Love Love Love

The whole crew at Disneyland.  We roll deep.

Anybody who knows me knows that I love love love my family.  My best friends are my sisters and my cousins, and friends who are so close they feel like cousins.  This summer, we got the chance to reunite, and it was EPIC.  No matter how many miles are between us, or how much time goes by that we are apart, we always seem to get right back into "crazy family mode" when we are together, and I love love love it!  We all met in LA to celebrate Bess and Mark's wedding, and it was the first time in a long time that we were all together for a whole weekend, day in and day out.  It was just like old times, and even more fun than I can explain.  I'm so blessed to be a part of a family that really knows how to love each other.

On the Run

What have I been doing with my summer so far?  Running around Lake Union.

Thanks to Vince for convincing me that it's not so bad.  Best part is. . . it's right outside my door.  

First Day of Summer, Officially

Trust me, teachers are even more excited.

Students were done on Friday, but I had to go in yesterday and move classrooms. . . again.  It's going to be my 6th classroom in 8 years.  Ardon and I woke up bright and early, ready to lug boxes around, only to find that my new teammates had already moved almost all of them for me!  Needless to say, Ardon and I were pretty stoked, and we were only at the school for less than half the expected time.

So today, on my official first day of summer, I woke up at 9:30!  Something that I haven't done in a long long time.  No alarm clock to wake me up, just my body clock telling me "It's time."  The weather isn't looking all that great, so I think I might just catch up on things around the house--the stuff I had ignored for the last couple of weeks because work had been so busy.  Possibly vacuum and wash and fold some laundry.  Ardon is having some company over, but other than that, it's a pretty chill day.  I might even cook every meal today!  Now, THAT would be amazing.

I'm just excited that the break is finally here (even though the weather says otherwise).  I'm really looking forward to the relaxation, spending more time with family, the trip to LA in July, and the trip to NYC in August.

Oh, the perks of being a teacher.

ROCK N ROLL!

WE DID IT!  And, boy did it feel absolutely awesome!  I'm really proud of all of us--Vince who ran the full marathon, and Mar, David, and me who ran the half.  We had the perfect weather conditions and great energy.  I even made it in my goal time!  I'm feeling great (even after a day, but we'll see).  Bring on the next race!

Thanks to Ardon, G, Mark, and Mawee for coming out and cheering us on.  That made it extra special.

Pre-race.  We hung out with our corral and inched our way to the start line.    I think our corral was so far back that we started at 7:45.  The whole race started at 7:00.  That's what happens with 20,000 people out to run.

Post Race.  Vince finished his full marathon before we finished our half.  He's kind of a beast.
It's amazing and inspiring.

Give it up for the halfsies!  Mar with the ice pack.  She's a serious trooper.  She hurt her knee at about mile 6 and told David and me to keep going.  She ran with a pirate leg the rest of the way, and did it in impressive time for somebody who had to drag a leg for half the race.  Poor David cramped up in both calves, but muscled through it.  Look how happy we are to be done!  (Thanks to Ardon, G, Mark, and Mawee for the awesome sign.  They also had another one that said, "You're my heroes")

Post Race Stretch.  You have no idea how good it felt to stretch in this picture.  

In the Next Two Weeks

I need to

• Continue teaching summer-ready kiddos
• Pack up my classroom
• Move into another classroom
• Start and finish report cards
• Finish strong in training for the half marathon, which the morning after school gets out.

It's a short list of big tasks.  So much to do, so little time!  I'm getting anxious just reading the list.

Mini-Vaca to Vancity

Yet again, Ardon had a DJ event wherein he was asked to make an appearance.  This time it was in Vancouver, so we were pretty stoked.  It was a good chance to make a little getaway from Seattle.  Two of his good friends PJ and Beau came with us, since they are into the DJ scene too, so we all road-tripped up north.  We stayed at the Days Inn in downtown, which was walking distance to pretty much everything, so were able to just get out and explore.

I hadn't been up to Vancouver in a long time, so it felt good to kind of re-appreciate the city.  In my opinion, it seemed like the American version of Europe.  It's a great place, for sure, and Ardon and I will definitely be making our way back up soon.

Hello, Canada!  Crossing the border wasn't so bad.  Border patrol asked, "What does one do at a DJ event?"

Crossing Granville Bridge on our way to downtown Vancity.

 Beau, Ardon, and PJ exploring downtown.  It was so clean, it felt like Universal Studios.

Still Galabunting.  We just kept going and going.  As we headed back to the hotel, we finally realized how far we had walked.  We covered lots of ground on foot, so we all had to power nap before heading out for the night.

PJ aka DJ Pjilla cuttin it up at Skratcher 3.  There was an open turntable session, the Canadian version of Skratch Lounge, so a few of the Skratch Lounge fam came up too.  There was also a DJ competition happening at the same venue that Ardon had to judge.  Lots going on, but lots of fun.

Late nightt eats.  The pizza was so good, but the ranch dressing they made at this place was BOMB.  If they sold it, I'd buy it, and I don't even like ranch.

On our way home, PJ was craving Poutine, so we stopped in White Rock to get some.   It was a quaint little coastal town and the Poutine at Moby Dick was sooooo good!

Almost back in the US.  Getting back over took longer than getting into Canada.  Go figure.  We stopped in Tulalip to outlet shop and eat at the casino, buffet style.  We were stuffed!

4th and 5th Grade Camp

Just got back from camp yesterday.  Every year, the 4th and 5th graders, parent volunteers, and my teammates go up to Stanwood to the campgrounds at Camp Warm Beach.  As expected, it was amazing, especially since the children this year are extra awesome.  It was 3 days of hiking the trails, finding interesting critters, and lots of outdoor adventure, mixed in with indoor cabin giggles.  It rained all day on Thursday, but we were troopers and made the most of our time there.  Moving to 2nd and 3rd grade next year, I'm really going to miss camping out with the kiddos.  Here are a couple of snapshots that I was able to take.

My camping quarters.  It was pretty sweet.  I hardly felt like I was roughing it.

My activity group, Group Love.  Getting ready to ride the trail.  There were two girls who were pretty terrified to get on a horse.  Once they got back, they were beaming with excitement.  It ended up to be their favorite thing about camp.

Lucas found this huge slug while we were lost in the wild.  I lead them in the wrong direction when trying to find our next station.  I'm gonna miss this kiddo.  He was in my activity group last year too.

The 40-foot climbing wall.  I didn't get the chance to do it last year because we ran out of time, but I was determined to do it this year.  And I'm proud to say I conquered it!  We had to make up a superhero name before going up.  The kids gave me the name "Cat Attack," and they cheered me on the whole way up.

This year, one of the stations was the "chill station," where the kids could sit by the fire, read, write, play chess,  play cards, or just lay down.  I think it's pretty obvious what the teachers decided to do. . .  Jeff was passed out.