It's Madness...

It's March.  That can only mean one thing... time for basketball!!!  Indianapolis is really reveling in the madness as the entire March Madness tournament is being held in Indy this year.  

And seeing that we are leaving Indy is a few months, we felt it only fitting that we made it to the March Madness tournament this year. After all, we are all suckers for the tournament madness.

The iconic tournament bracket on the side of the JW Marriott hotel...

Walking around downtown...

The game was held at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts.

We rooted on the Missouri Tigers (vs. Oklahoma) in the first round.  We yelled and screamed and hollered for Abatha's alma mater.  

In the end, the Tigers just couldn't pull it off and ended up losing to Oklahoma.  In spite of the loss we had a great time at the game.

There is something about soaking up the excitement of the tournament that can't be beat!

How can you not love March?

The First...

Our Indiana governor may not have prioritized educators when it comes to Covid vaccines, but so very thankful President Biden did. 

Because of him, I am proud to be carrying this card today...

It’s the first shot, but happy to know that I will be fully vaccinated by mid-April. No side effects with the first shot, hoping to say the same of the second!

A Mixed Emotion...

Anyone that knows me knows that I love unique names.  It's evidenced by my own children's names.  

When Quinn was born, her name was the 543rd most popular girl name (according to the Social Security Administration).  I felt comfortable with that number.  Unique, not common. Unlikely to become too popular.

THEN... this darn show called Glee came along and named a character Quinn and helped soar the popularity of that name for a girl.  Curses to that show.  

It's become quite popular indeed.  In 2019 (latest data available), it was the 83rd most popular girl's name. It seems to be more common place to hear that name.  Here's the proof... I was scrolling through the Target app this past week and guess what pops up?!

Yep, Quinn's name on an Easter basket.  While super cool for Quinn to see her name on something (rare to find), it also makes me kind of sad. I want her name to stay unique, to not become too common.  

Wake Up Already...

This is where you will find Tessa most weekend mornings...

Just sitting outside Quinn's room, waiting ever so patiently for her to wake up and join the world!  She truly doesn't feel complete until everyone is awake in the house.  

If she isn't found outside Quinn's room, she can surely be found like this - at the doing of Miss Sullivan Grace.

She isn't spoiled or anything!

The Day the World Stopped...

March 11th marked the one year anniversary of the day the WHO declared the Coronavirus a global pandemic.  A year ago today marks the unofficial date that our world as we know it changed.  Friday the 13th - a Friday the 13th like on other.  The day our school district cancelled school for “two weeks” to regroup.  Ha! Obviously we grossly underestimated this virus. What a difference a year makes...!

A lot has changed in a year - conservatively speaking 500,000+ American lives lost.  Lots of jobs lost - causing homelessness and food insecurities for millions.  Schools look different, stores look different with their plexiglass shields, social gatherings and family gatherings look completely different too. The list could go on and on...

I remember this day... when we ordered these masks through a neighbor to have “just in case we might need ONE!” To think we thought ONE mask would do.  Ha. 

One year later, with vaccines becoming more widely available, it feels like hope.  Like light at the end of the tunnel.  Like the world as we knew it is SLOWLY creeping back to us. Glimpses of normalcy peek their heads out.  And how great it is to see that.

This virus might have been a big ball and chain around our ankles, but it is starting to feel like we have found the key or at least we have found the location of the key.  Let’s unlock this thing and kick it to the curb!

Randomness...

We've had a busy past week with a great visitor, some DEEP cleaning to get ready for the house being put on the market, Ryan being out of town for work, and of course, everyday life! 

Here is some randomness from the week...

Sullivan has fallen for the latest toy craze.  The "in" toy right now is Squishmallows - small plush stuffed animals.  She asked me to go on a hunt around town (a long, mostly unsuccessful hunt) looking for them last weekend.  We came up empty handed at a lot of stores and FINALLY found a few at Claire's.  

Here she is with her very first Squishmallow...

Quinn enjoyed the first Shamrock Shake of the season.  

It is always a race to get one as soon as they come out, as the girls are always intrigued if they beat Auntie Mer to the first shake of the year!

Sulla Grace had an unfortunate accident last night and stubbed her toe on her own heel.  I know what you are thinking, "How does that happen?!?"  

Anyway... you can see the damage she did to her toenail.  Yep, she bent the toenail halfway back.  Poor girl was in some serious pain.  

Quinn taught me a new set of 2021 Pandemic lingo today that I thought was cute and hadn't heard before.  Apparently people who are learning virtual this year are known as "Zoomies" and the people who go in-person are known as "Roomies."  Ha!  The Zoomies and the Roomies.... only during a pandemic!

More randomness to come!