The End of the Mask Mandate

It's the day we have all been waiting for. The end to the Mask Mandate in Healthcare Facilities.

 Masks were like our safety blanket during the pandemic—always there to protect us and others.

Now that we don't have to wear them all the time, it's a mix of feelings. There's relief, for sure. It's nice to see each other's faces again and talk without muffled voices. But there's also some worry. We got used to masks, and they made us feel safe. Now, we have to adjust to a new normal.

For nurses who started their careers during the pandemic, this is a really big change. Masks were part of the job from day one. There are a handful of nurses that I work with that have never worked as a nurse without having a mask mandate. That seems so crazy and this will be a big adjustment to them.

 Here is to starting fresh! Now we all probably need to start wearing makeup again.

 

Visiting Grammy

As the kids have gotten older, it’s become harder to plan activities or even day trips that everyone can—or wants to—attend. But there’s one thing I know everyone will always make time for, and that’s a visit to Grammy's House. You can't beat the fact that she greets you at the door with cookies and a cold glass of lemonade. The kids especially love that these treats are unlimited, even when we, as parents, tell them "no more until after the meal." Grammy is always there to sneak them one, just so no one starves.

On this trip, we brought Grammy a new wooden bench swing to replace the old one that had been there as long as anyone could remember. It had definitely seen better days, and she’d been having trouble finding a replacement. Luckily, Robb and I were in Menards when we came across the perfect one for her. We brought it with us, and Robb and the boys got it assembled while we were there.

I think before too long Caleb may just double Grammy in height.

Of course, our visit also included an all-you-can-eat supper, featuring a meat with gravy and multiple dessert options. Grammy truly is a special woman. I’ve loved her since the day I met her, and so have the kids. It's hard to describe her, but when I do, I usually end up saying that she’s a woman under 5 feet tall, in her 90s, who accomplishes more in one day than I do in a week. She hosts holidays with 50+ people and makes over 8 chocolate pies to ensure everyone gets a slice. She has a garden the size of most town yards and a rose garden that could be featured in a magazine. Every Christmas, she creates handmade gifts for all her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. Grammy truly is one of a kind!

Needless to say, we always love visiting her—and we usually leave too stuffed and tired to drive home.

 

Emmy's Skating Rink Birthday Party

After seeing the fun that Abby and her friend had at Beatrice Roll-a-Rena, Emmy decided to host her birthday party there too. It’s probably the lowest-maintenance birthday venue we’ve found! The cost was minimal, they let you set up a tab for the kids to get all the snacks and drinks they wanted, and everyone had a blast skating for two hours—all for under $75. Robb and I definitely count that as a win!

Some of the girls were pro skaters, bringing their own skates and zooming around, effortlessly lapping the rest of us. Others needed a little help getting started, with Robb, Abby, or me holding their hand to get them going. By the end, though, they were all skating around in small groups, holding hands to keep each other balanced. It’s always fun meeting your child’s friends, and most of them already know Robb from him coaching basketball or volleyball. Naturally, they all had to give him a hard time, but he loved every minute of it and was a great sport!

Happy 9th Birthday Emmy!

 

Happy Pi Day 3.14

March 14th is the day that mathematical people and dessert lovers alike come together to celebrate a goofy holiday that includes Pi (pie) because why not! Ever since Megan Hopkins told us about celebrating Pi Day at her school, we have adopted this into our household because any reason to have pie is a good reason for us! 

 

Yearly March Madness Trip

March is usually a month that seems to drag on as we endure the last of the cold weather, waiting for warmer days. But for Bryce, March has been something to look forward to for the past several years. It marks the start of March Madness and the annual trip to the Big Ten Tournament with Bob and Susie. He eagerly anticipates this trip, diving into bracket predictions and obsessively watching players and games to stay informed. This year, the tournament was held in Chicago, and they stayed in an Airbnb within walking distance of the games, giving them a taste of downtown Chicago life. 

There is nothing quite like the atmosphere at the Big Ten Tournament. The energy is electric, the crowd is a sea of school colors, and the excitement is palpable. Whether it is a buzzer beater or an unexpected upset, every game they attend adds to the collection of unforgettable moments.

One of Bryce's highlights of this trip other than basketball (if you can believe that there could be anything else), is exploring the local food scene. Bryce is a food enthusiast and Bob and Susie love this! They are more than willing to research and scope out the best places to eat from hole in the wall joints to fine dining experiences. 

 

It takes a lot out of a person, watching that much basketball.

As each Christmas approaches Bryce looks forward to the wrapped gift that tells him where they will be staying and eating while they attend the Big Ten Tournament. This has truly become an unforgettable tradition for all of them.

Boys State Basketball

Caleb was the Student Manager for the Norris Boys Basketball Team, and it was an exciting year as they made it to State. He put in so much time and effort throughout the season to help the team succeed. Caleb got to be part of all the festivities, from team dinners and breakfasts to helping create the big heads the crowd held up during the game. His hard work and dedication didn’t go unnoticed, and he’s looking forward to doing it all again next year!

These girls are just here to socialize but they sure look cute. I'm not sure they watched much basketball, but we had fun watching the boys play at State even if it wasn't a win.

 

Last Show Choir performance

Bryce and Caleb participated in Show Choir this year, and it was so much fun watching their performances and seeing how the group improved throughout the season. I’m really glad the boys took part in this activity. Tonight was the final performance of the year, which was bittersweet since it was Caleb's last time in Show Choir—he’s decided not to participate next year. However, Bryce plans to continue, and I’m excited to see what next year’s show will bring!

Bryce was in the 68th Street Singers Group which had the theme of the Railroad. Bree was in Titanaires and their theme was Working 9-5. 

 

Girls State Basketball 2023

The Norris Girls made it to State for basketball this year. It’s always exciting to cheer on your team, but it was even more special having Bree on the court to cheer for!

The school made big posters with the girls faces on them, so Bryce was responsible for Bree's.

Thomas and Bryce took Bree's picture out to eat with them before the game.

Ashley Gruber and her boyfriend and Bree and Bryce

They didn't win the game, but it was still fun to watch, and it is still really fun that they made it to state. 

 

Truck Mishap/Phone Mishap

Bryce called Robb to let him know that his truck had slid off the road. Thankfully, he wasn’t hurt, and he wasn’t too far from the road. He had been driving on a gravel road in heavy snow, though he claims he didn’t realize it was a gravel road—maybe the first mistake there! He had been driving too close to the edge and got stuck in some deep snow.

Robb went out to help, hooked up the chains (something we bought after having teen drivers), and pulled the truck out. While they were on their way home, I got a notification that Robb had been in an accident, but just as I was worrying, he pulled into the garage. It turns out Robb hadn’t been in an accident—his phone had! After taking a picture of Bryce’s mishap (at my request), he had set his phone on the truck’s bumper and drove off, forgetting it there. The phone fell off and ended up getting run over on the road.

So yeah, not exactly the best day for either Bryce or Robb!