Season's End

My 9th grade volleyball season ended officially last week. We were 0-9 on the season. Two of our matches went to three games and we lost. The other seven weren't nail biters, trust me.

You might be surprised, then, when I say it was my favorite volleyball season. Ever. And I'm not joking. These ten ladies were an absolute delight to coach.

I'm not going to lie. When we first picked our teams and I looked at the roster, I had a few "regrouping" sessions. I was forced to approach a team like I never have before. Example: we spent half of the first week in a classroom moving around little magnet "players" on a white board and talking about the rules of volleyball. I basically threw out my book of drills and kept things very basic. But surprisingly, I busted out that same drill book halfway through the season because we had improved so much.

I don't think I've ever been around girls who loved the game more, or wanted to improve more. They ate up everything I said. And they genuinely loved each other and wanted every person on the team to do her best. If you've ever had the pleasure of coaching, you know this was like a breath of fresh air.

My conclusion: I will take an inexperienced team with great attitudes over a team of snobby champions any day.

Here are the girls at my house after pumpkin carving. Do you like my creative attempt to shield their identity from blogosphere ;)?

Oh yes. And Clara had a fun time too. Now she's happy to have a little more mommy time each day, now that volleyball is basically over (although the varsity is currently in the play-offs, and I'm still helping). Or maybe she's not happy, since she got to spend the afternoons with nana & grammy? Pretty soon here she'll be able to tell me. For now it's a mystery.

Colorado Getaway

I heart Colorado. I have loved it since childhood, when we'd take long family road trips there in the summer. And my love for it definitely grew during our three years of living there (see the Ode). The love lives on, of course, despite the fact that we live over a thousand miles away.

I was able to travel to Colorado this weekend. It was a very last minute decision. Jonathan had been planning on attending a conference there for months now. Since he was planning on spending 90% of his waking moments learning about sticking people with needles, I had originally planned to stay home. (More accurately, he learned "dry needling" or "intramuscular manual therapy". He is now the first PT in Spokane to know the technique, which is used frequently in CO and other states - as well as abroad. He learned about it for the first time during his internship in Australia).

After the events of the last few weeks, however, my husband insisted that I come along. He thought it might be a good opportunity to get away. The amazing flight/fare made it an easy decision. And so I went. And Clara came too, of course. Here are the highlights of our time in Rado (according to Clara)...

Flying on an airplane was pretty darn good. This time it was way more exciting since Clara knows about planes. She said airplane over and over as we flew. And we definitely broke the "binky in bed" rule for the trip. She was a championship companion, thankfully. This was huge since it was the first time I've dared take two flights alone with the bambino.

Time at my grammy's care center was special. She's suffering from Alzheimer's and just broke her hip. Despite all of this, we were happy to see her in such good spirits. She enjoyed time with Clara, even though I'm not sure she knew that she is her great granddaughter. It was still sweet seeing them together.

We had a lovely time staying with Jono's great aunt & uncle, Jack & Marj. I don't know how I managed to forget to take a picture of them. They're the greatest, and always graciously host us during our visits.

I got to see my dear friend, Katie. She is my teaching/coaching kindred spirit, and I could teach for 30+ years and never find another friend & coworker quite as dear. We grabbed coffee and went for a nice walk along a trail we used to bike.

Spending the day on Saturday with Hayley and her girls, Bella & Grace was wonderful. Of course I forgot to get a picture of Hayley. I took this one of the three girls as Hayley went to feed Joseph in the hospital. He's now tipping the scales at 5 pounds which is wonderful since he was born weighing 2.1 lbs at just 26 weeks. We love the Foresman family and I know they'd appreciate prayers for sweet Joseph's continued health and growth!

Sunday brought forth the A Team's day of adventure in the mountains. Andrea and I woke up early to make it for breakfast in Breckenridge at Daylight Donuts. Chocolate, maple & pumpin donuts + a split breakfast burrito = yum. Then we shopped at the outlets and took a two hour very bundled walk so that Clara could nap in the stroller. We swung by and saw a few of my all-time favorite students on the way back to my aunt Gayle's house that evening. The leaves in her yard were a 17 month old's paradise.

Then we were lucky enough to spend the rest of our time with Barry, Alyssa and Kendyl. We love being with them. Getting our girls together is a treat because they're right at the same stage and their interaction is so fun to watch. On Monday Alyssa & I took them to the Children's Museum and the girls loved it.

And I must include a few pictures from the Kendly/Clara baths. The girls were hysterical together in the bath. Check out the first picture of them both trying to climb in. That pretty much summarizes their enthusiasm.

As you can probably infer, I didn't get much quality Jonathan time. He was busy in class or studying most of the weekend. We did, however, get a great date out Friday night thanks to Jack & Marj. We went to a darling little restaurant just two blocks from our old place. Oh, how things have changed since we lived on Fillmore Street!

As you can probably tell, I'm glad I went. It ended up being a great weekend of reconnecting with family and friends. And Jonathan now has a special new skill. So if you live close and want someone to stick a few needles in your back (or arm, or leg, or shoulder, or neck), you know where to go. Even if it sounds a bit scary, I can assure you that Jono actually won 300 needles because he had the highest test + practical score of anyone in the conference. How many of you can say your husband has ever won 300 needles? Probably not many of you. Ha ;)!

Greenbluff: Take Two

We spent the afternoon at Greenbluff today.

A gorgeous day at the height of apple picking season = mayhem. To quote my father-in-law: "It feels like the mall two days before Christmas". So we weren't the only people out enjoying the beautiful day. It didn't matter. The sun was shining. The apples were as crisp and delicious as ever...

The Claranator was in apple eating heaven, yet again...

The cousins loved the whole experience...

And being together was lovely...

Nothingness

Last night as we were coming home from the football game, Jonathan asked me what we had planned for today (Saturday). I said we have absolutely nothing planned. And I wasn't joking. We had nothing on the agenda. Just a few errands that should probably be run. Some chores that were needing to get done. Pretty much nothingness, at its finest. If you know us well, you know that nothingness is not often found on our agenda, much to my dismay. The prospect of this relaxing day was glorious.

So what did we do this day? We slept in. I made delicious pumpkin scones for breakfast. We played in the basement with Clara as Jonathan assembled her new Ikea table & chairs. And then we left for a quick trip to Costco. And at that moment everything about our day of nothingness changed.

It must've been the blue skies calling. Or the colorful leaves in the trees beckoning. Whatever it was, my husband was moved. Today was the day to drive to Thompson Pass through Idaho into Montana.

So what did we do? Race home from Costco. Load our car with the essentials (which have doubled since Clara came into our lives). Call some friends (some of the most spontaneous/adventuresome sort). Leave in ten minutes flat for an eight hour adventure.

The scenic drive was every bit as lovely as our beautiful hike to Revett Lake.

And our wonderful dinner at MacKenzie River Pizza was every bit as great as the drive and the hike.

And the thought of our next day of nothingness (real nothingness this time) may be even better than our drive + hike + dinner.

*Disclaimer: I am mostly joking. I love adventure just about as much as my husband. Almost. And it was a glorious day for a trip. I just want tomorrow to be a day of nothingness instead. And it's not. ;).

Friday Night Lights

Last night Clara experienced her first high school football game. She was enthralled. She didn't even attempt to climb out of her nana's lap. She just sat and stared. For a long time.

In fact, I could not get a good picture of her until I put my back to the field. Then it at least appeared as if she was looking at the camera (she was not).

I'm not sure what was the most exciting part. Being with nana and papa? The guys with "hats" (football players)? The moon (which she now points to and names. Who knew?)? The band, which was incredibly fun to bounce to? Or the very entertaining drill team? Maybe it was her daddy throwing her in the air?

Or the echo of the tunnel?

Hmmmm. I guess we'll never really know. Probably all of the above.

The Unexpected

Sometimes blogging sucks. Okay, maybe it's not the act of blogging that is the issue, but rather life that's hard. A blog is kind of a window into a life, after all.

If you've followed ours at all over the past three years of existence (wow), you probably know us pretty well. I know that I don't write about everything on this blog. No one wants to know how incredibly much my child poops (although I may have mentioned it before) or how hard it is to keep my house clean or how ridiculous our two cars are. I don't often catalogue my list of frustrations, disappointments or hurts. But sometimes it is unavoidable. Example: when you announce to the blogging world that you're pregnant, when you end up losing the baby.

As much as I'd like to move right on and not skip a beat, you might wonder why my belly isn't expanding. Why I'm not counting down the days or writing about Clara's baby sister or brother.

I know. There really isn't that much to say. Or much to say in response, really.

I have cried and cried. And probably will for a long time. And I've thought about way too many things. Like why it didn't happen earlier. But how glad I am that it didn't happen later. And how sad that Clara won't have a little brother or sister very close in age. But that hopefully she still will have a little brother or sister. And hopefully more than one. But what if we have more trouble in the future. And why did I decide to go on a run last week when I probably shouldn't have. And how I'm going to tell all the people that don't know. And mostly how we will move on without breaking.

I know we will get through, though, even if it takes a while. Right now I am clinging tightly to a few things I know for sure.

*God is faithful.

*God is good.

*He doesn't make mistakes - and he has a plan for our lives.

*And I am blessed beyond measure.

I have found much hope in the lyrics of this song by Brian Johnson. It's one I've always loved but now it holds new meaning to me.

"If my heart is overwhelmed and I cannot hear your voice, I hold on to what is true, though I cannot see. If the storms of life may come and the road ahead gets steep, I will lift these hands in faith. I will believe. I remind myself of all that you've done. And the life I have because of your Son. Love came down and rescued me. Love came down and set me free. I am yours. I am forever yours. Mountain high or valley low: I sing out, remind my soul that I'm yours. I am forever yours."

Land of Port

This past weekend we went on a thirty-two hour trip to Portland. We've been in the habit of making these quick weekend getaways. Usually we depart right after work on Friday and pull back into our driveway about 8pm Sunday night. It's a bit of a mad dash. Yet it always feels worth it. There is nothing better than time with Everett. And Devin and Larissa too, of course.

We spent lots of time relaxing. Playing music. Letting the cousins play. Napping (me!). Watching D & L's new obsession: Friday Night Lights. I think we are now fans.

We were able to sneak in trips to Ikea and Trader Joes. We went shopping downtown and ate a great food cart dinner. Yum. I'm a huge fan of the whole food cart idea. Fresh pita & hummus, a giant gyro, two pad thais, a steamed hamburger & spicy korean pulled pork. Add a few homemade salty caramel ice cream cones and that is a whole lot of food consumed by the four (well, five) of us. Clara ate everything (minus the pulled pork...a little too spicy). As everyone pointed out, I was pretty much in prego heaven!

It was a great trip. Everett has grown and changed so much since we last saw him. We love you Devin, Larissa, and sweet little Everett!