Evie's 4th grade B-squad was gelling so well late in the season that they extended it a a few tournaments... and then yet again for one last shot before officially transitioning to summer.
A small contingent of her crew merged forces with a couple A-teamers, and a 2nd grader (E's little sis'), and jumped into the MYAS' final tournament at the Oxford in St. Paul, an A-tourney comprised mostly of AAU teams. And... the Trojans won it!
So proud of E for stepping up every aspect of her game and for finally reaping the fruits of her labor (her first first place finish). And, so proud of S for jumping head first into the mix of much older players and holding her own (until strep, chills, aches and a 102 degree fever knocked her out of the tournament).
Not many pictures of the weekend, but got one with sister inbounding to sister, with Coach Dad in the background. It was a pretty special experience...
Another year in the books. Another last day at a Wayzata elementary school thanks to crazy population growth and re-zoning. Goodbye, Meadow Ridge!
Here's the year-end interview...
What were your favorite things about 2nd grade/4th grade?
E: Ummmm. Having Isabella in my class. I don't know. You're seriously writing "I don't know". [Eye roll]
E: Seriously. Dad. STOP. Are you doing your little "interview" thing?
S: The pizza party that we won from the Cardinal Crush. And, Mill City Museum.
What will you miss most about 2nd grade/4th grade?
E: Being at Meadow Ridge. Nothing else really, it's just school.
S: I don't know. Hmmm. Having challenging math problems.
What won't you miss about 2nd grade/4th grade?
E. Math. Because it's boring and all you do is like facts, like "5 times 7 is 25".
Me: You know 5 times 7 is not 25.
E: Ryan Thomas, I'm going to punch you. Dad! STOP. Ok, I'm done. [Storms away]
S: Science. Everything about science. Like having to write down observations every day.
Meadow Ridge Field Day 2019.
S asked to give lacrosse a whirl this spring and fell in love instantly. The inaugural 8U season is a short one, and just barely covers the basics... but Sawyer took to it pretty quickly, and will definitely be back for more next year!
E's 10U Blue softball squad won the the Silver Division of their first tournament this year thanks to some outstanding pitching by our ace (Averie) and solid defensive play, and just enough offense to get it done.
E scored the winning run in one game, and threw a shutout inning in another. Great start for the Trojans!
Believe it or not, the one in the middle is in the backseat!
The stars aligned on random Friday night, and L & I were able to sneak away from the kids AND get a last minute table at a hot new spot that's been on our wishlist, Colita.
Jeremy & I took our ladies to Music City to celebrate their 40th trip around the sun. Not much to the weekend, which is exactly what the doctor ordered. Mornings by the AC Marriott pool, early afternoon southern brunches/lunches exploring the Gulch (Listening Room), fancy food & cocktail dinners (Husk)... then cold beer and honky tonk music up and down Broadway (Tootsie's, etc.).
Sawyer's 2019 baseball team.
Sawyer's and her class took a field trip to the Mill City Museum.
I found this picture to such an intersting time capsule. Sawyer and her elementary school buddies Cade, Henrik and Andrew... looking like group of college roommates... hanging in a living room from half-century ago.
Buster may love our new basement more than anyone. It's cooler than the upper levels, the scenery is better (looking right into our wetland), and the furniture is St. Bernard-sized!
E's 4B squad wrapped up their season with a 2nd place finish the Wayzata Classic. This team really turned the corner the final three tournaments, sharing the ball more, tightening up their defense, and getting buckets.
As the season ended, Evie stepped into the PG role much more and showed great court vision, especially on the break, finding streaking teammates for easy baskets.
Fun season. Can't wait to see what next year brings!
Sawyer's 3A squad ended the season with a 1st place finish in a 4th grade tournament in Robbinsdale. These girls had a helluva season, going undefeated against third grade teams, winning the 3rd grade state title... and then challenging themselves in a short "post-season" by "playing up" against 4th grade B teams. In those games, they learned to play with urgency, play from behind, play games where they were disadvantaged athletically/physically, take losses as motivation, and scratch and claw their way to a couple well-earned trophies by the time it was all said and done.
Such a fun, gifted team of great kids. Sawyer was one of the team's best ball hawks, and definitely was at or near the top of the team for steals and rebound, and did an excellent job taking care of the ball when running the team's offense.
This year's Title IX fantasy football Super Bowl champion was MGM, a heavy underdog. But, really we were all winners, with a great night of its-been-too-long food and drinks all over downtown Wayzata (Cov, Bellacour, The Muni), and with the unveiling of a new traveling trophy... the Mendenhall (named after our infamous inaugural draft, and an inside joke that just won't go away!).
J & T hosted an Easter brunch... and backyard Nerf gun / water blaster battle royal!
Our favorite story/moment was... one afternoon, Linds wanted to check out a famous gin speakeasy (her spirit of choice), right at open, thinking maybe they'd let the kids in. Of course, they did not. So, Linds went solo and I said I'd take the girls to explore the neighborhood. Across the street, near 9th Ave/W 17th St, between two high-rise apartments and behind a chain link fence, was a "vintage" NYC basketball court... with a ball laying in the corner. The girls spotted it and asked if they could go shoot. Seconds after popping their first shot, two kids, one boy one girl, each about a year older than E & S, came down and said "that's our ball"... to which I jokingly replied "we'll play you for it". They obliged, and for about 30 minutes the kids played make-it-take-it (of course) 2-on-2. E & S lost 16-11 It wasn't the Rucker, but there's nothing like NYC street ball (and NYC street ball-handling). What a memory!
Our favorite activities were... whispering secrets across the ceiling at Grand Central Station's Whispering Gallery, the sensory immersion at the Color Factory, Stomp Off-Broadway, shopping Chelsea Market, pausing to read under the bridge at Powerhouse Arena bookstores, playing board games at the Uncommons, subway "culture"... and walking SoHo, DUMBO, the High Line, South Street Seaport, Meatpacking District, the Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park and stumbling into fun nooks & crannies along the way!
