I know we are already halfway through February, but I feel like I completely missed the first six weeks of the year.
One minute it was New Year’s.
The next minute I was standing in the kitchen thinking, Wait… what month is it?
Before January becomes an unrecognizable blur, here’s a quick catch-up.
🏁 Track of the Year & a First-Year Champion
The year started with the kind of news you don’t even dare to predict.
Caddo Creek Ranch won Track of the Year for TCCRA.
An honor Ray never thought we would receive. If you’ve ever watched someone pour hours, sweat, money, and heart into something that most people only see on race day — you understand how meaningful that award really is. I was so proud of him.
And then… as if that wasn’t enough…
Iyan won his class.
A TCCRA Champion his first year of racing.
His. First. Year.
If I’m being honest, I would have been thrilled if he had just stuck out the whole season. Racing is hard. It takes discipline, resilience, and a willingness to get back up when you fall. I never would have predicted a championship title in year one.
These two men in my life have officially set the bar very high for 2026.
No pressure or anything.
🌺 From Champions to the Pacific
We followed up racing season with our Hawaiian cruise — and it was everything it should be.
We saw whales breach in the distance.
Sea turtles drifting through impossibly clear water.
We ate pineapple that tasted nothing like Texas grocery store pineapple.
We visited Pearl Harbor.
We hiked the volcano.
We checked off every touristy thing you’re “supposed” to do.
It was two beautiful, unplugged weeks.
Except… it didn’t end in two weeks.
While we were soaking up the sun, Dallas was hit with an ice storm. Airports closed. Flights canceled. So instead of returning home on schedule, we found ourselves in Los Angeles for an unexpected four-day extension.
A three-week holiday sounds glamorous until you just want your own bed and your own routine.
We were very glad to finally get back to Texas.
📚 Reality Has a Way of Waiting
Coming home, however, was not all sugar and spice.
We walked straight into academic chaos.
Nineteen missing assignments.
Apparently, Iyan thought he was on vacation too — and that school deadlines were optional while we were cruising the Pacific. My mother and Alyssa also seemed to believe gentle (or firm) reminders were unnecessary.
Needless to say, the past couple of weeks have been… intense.
Tutoring.
Late assignments.
Current assignments.
Nightly homework marathons.
Progress reports.
Hard conversations.
It has felt like a full-time job getting him back on track.
If he makes the “C” honor roll this six weeks, it will be a miracle earned the hard way.
🌀 So That’s January (and Half of February)
Championships.
Awards.
Whales.
Volcanoes.
Ice storms.
Missing assignments.
Late nights.
I’m not sure whether to laugh or make a spreadsheet.
Maybe both.
If the first six weeks of 2026 are any indication, this year is not going to be calm. It’s going to be full. High highs. Low lows. Life lessons everywhere.
And maybe that’s the real theme so far:
You can’t fully relax on vacation if real life is quietly stacking up in the background.
Closing Question Option
Have you ever come home from something wonderful only to realize real life was waiting… with a clipboard?
With love & glitter,
Valerie ✨
Feathers and Phases 