Cross Country - Race 1

It doesn't seem that long ago when I was posting about Cooper's first cross country race, but that was 4 years ago and then two years ago I posted about Hudson's races.
Now it's Reagan's turn and she rocked it.
She has been practicing before school for the past few weeks and today was race #1. If she was nervous, she didn't show it.
Here they are, getting a few last minute instructions from their coach.


9th place!! Not sure how many racers there were but my guess is about 50 so we are super proud of our girl.

Season One

Taggart started his hockey career yesterday. He is still pretty shaky on his skates and it was a bit tough getting him on the ice at first. A little case of nerves.
But once he was on, he did great and came off with a smile on his face and was ready to get on the ice again this morning.


In the dressing room we stripped him of all his hockey gear and then dressed him up for soccer as that was where he was headed next. He only made it for the last half of his first game of the season with his soccer team and after all that falling and getting back up on the ice his energy level was a little low.

But this is what Saturdays are going to be like for the next few months and he seems to be good with that.

Just a day

Sometimes the day is over and, even though I felt like I was running all day, it doesn't feel like I accomplished anything.
Sometimes Tony asks "What did you do today" and I'm not sure how to answer.
Thought it might be interesting to record everything I do in a typical day.

6:15   Alarm goes - hit snooze.
6:24   Alarm goes again - get up even though I really want to hit snooze again.
6:25   Go wake up Cooper. He's got film club this morning and needs to be out the door
          by 7:45 and he's not a quick mover.
6:30   Shower.
7:00   Wake up Hudson and try to get Cooper out of the bathroom.
7:15   Go downstairs and turn on computer.
7:20   Clean up a few mugs from last night's tea.
7:30   Wake up Reagan and Taggart.
7:40   Still trying to get Taggart out of bed.
7:45-8:30 Make lunches. Help get breakfasts. Unload dishwasher. Say goodbye to Cooper
          and Hudson. Try to comb Tag's hair as he runs away from me.
8:30   Walk to school.
8:45   Kiss Taggart and Reagan goodbye.
8:50   In to school office to take care of some PAC things.
9:10   Walk home.
9:20   Call bank to clear up credit card issues.
9:30   Finish printing and cutting tags for Taggart's party goodie bags.
9:45   Email form to Tony's supplier. Email Tony to say 'I did it'.
9:50   Put in a load of laundry.
10:00 Grab my 'to-do' list and run out the door.
10:00-1:00 Do errands.
          Staples for more school supplies. (3rd time this week)
          Pick up clothes at CBC that Cooper forgot at camp.
          Starbucks. (definitely time for a coffee)
          Dollar store for Taggart's party supplies
          Grocery store for the things that I forgot yesterday.
          Mail a letter.
1:00   Home again.
1:05   Return a phone call to a friend to confirm dinner plans for Sunday.
1:15   Put away groceries.
1:20   Bake cupcakes for Tag's party tomorrow.
1:30   Wash dishes while cupcakes are in the oven.
1:45   Finish tying up Tag's goodie bags.
1:55   Take cupcakes out of the oven.
2:00   Change laundry over.
2:10   Send 2 emails.
2:20   Eat a nectarine.
2:30   Walk to school to pick up Taggart and Reagan.
3:00   Back home - drink a big glass of water. Hot out today.
3:05   Talk to boys about their day. Tony gets home from work to take Tag to soccer.
3:10   Make Taggart a snack and get his soccer things out.
3:20   Unpack lunch kits and put things in the dishwasher.
3:30   Get Taggart dressed for soccer.
3:40   Sit down and eat some carrots with dip.
3:45   Say goodbye to Tag and Tony.
3:50   Change laundry over.
3:55   Fold and put away two loads of laundry.
4:10   Eat a banana.
4:12   Got distracted and packed a few things that I will need for the party tomorrow.
4:13   Finish eating banana. :)
4:15   Call Dad.
4:20   Tidy kitchen from after school snacks.
4:30   Leave with Cooper, Hudson, Reagan, Noah, and Nana to pick up Taggart at soccer
          and go meet Mom and Dad at MCC sale.
9:10   Back home from MCC sale.
9:15   Put away cupcakes.
9:20   Make finger jello for party.
9:30   Help Taggart in the shower.
9:40   Help Taggart in to his jammies.
9:50   Bedtime story for Tag.
10:00 Say goodnight to Reagan.
10:15 Talk to Cooper and Noah about not getting to bed to late.
10:20 Tidy up the kitchen.
10:30 Sit on the couch with Tony to watch a bit of TV.
11:30 Head upstairs. Brush teeth, wash face, put on anti-wrinkle cream even though
          I'm pretty sure it isn't working.
11:40 Into bed to read. Make it through not even one chapter before lights out.

Whew!

Seven.

Doesn't he just look seven??

Taggart celebrated his seventh birthday with a family breakfast at McDonalds, playing outside, opening presents, playing outside some more, and then a family dinner at home. The menu, chosen by him, was steak kebabs, mini stuffed potatoes, corn on the cob, caesar salad, and an ice cream sandwich cake for dessert. Those in attendance were Mom, Dad, Cooper, Hudson, Reagan, Nana, Opa, and Daniela.
He seemed genuinely happy all day.

You always get to ride in the front seat when you are on your way to your birthday breakfast.




I don't think I even realized that he wasn't wearing his shirt until I looked at the photos. He has been shirtless a lot this summer, so I guess I am getting used to it.
When you are the birthday boy, anything goes.

A good day.

It started out with tea and scones at the Clayburn Village Store for Reagan and I. When she missed her class field trip to her favorite candy store back in May, I promised that her and I would take a special trip there before the summer was over.
Yesterday was the day.


How nice it would be if we could meet Tony for lunch every once in a while. He almost always works in Vancouver so that is not usually a possibility. This week he was working in Abbotsford so yesterday was the day we had lunch with Dad.

The kids, well actually just Reagan, have been bugging me to go blueberry picking.
Yesterday was the day.


It was pretty hot so they tried to find a shady spot to pick. There were so many berries on the bushes that you hardly had to move to fill a bucket.

Taggart did a lot of eating. Not so much picking.

Then Taggart started taking pictures. Some turned out pretty okay.


Some were a little off.

He took this picture.

Obviously, he didn't take it too seriously.

Then of course, a stop at The Porch for some lemonade to cool off.


A good day.

Spray park with friends

Friends, frappuccinos, sunshine, and plenty of H2O. 

A recipe for some good old summer fun.

I'm so not ready for summer to be over.

Mamma Mia

I love spontaneity.

Reagan and Tony had plans to go to the Seattle Seahawks football game on Saturday.

At the last minute Reagan was torn between really wanting to go with Daddy and really thinking that football is boring.

In the end it was decided that she wouldn't go to the game and Cooper would go instead, as long as Daddy took her to something else.

I checked ticketmaster to see what might be coming.

Mamma Mia was playing for only one more day.

I really wanted to see Mamma Mia.

Tony really did not.

Reagan really did so it was decided that her and I would go.

We had so much fun.

First some lunch at Red Robin on Robson Street.


Reagan wanted to sit right by the window to watch all the activity out on the street and so that's what we did.

Next a bit of browsing in the shops.

Then we headed to the Queen Elizabeth Theater to see the show. (Reagan kept calling it the Arena and I kept reminding her that we were going to the Theataaaah)


The show was great and if I could I would have stayed for the next performance.


Instead we got some dessert for the ride home.


A trip into the city shouldn't be complete without a big fat candy apple. Reagan's words.

A great day with my girl.

I love spontaniety.