Hollie's Marching Band Teacher

Dear Band Parents;

The kids done good! Hopefully, your son or daughter came home last night excited that we placed 2nd in the parade. I don’t have the final scores yet to see how close we were to 1st, but it seems almost impossible to uproot the hometown band, Eastmont JH. Along with the scores, we will receive a plaque to go in the display case.

- Jim

Family Pictures

Sunday we had family pictures taken at a nearby park, love the photographer. She put a sneak peak at the proofs up on her website.

http://jessicahamlinphotography.com/blog/

We can't wait to see the rest of the proofs.

Shopping in Leavenworth

My big find, we were at a winery and these hand painted tiles were hanging on the wall. They are heavy and the picture does not show how brilliant the colors are.

On top of everything else it was pictures of my friends. Aimie (the second love of my life) and I above. My other closest girlfriends who are rich in knowledge and who have known each other for 15yrs below.
ROBBIE AND STACY

This is how I see us, not driving kids around in our sweats. This is how glamorous I think we all are if we had the unlimited time to invest in us.

I always watch those decorating shows that take one piece you love and design a room around it. This is the piece that put the puzzle together.

Apple Blossom 2009

Hollie 15 Years Old Marching in the Apple Blossom Parade!

She and Katy (her friend) woke up at 0430, Katy of course forgot one part of the band uniform. Leaving me to race at 0515 (IN THE MORNING) into Milton and then to the bus by 0530. It was a busy morning.
Thom and I waiting for the parade to start.........

The Troopers, Nana, Opa, and Grandma (the kids great grandma). They all got up at the crack of dawn to sit in the sunshine and freeze. The wind was blowing off the water and it had a bite to it. They definitely earn Grandparent points for that

Nana, Lauren, and Grandma Rizzo. No, for those of you who don't know My grandmother does not have red hair.

Lauren and her friend Natalie in Leavenworth having a great time. Natalie had never been outside of Western Washington so going over the pass with the snow was an adventure. Of course we had to take her to Leavenworth. We got to bump into Hollie once, her school takes all the kids there after Marching. They eat lunch and go shopping. It is a big deal since they are kind of on their own.

Hollie came home at 0800 p.m. excited she said they sang songs on the bus ride home. She also said that she got ripped off. Apparently she was convinced by the sales clerk that the price was ten dollars more. (Canada vs US) There was a valuable lesson.

Hollie was so tired from the day that she came home talked to us and then went right to bed.

Stacy and Greg are in Las Vegas

BOWS 50 CENTS. . . . . . . . . .BEADS $ 2.00 . . . . . . . SKELETON $10.00 . . . . . . . . . .

YOUR FRIENDS TRUSTING YOU WITH THE CODE TO THEIR HOUSE . . . . PRICELESS

A Track Star in the Making

Lauren at her last track practice, today she got to try the high jump. She likes the running against others and the field activities. We have the track schedule see the upcoming events section.

Lauren's Soccer Game

Today's game was a blowout as our team scored 12 goals in a 12-0 shutout. We scored the first goal in the first18 seconds of the game and it went all our way after that. It was awesome to see Lauren back running at full speed. She ran from her defensive zone to the offensive zone for an assist. She ran by 5 defenders! I don't remember how many assists she had, but the more important thing was that my little baby scored two beautiful goals! The first one was left of the goal box as she used the outside of her right foot to get the ball past their goalie. The second goal was from the neutral zone as she blasted a kick that hit nothing but the back of the net. Even though it isn't too much fun for either team when the game's a blowout, it is definitely good to see our girls gain confidence with their game.

Thoms Top 20 List

1. Skydive
2. Write a book
3. Run a Marathon with my family
4. Climb Mount Rainer
5. Paint a painting
6. Walk with my wife on a beach
7. Play the Lottery
8. Use a Sniper Riffle (for fun)
9. Drive a Ferrari on the Audubon
10. Ride a Harley
11. Climb a cliff wall (with out falling this time)
12. Figure out what is wrong with my wrist
13. Travel the world
14. Hit every Hockey, baseball, and football Stadium
15. Sit with Dave Neihaus and Call a Mariner Game
16. Work with an organization to provide aide to Africa
17. Fly an Airplane
18. Golf with Tiger Woods
19. Meet Obama
20. Rebuild a 1970 GTO

Builders Club

Hollie is Vice Chair of Builders Club at school. They are now getting to the projects that they have planned. She will be cleaning up a park that is by the school and then they will be holding a fundraiser for families who have lost a loved one to cancer. I am so proud of her commitment to community.

Lauren's Track Practice

We still do not have a schedule for Laurens Track Meets, she is practicing three days a week. She has not improved her mile time but loves the dash. Her track coach has told her she is a Track Star for helping another child having a hard time with the relay. I will let you all know when the schedule comes out.

Hollie's Golf Game

The Golf team was out in Kitsap on Monday, in the cold rain. They are all teenagers so of course no one was dressed for the weather. Hollie came home excited about getting a triple boogie on the sixth hole and that she tied all the other girls in her foursome. I love that she enjoys this golf team.

Tuesday the team was out in Spanaway. The sun was shinning the weather was warm but not too warm. Hollie again came home with a huge smile, I am so proud of her. She had one triple boogie, two double boogie, and one time she got par! She is really working hard on her skills. Hollie is already a better golfer than me but I think she is trying to give dad, nana, and opa a run for their money.

Easter 2009

Easter 2009 Hollie 15yrs Lauren 11yrs
My niece's Anna and Amelia ...........

Anna and Amelia are quite cute together. They spend their time crying, laughing, Amelia loves to tattle on everything Anna does. They are both too smart for their own good. They loved all the sugar they got, and the older kids tried to get away from them.

Lauren, Hollie, and Maddy all forced to pose for a picture.... Did I ever say that I love teenagers? Actually they really are a lot of fun, they spent time on Easter texting friends, listening to their Ipods, and eating candy.

My dad and the girls on Easter..... We had a good day, tiring but fun. We started by baking for two hours in the morning, went to church, and then to Mom's. We ate brunch and laughed as Pat took advantage of every opportunity to crack inappropriate jokes. We played card games and then headed to our house to host Easter dinner here.

Double Header

Lauren had two soccer games on Saturday. First one was against the Goal Girls, the girls played well however they did lose that game. Lauren had an attempt on goal but ultimately I think the lazy days of Spring Break didn't help. The second game the girls won the Hot Tamalies. They played hard and had a good passing game the first half. I really enjoy watching her team play, they are a great group of kids.

Pedicures with Nana

Saturday before Easter Nana took all the older girls to get pedicures. They have quickly learned over the years to be pampered. The girls read all the fashion magazines, they got their feet rubbed, and toes painted with a flower. They all picked very spring bright colors. It was a relaxing afternoon.

My Neice Maddy (left) Hollie and Lauren (she was kranky that I made her take this pic)

Sleep Over

The girls had two friends over for the night on Friday the 1oth of April. Lauren and Natalie they go to the same school and are really into Sims. Hollie and her friend Alexa who are really into Naruto. The girls had a good time, above they are coloring Easter Eggs.

Grandma Andi and Grandpa Jim Visit

Thursday April 9th Grandma and Grandpa Evans came for a visit from Alaska. They took the girls out shopping and then to Chuck E. Cheese. Hollie and Lauren would get Grandma up on the Dance Dance Revolution and Grandpa would play games. They outlasted Thom and I as we cut out early to go home and go to bed.

Visiting Grandma Rizzo (Great)

On April 5th Thom and I drove the girls to Yakima to visit their Great Grandma. Hollie was really excited visiting Grandma Rizzo is her favorite thing to do, she gets a lot of attention. They went to two movies: Monster Vs. Aliens and Race to Witch Mountain. They went shopping and for walks in the park. Lauren had a good time after the first night, she is not one to be away from mom. Hollie has always been more independent. The funniest story of the visit, Grandma called me she had a spark in her voice that I have not heard for the better part of a year. She was happy to report that she was the best grandma in the world for sitting through Monsters Vs. Aliens movie that she took the girls to. After she stopped by Baskin Robbins for ice cream, telling them that they could get what they want and the she likes Jamaica Almond Fudge. The girls come out with huge waffle cones yet hand grandma a single scoop of her ice cream. She asked them how that was fair and they said but grandma you are not suppose to have a lot of sugar. The girls talked about how much from the had the whole way home.

Easter Egg Hunt at the Conners

There were about 15 kids at the Easter Egg party Stacy threw tonight. The kids were having fun visiting and waiting anxiously for the Hunt to begin.

All the adults were out in the dark hiding Easter Eggs for the kids.

Warming up while the kids are out looking for candy and Money.... Leah Stacy and Karen indoors trying to keep warm.

Adults out hunting for the Mini Bottles Greg above was the first to find one.....

Stacy's stash her husbands hand! This was a fun night, we had good food, music, the hunt. It really couldn't have been topped.

A Day with Amelia

Thom took Amelia our niece for the day! I came home at 1100ish to find the two of them making crystal wind charms and eating snacks. Amelia was thrilled to be with Uncle Thom working on projects. I came in and got a big hug but then Amelia was insistent on Uncle to go and watch a movie. Later we all went to the park and played Hot Lava.