State Champs!

Mankato West Softball - 2016 Section AAA State Champs!

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(¸.•´ (¸.•' Peace and Love

Graduation 2016

The Dittos graduated. What a milestone. What an awesome experience. Ang and Big TK are so excited for their future. Kels and Lil' TK are just happy to be done. Next up, college orientation and getting ready to move. Kels will be attending the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. She has her room-mate all figured out - providing the paperwork is all processed correctly - and is starting to put together the things she's going to need to decorate the dorm room. Lil' TK will be attending the University of Sioux Falls in Sioux Falls, SD. He's excited to move to Sioux Falls and meet up with family friends that live there and have promised to become his second home. Both kids chose colleges that have purple as their colors, cats as their mascots, go by UST and USF and are in towns that start with an S. Twin-Coincidence? Ang thinks so...

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(¸.•´ (¸.•' Peace and Love

Play Ball!

The Dittos started spring sports. No one told Mother-Nature and the first games had to be rescheduled but that's how things go in Minnesota.

Lil' TK made the JV Baseball team for the West Scarlets playing Left Field, 2nd Base and Pinch Running. He loves being on the team and playing ball with all his friends.

 

 Kels made the Varsity Softball Team and rotates in at 3rd base and DH. The team started off the season beating the cross-town rival in a nail biter of a game.

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(¸.•´ (¸.•' Peace and Love

1st Quarter in the Books

Kels and Lil' TK finished up a busy first quarter as sophomores by heading to Detroit Lakes, MN for long weekend with their YoungLife group. They are both very involved with the positive peer group and enjoy the meetings and activities that it offers.

The last couple months have seen Lil' TK play JV football for Mankato West as a corner back and wide receiver and being asked to the Jobs Dance in January by his girlfriend of 5 months. He left the football team early (roster limitations for playoffs) to start focusing on training for the upcoming wrestling season and is excited to start practices.

Kels got her dress for Jobs (though she has yet to ask her intended date), and was appointed a Court of Appeals Judge in Youth in Government for the upcoming session.

Ang is still working on getting motivated to organize and scrapbook all the thousands of pics she has taken. 

Big TK is busy with MAYBA, YIG, Church Band and analyzing Thursday, Sunday and Monday night Football games as the Man in the Chair. It's a joke with the neighbor boys about Big TK always being in his recliner and "sharing" his wisdom with those around him.

Abby does not dig the colder weather but still loves her walks and chasing the ball in the yard. And wishes the Crew would take her out more to do these things. Hint Hint.

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(¸.•´ (¸.•' Peace and Love

Sophomores

Kels and Lil' TK started their sophomore year at Mankato West High School (www.whs.isd77.org) on 9/3. The weather has not cooperated with the return to school as the temps have been un-Godly high and the school has no A/C. Being the original high school in town, it's never been updated to offer A/C in the whole building. Still the best school in Mankato/North Mankato (Go Scarlets!) though! ;-)

Kels will be attempting what has been called "the toughest class you'll ever take at West" - Advanced Placement U.S. History. It has caused a bit of anxiety but Big TK and Ang aren't worried. Kels has a real knack for government/social studies type classes. Her involvement in Youth In Government testifies to that as she was appointed as an Appeals Court Judge for the upcoming session.

Lil' TK decided to take German as his Foreign Language requirement. Hopefully Ang can pull some of her previous German education to help him out with homework. In addition, he has a Enriched English class he is looking forward to. Lil' TK has a passion for writing poetry and inspirational stories and is hoping this class will help him work on that.

Of course, the theme this year is...cars. Both kids have their permits and are looking forward to getting their licenses as soon as possible. A vehicle is on their Christmas list. That and new phones since they have trashed theirs to the point of almost non-working order. Thank goodness Apple came out with a less expensive version of the iPhone this year!


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(¸.•´ (¸.•' Peace and Love

Wrestling Season

Wrestling season has come to an end for Lil' TK. He finished the season with a 3-18 record. Which is 2 wins better than last year...so improvement! He was able to participate in both the team and individual sections tournament at the varsity level as well. It was a great experience for him. The best part was the team and family camaraderie.

Kels took the winter off (she really doesn't like basketball) and found she loves watching hockey. The boys high school team is on a winning streak heading into playoffs and sections with hopes of making it to state this year.

Big TK has been active with church playing in the contemporary band on Sundays and as a confirmation guide for a small group of boys. Ang is also a confirmation guide and is helping get the Dittos ready for confirmation this May! Seems like just yesterday, they were getting baptized at the same church. Time does fly.

Abby is as patient as ever and puts up with all the chaos like any dog would...sleeping on her comfy chaise lounger in the living room. She's even gotten to the point where she can block everyone out and snore away...when she was younger, she wouldn't close her eyes if someone was in the same room as her. Oh, the life of our lovable mutt.

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(¸.•´ (¸.•' Peace and Love

Winter Sports 2012-2013

Lil' TK started wrestling for the Scarlets. He's been mainly on the JV team but moves up to Varsity when needed. He had a great tournament in Redwood Falls going 4-1 and is really enjoying the season.

Ang has been taking a lot of photos at the wrestling meets. There are some meets it seems she takes more pics of the rest of the team than of Lil' TK! But the all the boys appreciate the photos so Ang will just keep snappin' away and try her best to focus on her own child.

Check out the team photo site at: http://westscarlets.shutterfly.com/

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(¸.•´ (¸.•' Peace and Love

Catching Up...

Lil' TK and DMMS 8th Grade "A" team finished their season undefeated. The boys seemed to work really well together and it was fun to watch. Lil' TK even tried catching again. Kels and the West C-Squad team finished their season on a winning note. She loved being with her friends (4 other 8th graders were moved up to help the team) and working on her pitching and infield.



Onto traveling sports....Lil' TK tried out for and made the 14AAA team for Royals baseball. This is the first year he's made the top level team and is looking forward to the challenge playing at this level brings. Their first tournament is scheduled for the first weekend in June. They started league play this year and though they've haven't squeaked out a win yet, are working hard to change that.

                                                                        

Kels and the Peppers 14U Blue team played in Burnsville Memorial Weekend. What was supposed to be a one day tournament ended up being two days due to a monsoon delay. The most exciting part of the weekend was the shade tents that took to the wind and made a flying leap over the fence during an opponents game, hitting that teams 1st Base coach in the head with the metal leg, knocking him out cold. He was ok but it's a good lesson...weigh down your shade tents!

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(¸.•´ (¸.•' Peace and Love