Cannon

This boy of mine is so amazing with all kids. Cannon can play with kids of all ages and make them feel important and help everyone have a good time. This is his cousin Henry who loves hanging out with Cannon. He thinks they are best of friends. This was eating lunch after Miya's dance festival.

Classroom Volunteer 2015

Such a great year helping out in Mrs. Toy's room with Lyla and her class. This was the last day I was there to help so we took a few selfies before I headed home. I love working with the kids struggling with math and seeing them work through a problem and finally get it. I also love being in the classroom with my kids and see how they interact with all their classmates. It is always great to get to know their teachers better. Mrs. Toy said that she could see Lyla owning her own company someday or being a famous actress (haven't heard that before about my other two kids).

Lyla getting her ears pierced 2015

Lyla wanted to get her ears pierced and I decided that I wanted to get my done again since they had grown in since high school. I went first and Lyla wasn't so sure after that. They had two people do it at the same time, but she cried pretty good after because it kept hurting. She has since let them grow back in because she couldn't stand taking them out for soccer games and putting them back in. She doesn't feel like she is missing out at all not having them pierced and no longer asks to go to Claires.

Cub Scouts/ Arrow of Light 2015

 One of the last pack meetings before all these boys turned 11 and headed into Boy Scouts. Cannon had a scout shirt, but never wore it like all the other boys.

 Phil acting as Bishop giving Cannon his Religious Knot.

 Doing all the face painting and pinning on the mom's award for helping.

Super fun to be able to work in cub scouts with Cannon. I was the Cub Master before we combined with the other ward in the Stake and then I got to be a Weblos leader with Cannon. He was able to complete his Arrow of Light and get his religious knot before advancing to Boy Scout.

Washington DC April 2015

 Just arrived to the hotel in Washington DC and made it safely off the metro with our luggage. 

 Hugs in the elevator before heading out to see the sights.

 Great time to be in DC with the Cherry Blossom Festival. Miya getting ready to watch a parade.

 Miya and dad in front of the Washington Monument.

 Mom and Miya with the Jefferson Memorial in the back across the water.

 Some of the cherry blossoms.

 Miya and dad at the Jefferson Memorial.

 At the Jefferson Memorial with the Washington Monument in the background.

 Miya hanging out in bed waiting around for dad at the IREM conference and mom getting her workout in.

 One of the many trips to the zoo. We loved the baby panda and the orangutans that could climb around over our heads.

 On the trolley/bus in Alexandria visiting all the old George Washington sites.

 Siting in George Washington's church suite and getting a great history lesson from a volunteer at the church.

 A Masonic temple in Alexandria.

 We were lucky enough to be in Washington DC on the 150th Anniversary of Lincoln's assassination and they had a small two-man play about the day at Ford's Theater. It was so great to watch and be in the theater. I have always loved President Lincoln and his history.

 We had amazing weather all, but one day while Phil was in his leadership conference we got a ton of rain. Being the amazing Seattlers we are we ventured out and it really paid off. We were able to go up in the Washington Monument because a school group didn't show up for their tour. I was a pretty big chicken once we got to the top with the little windows looking out each side. Miya wanted to stay up there and check everything out. I told her we had 3 minutes and then I was heading back down. It always feels like buildings are moving when I am up that high and it is a super small space. Great history though and an amazing experience.

 Miya and the newly finished WWII memorial.

 Lincoln Memorial 

 The Washington Monument from the Lincoln Memorial. Not many people out seeing the sights with the nice rain and wind storm we were getting.

 Back at the zoo. Our hotel was just a couple blocks from the zoo and the zoo is free so we spent a couple mornings there walking around before we hit other sites.

The last stop before the airport back home was Arlington National Cemetery. Miya was pretty worn out by this point and not super excited about lugging her bags around, but we made it just in time to see the changing of the guard for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and she thought it was amazing. We couldn't believe how everything worked out so well for us on this trip when we hadn't made any real plans for when we should visit each place. We had a great time and it was so fun to have some one-on-one time with Miya each day.