The Book Contract

Oh my. I signed a contract to write a book, with my co-author Kathi. We posted our announcement on August 1, and got started writing. Eeek!

Our book is about the importance of the 7Cs in education: community, collaboration, critical thinking, communication, creativity, computational thinking, and changemaking. For each C, we talk about how to use a Microsoft tool and give classroom examples from our own experience as well as teachers around the world.

The manuscript draft is due in January but we’re hoping for earlier – and the book will be out in June 2020 at the latest.

This is a lifelong hope for me, and I’m thrilled to be working with Dave Burgess Publishing to make this vision a reality!

Lake Meridian Triathlon 2019

This year, we convinced our friends Heath and Cacee Lee to do the Lake Meridian sprint triathlon with us! Originally, Cacee and I were going to do a relay tri with another friend, but that friend got pregnant and had to resign her spot. I gave Cacee the option to resign (and I would do the whole thing) or still do the run (and I would do the swim and bike). She said, “What if I did the whole triathlon with you?” Great answer! And then her husband said he would do it too. Suddenly it was a double date!

I am sooo proud of my friend Cacee for finishing strong. She was deathly afraid of the swim, new to road biking, and totally nervous. But she did it!

Jim took fifth in his (very competitive) age group, which was awesome. I took a few minutes off my time from last year too!

We had a great time doing this race with friends… and the good news is that they enjoyed it too. We plan to do another one together!

Banks Lake 2019 Trip 2

We have such a great time on this annual tradition of camping with family. (We spent part of the week arguing about how many times we’d all been there… just kidding.) This year, due to booking circumstances, both sides of the crew were there together. We tried to explain to our kids just how special it is that all four grandparents would be camping with them – and at their parties and holidays and school functions and sporting events – and they just can’t comprehend life any other way. We are beyond blessed.

I loved the view from our spot this trip!


We didn’t waste any time getting matching shirts on to hike the rock.

This year, Grandma Keene hiked with us and we are so proud of her!

We also enjoyed two trips to the marina for ice cream.

And lots of time in the water!

Ali and I paddleboarded one afternoon – it was super fun and we went all the way across the lake. Jim followed along in the boat to pick us up at the end of our rental time – and took photos too.

Jumping the Rock is always a pleasure. This year, only the ladies climbed on board.

Name that creature! These fuzzy little guys were found on the beach and in the water one day. We think it’s a lake weasel. Any other guesses welcome.

The traditional badminton tournament saw four teams entered… and three teams losing. Double elimanation bracket was maintained by Grandpa Cole, who had to resign his participation due to foot injury.

The winners were Uncle Jeff and JT!

Jim and I made our own tradition and played cards together in the camper every night. We both felt it was a highlight of the trip!

Two nights we had bad storms. The kids piled in the camper for two nights and proclaimed it the best sleep they’d had in weeks. 🙂

Probably because they are 100% BFFs who never argue and always hug their smiles out.

Meanwhile, Jim and I celebrated 18 years of marriage on the day we left!

You can tell we’re sad to leave the beach, especially after a storm and everything was wet and sandy!

The drive home was quiet and long. But we can’t wait to go back next summer!

Banks Lake 2019 Trip 1

This summer we have two trips as usual. This first trip fell into our laps after an acquaintance asked if we wanted the site way back in November, as someone she knew was cancelling it. We said YES. So it was just going to be our little family of four for the week, but then our friends the Drews got a site for the week as well. Yay!

We had such a fun time showing our friends all of our traditions and things we enjoy at Steamboat Rock State Park.

The Drew family left on Friday, but we stayed until Sunday. The kids said it was “very relaxing” to not have any friends around for a few days. They missed them, but they also took naps and just had some time off… which any introvert will tell you is a very good thing.

We will be back for round 2 with family shortly, and we can’t wait for more fun in the sun!

JT turns 11

JT turned 11! We started with a party with friends, Friday night at Ocean 5, for laser tag and arcade games.

We hosted a family brunch on Saturday with JT’s choices: Jim’s French toast, sausages, and fruit.

He got some awesome gifts and noticed that this year he received “no toys, only tools.” I guess he’s hit that point!

He is officially 85 pounds and 4′ 11″. I think he’ll pass me by age 13. Yikes!

He got some popsicles from Aunt Gena and Uncle Jeff (what a fun idea!) and shared with his sister later that day.

The actual day, we were leaving for a camping trip, so we didn’t do much except grab a photo on the deck on our way out. I lovvvve this photo of him!

Lincoln Rock 2019

We just love getting away for the weekend in our camper! I made reservations for Lincoln Rock State Park months ago and the kids were excited to visit there for the first time. Can you see the profile of my favorite president on the cliff face?

We also got to install Jim’s birthday gift from Haley… a new mat for inside the camper door!

…and we used Jim’s birthday gifts from my parents – camping tables that were perfect for playing cards and holding snacks. Yay!

The first day was a little cloudy but we enjoyed getting out in the warm Eastern Washington air.

We rode scooters, tubed, ate s’mores, played tennis and basketball together, and enjoyed the sunshine.

On the way home, I snapped this awesome photo of our sweet set-up. Now for a better way to transport the bikes…

Drew Gender Reveal

We had so much fun being a part of the Drew Baby 6 gender reveal! Kristin gave me her login for her test results and so I was the only person who knew the gender… then we got some confetti canons and other treats from Hobby Lobby, made some appropriately colored cupcakes, and waited for the party!

They’re having a girl! Not everyone was excited. 😉

Team Gymnast

She did it! Haley is now a Team Gymnast. Not that we are surprised by this at all… but it’s very exciting.

Three years ago, Haley joined her gym as a level 1 gymnast, one hour, one day a week. She loved it. She decided she wanted to pursue being a Team Girl. When she moved up to level 2, she started going two days a week for an hour each. She noticed that other girls were staying longer, and she wanted to as well. She worked hard and practiced at home and moved up to level 3, which was twice a week for an hour and a half. But that wasn’t enough for her! We got her a bar for Christmas and she asked for private lessons (which we’ve only done once). She refused to take a season off for another sport and never, ever wants to miss for family vacations or other events. So Haley moved up to level 4 and started going twice a week for two hours.

Team tryouts rolled around on June 8, and we knew she wanted to try out. The coaches tell the girls that many times they won’t make it on their first tryout, because of nerves and all sorts of things. The tryout contains 41 skills (plus a bonus skill) and they are judged as if they are competing by the three Team coaches. It is three hours long.

Haley crushed her tryout. She got mastery or proficient in 41 skills (missed middle splits but got the bonus back handspring) and held mastery in 23 of those skills. Other parents were commenting to us how incredibly strong and determined she looks on the floor. Her hard work paid off, and she was invited to trial weeks.

Trial weeks are two weeks of workouts with the team – three days a week for three hours each, which would be her new practice schedule, year round (48 weeks a year). The trial period ensures that each girl – and family! – is really ready for this commitment. We talked to Haley about what she’ll be missing out on at times, and how this means she must be diligent about nutrition and rest. Nine hours a week is a lot!

We received the email on June 28 that Haley was offered a permanent spot on Team. She accepted, of course. This means she’ll start competing when she is ready sometime next school year (it’s different for every girl, and the coaches won’t send the girls out until they are competitive in their scores), but she is officially a Team Girl. She even has a locker at the gym with her name on it!

We are so proud of Haley for meeting her goal, because it took determination and sacrifice and passion and perseverance… and those are some awesome qualities.