Spring break

For spring break, we traveled - marginally - southward to Wisconsin Dells to spend a few days swimming at the Great Wolf. Like in the past, this does not make for a particularly leisurely vacation.  It is downright hard work to spend most of your waking hours running up the stairs to giant water slides! 

It has been a couple of years sine the last time we visited. One change in that time is that the boys are quite a bit more independent in a water park (and perhaps mom an dad are more comfortable letting them do things like go down a water slide by themselves...). 

The boys are already lobbying for a return trip in the not so distant future! 

9

And just like that, Mathias turned 9 years!

For the occasion we traveled to Fargo to meet up with aunts (B and Marci), cousins (Jonah, Megan, Colten, and Reagan), and Grandpa Charlie. Special mentions go to Megan's husband Bruno who put in a 2-hour shift in the pool helping the kids burn off energy!

In a whirlwind birthday weekend we hung out with family, ate cake, swam in the pool and dined/played at Space Alien restaurant!

On the way home, Mathias proclaimed more than once that it was the best birthday ever and he wants to do it again next year! 

The end of Mites

For a crash course in youth hockey....

• Kids 8 and under play Mites. 
• Kids 9 and 10 play Squirts. 

Mathias has spent the fall and winter playing Mites hockey on the local Gold team. As Mathias is on the verge of turning 9; next fall when hockey resumes he'll move up in size into Squirts. Most of his friends are staying with Mites going into next season. Watching them play there seems to be a world of difference as the Squirts are bigger and faster on the ice.  That will be quite a challenge.   

In the meantime the Golds have closed out their season with a few games.  We can proudly report that Mathis scored a goal in his first game against and outside team!