Ward party Skateland

Almost every year our ward goes to skateland in the March or April. It is a great tradition. I remember being pregnant with Keagan and going (and not skating). It is great fun for everyone regardless if you skate or not. We pretty much have the skating rink to ourselves. Just use the bathroom before you go, I don't think they have updated it in the last 30 years! Ewww! Good thing we have such good company!!

One of the girls helping another with her skates.
One of the great things about this outing is that adults can take their little ones skating in the strollers. Sadly this is the last time I skated was when Keagan was in the stroller. I was never very steady on skates and I don't want to fall!

Ray & Damon Corrigan

Keagan finally getting so he skate a little with out falling! :)

I love this one of Greg Martin and "his" boys. He is in the YM presidency and the scout master. He has such a good repor with the YM!

Every year they have races, which are great fun to watch, this year they had the first Stroller races, I see a new tradition coming!

The start of the stroller races

More races, the adults

Of course I like these because my handsome husband is racing! :)

This picture didn't turn out too well, but it shows the YW huddled up together watching the races. I love our YW and how they love each other! (And Brooklyn who used to be in our ward!)

See, you don't have to skate to have a good time!

Ahhh.. the snack bar.

A lot of our youth hanging out and skating together.

My niece, Aurora came along

More of Keagan

If you don't skate you can dance!

Melissa and one of her best friends Brooklyn. They have known each other since they were born. They are only 1.5 months apart. Melissa is blessed to have so many good friends close to her age!

Celeste getting her skates fixed. One of the great things for little kids is that you can get your skate's wheels tightened so it is easier to skate and not fall.

Another great thing about this activity is that it has been a tradition for such a long time we get friends that have moved that come back for our skate party. What fun to see the Douglas family!

I love to see everyone helping each other too! Haley and Zane!

Happy ST. Patrick's Day

One of the many things I love about my daughter Melissa is that she loves to dress up for any reason. Spirit day.. any holiday.. any reason to dress up.

Aurora getting into the spirit too.

Green hair

Every shade of green possible

Got to have the pant rolled up so you can see the green fuzzy sock!
(Yes, that was on purpose sock, not socks, she often mis -matches her socks.. on purpose!)

I love teaching preschool near St. Patrick's Day! This book is so fun to read. (I copied the image from Amazon.com, so you can't really click on it to see inside)

My preschool class really got into it, here my friend is telling them how tall Leprechauns are.

The kids were so excited about making Leprechaun traps and trying to find them. They really got into it. Such funny kids!

Look at his face telling me about a leprechaun.

My latest toy

As I am getting older (and wiser?) it is fun to look back on things that I liked to do and things I had growing up and see how much things have changed. The last couple of years I have seen this really cool record/tape player that you can record your old tapes/records to cds or mp3 format. I knew there was a way to do it onto the computer, but I didn't want to buy any programs to add to my computer. So I have been watching this record/tape player at the store and watching the price come down. Just a few weeks ago I went and bought one.

Growing up we were not musicians, but we had several records (and even 8 track tapes) we liked to listen to and they bring back fond memories! I have tried to find some of these records/tapes on cds or mp3 format and haven't been able to. I am very excited to start recording some of these onto mp3 format.

Of course, I bought it just in time for my preschool class. We were talking about the letter "r" that week, so I had to bring it in and show them records and a record player. I even have a few of my records left from childhood. Captain Kangaroo?!!! (I have a footloose & Michael Jackson record, too)

Just today I found a real treasure, a cassette tape of Melissa talking from Joy school. I just recorded it to mp3 format. I can't wait to play it for her when she gets home. I don't know how to upload just audio or mp3s to blogger..

Keagan's Cub scouts Pinewood derby & blue& gold

Keagan worked so hard on his car. He designed it, cut it out, sanded it, and painted. Dad only helped a little bit with adding the tires. He was so proud of it. It is orange.. Keagan's favorite color!
This was Keagan's 3rd and last pinewood derby in cub scouts. The past 2 years he hasn't done so well. (almost last) He is watching the races and can hardly believe his car is winning!

Handing off his car to race
Anxiously waiting to see the outcome.

His car is ahead!

Going so fast you can't even see it..

trying to not be too excited that he keeps winning.

Won again!

His number was moving up the "winner's bracket"

I love the excitement in his face!

He couldn't believe he got 3rd place overall! The great thing was that he did most of it all by himself too!

The boys getting their rewards.

Good job Keagan!

Look at that smile!

Keagan's name on the board!

We had to go to Dairy Queen afterwards to celebrate!

Melissa texting, what a surprise! Ha!

Whoops! Spilled on the uniform.

Flag ceremony at a pack meeting.

Keagan got to carry the flag.

This is the blue/Gold pack meeting.

Keagan played a 100 year old cub scout in the skit they did. He did a great job. It was actually pretty funny. He was so excited to do it. He used the cane that the kids got Ray for a gag gift for Ray's 40th bday and he thought it was hilarious to use the cane. He also made his own grey beard and was pretty proud of himself for coming up with it all by himself.

Here are the cakes Keagan made and decorated for the event.

fix it day

It seems like we hardly ever have a Saturday that we have time to do home improvement projects. We had fun joking around and doing family projects together. Keagan putting new knobs on the doors.

I love this one because he is concentrating and making a ......

Ray face!

Love it!

We tease Ray about making this face all of the time.

We painted a light grey in the bathroom. We painted a couple of months ago and still haven't put a second coat on. Someday I'll post the final project finished.....

Before the ugly bathroom cabinets and UGLY knobs...

Luckily Melissa is so tall so she can reach the skylight.

My Page

Melissa gets to be a page this week for the WA state House of Reps. She goes to work at 7:45 a.m. and finishes at 5 p.m. Some of her duties include giving the Reps. notes while they are on the floor, going to page school to learn all about the legislative process and delivering supplies. House pages are not allowed to use the elevators and she has to do lots of walking and climbing stairs. You have to be 14 and can't be older than 17. They have to wear black pants and a white shirt, with the black jacket being provided.

There are all kinds of other rules, too, but I don't know what they all are. I know there is a certain way they have to deliver the notes on the desks of the Reps and they can only address the Reps as Representative (last name) and never the first name. Even the children or relatives of the Reps have to do this.

With Ray working at the capital, this is something she has really looked forward to. This is her first year, she has been an honorary page before going for a half day, but not a regular page. She works for the whole week and even gets paid - a little more than $200 for the week. It also has been more exciting because last year and this year we have been housing pages, now she knows firsthand what they go through.

It is a special privilege to be able to carry the flags in right before they open for the day. (It helps that her dad works there) This is what she got to do yesterday. I recorded channel 23 (the local government channel) to be able to watch her and they only showed the senate side that morning.. grr. This is her and a fellow page on the House floor with the flags for the day's opening ceremony.

Valentine's Fairy?!

Did you know that there was a Valentine's Fairy?! Melissa dressed up for Valentine's day and spirit day combined. She likes to really get into it.. :) She even has some wings that she hadn't put on yet!
Melissa & Keagan (and Aurora) were really excited to go to school today because of the Valentine's parties.
Melissa's leadership classes were passing out candy grams that students had bought. She even bought one for herself... I asked her, Did you say it was from your secret admirer?! haha
Also, I get to go to Keagan's class later today for his party. He was really looking forward to it. Hopefully they are not too hyper. Every Friday afternoon I go into Keagan's classroom. It has been a lot of fun. I love to see who he sits by, who are his friends, etc.

It must run in the family.. a little, Aurora (her little cousin) had on heart pants and a shirt that said cutie in red/pink.

Happy Valentines day!