A Whole Year

I used to be so good at this, but the older my kids get the more I end up running around doing things for them and not having time for much else.  Just this week I made a birthday cake for the boy's club swim coach, volunteered to make brownies for the 6th grade science camp fundraiser, went to a choir booster board meeting, took Donald to get his sport's physical, dropped off for scouts and the youth temple trip, plus 5 days of swim practice, helped Donald with 6 hours of U.S. History that he waited until the day before it was due to start, subbed at the high school and started teaching another online class (I have three right now).   Tomorrow I am spending the whole day at Cal State Fullerton for a choir festival.  I used to think that I would have so much more free time once my kids were teens, but I guess that was about as true as when people used to tell me that boys don't have mood swings.

Anyway....I used to post in here all the time, but now that I am pretty much in high school again I guess I will just have to recap the whole year all at once. 



I think the last time I posted was December 2013.  Right after that we started high school swim.  That year not only did I get to run the timing system at our home meets but I was also the Apparel Coordinator for the team.  That was a lot of work since we had 104 kids plus 6 coaches, but they all looked great.  Our season was amazing.

Boys shaving party to get ready for League

Donald and his friends Madi and Kaitlyn at the Mt. Sac Invitational

We won league again.  Donald dropped great time there and placed fourth overall in the 500 Free and 5th in the 200 Free.  His times qualified him for CIF where he made it to finals and helped our team get second place in CIF SS Division 2.  We only lost by 1.5 points.  The boys were crushed, but I know we will get it this year :).  During Spring break our varsity kids went to Montana for a high altitude training week at Montana State University.  Don and I got to go with Donald as chaperones.  We had so much fun.  The other chappys were great and we got to be parents of 40 kids for 8 days.  It was cold and a really long drive, but those kids are amazing.  We got to go to Yellowstone and swim in the Boiling River.  Each day I gave the kids challenges.  One day we were focusing on team building and I made them eat breakfast with their hands tied to each other.  :) Such a great week.

Sophomore boys after they won league

Got the shirts ready for CIF

Donald and Coach White at the swim banquet

Swim season takes us to the end of May, which also held AP tests, Madrigals try-outs, choir and swim banquets and the end of school.  Donald made Madrigals (amazing audition performance choir at school) this year, got five patches at the swim banquet (including an academic patch) and lettered in choir at the choir banquet.  After that month I was so happy for school to be over so we could have a little break.
In June we went to La Mirada for June Age Group Invitationals and then to Utah for a BYU swim camp. 

Donald at BYU swim camp

CCAQ open water practice at Manhattan Beach

 Donald did two swim programs during the summer and we finished July with Junior Olympics.
The next day we were on a plane to Seattle to board our cruise to Alaska.
We went up to Juneau, then to Skagway, Ketchekan, Glacier Bay, Victoria-British Columbia and back to Seattle.  It was cold for August, but it was very beautiful.

The stewardess phone bombed us!

The Golden Princess

Seattle- Leaving port

On deck

In Juneau

Up the Tram

Overlooking Juneau

View from the top

Oh No, they've turned into mountain men already!

 

 

Juneau

Lower Reid Falls in Skagway

Goofy Selfies

We had a fun tandem bike ride up to the falls.

Saw Sea Lions on our way into Glacier Bay

And some whales

And this crazy bunch of freezing cold weirdos

Glacier Bay

Cute little Molly

Ketchikan

By the Salmon River

Another goofy selfie

Back on the ship

We saw a ton of whales on the way back down the coast.

In Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

After that school started back up again.  Donald is a Junior and Eli is in 6th grade this year.  Now I am the Vice President of the Swim boosters and Co-chair of fundraising for the choir boosters.  So things are crazy all over again.   But, we still find a little time to enjoy the things we love together.

This year Nationals was held in Irvine so we got to go see all the Olympic swimmers compete.

Michael Phelps is on the Right, Ryan Lochte is on the Left.  Getting ready for the 100 Fly.  Michael won this race (it was prelims) and ended up getting second in finals (although it was one of the most exciting races I have ever watched....that my kid wasn't in). :)

Donald got to wear Allison's Gold Medal

In September we went to Yosemite with my sister Tina and her family.  We hiked to Vernal Falls which was a little over 6 miles roundtrip.  It was a pretty tough hike at the end, but that could just be because I am so out of shape.

How many people can you get into a selfie?

 At the beginning of October we went on our annual Lake Mead trip.  We brought our friends the Martineau's with us this year.  Their kids Jordan and Madi both got up wakeboarding, which was a lot of fun to see.

Derek, Shara and Madi Martineau

Don towing Jordan Martineau

Donald and Madi

My Cousin Regina's little girl Riley- Too cute!

Eli and Ryan loving the Root Beer

Emily and Lucy

The Morans-  Love Jack's face!

And what week at the lake would be complete without us trying to shove a million people into a selfie again :) ?

 After the lake it was back to reality and the crazy schedules.  Madrigals sang the National Anthem at all the home football games. 

It is hard to pick Donald out, but he is the tallest one on the right.  I think his head is facing towards the other side of the field in this picture.

 Our club swim team held new elections and Don is now the president (like we need to be involved in any more boards right ;).

We spent Halloween in a Zombie Apocalypse.

 We should have gotten Eli in there, but he was actually a ninja so he was just a little too stealthy for us.

Well I guess that brings us up to November.  What a crazy year!  It has sped by and before I know it my kids will be out of high school and I will be wishing for a school function to be involved in.  Oh, that reminds me, Donald is turning 16 at the end of the month and getting his driver's license.  Where has the time gone?

Remember when he was little like this?

Here's a little hello from Crick.  He is almost 13 and not doing well.  Don't know how much longer we have with him, but we have been so blessed to have such a sweet cat.