Laurie's World

Here are Rachael and Jackie right after their participation in the Kirkland Kids Triathlon. It was a relatively short one (compared to some to the other ones they have done).They swam 75 yards, biked 1 mile and ran 1/4 of a mile.

Rachael finished 12th out of 76 and Jackie finished 57/76…so they very well!

First Day of School!!

Brooklyn grade 11(NO WAY!)

Rachael grade 7 (first day of junior high)

and (my baby) Jackie grade 6

As part of our drywall repairs, we had to have the dormers in Rachael and Jackie’s room redone…which means they also had to be repainted.

So we got that done and then we finally got to decorate…so here is what they look like…

And Jackie’s room…

Jackie and Rachael were in the Seafair Kids Triathlon this weekend. It was a beautiful day…nice and warm…Rachael placed 8th in her age group with a time of 12:14 and 43rd out of 204 overall (male and female–all ages). Jackie’s time was 14:25 and she placed 23rd in her age group, 134th out of 204 overall. Such accomplished athletes!!

My little baby…not so little anymore! Well she is still a bit on the small side…just not so young any more!

Jackie had her 11th birthday party on June 24th…still fantastic weather…so she had a pool party, balloon toss, bubble gum blowing contest, general frivolity party

We had to go inside to do cake as there was a little breeze and it was causing problems with the candles

And here she is with her cousins having a family gathering a few days later…

Well, I am back from Camp Casey and have survived yet another 5th grade Outdoor Ed program. And given the horrible weather we had…that is really something to say. Jackie also survived, but she is a kid and her survival is pretty much guaranteed (mine was not)

So here are some pictures to show you what we were up to…

Here Jackie and Taylor are on one of the lookout towers…

And Jackie up on one of the 10" disappearing cannons

Hanging out on the bunks…the girl right to Jackie’s left is Justine…one of her BFFs

And girls gotta EAT! Mess Hall B

This is Jackie on the beach looking for chittons, snails, shells and other good sea life

Jackie holding a sea cucumber as part of the marine biology lesson

As part of their Survival lesson, they were given the opportunity to eat some Stinging Nettle (which apparently once it is boiled, is harmless)

They look a little apprehensive don’t they??

Jackie has already eaten hers and survivied…so the others are ready to go for it now

Project Wild was a session about the migration of birds and how humans have changed their environment to make this more difficult for them…so the "hands on" learning was a hopscotch that got increasingly more difficult as the squares were eliminated from being used. So here is Jackie doing her thing and below is the one piece of photographic evidence that we have that shows I was at Camp Casey For the entertainment of the children (and some other counselors) I am doing the migratory hopscotch…

A buddy shot…

This is Jackie on the bus ride home…She looks rested, fresh and ready for three more days of camp!!

And Jackie and Taylor on the bus ride home…

Rachael and Jackie had their last track meet today–the Northshore Junior Olympics at Woodinville High. It was MISERABLE! Rainy windy and so COLD.

The girls were amazing and did some of their best work–Rachael got 2nd in High Jump and Jackie earned 4th in triple jump…

This is Rachael and her her Hi Jump buddy–Kendra!  Look at that rain…

Rachael and Jackie participated in the Issaquah Triathlon today…They did FANTASTIC!

Here they are getting marked with their numbers…

Here they are waiting to start the race…

This is the girls after they finished…Jackie’s chip was not working properly, so we do not know her real time…I think she finished 4 or 5 minutes after Rachael.  Rachael came in first in her age group by almost three minutes!! They "swam" 75 meters, biked 3.3 kilometers and ran 1 kilometer in this race. This is definitely the longest tri either of the girls have been in (particularly for the bike part–that is usually one mile)…so this was a definite push for both of them…the running was no problem as they both run between one and two miles routinely in their sports. And the water is too shallow to really swim in, so that part is more of a wade. Which as it happens this time was very good news since the water in Lake Samammish was very cold still…the race organizers recommended wet suits, but we do not own such a thingSo they toughed it out…

and having a little snack after…there were four grills gong, grilling up free bratwurst for the crowd!!

Jackie took some shot of Nicki’s bed and I thought I would put them up here so all could see how great it turned out. Troy made the bed and Jackie and i made the bedding (mostly jackie)

There is even some room for Coconut…

Jackie was making these AWESOME peanut butter sandwich cookies…They were very VERY good…