sweet!!

Leftover picture from her Moon Valley meet!  Thank you, again, Auntie Elaine!!

Oh we have been so busy.  Hectic.  But all good.  Max started violin lessons with Ms. Olson on Mondays. Els and Max continue to work hard and prep for competitions in swim and karate, respectively.  

Max putting his hover board to good use and vacuuming the house while riding it!

Another hike in 2023!  Jenny and I hiked Bridal Wreath Falls with a slight detour to admire the falls from a different angle (read: we missed the sign and realized when we saw the falls on the other side of the ridge that we hiked too far in the wrong direction!).  

Someone creatively made a face out of this rock

We [eventually] made it to the falls!!

Last Wednesday, the kids had a half day, so Jenny and I took them to the Gem & Mineral show.  

So fun and cool purchases all around - including some freebies!

Saturday was the longest day ever:

7:30 a.m. - Els was in the pool at 49ers for warm-ups for the Sweetheart Meet

8:30 a.m. - Max had a hair-cut

approx. around the same time - Els warming up her breakfast sandwich in front of the space-heater while waiting for her first event - haha!

10:00 a.m. - Els' first of 6 events, her very first 200 breaststroke.

With a time of 3:15.43, she placed 2nd (out of a small field) and qualified for regionals for a total of 4 events!!!

11:10 a.m. - Jenny dropped off a second coffee for me and picked up Max to take him to karate.

11:30 a.m. - Ella swam the 100 breast and finished with the EXACT same time of 1:30.35 and came in 3rd place overall (she is already qualified in this event).

12:30 p.m. - Ella swam the breast leg of the 200 medley relay and the girls placed 2nd overall.  Her coach for the Orcas was super excited about seeing their strong relay team as 3 of the 4 girls are Orcas.  Woohoo!!

1:15 p.m. - Jenny took Max from karate to the junior high for his orchestra splash day.

1:30 p.m. - Ella swam the 200 IM.  Unfortunately she was already exhausted going into warm-ups, then was DQ'd on her backstroke turn.  Both coaches thought it was an unfair and wrong call.  But, oh well.  Poor Els was so upset but her friends rallied around her and she had a fantastic afternoon with them cheering each other on.  Absolutely LOVED watching these kiddos together, how supportive they are and the incredible team environment they have built.  

3:00 p.m. - Ella swam the 50 breast.

She placed 3rd overall and dropped a second in time to finish in 41.42!!!!  Absolutely amazing, Ella!!!  Way to go!!!!  (she is already qualified in this event)

Also 3:00 p.m. - Lori drove Max from Orchestra, stopped at the house so he could drop off all his gear and take the dogs out, then drove him to her house to hang out with Penelope.

4:45 p.m. - Ella was in the pool for her 200 free relay.  Finally.  All emotionally and physically exhausted. Thankful for our crew and our village.  Thank you to Mom and Nana for coming out to support her!!!

5:15 p.m. - we picked up Max from the Dixons' and went home.  

We spent a chill night.  Els, never one for cuddling, spent two hours cuddling with me and watching Star Wars.  Just amazing.  I'll treasure that forever, my lovely girl.  

Time for our only "down" day and Super Bowl just us.  Well, not even.  Els is off to Hailey's for a hang out.  Thankful for where we have been and what is next.  

 

brrrrracudas

 Last weekend was a busy one for us.  The dogs headed to my parents' house on Thursday (thank you!!) and Jenny picked up Max from school on Friday for a sleepover.  Thank you - Max had a blast!  After Els' climbing practice on Friday night, we woke up SUPER early on Saturday morning to head up to the Moon Valley Country Club in Phoenix for Ella's first winter swim meet with TCC as a Barracuda.  

Ella!!  I cannot even begin to tell you how proud we are of you.  Coach Eliot and other parents have been telling us how much you have grown and improved since you started winter swim in October.  You rarely complain about the **cold** temperatures and have continued to work so hard in the pool.  You were slated to swim distances you have never swam before and you were AMAZING!!  

On the blocks, ready for her first event - the 200 IM - the first time she swam this distance.  Go, Ella!!!  She finished in 3:10:24.  

Love her smiles after finishing her races.  And thank you to Auntie Elaine and Uncle Norm who came out to support her in the cold and to Auntie Elaine for taking pictures!!

Tough girlie - trying to keep from shivering in between heats!

50 fly - 41:95

100 free - 1:13.73 (also the first time swimming this distance!)

Ella's first ever 100 breaststroke - she finished in 1:30.35 and in 3rd place for her age group!!

Love this pic of her!!  

Uncle Norm and I cheering her on for backstroke

50 back - 42.05

With Auntie Elaine.  We sent them home thinking Els was finished for the day - oops!  She still had a 25 breaststroke and finished with a time of 19.60.  

We spent an absolutely lovely afternoon in Surprise with Auntie Elaine and Uncle Norm.  Thank you for everything!!!!!

FaceTiming with Max who moved on from the Cotters' house to a sleepover at Poppie and Gigi's.

Up early on Sunday to finish the meet.

The steam coming off the pool during warm-ups since it was soooo cold outside!

100 IM - 1:26.13

100 back - 1:30.33 (first time at this distance!)

200 free - 2:43.35 (first time at this distance!)

50 breast - 42.39

50 free - 33.47

Els and Kelly Jean getting results from Coach Eliot

Their small but mighty all-girls team for this meet!

Seriously, way to go, Miss Ella Bean!!!  And we loved all the time with just you!!!!  Congrats, baby girl!

Els qualified for Regionals with her times for the 100 breast, 50 breast and 50 free!!!!!!!   

And a lunch at her fave, Lou Malnati's, to celebrate!!

way to be in 2023

 Happy 2023!!  We enjoyed our annual week-after-Christmas-relaxation-fest.  It was amazing to spend time together as a family and not have [as much] chaos and activities.  

A few leftover pictures from Ella's first school dance:

With all of her girls - thankful for all of her sweet friends!!

With Kendric

This is all Max has been talking about since he got Carl; putting a top hat on him...

Looking dapper, Mr. Carl!

And Blackhawk made a surprise, albeit brief, appearance!!

An extended sleepover at Hailey's...

Followed by our annual New Year's Eve fondue!!

With Roger in bed before midnight and Ella on the phone with her friends, Max and I rang in [real] midnight with Animal Crossing characters.  Ha!

A family hike to start the year!

Our first Gaslight of 2023 - and we brought Hailey with us!

Ella is [finally] back to climbing and before she headed up to Mt. Lemmon on their monthly outdoor climb, she wanted to show me her bat hang.  I think that's what it's called!  Love your love of climbing, Els!!

And love this text I received from Max's teacher commemorating the day he wore pants AND a jacket to school.  Ugh.  I look like an awesome mom...

The new year is off to a great start - we're busy, but happy and healthy.  Here's to another trip around the sun with you guys - love you!!!!!  

christmas 2022 part four: the celebrations

 
We celebrated Christmas Eve at Nana's with the Hansens.  It was our last day together and we just loved our time with them.  

Nana made a beyond delicious dinner of filets and crabcakes with cheesy potatoes.  Mmm!!

Then, home to set out cookies and carrots for Santa and his reindeer!

Santa was here!!!!  

He (as per usual) brought all the things the kids asked for - Els wanted a purse, a phone case and a desk; Max asked for bath bombs and a hoverboard!

As soon as Santa gifts were opened, he immediately took a bath with one of his bath bombs!

He's already become a pro with the hoverboard - my favorite is the way he angles it a few times to maneuver through the doorways in the house...

Gigi and Poppie joined us for our traditional breakfast casserole and then, the kids had a fun game with coupons - it started because one of Els' gifts was late and one was an "I owe you," so we added coupons for treats, saying "no" to certain chores, and special days with Rog and I to use over the coming year.  We are hyper-aware that the kids are getting older and we want to spend as much quality time with them as possible!!

The pups with some of their Christmas gifts!  Nana (who unfortunately came down with a cold) joined us for gifts!!

And...an amazing, delicious dinner - lobster tails and pasta.  Thank you, Mom and Dad!!

Another year and another amazing Christmas together.  We are just thankful!!!