We are off to sunny Hawaii!

ALOHA! Sorry it has been a couple of weeks since my last entry, but as always we seem to be running in circles.

Steve and I had a great time at WACA, the Washington state activities advisors convention. (I also signed on to be on the committee that hosts the event next year.) We both came away with new ideas and a burst of energy. That is good because at this time of the year we all are ready for summer. I recently had one of my ASB officers mention that she was having a hard time focusing because she had senioritis. I replied that her case was nothing; I've been having senioritis for 20 years. (sad that it is that long)

We survived our last week of school before spring break. Alli had a concert Monday; we had pack meeting Tuesday; Matt had scouts and the girls YW on Wednesday; Thursday Josh started baseball on Thursday- as well as Alli and Matt piano lessons; Friday had our pre spring break assembly that I was in charge of (it went great, but I'm glad it is over) and it was the Mongolian bbq Elders quorum social. Talk about a packed week. We spent yesterday recovering and cleaning the house. Tomorrow we leave about noon for Seattle, and we fly to Hawaii on Tuesday! We are mostly packed.

Linda comes up in the morning to hang out with the kids for the week. I am greatful everyday for a mother in law that adores our kids and is so supportive of our crazy lives.

I'll have lots of pictures to post very soon. Wish us luck. ALOHA! Deb

We survived Blue & Gold... and a baptism

It just seems that one event runs into the next. We got a new camera, and Steve downloaded the pictures, but I can't seem to find them. I will update asap.

This Tuesday was our Blue & Gold banquet. We had almost a hundred people, and despite my near nervous breakdown, it all worked out. We had lots of food, fun and awards. Josh did earn his Wolf badge and got to wear the famous wolf ears. He also earned a gold arrow point- now I just have to get them on the uniform.

Wednesday was the normal mutual and scout chaos. Thursday was piano, and Friday my officers and I went to FMS to compete in a licorice eating contest between the grade levels and the "staff" which my officers and I got to be a part of. They invited my officers after they helped put on a leadership training a few weeks back. After that, Steve, Shawna and I traveled down to the Tri-Cities for the MLHS vs Mead girls basketball playoff game. It was a nail biter, but MLHS won and is going on to state starting Wednesday.

Then on Saturday, we traveled to Wenatchee to take part in my neice Rachel's baptism. It was another huge family event. It was happy but very busy. We all went back to Greg and Michelle Blackburn's house for cake and ice cream afterwards. There had to be at least 4o people in the house. We got home right around midnight last night.

Whew. This next week will require me to pull together a state sendoff assembly for our girls' basketball team. Other than that (and the normal chaos), we are on the countdown to Hawaii. (30 days!) It is what keeps me going. Love to you all. Have a terrific week! Deb

Whew, another crazy week

We survived another crazy week as a family. It just seems the events never end. This Wednesday was the center of the frenzy. My officers and I hosted about 70 students and advisors from other high schools around the region. We focused our event on assembly planning and follow throughs. We spent over 2 hours with the other students. During the event, we planned and performed 5 different types of assemblies. Then we had a catered taco and nacho bar lunch. Overall, the day was a huge success. It was a relief to have the whole thing over though.

Then that same evening, Steve took Shawna and Allison to young womens where they played dodgeball and other fun games. Matthew attended Boy Scouts. Josh and I stayed home and went through his Wolf scout book. Josh and Steve are going to bbq tomorrow evening, and then he will earn his Wolf badge on Tuesday.

Allison spent her week getting ready for the Science Olympiad big event coming up in Spokane in a couple of weeks. That consisted of practices after school every day. Thursday also brought piano lessons and an unexpected visit from my parents and brother Robbie. We met for dinner and then came back to our house for a little fun.

Steve finally came down with my cold. It hit him after school on Friday and has basically down for the count ever since. We are in the process of figuring out our fence issues for Cocoa, and the Blue & Gold banquet is on Tuesday. Wish us luck. At this point, we are in checkoff mode trying to survive until Spring Break and then summer. Love & hugs, Deb

Feelin' the Love!

Allison and her amazing chocolate chip cookies.

Josh and Matt love to sample the cookies.

Watch out! Ninja Cookie Girl.

Boys basketball warming up. (Check out the blue socks. My officers dyed them.)

Some of my officers selling ribbons.

The PJ video game crew

Still going....

Our vicious dog Cocoa waiting for love.

...so sweet.

Happy Valentines Day! Steve and I spent the afternoon at a friend's wedding. It was very nice; we even danced a little.

It has been a busy couple of weeks. Steve spent the week before in Vancouver at the Assistant Principal Conference. He had a great time and learned lots. Of course, the rest of us in Moses Lake missed him and were trying to keep up with all the crazy week. I orchestrated a Cancer Awareness Week at the high school. We recognized a different type of cancer each day with PSA's on the announcements. We also sold over 1000 bandanas in the different colors throughout the week. We also dressed up in those different colors. We bought team warm up jerseys and both the girls and boys basketball teams wore socks (that we dyed) in pink and blue in awareness of breast cancer and prostate cancer. It was a new undertaking for my ASB kids, so we weren't quite sure how well it would be accepted. Amazingly it went great. My officers (and me) spent the evenings at both basketball games selling ribbons and taking donations. We ended up gathering almost 1500 dollars with the proceeds going to our local Cancer foundation. It was a huge undertaking and it felt great spreading the awareness message. Of course, I was sick during the whole event, but I went to school every day keeping the momentum moving forward.

Last Friday, my officers and I also put on our annual Couch Olympics assembly. It was another huge event that went well, but I am truly glad that it is over. And next Wednesday we host 70 + students from high schools around the region in a big leadership conference. I'm planning to have my breakdown the following week. :) (I keep threatening.)

Cub Scouts keeps moving forward. Josh is very close to finishing his wolf badge. After Matt completes another overnight trip with his troop in the next few weeks, he will also advance. I am really grateful for the day off tomorrow for Presidents Day. Hopefully I can breathe a little bit. Miss you all. :) Deb

Pinewood Derby Fun

Matt eating pizza.

Cubmaster Mom gives Josh his certificate.

Proud Mom and Dad with Josh and his winning car.

Josh had a great time!

The crowd watches the race!

The boys bond with Cocoa.

What another fun week! This Tuesday was our annual Pinewood Derby race- Josh's first. We had a fun time. Pizza and cookies for everyone at the race. The whole family went, and we had a great time watching the races and hanging out with friends. Josh ended up with first place in the Wolf division, so its on to districts in March.

The girls had young women's game night on Wednesday. Alli's favorite was the game "Apples to Apples." Thursday was piano; Steve took Matt and Alli. Shawna and I spent over an hour shopping at Walmart with my ASB president for high school events. On Friday, Shawna helped me after school get ready. We finally left around 5 and went straight to Steve's school. My ASB officers helped lead a middle school leadership retreat. I mostly got to sit back and enjoy as my officers did their thing. They did a great job. Steve and I got to hang out and supervise. Steve had stayed home with a sick Josh on Friday as well. Shawna hid in a classroom on a computer, so she didn't mind. We finally left about 8 pm. I spent Saturday in bed sick mostly, other than running the girls everywhere.

Shawna and Allison spent the morning at a young women's conference at the stake center from 9:30 to 2:30. Then at 4:00, Alli auditioned for our stake play "Beauty and the Beast." She did an amazing job, even though she refused to sing in front of me. Then, she went into town again for the "Rock Band" night at the church.

We are gearing up for a really crazy one next week. Steve leaves on Tuesday for his vice-principal conference in Vancouver, so I'm playing single mom this week. Of course it has to be a huge one at the high school, so I'm just hoping to survive all the chaos.

We miss you and love you all. Have a great week! :) Deb

January woes- I need some sunshine!

It was a fairly uneventful week. We had Monday off for MLK day, a two hour delay on Wednesday due to ice, and Friday off as a record keeping day.

We are currently keying up for Pinewood Derby on Tuesday- Josh's first one. Steve and Josh spent Saturday at school using the shop to cut out and fix his car. The pictures are attached as proof that Josh did most of the work. I don't know how many cub scouts actually do their own cars; I think it is a dad's excuse to make a car. ???? Oh well. Josh had a great time.

Matt spent Friday morning at school in a full run through of his play Annie. For those of you that are interested, his play is on Thursday, March 5th in the evening. It should be a fun show. He also spent Saturday morning at a merit badge clinic doing his citizen merit badge. He should be promoted any day to the second class rank. Pretty cool!

High school starts new semester classes tomorrow with new students. Shawna is excited to attend Science and History this semester- her favorite subjects. I start two 9th grade English classes and my ASB group- mostly with new students. My officers stay the same, but the rest are new.

Alli stays after school at least three nights a week to study for her Science Olympiad event coming up in March. This year she is doing a building event- Bridge building. She loves every minute of it!

We are all looking forward to a little needed sunshine. I'm tired of the cold, and I am very much looking forward to Hawaii over spring break! Miss you much. Try to stay warm. :) Deb

Winter Mayhem

MLHS ASB board 2008-2009.

It went from really cold with mountains of snow in our yard, to puddles of muck in a day. I know western Washington got it worse than we did, but it did make quite a mess.

Matt got to have a bit more winter fun when his Boy Scout troup went up to Winter Camp north of Wenatchee. He passed off a few things and then spent the rest of the day sledding. He had a great time. His Scoutmaster reported that Matthew was a diehard. Everyone else got cold and headed to the lodge, but Matt kept going and going and going. I don't have pictures yet; hopefully I'll have them soon.

Steve and I went out on Friday night and played pool at a friend's birthday party. Though I haven't played in about 20 years (wow- how is that even possible?) we had a great time and even won a few games. Saturday night, I went out "with the girls" in our ward for a group visiting teaching event and watched "Bride Wars." It was cute, but very chick flicky, so I'm glad to have friends to share with.

I'm posting some pictures from my ASB Christmas party that I haven't posted yet. I am blessed with a great group of officers, and we have lots of fun working together.

Miss you all! Deb