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