Awards & Celebration!

 Thursday was a jam packed day (which is why I didn't bother to check in for my flight until 9:30 pm.) 

First we had the Shoreline Public Schools Foundation lunch.  In honor of Geneva, and all the service she gave the district and foundation Maren did a matching Norton family gift--so we all went to the luncheon.  It was awesome--the speaker with Rick Stevenson (movie producer).  He gave such a great and polished presentation.  I'm so glad to be a Norton!

Then that night Derek & his squad mates got the Medal of Honor from the Seattle Police Department for their response to the Ingram High School.   I was so glad that I'd gotten plane tickets for Friday instead of Thursday--(haha, joke was on me, since I hadn't gotten the correct tickets anyway) so I could go.

Derek, Kieran and Breanna

Norton contingency

Derek explaining the incident on the video. 

Bodycam footage from the video

Derek's pic--look how cool that they put images from the city into the pic...they let you pick what image you wanted.  Derek got Husky Stadium

Libby helped me with my makeup and lent me a purse from her vast collection

Luckily/sadly the wrestling match that was supposed to be in between these events was cancelled since someone forgot to order the bus.  

One more week of wrestling.  We can make it.  (Then I leave for Florida on the next day.) 

One CRAZY Weekend

 This year we got Sarah a ticket to the Teen Author Bootcamp (& the Gala they added this year too) for Christmas.  I was looking forward to the weekend getaway in Utah--picturing the sun and fun of last year.  Well, imagine my surprise when I looked at the weather and saw SNOW and COLD temps.  Then imagine my much bigger surprise when I check in for our flight on Thursday night (after a very busy day) and found that I'd booked the flight backward.  Yeah.  SLC>SEA instead of SEA>SLC.  Oh yeah.  That's a big problem.

Long story short, the nicely timed flights I'd chosen so I didn't have to get up insanely early were out the window.  We went to bed Thursday night unsure if we'd be able to get a flight (hoping my dad could use his miles when he woke up.) Friday morning I was up at 4 am trying to find a flight that wouldn't be $2000 (for the two of us.) Delta didn't end up having a good option, but thankfully Southwest came through--and Geneva rolled out extra early to get us to the airport in time for our 6:30 am flight to Utah.  (I forgot that I really do like Southwest--except they don't fly direct to SLC from Seattle, so we had to take 4 flights instead of 2 during our weekend travels. (And this mornings flight also required a wake up with a 4 at the beginning...ugh.)

But we got to have a good time in Utah.  Highlights include seeing James and Aria in the Lion King (awesome Wildebeests), spending time with my cousin Shelley, including a temple session in Provo, hanging with Nick and Drea, time with my dad, and a quick trip to Chuck-a-rama (for SCONES :).

Sarah loved the gala and the workshop.  She learned so much.  I love talking writing with her.

The worst part of the weekend was the drive from Lehi to Provo to pick up Sarah Friday night.  The freeway was a SHEET OF ICE.  Cars were sliding all over the place for about 10 miles.  It took me an hour to go that distance.  She was the last one to get picked up.  Poor thing.  She was stressing.  I was stressing.  But once I got past Orem, the freeway was dry and clear.  What a weird weather time.  I am so glad to be back in Seattle.  

Ready for a few days at home before I head off to FL.  Lots to do to get 5 days of sub plans ready!

Sarah in her Villain outfit

Sarah takes some great airplane pics! 

A Musical Few Weeks

 

Libby and Sarah sang in their school choir concert. Libby had a solo.  She did a great job.

I also got to take my class to the symphony this week (our music teacher organizes this fun field trip where they do a special concert with kids...kids can play along on their recorders or sing along).  It was really fun (in spite of the recorder music), especially when they brought out the UW drum line! 

Ben has a band concert coming soon! 

JET Trip 2023

 Last year the Jen, Emmi & Trish trip had to go virtual.  But this year the trip came to me! The girls got to see the chaos of my life.  (Emmi got to go to a choir concert and wrestling match.) But we got in spa time, dinner with Maren & Cara, and then headed to Roche Harbor.  Maren let us stay in her house up there.  We talked, ate, played Wingspan and talked a lot more.  We went to the Friday Harbor branch and it was ward conference, so everyone kept thinking we were from the Stake.  It was fun.  

I love these ladies.  I always come back so uplifted spiritually and emotionally.  BFFS are the best.  Emmi spent more days traveling almost than she did here.  But I'm so glad she did.  Jen brought a stomach bug, but in the end neither of us got sick and it meant we got an extra day together!  So--it was worth it.   Amazing. 

One of our favorite sculptures at the sculpture park near Roche Harbor

We learned to play Wingspan.  So fun! (A little complex--but we were getting it!) 

Of course I made sweatshirts!

Middle School Season

Middle School wrestling season is underway!  Ben is practicing with the team, and Sarah has been able to compete in two matches.  (She missed two because she couldn't miss choir.) She lost her first match against a giant guy that outweighed her by about 20 pounds.  Then she won her 2nd match against another girl.  I was super proud of her!  I run the scoreboard for the home matches.  Einstein in 3-1.  For both of the matches that I've run the scoreboard for, we've had a brand new ref who's just figuring it out.  He's struggling, so it's a good thing I know what I'm watching.  

We have 2 more weeks of the season.  Honestly--I think we're all a little burned out and ready for the grind of the season to be over.  (Then just freestyle practices at night instead of both middle school and freestyle.) 

The volunteers at the middle school...Gotta love them. 

 

Celebrating the Season: SW Wrestling Banquet 2023

Can I just say how much I love etsy templates for things?  They make you look so fancy and amazing--for just a couple of bucks! Fab. 

The banquet had a new feature this year, the signing of thank you cards.  We almost 200 donors to our fundraiser, so there were 2 tables full of thank you cards that the wrestlers just rotated around signing.  I finally got them addressed and sent out this week.  It was amazing to have such an outpouring of support! 

We also took yearbook photos--I had to take them because the actual photographer couldn't come.  So, they're meh.  But we got this awesome group in the new uniforms that finally came the DAY before state.  

The girls gave Derek & Clark this adorable basket of goodies and a sweet scrapbook.  The boys didn't manage a gift for the coaches.  Haha.  They had an idea, but it didn't come to fruition I guess. 

 We had a huge turnout for the banquet.  It was so fun to celebrate and get excited about next year! 

Proud Mama!

 This week I had things to be proud of besides wrestling.  Libby got to go and compete at DECA state. While she didn't qualify for Nationals, she learned a lot and had fun.  She also forgot the loafers I bought her and had to wear heels the whole weekend.  Yeah.  We aren't good with remembering shoes. 

Sarah sang with the Einstein choir at the incoming 5th grade assembly that I brought my class to on Friday.  So fun to see her in action (playing the drum for the song.) She waved to me and even gave me a hug & kiss on my way out. 

For Ben right now it is about wrestling.  He's loving practicing with the Einstein team and Rhinos.  He's super excited to go to his first tournaments this spring.  We've got some in the calendar. 

Last night was the SW Booster Auction.  We had a great time!  We ended up buying the photo shoot Jenn Reese donated.  It's what Libby wants for her birthday.  So thankful for the awesome SW community. 

Midwinter Break

 We decided to start our Midwinter break fun on the Sunday after state.  Bad call.  We needed a recovery day.  But originally I was going to try to go to FL for the last few days of the break, so yeah. 

We unpacked and repacked and headed to Birch Bay after church and meetings. 

We ended up having a nice time (after I got some good sleep including naps.) 

Lots of swimming for the kids with Maren & Cara and co.  (I got in the hot tub and my skin wasn't very happy with me--but some benadryl helped.)

We had a family dinner and a bit of a birthday celebration for me (belated) and Emma. I played some fun Code Names with Grammy, Emma & kids.  The others played Red Flags. 

On Tuesday we headed up to Canada.  We shopped and ate at Granville Island.  For dinner we met up with one of my favorite former co-workers Matt Alford & family.

Wednesday we headed back home.  We unpacked again and caught up on life & sleep.  (I had a cold at this point...so I slept as much as I could.). We spent a couple of days chilling, shopping, doing labs for Dr. Cooper, school prep, etc.  Then on Sunday we drove to Corvallis OR to watch the Stanford Oregon State wrestling match.  It was my first time watching college wrestling (we went to a Highline match long ago--but I spent the whole time chasing kids). It was very interesting.  We took Hunter so he could chat with the coach about walking on.  It was a fun and hilarious road trip.  

Then, time to get back to the business of real life on Monday! 

This wasn't the final score, but Stanford got destroyed.  They only won one match. 

We ate lunch at Elmer's a fun diner in Corvallis.