Now Where Was I???

Now where did I leave off? Oh yes, after graduation came Kaia's National T & T gymnastics competition.  Kaia qualified in her favorite event, tumbling, and since it was practically in our own back yard, we went for it. We really enjoyed our time together. Kaia didn't perform until Sunday, but we were able to watch two of her team mates perform (both those girls placed second nationally in their age/level categories), as well as take in the Elite tumblers. Kaia was in awe watching the Elite level, and it really inspired her.  Saturday evening was also the march in of all the 900+ athletes from across the country, and we were annoyed when they forgot to announce "Island Flyers." We were missing one of the four on our team who attended, as she had finished her events and headed home.

First off Sunday morning: hair! Of course, I don't do it well enough, so Kaia relied on her team mate. Hair must be all off the face and in a bun, not easy for someone with fine layered hair. And on top of that, stay in place while one does all sorts of flips and turns.

Did I mention the use of a ton of hairspray???

Presenting before the judges for her flight.

Kaia's first tumbling run, a roundoff and two back handsprings, scored her a 27.70, which put her in the top twelve. Her second run scored her 25.90 on her 3-step round off, followed by four back handsprings.  That put her tied for 19th, but they don't do ties. Since the other girl scored higher on her second run, she takes the higher place, so Kaia took 20th. I say out of 43 participants at her age and level, not bad!

Following her second run.

Following some photos with her team mates, we hit the road for our 6.5 hour drive home. We wanted to get back home to spend time with Dad for Father's Day! More on that for the next post...

Speed Post Two...

So here is a recap for Speed Post Two.  We were happy to celebrate graduation with Josh's girlfriend of nearly two years.  First she was a speaker at baccalaureate (she spoke on Joshua, the biblical guy, not my son!).

And graduation night the whole family was able to honor her hard work and next step.

Rebecca, we are very proud of you! Remember...

Proverbs 16:3  “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

Speed Posts....

This happens every year this season of transition between spring and summer...life gets crazy in the home of two teachers +4 kids!  So now I am "speed posting" to try and catch up.  This one goes back to Memorial Weekend...

Last year this time we were at Children's Hospital for Kaia's surgery, so we were unable to cheer Jaelyn on in her 3 v. 3 soccer tourney. Fortunately this year the weather cooperated, so we were able to watch the Super Six finish with a 1-1-1 record.  I love how their bright uniforms complemented the beautifully green grass!  And don't you just love the duct taped numbers? The girls wanted to be able to wear the shirts later. She was happy to be on the pitch again, and now practice has started back up for her Islanders team.

Spokane Here We Come...

Remember this post titled To Nationals or Not?  Well the official answer is "YES!"  School ended for me today (which is why you haven't heard from me in awhile; end of the school year is always crazy), so Kaia and I are heading off for Spokane tomorrow. Her event and age group doesn't compete until Sunday, but we're going early to watch some of her older team mates, as well as to participate in the march in and to watch the high level kids that are competing for a postion on the Junior Olympic team.  Looking forward to sharing the experience with Kaia. 

A couple weekends ago Kaia landed her first back flip before an audience, at her recital. It was amazing to watch this little bundle get so much height. Josh's girlfriend videotaped it for me, with intentions of posting it here, but we haven't figured out how to get it off her phone. I haven't given up on it yet though.

The only downside to going is we miss most of Father's Day with Mike on Sunday. The rest of the kids have to play it up, but I am leaving it all for them to figure out. Kids, if you're reading this, don't let your dad down!  I will follow up next week with how things went, both for Kaia and for Father's Day!

This Momma's Day...

What a treat to get Joshua home from college the day before Mother's Day! It was so nice to have all my children together to worship at church, then spend a quality day together.  First came a wonderful lunch at one of my all time favorite bakeries, Calico Cupboard.

Aren't these gifts the girls painted adorable?  I am so impressed my husband organized this gift AND everyone kept it secret!

Lunch was followed by our annual tradition of a Mother's Day hike. Fortunately for us, the weather was in full cooperation. Mike chose a new destination for us, the Anacortes Community Forest Lands.  There seemed to be a maze of endless trails, connecting ponds created by beaver dams.  Most of the hike was shadowed by the forest, so the photos do not do justice to the beautiful backdrop.

Bridge to nowhere...

One of several large ponds full of lily pads.

One highlight was this old copper mine on one of the hillsides. I won't reveal which ones of us braved the pitch dark 50-ft. cave, but three of the six of us ventured in! Let's just say it was wet above and below us (okay, I have to admit, I was one of the three).

This ole' mom outlasted the kids, as here is what they looked like on the drive home...

And a shout out to our Moms, not only on Mother's Day, but every day! THANKS to them, I think we turned out alright;)

Oops, Missed This...

I downloaded some photos from my camera the other day, and realized I forgot to post these photos after Easter. Oops! So here they are...

Missed Josh when we decorated the eggs, as it was something he always loved to do! He would've loved the eggs his sisters created this year!

I feel like the above picture should be in one of those I Spy books... Do you see a Golden Egg? Fireworks? Mr. Bill? Jesus?

Even 22 year olds get happy about a $1 bill in their Easter card!

 The rain held off and the day turned out to be quite nice,  so outdoor egg hunting was a go.

This last photo was the lone egg to be found. It took the girls so long to find it, because it blended in with Kellen's car so well. We were cracking up as we gave the "hotter, colder" clues, only to have them walk by the yellow egg multiple times.

Like the new egg baskets?  I bought a "Yoda" one for Josh. I filled it and left it in a bag when I visited for Mom's weekend, so he had a little piece of home for Easter.

Hunk of Burning Love...

No, not the Elvis Presley song! I mean my hunk of burning love who has been working hard around the house these past few weeks!  Remember when I mentioned the remodeling he was doing over spring break?

They started by replacing all the molding around our atrium windows...

As they moved into the living room to replace the baseboard molding, it led to my suggestion of doing something with this ugly beast...

In the 20+ years we have lived in this house, we have never had a fire in this fireplace! We use to have a free standing stove in our family room that we had fires in, but never in this homely thing. It was time for a change.  I was thinking of mantle, Mike was thinking fire place insert. So we compromised with this...

Short of tearing out all the stone, I think this was a simple yet much improved change. Thanks to my hunk of burning love for his hard work!  Of course, now it's an excuse to do some new decorating for the mantle. So far it is adorned by the Crebbin Family established 1988 sign my parents gave us for our 25th, but I am currently evaluating what to do. The large antique watercolor we had hanging above no longer fits. I am thinking possibly a mirror, then a variety of items for the mantle. Any suggestions???