Baby Cronk: Winter to Spring 2025

Ok, so they meant the city of Austin, TX, but we can pretend the TV was wishing our Austin a Happy New Year!

Trevor got his 3D printer going, with some excellent guidance from Uncle Kevin!

My poor Sarah Bear had a bad rash on her scalp and pitting on her nails which led us to the diagnosis of psoriasis. She got in to see a dermatologist really fast (thanks MN Physician Moms Group!) and is seeing rheumatology as well due to some joint pains that may be psoriatic arthritis (still figuring that out).

Austin and Steve went up to Michigan Tech because Austin was chosen as a finalist in the "Leading Scholar Award" there and had to go to campus for the final portion of the scholarship application. He participated in activities to demonstrate leadership and he ended up winning a $4,500 per year scholarship!

His buddies Jonathan and Luke were finalists as well and they had fun on campus and going skiing, despite the very cold weather!

Austin and I took apart my old laptop to put a new battery in because it wouldn't even stay charged while plugged in! It was a lot more complicated than I expected, mainly because there were a ton of tiny screws to keep straight after you took them out so you could put them back in the right places when you were done. I was mainly present for organization and Austin got it done!

We enjoyed watching the Irish in the National Championship game, despite the ending score.

My colleague Alex is an OSU grad and has artwork of the stadium at his desk at work. I covered it with "Go IRISH" printouts, so when OSU won the game, he returned the favor by sending me Buckeye Chocolates. Joke's on you! They were delicious!

The kids play Mario Kart with Steve on the Nintendo Switch I got him for Christmas.

Crumbl cookies for the birthday girl!

Happy 15th Birthday Sarah!

Getting her mug shot...I mean, permit photo taken.

Regional fencing tournament in Chicago.

This one was humbling. I think he went into it a little too confident given all his success in local tournaments before this. Definitely has to step up his game when it gets to regional and national tournaments.

Austin's Quiz Bowl and Knowledge Bowl team, "The Bowler Express" did really well this year!

They made it to State in Quiz Bowl and had a nice sendoff at school!

Sarah started dance comps, but I have so many photos from dance comps due to having professional photographers at each one, I will make a separate dance comp post.

Trevor tried out for the middle school musical, "Annie Jr.". Over 200 kids auditioned and around half made it into the cast. Trevor was cast as a newsboy and was well liked and complimented by the directors, was added to an additional scene, and was given a speaking line. Pretty great for being a 6th grader in a 6th-8th grade show that about 100 kids didn't get cast in!

Birthday cheesecake for me.

And another one of our theater subscription shows.

Sarah had another "Little Starz" showcase with "her littles". So adorable!

Austin's Knowledge Bowl Team at the Varsity Regionals

With an escape room on the way, just for fun!

Sarah started driving with her permit.

Trevor had his all-district band concert

One of his fellow YEL fencers is a trombone player in the high school symphonic winds.

Another show at the Orpheum. So fun to get to see so many shows!

We also caught "Dear Evan Hansen" at the Ordway in March and I brought Nanny, Austin, and Jonathan. It is a great show!

Speaking of incredible theater...

I had to work that weekend, but Nanny and Grandpa brought the kids with them to go see my cousin Kristin as Adelaide in "Guys and Dolls". I was SO sad to miss it, as I'm sure she absolutely perfect in this role! She is incredibly talented!

March 26th was wear purple day for epilepsy awareness!

Trevor made an adorable duck out of clay (complete with a tail feather) in art class at school.

We headed to St. Louis, MO for the Daugherty Challenge (regional fencing tournament).

Trevor is 12, so he is in the Y12 age group. He can also fence up to the Y14 age group. Once Junior Olympics is over in February, then kids that will be in the Junior age group next year (age 13-19) can compete in the Junior competitions (and Cadet as well, age 13-16). This tournament was after the February JOs, so Trevor competed in Y12, Y14, Cadet, and Junior in this tournament!

That means he was competing against much older and much BIGGER kids, including his YEL teammates like Jackson making a goofy face in this photo!

Trevor did a great job for his first time in Cadet and Junior, even beating a really tough older, high level fencer in pools!

He medaled in Y12 too!

Austin participated in Model UN again this year.

Austin committed to Michigan Technological University (MTU) for college!

Go Huskies!

On April 7th, 2025, we celebrated 1 year seizure free!

The Bowler Express went to Nationals in Brainerd

Sarah and I saw "Mean Girls" at the Ordway

I was recognized by Reach Out and Read Minnesota!

Sarah and I got free tickets to American Ballet Theater's production of Giselle with Gillian Murphy as principal before she retired from ABT!

Trevor built a bionic hand

Happy Easter!

Prom shenanigans for Austin and his buddies

Austin worked the tech booth for the school musical, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" and had a blast!

National decision day for college.

BSM does an Alumni/Senior breakfast and I go most years as an alumna. This year, I was assigned Austin's table!

Austin and Luke are both going to MTU!

MTU on the window of the college and career center.

Sarah missed this photo, but is in the band with Austin and they received an excellent rating at a band contest.

Austin and Sarah were both recognized at the student recognition awards!

Sarah was recognized for Spanish and Math and Austin was recognized as a National Merit Commended Scholar and received the John Philip Sousa Award!

Trevor's team from 5th grade SAGE program had a blast last year competing in the Social Studies Spectacular in Mankato, so they decided to get the team back together this year to compete again. They came home with 2nd place!