Track, Glasses, Dahlia

High school track practice began this week. Even though track did mostly take over our life, we did have a few other things happen too.

• High school track practice started with spectacular spring weather: hail on day one. 
• I went to high school track practices all week long to help sort the new kids into event groups. It was fun, but also yucky uncomfy weather. I did get to see a whole bunch of our dear cross country kids at the beginning of practice each day, which was a highlight. Love those kids.
• Amber got glasses! Rose got new glasses frames, and now they almost match.
• We went to Burger King with Grampa Dan and Grama Leslie on Thursday to have whopper hamburgers for dinner in memorial of Great Grandpa White (he loved whoppers).
• Trying to learn hard piano songs reminded me yet again that in spite of all my practicing, I am a very basic unskilled unlearned piano player at best.
• 15-20 mph WIND attacked us every day at track practice. At home, we staked down our trampoline so it wouldn't blow away.
• Jeff hosted a high school track team time trial on Saturday in the WIND, setting up the complicated automatic timing system in just 90 minutes. Jay ran a 1600 PR of 5:42! I was the clerk, reading out names and lane assignments for all of the races. We were only at the track for 4 hours, but it was exhausting!
• During the time trial, my important high school athletics key fell out of my pocket, and I didn't notice it was gone until I got home. With the help of a few slightly desperate prayers, I went back to the track and miraculously found it a few hours later. 
• We drove to and from Seattle on Sunday, March 3rd for our sweet niece/cousin Dahlia's baby blessing! Starting at 6am, we did the 3 hour drive, stayed in Seattle for 5.5 hours, and then drove home 3 hours. (Bonus points to Jeff for driving the entire way!) It was a special day to gather with family to celebrate a new baby. Everyone loved taking turns holding Dahlia. HAPPY family day. I was so glad to be there for it.

This became a bare bones bullet-point post, but it got the job done!

PICTURES:

The hail begins...it was sunny and hailing hard all at once. So weird and also sparkly.

Eventually we dashed through the hail to put the hurdles away and send kids home.

Hail is so hard and bouncy!

My bag got filled with hail.

We used metal stakes to tie down our trampoline. We've lost two too many trampolines to the windstorms here, so we knew we had to act when the wind blew in.

Amber's new glasses! She likes being able to see.

New almost-matching glasses for these sisters.

Burger King Whopper dinner with Dan and Leslie!

Piano frustrations. I have been working on the same song for MONTHS now and it is taking forever to learn. I listened to a recording of the song this week and realized that I probably won't ever be able to play this song like it's intended to be played. It was humbling. 

Amber used nearly every last cent of her money to purchase this rocks, minerals, and gems book. Her passion for geology is undying.

One night Rose wore all of her bedding and some of Amber's.

Saturday morning at the track with Grampa Dan. Jeff's dad Dan is coaching throws for Sunnyside High School this season, and Rose and Amber like seeing him every day at practice. Since there's a Dan Winger, a Dan White, and a Jeff White all on the high school coaching staff, Jeff told the team to call Dan White "Coach Dad". Time will tell if the name sticks.

Such relief flooded my system when I found my key on the turf of the track infield! It was brutal going back out in the wind after leaving the track, but worth it to find my key! 

This is the picture I sent Jeff to let him know hope was restored. Losing an official key really is an uncomfortable feeling.

The rest of the pictures are from our trip to Seattle for Dahlia's baby blessing on March 3rd, 2024:

The Snoqualmie Pass was Snoqualmie-ing. More snow fell on the way home, but Jeff drove the entire way and Jim Dale read us a magical story about the wizarding world so we survived.

What is it about kids and blankets? All three kids brought blankets instead of coats on our journey to Seattle.

Fuzzy Pancha got a LOT of love.

Dahlia got the most love!

Her pouty sad lip!! She didn't love the crispy dress at first.

Amber confidently held the baby multiple times, in spite of her lack of baby-holding experience. It was a wee bit stressful to watch every now and then.

Girl cousins have to stick together! They are outnumbered 9 to 6 on the Brown side of the family!

Jeff demonstrated The Claw--his favorite baby-hold. Dahlia was a fan.

Jay wasn't so sure about holding a tiny baby, but it was so sweet.

After church with the family! Kind of fun that 6 people from each side of Dahlia's extended family came for her day.

We were tempted to take Dahlia home with us, but then we saw how she smiled biggest at her mama, Mel, so we gave her back before we hit the road.