Jillian is 16!

As of 6:11 am this morning, Jillian turned her Sweet 16. Aunt Dany kicked off the celebration, stopping by at 7:00 am with cake, ice cream, candles, flowers, balloon and card.

Auntie Greta followed that up with birthday wishes, flowers and a gift at 7:30 am.

Springfield - Day 2

The second day in Springfield was much longer, with an earlier wake up and a long drive home. Bridget's volleyball team went 2-2 for the day, facing some tough competition. Bridget got to play in the front row often, and even had a few hits:

Springfield - Day 1

All of us made a weekend trip to Springfield, Oregon for Jillian and Bridget's volleyball Power League tournaments. We stayed Friday night at a hotel, allowing us to sleep in a little before heading to the Keefer Center for Jillian's games on Saturday. They did really well, with the exception of one match, finishing 3rd in flight 3.

Jillian now serves a short ball almost exclusively, and it's very effective. When the other team adjusts, then she serves deep.

Here's a shot of her jump setting a tight ball at the net, which ended with a kill by the middle hitter.

After the last match, we drove up to the Oregon Horse Center, one of the biggest horse arena complexes we've ever seen.

The selling point of this trip for Tor was getting to swim in the hotel pool.

Safety Patrol

Tor continued in his sisters' footsteps in doing safety patrol in his 5th grade year. Mom was quite impressed with this picture - both the very ginger color of his hair, and how neatly combed it was for the pic.

Game Time

We spent a couple hours playing some games, including Rat-a-tat Cat (Bridget won twice), Sleeping Queens (Jillian won), UNO (Dad won), and a long, silly game of Quelf (Tor won).

While Mom went for a walk, Tor came up with his own game of Roll & Shoot on his makeshift mini hoop, and the girls joined him:

Oysterville Sea Farms

This could be the start of a new tradition: eating clam chowder (the kids and Mom) and steamed oysters (Dad only) at the Oysterville Sea Farms seafood market. Driving through Oysterville has been a regular occurrence on our stays here, but we rarely stopped. But after Mom ordered a bowl of clam chowder (soooo delicious), the kids tried a taste, and then wouldn't stop eating it, so they got their own bowl. And Dad tried oysters that they steamed, shelled and prepped right at the counter, and they were amazing, too. The kids wouldn't try them, though.

Ice Cream Next

A little backwards, because we are supposed to get ice cream after visiting the beach ... but we stopped at Colleen's to make sure we didn't miss it. Three cotton candies, as usual ... and Tor actually finished his.

Starting at the Library

Everyone got to sleep in this morning at the beach cabin. Tor was first up, and watched the Hobbit. Mom made breakfast sandwiches, and after we got dressed and ready, we headed out at noon for the library:

Huddling for Warmth

We made a quick trip to the beach cabin for this Presidents Day weekend since the kids had no sporting events on Saturday. Jillian drove all the way down as she approaches her 16th birthday. It was a bit chilly, so the girls huddled around the space heater (like they've done since they were little) while Tor set up his old mini hoop with duct tape and practiced dunking:

OFEA Outstanding Competitor

Bridget was recently honored at the Oregon Family Equestrian Association 2023 awards banquet, where she was given ribbons for Outstanding Competitor in 13U Showmanship and English Pleasure.

Winter Woolies

The January Winter Woolies horse show was delayed due to the snow storm a while back, so the February show was the first of the year. Bridget rode Handsome both Saturday and Sunday, and came away with blue ribbons in all but one of the 11-13 age division classes, and even won several blue ribbons in the stock and solid horse classes (open to all ages). She ended up winning High Point for 11-13, and was awarded a horse blanket.

Grannie and Papa Bob came to watch and visited Bridget and Handsome after a class.

STEAM+R Night

Tor attended the STEAM+R Night at Olympic with Mom, and there were a lot of Valentine's Day themed activities, including making slime, a toothpick prism, and this balancing cup display:

25 Mile Club

Almost every weekday morning, Tor wakes up early and joins his Running Club to do some laps  at the RA Long track before school begins. Halfway through the year, Tor has put in 25 miles, for which he was rewarded with a T-shirt.

Yet Another Buckle

Bridget recently competed in the Crazy Ribbon Horse Show in Yamhill, and came away with the overall 13-U High Point Buckle. It was inlaid with turquoise this time, and since it was a Molly buckle, it was beautiful as always.

Bridget said "I don't know why Dad is making me write this. He could have just wrote it above. Also this is not a very good picture I'm not even smiling. Anyways, there was tough competition at the show but I had fun and handsome did well."

Birthdays

We had a dinner at Guadalajara for all the recent birthdays, Cale, Julie, and Heather. (but Heather couldn't make it at the last minute. We missed her.) It was a fun time with everyone and lots of good food.

Jillian, Bridget, and Tor got to join in the fun too. Here Jillian is holding little Rory, who was awake the whole time and fascinated with all the lights and people.