Playing catch-up: Wade's cross-country banquet

Wade's cross-country season ended in November with a fun potluck banquet.  He was recognized for keeping high grades during the season--yay!!  We are proud of Wade for trying this out and giving it a shot.  It wasn't easy, but he learned a lot!

Awesome coaches  Rob Tomlinson and Ephraim Washburn

Wade with his friend Tucker

Playing catch-up: Wade joins the Murray Robotics Club!

In the fall Wade joined the middle school robotics team.  He's attended weekly meetings on Fridays after school and has joined the team on several meets out of town.  He says his job on the team has primarily been the "builder," helping to create and build the team's robot, and he felt the meets were kind of boring until he got more responsibilities--then it definitely became more interesting and fun.  

I don't know if he'll continue this in high school, but we are glad he tried it this year and know it's been a great learning experience for him!

The meets are intense!  30-40 teams compete in robot "battles," working through obstacle courses.  I've been impressed by the work and concentration involved, and I'm grateful to Kate Champeny, Wade's robotics club teacher, who has done a great job, too.

Here's a video from the first meet to give you an idea of what it's like!

Playing catch-up: Mom goes to San Diego...for school!

This past fall has been eye-opening and hard for me as I've taken on new and challenging responsibilities at school, in addition to finishing up online courses and projects for my CA teaching credential.  I often have to take one day at a time and hope that things will get easier so that I can look ahead more and feel better balance. 

One highlight of the job, though, was going to a Professional Learning Community (PLC) conference in San Diego with other projects teachers from our school district in October.  I waffled a little bit about the opportunity because I was worried about missing a week so early in the school year when we were trying to get new things going, but my principal and district leaders were very supportive and encouraged me to go!

We stayed in a beautiful hotel in San Diego and attended 3 very full days of classes, speakers, and break-out sessions.  Having evenings free to enjoy the hotel and different places to eat was a lot of fun, too.  It was a great experience for me and I really enjoyed getting to know the people I went with, too!

Playing catch-up: Halloween 2017

Halloween 2017 was a blast!  We enjoyed a trunk or treat chili cook-off with church friends, and we all stayed home to answer the door the night of Halloween!

Rhiannon was a Holy Cow, Wade was Batman, I was Squints from the Sandlot movie, and Jason was "a serial killer because they look like everyone else." ;)

Animal Farm!  Cute girls Trini and Lettie Miller with Rhiannon

The Batmans! Wyatt Miller and Wade

Playing catch-up: Rhiannon gets her braces off!

Oh, boy, was this a happy day early in November!  We were so excited that we had to take a picture with all present staff at Ridgecrest Family Dentistry that day, haha!  Rhiannon is so happy with her new smile!

Playing catch-up: Homecoming 2017 for Rhiannon

Homecoming weekend was a blast for Rhiannon.  She was recognized for being a senior band member on the football field Friday night and had a blast with friends at her first high school dance.  Her friend Jacob Kelley, friends since kindergarten, asked Rhiannon to Homecoming and they had so much fun with a big group!!

Rhiannon and I searched out of town and in town and all around for a dress for this event and were not impressed, so she looked up dresses on eshakti online and found a beautiful dress that she was able to custom order to her size and preference, too.  She looked amazing and said she got many compliments for her pretty, unique, and modest dress.  Yay!

Playing catch-up: Wade's 14th Birthday and ordination!

Wade's 14th birthday on October 21 was a happy day.  It was a busy weekend with the high school's Homecoming dance the same evening as Wade's birthday, too, but I think Wade felt the love and enjoyed the day!

We opened presents in the morning, something I don't think we've ever done before but Wade requested.  His giant gift, a trip to a Warriors game with his dad in December, would happen later, and he was spoiled with other fun gifts, too.

The gift that touched my heart was Rhiannon's.  It has started to sink for both kids that this time next year will be a little different with Rhiannon at college, and the thought made them both sad.  So it was important to Rhiannon to surprise Wade for his birthday and do something out of the ordinary, especially since she'd be gone that night with friends to a dance.  

Rhiannon treated him to lunch at Jack in the Box and then drove him up to the Indian Wells Brewery and bought Wade his choice of special sodas there.  I think there were a few other things they did, too, but her insistence on getting away with her brother was very touching.  These two are best friends, and my heart squeezes a little to think of the adjustment they'll have to make when Rhiannon isn't living at home.

The next day Wade was ordained to the office of teacher at church!  He is very excited to be with friends in the teachers quorum.  We kept the event small but I know it meant a lot to our home teacher  Allen Robins and Wade's Scout leader David Foster that Wade invited them personally to participate.

We love Wade and are very, very proud of him!!  

Rhiannon, Ben Washburn, Bishop Ephraim Washburn, Wyatt Porsch, David Foster,
Jason, Jacob Williams, Allen Robins, Wade, and Britt Farley