Graduation time!

How is it possible that we have a first grader?  Logan did great during his year at Ridgeline Academy.  He finished the kindergarten curriculum early in the year, and was put into his own reading group since he outpaced the rest of the class.  He finished the first grade math section by the end of the year, they were very kind in giving him individualized homework and groups.  He struggled a bit in that he had three different teachers, but loved his first and third teachers.  The mom of the little girl in this picture came up to tell me she knew all about Logan because apparently he was her daughter's boyfriend.  Logan had no idea what she was talking about.

Logan got a cute little medal for graduation. They had a cute little singing program, Logan is the one with the blue argyle shirt in the video below. It was actually a cute, but bittersweet graduation.  One of the little girl's fathers was a cop that was killed in the line of duty three days before graduation.  So three hundred officers showed up to support her.  It was so, so sad.  I cried when the little girl got the standing ovation. The press was out in force, so our family was on the front page of the Arizona Republic webpage for a week.

McKay's graduation was a little more simplistic.  They had a water party! He had a great time time at Anthem preschool, and loved his teacher Ms. Shelley.  We were thinking of holding McKay back because of his small size and late birthday, but they very strongly suggested we put him in because he was too smart to stay home! I'm sure I will cry when I drop him off in August.

Logan Graduated!

Please tell me the volume works!  It is the kids singing "First Grade" to "New York."

Fighting Vader!

My favorite part of our DisneyWorld trip (besides not cooking or doing dishes for a week) was when Logan and McKay fought Darth Vader at Hollywood Studios.  It was hilarious. 

Logan took it all very seriously.  Not a lot of smiles.  He practiced and went up there and was very aggressive.  We got to the park pretty early, but didn't get into a session until one o'clock.  So we killed some time watching the Muppets, shooting at the Toy Story ride, watching a lame Pirates of the Caribbean show, and having some lunch. We were ready to go by the time we were done.

McKay made the audience laugh and cheer.  He was the smallest one there, so they really got behind him.  He got chosen to lead everyone out, and took his role very seriously.  I wish you could have seen his face, he looked so scared and so so brave at the same time. He thought Vader was real, and that it is was his job to defeat him... no matter how scared.  Hilarious.  Afterwards they got to go to the Star Wars store where Aunt Julie bought them each a light saber that they got to customize and build themselves.  They still haven't gotten old. 

Dr. Loren Chase graduated!

He did it! After two years of classes, and four years of dissertation, Loren graduated with his PhD in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources from Colorado State University.  The whole family went to Colorado to watch him be hooded.  It was a proud, proud moment.  Here he is with his advisor and committee member. 

Loren graduated with above a 3.9, and with admission into several honor societies.  He has already been contacted by several journals, who are interested in publishing his work on how Latino communities interact with wildlife.

We got to stay with my supportive Aunt Dolores, and the boys were happy to see her--although they were a little afraid of the grass in her yard.  Julie also was there to support Loren and celebrate with him (and thanks for being our official photographer and videographer!)

We celebrated by going to the cheese shop and grabbing some growlers from Coopersmith's.

We are so proud Dr. Chase!

Introducing Dr. Loren Chase

Karate Kid

We started Logan in karate last summer.  He wanted to become a ninja, it was air conditioned, it was cheap.  Done!  He is a little young for it yet, his kicks and punches don't have a lot of fight to them, but it keeps him busy.

I couldn't figure out how to flip the video.... but can you see him saying "KKKIIIAAA!!!"  'Cuz he yells it.  So make sure you are saying it loudly in your mind. 

He recently went from a yellow belt to a green belt with a white stripe--skipping green.  He has yet to memorize his kata, but he sure is proud.  

Plus, isn't he the cutest little ninja ever?

I did it! (Again!!)

Remember how I'm not a runner?  And how when I first started running I could only go .2 miles to the park?  Yeah.  I still can't run.  But I needed a new challenge, so I decided to run a half marathon.  'Cuz that's what you do when you need a new challenge!  My friend Summer was a rock star and ran with me most mornings as we did an 8-week plan to get ready for the Phoenix marathon.

It sucked.

Even though we live in Phoenix, when you get up at 4:45 to run it is still cold out! We had to wear hats and gloves and there was ice on the car.  

I gave up soda and drank a protein shake every day.  

I ran three days a week and cross trained two.

And after two months it was go time.  

We traveled down to Mesa to run the awful 13.1 miles.  It was not as bad as I expected.  Although I was very, very slow I never walked. Or puked.  So that counts as success, right?

My cheering section was there to give me an extra boost.  There were bouncies, massages, and lots of vendors to keep the kiddos occupied.  Then, the boys had made a New Year's goal to run a race. So they did.

I tried to keep up with Logan.  My body was just too tired to run after him.  I lost McKay after awhile as well.  But they had fun, got ribbons for finishing, and were proud of themselves for finishing a goal.

So. Good times.  But I don't need to do any more.