Memorial Day Weekend, Ski to Sea 2009

Let me back up a minute first. On Friday it was pet day at school and we took Sadie. I was glad that Jeff was there! Anyway, we picked the kids up after school and took them out for ice cream. We stopped by the cemetary to show the kids where my grand parents are burried. Micah was quite intrigued and started asking questions. My favorite one was this...."How do the dead people get planted here?" Oh honey...the things you say do make so much sense!

The girls each had a friend overnight and spent time making signs to have a lemonade stand this summer. They want to earn money to build a well in Africa so that other kids can have clean water to drink. So precious! Makes this mama really proud!

Our weekend was no different than any other Memorial Day weekend. Ski to Sea pre race meetings, waxing ski's and snow boards, competative racing, watching the finish of the race, and a post race party. Phew! This year our team had three new members. Levi, Stan, and Tim. And a new sponsor...BAI Environmental Services...go figure!

The race began at 8 a.m. The weather was phenominal! Jeff is the cross country skiier. He skies up Heather Meadows and around this big loop called 7 hills valley. and then repeats it all over again. The top 30+ skiers are professionals, Olympians, and World Champion medalists. Everyone else lines up behind them. Jeff placed 55th overall out of 415 participants...not bad for a man who works 60 or more hours a week :-)

Jeff hands off to the Downhill Skiier (Greg Terpstra) who hikes up the mountain about 22 minutes and skies down the remaining 3. Greg placed 9th overall out of 415 participants...WAY TO GO GREG!!!!

Greg passes off to the runner, Roy Williams, who runs 8 miles down the mountain and then hands off to the road biker, Allan Ershig. Allan races from the state highway shed down to Everson, I think it is 38 miles.

He passes off to the canoers at the park in Everson. They run down to the Nooksack river and paddle about 2 hours down to Hovander in Ferndale where they hand off to the mountain biker. Things were going extremely well at this point and Jeff thought it looked like we would place around 23-25th overall as a team. But disaster struck!

Poor Roger Burke....he had two flat tires during his mountain bike race causing him to nearly quit the race. Bless his heart he hung in there and got through it but it was a real struggle! Roger, thanks for taking one for the team! You are awesome man!
(He's telling his story here at the finish line)

Anyway, then Roger passed the baton to the sea Kayaker who travels from Zwanich Park near the marina down to the finish line in Fairhaven at Marine Park Post Point.

This is a new sea kayaker for us and he looked tough coming in...we were actually kind of worried about him. He looked so winded when he finished and then he couldn't move his legs...this happens sometimes...their legs go to sleep after sitting so long. Anyway, they got him out of his kayak and he walked up and rung the bell. 7 hours, 15 minutes. 47th Place overall.

Now Jeff can start dreaming about next year...actually he won't even think about it until January!

Taylor's 1st Piano Recital

Taylor had her first piano recital last weekend. She played 4 pieces and with such expression and enthusiasm. In fact, during her last song, Taylor hit a note with such expression that the lady in front of us nearly jumped out of her seat-ha! It was pretty funny! Definately this is one of her gifts. We love listening to her play and my Aunt Jan is now her piano teacher. This is very special to have such an amazing teacher who has been teaching more than 45 years. I envision some day sitting in the living room at night just listening to her play (probably unrealistic as she gets older....I hear they just keep getting busier the older they get).

Goodbye Chicks

Saying goodbye to the chicks was hard but they were starting to outgrow their space so we brought them to the Williams where they can run around and enjoy life a bit more. Kids were really sad...Jeff and I not so much!

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade

We had Claire over and the kids had so much fun together. We played games, played outside, and made lemonade from scratch....just like the good ole' days! Now Micah is scheming to "have a lemonade stand for Africa" What he means is to earn money for wells for African people but pretty cute none the less!

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all y0u wonderful moms....this is truly a day to celebrate! Our day started off really nice. The kids (and Jeff) made me breakfast in bed (both Saturday and Sunday)! My favorite...blackberry scones and a hot latte' (Coconut Carmel Machiatto). Then the kids all paraded in with gifts...bless their hearts...the girls helped Micah make coupons to give to me for a free breakfast in bed, spa treatment-ha! (they love to give me backrubs and foot rubs), cleaning up his room, etc. Hailey had planted flower seeds at school and gave me flowers....so sweet...she loves to help me plant flowers and water them! Taylor had made a card and a book of coupons in her class to give to me. It was a priceless moment! Jeff gave me a Pantone Huey....it is a little piece of equipment you can use to calibrate your computer monitor so that the colors you see on the monitor are as they will print out to be. It is amazing the difference it makes! Getting ready for church was the end of our blissful morning....girls didn't want to wear what we got out for them...Micah couldn't find his shoes and didn't want to do his hair....typical Sunday morning stuff :-) There was no children's programs and I can honestly say I didn't hear one thing that our pastor preached about....It is good for me to have a boy because I have always thought kids should be in church with their parents every week....now that I have Micah I am not so sure :-)

After church we met my family at Million Smiles...the guys made the food which was a total crackup!!!! My dad actually made homemade rolls...for the first time ever-ha! It was the highlight of the afternoon...so funny! You can see they have a bit more texture than most rolls but truly they tasted awesome! Way to go dad! Loren even made a cake...hilarious if you know my brother! Jeff worked all weekend but bless his heart he still made my day very special and he made a fruit salad and brought drinks. It was beautiful weather!

Anyway, I am so thankful to be a mom...as hard as it is I know it is the perfect job for me and it is growing me up just as much as I am trying to grow them up :-)

Tulip Town

These are for my sister-in-law from Minnesota. She loves tulips and always says she wants to come here to see them sometime....so here you are Karen! Maybe this will entice you to get on an airplane again!

We had a great time and the weather was perfect for taking pictures! I was a bit sad on the way home when I realized that this was probably the last time I would get to take my preschool age kids to the tulip fields but I am so thankful for all the wonderful memories we have made and the terrific pictures I have gotten over the years.

Thanks Heather & Bryce for going with me and putting up with all my stops for photos :-)

My first big shoot

I was blessed to spend an hour with this family on Sunday afternoon. They actually let me take their pictures. I was very nervous at first but as soon as they all arrived I felt very comfortable. We had a super time and got some great shots. Kathy is remarkable in so many ways but I had so much respect for her on Sunday. Her little guy did not want his picture taken and cried almost the entire hour. Bless her heart she was so patient with him and never once did she lose her temper...I have so much to learn from you Kathy! Thanks for letting me take your families picture! I actually could see myself doing this professionally some day...it is kind of funny but for me it is just as fun as being in Disneyland and I feel more comfortable behind my camera than in front of it-he he!