Last Day of School!!!

We have reached the end of another school year (YAY!...I think).

Aaron had another great year in middle school, reaching state in both Science Olympiad and track. He also enjoyed his time in jazz band where he learned to play the tenor sax along with the alto that he has played the past two years (the band teacher is already talking about Aaron learning the baritone sax next year). He also started working at his first job (is he really that old?). He is working 3 days a week at a fly fishing shop in town. He is also looking forward to a high adventure activity with scouts at the end of July.

(yes I know I've used this picture before, but Aaron is never around)

Logan has said good-bye to his primary school days and moved on to the middle school. He is looking forward to playing soccer, the trumpet, and joining science olympiad. He ended the year by receiving the Outstanding Student Award (YAY Logan!). He is excited for his upcoming cub camp (this is his last year!).

Emma had a wonderful 1st grade year . She had a great class and made many new friends. She also found her new love this year....ballet. She will spend the month of July going to ballet camp 3 days a week. She also received the Outstanding Student award for her grade (YAY Emma!).

Showing off their awards

On the last day of school the whole staff lines up

outside to wave good-bye to the kids. It's known

as the "Maple Grove Wave". Once the wave is

done you know it is officially summer! :)

Columbia Dance Presents!!

Emma had her final ballet performance for the year. They had a short little dance and then had graduation. They will move on to upper division next year, which means TWO classes a week.

The lights were kind wacky because they left the house light on (so not to scare the younger kids). It made the girls look kind of ghostly.


(I hope the vidoe works)



Before the show they had a break while the other classes did stagging.


After the show they had a chance to go on the stage to "pose" for pictures.

Trail of Two Forests and Other Adventures

The beautiful northwest weather has finally arrived. The guys have spent quite a bit of their time mountain biking over the past few weeks. Emma and I were feeling a bit left out so we planned a hiking trip.

We decided to hit the Trail of Two Forests because we knew it would be easy enough for Emma to handle. It is an interpertive boardwalk that teaches you about lava flow. They even have a spot that you can climb down into a lava tube. The kids thought that was pretty cool.


Emma ready with walking stick in hand.



Emma and Aaron waiting for their turn in the tube.


Big brother goes down first to check it out.


Emma's next (nothing scares this girl)!



Logan takes up the rear!


YAY! They made it out safe!


Pretty view on our way to the next hiking spot


Easy hike up a pretty creek



Yes, that's snow to the right!



I'm king of the world!!

Ballet and SciOly

Emma had her first "stage performance" this weekend. She had a short part ( I mean short part...like 2 minutes) in the Ballet Company's Spring Gala. They did three acts of a ballet called "Coppelia". Emma and the other little girls (and one boy) were "toy shop puppets". Emma and 5 other girls were the "dolls". They were just adorable. The highlight for Emma was being carried on stage by one of the Company girls (there were only two of them that were carried in). Of course they won't let you take pictures or video because they want you to buy their copies, so I'll add video once we buy the disk.

Adorable "toy shop dolls"



The weekend before, Aaron's Scioly team went to state. The team as a whole didn't do very well, but Aaron placed in two of his events. He took 3rd in Ecology and 5th in Robots. They also took 7th in Road Scholar (map reading) which was quite an accomplishment because he only took on the event in February (they took 2nd at regionals as well). They best part was that even though the team didn't do very well they were given the Spirit award!! That means of all the teams they have the best attitude, showed the best spirit of competition. Way to go Maple Grove!!


Aaron and his Robots partner Evan




Holding up his ecology partners medal (she had to leave early).





The mayor (on the right) came to wish the team good luck at the pep assembly the day before state.

Happy Easter and an Award!!

I hope everyone had a good Easter.

We dyed eggs on Saturday evening. Saturday was such a busy day that we couldn't find a time to do it with Aaron, so this was the first year that he missed out (he didn't seem too broken hearted..lol). He had to go to Robots practice because State is this coming Saturday.

Sunday morning started with Emma waking up at the crack of dawn. I convinced her to go back to bed for a little while but she was back up by 6:45. I told her if she could get the boys out of bed we would go downstairs. She had to jump on Aaron, but she got them up.

Emma waiting patiently for the boys to get out of bed.

Now for the award....

Emma is in the "chapter book club" at school, which means that she has hit the highest reading group in class (there is only a handful of kids in the "club"). They read chapter books (like Magic Tree House books) and then do book reports. After they read 5 books and do 5 book reports they get a bead on their necklace. Emma just got her first bead on Friday. It's a pretty big deal for these kids. She is working on her 10 point bead right now. She actually was very close to getting both a 5 and 10 point bead because she was just finishing up her 8th book.

Saturday Market

Ahhhhh.....it truly felt like spring this weekend. Blue sky, sunshine, cool breeze. I really, really needed it if I'm going to make it though the rest of the rainy season.

Anthony and the boys wanted to go mtn biking up the Gorge on Saturday so I decided to take Emma to Saturday Market (she is still too young to bike in the mountains ). It was a perfect day to go to the market!! We took the Max from the vanport station. It was only Emma's second ride and she seemed to really like it (I really wish it went all the way into Vancouver!!). Once there we had a yummy lunch (falafel sandwiches) and then wandered around. Emma bought a few friendship bracelets for her two best friends, we bought a organic catnip toy for Chai, and of course an elephant ear..lol. It was fun to look at all the interesting things for sale.

Here are a few pictures from our day (unfortunately I didn't check my battery so it died after a few pictures).

Waiting for lunch

Watching the street musicans

They were actually really good!

On the Max

Chai enjoying her toy.

All I Want For EASTER is MY Two Front Teeth???

Emma lost her other front tooth on Saturday afternoon making her my only child to have both front teeth missing at the same time. I think it's sooooo cute when kids have the big gap in front! I thought I would share a few pictures.