It was a busy weekend. I got to the Sub-Regional (we have always called this tournament Districts) late on Friday night and late on Saturday. But I got to see some good wrestling. I didn't take a single picture. Here are the results as reported by Derek on the Thunderbird FB page:
What a great weekend!! Your T-birds came ready to wrestle. We place 4th in the team standings out of 10 schools at the WESCO/KingCo Sub-Regional Tournament. Placing for SW and qualifying for Regionals next weekend are RJ Bucheit 5th @152lbs, Aiden Jung 5th @120lbs, Max Null 4th @170lbs, Curt Tanaka 4th @132lbs, Kai Layton 3rd @113lbs, Cole Becker 3rd @152lbs, Kody Carpenter 2nd @138lbs, Devin Leach 2nd @145lbs, and Philip Ball 3rd @182lbs. Really proud of how tough we were and how we faced down adversity. Looking forward to getting to work Monday to get ready for next Saturday. Go T-Birds!!
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Rhinos Photos
Yesterday was the Sub-Regional wrestling tournament for Shorewood. I was having flash forwards all day thinking about the time when Ben will likely wrestle at these tournaments too. I can't believe how fast it is going. He is getting so grown up!
I love looking at the comparison between these Ben Photos.
I love looking at the comparison between these Ben Photos.
 |
| 2016-2017 |
 |
| 2017-2018 |
 |
| 2018-2019 |
Happy Habitats
I don't write very much about my teaching life on this blog...It's because I could go on and on and on. I feel like I need a teacher blog too. But who has time for that?
But this week I was particularly happy with a project I designed, and the results! (And I remembered to take pictures too!)
I felt like the science kit I was supposed to teach was full of good science ideas, but the methods for teaching them was lame. We are supposed to learn about environments, and the living and non-living things that animals need in their environment. So I turned it into a research project.
Kids researched animal habitats and made a poster and a model to explain the interactions between living and non-living things in their environments. AND, an actual zookeeper came to look at their work and give them feedback! It was so fun! Shout out to Cougar Mountain Zoo, one of the smaller zoos in our area for sending out a zookeeper (on relatively short notice). She was awesome. She brought tiger whiskers and a tiger skull for the kids to touch. She gave them some great feedback on their projects and answered lots of questions.
Did you know that there are specific University/Zoo programs?
Anyway, it was a good learning experience for everyone (me included!)
But this week I was particularly happy with a project I designed, and the results! (And I remembered to take pictures too!)
I felt like the science kit I was supposed to teach was full of good science ideas, but the methods for teaching them was lame. We are supposed to learn about environments, and the living and non-living things that animals need in their environment. So I turned it into a research project.
Kids researched animal habitats and made a poster and a model to explain the interactions between living and non-living things in their environments. AND, an actual zookeeper came to look at their work and give them feedback! It was so fun! Shout out to Cougar Mountain Zoo, one of the smaller zoos in our area for sending out a zookeeper (on relatively short notice). She was awesome. She brought tiger whiskers and a tiger skull for the kids to touch. She gave them some great feedback on their projects and answered lots of questions.
Did you know that there are specific University/Zoo programs?
Anyway, it was a good learning experience for everyone (me included!)
 |
| Panda in its habitat |
 |
| The sloth (wearing a tophat...don't ask me why) |
 |
| Polar Bears |
 |
| Poison Dart frogs |
 |
| Wolves (I guess this is actually a lone origami wolf). |
 |
| Origami pigs |
 |
| Arctic Fox |
 |
| Gorilla |
 |
| Snow leopard |
 |
| The awesome Zookeeper Morgan and Tiger Skull |
Sunday, January 27, 2019
Ben Quotes
Ben has been so fun lately. I am really bad at writing down the funny things he says. But here are a couple.
Ben: Mom, some of my friends have been asking me lately if I can help them. I say yes. But then I don't. Because they didn't say WILL you help me.
Oh my little grammar nazi. Derek is so proud right now.
Yesterday Ben was super concerned about the length of his arm hairs. And the height of his forehead. Funny how he is so concerned with his appearance.
Also my favorite right now is how he loves his new haircut. He says, "I look so good with my jeans and the [insert whatever shirt] and my new haircut today."
He lost another tooth this week. "I just got sick of it being loose, so I pulled it out."
He decided for one day that he wanted to wait for the tooth fairy to come until he lost a bunch of teeth. Then the next day he changed his mind. When the tooth fairy did come, she couldn't find the tooth (who's idea was it to put it under the pillow????). He was confused/sad that he still had his tooth and money.
Yesterday he wrote a note the to clean room fairy and the fairy that comes to his outside fairy garden. He is concerned that he hasn't seen them for a while. Hopefully they make and appearance soon! (His room is usually quite tidy these days, so the clean room fairy just forgets. I wish her possible appearance could motivate his sisters across the hall!)
Future Job Day
I was super excited to dress up like my principal. I "borrowed" a shirt that I gave him a few years back that he had hanging on his wall--it says "I'm a School Principal, so you know I'm smart and awesome." He was super super tickled. We got a couple of pictures together too...but those are on his camera. I'll have to add them. I'm wearing khakis and a very large white button down under the t-shirt. On Friday he was wearing a similar outfit. It was perfect.
Student Council is one of the straws that weighs heavily on my back. But I did it because my kids love spirit days and being involved. And it pays off pretty big.
Variety Show 2019
For several years the girls have been asking to be in the Variety Show at Meridian Park. Previous years we had some false starts in trying to pull something together. But it always came up at a busy time of year. After last year, I promised them that they could do it this year. Then, you know, life has been intense. But I felt like I could keep my promise. And I did. (It was tough, but we made it!)
Libby was determined to sing Never Enough from Greatest Showman. But the karaoke versions were not in a key that worked for her. I had to ask around and figured out that I could buy a version of the song through Kennelly Keys that was in the key of C. (I maybe could have done this myself online, but it was only $4.--although it made us late for dance one day to get it).
Our neighbor Brittain accompanied Libby. We managed to get together a few times so she could practice. He is insanely busy, so I'm so thankful that he made time for her! Derek also worked with her a bunch to help with her breath control and really punching the lyrics. I am proud of her because she did a good job handling a lot of coaching.
Sarah had the idea of doing the Pajama Time number. I brushed her off at first. But finally I listened to her idea, and it was perfect. She and her friends worked on the choreography for quite a while one day. Then I went down and helped them finalize it. I was super proud of her idea, and her persistence in getting me to accept it. This group had 3 or 4 rehearsals, which was pretty awesome considering how many were in the group. We got most together for most rehearsals. The final product turned out great. Despite Ben's "stage fright" he did really well. You couldn't tell that he had a care in the world!
I was in the teacher number. It was pretty funny. Especially funny was that we had "floss" or white strands to dance around with. I had mine stuck in my bra so that I could pull it out later in the number. It came loose and was trailing out under my dress. Like a skinny piece of toilet paper stuck in my pants. HA!
Gotta love it! I'm really glad that it's over though.
The hardest part about the whole thing was that we had to miss the MP Rhino last practice for the dress rehearsal. Then the actual Variety Show was on the same night (and in the same building) as the Shorewood Shorecrest Match--also the Rhino Night scrimmage with Seattle Wrestling Club. The scrimmage wasn't very well attended. But the Shorewood Shorecrest match was INTENSE. I'm so sad I missed it. I got in there just in time to see Shorewood lose. 28 to 26. The first time they have lost to Shorecrest in a long time. Painful. (We knew it would probably happen...they have 6 seniors. We have 1 though, so next year...)
Anyway, I felt some sadness too, knowing that this is just the beginning. Kids are going to be busy, and we will no longer be able to go to everyone's everything. And that makes me feel a longing for the simpler days--when the kids had nothing going on. Better to focus on how glad I am to have talented kids. We will divide (when we have to) and conquer.
Libby was determined to sing Never Enough from Greatest Showman. But the karaoke versions were not in a key that worked for her. I had to ask around and figured out that I could buy a version of the song through Kennelly Keys that was in the key of C. (I maybe could have done this myself online, but it was only $4.--although it made us late for dance one day to get it).
Our neighbor Brittain accompanied Libby. We managed to get together a few times so she could practice. He is insanely busy, so I'm so thankful that he made time for her! Derek also worked with her a bunch to help with her breath control and really punching the lyrics. I am proud of her because she did a good job handling a lot of coaching.
Sarah had the idea of doing the Pajama Time number. I brushed her off at first. But finally I listened to her idea, and it was perfect. She and her friends worked on the choreography for quite a while one day. Then I went down and helped them finalize it. I was super proud of her idea, and her persistence in getting me to accept it. This group had 3 or 4 rehearsals, which was pretty awesome considering how many were in the group. We got most together for most rehearsals. The final product turned out great. Despite Ben's "stage fright" he did really well. You couldn't tell that he had a care in the world!
I was in the teacher number. It was pretty funny. Especially funny was that we had "floss" or white strands to dance around with. I had mine stuck in my bra so that I could pull it out later in the number. It came loose and was trailing out under my dress. Like a skinny piece of toilet paper stuck in my pants. HA!
Gotta love it! I'm really glad that it's over though.
The hardest part about the whole thing was that we had to miss the MP Rhino last practice for the dress rehearsal. Then the actual Variety Show was on the same night (and in the same building) as the Shorewood Shorecrest Match--also the Rhino Night scrimmage with Seattle Wrestling Club. The scrimmage wasn't very well attended. But the Shorewood Shorecrest match was INTENSE. I'm so sad I missed it. I got in there just in time to see Shorewood lose. 28 to 26. The first time they have lost to Shorecrest in a long time. Painful. (We knew it would probably happen...they have 6 seniors. We have 1 though, so next year...)
Anyway, I felt some sadness too, knowing that this is just the beginning. Kids are going to be busy, and we will no longer be able to go to everyone's everything. And that makes me feel a longing for the simpler days--when the kids had nothing going on. Better to focus on how glad I am to have talented kids. We will divide (when we have to) and conquer.
Happy Birthday to ME!
Yes, I'm 42. And it was an amazing birthday. The tradition I started the year I turned 40 of travelling on the MLK weekend around my birthday is going strong. This year I headed to Washington DC to see Emmi's new place. Jenn joined us. It was just what I needed!
Derek asked what DC sites we went to. The answer: NONE!
This was about girl time. We went to SPA WORLD, went shopping, walked, talked, played some games, and talked some more. It was amazing.
Jenn and Emmi were pregnant last year. So this year, they both had babies. It was fun to hold babies (and give them back). And Emmi's husband Dan watched the babies a lot so that we could have girl time. It was a great gift!
It was so healing to be able to process 2018 together. Here's to a better 2019--and to the power of friends to help lift you up! (Hoping for San Diego in 2020--finally somewhere warm!)
I ended up getting an extra night in DC because all the flights out of DC were delayed. Luckily I had a training on Tuesday, so I already had a sub plan. I flew direct to Seattle. Derek picked me up, I showered, changed, and went straight to the training.
Derek asked what DC sites we went to. The answer: NONE!
This was about girl time. We went to SPA WORLD, went shopping, walked, talked, played some games, and talked some more. It was amazing.
Jenn and Emmi were pregnant last year. So this year, they both had babies. It was fun to hold babies (and give them back). And Emmi's husband Dan watched the babies a lot so that we could have girl time. It was a great gift!
 |
| We stayed up SUPER late....but since we were on the East Coast, that was perfect for me. 1:00 am there, is only 10:00 pm here. So I could stay up that late ;) And I slept pretty well there (something I have been struggling to do here), so overall I got to stay up "late" and still get some rest. The night of the eclipse was the coolest! |
 |
| I got to feed Walter, Jenn's little guy, a few times. He's a great eater, so that was fun! |
 |
| I got to hold and feed Atticus at time or two also. |
 |
| Shopping! Jenn wanted some new clothes, and the girls were also passionate about helping me find some more color and style for my wardrobe. They ended up buying me a super cute pant suit for my birthday. |
 |
| We ate at the Rusty Scupper the night I flew in. It wasn't far from BWI. Yummy! |
 |
| Back together! |
 |
| Me wedged between the two babies. It was such fun! |
I ended up getting an extra night in DC because all the flights out of DC were delayed. Luckily I had a training on Tuesday, so I already had a sub plan. I flew direct to Seattle. Derek picked me up, I showered, changed, and went straight to the training.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)