Sweet (Sick) Sixteen

Today our eldest turned 16. It started out with donuts and a burrito. Unfortunately, the guest of honor was under the weather.  If there hadn’t been a basketball game today, I don’t think there was any way he was going to school.....

We traveled to Thornton to watch him do what he loves and brought cupcakes to celebrate with the team. He stayed for the varsity game and when he got home, we sang happy birthday and opened some presents. 

Here’s hoping that every day is better than his last. Thank you for the joy you bring to our family. I am proud to be your Mom. 

Under the watchful eye of Pop 

Cheering on D-man 

Happy birthday son

Temperature Tuesday

A special treat on a Tuesday night thanks to a basketball game in Fort Collins. I ended up getting to the game a bit late thanks to an accident, but I was able to see D-man score his eight points and cheer the team on to victory. D-man ride home with time and we made a stop at Runza in Loveland. It was temperature Tuesday so we got out Runza for 23 cents. What a treat! But the real treat was getting to see my son play a game he loves and spend some time with him after the game. 

It’s in! 

We tried! 

Usual Suspects

The women got their yearly trivia invite on Thursday night. The woman were bake to contribute and we were in first place going into the final round.  Unfortunately, we didn’t know the final answer and ended up tied for second. We then lost the tie breaker, but had a great time. 

The men debuted their new bowling shirts and were looking pretty dapper. We are pretty lucky women! 😜

Mohi School Spirit

Our weekend kicked off with a Friday night basketball and a Booster tailgate. The sophomore team won by 10 and D-man had as many points as fouls and fouled out of the game. Like Mom, like son. 

We then grabbed some food at the tailgate, worked the tailgate and then watched the varsity game. The game was against Fairview which is a bit rivalry game. It was fun to see the student section so into the game and have T-man get into the raucous atmosphere as well. 

Sko Yotes! 

Waiting to be taken out of the game after fouling out 

Cheering on the varsity game 

Skiing with the Marshalls

While we had a bit of a hectic start to the trip (thanks to unpacking and repacking), we made it to Winter Park without incident for a wonderful ski weekend in the mountains. 

It was fun hosting the Marshall’s and having them experience a ski weekend with us again. The boys improved their skiing so much over the three days and we got them pretty high up the mountain on Monday. Kate even got on skis on Monday. 

Besides the skiing, we enjoyed playing games, the hot tub and pool and seeing four moose right outside the condo. D-man was only with us for one night, but we made the most of it, and T-man was a great coach and ski guide to his cousins. 

It’s always great to ski on MLK weekend and this year did not disappoint. While it was a bit cold on Saturday, it was a sunny, bluebird day on Monday which made for a great day for everyone on the mountain. 

We wrapped up the trip here on Monday night with an easy dinner, laser tag and Farkle. So thankful my sister and her family chose to spend vacation time in Colorado. 

Lots of looking at the ski runs on the map

Marshall boys with T-man 

Jacki and her boys 

The kids 

Sisters 

Some ski runs for an afternoon date

Eldora Day

The boys skied together on Sunday at Eldora. I took them to the bus around 7:39 and off they went. Love that they have each other and can do this together. T-man was a bit hesitant, but said he had a great day. ❤️

Off they go! 

Futsal Kickoff

The 2nd half of the futsal season kicked off today against a tough team. But, the team fought the entire game and held their heads high. Always an exciting sport to watch. 

Lucky Seven

We kicked off our weekend with a sophomore basketball game. D-man had seven points in the victory over Greeley West. We then headed out for tacos and margaritas with some basketball parents. And then I wrapped up the night watching the Jeopardy GOAT tourney with D-man.

2020 Face

From this.....

To this....

Ringing in the New Decade

A night of cards, conversation and good cheer to ring in the new decade with our Louisville friends. Ten years ago the boys and I rung in the last decade in Pender with mom and dad after the flu ripped through the family. It’s hard to believe that 10 years ago, D-man was in Kindergarten and T-man was in Preschool. 

In the last decade: 

• We moved to Louisville and made some amazing friends 
• Marshall started a new job 
• Marshall made four trips to Thailand for work 
• I started a new job, left that job and went back to it 
• I started a brand new job at the end of the decade
• I had over 16 months off of work (all but four months paid) 
• The boys started school at Monarch
• Marshall started playing weekly trivia 
• I joined the Coal Creek Women’s golf league  and a book club 
• The boys participated in a variety of activities- sports, musical, band 
• I had a stroke 
• We took amazing family trips - Bahamas, an Alaskan cruise, Dominican Republic, Mt. Rushmore, Teton and Yellowstone, Banff, Seattle multiple times, San Diego multiple times, Sonoma, Michigan motor home trip, several ski trips, Minnesota several times, two trips to Europe, our 4th of July Nebraska tradition and our Idaho cabin adventures
• Marshall and I took some great couple trips - Hawaii, sailing in the BVIs, Thailand, San Francisco and Las Vegas 
• We’ve had skier’s thumb, a broken arm, two concussions, two taped cuts and one untaped gash
• The boys gained four cousins 
• We lost Marshall’s Dad 

While there have been some lows, we are fortunate to have had many more highs. Here’s to new adventures in the next decade. I can’t imagine taking this life journey with anyone else. 

Ringing in the new year together 

New Year’s euchre 

The group 

Karlen Christmas 2019 Version

We arrived around 10:45 on Christmas night thanks to D-man driving the entire way. We took a new route which kept things interesting. And thankfully, the gas station was open in Elgin for a pit stop. It is eerily quiet driving across Nebraska on Christmas Day for sure. 

We enjoyed staying in the Geisert’s beautiful home all decorated for Christmas. Activities included ping pong, Family Feud, football watching, community center, basketball in Wayne, cards, and time with family. Jaima also hosted a small Schulte Christmas. 

A winter storm extended our trip by one day and made the drive home longer and not great for a good stretch. But, we made it and as D-man said as we pulled into Louisville, it is always fun in Pender. I completely agree. 

On our way! 

Basement fun

Me defeating Jaima in ping pong 

Rec center basketball

The Geisert home decorated for Christmas 

The Karlen clan 

Hanging with Nana 

Fun dressing up

Go Cougs! 

The day of our drive 

From this.....

To this.....