5th Grade Camp!

 This year we moved 5th grade camp to Camp Colman, a YMCA camp.  It was such a beautiful location.  Wow.  To make the switch, we ended up going to camp MUCH earlier than the last 2 years, when we went in June.  I was so worried about cold and rain.  But it was actually really nice.  It was cold (for sure) but it wasn't raining.  We even had some sun and a few times I took my coat and hat off!  

Last year Libby was in a really really bad place and couldn't be a counselor for us.  But this year, she and a bunch of her friends were counselors, and it was GREAT! We didn't have to send any kids home, no one got poked in the eye with a stick (despite the hundreds being picked up), we got a super low tide for beach walking, and except for some bus snafus, everything ran according to plan.  Of course there are things I'd do differently, but overall, it was great!  I invented a clean cabin competition that got pretty fiercely competitive.  Wow.  I'll need a better plan on that one for sure. Haha. 

I love that the Shoreline School District busses put FUN out when they are taking us on Field Trips.  Our first bus snafu was that they only sent us 2 busses instead of 3.  After standing around for about an hour while they tried to figure it out, we finally had a 3rd bus and got underway.  BUT--that means we arrived at camp just as the busses taking kids home arrived, AND the other school also arrived late.  So we got an extra hour of sitting on the bus waiting just outside of camp since we were the last to arrive.  Everyone stayed in good spirits, and miraculously, no one wet themselves. 

Libby and her counselor team. 

The teacher team.  We had a really good time. 

Me on the beach.  It really was warm enough not to have coats for a bit. 

They found an octupus, which the staff said they'd never seen before.  (I do think we had a pretty inexperienced staff--but still--it was cool!) 

The dream team

Libby rocked out the climbing wall. 

Me--in my awesome get up.  Fanny pack, head lamp, hot hands, I was ready. 
We did SO much walking--and it was super hilly.  I got over 25,000 steps both days.  It was awesome (and helped keep me warm.) 

The busses were late to take us home too.  But we made it without too much standing around.  

General Conference Weekend

 We had such a great General Conference weekend.  I found a Fantasy General Conference activity that I did with my seminary class (some of them at least) and I found it super fun and compelling to see if my predictions for who would speak when would come true.  I also correctly predicted some of the hymns!  Holy cow!  I did really well.  Anyway, it added a little bit of fun.  

I also worked on a puzzle, and then the girls jumped in and helped.  Which was super fun.

We had the traditional cinnamon rolls.  It just felt good to be enjoying these traditions as a family.  Last year I was with Rachel for her last conference.  Libby only has one more year left at home.  So I'm feeling how fleeting life is.  Gotta soak it up.

I definitely heard some amazing messages. I am so thankful for the gospel in my life. 

Libby said I got them too thin...but it was a pretty good filling to bread ratio I thought. 

To balance out the cinnamon rolls. 

So good to hear from the prophet.  Sadly (for my fantasy score) I predicted he'd be back to his Saturday afternoon time slot instead of the Sunday afternoon.  

They kicked me out after conference and finished the puzzle. 

Buddy loves conference, as it means endless games of fetch with Derek.  

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter. It was one of those Mom Wins that you need your kids are this age (or any age actually.) 

They were excited for our family traditions.  And Aunt Maren and I delivered :)

It wasn't raining for the egg hunt at Maren's!  Hooray!  They each got to find 44 eggs.  I think Andrew was a little overwhelmed with this ridiculous quantity.  

Then on Sunday, I got the kids up around 8 I think--after I walked Buddy and the Easter Bunny got set. (Also, it was nice that Libby gave the Easter bunny an assist by buying the candy ;)  I was stoked though, when I came up with the idea of getting them new laundry baskets as Easter baskets, and even more excited when I realized I could stuff them with balloons with gifts inside.  Kinda like eggs, but takes up way more space.  Haha. They appreciated by gesture.  

Also, they kept saying they were excited for the Legos the bunny usually brings.  And this year he brought 3 sets!  And, none of them were lost, because the bunny didn't open the individual Lego bags.  Instead he got these cute carrot shaped bags from the dollar store and just stuffed in the directions and the Lego bags.  

Libby said I really redeemed myself with the quantity and quality of the Reese's eggs. 

All the Lego sets were done before church except the big one. 

Church was lovely.  I was seriously worried about our choir numbers.  We hadn't practiced much.  But they sounded really quite good! (Angels with us.)  And Derek gave an awesome talk.  (He felt like he should give the one that he gave at the singles ward a few weeks ago to kick off Easter--and it was so great to wrap up the season with it too.)  So thankful for the gospel and the Savior in my life.

Somehow I didn't get a pic that Grandpa Brion made it for dinner.  Derek and co. had to hoist him in in his walker.  But we got him inside and he ate and then slept in a chair. 

Easter dinner was delish, and having Connor and Chunie join us was super fun for my kids.  Her rolls were also AWESOME. 

I think my kids were extra complimentary because they know if they aren't I'll just stop celebrating.  Haha.  But I'll take the compliments.  And it's good to know there are traditions they enjoy and maybe they'll carry on with their kids. 

Spring Sports! (BRRRR!!!)

 Sarah is on the track team.  She's a proud thrower (and has the sweatshirt to prove it.) 

As a spectator, it's kinda the worst.  For a few reasons.  

1.  Track meets are (like wrestling tournaments) really long events.  And while it seems there is a schedule of sorts, it's not standard apparently.  And some meets run long...while some go faster.  And remember, it's cold and raining and I'm standing outside.  

2.  And that's the second thing.  There's not really spectator seating for the throwing events.  (At our stadium there is, actually--but who wants to sit on metal benches in the COLD!)  So you stand around and wait.  

3.  Your thrower can throw all 3 at once, or space them out throughout the flight.  I guess for recovery?   So you wait and watch a 10 second throw.  Then wait and watch another, then wait and watch another.

You know I would be loving it if it was sunny, right?

Especially because if you face away from the throwing you can watch running events, which I love.

Also, Sarah is new at this sport--so her throws are still on the shorter side. 

But I'm game to support.

It's going to be a great season.  I'm going to come with handwarmers, an umbrella, a chair, and more blankets.  It'll be okay. 

She looks so cute when she throws.

 

Ben's Wrestling WIN!

 Ben had a great season.  He only lost 1 match to an opposing team.  He lost twice to his scrappy teammate Noah.  But we weren't sure how the end of season tournament would go, since he took a couple of forfeits during the season.  He hadn't had that many matches.  

But he turned it on!  So proud of him and his first place finish at 98 lbs. Einstein had 1 girl champ and 4 boy champs.  It was a pretty good season.  We are really glad to get to take a bit of a break from all but a little freestyle wrestling for a while. 

Spring Break in Seattle

 When I first floated the idea of hosting my nephews for their spring break, I thought it probably wouldn't align with mine.  Then I when Brad told me the date and it was mid-March...during middle school wrestling, I thought NO WAY.  But then--I realized just how much I missed those boys and wanted to host them.  So--I recruited help.  Brad volunteered to fly them out.  My parents volunteered to come and help so I wouldn't have to take the full week off.   And we had so much fun.

We had amazing weather the first two days.  We went right from the airport to Ivar's on the water in downtown Seattle.  We fed the seagulls plenty of fries.  (Davy kept throwing the fries if the gulls got too close.) 

See the beak? 

The next day we dropped off Brad to go back and work for the week and picked up my parents.  We went to the Museum of Flight (they have an Orlando Children's Museum Pass, and the reciprocal options are amazing!)

With President Nixon statue before going on the Air Force 1 model he rode on! 

Then we went to a wrestling match.  They boys had the best time.  And by boys, I also mean the Einstein team.  There were some points when the matches they were having with Devin and Davy behind the bench were causing more cheering than the one on the main mat. 

We may have converted these boys to the sport? 

Wednesday and Thursday my parents took the boys so I could work.  Wednesday was the Space Needle and Pacific Science Center.  Thursday was the Everett Children's Museum and the Funko store.  Then the boys came to my classroom to hear the rough drafts of my students' children's storybooks.  They were great reviewers!  

Also converting them to the DAWG family (Go Huskies!) 

More museum of flight...These are my mom's pics

On Friday the weather was bad, but like good Seattlites, we didn't let it bother us--we crossed to Kingston on a ferry. 

After eating a full King Size Twix on the ferry, and some trampoline jumping.  This guy barfed and slept.  I usually wore his mom out when she came to visit.  So I guess I'm carrying on the tradition.  

These are more from the Tuesday Match. 

And the ferry had a snack bar.  Good for Davy, less good for Devin (see above and the full size twix debacle.) 

Saturday we got into the Easter spirit.  The bunny hopped by and left some fun eggs. 

We also went into school so I could catch up.  The boys played with some of our librarian's "Free Choice" supplies, and in the gym. 

Sunday we enjoyed primary and then dyed eggs! 

 It was so hard to say goodbye to these guys.  So glad I'll get to see them this summer.  Sure wish we lived closer! I love having the chance to be their auntie!