Back to Back Champion

Last week Cameron's baseball team went UNDEFEATED in the playoff tournament. They won 5 games in a row and beat the same team twice (nailbiter each time) to win the championship. This win means that Cameron is a back to back champion in minors little league, since his team last year also won. He had such an incredible season and definitely ended on a strong note. He was the closing pitcher for the win in their 2nd to last game and had a number of key RBI's to help secure the lead. I learned that my nerves are definitely not built for this as I thought I was going to throw up in the finals. 

This year was definitely one of my favorite teams ever. From the coaches, to the boys, to the parents, everyone got along really well and it a super fun group. We ended the season with a family BBQ on Sunday and everyone agreed this was the best team of boys ever. 

Oregon Coast

Since we missed our spring break tradition of going to the Oregon coast this year, we made up for it and spent the Juneteenth long weekend in Manzanita. We LOVED it. The airbnb was awesome with views of the ocean, a golf course & pond and we had a ping pong table! The weather wasn't perfect but actually better than forecasted and we made the most of it. We did one of the best hikes ever which was Mt. Neahkahnie. We absolutely loved it. There were 14 switchbacks (we counted) with 1600 elevation gain. The view at the top was truly spectacular and made the semi-scary scramble at the end totally worth it. 

We also did an equally challenging 4 mile hike the next day that involved A LOT of beach walking. More than anyone ever wants to do again. In between we enjoyed the quaint town of Manzanita and of course hit our favorite Mexican restaurant on both the drive to and from Oregon. We also got to celebrate Brian for Father's day. We are all quite happy with our coastal tradition and are so excited to kick off summer.

Family Fun in the Sun!

Since I can't find time to keep up with the blog I thought I'd share a condensed version of all the fun family things we did this spring with some photos from each. 

- Brian joined Cameron on a field trip to the state capital. We learned it is the largest dome in North America and the 5th largest dome on the planet. It also has the largest collection of Tiffany lights in the world. 

- We all went to the Mariners's game for Little League Day with Cameron's baseball team. Beautiful weather, tons of fun and even a win!

- For Mother's Day we saw the Seattle Rock Orchestra play Beatles songs. Another beautiful day and an incredible concert with very talented musicians. 

- I joined Addy on a Cascade Challenge camping trip. Her girl scout troop came in 3rd out of 11 troops. The challenges involved fire safety, plants & knots knowledge, team building and the mystery box dinner challenge where the girls have 90 minutes to make a full dinner with a box of misc. ingredients. They did such an awesome job and I'm so grateful I get to see Addy in this environment. She is a very capable young woman (who finally just got her ears pierced!)

- Addy's orchestra played at the Seattle Folk Life Festival. We all went together to enjoy some music and they had three more concerts this month. She plays the violin and is in the chorus. 

Spring has been truly awesome. We are ready for an equally adventurous Summer. 

Broken, A Poem by Cameron

Cameron recently studied the indigenous people of the pacific northwest and learned of a native tribe who had to flee their land in Oregon. He wrote the following poem and I was blown away by the emotions he captured in this poem. 

Broken

As I drove away.

I heard the falls go silent. 

I felt red hot boiling anger rushing through by veins, 

but its smashing into woe and sorrow. 

My fishing net is broken, 

along with my heart. 

My job is gone, 

how will I move on?

The salmon have disappeared, 

my favorite food is no longer there. 

My fishing net is broken, 

along with my heart. 

My life has been transformed. 

My life has been left behind. 

My friends, 

my family, 

will I see them again?

The falls are silent, 

the salmon gone. 

Lives have been shattered, 

but we must move on. 

Where I'm From

 This girl, at 13 I'm so incredibly proud and impressed

Where I'm From

I am from my mom’s silver Mazda 3,

 and from my dad’s white “Man-Van.”

I am from jumping on our old brown couch

And sitting on the tiny orange “sofa” 

every time I went to Trader Joe’s.

I am from flying to the Midwest every summer,

 spending so much time at Half Moon and Balsam Lake.

I am from driving to the Oregon Coast every spring break,

always stopping at La Tarasca in Centralia.

I am from mismatched outfits that I picked myself 

and going out into our cul-de-sac with my brother or friends.

I am from rearranging the living room furniture

so it was possible to play the games we had made up. 

I am from a book that my mom loved,

From a character named Adelaide.

I am from Lynn, my mom’s middle name,

 Ruby, my great grandma’s name, 

And Evert, my dad’s last name.

I am from my dad’s family, 

thoughtful, kind, taller than everyone.

I am from my mom’s family, 

always doing or saying something, no silence.

Ski Week!

We continued our winter tradition of renting a cabin near the ski resort that we love. We stayed for 5 days this time and really got to experience a winter wonderland. We got about 8 inches of snow while we were there and had a great time exploring the trails, hitting the slopes and relaxing at the cabin. The drive home was a bit dicey because of the big ice storm that hit, but we made it safely and had a great time. 

Birthdays 3 and 4

Cameron celebrated his birthday by going to a video arcade with a couple of his friends. They had a great time playing games both at the arcade and at home. Cameron was very excited about his oreo blizzard cake. On his actual birthday, he got a dinner out with just Brian and I which of course involved another dessert! We definitely celebrated in style turning to double digits and he had an awesome 10th birthday.