Shooting Fun!

Well, 3 months after Eric's birthday, he finally got his present of shooting many guns at a local range. Though the day was icky in the morning, it cleared up nice for the afternoon. Of course, it was not nice again by the time we got to the range. Good thing that it was under cover. I also got to shoot some of the guns, however there was one that I agreed that I would not shoot... The kick back on Eric was big, I knew that it would probably knock me over. However, I did shoot a few differnet riffles, including a military type riffle, many pistols and reovolvers of all sizes (one that even fits in the palm of your hand and one that was so big that one shot was good enough for me) and a shot gun. Everything was under cover at still targets, in which I am a very good shot except for the shot gun which we went out into the field and shot at skeet or trap (I can not remember which is which). Eric got the moving targets, I mised ALL of mine, but loved!! shooting a shotgun.. WOW! Eric shot many more then that and for almost five hours had the greatest time!!

Enjoy!

The target on the right was Eric's and the one on the left was mine.

Ready.. Aim... Fire...

... Kick

This is the one that I did not shoot... Big Bullet... Big Gun... Too Big a kick for me.

It took just over 50 rapid fire camera shots to get three decent firing pictures. See the orange just to the right of the muzzle?



Unfortunately because of the rain downpour, I did not take pics of the trap/skeet shooting with the shotgun... however there is video. Once I get it from our friend, I will try to upload it.

Greatness

Just a current update. Not much is going on here... minus the crazy weather patterns (wind, snow, hail, rain - all before noon).



On Friday I had a photo shoot with a neighbor and their new horse, Opi, which they got for their daughter. They were nice enough to let Isabelle up on Opi too. Though she wanted nothing to do with the horse at first (while bare back), as soon as the neighbor girl was up in the saddle Isabelle was all over getting on Opi too. So YEAH... Isabelle's first horse ride!

Isabelle is talking like crazy... full blown conversations now... of course, I am the one who mostly understands her still... it is all about the context clues (teachers, you know what I mean). However, she is getting more clear and has so many words in her vocabulary. We had a couple of neighbors ride through (on their horses - different neighbors - they have 4 horses and only 2 riders, so I may start joining them in the spring... looking forward to that!) and Isabelle was chatting up a storm with them. She is no longer a baby... she is a toddler now.

I can't believe that in a month, she is going to be two years old... where did the time go... I know, I said that last year too. I may be a yearly comment.

Eric is well, working long hours and coming home to play. He is excited for his birthday present to finaly happen. (I know... it is sad that I continue to get him presents that he has to wait for. While we were still dating, I got him helicopter lessons for Chritsmas and he had to wait till the spring to enjoy them. This time I got him shooting fun... more details and pics will follow in the next post)

To finish todays post... how about some tupperware...

This is a daily happening now... sometimes twice a day. :)

New Website!

So while it is snowing in lovly WA, up to 6 inches they predict in the foothills, I have finally uploaded my photography website!!! And look, the sun is now out, melting away the snow.

www.casualfamilyphotography.com

Weather Patterns

Those of you that follow this blog and live in the area, you know that our weather has been crazy... those of you that live farther away, let me tell you about it.

Lately we have had the regular WA rain, which has been a nice change from the winter snow storm we had. However last week... weird!!! The weekend prior, it was rainy (normal amount, off and on), then we had a beautiful couple of days! I mean gorgeous -- too bad we were all inside at work, gorgeous. Then we wake up to 3 inches of snow... so much that they (school officials) called a 2 hour delay, then an hour later cancelled school completely. Then we had a nice day, very sunny, but below freezing so there was no going outside to play. Then this last weekend it rained again, washing all the snow away. On top of that... the weekend was more than gusty... the winds were up to 60mph at times. We are shocked that no trees fell. Now we come to Monday and today... both beautiful!!! Yesterday, I had to work, but today Isabelle and I had a great time. We took a long walk up the road, played with a neighbor boy, kept going till we meet up with our neighbors Alpaca farm. Of course, I brought the camera.

Then it was time to come home... she was hungry and tired. She ate, I put her down for her nap, and as I write this, down comes the rain, drizzling first, into to larger and larger drops.

I guess our after nap play date is postponed till the next WA sunny day.

Enjoy!

The following are all from today

The walk home we found rocks (I know... gravel road) to throw in the pothole puddles... great time!

Time to Rest

This has been an unbelievable season!!! But I am so glad tht it is over now... and I can breath again.

One word to describe me with this team and bunch of girls: Proud - proud to be their coach, proud to know them and all that they can do for the team and the potential they have to succeed in their lives.

This season started with it largest turn out ever (46 girls) and ended still with its largest team in Tahoma history at 34 girls.

We became a very competitive team this year as well... we were the underdog, have been since Tahome started the gymanstics team. But this year we proved them different. The girls went to sub-districts as a team, scoring their season high of 163.95, coming in 6th place. At districts they soared even higher coming in 3rd with a new all time Tahoma history high score of 168.65. Sadly, only the top two teams go on to State at the Tacoma Dome... however we were less thatn 2 points away from that 2nd place title. (Watch out next year -- We are State bound!)

Even though we did not go as a team to State, 3 girls did qualify to go. Friday all three girls competed their events, and one of these girls made it is the finals on Uneven Bars. So we were there ALL day on Friday and again ALL day on Saturday. Yes, tiring, but what a wonderful experience for these athletes... and me! :) Our girl on the Bars came in 8th place... which is amazing when you look at how many girls were attmpting to be at state in the first place. She made it!

Last Wednesday was the end of season banquet, which was pulled off without a hitch. However, the food (potluck) wasn't the greatest. But oh well... the brownies were still warm... :)

And now... it is time for me to rest, relax and play. And since we can't go outside to play because it is SO windy, we have hopscotch and mini golf in the hallway. As soon as the camera is charged, I will show you.

Miss all who are reading this, and hope this finds you well and happy!!

Photos Now, Update Later

I spent this last weekend at the Tacoma Dome with these three girls. They are so amazing! The one in the middle was a finalist! WOW

Catch Up

This post is dedicated to cathing up on Isabelle. Enjoy the photos

Ready to work out... haha

She loves to turn on the CD player and push play to hear her music.

Night Night

There is mac & Cheese all stuck in her hair... she was having a great time smearing and screaming. A big bath followed.

She found this gardening wagon at my parents and wanted a ride. Wheeeee

She loves this hat! There is a matching scraf too.

Districts Bound!

Last Saturday, 'my' girls went to their Sub-District competition and had a wonderful day. Since our practices normally start at 5:30am, they had no problem starting at 8am. They were awake and flying down a very springy, spring floor. Unfortunately, I got a call at 6:30 that morning that our number 2 girl was super sick (sleeping on the bathroom floor all night - sick) and wanted to come and support her team but not compete... We told her no and to stay home and rest. Therefore, being down one girl, we put in our alternates. With that... we told the girls to do their best and to 'stick it' :)

They did!! We started on Bars and they got their seasons highest bar score. Then to Beam, where we had a couple of falls (guess where we are working hard this week??!!) and to Floor, where they stuck gorgeous routines! and last Vault. At the end of session one, we were in 3rd place, of the 8 that were there. However, there was still session two, where 7 more schools were competing. We went to lunch, enjoyed eachothers company and then back to the school to watch the end of session two and await the final scores of which teams would make it on to Districts.

Fifteen school sat on the spring floor... we went through all the individuals that placed on each event, then the All Arounds (one of our placed 4th in All Aound with a new personal best)... then ist was time for the team scores. We new our score, 161.95, but we weren't sure where that placed us. They started at 15th place and went down... 7th place... not us --- Yes! we were in the top 6!! And then it was us, we placed 6th and as a team, WE ARE GOING TO DISTRICTS!!!

Gymnastics

This has been a great season of High School Girls Gymnastics. We had such a huge team this year, that instead of cutting (which we probably should have done) we made a Varsity team and a JV team. We began the season with 42 girls, and ended with 36. 5:30 am practices did not detour many girls... instead it made them more dedicated. Here are a couple shots of the team and individuals at competition.
Seniors hard at work on beam :)

Varsity squad


Celebrating a win

Bad Things Happen In Three's

... and usually within a week period.

I can say that this is now a true statement... though only one major 'bad' thing happened, the others were mostly just unfortunate.

1. As we all know, I was clocked in the face by one of my JV vaulters a week ago Thursday. Though this hurt, a lot, it was hilarious and I did not end up getting a black eye. It will go down as a funny memory at the end of season banquet.

2. This last Tuesday, on my way to school from early morning practice, 7:15 am to be exact, I was rear ended while sitting at a red light. The girl that hit me was a Senior at some HS and this so happened to be her second accident (her fault too) in the last month. Once we pulled over, I saw my damage, back passenger side fender is now a dimple instead of a corner. Her front end driver side was way more banged up. We exchanged info, of course, and I called work to tell them I would be late. Yes, I did get injured in this very first car accident of mine, not bad though. Just my lower back, which I went to my doctor that night after work. I am to go back next week sometime, but it is getting better, just aches a little and only hurts if I turn.

I am getting rental on Monday for a bit over a week while my car is getting fixed. Yeah that this her insurance is taking care of everything. It is making this very easy. I am just GRATEFUL that Isabelle was sleeping safely at home with daddy.

A side note: It was snowing that morning, and the girl that hit me slide on the ice. NO excuse, I know, slow earlier and leave space, however that was the circumstance.

3. Another unfortunate incident... Thursday (exactly one week later) I 'lost' my car keys. Somehow after I opening my car and getting Isabelle in the car after practice, the keys had disappeared. GONE! WIth the help of one of my varsity girls, her mom and my assitant coach, we search my car for an hour... took everything out, put it back in, came up with possible 'what ifs' that could of happened to the leys, We finally gave up, and I called Eric to come and get me. I waited at the gym, inside with Isabelle for another hour until he got there. Once Eric arrived, to give me my spare key, I got Isabelle back in the car, and we caught a glimpse of something shinny and purple between the seat and the door... my keys. WOW... I am a dork!

The good news was that it was the end of the day, at the end of a very long week, and it ended well. The better news was that Eric just shook his head and laughed.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Conversation

Isabelle and I had our first real converstation last night during our bedtime ritual.
It went as follows:

Isabelle: Here mommy, ba.
Mommy: Thank you sweety
Isabelle: Where is it? (shrug)
Mommy: Where is what?
Isabelle: Milk.
Mommy: Daddy is getting it.
Isabelle: ok
She then leaned back and got comfy and waited for the milk.

Most conversations to this point have been me telling her what to do, where we are going and her repeating everything I say... "Did you hear that?" "Hear that?"

Loving the small stuff!

NEW HIGH!

Wednesday night our varsity girls pulled out a new all time team high score in the history of THS Gymnastics!!! The high flyers got a team score of 161.25 We still came in second to a team of all club kids, but that is still awesome.

ROAR... GO BEARS!

KT.. this is for you

Normally, I would have called you tomorrow about this one, but you in SC so instead I'll write it so EVERYONE can hear. And yes, there will be many run on sentences! :)

Tonight we had our first and only JV meet. JV meet... not varsity... so no high flying. We are one touching on vault... already did the warm-ups... getting ready for the judge.., and here comes one of our new handspringers, who can do this, however one hand slipped on the board a tiny bit, which meant, I guess, that she chose to not keep her body tight, in a straight line, and she clocked me with a beautiful left hook... literally spinning me to the ground. Of course it happened soooo fast that I don't remember seeing her fist come at me... though I tried to duck, I didn't succeed. My glasses went flying off and broke (luckily I packed my contacts... don't know why, but glad I did) and I came up laughing SO hard that I was crying. There were a couple of "ooohs" and "oh mys" that I heard from near by girls, the judge and the audience, of course. But know one I knew video taped it... that would be funny to watch... and critique the girl as well... go figure, teachable moment. hahaha

Anyways, I was told to get ice on my eye right away to help stop swelling and the possible bad black eye. Won't that be funny to go to work with a black eye...

There is a larger bump now on my upper cheek and some darkness appearing. However, there will be no pics of this.... well I shouldn't say that, some girls on the team took some pics with my bag of ice and the girl that clocked me... but my eye was just red then... guess I'll have to wait till morning. I do have a MASSIVE headache though and my nose hurts too -

Well, it is 11 pm, I have a bit of a headache still and I have to work tomorrow, good night all!

PS... our JV girls did such a great job, I was impressed by them! AND the girl that knocked me down placed on 5th vault. How funny is that!

Mid-Season Report

Gymnastics is rocking this season... oh wow! Last year our best meet score was 143.4 This year our lowest is 151.25 Our all time high rocks at 158.7 These girls are truely amazing in their flying abilities.

We have two meets left for the season and then there is post season, which we are sitting very pretty for. We are currently in 6th place, and the SPSL takes 6 teams with them to districts. Hmmm... can you say "Yeah us... we have a shot!"

One of our girls was even on the HS Game Time with Paul Silvi from King 5. I Tivo'ed it of course, but dont' have the slightest clue on how to get that on a DVD and save it for later.

Anyways, big, huge meet tomorrow night... wish us luck!

PS... We have had all our meets (but one) where the floor is one or two wrestling mats in which the girls must fly and tumble on. Tomorrow night is a spring floor... literally the girls will be flying with the extra spring in their jumps. :)

GO BEARS!

Life

Life is wonderful
Life is full of the unexpected
Life is busy
Life is an adventure worth taking
Life is fun
Life is crazy full of people, love and happiness
Life is not slowing down for 5 more weeks
Did I say life is wonderful?


It started in November with the massive flooding and great neighbors. Then December gave us a massive amount of snow that kept us stranded for 8 days through the holidays and again great neighbors. The snow melted and we flooded again... for 3 days under water 15 feet from the house, though there was a good current running out to the wetlands, which meant the house would remain safe.

(side note: For those that knew us in our Pacific house... our old house and surrounding neighborhood was all over the news... all under water. We are very grateful that we moved to this house, through all its constant turmoil!!)

Now we are under a blanket of FOG... for days now, the fog is there when I get up at 4am and there when I get home at 5 or 10pm. If there is a glimpse of sun and blue sky... turn around... the FOG is rolling in all eerily (spelling??)

What's next?? hahaha Who knows.

Oh yeah... the wind! How can I forget the howling currently outside. Guess the sound is like second nature now. Wind blowing down the chimney pipe, branches and other things hitting the sides of the house. Luckily, the power is still in tact, unlike Saturday morning at 6am, when (it seemed like forever!) the power flickered on off on off on off for about 3 minutes. Scared us all... well mostly Isabelle. Her monitor likes to have power, otherwise it is all static and the on off scared her. It also scared Eric and I later that day when our computer wouldn't turn on, and instead said 'No operating system' For those that are not computer savvy, that is a VERY bad sentence to read on a computer. It means that for the most part, you have lost everything. Good thing, I have a smart and 'patient' hubby and "Dr. Hubby" was able to fix our computer baby and saved all our files. Phew! We are glad that the surge protector was on and working. That is what saved us.