A Spring Break Ski Day

I asked my parents if they would be available to watch Emmett one last time this ski season during our spring break IF there was enough snow at White Pass.  Luckily, the snow lasted until the second week of April and a big storm even came through last weekend, giving us a glorious, powdered-covered mountain to play in all day long.  Sadly, Ella came down with some sort of flu bug two days ago.  As a result, we decided not to risk it and asked if she could also spend the night at my parents' house so that she didn't end up hijacking our family ski day.  So, as sad as I was to have Ella finish off her 23-24 ski season with only one day under her belt instead of the four days I had planned, I was grateful that my parents agreed to watch her.  As a result, just Logan and Lia joined Ron and me for our long day up at White Pass.  Since we were able to go skoarding together on a Monday during the second week of April, we were blown away by how empty the mountain was all day long.  We never had to wait in line at a single chair lift and loved all of the fresh snow.  Ron and I were able to convince the two kids to follow us into the powder off in the trees several times and it was so fun watching them navigate this unfamiliar and fluffy snow.  Overall, it was a wonderful day and I am so grateful for one last chance to get up to the mountain before the snow melts away until next season!

Logan, Lia, and Ron at the top of the Couloir run.

Ron snowboarding with no one around him and beautiful, snow-covered trees in the background.

Lia following Ron down the run.

The kids and me at the top of the mountain with trees completely covered in snow behind us.

Logan cruising down the hill.

Lia and Logan.

The kids and me.

A stunning picture I was able to catch of Logan snowboarding through some powder in the trees.

The kids following Ron through the trees.

A Belated Easter 2024

For the first time in ten years, Ella's birthday fell on the same day as Easter.  Since I knew that my "mom brain" could not handle hosting a birthday party on the same weekend as a holiday, I quickly decided that the two events needed to be split up.  As a result, I decided that Ella's birthday needed to take priority and be celebrated on her actual birthday weekend.  After asking my mom and sister-in-laws if they were okay with celebrating Easter as a family a week late, I moved all Easter celebrating until the first weekend in April.  

Sadly, Ella came down with some sort of flu bug during gymnastics yesterday.  When I picked her up after her 4-hour practice, she looked so pale and sick.  After spending all afternoon in her bedroom and even taking a nap, I convinced her to come out for a few minutes to help us dye Easter eggs last night.  This morning, she felt a little better and was able to participate in all our Easter activities of going through her basket, finding the eggs hidden around the house, and eating a little bit of our Easter breakfast.  After church and a slow afternoon, all six of us drove to Issaquah to spend the evening at my parent's house for dinner and an outdoor egg hunt.  In addition, we celebrated both of my parent's April birthdays and watched them open gifts after enjoying two different kinds of birthday cakes.  It was a perfect way to finish celebrating our belated Easter this year!

April 6th:

Ella decorated an egg before dyeing it.

Logan sticking out his tongue at me while choosing another egg to dye.

Lia coloring away.

Emmett getting ready to dip an egg in some dye.

Mother daughter decorating.

April 7th:

The four kids walking down the stairs to find their baskets waiting for them in the living room.

Emmett examining his new basketball.

Ella showing off her pack of root beer.

Logan happily hugging his 6-pack of Sprite.

Lia holding up her new fanny pack from JTF.

Lia hunting for eggs around the house and finding one hidden on the children play kitchen.

Emmy happily showing off an egg he just found.

Logan reaching for one on top of a picture frame.

Lia reaching for an egg hidden in the blinds above the kitchen sink.

Emmett smiling for me as he hunts for candy in grandma's yard.

Logan reaching for a goodie hidden in a tree in the backyard.

Ella searching for treats in the front yard.

Lia looking around her flower bed at the top of the yard.

All four siblings together after the hunt was over.

As the older cousins have headed off to college these past few years, our cousin picture has shrunk in size.  Here are the six remaining cousins posing together in front of one of grandma's beautiful pink rhodies.

Grandma and grandpa waiting for us to sing "Happy Birthday" to them.

Emmett's 1st Spring Soccer Game

 After Emmett finished up his first season of indoor soccer this past fall, I thought that he would have to wait until this coming fall to play again.  Luckily, a few weeks ago, a friend of mine told me about a spring season of indoor soccer that was being held again at the rec center.  Since this spring season did not exist when Lia and Logan played soccer there, I would have never know about this had she not told me.  So, I quickly signed Emmett up, and he was so excited when I told him that he got to play soccer again.  Unlike the league in the fall that was organized by age, this league combines all of the 3 to 5 year old players on each team.  As a result, Emmett is one of the biggest, fastest, and strongest players on his team.  After only two weekly practices, I brought Emmett to the rec center this morning for his first of four games.  It was so fun to watch him play as he totally dominated against the other team.  He is so fast and coordinated and is just a natural at this sport.  He worked so hard the entire time and made four goals by the end of the game.  I just love watching this boy of mine play soccer!  I will definitely be registering him for an outdoor league this fall as he seems a little too advanced to continue playing indoor soccer for a few more years.

Emmett at the front of the pack going for the ball.

Dribbling down the court.

Chasing down the ball.

Getting ready to kick.

An awesome action shot of Emmett as he kicks the ball and gets some air.

Blocking the ball from his goal.

Kicking the ball against an opponent.

Emmett is always as excited about the snacks at the end of the game as he is getting to play in the game.  Here he is proudly showing off his snacks after game #1 was over.

Award Assembly for Ella

 A few times a year, our children's elementary school hosts an awards assembly for all of the students and the families of the children who are recipients of the awards.  Our children have been nominated several times over the years and I have never missed an assembly.  Since the pandemic, our school switched from sending home letters announcing when your child has been selected to sending an email.  Ella was chosen to receive an award for today's assembly, but unfortunately the email that was sent to me went to my spam folder instead of my inbox.  As a result, I never read the email and had no idea that this was going on today.  Emmett and I were totally free and could have gone to the school to cheer on Ella as she received her award.  So, you can imagine my surprise and also disappointment when a friend of mine texted me this picture a few minutes after the assembly was over.  I was so confused and sad when I realized what had happened.  Since Ella was going straight to gymnastics practice from school (and it wasn't my turn to drive), I wasn't going to see her until she got home at 8:30 tonight.  Luckily, I was able to talk to her over the phone as she drove to practice to explain the situation and apologize to her.  I was relieved to hear that Ella wasn't too disappointed and just thought that I was "too busy" to come to the assembly.  Although I still feel so bad about missing it, I am proud of Ella for receiving an award for being a "cooperative" student in her class.  She is such a diligent, respectful, and hardworking student at school and I am so proud of her and also happy for the fact that she was recognized today.  Way to go, Ella! 

Ella holding up her certificate after receiving it at the assembly.  

Her teacher wrote the following message on the certificate:
"Ella works with her group members using enthusiasm and hard work.  She is friendly and gets along with all of her peers in the classroom and even beyond the classroom by setting a positive example at Shaw Road."

Ella's 10th Birthday!

Since Ella's 10th birthday happened to land on the same day as Easter this year, I decided weeks ago to postpone Easter until April 7th.  Luckily, my parents and brothers were fine doing this as none of them have little children who are anxiously awaiting Easter baskets and egg hunts.  So, with the exception of going to church today and listening to the Easter program, this entire day was devoted to Ella and celebrating her birthday.  We started off the morning with our traditional, birthday breakfast and finished off the day with a family dinner party with my parents.  Ella is always my middle child who never gets enough attention, but always wants more.  As a result, her birthday is a dream come true for her every year.  She thoroughly enjoyed having the day be centered around her and she loved eating her favorite foods and opening up her gifts.  I am grateful for this chance that we had to celebrate this wonderful girl.  She burst into our world ten years ago with so much energy and enthusiasm that I didn't even have time to get an epidural.  Ten years later, she is full of that same energy and enthusiasm in everything she does from school to gymnastics to theater to being around friends and family.  I love her to pieces and am so grateful that she is part of our family!

The boys posing with Ella before she blows out the candles on her birthday waffles.

Ella blowing out her candles after we sang "Happy Birthday" to you.

Our family ready to eat Ella's birthday dinner.  She requested ham, homemade mac 'n cheese, carrots, deviled eggs, rolls, and a fruit platter.

Ella posing in front of her gifts before opening them.

Ella proudly showing off her new pair of Converse shoes.

Holding up her gymnastics sweatshirt that she chose at the state championship meet last week.

Ella holding up the historical, American Girl Doll, Josefina, that she has wanted for a few years now.

Ella opening up her last gift wit her silly brothers at her side.

A very happy Ella holding up my old Stanley that I decided to gift to her after receiving a new one from the company for free.

My mom makes a small baby quilt for all of her grandchildren when they are born and another larger quilt for the 10th birthday.  Ella has eagerly been awaiting this gift for several years now.  Here she is proudly posing with her beautiful quilt with her grandma and Emmett after opening it up.  This quilt is truly a labor of love and a family heirloom that Ella will treasure for the rest of her life.

Ella asked for a chocolate cream pie for her birthday dessert.  Here she is waiting to blow out her candles for the last time this weekend.

Ella and her siblings posing together.

A rare family photo that I had my mom take of the six of us.

The happy 10-year old enjoying her dessert at the end of her party.