Home meet

Last fall, when Sam joined the competitive gymnastics team, I knew that there would not really be an ends to the means - that he was working out with the team because he enjoyed it (and so we could carpool!) but that he would not be able to compete in the meets as they don't have male events...

So when our gym hosted a meet last weekend, I was overwhelmed at how they went out of their way to allow Sam to participate in all the events that he had been working on with the team!

It truly made all the practices and drives to Rifle worth it just to see Sam be a part of the team, participating with his friends at all the events and even getting judged! (he did quite well) And when it came time for the places to be announced and the medals awarded, the gym again went out of their way to acknowledge Sam and his efforts on the team. My heart was bursting for him - and despite the fact that he says he doesn't necessarily feel the need to compete, I know it meant a lot to him to be included. He loves his team and his sport - I can't wait to see what he will do next!

Spring

I have been remiss in posting updates this season... and I would say primarily it's just because we have been busy!!! I don't have too much by way of photos to show for it - but I assure you we came back to town from spring break and hit the ground running at top speed. Free time (when we found it!) was dedicated to play and slowing down long enough to relax before the next event.

For the record, here was my view from work (Meeker High School) the week after spring break:

Of course, all that spring snow led to plenty of spring mud once it started to melt!

Well Hamp & his gang saw that as a perfect opportunity to go hiking...

Then there was that one time I got to ride a donkey in the High School gym and play basketball:

(there simply is no segue for this event or picture - and by way of explanation, all I can say is that it was a fundraiser in April for one of our school clubs.... and it was hilariously profitable indeed!)

With the spring season comes the last stretch of the school year - which inevitably means major projects and field trips!

The 6th graders have had many fun projects (and a school dance somewhere in that mix...) including the quintessential Volcano model:

The 3rd graders' major research project to wrap up the year was a country report - and Sam chose to learn all about Myanmar (naturally?!)

Sam's class also took a neat field trip to the Glenwood Springs Caverns where they deepened their learning of local earth geology... 

or at least that was what the permission slip said they would be doing!

But spring for us just wouldn't be complete without Little League Baseball - and it has been a heck of a season so far. The Gators are together again and battling through a losing streak like crazy... all pretty great little ball players on their own, just can't get the team groove on. It doesn't help that they play 2-3 games a week and it has been almost consistently cold, windy and sometimes lightning and raining and wet. But none-the-less I love to watch Hamp play... 

... and especially love to watch him and all his teammates burst into celebration at winning their first two games of the season at a double header under the lights in Grand Junction! 

While I can not, out of respect for my entire family's collegiate associations, cheer for the Gators... I do love this team (and their coaches, and the parents!!!) and I love watching baseball, even in the cold wind and rain and under the threat of being struck by lightning.

There are still 2 weeks to go of school, baseball, and Sam's gymnastics (which I haven't even mentioned yet... that'll be for another post!) and then we will officially be in summer mode. Until then - I will love all that Spring has to offer.