2026 Moments that Mattered: January: A Full Start to the Year

We rang in the new year exactly the way we love to, surrounded by our favorite swim family friends, the Harringers. It was a comfortable (make a turkey and the fixings for us), familiar start to the year, even if watching OSU football loss put a slight damper on the night. Disappointing, yes, but we moved on quickly. Olivia's rang in the new year with her swim bestie Courtney.  

One of the most unexpectedly satisfying moments of January came from cleaning out the basement backroom. Matching totes, a freshly loaded label maker, and everything finally in its place. Not glamorous, but deeply fulfilling. Sometimes organization really is self-care.

Our first full weekend was spent in Elkhart for Olivia’s swim meet, and it was such a good one. She absolutely crushed it in the pool, and we soaked up every part of the weekend, including great meals, thrift shopping, and walking Notre Dame’s campus in the winter. Cold, beautiful, and memorable. I'm going to link her YouTube channel Olivia's SwimStream here for more details. 

The following weekend brought us to the Lima YMCA, where the 13-14 year old girls 'Fabulous Four' broke two relay records. It was an electric moment that still makes me smile. Isaac was also busy in the pool with the Elida High School team, swimming at the new facility near Lima Senior and racing against his best swimming buddy, Lincoln from Bath. Watching those friendships play out in competition never gets old.

Since Jeremy and I were both still off for a good part of the month, we took down the Christmas decorations and then escaped for a four-day cruise to the Bahamas, just the two of us. It was the perfect reset before school started. The highlight was swimming with the stingrays, a moment that will stay with us for a long time.

ONU kicked off the day after MLK Day, but winter had other plans. A massive snowstorm shut school down for two and a half days, giving us unexpected time to slow down. Games, movies, and plenty of hot chocolate filled those snowy days.

The month wrapped up with another split weekend of swimming. Olivia headed to Marion to swim with Grandma and Grandpa Dentinger, while we watched Isaac compete at the WBLs. Both kids were outstanding. Olivia hit personal records in both the 50 and 100 free, and Isaac placed in the top eight in all four of his events.

Busy, meaningful, and full of moments worth remembering, January set the tone beautifully.

Stamped With A Guarantee To Be Busy In 2023: May

MAY 1 = OLIVIA's Birthday! 🥳 🎉 🎂 Happy 11th birthday Olivia. We kicked off the INSANELY busy month with just our family getting her an Oreo cake, singing happy birthday and letting her open her present (a massage gun). She loved it. She asked to celebrate with her friends after our pool gets opened for the season.  So you won't read more about that until June! Grandma and pa Dentinger got her a mesh swim bag, new earphones and a bento box she wanted. Maw and Paw gave her a red panda stuffy, a bracelet making kit and a Chinese yo-yo. Poppy and Grandma Julie got her a USA swim suit she has been wanting since Christmas and a new swim cap. I'd say she got everything she needed.  

I can't even begin to explain how busy May was. I think you're going to figure out from reading and looking at the million activities you'll be able to appreciate we had multiple activities piled upon each other. Both kiddos had choir concerts and Olivia had her first band concert with her flute. Isaac is in 6th grade choir and loved having his new teacher Mr. Littler. Olivia said this is her last year in choir.  She loved doing the dance part, but is loving the flute and would like to do that next year instead of choir. 

Ohio State hosted day swim clinics this month. May 6 was breaststroke and May 21 was fly.  I signed up Olivia for both. Each day was $100 so I wan't sure it would be worth the price tag for the few hours, Avery went and Lincoln and Landry went to the breaststroke camp and Avery went with Olivia to fly camp.  They totally said it was worth it and amazing....but ice cold water. Like seriously blue faces because they were so cold. Afterward, Sam and Avery introduced us to Crumble Cookies. OMG. We will be back. So good. 

Cedar Point opening day had a countdown in Isaac's room for 10 days before.  He couldn't wait and begged Jeremy to take him while the girls traveled to OSU swim camp. They got to see the new Boardwalk (new for 2023) and visited his brick on the midway. Said he got to ride like 20 rides with his all-season fast pass....including several times on his favorite ride in the park STEEL VENGEANCE.

Other major activity this month was the kids BYAA track meets. We had a away meet on a Sunday at Patrick Henry, one away at Columbus Grove, one away at Spencerville, and three home meets, including the championship meet when we were on the cruise June 1.. Olivia didn't initially sign up for track but because of our schedules, had to come to all the practices. Eventually she gave up and asked to join late. They let her and she ended up running the 800/mile/and did the hurdles this season. I helped coach the hurdlers, so it was fun to see her trying. Isaac ran the 100/200/400/4x100 relay. He is now in the last year that he can run BYAA. In the 5-6th grade age category he dominated this year. Jeremy continued to be the head timer at the home meets and I was the starter. Ryan Lieurance was the head coach this year. Was super grateful to Christine Foxvog Photography for snapping so many memories. 

Olivia:                                                        Isaac:

hurdles: 25.10                                            100m: 🥉 at conference/ 13:55

800m: 3:33.56                                            200m: 5th at conference/29.33

1600m: 4th at conference/7:28.29           400m: 🥉 at conference/ 1:10.93

                                                                   4x100 relay: 🥉 at conference

April showers bring May flowers right? Shortly after Mothers Day I picked up Isaac from school at 1 p.m. and surprised him with McDonald's before heading to Amherst Greenhouse to get our flowers and vegetables for our garden for the season. He helped pick Zucchini/Peppers/Tomatoes this year for the garden. 

May 12-14 we headed to Elkhart, IN for a USA swim meet. While we so close to Notre Dame's campus, we decided after the first morning, we'd go visit campus.  It was pretty cool. We also ate at Bru Burger for the first time and according to Jeremy was the "best burger he ever had." Olivia did great in dropping times. This spring will be tough since in USA swim the day you turn 11, you move up to the 11-12 yo category. But as long as she's hanging and improving, we'll be proud! Keep improving our little fish. 

May 18 we finally were able to get Shawnee Pools to come and open up our pool.  The kids didn't care how cold it was, as soon as we got it cleaned up from the winter, they were in the pool.  I think the temperature read 66 degrees 🥶 

The other super fun thing we did this week was order our new king size mattress for our room since our amish custom-made bed. Up until this point, Olivia has always had the best mattress. No more! We ordered our new bed and nightstand in January and it was 8-12 week wait.  We were so excited to get the call that it was in. Now Isaac is getting our queen size bed/mattress, dresser and matching nightstand and Olivia is getting Isaac's full size bed, nightstand and dresser and keeping her mattress. A three way switch and everyone wins. 

The last week of school in the junior high also brought the 'blue ribbon breakfast' for Isaac. The students who are awarded/recognized with the blue ribbon for good grades and behavior. Isaac was so excited because they also got a donut! Here is a picture with the principal. 

I know this isn't a big deal to most, but I ordered a new gel nail kit from Amazon after the gals at ONU introduced me to it. Here was my first attempt to do my own design on my nails....watermelon 🍉 

BYAA softball and baseball started mid-May too. Both kiddos play on the same night (usually in opposite towns) on Tuesday and Thursdays. Olivia's playing catcher and outfield. She enjoys catching. Isaac plays outfield and third. He wants to pitch, but doesn't get to do that often. He only got to pitch one time all season. It just happen to be the time he also hit a homerun to push the team ahead for the win. 

May 21...so many big events...all in different places of course and unfortunately we couldn't make them all work.  Olivia had swim camp at OSU, Jeremy and I had ONU graduation, Isaac went with family to our cousin's graduation party, and it was Maw's 70th birthday! Sam took Avery and Olivia to OSU.  She loved it and said she learned so much about the fly. Maw and Paw were heading to Monroe so they volunteered to take Isaac with them to Tate's grad party. Jeremy and I headed to ONU for the noon infamous PR senior pictures by the fountain. Here is us doing the PR cheer. Jeremy and I then went back to our office's to change and get back to King Horn for the graduation ceremony. I was extra excited this year as Dr. Iseman was to be given a honorary degree at graduation. When we got home we were able to have Maw and Paw over to celebrate Maw's birthday. She was excited to get her a fitbit-hope she is still excited when it says she didn't get enough steps in a day. 😂

The final week of school was full of plenty of excitement. Tuesday night all evening activities in Lima were cancelled due to two escape convicts that were missing from the prison. The school was on high alert and closed down all sports for the evening until they were found. Eventually they found them in Kentucky and life went forward. Last day of school was May 24 for Isaac and Olivia. They had early dismissal. We made Olivia get up early enough to take picture with Isaac before he left for school. Isaac got all A's for the entire year! Olivia only got one B. But both are ready to enjoy summer and move on to 6th and 7th grade in the fall. 

The last thing I did in May before leaving for our cruise with the Cousino's was officiate the Troy regionals. Olivia went with me on Friday night to help me 'clerk' the meet. It was nice to spend the entire evening with her since Jeremy and I leave tomorrow for 8 days for the adult only vacation! I'm not going to cover the vacation on the blog- you will have to see my personal scrapbook for the details of our amazing vacation.