class of 2020

Some grads decorated the sidewalk outside the high school with all the grads names. The first photo is from Insta...it's getting closer to being a reality!

daffy down dillies

The daffodils are in full bloom and I plucked five beautiful stems for my very kind and handsome husband Bradley Cole. They are now gracing our breakfast nook table. Spring has sprung!

Note the vase if from Stuart and Kyeanna's wedding in 2016. Great times remembered.

rainy Tuesday

I have a feeling our yard is just going to TAKE OFF after this truly beautiful day of gentle rain. Katie and I aren't able to head out on our weekly run today because we are afraid our trail will be under water, but I will head out for a 4 miler shortly. I plan on making dinner tonight when I return and then have a couple of friend Zoom meetings planned for the evening.

Found out from my friend, Petra today, that this beautiful flower that grows near our home every year is called a Blood Root. What a fun discovery!

another discovery on wild flowers blooming near our home is on the south side there are ramps that have been growing for many years. My friend and neighbor, Maggie identified them for me...

sunny Monday

Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful day! Went on a socially distanced walk with my friend, Sharyl and did at home learning with my favorite 9 year old. Katie curled my hair really beautifully for my read alouds this week of the Secret Garden. Went to play tennis with Katie and Osten and ended up playing on the sidewalks because the tennis courts are closed.

home again!

Back in River Falls--kept seeing rainy skies to the south, got a few sprinkles as we pulled into town and now the sun is shining again! I'm planning on going for a walk with Anders' girlfriend's Mom so we can discuss plans for an at home prom. Last night was supposed to be prom, so she made a little display at her home with a different dress. Anders was working late at DQ, so he did not join her, but his photo was there.

Soon to have some pizzas for dinner and then heading out on my walk. Should be fun planning prom.

After we went on our walk, I stopped by DQ and was served by this guy:

He is now a masked ice cream maker.

up north again and 8 miles down

We’re back at the shack for the final wood cutting of the year. I got an eight mile run in this morning. Feeling great!

 shuffling for a little cribbage

wearing our matching PJs

 right after my 8 mile run

 proud driver without a driver's license

Osten has been tooling around on the 4 wheeler. Brad and I spent some time cleaning the truck and playing cards. Katie is spending time at cousin Siri's cabin and we all met at Ibby and Mike's for a weiner roast at night. Fun Saturday up north.

Ivan, Osten and Ike on the slack line

Ibby the fire maker

 Brad giving Mike a ride in a little trailer with the 4 wheeler

draft night

We watched the draft in Thursday night. So fun! I don't recall ever watching the draft in the past, but we made it happen Thursday night. We ate yummy BBQ chicken wings. The draft started at 7 and Osten called the first pick--Joe Burrow to the Cincinnati Bengals.

It was almost 8pm and I was waiting for the Vikings to make their first pick before going on a 3 mile run. They were still in the teens as far as teams go, so I went on my jog and got back in plenty of time to see the Vikings select 22nd, Justin Jefferson--a wide receiver known for his dancing celebrations. Should be fun to see the new picks in their debut this fall. 

the daffys are starting to pop

I am so excited because right outside our breakfast nook, the daffy down dillies are getting ready to show their faces.

we love the earth, we love our planet

Happy Earth Day! It is the 50th anniversary of the beginning of earth day and what an absolutely gorgeous day we are experiencing! Our handsome son is going on a hike with his lady friend, Lindsey. When I asked if I could join him he enthusiastically agreed! What a sweet guy. I declined because I want to spend the evening with Brad, Katie and Osten, but I have arranged a walk with Lindsey's Mom tomorrow evening as we discuss making our own prom for the kids. I'm hoping she can show me where the hidden falls could be found and the Devil's Punch Bowl.

Here are photos from the past several weeks of Katie and my weekly jog to the top of the hill at Mound Park. It's fascinating to look out on the city where we live and find our "spot on the map".

Tuesday, March 24

Tuesday, March 31

Tuesday, April 14

Wednesday, April 22

Today was a much more challenging jog up the hill. We ate kind of an unhealthy lunch and the temperature was a lot warmer than what we were used to. It was 63 degrees and pretty sunny. 

Our lunch as DQ served by this nice guy:

it was such a nice occasion to see his bright smile. 

and here are some sweet ramps that I cut for our sweet flower vase from a former favorite student:

reading fort

Yesterday, Osten and I decided to build a little reading fort behind our couch. He read a great Pete the Cat story to me. Then we built some words with our banana grams on the breakfast nook table.

I love at home learning with this guy!

Osten's buddy Jayden and his family

and then my enchanting 14 year old made my hair beautiful for my read aloud to my class...she is such an amazing daughter.

and Liana/Gracie story continues

Last night, we got to relive an amazing moment in our cousin and niece's life. It's when Liana helped a fellow runner cross the finish line at a cross country meet in 2016. Liana and Gracie have kept in touch and Boyd Huppert decided it was time to interview them again. I learned some new things about their friendship including a huge streaks record just over three years in length!

Thank you Kim for letting us know of the airing of the story. Thank you Boyd for interviewing the girls and thank you Liana for your kind graciousness in finding it not really being a big deal that you helped someone in need. You are a hero.

Boyd Huppert is in the first photo and here are Liana and Gracie on separate screens due to social distancing.

seeing some cousins at a social distance

We found out that Brent and Molly were up at their cabin this weekend and they were visiting Ibby and Mike. We stopped by their house and got to see Olson cousins at a social distance. Katie was starting to feel a little remorse at making her decision to stay home.

I think she really probably had a great time having time to herself...she is a teenager!

my yummy lunch, cheese, avocado, almonds, tomatoes and carrots

Siri, Dehlis, Henry and Ike saying hello

When we got home, we realized that our neighbor Mark fixed his basketball backboard. Osten immediately went over to test it out. Thank you so much, Mark!

3rd weekend at the hunting shack!

So far, each weekend, we have had one less guest at the Gile Road Hunting Shack. Weekend One we had all five Olsons, weekend two--there were four and this weekend there were three. Katie decided it was just too boring and horrible to be at the hunting shack so opted to stay home with Anders who was working at DQ. I sure missed the other two, but it was pretty special just being with Osten.

We arrived on Friday afternoon, picking up the 4 Wheeler at Bud and Bettys, some pizzas at the dairy and headed to the shack. We had pizza, watched a little Despicable Me movie and went to bed.

On Saturday morning, Brad went turkey hunting early. When he returned (no turkey), I went on a 7 mile jog while Osten and Brad went into the woods to fell a few trees. The jog was great and the boys had great success felling trees. Then we spent the afternoon hanging out, playing cards, reading and riding 4 wheeler.

 4 wheeler!

relaxing in the hammock

 reading under the blankets on the hammock

baking some premade cookie dough

ploughing through the cookies while playing cards

checking out a turkey feather

In the evening, I went on a long walk and the boys went turkey hunting. I got back to the shack, was playing some solitaire when I saw this out the window...

two deer in the path and two in the brush right after the path.

The boys returned with no turkey, but we ate some leftover pizza, grilled cheese and tomato soup.

We watched a great movie called The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind--or I should say the first 40 minutes and then we all decided it was time for bed!

happy anniversary love birds!

Happy anniversary to an amazing couple--Cory and Joan Lee Blomgren

it slipped past!

The 16th slipped past without a note! The day was sunny, I went on a 80 minute walk with my beautiful 14 year old. She and I worked on a Mock Interview for her Careers class together and we received a phone call that the remainder of school year is canceled. We will continue our distance learning.

Events such as graduation ceremonies, awards nights and what not are still being determined, but it looks like the class of 2020 will have a unique way to ending their public education career in the state of Wisconsin.

Class of MMXX you are amazing!