SCUBA

This semester Karsyn is in a Science Adventures class at school. Last week she got to attend a SCUBA workshop at High Plains Scuba Center. This was the crew for the first nights session.

They spent about a half hour in a classroom getting an intro and then another 1 1/2 hours in the water

 It took them a bit to figure out how to get themselves to "sink" using the BCD (buoyancy control device).

I have only ever snorkeled and honestly don't know if I am capable of scuba diving ... I think I would panic. I was feeling anxious just watching them:) Kars said sometimes she would forget to breathe because typically under water you hold your breath.

These kids all did so great and they had so much fun together!

Kars, Sergio, Josh, Haley, Rachel and Shea

Karsyn is now trying to convince us to plan a SCUBA trip:)

End of Swim Season

We have come to the end of our third High School swim season. It's hard to believe that Bailee has been swimming on a team for 7 years. Her very first meet was in 2009. Just look at that little CKAT!

I couldn't even calculate how many hours we have spent at swim meets (those can be some long days). I do know that it has been worth it!

Bailee has figured out that she excels with endurance. She amazes me with her strength as she competes in the longest (and often most dreaded)events.

Being on the swim team has been so good for Bailee. There is a comradery between these girls that is fun to watch.

There were 3 "Bailee's" on the team this year, which honestly annoyed her a little at first. One of them even had the nerve to spell hers the same;) As it turned out the 3 of them ended up being on the same relay team quite often. It was Team Bailee (and Ella) on this one.

 

The most exciting part of the season for her is when they get to shave their legs before Conference. It's a pretty major deal for sure! We gave her a little care package before she headed off for her last meet.

Last week we attended the end of season Swim Banquet

We all love going and hearing all about the girls and the great season they had

 This is the crazy group of girls that Bailee spends early mornings, late evenings and Saturdays with for 3 months. She had a choir concert in the Events Center during the Banquet so she ended up wearing her fancy dress for most of the night. Good thing they were both at the school.

 

 This is Coach Breshears. He pretty much adores Bailee (I think the feeling is mutual). He always raves about her positive and happy nature and what a team player she is. She cut 35 seconds off her 500 from the start of the season. Her goal was to get her 500 down to a qualifying time for State. She was just a few seconds off:(

 

 Her coach has each class come up and he talks about each girl and what they bring to the team. It takes a while with 25+ girls but I love that he takes the time to recognize each one individually. This is the Junior class. Three of the seven are exchange students .. .. pretty cool!

The girls recognize the coaches as well. It is traditionally the seniors that take this on. Both Coach Kristen and Coach Rob are good sports and have a great relationship with the girls.

One of the bummers about swim season is that Poudre doesn't have a pool onsite. The district doesn't provide transportation to and from the pool for practices so swimmers have to rely on other swimmers who have cars and parents (who live in town). Her transportation between school and the pool this year was the beautiful Jahira. Bailee enjoyed her company and we appreciated her getting Bailee back and forth safely. It saved us that bit of extra driving and lots of waiting time while they practiced.

I'm not gonna lie. Swim season can be rough. Getting up at 4 am to drive her to the pool and picking her up most evenings can really take its toll on all of us. When I get to experience the "team" at times like the banquet, I am reminded how happy I am that Bailee is a part of this team and how happy I am that this team gets a part of our pretty amazing girl!

GO LADY IMPALAS!!

UW Discovery Days

We spent last weekend in Laramie for UW Discovery Days. This is basically an event to introduce prospective students and their families to the University of Wyoming.

Bailee has visited the campus several times before, but I think it was good for her to listen to student ambassadors talk about their experience and to visit the College of Health Sciences to learn more about the programs they offer ... 

... and to have lunch in Washakie. She has actually eaten there before when she has gone to camp, but I hadn't and I quite enjoyed it.  Kars was in buffet heaven exploring and trying a little of this and that.

We spent most of the day touring campus/dorms and listening to lots of presentations. We got done just in time to head to Arena Auditorium to watch the Cowgirls!

 

We haven't been to a game there in a long time so I was pretty excited about it

I actually prefer to support the girls games. Nothing necessarily against the boys (although I'm partial to girls;), but you can see that it doesn't bring in nearly as big a crowd ... something I love and hate at the same time. I love being able to breath and fewer sweaty fans crammed in, but I don't like the gender bias in sports.

They played Boise State and came out with a win ... 82-58

On our stop in the bookstore we picked up a couple new shirts for the girls.

"You WISH you played ball like a girl"

 It was such a happy day and it always brings back good memories when we visit Laramie.

 

 After the game Emmrey was anxious to get to the hotel and swim. It's pretty much what she lives for. 

 

The girls discovered this side table in the pool and instead of taking it out, Karsyn used is as a stunt prop

 It was a little alarming to see this in the hotel parking lot ... luckily we didn't encounter EVIL during our stay;)

We did encounter a Secret Valentine who doorbell ditched these DELICIOUS sugar cookies.

On Valentine's morning we all found a surprise from another secret Valentine. Our sweet Emmrey had made all these cards and snuck them in her suitcase to bring. She hid them in places she thought we would look right away.

 I cannot believe that we are even visiting colleges already (I am still in denial that we are approaching that phase of life), but it sure was fun .. .. GO POKES!

Lots of LOVE

February has been filled with lots of love. We got our mailboxes out the first of the month and the love notes began ....

I made lots of heart shaped sugar cookies

Valentine's were prepared to share with classmates, teachers, bus drivers, lunch ladies and janitor

Bags were brought home from Valentine parties

The girls' bedroom doors were Heart Attacked

Surprises were found on their beds

A candlelight dinner was shared on Valentine's Night

Boy do I love sharing my life with these sweethearts:)

An American Tribute

February 4th was Emmrey's Music Program. The jury is still out on how I feel about the "all school" programs that her school does. In Cody they did a program for two grades at a time (K/1-2/3-4/5) so it was smaller and gave the kids more of an opportunity to have a part. They were also typically a play/music program so it wasn't just all singing. I am not sure of the reason for the way they do it at Eyestone, but I am going to find out:)

We arrived at the church where Emmrey met up with some of her classmates

Emm, Sophie, Maggie, Jazmin

They hold the program at a megachurch in Fort Collins and it is really hard to get very close to the stage. Mark did get some footage of Emm doing her ''scarf dance" (she's on the blue scarf -far right). Honestly her grade level had the best part of the program ... not just saying that either. They sang a medley where veterans in the audience stood during the song for their branch of service ... it was pretty awesome.

  This girl really gives it her all when she has a performance. She was thrilled to be a Scarf Dancer and did not take it lightly. We just love watching her on stage.

SNOW DAY

The end of our drive home from Colorado Springs was met with snow. Snow that continued to fall through the night. Bailee had heard that wearing your PJ's inside out and putting ice cubes in the toilet increases your chance of a snow day. The girls tried it of course, but Monday morning came and school was still in session. By Monday afternoon our neighborhood looked pretty white.

 All after school activities ended up being cancelled so we had a nice cozy evening at home. Bailee presented us with our 2nd National Park option (Emmrey already did hers).

Emmrey spent some time in her "secret hideaway".... the best thing about her closet;)

 Mark and I spent a lot of time shoveling ..... 4 or 5 times by the end of that day.

 Emmrey came out to play rather than shovel. She was sledding down the driveway and climbing the huge mountains we had shoveled.

hard to see her through the blowing snow

 By Tuesday we had around 11 inches of snow and because it was blowing so much the visibility and road conditions were really bad. I am happy to say we ALL got a SNOW DAY on Tuesday. Sometimes dreams do come true!!