School's out for summer...

YES! Today was my final day of students for the year.  Can I just say that it couldn't have come soon enough? This year in portable city has been amazingly tough and challenging.  But we made it through.  As per usual, the staff celebrated our freedom with our yearly golf tournament out at Painted Hills golf course.  We had a great time of golfing, drinking and merriment.  I even won the longest drive for the women (and almost won closest to the pin, but my ball just rolled off the green).  It was such fun.  It was also super cathartic.  I pictured one of my "favorite" students for every shot I took.  Let me just say, that I've never struck the ball so well, or so long.  I'll definitely remember that for next year! :-)

Tennis banquet

Last night was my tennis banquet, and my last official day as the Freeman HS tennis coach (for a while anyway).  I've turned in my letter of resignation with the goal of taking a break from tennis for a couple years.  I'm sure I'll go back to coaching it in a year or two, but for now I'm excited to have a spring with free time and weekends!  Here are a couple pics from my banquet.  We rented a local tennis club to bbq, play tennis and have our awards.

My team bbqing their dinner

Jack checks out the tennis players

My assistant coach Cathy and me

Danica gives us a hug when she gets her award

My kids know me so well! They got me a mug which they all autographed 

and a new backpack-style camera bag!

I lost it for just a second when talking about my team.

Katie and Blair, my number 1 doubles team.  I will miss these girls a ton!

Cathy surprised me with a cake at our banquet.  So sweet!

Mom updated

Just in case you were wondering how the arm is looking, I've got some new pics for you of her arm.  The bruises are growing and her arm is still hurting! Poor Lavs Plack!

The inside view

The outside view

LIT weekend

So I escaped nursing duties this weekend.  Not on purpose, but I was scheduled to come out to Camp and work LIT (our counselor training session for our summer volunteer counselors).  Other then worrying about how mom's doing, I've had a really nice weekend.  We have a great group of counselors and it's been really fun planning and training with them.

Don't worry, it hasn't been all work.  We've had a fun time catching up and playing games and practicing for the big dance.  Come on summer, hurry up and get here.  I'll upload a couple pics of our time at the lovely Camp Cross when I get home (or you can check them out on Facebook)!

Loff's Bay, waiting for the boat to pick me up!

The canoes are lined up and ready to go

Colin and Krista go to pick up the counselors

Taylor finds a heart-shaped rock for me.  Oh I love my staff-mates!

The counselors head up to their cabins.  So GREEN right now.

Planning for Mid-High

David rocks the quesadillas 

My old counselor cabin, St. Kenneth

This summer looks to be amazing!

Playing Nurse

I took the day off work today to play nurse for mom.  Katie just left for VA for four days, so it's just the two of us and Lucy.  Mom did a good job today.  Granted she spent a good portion of it sleeping which didn't hurt.  Most of our together time was spent figuring out who to see to get mom more pain medication. They only gave her two days worth thinking she would be into see the doctor yesterday.  Unfortunately, it was quite the ordeal.  Dr. Decker (our family doctor) was out of town till Monday, and her surgeon Dr. Dunlop is also out for the weekend.  We ended up having to go to the after-hours clinic to get her refill.

Unfortunately, we can't refill it until tomorrow when I am working and unable to help.  Hopefully, Steve will be able to come up at his lunch break to take care of it.  I also helped mom change her shirt this evening.  Not a pain-free process, but at least mom feels a little cleaner! I got a couple pics of her quickly-bruising arm for you all.  It's pretty awesome.

count down

10 days till summer freedom... I mean vacation.  Oh, let the time pass QUICKLY! I can't wait to get here (Camp Cross) where I will be spending my summer.

Breaking news (pun intended)

    My mom has not had the greatest of days.  She called me at school around 6:00 in tears because she had fallen and she couldn't get up.
     OK, she could get up, but she was in a ton of pain because she had broken her arm.  Poor thing! Katie was at work until 9, I was at school for a 6:30 meeting, and she couldn't get hold of Steve.  I was able to get hold of Steve to meet her at the house, but not before mom called 911.  She got some hottie firefighters to take care of her (wish I had been there now).
     After a trip down to Sacred Heart, mom is home doped up, in a sling, and hoping to get some sleep.  Katie is on nursing duty tomorrow, and I'm taking a sick day on Thursday to take care of our poor Lavs.  Here she is in all her broken-armed glory!

obsessed

On our way walking down to dinner at state, my team passed this new wine bar in Yakima.  They were obsessed with this sign...

Until they saw this sign in the glass door to the winery.

Oh Yakima.  You make me laugh!

Tennis state

Well, it's hard to believe, but my tennis season is finally at an end.  I took three of my girls to State last weekend in lovely Yaki-Vegas.  My girls just missed placing lost the match that would have put them in 4th or 6th), but they did awesome none the less.

Not only was it my last match of the season, but it was my last match...at least for a while.  I have put in my letter of resignation for my varsity tennis position.  As much as I love it, after 8 years I am ready for a break.  So watch out friends, this time next year, I will be footloose and fancy free... and able to leave town any weekend I want.  Oh, sweet freedom!