WASHINGTON DC

Potomac River from Mount Vernon: This is a magnificent view!

My Group at Mount Vernon

The Vietnam Memorial

Betsy and Devon with Winston Churchill at the Wax Museum

Devon and Mommy at the Jefferson Memorial in DC

At the Lincoln Monument

At the Iwa Gima Monument Devon and Mommy at the Iwa Gima Monument

At Arlington Cemetery: Changing of the guard ceremony

171 8th graders in front of the White House

Devon playing a boxing game at ESPN in DC

Devon looking at an exhibit in the Air and Space Museum in DC

Devon and Ryan at Medieval Times!

Mommy at the metro station: I used to ride this all the time in the 1980's

Waiting, and more waiting!

Mommy and Devon in front of the National Capital

The Nation's Capital

Devon in front of the Supreme Court House in DC

Devon with a best friend, Ryan

On May 19, Mommy and Devon left with another 170 8th grade students and chaperons at 7:00 p.m. for WASHINGTON DC.

Betsy was a chaperon on the 8th grade trip to DC. We drove by charter bus all through the night and arrived in DC at 8:30 a.m. (after stopping a few times including for breakfast). We saw the following in the first day: Supreme Court House, Library of Congress, Capital, Ronald Regan International Building, Lincoln Monument, Vietnam Memorial, Korean Memorial, FDR Memorial Jefferson Monument, Washington Monument and the WWII memorial. That evening we at at Union Station (a zoo) and then toured Madame Trousseau's Wax Museum.

Day 2:

Mount Vernon, Arlington Cemetery, Iwa Gima, Holocaust Museum, the White House,

ESPN Zone for dinner and games, night tour of monuments and back to the hotel.

Day 3:

National Achieves, Air and Space Museum, Natural History Museum, Zoo, and dinner at Medieval Times. Homeward bound!!!

Some interesting things about the trip that didn't have anything to do with DC. I somehow became "nurse" for our group. Each day one student would have a wipe out. First day, a boy slipped on the Jefferson Memorial steps - big gash to the knee. Second day, almost the same thing...boy took a bad (running) step at Mount Vernon - tore up his knee. Third day - boy accidentally loses his balance on the bus and sticks his hand up - hits a metal casing and requires seven stitches. The bus sat and waited three hours while he was in the ER.

I was moved to Devon's bus so I could get home in time to get Robert to Cincinnati on Saturday for games. We pulled into NOMS at 7:46 a.m. We were exhausted from driving all night. My feet were swollen. I was spent, but it was a great trip!

STATE TRACK TOURNAMENT

Jessica's 4 x 400 relay was on May 23 at U of L. She and her teammates ran for the first time in the state meet.

We were so proud of them. They ran a great meet coming in 12th in the state. They weren't really concerned with were they came in because they knew they were young and new at this event.

However, what they did do was break the old school record.

Jessica now hold 3 track and field school records: 100 meter HHurdles, 300 meter Hurdles, and the 4x400 relay with Jessica Andres, Lucy Gibson and Ashley Adams.

It was a great day!

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS

Robert's team has had a busy couple of days. First on May 19 they played Javanon (the only team they had lost to). They tied 2-2 with Robert scoring the first goal. YEAH ROBERT! Then a few days later, Robert and Mommy went to Cincinnati for a soccer tournament. The team played absolutely great! I've only posted a few photos of Robert (because there are too many). This is from the second game - we won 3-1. Robert scored the second goal.

Robert with another attempt on goal.

Robert anticipating the ball, heading it back towards his teammate.

This was another game in Cincinnati: We tied 1-1

On Saturday, May 30 - Robert's team played the last game of the season. In order to take first place in their division (Division 1, the top division in the stat) they had to win this game. They had beat this team before but that didn't mean anything to the team - they were going to play as tough as any game.

The weather was perfect, the fields were a bit patchy, but there isn't anything you can do about that. At 11:00 the game started. They boys played hard, but the other team got the first goal. That meant business. From then on, Blue rocked. Robert scored, then four others. Almost everyone on the team had a chance to score.

Robert charging the ball. Robert with a block

Robert there again.

Robert heading the ball.

The final score was 5-2 our win.

The boys were so excited! They did it! They worked so hard all season - all year.

Back in September they were in Division 2 - they moved up at the end of the fall season and now they are the top of Division 1. Way to go boys!

GOING TO STATE

The FAB 4 are going to STATE! They will compete in the STATE meet!

AWESOME! They deserve it. They have worked so hard but still it's hard to believe - NO WAY! It's SO AMAZING that all their hard work has earned them a spot at STATE!

GO LADY MUSTANGS!

REGIONAL TRACK MEET

Jessica had the regional track meet on Saturday, May 9, 2009. This was her second time there.

Last year she earned a PR in the 100m High Hurdles (HH) and broke the school record at 19.11. She was so excited.

After a rough landing on the first hurdle and her left knee buckling on her, this year Jessica PRed in the 100 m HH and broke her own school record at 19.10. The pain in her knee really shook her up. She was so surprised when I told her that she improved her time despite the obstacle she faced. She must have really put on the gas for the remaining 9 hurdles.

Jessica A., Lucy, ?, Jessica L., Chase and Jordan in between events

She was supposed to run the 300 m Hurdles, but she decided after meeting with the meet trainer it would be better to rest her knee so she could compete with her teammates in the 4 x 400 m relay. The trainer confirmed that it was her knee tracking problem, and the mitroconda (I doubt I spelled that right). It would not "hurt" her to run, but it would be painful. It was very hard for me to watch Jessica scratch the 300 m Hurdles because it is her best individual event, but I was very proud of her for taking steps to protect her body and support her teammates.

The 4 x 400 m relay is the very last event of the meet. The girls really prepared as best they could. I call these girls the FAB 4, because they are so amazing, they are so committed and they can't stand to let each other down. They are like glue to each other. The first to run is Ashley Adams, followed by Lucy Gibson, third is Jessica Lowe, and Jessica Andres is the anchor. We had the lead most of the first lap, we were in third at the end of the second, Jessica Lowe held the third position, but 4th was creeping up on her. Jessica Andres fell into 4th but it was very close and then she gave it everything she had to regain the 3rd position. It was amazing! They took 3rd at Regionals against some amazing talent from other schools! GO FAB 4.

Jessica Lowe holding the 3rd place mark, running for her life!

Jessica Andres regaining the 3rd position to finish the race

Victory!!!

NOT A GOOD MORNING

I think I did pretty good considering I woke up at 6:00 a.m. to get Jessica up and going for Seminary, when I heard water rushing down a pipe. It sounded similar to the sound of a toilet that's handle didn't completely return to its proper position so it just keeps running. Well, as I went downstairs to find out what was going on I found water in my basement! YIKES!

This is not what you want to see at 6:00 in the morning. I'm amazed I was able to see it at all considering I wasn't wearing my contacts or glasses. Water was spraying out of a pipe directly atop the water heater. So what do you do?

A) panic, freeze, cry

B) yell for your husband, but then remember he is out of town

C) think, think, think - what should I do.

Typically I think I would panic, panic, panic, but today I panicked, and then thought to turn off the water to the house. Then I yelled up to Jessica to turn on all the water faucets (sinks, tubs, showers) to relieve the pressure. That seemed to stop the spraying of water, but that didn't do anything for the puddles on the floor in the storage room.

And I thought that was the extent of the damage...silly me.

Jessica brought me every towel she could find while I was moving all the camping materials, the books that were in storage, etc., etc., etc. She was drying the books when I looked up to see water on the walls...oh no.

Okay, so I went to the storage room under the stairs (the other side of the wall) and didn't see any water...yeah...so I thought. I lifted up one of the "A,B,C" foam tiles we have as the floor covering in there, and yes, you guessed it - water. YIKES. That under-the-stairs room is stuffed with storage.

By this time Devon and Robert are up. Robert is getting ready for school and Devon has jumped in to help. He and I are hauling the several boxes of trains and train track, old boxes, suitcases, and "my wedding dress" out from under the stairs. Everything wet - went to the garage, Everything dry - to the entertainment room. This was time consuming.

We took a break to have family prayer and send Robert on his way to school. Oh, I forgot to mention, Mark really is out of town and Jessica didn't make it to Seminary because I desperately needed her help. Devon and Jessica helped me until 7:35 when they had to leave to catch the school bus.

Now it's only me and this big mess. Finally the plumbers are open for business and I am their first call of the day. (I actually called earlier, but the guy was nice and suggested I call back after 7:30 to save $55 - which I did.) I call - they are on their way.

I go to survey the damage and get to work cleaning up. (I hadn't even found the worst of it yet). I was hauling dripping towels up to the washer, throwing away damaged boxes, up and down, up and down the stairs I went. I was trying to dry out the under-the-stairs room when the Holy Ghost whispered to me to check the play room. If water was all over the floor on this side of the water heater, it seems logical that water would be on the other side too. OH NO. I was right! And because that room is carpeted - water was splashing under my feet as I walked into the room. Water was in the padding and extended 8 feet away from the wall. YIKES!

Thank goodness for great friends. I sent out an email asking if anyone had a dehumidifier and two came to the rescue. Now I have been vacuuming up water with my "Little Bissle" before running the two dehumidifiers. I emptied a full container of water twice.

It is at this point that I realize - this job is way bigger than I can handle, so I call the insurance company. They are sending an "Emergency Team" out to dry out my house.

In all reality - it could have been so much worse. I am so grateful for the blessings of life. This year has been filled with adversity for us, but nothing too much and each trial taught us something! I will always trust in the Lord and have faith things will work out!

RECORD BREAKING DAY

#1 - North Oldham Lady Mustangs Track and Field team at the KCD meet! This picture is after winning the last event, the 4 x 400 m. The girls took first in most events and took first overall! They won the meet and I was able to make it just in time to see it.


Jessica runs in three events:

Her Individual events...

Jessica took second in the 100 m high hurdles scoring 19.2 (only .09 from her personal best)

Jessica took first in the 300 m hurdles scoring a new school record at 51.38

She now holds the school record for both hurdle events! She was so excited when her coach told her the news.

She also does a Relay event...

Jessica's third event is the 4 x 400 relay. She runs 3rd in the group. They came in at 4:29 (only 3 seconds shy of breaking the school record). They will be working extra hard to break it at the next meet in Henry County for Regional championship.

I call these girls the "FAB 4" because they are not only great athletes (and so good together), but they are great friends (three play on the basketball team together).

THE FAB 4

Lucy Gibson, Jessica Lowe, Ashley Adams, and Jessica Andres.

I get so excited for Jessica when she is running in an event. She works so hard dispite challenges and injuries. Just in this past week alone she has had two track meets and her AP final in Euro. She is also running without a toe nail on her big toe!

BEST PART OF THE JOB

On May 9, 2009, I hosted the "Celebration of Motherhood" on behalf of American Mothers, Inc. at the State Capital in Frankfort, KY. It is one of the high lights of the year.

Honoring the participants of the 5th grade essay contest in the

Press Room at the Kentucky State Capital. Tori Hafner (Harmony), Chris Chu (Goshen),

Heather Wiley (Harmony) and Brianna (Locast Grove)

Betsy with Robert (10) and Marissa (12) in the Rotunda

The participants with their "Awesome Moms"



I love volunteering because I am doing something for someone else with no benefit to me - however when it comes to presenting awards to kids, I get a thrill out of it, too.

Today I was honored to showcase the four winners of the AMI 5th Grade Essay contest and their mothers. It was extra special to me because I had coached the winner of the Honorable Mention essay, and the first place essay was written by a boy with Asperger Syndrome that attends Robert's school.

I was so grateful to have my own kids with me on this special weekend that is set aside to honor mothers...Robert and Marissa! They didn't want to go at first, and then I couldn't get them to leave. They had a wonderful time exploring the Capital building. They saw the Senate, and the House, the State Supreme Court and the office of the Governor. It was a great experience for them.

THE CAT GETS THE BIRD

It's so not fair - but it's true. It's a story of animals. On Saturday, May 2 there is the famous Kentucky Derby Race. It may not be huge in other parts of this world, but it is HUGE in Kentucky. Well, our family has a tradition of picking horses prior to the race and seeing who would have won - if we were betting. Usually the winner will get something like their choice for dinner or ice cream or something fun like that - but its something small. Anyway ...

This year we did it a bit different. Each person got to chose three horses, "I want Revenge" scratched so we gave the last "unwanted" as the cat's pick. It turned out to be "Mind that Bird" We thought it was cute and very appropriate as Snickers loves to watch, chase and scare the birds...it seems her mind is always on the birds this time of year.

Well, Can you believe it - Snicker's horse WON the Kentucky Derby. The cat with a horse named after a bird. CRAZY! I guess I will go pick her up some cat nip this week.

Well, that's the latest from the LOWES in Kentucky!

PS: My horse came in second.

GLORIOUS GARDENS EVERYWHERE

The gardens in Oregon are amazingly beautiful. It makes you want to come home and recreate that beauty. It was so peaceful and lovely! Betsy and her friend Linda Zenger from Utah
Betsy in front of the duck pond

Betsy with more friends from American Mothers, Inc.

Aren't the flowers beautiful! Such rich color!

Betsy enjoying a box lunch with Christy and friends from Utah!

More to follow!

PARTY IN PORTLAND

More to come!

Not really a party - but a great time at the 74th Annual American Mothers, Inc. National Convention!