Libby Update--College Choice Made...

 It looks like our State Champ is heading to Big Bend to wrestle :)

She and Derek went over last weekend to check it out, and she went back this weekend to a camp. (Derek is not known for taking pictures--so none at the school, with the coach, etc.) 

It's going to be hard (transitioning to freestyle rather than folkstyle), being a small fish in a bigger pond.  But she's excited.

They drove home by way of the Grand Coulee Dam

There's a whole lotta nothing out there in Moses Lake (but they do have a temple!)

Ben Goes to 4-0 on the Season!

This week I got to see both of Ben's matches and got some good pictures.  As a team we went 1-1 this week.  We handily beat Alderwood on Tuesday, and were crushing Meadowdale on Thursday when we went on a losing streak (8 matches in a row I think, some forfeits mixed in there) and lost by 12.  Rough stuff, but we're actually doing well with a small but very plucky team.

Captain Ben leading the jacks! 

 

Sarah's SCC Concert--SEA theme

 Sarah's Seattle Children's Chorus spring concert was yesterday.  It was awesome.  She looked radiant and had a great time with her choir friends.  I got to chaperone and ended up on duty to deal with a parent we are familiar with from wrestling.  Oh boy.  Anyway, I just love hearing & watching her sing! 

WEB Leader Ben

 Ben also came to my class this week as a WEB leader, helping my students get ready for 6th grade.

He did a great job! 

Einstein vs. Brier Terrace 2025

 This year I have an awesome manager and Ulyana to help run the table. So I got out my camera! 

Ben won his first match of the season (not a quick win--but he got there).

The team also won--decidedly.  It was super fun!  It was a great way to start the season.  Maren announced and the energy was awesome!

Captain Ben for the coin toss

His buddy took this one from the stands

Coach Ben & Coach Libby

Go Ben! 

JET Trip 2025

 It was a bit frantic getting Einstein really rolling and then heading out on a girls trip--but time with Jen and Emmi is always worth it!  This year we met up in Phoenix AZ.  For some sun.  Which we got some of.  But we also were there for the first full day rain in months.  Haha.  But luckily things timed out well for most things that we had planned.  We just swapped out a shopping trip for our original Friday hike plan.

Day 1 we went to the Botanical Gardens.  It is weird to think about gardens in the desert, but they are really starkly beautiful! 

We also stopped at Hole in the rock.  It was a little windy--can you tell? 

Then we went to a Mariner's Spring Training game.  It was an exciting game, the Ms tied it up in the bottom of the 9th--but it turns out Spring Training games can end in a tie.  

2025 Jet Trip! 

Day 2 was RAINY!  So we went to brunch for Emmi's birthday, then walked and shopped a bit in old town Scottsdale (so cute!) 

Cinnamon roll pancake! 

Then we went to the temple.  The Gilbert temple is awesome! 

Near the temple was a little Utah strip mall. So we got Cafe Rio & Twisted Sugar! 

Day 3 was an epic road trip.  I was a little worried, because rain in Phoenix was snow in the mountains on the drive to the Grand Canyon.  But it was melting by the time we got there on Saturday. 

First stop was Lower Antelope Canyon.  It was beautiful! 

Then Horseshoe Bend

Then the Grand Canyon--where we watched the sunset! 

We loved our many hours in the car where we got to talk and talk.  My neck ended up very unhappy--but WORTH IT! 

We got to go to a lovely ward in Scottsdale before a quick brunch and off to the airport for me.  It was so fun to be together.  We always learn so much from spending time together.  We are already planning next year! 

A Bathroom Update

 So we actually did a bathroom remodel that ended just after the wrestling season started in November...but I haven't had a minute to think about posting about it.  Finally, over mid-winter break I got a chance to clean it up and get some pictures! 

This is the kid bathroom that I updated over a weekend when Derek was out of town so many years ago--I think 8 years ago.  In my haste, I didn't do a great job (especially since I didn't remove the wallpaper paste from the ceiling, so now the paint I threw up over the paste was peeling off.)  I didn't replace the counter top, sink, or tile tub surround back then, so it was time.

Check out the original bathroom pics HERE.  

It looks really nice now.  No rust in the sink, so nasty tile & grout.

AHHHH!