Retraction...

Remember last week when I posted that Joshua was heading to Texas for the national wrestling tournament? Well I have to say I am just as proud to say he made a very tough decision this past Friday, to pass on this opportunity so that he can focus on his midterms this coming week.  He has a very tough load of classes, and would have missed two midterms had he gone to the tourney.  Since he received one of the wild card invitations, he figured he has three more years to be able to qualify.  As excited as he was, I know he made a tough decision that he won't regret, as he remembers the main reason he is at college!  After his midterms it is Spring Break for him, so he will be back home shortly.

Here is the recap on Kaia's meet last weekend that I promised.  In her flight (which means against kids her age AND level) she took first place in all three of her events.  Overall, when compared against all kids at her level, regardless of age, she took two firsts and a second.  Not bad I say. Since we were with Josh, here's a couple photos the other mom shot of her.

State is coming up in just a couple weeks, so stay tuned...

Allen, Texas or Bust...

Last weekend we traveled to Central Washington University to watch Joshua wrestle at the NW Regional Conference wrestling tournament.  Was great to see him and cheer him on.

Joshua's groupies

Championship WSU Cougar wrestling team

Josh placed fourth in his bracket, but his team took the championship in just their second year in existence. Next they head to Allen, Texas for Nationals. The surprise news for Joshua yesterday is that someone wasn't able to go, which opened up another wild card position. He was asked to go, so will now be making the trip.  I don't know how that worked, but he's happy about it.  What a great experience it should be for him.

Here's a clip the school news channel did on them...



You may notice Kaia was not there. She was at her own meet. More on that later...

Minor Mishap...

Here's what Kaia discovered in our backyard this morning, after yet another windstorm last night.

That's our tree that pushed the fence down into our next door neighbor's yard. Check out the top of the tree...

It fell into a second neighbor's back yard. Fortunately the damaged was only to the one section of fence, which Mike and Kellen repaired this afternoon. Just in time, because the next windstorm is scheduled to start up in about an hour from now!

Seahawk Sweethearts!

This Valentine's Day the romantic in me got everyone Seahawk Superbowl Champions tshirts! Hey, don't judge me! The girls' ones were pink with hearts, so kept with the theme, and we all "love" our Hawks! Here's Josh showing us his from college...

A week ago I took the girls to a local pottery painting business so they could paint Mike some Valentine gifts. Here are some before and after shots.

Yep, Mike looks a little under the weather. He has quite the cough going on and seems to enjoy showing me what comes up with it. Thanks Babe! He is determined to run the Fort Ebey Kettle Run half marathon tomorrow. I am not sharing his enthusiasm, especially for the inch of rain that is predicted in the next 24 hrs.! Stay tuned for the outcome and photos....

Indoor S'mores!!!

Who says we have to wait until summer to camp and eat S'mores? Yesterday, amongst yet another freezing day (minus all the snow that everyone else in the country has been getting), the girls and I made Indoor S'more Sundaes. They were a fun and sweet treat, and even better, easy to make! Ours weren't as pretty as the photo posted on foodnetwork, but looks are over rated, right?

First the graham cracker crust.

Cover the ice cream with marshmallows.

After an hour in the freezer and 30 seconds under the broiler, enjoy!

Not as pretty as below, but tasty! I forgot to drizzle the chocolate before the photo, and it actually was more like a plop!

What it was actually supposed to look like!

 If you like, you can check out the original recipe here.

Tumblin' Time...

The tumbling season is amongst us now, as last weekend Kaia had her first competition. In the double-mini event she took home the first place medal overall for her level. She is preparing to move up a level in this event; all she needs to do is get the confidence to do so in a meet, which we are working on. In trampoline she was on the medal stand for third place overall. And in power tumbling she moved up a level from last year, and took second in her flight.

Not a very clear picture, but we were sitting in the balcony!

Speaking of last weekend and competition, Joshua wrestled at Pacific University in Oregon. He ended up taking fourth in his weight class. Since it was near family, my parents were able to go cheer him on.

We are hoping to go watch Josh at Central Washing University in early March. Today we head to Kirkland for Kaia's second meet. Tomorrow? Let's just say there's kind of a big game that we will be cheering loudly for!

Forward Step...

I was thrilled to see this commercial on TV a couple days ago. A complete step in the right direction! Not there yet, as the commercial is specific to the "disability," but forward nontheless.  I look forward to the day when it is not newsworthy that someone with a limb difference, or any other "disability," is in a commercial just because...