Spring Break in Colorado

Tanner was able to have about 3.5 days in Colorado for the end of his spring break. He was able to see a bunch of friends and we got to spend some time with him as well. Highlights included a walk up by the middle school, Sweet Cow ice cream, Tilt for a few games and a bit of skiing. We also had some casual meals and just time at home together. There was cribbage played and basketball watched (Go Big Red!). 

Tanner saw frisbee friends and joined us at Crystal Springs after our hike. We also were able to wrap up a bunch of Italy tasks including buying his ticket to Venice! While it was a short visit, it was wonderful to have Tanner home. 

Sweet Cow 

Hawkeyes win! 

Centex Ultimate Tourney

Tanner and the IHUC ultimate team traveled to Austin for the Centex Ultimate tourney. They went 2-1 on Saturday to put them in the top bracket on Sunday. Tanner played against both Colorado College and Colorado B team (he knew folks on each team and also lost to both of those teams). The team had a tough run of it on Sunday, but did win their final game to place 7th. I enjoyed tracking the scores online and Tanner said he played well which is great to hear. He then headed to a house outside of Dallas for a few days of team bonding on spring break (which sounds like it was a lot of fun). 

Final Sigma Chi Mom's Weekend

It was a fun weekend with Drake and his fraternity brothers and their moms. We started Friday night with a private room at Pickle and Pig with a delicious meal and drinks. We then headed to the CJ bar rental for a drink. Then the group migrated to 1868 as there was space for a big group (lots of other bars were not open yet as they were closed for private bar rentals). We were able to hang out with Drake's friend Noah and his Mom for a bit which was nice as I had never bet Noah's Mom (the boys are in different fraternities). We then played a couple games of Euchre and then walked back to "the Village" for a fire (Marshall joined us for a drink there which was nice). 

After attending Drake's honors presentation, we headed to Oxford Lanes for some bowling fun. Drake bowled a 189 and I bowled a 125 (or something like that). It is clear that these young men love their Thursday night bowling leagues. We then went back to the condo and watched football, F1, took naps and ordered pizza with Marshall. Saturday night took us to a new bar rental, the corner bar and wrapping up on the dance floor at Brick. It's hard to believe it was the last mom's weekend already. What special time with Drake over the years - I'll miss this. 

Pickle and Pig dinner 

"The Village" 

Miami women's basketball team making an appearance at Brick - MAC Champions! 

Honor's Presentation

How fortunate we were to be in Oxford on a weekend when Drake was presenting his Master's Thesis for his honors presentation. He presented on the affect of the NIL on college basketball. In a nutshell, it's not great. Three star players are now starting out at non-power conferences (and getting paid for it) and then getting recruited away by power conference schools when they prove themselves. There were a lot of questions and it was evident he knew his material. It's evident he has put in a great deal of work and what a fun year to be talking about basketball while at Miami. I'm so glad we could be there. 

MAC Tourney in Cleveland

The outcome of the Miami/UMass game in the first round of the MAC Conference Tourney was certainly not what we had home, but it was a fun 24 adventure in Cleveland nevertheless. We left after class/work on Wednesday and arrived in Cleveland around 9:00. We had a delicious meal at Cordelia on 4th Street between our hotel and the arena. We then walked around downtown and checked out the casino. In the morning, we grabbed bagels and tried to walk to the lake, but found out that is not easy (and it was FREEZING). 

We had great seats sitting with the basketball parents thanks to Drake's fraternity brother who is on the basketball team. It was a bummer to lose the game for sure, but I'm glad we were able to go. Before we headed back to Oxford, we walked around a bit more and grabbed "Cleveland BBQ." 

downtown Cleveland

4th Street

Atrium of our hotel - the old arcade (indoor mall) 

The Browns stadium on the left and the lake in the background

Go Redhawks! 

great seats

Drake's high school friend from Kansas sent us this - we look so sad 

Oxford Spring Break

It was a wonderful week in Oxford. Our AirBnB had desks in each of the bedrooms that made working from OH much easier. We filled our evenings with a couple of walks - around campus and along a biking path near our rental. We went out for Mexican one night and Drake was kind enough to invite us out to trivia with his friends Monday with 9:45 start (fraternity brothers) and Tuesday with a 9:00 start (Econ Master's cohort). We were able to help Drake and team (named "Four Dudes and my Mom) win, but were of little help on Tuesday night. After trivia each night, we continued the festivities - martini Monday at O Pub and Tuesday we went to Circle Bar for darts. Thank goodness for east coast working hours. 

in front of Drake's freshman dorm

disc golf on Miami's campus

on the high school campus

Darts at Circle Bar

shots for winning a round of trivia 

success - shot ski won! 

Into Orbit - CKO 2026

The Snapdocs company kickoff was once again held in Denver - this time up town at the Grand Hyatt. This was by far the best company kickoff - Top Golf with the team, dinner at a Safta for our old friends/new friends dinner (SUPER good restaurant I had never been to), good sessions and break outs and really fun awards dinner where everyone embraced the "Into Orbit" theme. As a completely remote company, these in person moments are super valuable and I am so fortunate to work with some really wonderful people. 

Old friends, New friends dinner

the Snappies! 

My team 

dancing the night away 

boss man 

no fun at all