Firecracker, Firecracker, Boom, Boom, Boom...

This past weekend was Jaelyn's first game/tournament with her new team, NW United. The tournament is named the "Firecracker," but this year it was for more than just the fact that they have fireworks on opening night. Yep, games were delayed Friday night due to thunderstorms. And Saturday did nothing but pour all day long.  Sunday morning proved to be a better day for the weather and Jaelyn, as she made her first goal and the team made their way into the championship match. Here they are getting their second place medals. Not all uniforms came in on time, so there was a hodgepodge of red on the field! Sorry for the poor quality photo...

And by the way, in between the two soccer games Sunday, we did squeeze in a little Father's Day! Morning time was short, so they gave Dad gifts while waiting to be seated for breakfast. A fun new tshirt representing Seahawks, Sounders, and Mariners, along with a watch GPS for when he gets back to running.

What says Father's Day better than test driving trucks? That's what they chose to do in the afternoon, while I was volunteering at the tournament. Kellen then treated the group to frozen yogurt.  Michael, even though the day didn't turn out to be all about you, it was about family. Something that wouldn't be if it wasn't for you. Thanks for being such a wonderful Dad!

Down, But Not Out...

Mike is laying low these days with running, as he is trying to recover from an injury.  You may remember that last year he ran two 50K's, but decided it takes too much time to train for, so he chose to do an "easy" half marathon this spring. The Whidbey Island Marathon/Half Marathon is local, and didn't take much more training than a normal run for him.

Thanks to our professional photographer friend, John Fisken, who shared this shot of Mike on the final descent.

Crossing the finish line.

Interpreting Kaia's face, "Dad you stink!"

So for taking it easy, Mike finished first place in the over 50 category, and 23rd overall! But as I said in the opening sentence, he has been in recovery ever since. He's tried to come back a couple times, only to find he was not ready. Since I've not been cleared to run yet, we're feeling like a lazy couple. I have started walking though, but he won't even join me.  Hoping we're both back soon. This 50 thing is killing us...

Finishing Strong...

Not to be outdone by her sister, Jaelyn had a strong finish to the school year too. I believe this is the 4th year that Jaelyn has participated in the Rock On 3 v 3 soccer tournament (look how little she looks this first year she played). This year they finished a strong second. It was bittersweet, because this is the last time a group from her select team will be playing together, as the team has folded. In fact, we are having to go off island for a team for Jaelyn now, but I will save that story for another day. Their team name was Luis Suarez Ate My Hamster. Their shirts had a cute hamster on it with a bite out of its ear. If you don't understand the reference, you can read more about Luis.

As for the awards night, let's just say she got lots of exercise that night! In addition to being on the Honor Roll with Kaia, she received the following acknowledgements: November Student of the Month for Compassion, This is Sparta! Award for History, Outstanding Middle School Music Student for band, Sixth Grade PE Student of the Year, and last, but not least, the Heart & Soul Language Arts Award. 

Students of the Month being honored by principal.

Speaking of Language Arts, here is the poem Jaelyn chose to write about her sister. By the way, they both chose to write about one another (Kaia's was in my previous post). Neither was assigned a topic, just styles of poems.

              KAIA

      

My sister 

Is a loving sister 

She has straight 

Dark brown hair 

(She says” she wants 

Curly hair”) 

And wears glasses

My sister

Is very flexible

She can do the splits

(She says ”her gymnastics team 

Nickname is Mightymouse”)

And can do flips in the

 Air

My sister

Is very good at origami

She can make a crane,

(She says”her favorite origami 

Is the dragon”)

Bunnies, and more.

I love my sister

This summer she has soccer, tennis camp, and possibly learning to play the trumpet on her agenda. Stay tuned...

Two in Two...

So Kaia has had two recitals in two weeks. First, here she is doing a fine job on the French-Canadian song Silhouette. She has come a long way since playing Jingle Bells, and more importantly, is still enjoying it just as much, a year later.

The finale to the recital season was her team's annual spring recital, which ends the season. They performed to Salute, which was perfect for the recital's "Salute to the Troops theme (there are performances from beginning toddler tumblers, to the Island Flyer's competition team).  Kaia starts out third from the right.  On her last tumbling run she performs her layout for the first time.

And just this past Monday night, she was invited to the awards ceremony for making the Honor Roll for her first semester of middle school. Great job Kaia! One of her favorite areas of study this year was writing poetry. She wrote on many subjects, but my personal favorite was a poem about her sister especially since I don't always see this part of their relationship these days.

My Sister

My Sister

Is a very athletic girl.

She loves to run and play soccer.

(“Ha, you just got beaten by a girl!” she says)

And doesn't believe in failure.

My Sister

Is a kind person.

She helps people in need.

My sister shows compassion,

To people and animals.

(“are you ok?”she asks)

And is encouraging.

My sister

Is independent,

She doesn't use her missing

Arm as an excuse.

(she sometimes says“A shark bit it off”)

And is confident about herself!

I am glad to

have a sister like

her to keep my

head above the clouds.

(Kaia:“I am glad to have a friend

And sister like her!:)

Today was the girls' last day of being 6th graders. Hard to believe they are now 7th graders, and scarier yet, almost teenagers! Now let the summer begin....

MUA (no, not MMA)...

So you've been wondering where I've been? Or maybe you haven't missed me. Regardless, I thought I'd take the time to excuse explain my absence.

Let me remind you of this post on my Frozen Capsulitis diagnosis back in January, otherwise known as "Frozen Shoulder." Between then and April, I did 34 sessions of physical therapy, only to gain a little more motion, not much more sleep, and rare moments without pain. I would have to say the lack of sleep has been the worst of it all. This year's sixth grade students have probably gone home and complained what a grump Mrs. C is, or how forgetful she is, including my own two students!

To sum it up, this is what frozen shoulder has done to me. Note, this is a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight; not for the weary to watch. If you don't want to watch it, just look at the still picture and imagine the pain. I am the one who doesn't fair so well...

But what I actually experienced last week was not MMA, but MUA, Manipulation Under Anesthesia. And to see how easy it is to get the two pains confused, I have a video for it too. Actually I was going to show a more graphic one, but I found this one from the TV show The Doctors that explains the entire process I have gone through quite accurately. My story is basically hers, in that it has been a long road and very painful.  Not sure if she escaped the surgery, but I did not. I did not do the arthroscopic part that the video refers to, just the manipulation.

So for the past few days I have been in intensive physical therapy so that the shoulder does not refreeze. After these next two sessions, I will go back to one a week for a period of time. I am still in a lot of pain and experiencing sleepless nights right now, but hopeful that I am on the mend. My movement is better than before surgery, but I have to build strength back up. With that, I am hoping the pain resides.

So there you have it. I have been living a life of exhaustion, falling asleep on the couch most afternoons when I come home from work, then in bed by 8:30ish.  Thus, no energy to blog, as I have tried to give it all to my family. Life has gone on; spring break, birthdays, Mother's Day, regional gymnastics. They were great times, but I just didn't have it in me to put out the extra effort to document it. So hopefully you see me posting here more frequently again, because that means I am moving forward. If not, you know why...

And a huge shout out to my husband. He has really picked up the slack around the house. Thanks babe for sticking to "For better, for worse, for sickness and in health!" I love you.