And. . . back to school

 Let me back up a bit, before I jump in to the 2019-2020 school year.

In May, Kathryn welcomed Cookie Dough in to her life.  A Holland Lop baby bunny.  The bunny lives with her at her Dad's; but occasionally gets to visit with me.  

Ryan, as dressed up as I've seen him in years, for the school Spring Concert.

Next is 3rd annual Jim Creek weekend with friends. Ryan opted for a Cadet camp out instead, so just a Mom & daughter trip.  We stayed in little cabins this year.

 

July rolled in - bringing beach time, Cle Elum time with family, and 10th & 12th birthdays.

 Coffee stop en route to Seaside

 Kathryn decided she wanted to sleep on the balcony.  ok!

 In Canon Beach, building their pool

 Last day in Seaside, with the obligatory Promenade picture.

A few days after Seaside, we traveled to Cle Elum, to the family cabin.  Met up with Kerri, Sam & Wyatt.  Kelsey joined us as well.   And. . . . . . . lots and lots of mice.   I mean lots.  Blech. The cabin was overrun with them and because of this, we bailed a day early.🐭

This young man's 12th birthday.

Oreo cookie cake, with Oreo cookie buttercream was this years cake request.

Korryn gave us tickets to the Mariner's game the night of his birthday and coincidentally it was a fireworks night.  The Mariner's have had kind of a sucky year, but they came back to win this game in the 9th...making it lots of fun.  The fireworks show was outstanding.  A true gift to spend that time with Ryan.

💓💓 My sweet girl is 10. 🎂

She had asked for a while to have a scrap book of her own.   

I pulled together pictures from Day 1 of her life and compiled the next 10 years in to that book.   Lots of tears shed a long the way, in the creation of page after page.  Lots of life lived, lots of memories relived. 

 Angel food cake with strawberries was her cake request this year.
She hosted a sleep over with Lexi, Addie and Sofia

That brings us to today. 
September 2nd, 2019.
 The start of 5th grade for Kathryn, and middle school/6th grade for Ryan.
Beautiful day and both came home with reports that it was a great day.
Here's too lots of learning & growth this school year.

 Mochi photo bombing the picture?
Or coerced to be in the picture?
Either way, that little kitty is everywhere we turn.  😻

Whoa, it's May already

Last left off in December.  Outside of the massive snow fall we had in February, life has been uneventful but very busy.  Kid activities fill our days. 

The 2019 snow was one for the record books.  Kids missed multiple days of school.  Much sledding ensued.  It was very fun, until it wasn't.  Kids got bored (and tired/sore) of sledding.  I think they actually missed being at school.  Traveling was not possible for a few days.  My office, in their 50 years of business, has never closed for weather.  Not once.  Not until this year.

My Magnolia tree in the backyard was weighted down to the ground.  Lost a few branches, but it is stunningly beautiful with all that snow.

 This pile of snow was in my office parking lot.  This was the size TWO weeks after the snow fall.  Took a month to melt.  For Seattle ..... that's nuts

Cake pops . . . 

They are way harder than they look!  We learned a lot, made one heck of a mess, but the end result (especially if you don't look too closely) was cool!

 Demeter-kitty continues to make Kathryn part of her nighttime routine.  Every night she walks in to her room, meows until picked up and placed on the bed.  Then rolls for belly scratches.  This, coming from a cat that would nip if her belly was touched for most of her life.

  She'll be 17 years old in June

 Looking very grown up, preparing for a school field trip.

 2019 Spring Volleyball through the Boys & Girls Club. 

 This has been an amazing growth opportunity for Kathryn. Her coach is our friend.  It's an environment of total support, encouragement, compassion and love.  She is thriving, improving and loving the games.

Math Olympiad 2019.  

Ryan did very well again this year, against hundreds of other students in the Shoreline School District.  He placed (tied w/ a classmate) in the top 3 of his class.   And in 5th grade category for all schools, placed 11th.  So impressed with his math skills.

2019 Shoreline Christian Jog-a-thon. 

 Last one for Ryan, because next year he moves on to middle school. 

 (MIDDLE SCHOOL?!  How did that happen?🤯)

 Ryan ran 27 laps, Kathryn ran 26 laps.

Ryan was #5 in amount of money raised for the school, Kathryn was #7!

 Out of 123 students

 5th grade Jog-a-thon poster

 4th grade Jog-a-thon poster

 Close-up on Kathryn's portion of the 4th grade poster.

She studied the Grand Canyon for a project this year. 

 She's concluded she wants to go to Grand Canyon University

 after high school graduation.  🎓

We will have to wait and see.   🙂