May 30, 2010

WOW! I was sitting at my desk this afternoon and thought about writing a blog post that would summarize the past two months. So I started jotting down some of the things that have happened and the list just kept growing and growing! So, rather than list everything out I'll just hit on a few of the big things.

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First there was Michael's surgery. Back in mid April Michael finally got the surgery that he had needed for the past year. We were extremely lucky to find a Dr. up at the University of Washington that could figure out what was going on with Michael's shoulder and what needed to be done to repair it. Unfortunately, what he recommended was total shoulder replacement. There were so many issues going on in his shoulder that there wasn't anything that could be done that would be a long term fix other than replacing it. Hearing that was a shock because he's only 32!! But if he ever wanted to use his arm again it was our best option. So he had the surgery on April 20th and everything went very well. The surgeon was actually able to fix another problem he found while operating that they hadn't known about.

Michael's Dr. was sure to put his initials on the correct shoulder.

While Michael was in the hospital my niece Mariah moved in with us. We spent a few days talking about expectations and making sure everyone was on the same page with things. So far things have been really good and she is an amazing addition to our family.

Mariah put on a puppet show for Payton's birthday.

Other than that we have been really busy with baseball, swim team, school, church, field trips, end of the year testing, Mariahs Senior Prom (and soon graduation!) and all the other things that fall into the days to make them full.

January 1, 2010

Last month Devon went to her first High School dance. Michael and I had small heart attacks over the fact that she was old enough to go to H.S. dances but once we were sufficiently recovered we went about helping her get ready. I took her shopping for shoes and a dress. Michael bought her mace and taught her some self defence.

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She was originally going to the dance with one of her friends from the swim team but about a week before the dance Dana found out she couldn't go. So Devon asked me if she could go with a boy. A boy!! Can you believe that?! My first reaction was ABSOLUTELY NOT but we talked about it and agreed she could go with him.

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The day of the dance we had Danyelle come over and they both helped each other get ready. I think they spent three or four hours doing make up and hair. Which is funny since Devon had her hair done by Kristy and the only makeup she's allowed to wear is mascara and eyeliner.

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I dropped the girls off around 8:30 and picked them up at 11:30. Devon said she had a great time with Anthony (they danced twice!) and hanging out with her cousins. (Both Mariah and Danyelle were at the dance.) The next dance is in about three weeks. I think its a formal and I know Devon really wants to go. We'll see...

As many of you know, Devon has been swimming with a friend of hers three mornings a week for the past year or so. Her friend, Lily, is on the local swim team and has been helping Devon improve her stroke, time and endurance so she could eventually try out for the team too. This past Tuesday was her try out day.

She made the team!!

Monday will be her first team practice. She will be practicing Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4:30 to 6:00. She won't be eligible for swim meets until at least October but thats fine. She wants time to work on her time and endurance.

So if you see her be sure to congratulate her! She worked hard to make the swim team and is proud of her accomplishment.

June 26, 2009

Yay! Devon's home from camp! She left on Monday and has been gone ALL WEEK! I picked her and Mariah up from the church this evening 7:30. We took Mariah home and then stopped to pick up some groceries and gas up the mini van. (Tomorrow we are heading to the beach to see if we can find some pirates!) It was nice to have a chance to chat with her before we got home and the kids attacked her. They really missed her. Especially Payton, who would wander through the house called for 'Dedon'.

Devon said she had a great time at camp. The services were just amazing. She made a lot of new friends and tried a lot of things she had never done before. Like rowing a canoe and jumping on a water trampoline. Oh, and she's TAN! Apparently, living in a bathing suit (with a tank top and shorts over it) for a whole week will do that.

May 14, 2009

This morning was an end of the year swimming party for Regans class. All siblings and parents were invited to attend. We got there a few minutes late but once we were there everyone had a great time. I think my children are starting to grow gills. We have been to the pool about nine times in the past two weeks.

I had planned on taking the month of August to get our home and family ready for the upcoming school year. I had a long list of things I wanted to accomplish. School shopping, decluttering, rearranging furniture, planning menus, updating my household notebook...the list was intense. But guess what happened. I'll give you a hint. Two words.

Michael Phelps.

Oh my word! Talk about an intense week! I was staying up way too late to watch him go for gold. Then getting up early with the kids. My energy level suffered and therefore my to do list but it was worth it to see Michael (we're on a first name basis now) get every gold medal he competed for.

But now its time to get things done. I've pretty much done all the school shopping I needed to do and completed three more quilt tops. I've got the kids signed up for soccer & I ordered our 1/2 pig and1/4 beef. Now I need to buy a freezer to put it in. I have appointment for everyone to get haircuts next week and I've signed up for my very first quilt club.

Devon's curriculum is supposed to be shipped next week so hopefully I'll have time to get that ready before Sept. 2. Thats the day Regan and Ryan start their 1/2 days at Evergreen Academy so I'd like it to be Devons first day as well.

Michael and I were able to take the kids letterboxing a few weeks ago. It was a lot of fun! We picked a location that was close and had an area for the kids to play just in case we weren't able to find the letterbox. Luckily, all went well and the kids found it without much trouble.

Piano Lessons

Devon started taking piano lessons back in September and Regan joined her in January. The past month or two Ryan has been very interested in what the girls are doing. Today he actually got to have his own turn with our piano teacher. He did really well too. I'm not sure if he'll be able to have lessons though. Our piano teacher (Shannon) is leaving at the end of June to take a nanny position in Montana. Whaa! She has offered to give us a list of piano teachers in the area but finding one who will come to our home will be tricky. If we can find someone that is willing to come here I'm sure Ryan will be getting lessons too. Otherwise he may have to wait for a while.

My Little Swimmers

The girls have been taking swimming lessons since September. They LOVE swimming! Each session is twice a week for five weeks. At the end of the five weeks they are evaluated to see if they are ready for the next level. Right now Regan is in Kinder 3 and learning rhythmic breathing. Devon is in Level 3 and learning diving techniques.

Swimming Lessons

We started swim lessons this week. All three kids have lessons on Mondays and Wednesdays. Lucky for me they're all at the same time so I don't have to be at the pool ALL day. Devon is in Level One and Regan and Ryan are in Kinder One. Devon and Regan do good with their lessons but Ryan mostly bounces around and slaps the water with his hands. Oh well, at least he's having fun!
*I edited this to change Regan and Ryans Swimming level from Level Two to the correct level of Kinder One. Thanks go to Amy L. for so nicely pointing out my mistakes*