Madeleine's Sweet 16

Quiet birthday at home after an exciting weekend in Belgium where Madeleine's real birthday present was to herself, a bronze medal finish in the 3000 metres!

Madeleine Track 2019 and ISST's in Belgium

Madeleine had a really strong track season her sophomore year.  She trained hard, and ran very consistently in her two main events, the 1500 and 3000 metres.    She had great success throughout the season and made it on the school ISST team to compete at the European championships held in Belgium.  I was so glad to go watch her run and support the team.  It was a spectacular weekend of competition.

2019 track season races in London

Madeleine killed her races at the ISST competition in Belgium.  She smashed her PB in the 1500 . . .

. . . smashed her PB in the 3000 and . . .

. . . took overall third place in the 3000 metres!  And on her 16th birthday, too!  

The 3000 metres bronze medalist!  

ASL Track Team 2019

Lovely little town of Leuven, Belgium  

Spring in NYC with the OC

We may have left OC 12 years ago, but sometimes it feels like we never left.  Those friends have really stuck, and thank goodness for that!  A group of us made plans to meet in NYC for a fun-filled long weekend.  I added a couple of days to make sure I could also see my dear friend Karen who lives on Long Island.  It was such a fun week creating so many great memories with cherished friends!  Again, I'm growing very lazy with photography, and seem to favour traveling light over bringing my camera, so another less aesthetically pleasing post for the books, but honestly traveling light is the very best! 

Visiting Karen at her home on Long Island, such a treat to spend time with her all to myself!  I miss her so much.  

Her cute town.  I love the northeast (in summer).  

Walks around her neighbourhood

The fabulous summer home of Theodore Roosevelt at Sagamore Hill

Local wildlife 

Love Karen's home!

Off to NYC!

Big Apple time

The Vessel, a whole lot of much ado about nothing if you ask me.  Cool I guess.  

Staying right off Washington Square, where we spent many afternoons and evenings entertained by incredible people watching! 

A visit to the Tenement Museum, a first for me in NYC.  It was amazing, and I'd love to go back to do more of their tours.  Incredible history.  

Maybe the best thing I've seen on stage, To Kill a Mocking Bird.  Just incredible!  

Fab friends Nicole, Cati, Shelley, Brenda and Kelly

Dallin's Spring 2019 Visit

After Dallin finished his second semester at Snow, he flew home to spend a week with us before heading back to his summer job.  It was short, but long enough to pack in a lot of fun experiences.  I treasure the time when we are all together more than anything in the world.  I pull out my big camera less and less these days, but I don't really care, just capturing some of the memories, even if it's with my phone, is what matters most.

Picking Dallin up from Heathrow, Trevon was bursting with excitement

All three in the hood

Group sibling hugs at home

Dallin going through some of his stuff at our storage unit

At the playground, where are my toddlers?

Wandering around town seeing the sites, again.  

At Madeleine's track meet

A fun family outing to an escape room and out for pizza, table for five please! 

Fun evening with the Stephensons

The bromance lives on! 

A nice mother's day afternoon out after church

Best mother's day present ever, having all three of my kids there!