Taylors Falls

Day trip #2 of MEA was with the whole fam' and to the east, off toward Taylors Falls to hike and explore the area.  But, a last minute opening at Trollhagen had us skipping the nature walk and instead braving the ropes course.  The course was no joke, by the way.  You're up there, and navigating the landings and safety gear wasn't easy... but, the zip lines made the more challenging obstacles way worth it!

We then checked out Fawn-D0e-Rosa's wildlife park just down the road and fed goats, llamas, deer, ducks, ponies and everything in-between with our hands.  Evie seemed to be the duck whisperer, and Sawyer had a deer that she could dang near bear hug!

And, to wash it all down, we headed to Dancing Dragonfly winery (adults) for wine flights then to the Drive-In for malts (kids... and adults).

First snow

October 16, 2020.

Better dead than red

To kick-off MEA break, Linds and Jill took the kids on a road trip to go hiking near St. Cloud, they said... only to learn later that Jill, a Bennie, had centered the day around a tour of the St. Ben's and St. John's campus.

The kids said they had fun trekking through campus, playing on the varsity fields and hiking the nearby nature walks.  However, I'm sure that's just them being polite, like the future Tommies they are.

SRB's 10th

S celebrated her 10th with breakfast in bed and a joint party with her bestie Gracyn.  

The two planned, set-up and ran every last bit of the afternoon, which included kickball, yard games, a garage minute-to-win-it course and a piñata. 

Home schoolin'

Given the status of COVID infection rates in the district, Wayzata schools are in a hybrid learning model for the foreseeable future.  In person, at school learning M and W for the girls... and distanced, at home learning leveraging technology T, Th and F. 

The system works from a health and safety standpoint, but the at home learning curriculum is pretty limited, doesn't take long to complete and results in a LOT of time where Mom and Dad are tied up working, and the inmates are wild and free. 

Pictured above is one of the rare, peaceful at home self-learning moments where the sibs look like they actually enjoy one another's company.

Fall baseball

Sawyer got in another season of baseball, jumping from Hamel to Plymouth/Wayzata for a short fall session.  Her team, the Nationals, had a nice 0.500ish season.  

S got a ton of reps at catcher, and is becoming quite a force behind the plate.  Very little gets past her and she's got the arm to throw kids out at 2nd and 3rd.  She's a vocal leader too, always the first to yell the situation/play and keep the team ducks in a row.

Bass Lake

S & Jack canoe fishing in Bass Lake, chaperoned by a bald eagle.

Flag football

Another great flag season for Sawyer with the PWYFA.  Her team won just one game, but it was fun to watch them progress.  S loved playing QB, and the "out & up" was her go-to call.  She was a ball hawk on defense as well, leading the team in tackles and second in INTs

On to tackle next year?

Fall softball finale

E's 12U Gold squad wrapped up a short fall season going 0-2 at State, but playing their best ball of the season.  E had a couple of impressive put-outs, tag-outs and some heady play at short and first, as well as a big drive to left in her last at bat.

Fun to get a few reps in this fall after a lost summer due to COVID.  Always a blast coaching as well, and seeing E's leadership continue to develop from the dugout.