Last week in May

As the end of school year approaches, all the kids have some performances, games and events to attend.  This is one of those weeks when there is so much going on, Tim and I have to split the event's attendance.

On Monday Larissa had her last theater performance. The play was "Hello Shakespeare!" and Larissa had only a few lines, but it's a start.  Her teacher Amanda Long is leaving for post-grad school and this was her last session.  We will sure miss her, she is just great with the kids!

On Tuesday Gabe started a new swimming session and Miranda had a Spring Choir performance.  Last one for the season.  It was pretty good, especially the Michael Jackson mix at the end!

I guess with all the running around I didn't realize that Jon's shoes completely disintegrated...  When he wears a pair, he sticks with the same set (and doesn't want to wear another pair) until I throw them away and get a new one.  I think it's time!

May 22nd weekend

Many things accomplished this weekend.

On Thursday Gabe performed in Part Two of an "Aunt Roddy's" play at his school.  In a humorous story accompanied by a band's music.

On Saturday our day was packed with activities.  Gabe had his last game of a lacrosse season.  His team played against a Sunset team again, and they lost again... oh, well, better luck next season.

Right after the game we all stopped by LOWE's for another kids' build project.  This week we made a catapult.

No time to spare to the pool Larissa, Jon and I go, for their last swimming lesson.

Meanwhile, Tim took Gabe (and Miranda) to the Eastwood school garage sale, where Gabe's band performed again.

Afterwards we all met at the house, ready to relax, but wait, we got more things to do!  Larissa and I have a Gales Creek Camp gala to go to.

We love going to the gala, because we get to meet many many other kids with diabetes and get a chance to chat with their parents.

As always, there were many great items up for auction, and as always, they ended up more $$ than I could afford :-(

Kids had a wonderful time playing, getting their faces painted, dancing, singing, etc.  By the time we got home it was already after 10pm and we were exhausted!

On Sunday I was determined to get some running done.  After all, I have a half marathon coming up in a couple of weeks!!!  I am getting really worried now, I haven't been really training for it, and now I also found out that Gabe has a big tournament on the same morning, so chances are, there will be no one meeting me at the finish line...

Later, as the sun picked out of the clouds, I loaded Larissa and Jon in my car and we drove to the Orenco Sunday Market to get some flowers.  By the time we got there, it was pouring down full strenght...  We didn't give up and went to the market anyway.  Our reward was "chicken-on-a-stick" (as Larissa calls it), lumpia & hot chocolate.

Gool!

On Tuesday Gabe's class went to see Portland Timbers team playing against Tacoma. 

This was a special day with a game and other activities promoting health to kids.  Most of the fans in attendance were between the ages of 8 and 15, with the exception of chaperons (such as myself).

We took a MAX train to the PGE park, managed to get all the kids in and settled, just in time for the clouds to collect over our heads.  In no time we were getting rain pouring on us.  Not anything unusual for Portland, we just moved up a few rows farther under the roof cover.

(these are "my" boys.  I had to make sure everyone made it back safe)

During the half time we found out that some of the players were signing autographs.  Since we all got free t-shirts on the way in, what better blank space to use!

Pretty soon it turned into a challenge (for me) of getting every one's signature and then a picture with Gabe taken with all the players.  I succeeded!!

May 15th weekend

This weekend finally felt like the Summer is here to stay.  It was sunny and warm, and didn't rain till late Sunday night.

On Friday Tim and I split into two groups.  He took the oldest two kids to a final lacrosse game at Liberty High School, and I took the youngest two to see movie "Up" at work (free is always good).

We had a small change of plans when I arrived to our destination.  Turns out that Larissa left her insulin pump at home...  so, we had to turn around and head back home, get the pump, and then go back to the movie screening.  This is the time when I am thankful we don't live too far from work.

We brought along some home-cooked turkey burgers and then got some free candy and drinks at work, so needless to say, we were sitting pretty.

I think this was a first time I actually had a chance to see the entire movie without pausing it a few times.

On Saturday we had the usual, swimming classes then lacrosse game.  Miranda went downtown with her friend and the rest of us went to the game.  Yet another losing game for Gabe, but it doesn't seem to bother him...

After the game we had a nice family (late) lunch at Old Spaghetti factory.  I still had a gift certificate from two years ago.

After lunch we got a crazy idea.  We all agreed that we needed to install a new basketball hoop in our front yard.  The old post that was left in the ground had to come out first.  After we made that decision, we discovered that it was about to fall over on it's own anyway.  The bottom part was sawed off a little.  I am so glad it came down in a "controlled" fashion, because we then discovered that it was filled with cement to the top, which made it extremely heavy!

Of course, this turned into a whole weekend project.  Some sledge hammering, digging, eight bags of cement and two bags of pea gravel later, we had our base installed. 

It is just a matter of waiting for the cement to set in now!

PS:  Oh, yes, and Tim left a little "love note" in the cement too... (picture on top)

On Sunday I also took Larissa and Jon to Orenco Sunday Farmers' market and we got some beef sticks and mini doughnuts.

May 8th weekend

We had a wonderful weekend over the Mother's Day weekend.

Friday night Larissa went to her friend's house for a sleepover and the rest of us went out to see a Liberty vs. Glencoe HS Lacrosse game.  We didn't know anyone on the team, but got an email from Gabe's coach asking for attendance.  We thought it would be great to learn more about the game. (and a great practice for me taking action photos)

Gabe found a great bargain, 2008 lacrosse sweatshirt for $10 and used his own money to buy it.
Jon really liked to stomp his feet when Liberty HS scored, and he didn't mind helping Glencoe HS fans cheering either.

On Saturday kids had their usual morning activities and this time it was a bit too much to keep track of...  Apparently, Gabe had a team picture taken before the game and there were some money due too.  Almost didn't make it into a photo, but because there was another player late, team re-took their picture and included Gabe.

We found a falcon nest on a tree nearby, after seeing a giant bird circling the skies...

Rest of the day was sunny and warm, just perfect to catch up on yard work.  Gabe mowed the lawn and I continued with my digging in an attempt of making a vegetable garden.  I soon found out that previous owners didn't place the sprinkling system deep enough and I couldn't do what I had in mind, instead I had to go with an above ground planting.

On Sunday I managed to do some running and cleaning before everyone woke up, then off to a Sunday Market with Larissa.  We had fun eating fresh lumpia and "chicken on a stick".

Once back, we continued with the yard work.  I think it's pretty much all done.  At least that small area of the yard...

I do need some time for my hand to recover...

My "Mommy & Me lunch" (with Jon)

This Friday I had the privilege of having a parade and a lunch in Moms' honor.


I think this is my third parade at Jon's school and it is always predictably cute! This year Jon's class was dressed in "fish" costumes which were painted by the kids themselves..

After parade we got a story read by their teacher, then lunch.  Everything was so good!

At the end I got a handmade card and a treasure chest from Jon. 

Inside the chest was a paper heart with "I love you. Jon".

Inside the card:

awwwe...

Another crazy cold busy weekend

This week Gabe went to an Outdoor School.  His class left on Wednesday and we spent all afternoon on Tuesday packing (trying to find rubber boots in his size) and reassuring Gabe that he won't need his Nintendo DS there.  I did, however, agree to let him take my digital camera along...  which turned out to be a wrong decision.  It came back broken and no one seems to know how a big dent got there either...

Here are some pictures from Gabe's trip:

On Saturday, a day after Gabe's return we were right back into our crazy weekend schedule.  Usually, Tim and I manage busing kids to their separate events, but this weekend I was volunteering at my work's Open House, so majority of busing was left to Tim.

First thing in the morning I dropped Gabe and Miranda at his game (PCC sports field).  Tim took Larissa and Jon for a weekend LOWE's kids' build, then their swimming classes, then back to Gabe's game.  Gathered all the kids and came over to my volunteer station. 

This year I was at the best possible booth, XBox 360!  I basically had to sent my kids away and make then explore other fun booths.  Thanks to the Intel's generosity, all the kids had some gift to take home, a hat, a backpack, a game.  Everything worked out pretty nicely!

Later that day we got around spray washing our driveway, which probably drove the neighbors crazy with noise.

Sunday was a lot more relaxed.  I took kids to the Shute park for a little while and they did an impromptu performance at the Summer stage.  The entire time I was thinking "I wish I had a camera!".

By Tuesday following week, I decided that my broken camera is broken for good and I must get another one.  I spent quite a while on Wednesday playing with all the camera models on display at Best Buy and ended up getting an upgraded model of my old camera.  I guess I am a Canon fan.

Hopefully, I will again have pictures to post.