Ryan's Math Olympiad

Proud Mommy moment:  

Ryan participated in his school's Math Olympiad.  

The school joined hundreds of  kids from other local schools.

Shoreline Christian School had the largest amount of participating kids (impressive given the size of the school, compared to local public schools!)

Ryan was 1 of 3 students in his school to medal.

My sweet Joey

My heart aches 💔

The house has an emptiness, even with the chaos of kids

Her presence; constantly there for over 14 years is silenced and missed

The light had left Joey's eyes months ago

Her hips were failing

She was deaf

Ultimately it was a mouth tumor that confirmed it was time to say goodbye.

I got to be her human starting August 5th, 2003.

She has been through a lot, with me & next to me.

3 moves

2 kids

1 divorce

She loved me through it all

On March 9th, 2018 we gave her last hugs and kisses.

🐾

🐾 Her last day with us  🐾

Goodbye sweet girl

Good-bye 2017

I love the end of the year roundup - tying up all loose ends, reviewing the last few months photo's, reflecting on all the change.......  Lots of happiness.  Choosing joy.

The fall season had us trying to Geocache for the first time.  Super fun, a good way to get out and see new places and also made it very obvious my phone is outdated.  2018 will be the year for new iPhone for Mom.   

Thanksgiving was with Korryn and Wayne - at Wayne's home.  Cozy and fun.  Kelsey took a picture of the kids and me - that I will cherish forever.  

December rolled in. 

 Gingerbread houses, annual baking day, home decorating (and Christmas tree drama), getting promoted to nurse manager (wait, what?!) cinnamon rolls, Christmas day, some tearful moments when the kids left Christmas day to spend the remainder of Christmas break with their Dad. 

 And.... the divorce was finalized.  This day came with huge emotion.  From grief to relief.  

Very large chapter in my life closed.  

A new way of living..........  choosing joy.

 Who would have thought, that finding a good live Christmas tree in 2017 - during the 2nd weekend of December would be a challenge!?  Options:  too large, too expensive.  Too small, too expensive.  Just right, too expensive.  And totally ratty, too expensive.  We never did find a good tree, suitable to bring home.  We decided to go fake.  And I love it way more than I thought I would.  It's small.  But for our little family, it was perfect.  Maybe in the future it will be exclusively just for Snoopy.  Either way, it worked out very well.   After a little bit of kid drama (they were convinced we would not find anything) and exacerbation - driving all over North Seattle trying to find one!

How crazy is this. 😃

 Exciting, challenging and hoping I do it  justice!

Christmas morning 🎄

 This was Ryan's gift to me.   So much thought, color and detail.  It made me cry.  Love 💜love💚 love. 💙

 It was a white Christmas.   

Rarity in Seattle.

Christmas morning was exciting, but getting out in the snow was way more exciting than what was under the tree.

This was my gift Christmas Day night.  

The house was quiet.

The yard is beautiful.

And a sunset to tie up the day.  🎄

December 31st.  Seahawks 🏈 game in downtown Seattle.  Game did not end well, but it was a good way to say good bye 2017.  

2018! 🌈

2017-2018 school pictures!

Back to school

We start with the always exciting occasion - a lost tooth.  This was about a month ago.  Currently she has 4 more loose teeth.... get ready Tooth Fairy

2017-2018 school year is in full swing.

Demeter-kitty "had" to be a part of the before school/back to school photo's.

I'm not sure kitty agreed.

Oh Ryan........  😏

This year Kathryn was all about posing for photo's

Kathryn's 3rd grade class with Miss Bogertman

 Ryan's 4th grade class with Mrs. Zech

 Kathryn and her friend Sofia

This is Trooper.  Grandma Kathie's newest family member

 Kathryn and Trooper became quick friends

Day trip to Bainbridge Island - on the ferry, watching another ferry

Kathryn is with our neighbor Allison here.

Lake Chelan - BIRTHDAY's - Beach

Our first trip to Lake Chelan.

  Hot, amazing lake, great swimming, and fun.

The kids spent nearly every moment in the lake or behind the boat inter-tubing.  

 We stayed with my Aunt Patti and Uncle Bob

 The moment before the plunge

 No surprise that Kathryn went first

Ryan is 10. 

TEN.

TEN!

He opted for a Mariner's game.  The M's lost but he got an autograph from a Boston Red Sox's player and a foul ball.

Plus his name on the big screen!

Any my little girl is now 8.

We got to hang out with friends for the morning and she spent the evening with Dad.  A good day all around for her.

Ocean Shores

 I love the noticeable determination in Kathryn's form - out to soak her brother!

Footprints to the waves   💗