March 2022

A couple of years ago I started running half my age on my birthday. This year I decided to bike my age, so I got up nice and early and rode 4 different Peloton classes and one free ride until I got to the desired 37 miles. Much easier than running it, but still a big effort when you have never rode that much at one time. 

After 37 miles on the bike, it is time to eat some donuts in the shape of 37!

The kids were at school so Jennifer and my parents made our way downtown for my birthday lunch at KSBar. Ryan and Drew were there doing the show so I went over to talk with them and grab a picture.

This year my birthday fell on Mardi Gras and the UK basketball home finale. I asked for a king cake for my birthday this year (won't do that again) and we even shoved a baby Jesus in it to see who would find it. I opened my gifts and then Landon and I headed downtown to see the CATS play!

We of course had to stop at Goodfellas for a breadstick and then headed on into Rupp. The wildcats won and ended the regular season undefeated at home. We went down to high five the players and Landon was pumped to see Oscar again. Landon also had one of the coaches hand him one of the players towels. Landon was really excited to get that. 

I ended my birthday celebration with one of my favorite treats, a cream horn from Desserts by Rebecca. It is one of the most delicious things that I have ever eaten. I have tried so hard to make them at home, but mine just aren't the same. 

The party didn't stop the next day when I went to work. They decorated my work space with my favorite, UK sports. 

I had also gotten a card from one of my patients. She finished up therapy and wasn't going to be coming to see us at the clinic anymore. She got me a new charm for my crocs. I was very happy that my friend didn't have to get treatment anymore, but am sad that I won't get to visit and talk with them anymore. 

DanceBlue Marathon Day finally arrived and the kids were excited to go to the in person event. We started off playing Bingo with all my friends (patients) on zoom. 

I was talking and interacting with co-workers and patient families while the kids ran around and played with some of the patients that they knew. I knew the students were about to do the big reveal and I went in the game room to find the kids. However, they were no where to be found. I started getting a little nervous and then I looked and saw them up on the stage. They asked them to go up and be a part of the reveal. I can't believe how much money the students were able to raise for all the patients in my clinic. It will be very helpful to all the families. 

This was a really neat puzzle that my sister got me for my birthday. It had lots of uniquely shaped pieces and even had some shaped like animals. 

We finally got a chance to go to Ohio to meet Miss Eliana. She is a very happy baby. We watched her and Olivia one night so Andrea and Chris could go out. Aunt Jennifer enjoyed snuggling and little baby bath time. 

The kids and I stopped by the Pins bowling location in Dublin, Ohio for a little time in the arcade. All the games are free so the kids and especially my wallet love it! It has tons of classic arcade games. 

We went on a seek and find in Dublin trying to locate the fairy doors. It is a really cool marketing idea to try and get you into local businesses. The kids were able to locate them all so they could turn it in for their prize. Their favorite locations were the ones that included sampling the goods.

Olivia wanted to show us a new place that we hadn't been in Columbus, the Conservatory. Inside they have a butterfly sanctuary that was really neat. The butterflies flew all around you. 

One even landed on Eliana's stroller while she was taking a nap. 

The conservatory also had a really neat children's garden for the kids to play and run around in. Olivia was excited to show her cousins around because she was the only one who had been there before. 

The cousins playing together in the children's garden. 

The kids were really excited about going to the ice cream shop for a treat. I'm glad I got the picture when I did because right after this Olivia dropped her cone. Needless to say the ice cream wasn't the only thing melting down.

Brinley is such a big helper. I know that she is going to be a great mom one day, just like her mommy. Landon is going to be a good dad too. Here he was reading a bedtime story to Olivia. 

Olivia was excited to have her cousins sleep over in her room. 

Brinley's Rampage team had their first tournament of the season and they were the champions! This was Brinley's first championship. The most impressive of all is that they only had 9 girls for the entire day. They battled hard and won it all. They started at nine in the morning and the last game of the day finished around eleven at night.

The tournament day was extremely cold. Notice any similarities between mother and daughter. They never miss out on a chance to bundle up!

The girls getting some instruction from coach Trey. During the teams break in play we headed to Aunt Amanda's restaurant and had lunch. The kids really enjoyed the pizza!

Over the past two years I have been to a lot of football and basketball games, but we hadn't been to many of the other sports. Well, we decided to change that, and because the kids were more interested in the game now it made the experience much better. We watched some of the UK softball and baseball games one night. Now the kids have more knowledge of the game I am quizzing them about what they would do in certain scenarios.

Brinley at a scrimmage with mommy. She started the season playing second base and batting lead off. 

I was cheering on the UK women's basketball team in the SEC Championship and I couldn't believe it when they actually won it all! It was a fantastic comeback. I just wish that I had driven to Nashville to watch it in person.  

I'm not sure that this is comfortable, but if you're tired enough then anything will work.

St. Patrick's Day calls for some green clothing and some green food. We woke up and had green pancakes with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles.

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day with some green mustaches at work. Being at work will be the only joyous thing from this St. Patrick's Day because just a few hours after work I came home to watch the Peacocks basketball team knock the Wildcats out of the NCAA tournament in the first round. It was an absolute disaster that I still can't believe happened. 

Landon's baseball season started out with him hitting two home runs in his first scrimmage of the season. This kid has put in the work during the off season to get better and everyone can really tell. 

We were all very excited to help at the meal pack with our church. The kids are seasoned pros at this now and we were in a group with a bunch of first timers. The kids were both very good about switching and letting the new kids try out the different jobs. For the first time ever I stayed afterwards and was table captain. It was a lot of fun and we will be excited to sign up again next year. 

This year for lent (no we are not Catholic I just really like the concept) I told Jennifer that she could pick one for me. She chose two actually. That I had to be in bed every night before midnight and that I had to get rid of one thing a day for 40 days. I think this satisfied the requirements. I took a load of stuff to the church and donated it so that someone else could benefit from it. 

March this year was really interesting. I think it didn't have the same sports joy that it usually does because the CATS had their unexpected early exit from the tournament. However, it just seemed to be replaced with more time spent working with the kids at softball and baseball. Maybe it was for the better. There is always next year for us to capture title number 9! Thanks for reading and God bless!