tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40196633207291694102024-03-14T07:34:35.351-07:00the second happiest place on earthday-to-day raucous meanderings
of the fergy kids & companythey call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.comBlogger327125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-80902216029226477652013-09-17T21:31:00.002-07:002013-09-17T21:31:27.115-07:00the graduateBefore school ended last June the 5th graders put on an anti-bullying play for the school. The play is a comedy/musical which takes place in a school with two teachers talking to the kids about how to handle bullies. Many weeks earlier Erin told me she was going to try out for one of the two main parts, one of the two teachers.<br /><br />I told her, "Great," but was thinking, "not again". She tried out for main speaking parts in the plays every year at her last school, but was never given one of those roles. She's not really the theatric type, the teachers told me, and I can see what they mean. But much to my surprise a few days later Erin learned that she was given the main female part in the play. I couldn't believe it.<div>
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Her role was actually pretty well suited for her. She was kind the of straight man to the other dufus goofball teacher, Mr. B, played by her classmate and our neighbor two doors over, Paul. He was absolutely perfect for that part. Together they had a whole Laurel and Hardy type routine going on.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The songs were funny, the dialogue was clever and I don't know when Erin learned all those tons of lines, but she did and it came together well.<br />
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A few days later was 5th grade graduation, with a graduating class of about 90.<br />
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All but one of Erin's best friends are going to the same public middle school she'll attend, where the number of kids in each grade equals the number of kids in this entire elementary school. Yikes.<br />
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they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-76332819927117776462013-09-17T21:15:00.003-07:002013-09-17T21:15:39.129-07:00catch up softball<br /><br />I'm going to try to catch up on my blog a bit even though I find Blogger ever so much more difficult to use since it's last major update some time ago. I'm going to try to get used to it. <br /><br />This past spring's softball season was the most interesting so far. The twins were signed up to play along with a few others from their girl scout troop, as they did last year. When Kate broke her leg the coaches nicely said they'd hold a spot on the team for her, and she could join in whenever she was ready. <div>
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Allison took this season much more seriously than any previous season. My grass-picker, as another mom called her a couple of years ago, now at least kept her eyes on the game when she was placed in the outfield.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The outfield was her least favorite position as it got relatively little action. Catcher was a little more interesting.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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But having a base position and infielding was the best. And she was pretty good at playing a base, making many outs throughout the season. She really wanted to win each game, even though scores aren't kept until playoff time.<br />
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This is how she looked if her teammate did not make the out at base.<br />
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She is a fast runner, the fastest on the team, and god help any opposing player blocking her way to a base because it wouldn't end well for them.</div>
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Fists clenched and dying for the next hit so she can outrun the fielders.</div>
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About 2 weeks before the end of the season, Kate finally got the all clear to run, so she joined in. She was instantly one of the more consistent hittters, but probably the slowest runner with a kind of hoppy, limpy run. We talked about having another player run for her after she hit, but she managed to run fast enough to get to base more often than not, so she ran for herself.<br />
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For the first time, we hit the batting cages between games for extra practice and that helped the girls quite a bit.<br />
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When the playoffs came around, they won their semifinal game but then lost in the finals, making them the second place team in their division. This was the first time a team Kate and Allison played on won any playoff game, so I thought the playoffs were really exciting, and they only lost in the finals by 1 run. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-32016163389993994352013-03-01T20:07:00.000-08:002013-09-17T20:08:26.219-07:002 outta 3 aint bad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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2 out of 3 is how many kids could enjoy some skiing in Oregon this year. Just 2 weeks to the day from Kate's accident we left for Sunriver and the rental house that John's sister always reserves for the 10 of us to have a few days of fun in the snow each year.</div>
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The following day a group of us headed to the mountain. I put the kids in ski school for the day and wondered if I'd be picking them up in one piece. I saw them at lunch time in one of the lodges and happily texted John, who had a cold and stayed at the house with Kate, that all 4 legs were intact.</div>
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This is a rare still shot of Tim, who usually was flying by so quickly that I couldn't photograph him.</div>
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The following day the girls skied with the family.</div>
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The girls especially love skiing with their big cousins, or at least catching a glimpse of Tim as he whizzes by.<br />
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Erin and I spent almost an entire day on some of the toughest advanced runs on the back side of the mountain. She did a few of these with her ski school and wanted to come back for more., and she did fantastically well.<br />
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Kate, meanwhile, had a pretty good trip, considering. I was really nervous about her being outside at all. She was still learning to use crutches and then trying to use them on ice and snow sounded like a horrible idea. Luckily there was not a ton of snow near the house this year so she could do some walking off the snow. She liked sitting in a patch of snow near the house and using some cups to make snow castles. </div>
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One day while the rest of us skied Uncle Randy took Kate out for a change of scenery to the nearby High Desert Museum.<br />
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Kate should be back to skiing next season, after one more surgery.<br />
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<br />they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-13914240502012267402013-02-22T21:25:00.001-08:002013-02-27T12:35:40.954-08:00bubble wrap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our ski season began typically enough with our annual trip to Squaw Valley. The kids all had new (used, but new to them) skis of their own for the first time and we were to spend the long weekend with a skiing friend and her 3 kids. It was a beautiful sunny day in the mountains the friday before superbowl Sunday.</div>
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A fun family photo at the top of the chairlift before our first run.</div>
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On that first run we encountered more ice than any of us really liked so we took Squaw's gondola up higher and found some fun intermediate terrain to warm up on. </div>
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Then a little while later as we headed to another chair lift, Kate came towards this sign too quickly and had one ski go on either side of the pole that holds it up. She hit it hard with her right leg and collapsed on the spot, yelling. My friend's boys returned to the scene of the crime later on to tell the offending sign what they thought of it.</div>
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Kate is a good skier and she wasn't skiing anywhere very steep or crowded and it was just a really terrible example of some really bad luck. Once she was transported down the hill and to the little ski clinic doctor, her leg was quickly discovered to be broken and we had a ticket to ride to the nearest hospital in an ambulance. </div>
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Kate's leg was stabilized there and we rode the same ambulance to a much better, </div>
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further away hospital that afternoon. </div>
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Fortunately, her prognosis changed when we changed hospitals as well. She went from needing a full body cast for many weeks after surgery to needing a soft removable velcro cast which she would remove to exercise her leg each day. </div>
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The next morning she had surgery and now has a leg full of some nice hardware which must be removed in a year. </div>
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One of my best friends took Allison and Erin for the day so they wouldn't have to hang around the hospital and drive us crazy. A&E went out to lunch, got to ride my friend's daughter's horse, made cupcakes and a nice get well sign for Kate too.</div>
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Kate did well after surgery as long as she didn't have to move. She had been on morphine since seeing the first doctor at the ski clinic and was kept pretty comfortable. She stayed home during the following week and her class made her a huge get-well banner which everyone signed. </div>
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Erin brought home her work each day so she never got behind and she had a lot to learn about using crutches, exercising her leg, and doing things independently. By the following week she was pain-free without any medication and was good enough on her crutches to return to school. Physical therapy sessions are ongoing but generally Kate has been making good progress.</div>
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Different people have let me know how much smarter they are than I am. "That's exactly why I would never let my kids ski!" I've heard more times than I can count. Which is a great theory, except skiing is something the vast majority of people do without breaking their legs and this is Kate's <a href="http://www.fergyfive.blogspot.com/2008/08/thems-breaks.html">second broken bone</a> and time spent in a cast. She was nearly 4 when she broke her arm by falling on our lawn from the towering distance of about 12 inches from the ladder of the playground structure. So I guess I shouldn't let my kids play in the backyard either. Or let them ride a bike, or in a car, or many other things where injuries happen every day. I guess I should keep them all in bubble wrap.</div>
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<br />they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-31057319272277239842012-12-31T21:00:00.000-08:002013-01-03T18:34:03.109-08:00december continued<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Other december fun included a visit to Santa</div>
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And decorating by far our biggest christmas tree. We have 15 foot ceilings in the living room, making 14'11" the ideal tree height according to the girls. John got a 10-11' gigantic tree which was a pretty imposing sight.<br />
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Not even John could reach the top of the tree from the ladder because the bottom of the tree was so wide. He needed some help to put on our fancy traditional tree topper (Winter Jack from Jack in the Box).<br />
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And before Christmas Kate and Erin had two dance performances: one at a Scottish Christmas concert in a large Scottish church nearby (I don't have any good photos from that), and below, the Christmas in the Park performance, on the main stage one evening. Erin is at center in royal blue and Kare is in the black vest and purple/white kilt at right in the first and last photos and at left in the middle one.<br />
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they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-50545407359186961362012-12-31T20:30:00.000-08:002013-01-03T18:21:58.182-08:00musical december <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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December was a busy month. Having bigger kids with bigger activities meant more holiday-related commitments. At the beginning of the month on a particularly stormy, wet weekend, Erin's school band marched (or more precisely, loosely meandered) in a Christmas parade in a nearby town. As is typical, they needed to be there before the beginning of the parade even though they were positioned towards the end.<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">The twins and I found a warm and dry cafe to have breakfast in after we dropped Erin off and then waited and waited for her band to pass by. Despite the rain and the long wait, Kate enjoyed the parade. Allison, not so much.</span></div>
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It was a fairly interesting Christmas parade, with a few high and middle bands, and even the Stanford band. Then there were the group of shirtless older men carrying unusually large zucchinis.<br />
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Then finally Erin's group came, the only elementary school aged band in the parade. Because of the rain, the plan to have everyone wear jeans and a white shirt got scrapped and everyone could wear what they wanted in order to keep dry and warm, and they were given ponchos. Erin has the pink hood on, and her sax is under the poncho since woodwind instruments aren't supposed to get wet.<br />
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Mission accomplished. Remarkably, she had a great time.<br />
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About a week later Erin had another performance with her band at a local mall.<br />
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They played a variety of christmas songs and also some not so christmasy but still popular, like the Star Wars theme.<br />
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<br />they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-64818101873686112522012-12-31T20:04:00.000-08:002013-01-03T14:44:57.007-08:00seattle<br />
The first part of our big summer vacation was a morning flight to Seattle so we could spend the day sight-seeing and catch our cruise ship there the following morning. I don't know how much cousin Jacob knew about Seattle, but he knew about the Space Needle and definitely wanted to see it. We all bought some really over-priced tickets for the observation deck and waited in line to go up.
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We had pretty typical Seattle weather for our day in town. It always looked like it could rain at any moment, but it never did.<br />
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Pretty views from up in the Needle, and free telescopes were fun for everyone. We looked into getting a dinner reservation in the revolving restaurant just one floor below the observation deck for that evening, but if the observation deck admission price was a little shocking, the restaurant prices were absolutely insane. We made arrangements to meet John's sister Sue and family downtown instead.<br />
We spent quite a while up high, I mean, given the price of those tickets, we were going to stay. They did serve drinks and snacks up there and you could sit inside and get some shelter from the wind. <br />
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Back on the ground walked the surrounding plaza area and the kids posed in front of a colorful wall of a "rock music and movie" museum. We then walked inside the lobby to see what that was about, but it looked touristy and boring. We rode the monorail back downtown instead.<br />
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The last place we stopped before dinner was the Pike Street fish market. We wandered through the length of it and I told the kids there would be something cool to see there, but as we passed stall after stall of big smelly fish on ice, they doubted that more and more.<br />
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Finally we reached the famous stall where the guys yell and throw the fish to each other, which I think they agreed was something different and it held their attention for a while but a few minutes after we arrived it was time for this stall and all of Pike's Market to close.<br />
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they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-71573498153053599522012-12-31T16:39:00.002-08:002013-01-03T16:40:01.189-08:00the last night One of the ways we spent time on board was in the many different games and games shows put on by the crew. Here Erin has to ask the audience yes/no questions to figure out which Disney character is written behind her.<br />
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On our last night and dinner on board we had numerous characters stop at our table, and then the waiter who had been with us every evening made creative hats out of our napkins. I bet Dora never got this treatment on her prvious cruises.</div>
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<br />they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-8726050073574769322012-12-31T16:39:00.001-08:002013-01-03T16:39:38.006-08:00excursions<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The ship was massive, did I mention that? John's mom is a veteran cruiser but had never been on a ship this big. There were 2000 guests, and 1000 crew members on board.</div>
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In Skagway we had our first excursion, a railroad ride to take us high up into the mountains. It was a beautiful clear, sunny day which meant the views from up there were just great. Other weeks it rained and was foggy and people couldn't see beyond the trees next to the train, according to some of the staff.<br />
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We briefly crossed into the Yukon of Canada.<br />
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In Juneau we took a helicopter to our very highly anticipated dog sledding excursion.<br />
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My first time in a helicopter, such fun. That's the glacier we were headed to in the photo.<br />
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We landed on Mendenhall Glacier and met the dog sledding camp leaders.<br />
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About 100 dogs lived and trained here in summer. Some of these are Iditarod race sled dogs.<br />
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The girls meeting some of our chosen crew. Those dogs were so excited. As the harnesses were fitted to them they jumped up and down and barked with excitement. They love pulling sleds.<br />
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After they all got into place we were off.<br />
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We'd sled for a while with a guide, and then stop to look around and pet the dogs before continuing.<br />
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When we got back to the camp the kids got to meet some pups while we waited for our helicopter to return for us.<br />
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All suited up for the copter ride back to Juneau.<br />
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Around town in Ketchikan</div>
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The Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC</div>
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they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-56294762854975104372012-12-31T16:39:00.000-08:002013-01-03T16:39:16.588-08:00bergy bits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Nevermind that we were entering Alaskan waters and it was not particularly warm outside, the hot tubs and pools were calling, and what's a vacation without swimming?</div>
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Approaching Tracy Arm, Alaska<br />
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Those little pieces of ice near the glacier are called "bergy bits".<br />
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Seals on some of the larger chunks.<br />
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they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-16372825263122316322012-12-31T16:38:00.000-08:002013-01-03T16:38:47.247-08:00days at sea <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: center;">The kids quickly learned the layout of the ship faster than we did and each of them had a room key in their lanyards, so they could come as go as they needed. They loved roaming the ship as a group, playing hide and seek everywhere and exploring. There were designated kid clubs for them to hang out in but they never did too much of that, choosing instead to explore and enjoy not having to be supervised all of the time. It made picture taking challenging because I just couldn't FIND the kids a good portion of the time. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">It didn't take long before we found ourselves among some beautiful scenery, and sometimes as a kid or two ran by I managed a photo of them.</span></div>
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Another advantage to a Disney cruise, characters, all over the place. The girls love meeting characters and through the week they met some every day.<br />
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<br />they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-86209261440464387152012-12-31T16:37:00.000-08:002013-01-03T16:38:01.280-08:00setting sailAt the suggestion of John's cousin's Brian's family, we booked a Disney cruise to Alaska for late July but we'd end the year with Disney fun as well. We launched from Seattle for a 7 days cruise with 3 stops in Alaska and one in British Columbia. Not only was this the kids' first cruise, it was mine as well. Surprisingly, John's mom wanted to come along too. Dora is a really experienced cruiser and I didn't think a Disney ship full of kids would measure up to what she'd done before, but she was interested and it was fun to have Grandma along. An added benefit was that Erin shared a cabin with her and the twins and John and I could then take a standard cabin for 4 instead of needing the required deluxe cabin which could accommodate 5.<br />
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All checked in, excited, and ready to board.<br />
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A last look at Seattle from the top deck.<br />
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Checking out one of the pools.<br />
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As we set sail the crew began a launch party up on deck.<br />
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Everyone who was anyone was there.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">We set up some ground rules for the kids: they had to stay with a buddy, they had to keep away from the railings, and they were not supposed to run in the hallways and staircases. Of course they prompty abandoned all of these, except that I don't think they every spent much time near the railings. I was so sure we'd have a kid overboard but the railings were pretty high and lined with plexiglass on the inside so that little feet could not climb up on them. </span></div>
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<br />they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-90715425793357183652012-09-20T13:00:00.000-07:002013-01-02T20:01:19.815-08:00summer campingMy brilliant long-time local group of mom friends decided to do a group camping trip this summer. A couple of the moms camp with their families regularly, another wanted to resume camping I think. So while we met for coffee one evening as we often do, they announced their plan to find a weekend to go camping together, without their husbands.<br />
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Fun idea for them, I thought. And then one of them mentioned that the girls and I should come with them.
My friends know that I don't camp. I mean, I have camped, but only because I was going along with others for lack of a better idea. I haven't camped in many years because John isn't a camper. Those facts, and the added bonus that we didn't own much camping equipment either, didn't dissuade my friends. A 4 mom and 12 kid camping weekend in July was put together.<br />
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My friends reserved 3 adjacent camp sites at a gorgeous state park a mere 40 minute drive away. As is typical for our area, you drive just a little while and can find yourself in surroundings completely unlike our normal crowded suburbia.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXCS2cbUaleLhBmqex_eEnGtXc7ilAgt5UMC2Jmu53OqGTtbofPmV_FP947YmoJCVPExuDtZs9jM-ND5xf0BQfQLthfqSnnL7BNEjt2LBe8UwmBGumyDVvqTnvM_EnpLQlm7EynRPCJ4/s1600/IMG_3219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXCS2cbUaleLhBmqex_eEnGtXc7ilAgt5UMC2Jmu53OqGTtbofPmV_FP947YmoJCVPExuDtZs9jM-ND5xf0BQfQLthfqSnnL7BNEjt2LBe8UwmBGumyDVvqTnvM_EnpLQlm7EynRPCJ4/s320/IMG_3219.JPG" width="320" /></a>We arrived on a friday evening and the kids took advantage of a great low climbing tree in one of our campsites.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHiEK-QkVqg8EQX9ofV95u6L9d3F9tN6hiBDSGmXI-916wMSWbCO76as75wtBPfjH9GUNhP_VqaYjoo8_NkpmRoOeUrhKfAH4h3UaRD2JzQ-1SlbbIPn_W9TRX4Me9KzJEJNZio5j7o0/s1600/IMG_3224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHiEK-QkVqg8EQX9ofV95u6L9d3F9tN6hiBDSGmXI-916wMSWbCO76as75wtBPfjH9GUNhP_VqaYjoo8_NkpmRoOeUrhKfAH4h3UaRD2JzQ-1SlbbIPn_W9TRX4Me9KzJEJNZio5j7o0/s320/IMG_3224.JPG" width="320" /></a>On our first morning we set out on a group hike.<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWv26aiYccNcpAAMZMz1RYCWt_gdMWA-ZdDhYeVCHNKwZlQhpwE9GC093YrVQ5R93eNS3fNIs1Y9ivO8X2tvkPXEWwzCe5u3aRjwdQx2MV3Heuo6joaIJHQXAwmLqx6Vtqp1HfRzY7nk4/s320/IMG_3230.JPG" width="320" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicKqUkl5WVQenSrosmaA-h7sn7lWAb_fxbNT1HZZGymTxUSu2ms4qCITt5nzL8KMYShoWztD5TwqaCIf_K1_rzZ76_ngIeAfOsrjlcrwGF7TcCD56NaBU-RAktLZv1VtDM7gZJpsGm3Y/s1600/IMG_2404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkk3uF6meaC6EDWRHbNM1R_fwW-1lw6RPB5BzH9YRVCur-aF-yvWuwtLbp53de1dOC9Tuo0NUZCdqfO9s5MfobCmlI_qhRaCfZGnvRV5FqlVPGxaPvVM4tg0DtK0Fv-QxvjJNqadvmVoE/s1600/IMG_3231a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkk3uF6meaC6EDWRHbNM1R_fwW-1lw6RPB5BzH9YRVCur-aF-yvWuwtLbp53de1dOC9Tuo0NUZCdqfO9s5MfobCmlI_qhRaCfZGnvRV5FqlVPGxaPvVM4tg0DtK0Fv-QxvjJNqadvmVoE/s320/IMG_3231a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The first exciting wildlife we encountered along the trail.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4T4d67RlZK4ht5qz55OCpUMkv9VtCoHQPZgswK4xtY0VYA5l3w7ljdzEHDr7-2LyWYDrE-rP1ejScKsGE7xGYwzHb2e764DAevob_aOm9ZFuWVUT3N4CpVg25vLPU0wLKsRp-8vi_Y4/s1600/IMG_3239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4T4d67RlZK4ht5qz55OCpUMkv9VtCoHQPZgswK4xtY0VYA5l3w7ljdzEHDr7-2LyWYDrE-rP1ejScKsGE7xGYwzHb2e764DAevob_aOm9ZFuWVUT3N4CpVg25vLPU0wLKsRp-8vi_Y4/s320/IMG_3239.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgQ2biETYoH8lu6iuJWgRrLKEUSMYQGuv_jFWTvZqONOsNF1ntZqHw6YfdxthJYFTO5xLYN0oslKlA_oMnusOte9IcMBcGyM0D41RwPWxcmbYWI7DCuhYvVtQkPZohbKhDhIlFGArQWw/s1600/IMG_3235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgQ2biETYoH8lu6iuJWgRrLKEUSMYQGuv_jFWTvZqONOsNF1ntZqHw6YfdxthJYFTO5xLYN0oslKlA_oMnusOte9IcMBcGyM0D41RwPWxcmbYWI7DCuhYvVtQkPZohbKhDhIlFGArQWw/s320/IMG_3235.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The kids enjoyed picking and demonstrating the fun of sticky monkeyflower leaves, and climbing trees along the trail.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4V8QwOlGU0GYOcask7XMqNF68tKzeZl3GR8TFmvxCwUxyfVSQji0GPmnt0UJnWp5A1jZKkC7AQyhWdOfHG45j9IjbEE07yYW-wOVgZNBJRRCkYSwvZmuyy90t9vPxvyYTzEPjbAsr30s/s1600/IMG_3245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4V8QwOlGU0GYOcask7XMqNF68tKzeZl3GR8TFmvxCwUxyfVSQji0GPmnt0UJnWp5A1jZKkC7AQyhWdOfHG45j9IjbEE07yYW-wOVgZNBJRRCkYSwvZmuyy90t9vPxvyYTzEPjbAsr30s/s320/IMG_3245.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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After a snack break we headed back down the trail by explorng and following the creek.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_8AL0KKVxFow_rXzFIcVY49NC6XbEc68jxpdyUmEW89jTzmjL_M6RifkHzUWe6vMzmFuBMvtv6u2LFJVUfv7p6NclNUf4eiBglAxVPL5LTF2ydC9nKa8XC5qtoPo89X1dJXYhQB9Wlk/s1600/IMG_3251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_8AL0KKVxFow_rXzFIcVY49NC6XbEc68jxpdyUmEW89jTzmjL_M6RifkHzUWe6vMzmFuBMvtv6u2LFJVUfv7p6NclNUf4eiBglAxVPL5LTF2ydC9nKa8XC5qtoPo89X1dJXYhQB9Wlk/s320/IMG_3251.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
That evening after dinner we got an early start on what the kids had most been looking forward to--getting the campfire going and making s'mores.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9cEABkSZlmuKpRaKzY0Zgl_Llv3FvXOlBbaldebuU59idMgDsg92Udg65t_7G7BPTIGE9FJN5sAYbX2bGXM3mLcdCNHd6HqUfdKBbwqFWT6E_P6fXZrSAAocQlxBtbXoehkuKI7Ddz8/s1600/IMG_3281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9cEABkSZlmuKpRaKzY0Zgl_Llv3FvXOlBbaldebuU59idMgDsg92Udg65t_7G7BPTIGE9FJN5sAYbX2bGXM3mLcdCNHd6HqUfdKBbwqFWT6E_P6fXZrSAAocQlxBtbXoehkuKI7Ddz8/s320/IMG_3281.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0itICLfpwi-5qyGOw3_47AayCUY_XaCwszHNNt3rYd81wZ9koykueYKyed6TXArDFi2py3yvJ2Yp-FPUE3DgerMQfwDVTQ7lUhGE8aDfFl5A86v4XMiDca2q6pq6DTbcees7ve3BZRs/s1600/IMG_3285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0itICLfpwi-5qyGOw3_47AayCUY_XaCwszHNNt3rYd81wZ9koykueYKyed6TXArDFi2py3yvJ2Yp-FPUE3DgerMQfwDVTQ7lUhGE8aDfFl5A86v4XMiDca2q6pq6DTbcees7ve3BZRs/s320/IMG_3285.JPG" width="320" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a></div>
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Everyone had a good time making real s'mores for a while, but later on it degenerated into a contest about who would be willing to eat the blackest, most burned marshmallows. One of the moms won.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrVX3K02y3VGM6DRTSlGpYgQi1x7NZ25jxOn4ZJDN2XHIYW6NRjIjiqDtm8ik5FYTEZxCXhXRLXie1ITgIY4zUwkCmjVtReBzWQSQMrNVisl6WxG6NWJEqnbP-zY0obqcnIHV-HI1jOA/s1600/IMG_2367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrVX3K02y3VGM6DRTSlGpYgQi1x7NZ25jxOn4ZJDN2XHIYW6NRjIjiqDtm8ik5FYTEZxCXhXRLXie1ITgIY4zUwkCmjVtReBzWQSQMrNVisl6WxG6NWJEqnbP-zY0obqcnIHV-HI1jOA/s320/IMG_2367.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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The next day after we packed much of the camp in the morning, the kids suited up in bathing suits and we set out on another long walk, this time in the creek the whole way, scrambling over logs and large boulders for much of it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixC569U4LuqMzbt0UXs3VOnln0pAkZxux0AY9TLUrnBfWfTl_Arm4zlOF8xkhH0IZmw6C5nwI1c9GxNWiR1szHf60l0FupKJ8l5UaSRBgxy7WVJ17gRLro0GW2RzJ7zzayURQNwbUlGjo/s1600/IMG_3247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixC569U4LuqMzbt0UXs3VOnln0pAkZxux0AY9TLUrnBfWfTl_Arm4zlOF8xkhH0IZmw6C5nwI1c9GxNWiR1szHf60l0FupKJ8l5UaSRBgxy7WVJ17gRLro0GW2RzJ7zzayURQNwbUlGjo/s320/IMG_3247.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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There were plenty of banana slugs to find along the banks.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-FnKLzlGvY4FbAWDEX9UykmX3IDweI52b8AnkhHK_FRr5q42E_RYKYfcorHZ6kBRWMpqf4P2vjAub8s9TbbTauiMk93RVgKDox5hqSsPQPFSIAFp0p5QV3Xs80FXspFWKfhAWxBdI7Go/s1600/IMG_3277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-FnKLzlGvY4FbAWDEX9UykmX3IDweI52b8AnkhHK_FRr5q42E_RYKYfcorHZ6kBRWMpqf4P2vjAub8s9TbbTauiMk93RVgKDox5hqSsPQPFSIAFp0p5QV3Xs80FXspFWKfhAWxBdI7Go/s320/IMG_3277.JPG" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span><br />
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And the water formed fun little pools in a couple of places.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcSH3DPtduXyLiolbtISkmkYfXmWaJ33kZ_ShLHfiPm5ZG08AvCi24fgQBWrB0FSbX3CTjN2XenvQbnKQN-jy9K0lVmfkRnVEvAT37iFKg970aW4jkzK0Ci4I0ubOIwKdI2hB5M0JvYk/s1600/IMG_3297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcSH3DPtduXyLiolbtISkmkYfXmWaJ33kZ_ShLHfiPm5ZG08AvCi24fgQBWrB0FSbX3CTjN2XenvQbnKQN-jy9K0lVmfkRnVEvAT37iFKg970aW4jkzK0Ci4I0ubOIwKdI2hB5M0JvYk/s320/IMG_3297.JPG" width="320" /></a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">The kids even found a waterfall with a pool at the base. Great fun for everyone, and the four of us survived the weekend in good shape, I'd say. I think I was the first one to suggest that we do this again next year.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kREr-VLBQPwWjoSCBwgPcwFlgpSwKySqoj34QI6nvMaH9MCsSQNoYd7KnmaIWdoNz4NtcGkfbJpF2-K6gmkjtdWa6Z0vqDsxiRT8lckE3qPr_bM5FFeTwj4JTqUmGSdMX5JShvkMccE/s1600/0715-fourmoms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kREr-VLBQPwWjoSCBwgPcwFlgpSwKySqoj34QI6nvMaH9MCsSQNoYd7KnmaIWdoNz4NtcGkfbJpF2-K6gmkjtdWa6Z0vqDsxiRT8lckE3qPr_bM5FFeTwj4JTqUmGSdMX5JShvkMccE/s1600/0715-fourmoms.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-50349334465680261462012-08-18T17:14:00.001-07:002012-08-18T17:14:17.945-07:00"brave"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueAY7a4dvmOOAhaBOJ_vcVUjsKN8ex91Y7LjUomPfn9SmIBS2gRpynwTI4KZ0Vg2xKXz6yqkFj9xCQ2PQAdXuS7AH45pdzanV-sK0Jf-DlxZp88oFpDQn2YYDvF-mWnAmAf409WdJgfA/s320/IMG_2964.JPG" width="320" /> Disney/Pixar was a big sponsor at a small Highland Games and Dance Competition in June. After the dancing, they lined up many of the dancers for a archery photo, since the main character in the film is a princess from Scotland who is good at archery. </div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYq2SfOQ6Wkyl1Bm7gQApL8SU38xQLm-YPS2q9gSm-hv1pVsTiVwXiQcGPtx4KUdUXDNnVdQXYBqWz00Gzv4t7vSU-9sBhbOj3GakSubwIZh2e2j6z5uQ7NANKFg56epoXcl4jolIt1H8/s320/IMG_2968.JPG" width="320" /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit10oDEXwCBS-ZiBnwjIhlN5tcqvHtDRNeTlje33_WLeWycQixrEghVuO0MCluyGhTGr9biSjDO9qK9vKCgSxLKqWMwuXokO4AsSZWAsGDDrDHzMlEeGV-aU_qH4h_xVVU_9-XO1HHTv0/s1600/IMG_2997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit10oDEXwCBS-ZiBnwjIhlN5tcqvHtDRNeTlje33_WLeWycQixrEghVuO0MCluyGhTGr9biSjDO9qK9vKCgSxLKqWMwuXokO4AsSZWAsGDDrDHzMlEeGV-aU_qH4h_xVVU_9-XO1HHTv0/s320/IMG_2997.JPG" width="320" /></a>Shortly after that, dancers from out school were invited to perform at 3 pre-screenings of the "Brave" movie. Erin and Kate danced at one of the screenings, and had a piper to accompany them.<br />
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5NFHo-q7VKDZDHvkmSW8kxCJ5hyRoN7mvPniTPX6yQKf1vbY2Ga_qKd36OuRG_8MjCNA4dvJPGMfKaLcj8VNBdbhVUFjIRutW7H-jNbqXyJrKFYQ98cSWipeQ47LNGKkv9b3jkpCYb8/s320/IMG_2999.JPG" width="240" /> First the danced in the lobby as the people were lined up behind ropes. </div>
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Then they danced in the theater before the film started, and we could then stay and watch the movie for free. Dancing has it's perks.</div>
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<br />they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-20469346928067891682012-08-18T17:13:00.002-07:002012-08-18T17:13:53.894-07:00braces no moreAs we hoped at her check up in July, it was determined that Erin didn't need to wear head gear any longer. But much to her surprise and to mine, the doctor said she didn't need anything else either and everything was to be removed at that visit: expanders on both jaws, and braces too. She'd only had braces for about 6 months, apparently that was enough.<br />
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Just in time for our vacation and Erin was excited to know she'll be a fifth grader with no hardware. She had been wearing head gear at school for several months in fourth grade in order to speed up the progress. There are some spaces near the (baby) canines to make room for those adult teeth, and she may end up needing braces again later on when more adult teeth are in, but the work on correcting her upper and lower jaw shape is apparently finished for good. <br />
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But at that same visit I scheduled the twins' initial consultations for the following month. "You just don't want to stop coming here, do you?" said the doc. <br />
"Or stop paying you," I added. they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-79071346736863085062012-08-18T17:13:00.001-07:002012-08-18T17:13:08.780-07:00to the pool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We have a pool! And better yet, we have a pool without having all the work and expense of a pool. I decided we should join one of the private pools in the area so we'd have a place to take the kids to swim all summer. After checking out many, many options--some with waiting lists, some open, some new, some very old, some really close, some a little farther, some expensive and some cheap, we kind of settled on this place really for lack of a better idea since summer was rapidly approaching. </div>
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It's about 4 miles from home, it's clean and was cheap to join. It's open from April to October and we've had a good time coming here at least weekly for most of the season so far. We've also turned numerous summer playdates into swimming play dates for our kids and their friends.</div>
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During the Olympics, Allison decided to give her typical diving style some serious thought.<br />
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The pool is located near a good ice cream store, a nice excuse to stop for ice cream after swimming.<br />
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But our backyard does have some water fun too. Uncle Jeff sold his house and needed a home for his hot tub, so being the considerate family that we are, we decided to take it off his hands.</div>
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they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-30394614385899603372012-06-07T11:31:00.000-07:002012-06-07T11:31:12.849-07:00bracesBefore:
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After:
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During one of Erin's routine check-ups on her head gear and expanders the orthodontist announced, "I think we'll do braces today," much to my and Erin's surprise. We knew braces would be coming but I hoped that they might come after some of the rest of the hardware in her mouth was taken out. She now has so much metal on, behind, around her teeth it's borderline impossible for her to brush her teeth adequately, which got her in trouble with the dentist at her check up there last week.
The good news: if she wears her head gear diligently she will be done with it in mid- to late summer. Yippee!they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-69985746350975630392012-06-06T22:03:00.000-07:002012-06-06T22:03:28.910-07:00May: spring musicErin's school band held their spring concert, which also marked the end of her time in beginning band. As a fifth grader next year she'll be able to join the intermediate band and she can't wait.
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Also this month she had her recital at the music school where she takes private lessons, and as in her last recital she played a duet with her teacher.
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She'll continue lessons over the summer and we'll be returning this rental also sax she's been playing because I finally purchased her own instrument (used, VERY used and rather ugly at $200 because I'm not prepared to shell out $1300 for a new one. In fact I need to get some work done on it before it's ready for her). If she continues with it I'll look for an upgrade in a couple of more years.they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-87684134635488795042012-06-06T21:55:00.002-07:002012-06-06T21:55:29.916-07:00april: danceDancing continues. So far this year the girls competed in January, performed in an easter parade along with many other dancers from their school, and had their second competition of the year in April.
Thankfully, there were so many dancers at this event that they divided the beginners into two age classes: under 9, and 9 and up, so Kate and Erin were not competing against each other, and against Kate's this new younger set of competitors, she did very well, receiving a medal or ribbon in 4 or her 5 dances.
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Erin did tremendously well also and has now placed very high in 4 competitions in a row, each result earning her a stamp on her dancer registration card. Once a dancer has 6 stamps they move up to the next skill level, and for Erin that could happen by the end of the summer.<br />
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Kate received her first stamp.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddwsPC-vI6O6LfB-qMSFvn3-aza8PQAQk2J2Pl2qQFTfzxkQOIm9_E52AMTvww_cBubnknslEeIkPXINKhylkBUg3M1-o33XkYPjz1FnDhEyx_RgpFHIpr5uO1Zj6-gnecuiolcycZGM/s1600/IMG_2739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddwsPC-vI6O6LfB-qMSFvn3-aza8PQAQk2J2Pl2qQFTfzxkQOIm9_E52AMTvww_cBubnknslEeIkPXINKhylkBUg3M1-o33XkYPjz1FnDhEyx_RgpFHIpr5uO1Zj6-gnecuiolcycZGM/s320/IMG_2739.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-50020917281688080622012-06-06T21:46:00.000-07:002012-06-06T21:46:50.080-07:00march and april: softballSome of the the twins' brownie troop formed a softball together and both were happy to join the team. <br />
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They moved up to a higher age division than they played with last year so some of the girls really looked big compared to ours.<br />
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The is the first division where the girls learn to pitch.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6iCQpLDwKUp7vU23tfzA5-o9oqyYmY6AHcBqMQGpxjebchesp2pV_JbTDD_Gg6jyASUFxrOPeRh7FdOyRcOB98RHutEhIDm0NNp0gDnxDYJTePFpCHfp_vfn8kVG7xRFGNmauyK_Dixc/s1600/IMG_2438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6iCQpLDwKUp7vU23tfzA5-o9oqyYmY6AHcBqMQGpxjebchesp2pV_JbTDD_Gg6jyASUFxrOPeRh7FdOyRcOB98RHutEhIDm0NNp0gDnxDYJTePFpCHfp_vfn8kVG7xRFGNmauyK_Dixc/s320/IMG_2438.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Though Allison was really better a catcher. Kate was one of the team's most reliable hitters and was the first one to get a hit in their first game. Allison was the most reliable at striking out, but about half way through the season she found her groove, and became a power hitter as well.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYhth5k21Lgb-9EJg0mbi-8Y0_9YRl6ctXNFuyx_Ia6uUFzWDJjYiRT_qSPd0L2b5xL_JMVaW4dO-QkSqizyi85DG1FztgUtaKWlCKgmqCY9GYu7yIpP2nLQt_al-Ry7zNbZxlNtlgkI/s1600/IMG_2451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYhth5k21Lgb-9EJg0mbi-8Y0_9YRl6ctXNFuyx_Ia6uUFzWDJjYiRT_qSPd0L2b5xL_JMVaW4dO-QkSqizyi85DG1FztgUtaKWlCKgmqCY9GYu7yIpP2nLQt_al-Ry7zNbZxlNtlgkI/s320/IMG_2451.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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In the playoff tournament at the end of the season our team didn't do well. We were a small team of only 8 girls, most others had 10 or more, and that makes a big difference when fielding. But the girls had fun and the team as a whole improved a ton from the beginning of the season to the end, and there are plans for this team to stay together next year.they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-1578553827968933822012-06-06T21:29:00.001-07:002012-06-06T21:29:53.750-07:00time to play catch up: februaryAbout the time I should have updated my blog after the last entry, we had to pack away our coputer as part of emptying out and redoing our home office in order to get our house ready to sell. We haven't had the desktop computer unpacked and set up again until recently, so I
m going to finally add in some brief details about what the kids have been up to since January.
Another ski season has come and gone. As usual, we made a trip up to Oregon and we also skied for several days closer to home. We encountered some really rough weather while in Oregon which hampered our skiing and my ability to have my camera out for many photos or video.
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The twins got to try out poles for the first time and they really liked having them. John and I liked not having to pull them up to the ski lifts once we reached the bottom of the hill also. After our Oregon trip I decided that Kate's ski jacket, which had been passed down from Erin to Allison to her, was finally a little small and needed to go, so she got a new jacket at a super sale price for the next trip.
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Allison has overtaken Erin in the speed department by a long shot. In fact, she's about ready to overtake me. Erin likes to get down the hill without falling and doesn't care about getting there quickly. Kate isn't interested in speed either, but Allison likes to go fast and get everywhere first.
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We didn't have harsh weather to blame but I still didn't do well in the photo or video department later in the ski season. The kids are skiing faster and on rougher terrain and it's just hard to ski with my gloves off and holding a camera in one hand all the time. John suggested I get one of those helmet-mounted cameras, and ya know, I just might do that for next year.they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-64487193878289622592012-01-21T20:06:00.000-08:002012-01-21T20:42:37.964-08:00the champThis year's dance competitions started today and I guess everyone was in the mood to get back into the swing of things because the turnout for this event, both in terms of dancers and audience, was huge. Since Kate is seven, she's in the beginner competition class now and she was very excited to compete in both of her new dance outfits.<br /><br />As the piper took a water break before we were about to get started, Kate posed for a picture.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWlDtXIeUXeDE6oxcz0ocuiSGAxlErAt619R6SD6FQ5iOYWIwZAHQ6nCNFEQePXSgs88uBI9TC8BC_OWOxbsxa-o02pKvSR-WJr_jWdZToJU6PMwg66LELP_tfLdFOduC2hpK-4yrMJs/s1600/IMG_2204a.jpg"><img style="width: 269px; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700304747071961378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWlDtXIeUXeDE6oxcz0ocuiSGAxlErAt619R6SD6FQ5iOYWIwZAHQ6nCNFEQePXSgs88uBI9TC8BC_OWOxbsxa-o02pKvSR-WJr_jWdZToJU6PMwg66LELP_tfLdFOduC2hpK-4yrMJs/s320/IMG_2204a.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I was happy for Kate but nervous about her having to move up to beginner because she'd be competing against much older and more experienced kids, and specifically about competing against Erin.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfsW0_1oAWvGh9CjX9BFxiGfLk56tyzS3zsd7piihoB5ISz35TKTWM8XUc0LWBsiq1xJLQAjT4ExlwkKQ0Fh-tA_XsT6ZQwAvdaiwhHyQ8NirlGLNoopMgZZ0KOdzf9ahyPmEUFLe5yg/s1600/IMG_2215.JPG"><img style="width: 240px; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700304625324045058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfsW0_1oAWvGh9CjX9BFxiGfLk56tyzS3zsd7piihoB5ISz35TKTWM8XUc0LWBsiq1xJLQAjT4ExlwkKQ0Fh-tA_XsT6ZQwAvdaiwhHyQ8NirlGLNoopMgZZ0KOdzf9ahyPmEUFLe5yg/s320/IMG_2215.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmr2U5SHNGua3FiavZQccRAZZnlH87wyZ4-dr_fGaloIsuJhgy7zcOc0VU7lfl5Xdyq1jfdqhrlLXgcbd8W8B-mvXRU1_LRe7uVdN1nN0lFVw5ZcYleD0GlB90UE0xK9YnJzvY349Zk5k/s1600/IMG_2217.JPG"><img style="width: 240px; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700304609171305186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmr2U5SHNGua3FiavZQccRAZZnlH87wyZ4-dr_fGaloIsuJhgy7zcOc0VU7lfl5Xdyq1jfdqhrlLXgcbd8W8B-mvXRU1_LRe7uVdN1nN0lFVw5ZcYleD0GlB90UE0xK9YnJzvY349Zk5k/s320/IMG_2217.JPG" /></a><br /><div>There were nine beginners today and they danced before the judge in groups of three at a time. Thankfully, Erin and Kate were in separate groups for the first four dances.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ctgbKPWIi8qQXexYD27J5mUvox-EfYnZJG48PwmlwWOXp4sKLFr8GHjptujvYg7i_GaNNnjyZfcJtup6Gchwk-bbnibvqsoJEHLD97dgw1yOWdsEhhJY0shhsHQgtMK7MY8mjWNKW1s/s1600/IMG_2225.JPG"><img style="width: 240px; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700304608068306322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ctgbKPWIi8qQXexYD27J5mUvox-EfYnZJG48PwmlwWOXp4sKLFr8GHjptujvYg7i_GaNNnjyZfcJtup6Gchwk-bbnibvqsoJEHLD97dgw1yOWdsEhhJY0shhsHQgtMK7MY8mjWNKW1s/s320/IMG_2225.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEoN-7yiAhWGCo8cQqEcIO38HDzGP1nrj2VMjA-RmAxnIxT_0DFNxWTP1VNiKx6D8rwka6MuTV7iRvN7mbICV7BvT2St046aIX0Nf_YwBM5TmoGC4SEkdgnS8YhQi0QdTIyfUu9-YpgI/s1600/IMG_2238.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700304588231189762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEoN-7yiAhWGCo8cQqEcIO38HDzGP1nrj2VMjA-RmAxnIxT_0DFNxWTP1VNiKx6D8rwka6MuTV7iRvN7mbICV7BvT2St046aIX0Nf_YwBM5TmoGC4SEkdgnS8YhQi0QdTIyfUu9-YpgI/s320/IMG_2238.JPG" /></a><br /><div>I thought Kate did really well, and I thought the other seven beginners were also really good and I knew it was going to be a tough day.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKex0khslkVhZDpU8rjhlEhZ43IITWxlHzjF3aKTwF9MZ-2q3gOy9sn94pX8EGTtFs1fnqilnA-yDazhKHZh5y8rz9zLzHpkfgDTDHildGwu5Gg87YdiOWD63frMtEjSTjT2FhR229GDc/s1600/IMG_2283.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700304015944630354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKex0khslkVhZDpU8rjhlEhZ43IITWxlHzjF3aKTwF9MZ-2q3gOy9sn94pX8EGTtFs1fnqilnA-yDazhKHZh5y8rz9zLzHpkfgDTDHildGwu5Gg87YdiOWD63frMtEjSTjT2FhR229GDc/s320/IMG_2283.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaHQnpAJg3CPWUpxvBO5iqdyPhFbdIkUWn5Wg-C5yv_kb1uXaSFcbVmJja9xW91fjLinD7s4eVGhoQjNmWUIFgdLG6ZtBdk00SSTt7UG11mtgG0XUXamXYc7oeXnlzKWOTujsqjuo5U8/s1600/IMG_2268.JPG"><img style="width: 240px; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700304005566687954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaHQnpAJg3CPWUpxvBO5iqdyPhFbdIkUWn5Wg-C5yv_kb1uXaSFcbVmJja9xW91fjLinD7s4eVGhoQjNmWUIFgdLG6ZtBdk00SSTt7UG11mtgG0XUXamXYc7oeXnlzKWOTujsqjuo5U8/s320/IMG_2268.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div>During the last beginner dance they regrouped and Kate and Erin danced on stage at the same time.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78lMnfyaWO8DBDKGdDurOwtCtN4AfyzZyowDCK1vHIon4b-2EEPKD78OcS4NLp7jG2m4ZJHfdy5BNChnGi2_A7bxl8tjYSC8QVXOix3DRDIb-sRRu7qviDDgCYnzdHVAy-SPnM01BHpA/s1600/IMG_2304.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700304583096447522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78lMnfyaWO8DBDKGdDurOwtCtN4AfyzZyowDCK1vHIon4b-2EEPKD78OcS4NLp7jG2m4ZJHfdy5BNChnGi2_A7bxl8tjYSC8QVXOix3DRDIb-sRRu7qviDDgCYnzdHVAy-SPnM01BHpA/s320/IMG_2304.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>And many hours after we started, all the results were in and the awards were given. Erin had her best day ever, winning a fourth place, a second, and three first places. That made her the overall top dancer in the beginner class, and along with her medals for the day she won a large crystal trophy. She was absolutely surprised and overjoyed.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCS_Q6jS8J0jpwpydr-oJB75qG_Mtala5Rnt_cp53uGkbf6DIWoKEEHKVQTDmSMyr6ANDhtJNJKz0c8HZYNFryq-Jh_ANFXqOcmMA_l-VHzqRRW9uDx7-JF_D1VL917Vs89jO3n5WEcrs/s1600/IMG_2334.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700303984597939010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCS_Q6jS8J0jpwpydr-oJB75qG_Mtala5Rnt_cp53uGkbf6DIWoKEEHKVQTDmSMyr6ANDhtJNJKz0c8HZYNFryq-Jh_ANFXqOcmMA_l-VHzqRRW9uDx7-JF_D1VL917Vs89jO3n5WEcrs/s320/IMG_2334.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Erin's first place sword dance:<br /><iframe height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PEhCfpSiSyU" frameborder="0" width="420" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br />Kate took sixth place in one dance (only the top 1-6 out of the 9 beginners were announced for each dance), and she found it difficult being the younger, less awarded sister of the champion. But I was really proud of her, and her teachers were proud of her too. She really did her best and in her best dance she beat out 3 other beginners, all older and more experienced than her.</div><div> </div><div>Erin and Kate along with all the other dancers from their dance school (which comprised about half of the dancers there today).</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyktzliPIS4EZU8BSLyjje5NRhlCzuXstP9YlEainry3nCDTFmGe8f8hVzTcn7hH-42a7fRS0tL2LoMtAVDCN2ketiIcdiQJUwOS2r2BHuQamzo2MyRTsPlwQ_MUq6zNj41RmLEyiO2KM/s1600/IMG_2345.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700303973629084018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyktzliPIS4EZU8BSLyjje5NRhlCzuXstP9YlEainry3nCDTFmGe8f8hVzTcn7hH-42a7fRS0tL2LoMtAVDCN2ketiIcdiQJUwOS2r2BHuQamzo2MyRTsPlwQ_MUq6zNj41RmLEyiO2KM/s320/IMG_2345.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>And the proud champ with her winnings from the day.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xsV5kdgWjNsiBmqju30h1U_uVHXg-wID1br8AyLuQL2j4JO4fncxU3XnNNKmx30n5S_7xYCmNAY56NlrnTr54nf4lMdhQtvbsuUbLOooqz1TVbCpJ5uhTsC5h-CNrsCs2e363dHcMT4/s1600/IMG_2351a.jpg"><img style="width: 240px; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700303968111055250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xsV5kdgWjNsiBmqju30h1U_uVHXg-wID1br8AyLuQL2j4JO4fncxU3XnNNKmx30n5S_7xYCmNAY56NlrnTr54nf4lMdhQtvbsuUbLOooqz1TVbCpJ5uhTsC5h-CNrsCs2e363dHcMT4/s320/IMG_2351a.jpg" /></a></div></div></div></div>they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-80144769830143592862012-01-13T20:43:00.000-08:002012-01-14T09:36:53.211-08:00seasoned performerErin's had two music performances so far. At the end of the each semester at her music school they hold several recitals over several evenings, grouping kids by ability level mostly I suppose. Erin's first recital was just before Christmas, where she and her teacher performed a short duet. She was one of about 15 performers that night, playing a variety of instruments, and she did a great job, not seeming nervous at all.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgGz92cIjhl5QjMW-xLVC5hBEWu5ywNdNzxs3dnoVNa7Gd3kq1kYhLnU4HTw9nFrHVW-6xvQ8Bjv3EbgvARfMsN8N1RDtGuQXQol9K9rTqa6jcKKMKPQRna4WNyiw7xQWm046ss_Z2W8/s1600/IMG_1927.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697344484893188802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgGz92cIjhl5QjMW-xLVC5hBEWu5ywNdNzxs3dnoVNa7Gd3kq1kYhLnU4HTw9nFrHVW-6xvQ8Bjv3EbgvARfMsN8N1RDtGuQXQol9K9rTqa6jcKKMKPQRna4WNyiw7xQWm046ss_Z2W8/s320/IMG_1927.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The performance we were most looking forward to though was the winter concert, her first concert, with the school band. Rehearsals always occur while i'm at work so I'd never heard the band play before. John, Grandma, and the twins were all there. The twins have several friends who were there to watch because they have older siblings in one of the bands as well. Erin is in beginning band which is mostly fourth graders, following that performance was the intermediates which are mostly fifth graders.<br /><br />She sits next to her good friend, Anna.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMfFQahyKJlQxVd-YmYIRCLuK341P3KkbcZhiQCCrSHVVdGs2_S9brQ42t6pZacHplAwfpFdFOHTneWtQWc9uTeohUSzvXW9jjhtDr44Te0b8NOuAZvWvjqfiU5vifEkm0DEt4kbmC10/s1600/IMG_2070.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697344531706024818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMfFQahyKJlQxVd-YmYIRCLuK341P3KkbcZhiQCCrSHVVdGs2_S9brQ42t6pZacHplAwfpFdFOHTneWtQWc9uTeohUSzvXW9jjhtDr44Te0b8NOuAZvWvjqfiU5vifEkm0DEt4kbmC10/s320/IMG_2070.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimv3tERCdEwjkrgUCUmY2ZJS8oG5d9YCGOhpMrcDyL_rgcPlqJJuQS_5lAXSdOTrfK0nCVqlu8ux3ZCW0CYCVf681VqjiBBohu0zZssRtIUoyb779J0jzIZiEQGSi65bt1Zps9f-HSOyo/s1600/IMG_2066.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697344522648363490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimv3tERCdEwjkrgUCUmY2ZJS8oG5d9YCGOhpMrcDyL_rgcPlqJJuQS_5lAXSdOTrfK0nCVqlu8ux3ZCW0CYCVf681VqjiBBohu0zZssRtIUoyb779J0jzIZiEQGSi65bt1Zps9f-HSOyo/s320/IMG_2066.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Band is really popular and it's quite a big group. The concert was about what you'd expect from a fourth grade band--clearly missed notes here and there, a persistently squeaky clarinet, but it was music, and according to Erin, none of these kids played had experience with their instruments before September except her--she began private lessons in June. The band played a variety of simple, recognizable songs over about 40 minutes. All the kids seemed to be taking the performance very seriously.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>On some of the songs the entire band played together, on others the band director announced the "soloists" who would stand and play as a smaller group, which seemed to be about 1/3 to 1/2 of the kids on a given song. Erin was one of the altos selected to play during one or two of those songs. All the kids who were interested in having a "solo" stayed late after practice last week to audition for the parts, and Erin mentioned that she auditioned but didn't know the results.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwyijIIzOZDLoql0c-Ao8jdpBxYoedt6fNYtCoJ6IJT3Z1AqEVUnjFQQe93BrhfsZElL9l3c5OUjbpiKaS-_i_uT_Fte-useqnrje5NOPwwx-c5FRAs2C19WpLvhLI1kDTgI6Ffc-2LI/s1600/IMG_2063.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697344486890493218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwyijIIzOZDLoql0c-Ao8jdpBxYoedt6fNYtCoJ6IJT3Z1AqEVUnjFQQe93BrhfsZElL9l3c5OUjbpiKaS-_i_uT_Fte-useqnrje5NOPwwx-c5FRAs2C19WpLvhLI1kDTgI6Ffc-2LI/s320/IMG_2063.JPG" /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqTfymGmf01PCikxmPzQvis_1Zkg0bFPRpAlzA-LW5yb2L79oyvYJR81ilC_Z0_2_uFxmTm0sN1emoTroLL6UFYKoVeBjgJAMtjyv1f1T_sFzgcvEZZ2r9xqsJKiepQPe9t7uDHfpMik/s1600/IMG_2082.JPG"></a> </div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqTfymGmf01PCikxmPzQvis_1Zkg0bFPRpAlzA-LW5yb2L79oyvYJR81ilC_Z0_2_uFxmTm0sN1emoTroLL6UFYKoVeBjgJAMtjyv1f1T_sFzgcvEZZ2r9xqsJKiepQPe9t7uDHfpMik/s1600/IMG_2082.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697344571691544370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqTfymGmf01PCikxmPzQvis_1Zkg0bFPRpAlzA-LW5yb2L79oyvYJR81ilC_Z0_2_uFxmTm0sN1emoTroLL6UFYKoVeBjgJAMtjyv1f1T_sFzgcvEZZ2r9xqsJKiepQPe9t7uDHfpMik/s320/IMG_2082.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqTfymGmf01PCikxmPzQvis_1Zkg0bFPRpAlzA-LW5yb2L79oyvYJR81ilC_Z0_2_uFxmTm0sN1emoTroLL6UFYKoVeBjgJAMtjyv1f1T_sFzgcvEZZ2r9xqsJKiepQPe9t7uDHfpMik/s1600/IMG_2082.JPG"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqTfymGmf01PCikxmPzQvis_1Zkg0bFPRpAlzA-LW5yb2L79oyvYJR81ilC_Z0_2_uFxmTm0sN1emoTroLL6UFYKoVeBjgJAMtjyv1f1T_sFzgcvEZZ2r9xqsJKiepQPe9t7uDHfpMik/s1600/IMG_2082.JPG"></a></div><br /><div>Then the director stood and said, "And now we'll have a real solo by Erin, playing 'Jingle Bells'."</div><div> </div><div>Um.....WHAT??? Erin didn't tell us ANYTHING about her having a solo. That was my first thought, followed by, "How well does she know Jingle Bells?"<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqTfymGmf01PCikxmPzQvis_1Zkg0bFPRpAlzA-LW5yb2L79oyvYJR81ilC_Z0_2_uFxmTm0sN1emoTroLL6UFYKoVeBjgJAMtjyv1f1T_sFzgcvEZZ2r9xqsJKiepQPe9t7uDHfpMik/s1600/IMG_2082.JPG"></a> So Erin stood and played while the director played a keyboard off to the side.<br /><br /><iframe height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8VAe9k-ceII" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div><div>Yeah, she missed a couple of notes, yeah, her tempo needs a little help<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">, but overall I think she did great particularly because of all the practicing I've heard her do in the past many weeks and months, I never heard her play Jingle Bells. </span></div><div> </div><div>She got some enthusiastic applause and lots of compliments at school today from kids and parents alike. </div></div>they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-63107447269060441312011-12-31T20:45:00.000-08:002012-01-04T18:35:07.959-08:00dancing again?<div>I know, how many dancing-related posts can I put in one blog? What can I say, the girls still <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">love</span> it, it's something they do that takes a lot of time and thus a lot of mine, at performances I always have my camera because those outfits are so darn photo-worthy. </div><div> </div><div>There are no competitions at this time of year, but there are plenty of extra performances. Kate and Erin didn't even sign up for all of them because some conflicted with my work schedule, but the St. Andrew's performance and this evening outdoor performance right before Christmas were the biggest ones and they were really looking forward to both of them. On a campy stage downtown the kids danced a shorter version of their extravaganza show that they did in November. The stage is located right in the center of a large downtown park where there are Christmas events every night and they had a really large audience for the show.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZBBzB2CKh9XNUcvM-JLX80FVq-Ad9K-Auj87XFmZeeUa5MedNw0qW4gVYrlmj0-ZPRtxVoppx5xvFCQd-LrirK61p4bauT5n86jTsMIX2QdAUeLT730YGOCnN6lBvOcdZkP0xwTJWws/s1600/IMG_2002.JPG"><img style="width: 240px; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692520434184201938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZBBzB2CKh9XNUcvM-JLX80FVq-Ad9K-Auj87XFmZeeUa5MedNw0qW4gVYrlmj0-ZPRtxVoppx5xvFCQd-LrirK61p4bauT5n86jTsMIX2QdAUeLT730YGOCnN6lBvOcdZkP0xwTJWws/s320/IMG_2002.JPG" /></a></div><div>I worried about them being too cold in their outfits but they got to stay in a relatively warm tent before going on stage and again back in the tent in between dances. Since the lighting was far less than ideal for action shots I didn't get any good photos of the dancing, but you've all seen plenty before.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKSB5-ZiRQgX0vPpHFUj8T3Z_VqH6fTYi7SaevYozjMxJmCd0I9g9NZXoCOPY2IqM8FOhjmDSByLC7xg0IUKvoK-AyRpFGMNe7tQsJuKpasWz80_YbxkL6v95stMbuAXXAp-84oSdWd4/s1600/IMG_2025.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692520438035691714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKSB5-ZiRQgX0vPpHFUj8T3Z_VqH6fTYi7SaevYozjMxJmCd0I9g9NZXoCOPY2IqM8FOhjmDSByLC7xg0IUKvoK-AyRpFGMNe7tQsJuKpasWz80_YbxkL6v95stMbuAXXAp-84oSdWd4/s320/IMG_2025.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div>After the show the emcee and one of the dance teachers posed with the night's dance group. Erin and Kate are both seated in the front row.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBb_J-PHdF5JMuxluwRflI3Iv6HNFCUJW6VZhNl91FZgpD2xhfoOGSV7MIrxMgxqnu9wVfgRnadab9AYCRUH17EXvMmHKF6ULr8RposQUYIItFeAgai7KKhbWnEFYAPwHdQWORzcCVRT4/s1600/IMG_2031.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692520455848721346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBb_J-PHdF5JMuxluwRflI3Iv6HNFCUJW6VZhNl91FZgpD2xhfoOGSV7MIrxMgxqnu9wVfgRnadab9AYCRUH17EXvMmHKF6ULr8RposQUYIItFeAgai7KKhbWnEFYAPwHdQWORzcCVRT4/s320/IMG_2031.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Competition season 2012 will be underway very shortly, with Kate and Erin signed up for their first one in January. Now that Kate is a beginner, she'll be competing against Erin. Several other siblings we know have to do the same. I hope that little wrinkle won't cause either of them to enjoy dancing any less than they do now.</div>they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019663320729169410.post-47498729955422307182011-12-31T20:36:00.001-08:002012-01-04T18:33:53.711-08:00it wouldn't be christmas<div>Grandma was going to be heading up to the Seattle area to spend xmas with Sue's family, but before she left she kindly scheduled a cookie making and decorating day with the girls. It turned into quite a task with 3 varieties of cookies, including the absolutely mandatory and legendary "green tree" cookies. This are the one Christmas food tradition in John's family, and even a very large batch doesn't last much more than a day around here.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36U1UZ6J5lxHLGjAjoMYe5btfPvCuV8x1WPqX_BvvpXFhydsbnPdEO8bXiYhrVoHTZyWb-hdNKDQQrDNQTTn4NNei4a06jhjHG46oTlnA4CbBM2HB4jcEQdGFqQB7CumDsiC9gx0X2as/s1600/IMG_1949.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692518014429457090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36U1UZ6J5lxHLGjAjoMYe5btfPvCuV8x1WPqX_BvvpXFhydsbnPdEO8bXiYhrVoHTZyWb-hdNKDQQrDNQTTn4NNei4a06jhjHG46oTlnA4CbBM2HB4jcEQdGFqQB7CumDsiC9gx0X2as/s320/IMG_1949.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>After many trees and some other cookies were done Grandma got out a project I hadn't seen before. She melted marshmallows and poured them over Kix cereal, then they stuffed the mix into butter-coated paper cones, which they could then remove and roll in sprinkles to decorate.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDm6Vw6Ol8QHBOPUHVIhfBtLI1JqPc3cEWgyLCi3jsn5TmC4cOQED5NywwktIvM0UUWGj-l7A6Grg7NexjCRPMSz7YWfBKrzRoBSkp6pNCg-L1MHYM7cPgu4m8RHyiEHHZXg5WoE9MYtY/s1600/IMG_1957.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692518022704120018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDm6Vw6Ol8QHBOPUHVIhfBtLI1JqPc3cEWgyLCi3jsn5TmC4cOQED5NywwktIvM0UUWGj-l7A6Grg7NexjCRPMSz7YWfBKrzRoBSkp6pNCg-L1MHYM7cPgu4m8RHyiEHHZXg5WoE9MYtY/s320/IMG_1957.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_Z1cTM6f2Qi2MBfXWlzdqxbV9ekMLuwdsqSzsOJEvXChkV-CLG5SREfaidM2OazjreXrX7ToVruKxtlkiIfrxoDpzoNJRIxxgbJA6OoRUpK2g9uvK8XHOyvRkUuToVw3zuQ_VHUZAwM/s1600/IMG_1966.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692518032224074226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_Z1cTM6f2Qi2MBfXWlzdqxbV9ekMLuwdsqSzsOJEvXChkV-CLG5SREfaidM2OazjreXrX7ToVruKxtlkiIfrxoDpzoNJRIxxgbJA6OoRUpK2g9uvK8XHOyvRkUuToVw3zuQ_VHUZAwM/s320/IMG_1966.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>The result, very cute and definitely tasty, much like a rice krispies treat. We'll have to do this one again.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSQ5Fe2Ypa-TId4QRNEAWGh0qfb6b-Os3v6IyaC91AkLHTtYHW3zKw1vd8EPb-ySWNzg0xdrJce-NHP9JiYyHxVetWn1oUZoofYKTuWJOF659TOCF05WlHzoj_HStPoG5Vb7knv2F4K8/s1600/IMG_1974.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692518046685406594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSQ5Fe2Ypa-TId4QRNEAWGh0qfb6b-Os3v6IyaC91AkLHTtYHW3zKw1vd8EPb-ySWNzg0xdrJce-NHP9JiYyHxVetWn1oUZoofYKTuWJOF659TOCF05WlHzoj_HStPoG5Vb7knv2F4K8/s320/IMG_1974.JPG" /></a><br /></div>they call me mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137019727851114452noreply@blogger.com0