The In-Between Week

 We had a week with no sports practices.  What!?  We had 2 wrestling coaches meetings, and a fundraising dine out night, but it was a pretty nice week. (|Also Ben started his work as a basketball manager--but that sort of doesn't count, does it?)

The girls went on a YW Retreat to a cabin.  They had a blast. 

We celebrated Clark's birthday! 

We "rended" the veil of unbelief at seminary. 

Ben had his birthday outing with Grammy, a few months late, but who's counting?  And realized he's TALLER! 

More work on his hair.  We really needed a Ray Ray assist on this one. 

Ben and I also went to the temple yesterday.  It was so great to be in the temple with him.  (Derek was at home waiting for the vanity countertop to be delivered--it never was.  And the girls didn't get home in time from their retreat.)

Tomorrow wrestling starts!  It's getting REAL! 

Libby's Senior Pics!

I can't believe this girl is a senior.  Crazy.  She's having a pretty good year overall.  She's still struggling with her breakup with Andrew.  It's hard that she sees him around and it triggers the loss all over again--especially since she's been seeing him with another girl.  I'm not sure how to help her through this--but she's turning to friends and mostly keeping busy.  When she's home she's working out, or eating popcorn and watching shows in her bed.  She does run errands with her siblings.  She's Ben's official hair color expert (this last dye job needs a redo).  She's taking 2 classes at SW and 2 running start classes.  She's tardy to her SW classes every day.  How?  No idea.  She's attending seminary and mostly participates and has fun, unless she's feeling sick.  Then she puts her head down and sleeps.  (Ugh.)  Btu she's forcing a boy in our ward to start coming because she's heard he's getting into trouble and seminary will help him stay out of trouble.  Love it.  

She's working on her future.  She's put in two college applications, Western Washington University and UW Tacoma (she and Izzy worked on these--I didn't help at all!).  She's going to meet with a Coast Guard recruiter soon?  She's practicing being independent by making all her own food (mostly) and rarely eating with the family.  She's got places to be! Anyway, I love being her mom.  She makes me proud.  

Huge thanks to Kim Barlow for the awesome photos! 

 

School Pics for 2024-25

 Haha.  Okay, this is a Halloween pic of Libby.  She missed the ASB card picture day the first time around.  Not sure if she remembered to get retakes (running start kinda messes with her ability to do the normal HS things).  But I'll do a separate post with her senior pics.  

Ben, love this kid.  He's got a new history teacher this week--my former teacher partner at MP.  I'm going to miss her so much, but she'll love being back at Einstein.  Ben is a WEB leader, a friend to so many.  He's a member of the football team, will be a basketball manager again, a wrestler and a member of the track team.  He's a fortnite player, a weight lifter, deacon's quorum president, and a fun brother.  I'm lucky to be his mom.    

5th grade teacher and Wrestling coach.  Mom & Super Sport Spectator.  Member of the social committee this year at school (gave up the Building Leadership Team.)  Is enjoying planning Staff Spirit Days instead of arguing about class placement processes, etc.  She's helping a new teacher partner get rolling.  She's planning a new math curriculum this year that is taking a lot of time.  Ouch.  She's got a class of 31.  She's in her 8th year of teaching 5th grade--and feeling it.  A little tired of some of her favorite projects.  Some more overhauls needed next year once the math is settled.  (But is always tinkering with her projects...so will it ever be settled?)  She's running the Park Post with an awesome partner.  First issue comes out this week.  She's also got SW access and is getting  building key.  This coaching thing is getting real.  

Sarah spent a lot of time giving me a run down of all her classes this year.  She's loving school.  (She especially loves AP World History--which makes this mama heart sing!)  She's taking accounting and DECA.  She likes being able to drive, but doesn't like going to stores by herself.  So I still get to run errands with this girl (4 or 5 stores--and lunch--yesterday!)  I'm super proud of Miss Sarah. 

Wrapping Up Fall Sports

Oh boy, are we excited for Fall sports to be over.  It's freezing out there on the football bleachers.  It's hot and steamy at the pool.  But I am so proud of my athletes for going after it this fall.  Sarah got enough dives to compete in the JV champs meet.  Unfortunately she learned a hard lesson.  She lined up her harder dives first and when she didn't complete 2 in a row she was disqualified.  Libby qualified for districts, and was not last--until she didn't complete her last dive either (she got spooked after slapping during warmups).  But seriously, diving is hard and scary stuff. Thankful they had a fun coach that guided them through and helped them have the courage to go for it!  Ben had a good last game where he got 10 varsity plays!  He told me that's 3x more than in any other game, plus one!  So yeah, looking forward to wrestling.  

Mom was too cold and retreated to the car as soon as the 5th quarter was over. 

That's Libby, in the ranking before they started.  She was 3rd to last in the beginning and ended up in last after not completing her last dive.  Still super proud of her! 

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN--Early

 I know it's not Halloween yet, but we got in our dress up night at the church Trunk-or-Treat, and we likely won't do it again (all together at least.) 

Each year I feel like our costumes have a story.  This year I bought the lion costume for myself for my Galactic Travel Day at school (culmination of our fantasy genre reading project.) I am a lion because I am reading my class the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.  My partner teacher (who will be leaving after this week--so sad!) is going to be the White Witch.  I originally thought I could be the white witch and Derek could be Aslan.  Then Derek said if we went with the Narnia theme, he wanted to be the wardrobe.  What an annoying costume.  So Ben and I decided to be Despicable Me villians.  He started planning several months ago. I ordered a track suit so I could be the 80s dance villain Bart.  Ben ordered a Vector suit.  Or thought I ordered it.  Then I realized he hadn't ordered so I ordered.  Then it wasn't going to come in time.  Ugh.

So, change of plans.  I realized I could fit into the Wizard of Oz costume that Libby had when she was Wendy (I think 6th grade?--but it was pretty big on her then).  So with the Lion costume that would fit Ben, Dorothy for me, we got to work on Scarecrow for Derek (he's wearing his dad's overalls.) And then Geneva jumped on board as the witch!   It was fun.  

I loved Maren's Steve Erwin Crocodile Hunter costume.  Rory is inside the minion costume (would have been great with the Despicable Me first plan.)  Jed was a banana.  We also got these two other random girls from the ward because the younger one was so excited that I was also Dorothy.  

Anyway--There's No Place Like Home! 

Senior Night For SW Swim & Dive

 Thursday was the last swim meet of the regular season.  We have one meet left, JV champs.  And LIBBY QUALIFIED FOR DISTRICT DIVING!  That's so exciting.  The Senior Night was sweet--and I was so proud of myself for not tearing up...until LIBBY DID!  Up on the blocks while holding her poster I could tell she was holding back tears.  I'm so stinking proud of her and how far she's come in the last two years.

Sarah also did some awesome diving!  Overall I was so proud of them this season.  Somehow I didn't get pics of Sarah at all during the event.  I got a video of a great dive though.  I'll try to post. 

Libby did more dives since she is Varsity this year and Sarah is JV.  

Sarah handed off Libby's poster to her--very sweet.  I was glad Keela brought Libby flowers, as I didn't realize parents were the ones who brought flowers for Seniors...oops.  

This is the Dive Coach, Keela.  Libby and Sarah LOVE her.  She's hiring Sarah to work for her at HM pool near here.  Very excited for Sarah's first job!  

Thanks to Kristi Lin & Coach Keela for some of these great pics.  

More Fall Sports!

We are loving fall sports.  The weather has been so cooperative!  I got to see a few minutes of Ben's game this week (I was busy choosing a vanity topper so we can get our kid bathroom done during most of the game.  Thankfully Grammy was there the whole game and Derek was there for the first bit.)  Ben wishes he got more playing time, but he got more this game than in his first game. So we'll take it! 

Sarah and Libby are enjoying swim/dive. Sarah had a big drop this week!  She was really happy with her 100 m freestyle.  I was super bummed because I found a way to sneak out early on Thursday to go to their swim meet, but for some reason they did the diving first.  So I missed the dives and saw only the swims.  Thankfully they both swam 3 times so it felt worth the drive. We have 2 weeks left of swim and dive.  Libby's still hoping to qualify for districts in dive.  She has one meet left to do that, next Saturday.  (She didn't try yesterday, because the last dive is eluding her still...you need all 11 dives to qualify.) 

Ben also started the fall/winter Rhinos season this week.  He was kind of grumpy about having to go, but he came home happy after the 2 hour practice. (Yeah, it's a long practice on Thursdays--and that's right after football.)  Libby's been lifting a lot in prep for wrestling (usually in lieu of going to swim practice--she's been focusing on dive.)  I've been doing lots of wrestling planning.  It takes a lot to get the season going.  I'm at the same time SO excited for wrestling, and SO nervous about how much energy it's going to take.  We've got this, right?  

Ben's out there somewhere, I promise. He's 10--get it, Ben 10? 

 

An Unforgettable Wedding

 When Maren and Cara got engaged, I knew it was going to be a wedding for the books.  And it was an unforgettable night!  It was also the first weekend of October.  So it was pretty insane getting ready for it.  The hardest part was getting Ben the right suit.  Poor guy was in tears at the first suit fitting when he tried it on and it was so big they said they couldn't make it work.  Anyway, many trips to different Men's Warehouses later, and we had it working.

A "REAL" haircut! 

Will we get a suit that works? 

Not this one....

Dave also came to town for the wedding.  It was really fun to have him here! 

He got to experience swim & dive! 

We got to meet his girlfriend Maika--who I really liked. She helped me work on my home improvement project (bathroom remodel started the Tuesday after the wedding, and carpet selection--again.) 

Going straight from Hoco assembly to wedding. 

One thing I loved (they really thought of everything) was the photo guest book.  Super fun idea. 

The siblings

The I DO Converse.  Super fun detail. 

Libby and Sarah sang with Cara's BFFs kids.  They sang a song called "Crowded Table."  Can't imagine a more Maren song. 

Derek and Clark made an over under bet on the length of the ceremony.  It was very close, but I think Derek won with under 25 minutes.  It was really sweet and look how despite the crazy rain earlier--the sun shone on the ceremony. 

Flower girl Margo

So pretty Sarah! 

Me & my girls!

A quick peek of the brides while they were getting their pics done. 

Derek and Clark nailed their toast.  

Killing it on the dance floor.  I definitely don't have the stamina to dance all night, but I did get some good dancing in! 

It was so fun.  I guess in the next few years we'll be entering into wedding era again as our kids and their friends get married.  Documenting all the ideas :). (Also encouraging elopement--based on all the blood, sweat, tears and money that went into this one, haha.)