A Rough Tuesday (Warning--Stitches)

 On Tuesday I left early (my students have instrumental) and drove up to Kamiak to see Sarah compete against Mariner.  She was a JV diver and swimmer.  It was a fun meet, although she felt like she didn't do her best and was looking forward to the last 2 meets of the season so she could really turn it on.

We left and I dropped her at home so she and Ben could go to Rhinos and Derek and I headed out for a date.  We had just settled into a table when we got a call from wrestling that Sarah had split her forehead (well--more precisely someone's elbow split Sarah's forehead.)

We headed back and picked them up from practice.  It was a pretty good gash.  We had a phone consult with our friendly neighborhood YW president who is a surgical PA.  She had all the necessary items to stitch it up at her house--so we did a housecall for some stitches.

The stitching went well....then when the post op instructions were given, and Sarah realized her swim/dive season was over (since you can't submerge stitches) things got a little teary.  But so proud of this brave girl.  That was a big needle delivering the numbing.

And, today she went to seminary, school, and took the PSAT.  

Sarah is hard core.

It was a pretty good gash.  Some serious elbow on the fellow that landed on her after going up for a ball in their handball warm-up.  

So adorable! 

HBD Sarah!

 Sarah got to have a bunch of fun for her birthday. 

We had a big Norton gathering on the Sunday before her birthday.

The birthday girl! 

It was so fun to have Les and Margo here!  There was some epic peek a boo happening. 

The birthday haul!  She's getting prepped for a long airplane ride to Scotland! 

On her actual b-day, she got a serenade from the SW Admin.  Hilarious! 

Then she had a friend party!  She wanted salmon and rice w/the cheesecake bar (like last year) for dessert.  She mixed her choir friends with her school friends--and they got along great! So happy about her groups of friends! There was a big haul of presents between the two parties.  This girl is rolling in the spending money for Scotland! 

School Pics!

Here is our welder!  They did some official wrestling pics, but apparently we won't get those until some later date?  So here's her day to day at Indian Hills! 

My school pic.  I got new frames for this school year.  Libby helped me choose, and I think she made the right choice?  It's always a bad hair day for pictures for me.  Haha.  It was a seminary morning, so no fresh hair for me.  But I am feeling much calmer and better this year.  I've been able to spread out the wrestling prep. My class is much more manageable (in both size and behaviors.)  My teaching partner and I are in the flow.  I've even been able to keep working on getting my book out there in the world (I've send queries to 2 agents.)  I plan to query two+ a week until someone wants it.  Haha. 

Sarah is having a great school year.  She is loving having a reduced schedule with Running Start.  She chose regular physics instead of AP, so she has AP US history and AP Calculus as her only AP tests.  Her running start English class seems to be going well.  She was having a good swim and dive season (still JV for dive, but getting closer to having 6 dives).  Her season was cut short--see additional post re stitches!  So she's bummed.  But she's been doing a bunch of wrestling, loving choir, and overall is rocking this year.  

Ben is growing like a weed.  He's having a great year too.  He has a math class that's making him work way more than he wants to, his Japanese class is harder than last year, and he's got a back thing going right now that's causing a lot of pain.  He's starting PT on Friday, so hopefully he's ready for wrestling.  Lots of bumps and bruises this fall season.  

 Anyway, we are really having a good year overall.  Let's go!

Libby's new pet?

 Things seem to be going well in Centerville Iowa.  Libby made it through her midterms and the season has started.  She's leading a bible study?  I learned from google photos.  (Haven't gotten to ask about this yet.)  But yesterday she facetimed for a minute to show me the stray kitten she's picked up.  Not sure how that is going to work out, but at least the White family (the family from the branch that she coaches for) owns the vet clinic in town.  Maybe she can trade coaching for fixing this animal?  Maybe they'll watch it when she comes home for Christmas?  What dorm allows animals?  I guess they all have to know when it's an ESA?

It is pretty adorable!

Saying Goodbye to Ann

Ann is the adorable girl on my left in this picture.  She was a spunky, full of life little gal that I was so lucky to know.  As she grew up, her disabilities led to many struggles.  It was a blessing that she found a home at the Rainier House starting in 2020, a place that could help meet her needs and keep her safe.  

We never expected for a pulmonary embolism to take her so young.  She was still very full of life.  Listening to the tributes by her dad Brett, Clark, and her sister Emma yesterday was so beautiful.  When we sang the closing hymn, and I thought about the words, "God be with you till we meet again," I felt like they didn't quite fit the scenario.  Ann, in fact, in her true, healthy, beautiful self, is someone I haven't had the privilege to meet yet.  The Ann who struggled with bipolar, manic depression, and was developmentally delayed isn't the Ann I'll meet again.  That Ann got to leave her struggles in mortality.  We'll get to meet an Ann with all the radiance and joy of the Ann we knew in this life. But it will be an Ann who also has all her mental faculties.  Who will know and understand all the things that challenged her so much on this earth.  

While we are going to miss her--I know she's finding joy in what she loved here--and so much more.  I can't wait to meet you for real, Anner Banner.  

Homecoming 2025

 Ben was all excited to ask a girl to Homecoming.  We made the cutest poster.  But she told her friends she would say no if he asked (he was going to bring a bunch of the freshman team to her volleyball game to ask her).  So he was a bit bummed.  Then through the grapevine he also heard she was sad he didn't end up asking her.  Whatever I guess.  Her loss.  And he had a great time with his friends.  He did end up crowd surfing and losing his phone for a big chunk of the dance, but otherwise he had a good time. Dinner at Mazatlan, the dance, and then the Nile haunted house.

Ben has tall friends

Love this kid (Derek told him to take some funny ones for us since we couldn't be there.) 

Sarah got ready with her friends at Amelia's house. 
Then they went to Eden Garden Cafe for dinner.  She loved it.  She got banh mi and taro milk tea.  
Then they went to hang out at Amelia's house for some bananagrams.  Then they went to the dance, hit up Dicks for shakes and fries.  They finished the night watching a movie at Amelia's house.  (I need to thank Amelia's family for doing all that hosting!  

Sarah went to Edmonds Beach with her friends for pics.  They look so great!

Sarah found her dress for $20!  Adorable! 

These are a lot of the friends she went with last year.  I was sad I wasn't able to help them get ready this year since we were at the after party for Ann's funeral.  

Our Football Player

Ben is having so much fun playing football.  He enjoys being part of the team.  He enjoys the games (two really close games this week, so not a lot of playing time).  And I'm really enjoying watching him.  It gets me outside (for better or for worse, haha.) 

This week I got to watch 2 games.  Sarah and I went to the game at Kings on Monday.  There the team did not win.  Ouch.  So close.  So close.  But it was a great place to watch football! 

Then on Wednesday I went up to Everett to watch Ben and Geneva came with Keri and Sam, who had arrived that day from Virginia for Ann's funeral.  They were great football spectators.  Even though they didn't use the scoreboard, so we were never quite sure of the score since we arrived a bit late, we were pretty sure we won when the Stormrays stopped a 2 point conversion and our team went wild.  We indeed won 14-12.

I also went to the Varsity game on Friday--since it was homecoming.  I've been forbidden to go back, since they were 5-0 before I went to a game and they lost really badly on Friday.  Oops. But the Mariners won--moving onto the next round of the MLB playoffs (in the 15th inning).  And the Huskies won.  So it was a 2 for 3 in sports night at our house.

Love these pics of Ben from a parent who does great work.  And these pics from the stands.  It really was an incredibly beautiful night on Wednesday.

See the rainbow? Beautiful. 

Only a few weeks left in the season.  Hoping for more nice clear nights!

Sarah Swims & Dives & Rocks the SAT

 Sarah had a rough start to the week.  She had a cold (missed school on Monday).  She had a hard time getting back into dive at practice on Wed.  (Still super congested, so that makes sense.) She had 2 good Rhinos Elite practices though. She also swam some good races on Thursday at the swim meet.  (I was timing, so I didn't get any pictures.) 

And she had a great weekend with Law and Order night with mom, a temple trip, and finding out she got a 1360 on her SAT.  I am utterly failing to get pictures of her. 

Her dive coach sent a great one a few weeks ago but I can't figure out where I saved it.  

We also had a fun time with Doctrinal Mastery to the Rescue @ seminary this week.  Sarah got some great pics of Ben and was featured in one or two of the questions. 

This week I should get to see Sarah swim & dive at their Thursday meet. 

Pancake Day!

Centerville Iowa's claim to fame is their Pancake Day celebration.  I think they have a world record for the most pancakes served.  The Indian Hills Wrestling team walked in the parade and Libby even got to eat some pancakes I think.

I know most of what she's up to from what pops up in google photos, although I did chat with her once this week and so did Derek.  She's having a great time.

I got this from one of the branch there in Centerville. This is one of the girls Libby coaches.  It's a sweet relationship and set up. They want Libby to do more coaching, but once the season starts officially, there won't be time, sadly. 

We got our official Indian Hills gear order! 

Freshman Football--Father & Son

 This week the Freshman team had a few chances to pull out a W, but couldn't quite seal the deal.  So they lost 6-7 (yeah--67, haha.)  Derek wasn't happy to pose for a picture.  But I had to capture the moment when the weather was nice and they were both nearby.  Ben gets to play kickoff return and punts.  Ben was sick on Monday though, and Derek noted they really need Ben at practice.  He's a huge asset to the team even if he's still too little to get much play time. 

Also, Go Dawgs.  (They lost to Ohio State yesterday--as expected, but it was a respectful loss at least.)

Ben-#12

Derek leading the post game chat. 

No smiles from Derek after a loss.