night their cabin door blew up and the frigid air infiltrated their night.  It was down to 49-50F in there!  Their sponsor had them layer clothes on and bundle up with the heater tried desperately to start warming it up again.  They had lots of snow to play in, too.  I am hoping this was a good start to JHY for her – getting to know the older girls in the youth group and making better friends with them. 

Madison had wanted to join ski club at school this year.  This is a club that takes the kids on a bus to Snow Trails every Tuesday during ski season.  While I thought I sounded fun, it made me nervous to send her “alone” to navigate getting her skis, the slopes, etc.  We had only skied once before.  Plus, they got back pretty late on Tuesday night.  Our compromise was we would try to take her a few times this season to give her more exposure and see how she felt by next year.  We planned to go on February 4 after school with the Paulis; their daughter Ellie had also considered ski club, but they decided to take the same approach as us.  Well, as snow storm blew in on Wednesday, and even Friday the roads were questionable. They ended up clearing enough for us to travel to Snow Trails.  It was amazing, fresh snow to ski on.  We had fun skiing from about 4-8pm. 

              

Somewhere in those snow days, the girls had the neighbors over for a sleepover.  They played outside for almost the entire day and then took a supper break at their own homes before reuniting for the night.  We had just bought a couch that pulled out to make a full bed, so we tested that out as well.  The next morning, they made a feast – pancakes, eggs, and blueberry muffins. 

       

Madison and Jeremy also went skiing this past Saturday from about 12-6pm at Snow Trails.  While it had been warm, rainy, and then cold and icy the days leading up to it, the resort had time to groom and make more snow for pretty good conditions on Saturday.  Madison ventured on blue slopes our last time out, but stuck to them almost exclusively with Jeremy.  She even used the ski ramps that were built along the edge to just go up and over; she really enjoyed that.  It is neat to see her confidence grow. 

While Madison and Jeremy were skiing, Ellie and I headed to the animal shelter to pet some cats and dogs.  She had a lot of fun, especially because there was a pen with three puppies in it.  This is Papi, a Chihuahua mix on the left, and Bosco, a English Sheepdog on the right. We took a few dogs out for a bit, but it was cold  We will have to go another time when it is warmer to let them out longer.

    

Madison recently rearranged her room and Ellie rearranged her this weekend.  I am not good with the before and after pics, but it is fun to watch how they continue to find new configurations for their stuff.  They have gotten faster at rearranging, and also better at putting their own things away afterwards. 

Jeremy and I went out on a date to see the movie, Marry Me, and eat out at The Nook.  It was a good chick-flick, which I feel like I haven’t seen in forever.  The food was good at the restaurant, too.  Our next date is to the Eagles concert in mid-March.  We should get in the habit of one date night a month.  It is good to be out and learn how to talk to each other about the things that aren’t just the details of the daily grind. 

Enjoy the last bits of February – sunshine and 50s out there today.  It is also Ellie’s one year anniversary from her Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis.  We will be celebrating today with a trip to the roller rink.