happy Halloween 2021

Osten and I went Trick or Treating with his friend Coulter and my students Ellery and Simon. We’re currently watching the Vikings play the Cowboys. Tied mid 4th quarter. 

Katie is at her friend Mya’s for a sleepover, we don’t have school tomorrow (I have workshop) so the kids can sleep in tomorrow. 

Jenna sent some sweet photos of her tiny kitten and pumpkin…so cute. 

big Rivers conference meet

Today Katie swam in the BRC meet at Chippewa Falls Middle School and scored 14 points for RFHS. Anders came over from Eau Claire to watch her swim. 

200 Medley relay, 100IM, 200 free relay and 100 breast were her events. 

family doing farm work

Here’s Collins with uncle Vance 

Here’s Collins and Grandpa Kurt 
 

my Mothers Day flowers are flowering again!

 

Anders gifted me with a beautiful mum plant for Mother’s Day. They went dormant for a while and they just woke up in the past week. Our raspberries also perked up and produced a few new fruit…never had fall fruits from them before. 

the Timberwolves topped the defending NBA champs!

Whoot Whoot! We just saw the Timberwolves beat the Bucks 113-108. It was a nailbiter at the very end, but it was really fun to watch and now we hope to have sweet dreams!

wildcats over tartan!

The River Falls Wildcats won their dual swim meet this evening. Katie swam in four events. I missed her first swim medley relay (4th) but did see her in the 200IM (placed third), the 100 Breast (placed third) and the 200 free relay (placed fourth).

Medley Relay: 4 RFHS-WI B 2:20.92

1) Weiss, Lauren FR 2) Olson, Katie SO

3) Derks, Stephanie SR 4) Baar, Mickey SO

38.22 39.02 32.45 31.23

200IM lane 5

3 Olson, Katie SO RFHS-WI 2:43.61

33.84 42.90 48.30 38.57

Diving in for 200 free relay 

Lane 3 for 200 free relay

4 RFHS-WI B 2:04.30

1) Hanson, Lucy JR 2) Baar, Mickey SO

3) Baar, Karissa SR 4) Olson, Katie SO

30.05 30.99 34.47 28.79

Lane 3 for 100 breast 

Olson, Katie SO RFHS-WI X1:25.29

41.03 44.26

welcome to God’s family Hayes John and Happy 21st birthday

Jenna & Cody presented their sweet son, Hayes John for holy baptism yesterday. Welcome to God’s family Hayes! 

Also the lovely Abby Rae Blomgren celebrated her 21st year on earth on October 24th as well! Happy birthday Abby! 

basking in the glow of setting a goal and making it happen!

Several years ago..10 years to be exact, my high school friend, Leah set a goal of running a marathon before her 40th birthday. I was inspired and set the same goal. 

The came the opportunity to live in the USVI as I was training for the 2011 Twin Cities marathon with my friend Trish so that goal wasn’t achieved. 

Fast forward to 2019 when I trained for, started running and failed to finish the 2019 Twin Cities marathon. At that point, I decided to make my own races…a half marathon in 2020 and a full today. 

A marathon I named a Karenthon. My own course, walking when I needed to and no time requirement. My goal was to finish in 7 hours. I did it in 6 hours and 15 minutes. 

The weather was COLD and I never would have finished if Brad hadn’t driven to mile 18 to deliver milk, cheese curds and two buns with cheese and summer sausage. 

What a great day and pretty great accomplishment. 

   

At 6:45 am...I'm about to layer up for the 29 degree temps (wearing the shirt I wore with friends a few years ago for a half marathon)

Here is the sun starting to rise on Wood Lake--I'm wearing a fancy glow vest to stay safe while running in low light situations

The moment I finished my race (I'm wearing my aunt Jeannie fleece)! 

Shortly after doing some stretching and showing my race shirt ;)

By the way, Leah just finished her first marathon  just a few weeks ago…the Wolverine Cheerleaders kicked some running butt this fall! 

it’s a beautiful day!

 

What a beautiful day to spend time on the lake at Bud and Betty’s house! We celebrated Siri’s birthday and now I’ll be headed to bed soon for my big run tomorrow. 

Anders sent a photo from his day performing in Indianapolis today. We also learned that Joe Q. is headed to state in cross country again this year. 

deep freeze

The River Falls area had a killing frost last night. I had to drive this morning and found scrapable frost on the windows and saw several beloved summer flowers wilted. To everything there is a season. 

high school is fun!

Regular high school is pretty amazing. Katie is spending time with friends, going to movies and also supporting friends in other activities such as band. Normal activities does the body good! 

blaze of the leaves

Just a lovely time of year. The tree in front of the office is absolutely gorgeous. I had to stop and get a photo. 

sectional time!

Katie had a great swim meet tonight. She swam the anchor of the A team Medley relay placing first, she got 2nd in the 200im dropping 6 seconds and getting a sectional time. Then she placed 2nd in the 100 breast and 5th in the 400 freestyle relay. What a great meet!

 

Katie's Medley Relay Team got first (in lane 4)

1st RFHS-WI A 2:00.72 8

1) Ottem, Sadie SR 2) Ottem, Ellery JR

3) Briese, Jane SR 4) Olson, Katie SO

31.30 31.79 28.91 28.72

 

Katie's 200 IM race

4th Olson, Katie SO RFHS-WI 2:38.76 2

33.02 42.12 46.32 37.30

Katie's 100 Breast Stroke 

2nd Olson, Katie SO RFHS-WI 1:24.74 4

39.71 45.03

Katie's 400 Free Relay placed 5th

5th RFHS-WI B 4:43.77

1) Baar, Karissa SR 2) Weiss, Lauren FR

3) Baar, Mickey SO 4) Olson, Katie SO

35.69 1:15.93 32.86 1:10.20

32.10 1:10.26 31.78 1:07.38

Anders and Katie are on athletics boards right next to one another...Katie in lower left, Anders in 2nd from top row right

and here is Katie with her first place relay team:

music music music!

It was so wonderful to spend the evening listening to Katie Grace and the three high school choirs perform. Even with masks they sounded incredible. 

 

Katie with friends Perry, Rachel and Gabe

Katie with friend and diver Rachel