a rite of passage

The boys were scheduled to take the SATs on Saturday morning, but our school system experienced a cybersecurity attack this week and they were canceled because they can't use their chromebooks and there is no internet in the county.  So instead, the boys came over early on Saturday morning to bleach their hair for baseball season. 

It was a family affair!

We knew it would take at least two days of treatment to get a decent color.  This was after round one on Saturday.  A little orange.  Core memories were made this weekend. 

They were back early Sunday morning before church for round two.  They went from orange to yellow, so I guess that's good!  I was hoping for more of a whiter blonde, but we all know how at home hair treatment goes.  It truly is a varsity baseball rite of passage.    

We fed them well.  St. Patrick's themed donuts on Saturday and McDonalds sausage biscuits on Sunday.  

Bryce and his buddies went into the city for Shamrock the Block.

quick recap

Emmy had a meet in Virginia Beach on Saturday night.  The Shamrock invitational is always a fun theme. 

Emmy had a good meet.  She placed second on bars, first on beam, tied for first on floor and she was second all around. 

I love a good theme. 

Bryce made the varsity baseball team.  They had a scrimmage on Wednesday and then an intersquad scrimmage on Saturday.  He jammed his finger sliding at home plate and it may or may not be broken.  We'll never know, but I do know he wasn't wearing his "oven mitt" so I guess broken fingers are fair game at that point.  

 

bryce is 17

Bryce was up early to celebrate his birthday, so he didn't have on a shirt, he had bed head and was in his glasses and retainers, so I didn't use any of those pictures, ha.  Bryce had a full day of school and baseball tryouts before meeting us all for dinner. 

Straight from baseball means no cleaning up for birthday celebrations. 

Bryce was hoarse on Tuesday after practice, but we assumed it was from running outside in the cold.  It wasn't until everyone left on his birthday (Wednesday), that I realized he was sick.  He had a sore throat, he was cold and his eyes said it all.  I took his temperature and he put himself to bed at 8:30 on his birthday with a 102 degree fever.  Poor buddy.  

He was better today to celebrate with the rest of the family after church.  Jason gets two thumbs up for making the cake!

They just keep getting bigger and bigger. 

Bryce missed school on Thursday due to his illness.  Luckily it rained and tryouts were cancelled so he didn't miss them.  He ended up going to school late on Friday since he was feeling better and didn't want to miss tryouts.  He was able to join the team on Saturday for their first scrimmage.  

Emmy went to a Special Olympics basketball game at her school on Friday.  She snapped a picture with the Caddells.  From what I hear, they're all in this picture!

 

good friends

We had a great time at dinner on Friday night with our good friends.  We don't get together nearly enough, but we try to as often as we can.  

Celebrating Leighton's birthday.

These girls have been best friends since sixth grade.  Three of them have February birthdays.  Two of them were this week.  They went to dinner on Wednesday night for one birthday and then dinner and a sleepover on Saturday for another one. 

valentine's day, a meet, and the rest of emmy's birthday

Emmy had a spirt day on Friday and she borrowed something of mine so she wouldn't have to wear a uniform.  I was excited that she wanted to borrow something of mine, so I had to document it.  

Emmy's Valentine 

Bryce's Valentine.  Jason, Emmy and I had to leave early for gymnastics, but I think Bryce loved his treats!

We got to the beach early for Emmy's meet, so we stopped for brunch at our favorite place, Doc Taylor's.  A festive mimosa was perfect for Valentine's Day. 

Emmy was in good spirits for this meet.

Emmy had a great meet.  She placed 2nd on beam, 1st on floor, and 3rd all around.  This is a big meet with tough scoring, so she was pleased with her results.  

Bryce and Avery went to Mellow Mushroom for their Valentine dinner. 

Avery made Bryce the sweetest Valentine.  

Emmy's friends got together today to celebrate her birthday.  They hung out and bedazzled their products, went shopping, went to dinner and then had cake and ice cream.  

I'd say it was a great week OR two of celebrating!!

 

emmy is 14

Birthdays are always fun around here!  Emmy got her nails done on Monday to kick off the week. She was still out of school due to snow/ice on Monday and Tuesday.  Jason and I celebrated our 29th dating anniversary on Tuesday and had a nice dinner.  But back to birthday fun, Emmy got a new phone and had a fun day.
Well visit stats:
Height: 60.5 (made it to 5ft) 15th percentile
Weight: 100.8 33rd percentile
Blood Pressure: 116-64

Emmy's birthday was on Friday, and she was happy to be at school.  Her friend Leighton decorated her locker, gave her a pinata and gave her a birthday crown to wear for the day.  

Jason delivered CFA lunch and a mini Crumbl cookie order I had made.  Her friends loved them!

After school we set up her phone and then cashed in on birthday freebies.  First stop was Starbucks. 

We went to Five Below for a phone case and happened upon the LAST dumpling!

Next up was Sephora.  We still need to go to Ulta. 

We went to Sedona Taphouse for dinner.  It's a family favorite for sure. 

MeMa wasn't feeling well, but Nana and Paul joined us. 

They posed for a nice picture after Bryce pelted her with a snowball. 

After dinner we came home for cake and ice cream.  This was the sign her friend made for her locker. 

Emmy had a friend come over for a sleepover because they were going skiing the next day.  

The kids went skiing for the first time on Emmy's birthday five years ago.  Bryce loved it and has never looked back.  Emmy hated it and was fine to never do it again until it looked like a lot of fun when we went to Snowshoe this year.    

We told her it would be good to get a lesson if she wanted to try it again.  So, she brought a friend to make it more fun.  They had a two-hour lesson and then they were off.  

Bryce said that Emmy was a natural.  I was so glad she picked it up and loved it.  She and her friend spent the day on the green slopes. By the end of the day, she was ready to try a blue.  Bryce took her out for the blues and then got her on a black diamond.  It was definitely a successful day.    

We brought Bryce's buddy with us so they could snowboard while the girls skied.  

Emmy requested MeMa's chocolate cherry cake for her final celebration of the weekend.  We went to Noodles for lunch with the family after church.  It was a full and fun weekend celebrating our best girl.  

 

winter weather part 2

It's been a long week.  Evidenced by the snow day delirium of seeing how far we could stretch mozzarella stick cheese.  The kids missed the whole week of school if you're wondering.   

Virtual/Remote learning days are not the best, but we're trying to work through it. 

The kids did escape to the Caddell's for a little while this week.  Stairs, sidewalks, and driveways are ice skating rinks, but the streets aren't too bad. 

This was our driveway after the ice.  You could drive over it and not even put a dent in it.  We finally put the sun and warmish temps to our favor and chipped away at the driveway.  

Once Jason broke it up, it was easy to push it away.  

It was hard work, but we did it.  Sore muscles and all!

These vibration plates are all the rage and I needed one!  I've had plenty of time to test it out while we've been iced in. 

Jason and I snuck out one night for a break from cooking and running and unloading the dishwasher.  We met some friends and it was a fabulous night out.  Bryce is already out of school Monday and Tuesday and Emmy on Monday.  We're hoping to get a few days with temps above freezing so we can get sidewalks and parking lots clear for school to go back.