Heinz Family Part 2!

This past weekend was one for the memory books!

While most families were soaking in a typical June weekend, ours was splitting up across North Dakota—each headed in a different direction!

Willow and Noah joined the Aberdeen Aqua Addicts at the NDAD Escape to the Lake event in Bismarck. It’s one of the ski team’s favorite events of the summer—a day centered around adaptive skiing, connection, and pure fun. They spent their time volunteering and helping the adaptive skiers get out on the water and experience the thrill of skiing—many for the very first time. From lending a hand in the water to sharing smiles on the ski rope, they were part of something truly meaningful. The team even squeezed in a mini ski show to cap off the day!

At the same time, Bodhi was turning heads on the soccer field in Fargo. He was asked to play up with the 13/14-year-old team—and he rose to the challenge. Bodhi’s team took second place in the tournament, and he even scored a goal! To say we’re proud is an understatement.

And then there’s Leo, our littlest adventurer. While his siblings were skiing and soccering, he was living his best life—eating ice cream and playing with cousin Hudson.

Here’s to a summer of sports, service, and sweet treats. 🍦💙⚽️🌊

And to think this all happened in one day! After taking a few weeks for mental health and tonsillectomy recovery (oof) Leo has been back in action, starting tennis lessons, summer horse riding lessons, and even venturing out to sky practice a few times! He’s been a little more fearless than normal and has been enjoying his time off of school!

This past weekend, we hit the road for Bodhi’s soccer tournament in Brookings—and what a weekend it was. Blake and I loaded up the car with not only Bodhi, but three of his teammates as well.

As I sat on the sidelines watching the games, I couldn’t help but reflect on how far Bodhi has come. Just two short years ago, soccer was something new to him. Now, it feels like it’s become a huge part of our family’s way of life and its so fun to watch!

The first game kicked off with a bang—a 9-1 win that set the tone and gave us a solid lead. The second and third games were closer: both ended in 3-3 ties, the second against BASA, a team we knew we’d see again. But that early blowout win kept us in the running, and sure enough—we earned our place in the championship game.

Facing BASA once more, the boys played with heart and hustle. Final score: 3-1. Tournament champs.

Bodhi scored two goals over the weekend and had the chance to play in a position outside of goalie, which he loved. Watching him scan the field, make smart passes, and set his teammates up—he looked like such a confident, thoughtful player. I’m just so proud of how far he’s come, both in skill and in maturity.

One of my favorite parts of youth sports is watching these kids form friendships with teammates from all walks of life. Bodhi’s best friend’s mom is from Ukraine. He has another close teammate from Thailand. One of the boys he plays alongside is Native American. These boys may come from different backgrounds, but out there on the field, they are simply teammates—equal, united, and bonded by the game they love.

Blake even got the chance to step in and substitute coach during the weekend, which always makes it more special. He’s great with the boys and it’s fun to watch him take on that role when needed.

The boys were so well-behaved, respectful, and clearly having a blast being on the road together.

Well, Noah is officially home from his big 7th-grade adventure—a class trip to Washington, D.C. and New York City!

The excitement started early when the group was scheduled to head out… but thanks to a mix-up on the tour company’s end, they missed their first flight. What should have been a smooth departure turned into a day-long layover in the Minneapolis airport. The kids made the best of it (as kids do), even as they were split across three different flights just to get to Washington, D.C. Eventually, everyone landed, reunited, and hit the ground running.

Once in D.C., the crew made up for lost time. They visited the White House, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Capitol Building, Pentagon, Mount Vernon, and the Museum of Natural History. Noah soaked up the history, and was in awe of the landmarks he’s only ever seen in textbooks until now.

From D.C., they headed to New York City, where things got even more surreal. The group took in the sweeping views from the top of The Edge skyscraper, stood at the base of the Statue of Liberty during a harbor boat tour, walked through the solemn grounds of the World Trade Center Memorial, and explored the magic of Central Park. They were also able to take in a broadway play at Times Square and saw Aladdin!

And while we were craving updates on Noah himself, most of what we received were… food photos. More specifically, cheeseburger photos, complete with rankings.

Luckily, Aunt Rachael was one of the chaperones. She came in clutch, sending actual photos of Noah and his two best buddies, Sam and Bennett!

It’s hard to put into words what a trip like this means for a middle schooler—new cities, big history, and inside jokes. We’re so proud of how Noah rolled with the bumps, soaked up the sights, and made the most of the adventure.

At age 8, an Australian Shepherd is typically past the teenager phase and is more settled and easier to manage. Quincy is definitely easier to manage and settled, and is extremely territorial, his job is to protect his family! He still thinks all the neighbor kids need herding, but in his older years his listening skills have gotten much better and even though his behavior isn’t perfect around other dogs, he is doing better on walks and with the neighborhood dog crew.

He enjoys cooler temps and the warmer weather gets pretty brutal for his shaggy hair. He spends lots of time in the shade under the Cramonds deck and still loves to play with his best friend, their dog, Sadie. We like to take him for walks in the morning and he reminds us when we haven’t gotten out in a while.

I know life with Quincy was really hard in the beginning but I am so thankful for him. With Blake working long hours and overnights, its been nice having a protector to keep me safe (even thought the most he has had to protect us from is the UPS man!)

Happy 8th birthday, Buddy! You are so loved.

This has been our family’s year of surgeries, and this time it was Leo’s turn. He had his tonsils and adenoids removed, and was so brave at the hospital. It helps when your dad is CMO and can take you back to surgery. Recovery has been a slow dance of highs and lows. He’s been quiet—understandably so—but his bravery shows in the small things. Yesterday, he stepped outside for a few minutes to sit in the sun with the neighbor kids. Not many words, but a strong spirit. We’re proud of our little trooper. 💛

The first week of summer finallygave us sunshine—and we didn’t mind one bit. It was the kind of week that didn’t ask much from us except to slow down, soak it in, and enjoy time together.

The kids were outside constantly, making the most of every minute. The older ones stayed up way later than Blake and I, playing outside and sneaking in as many late-night snacks as possible. Leo was right behind them—determined not to miss out. He finally mastered riding his big bike without training wheels and loved tagging along for fishing adventures with the big kids. He and Theo even snuck in some indoor pool fun.

There were s’mores. There was fishing. There were slow mornings and late-night giggles. It wasn’t a wild start to summer—but it was full of heart.

Another school year in the books! This time we’re celebrating the end of 5th, 7th, and 9th grade—and with that, the close of our Mike Miller Elementary school chapter.

Bodhi didn’t seem sad to leave elementary behind—he’s ready for what’s next. He’s got a full summer ahead of him too, with soccer tournaments, weightlifting, open road training for cross country, and wrestling camp all on the schedule. This kid is going to stay busy, and honestly, I think he prefers it that way.

Noah wrapped up 7th grade with his signature calm energy. While he wasn’t overly excited or disappointed about the school year ending, he was pretty bummed when the ESD track meet got rained out. Thankfully, his team won the grade-wide kickball tournament, which helped ease the sting. We’re super proud of him for being invited to take high school algebra this fall and he has a school trip to Washington DC and NYC coming up in a few days! His summer is shaping up to include open road training, water skiing, and—of course—hours on his bike with friends.

Willow finished 9th grade, and we’d be lying if we said it was her favorite year. Between a less-than-enjoyable school experience and elbow surgery late in the semester, it was a tough finish. We were all hoping she’d be back to her usual activities sooner, but healing has taken longer than expected. Still, she’s staying busy and pushing forward with determination. Her summer includes babysitting, working, dance open gyms, and helping from the boat during water ski practices while she continues to recover. We’re crossing our fingers that summer brings a little more joy and light her way.

Each of our kids is walking a different path, but all of them are moving forward—and that’s what matters. We’re proud of the way they’ve handled the ups, downs, wins, and setbacks. Bring on the sunshine, the late nights, the carpool chaos, and a house that never quite seems quiet with a pile of shoes outside the garage door!

Well, it happened. We blinked—and just like that, our little guy is officially a kindergarten graduate!

Leo wrapped up his first year of school with the sweetest little graduation celebration at Roncalli Primary. There were songs and a mini play where Leo had a speaking part as the letter E (he nailed it!)

While Leo is still very much our anxious, nervous, and shy boy, we are beyond proud of how much he’s grown. He made new friends, tackled new challenges, and finished the year excelling at so many things. He surprised us more than once with his curiosity, his courage to try new activities, and the little bits of independence that slowly emerged over the months.

We absolutely loved Miss Shoemaker and the entire team at Roncalli Primary. Their care, patience, and love for their students made all the difference. Blake and I look back at the decision to send Leo to Roncalli instead of the larger public school system, and we know we made the right choice for him. The smaller class sizes, the nurturing environment—it’s been everything we hoped for and more.

So here we are—kindergarten complete, summer on the horizon, and a first grader in the house this fall. We’re so proud of you, Leo!