Rings and things...

So, last night, Hannah was given her class ring at the first EVER OAHS ring ceremony.  Basically it is to recognize that the class of 2012 has now moved from underclassmen to upperclassmen.. technically.  Since they are the top class at the school, they have always been the upperclass, but the symbolic move from the sophmore class to the junior class is a tradition that the school wants to start.  SO, here is Hannah with Mr. Majewski the principal.  He received the FIRST class ring tonight as well (it was a suprise to him)...we are all very sad that Mr. Majewski is leaving as principal.  The district is sending him to a different school. 

And in other happenings,  today is the LAST day that Bekah would walk to school at Dunlap.  She has one more day tomorrow, but it is the 6th grade breakfast, so I will take her to school.  She and her buddy Shawna (who is a 5th grader) have been walking to school everyday for a few years now.  I am going to miss watching them walk down the sidewalk together.

AAAAAHHHHH!!!!! She's DRIVING!

SO Hannah took the test to get her permit on Wednesday.  Today was her first behind the wheel session with the instructor, so now her permit is valid and she can drive us around.  Don't know if my heart will be able to take it, but she seems to be doing ok!

Elementary School is winding down...

We have had a child at Dunlap elementary school since the fall of 1999 when Hannah started kindergarden.  We have been to every back to school night, every fall festival, every family bingo night or movie night or spaghetti dinner, etc.  Well tonight was our very last Open House to attend.  Bekah will be moving on to Junior high school next year.  This year, we looked at all of her classroom projects, but we didn't have to go to the classrooms of the next grade up to "check out the teachers" like we normally do.  It was quite bitter sweet.  We have wonderful memories of the school and the kids, parents and teachers at Dunlap.   In the next few weeks, the 6th graders will be busy. Tomorrow is a swim party as a reward for the jog a thon money raisers. On Tuesday, they leave for Science Camp until friday. The last week of school includes, a trip to lake Lopez to release the trout that they have been raising, along with a few hours at the water slides.  And the 6th grade breakfast on the last day of school.  I will be taking some pictures to capture our last moments at Dunlap.

Where have I been???

Ok so what happened to March and April???  I really didn't drop off the face of the earth.  Let me see if I can bring you up to date.

In March, we had swimming and church stuff. Bekah's 12th birthday came and went and my parents came to visit.

April became our community service month. We started with helping 200 other people from churches all over town paint over graffitti.  Then the next weekend, Hannah did a 30 hour famine to raise money for World Vision AND she helped at the special olympics (while very hungry!).  the 3rd weekend, we helped clean up the high school campus for the Disney "give a day get a day" project. 

Now we are on to May.  Tim and I celebrated our 24th anniversary on the 3rd.  We are going to see James Taylor and Carol King on the 18th as our gift to each other. 
Mother's day was wonderful with lots of me time.

Tim's mom has been having lots of memory issues lately and today the doctor told her she needs to stop driving (an answer to prayer as we also thought she should stop, but didn't want to be the bad guys) so we have now taken up the transportation for her to all her appointments and shopping needs.

Now we are hitting the home stretch of school with about 5 weeks left. 

Whew.. I need a summer vacation!

SWIMMER!!!!

So, Hannah had her first swim meet today... her VERY FIRST EVER swim meet.  It was also OAHS's swim team's VERY FIRST EVER meet.  They have had 6 practices and of the 19 several swimmers are pretty much beginners. There are 4 swimmers that are in club and then Hannah and a few others that swim pretty well, but have never competed.  They had a meet with Nipomo High School.  The Nipomo JV team also had some basic beginners as well.  Hannah was in the the 4x50 freestyle relay (they took 2nd of 5 teams), the 50 Breaststroke, and the 50 backstroke.  She did really well. Now she has her first posted time, so she can shoot for improving that.   She is loving it.  Here are some pictures of the breaststroke.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

Well, 2009 is gone, it is now 2010... it seems like just last year that everyone was talking about Y2K... but then I guess it seems like just last year Hannah was starting school and now she is in High school!
We went to Fresno (our "tradition") for a New Year's Eve celebration with our friends the Hoffman family.  We had lots of good food, lots of shopping and lots of fun.  The girls are still out of school for a few more days, so we are staying up late, watching movies and sleeping in.  All that will come to a screeching halt on Monday... I am already looking forward to spring break!
Here are a few holiday pictures... Happy New year to you all!

Hannah and Bekah with Nana on Christmas evening... notice they are still in their jammies... that is the mark of a wonderful day!

Bekah and Kirsten

The whole gang Jan. 1, 2010

Hannah and Kelsey