Run, Run, as Fast as You Can...

Ciera had her first Cross Country meet of the season on Monday.   The 8th grade girls were supposed to run at 5:00, but they didn't end up running until about 5:45... and it was freezing (in the upper 40's lower 50's) and windy!  The poor girls had to stand around and freeze forever, and then, BAM!, run 2 miles.  Ciera ran the whole time, even though she didn't do as well as she hoped to.  I am proud of her for persevering!  Way to go Ciera!

Austin trip & the State Capital

Ciera and I took off for Austin right after her band competition on Friday.  We stopped in Waco at Smashburger for dinner and made it down to Austin around 9:00.

We got settled into our hotel and then went to see Chloe's hotel.  On Saturday morning, Chloe had to compete so Ciera and I went to find something to do.  We got pedicures!  ( I only have ever had one a long time ago, and this was Ciera's first...)  It was fun!

Later in the day, after we spent lunchtime with Chloe, we went to the capital building while Chloe's school group went to UT Austin.  It was pretty cool!

Saturday evening we went with Chloe's group to a Japanese Steak House for dinner.  The kids had a lot of fun because they had never seen the cool tricks the chefs can do!

All in all, it was a quick, but fun, trip to the capital.  Someday I hope to make it a family trip!

Future Problem Solvers State Competition

Chloe's team in Future Problem Solvers made it to the state competition in Austin.

They left on Friday morning, April 11, and competed on Saturday.  Chloe was really excited... none of us have ever been to Austin.  She was able to stay in a hotel (a fancy-schmancy one!) with her teammates and had a really great time.

We allowed her to go, but we decided that she would have to come home Saturday night instead of staying until Sunday with the rest of the schools.  Ciera and I drove down to Austin on Friday evening and were able to be there for her competition and then drove home Saturday night. (I will do another post about Ciera's and my trip.)
Her team didn't end up placing in the state competition to move on to nationals, but I am so proud of her!!  It means a lot to make it that far... Way to go Chloe!

Band UIL Competition

Ciera had her annual UIL Band Competition on Friday, April 11.  Their band played 3 songs and then did a sight reading portion.  I thought they sounded good, but after they finished, while they were waiting for their results, I spoke to the director.  She said the judges were being really tough and she was not sure how well they did.

They ended up getting straight 1's, which is the top score!  Yay Ciera!

HaPpY BirThDaY ChLOe!!

I can not believe that my Chloe is 12 years old!  It seems like just yesterday she was in such a hurry to be born, and now she is 12!  She is such an amazing girl.  I am so glad she is my daughter! Her birthday fell on General Conference weekend, so she had her birthday party with her friends on Friday evening.  She had 3 girls come, and they had food and watched the Hunger Games movies, did nails, and made rubber band bracelets.  She had a lot of fun!

For her birthday date with me and Dave, she chose to go to Studio Movie Grill and see the new Muppet Movie.  We did that on Thursday night.  It was really fun!

This morning, we slept in, had cinnamon rolls, opened presents, and then watched the first session of General Conference.   In between sessions, we ate lunch and then had cake and ice cream with our birthday girl.  Chloe wanted a red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting and fondant flowers... not too fancy.  That is what I made her.  In the evening, we ran to Target and she got some bath finger paint soap for herself (which she had to try out...)!  We did some butterfly crafts in the evening, and then after we got the little girls in bed, Ciera, Chloe, Dave and I watched Mission Impossible 2 together.  I hope Chloe had a wonderful birthday!  We love our Chloe-girl!

Now, A Day All About Chloe...

Chloe was recognized twice at her school this morning.  Once for her participation in "Celebrate the Arts", and once for getting straight A's this grading period.  I was able to go to her assembly, her team also got the spirit award.  I am super proud of Chloe!

As part of the Future Problem Solvers, Chloe was part of a special presentation to the Wylie Fire Department.  For FPS, they did a community outreach with the fire department to provide batteries for smoke detectors in people's homes in the neighborhoods around the school.  At their assembly, the FPS presented the fire fighters with their remaining batteries.  It was awesome.  Chloe was one of the girls that got to do the presentation.  Chloe is such a great student and member of her community.  Way to go Chloe!

Team Isabella

We have been fortunate to be a part of something special.  In Kindergarten, Brooke met a little girl in her class named Isabella Martinez.  It just so happened that she lives only two houses away from us, and the girls became friends.  After several months, during which Isabella's health seemed to be deteriorating, the Martinez family received terrible news.  Isabella had a rare (and unknown to us) disease called Mitochondrial Disease.  It didn't look good.  Isabella has had to be hospitalized several times in the years following, and at one point lost her eyesight for a few days.  (Luckily, it has come back.)  Isabella is doing good right now, but it is like living with a ticking bomb... you never know when something will happen.  There is no cure right now.

The Dallas area had its first ever walk for Mito awareness last weekend.  We were all able to walk on Team Isabella (our family and Ciera's friend Katherine).  The walk was a great success, and the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation raised more than their goal!  We love Isabella, and hope that she is around for a really long time!!