Sous-Chef

sous-chef (sshf, s-shf) n. pl. sous-chefs (-shfs, -shf)

The chef who is second in authority in a restaurant or kitchen, ranking below the head chef.

 

That would be Markus - just about every morning when I get back from teaching my morning lessons at the rink, Markus is right there at my side ready and waiting to help make breakfast. His favorite things to make are blueberry pancakes, but he is equally as good at making eggs or french toast.

Tanner turns 17

Tonight after Max's baseball game, we went to Tanner's birthday party at Tucano's.  

Tanner and his girl, Neesa, with Kiel and Emily.

They were just finished when we got there, so we went back to my sister Lara's house for some swimming in her pool.

Free Pass

Max got a free pass from his teacher when school was still in, to the Children's Museum. Markus wanted to go today so he invited his friend Bryce from hockey and we went on a little journey, here--->

Max was ready to have fun, learn a lot, be amazed, and spend time with people he likes.

Which is exactly what he did!

The volunteers saw him trying to build a tower using all of the blocks, and asked him if he would like to build the tallest tower ever. Of couse, he said yes!

So they helped him, keeping the blocks against the wall, the girl at the bottom lifted some blocks up, then the guy upstairs using the pole would balance them, while Max would put more blocks in the tower.

Markus played Peter Pan but his friend Bryce was too embarrased to dress up. So he was the lighting man instead.

Then they all played store and bought groceries from each other. Fun and free - who could ask for a better day?

Mixed Emotions

While I was teaching my primary class outside last week I snapped a picture of cute Max and his friends during our lesson. I wasn't aware at the time that I would have a new calling by the same time this week.

My New Calling has me feeling a little overwhelmed. I am missing teaching Max's class but at the same time I will still get to see both he and Markus every week. So I guess it will be okay, I will just have to wait and see. Just taking it one day at a time right now.

When am I going to learn to say no?

Tri Free

Rock Cliff Triathlon 2010

Jordanelle Reservoir

Morgen's friend Austin invited him to sleep over last night and then go to the Rock Cliff Triathlon at Jordanelle and help hand out water to the runners on the course. Austin's dad, Steve, asked me if I would like to do the triathlon for free, since his sister is one of the owners of US Trisports, the company that was running the tri. So even though I haven't really been training for it, I signed up. How often do you get to do a race for free, right? It turned out to be a beautiful day for it and I enjoyed it, even though I was quite a bit slower than the last time I raced the course, it still felt good to be out swimming, biking and running again. Ben decided to race too, since it was free and ended up taking first place in his age group. 

 

Young Woman

Sierra graduated from Skyline High before we went to California and I neglected to mention it until now. I am a slacker, what can I say. She looked beautiful at her graduation and I forgot my camera, so you just get to see her amazingly beautiful senior portrait.

So proud of the young lady that she has become.

How Many?

Guess how many birthdays there were today?

My dad turned 71
My friend Shawna turned 42
My friend Kelli's little girl, Jane, turned 2
and my friend Ginger, who moved to Colorado last year, had her fifth baby - a girl! I just found out at Markus' hockey game tonight from another friend, Laurel, who was there with her boys for the game. Must be a great day to be born.

Blah

I was trying to think of something to cheer up my sister Monet who filed for divorce today. But came up with nothing.

Zip, Nada, Zilch.

What do you do, make a casserole, or buy her flowers? I am not sure what the best thing to do is, so I just called her and she didn't really have time to talk. She is trying to find a new place to live but right now she is staying with my sister Lara. Hmmm....

Words of Wisdom

An email from my cousin Vickie today:

In April, Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday. Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older.



And, there on television, she said it was 'exciting...'


Regarding body changes, she said there were many, occurring every day.....like her breasts. They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist, first.


The audience laughed so hard they cried. She is such a simple and honest woman, with so much wisdom in her words!

Maya Angelou said this:

'I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.'

'I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.'

'I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.'

'I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life.'

'I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.'

'I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back....'

'I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision..'

'I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.....'

'I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.'

'I've learned that I still have a lot to learn..'

'I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.'

Honoring Father's

Monet had a barbeque out at her house yesterday in honor of Father's Day. So we went out after church and walked around her house afterwards to her garden. At Daybreak they only allow residents to plant things in one general area.

We walked down to the park and sat by the lake but Morgen didn't come with us. He wanted to play a video game with Rocco's boys back at the house. Give him a few years...I found this quote and thought it fitting:

Mark Twain said,

"When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years."

Skate Fest

One of my students competed in the competition out at Accord yesterday. Toni skated in Basic 2 and took first place. She skated great and she really wanted to win, so I was glad that she did.

Hunter-Cypress Tournament

The All-Star Team

From left to right, front row: Daniel, Josh, Stewart, Bridger, Jake B., Taylor

Middle row: Jake H., Dakota, Kamden, Alex, Josh C. Max, Caden

Back row: Coaches - Rob, Jim, Jay

All-stars warming up before the first game yesterday.

Max (just under the cloud of dust) sliding into home and the ump calling him safe.

Right as I was taking this picture of his catch at third, the ball bounced up and hit his wrist. If you look closely you can see the ball as it is hitting. He said it hurt when it hit, but by the time the game was over it felt fine.

  

He had a couple of good hits in the game.

And his team ended up winning the game Friday against the Southeast Valley team, 11-7.

The game today was versus the Bingham team and they had some great little players.

Max played left field, right and third base. And his team won their second game 7-6. Next game is on Monday against the Foothill Blast.

3 on 3

Homeboys getting a pep talk from Coach Matt before the game last night.

Max was able to finish his all-star practice just in time for the 3 on 3 hockey games tonight. He missed the first games last week (since he was playing in the baseball tournament) and Coach Davis said that they lost every game, but this week they won two and tied one. Go Badgers. 

Book Lover

Max and Markus signed up for the summer reading club today at the library after skating. Markus checked out two Indiana Jones books and started on the first one as soon as we got home. He LOVES to read.

Batting Practice

Mulligan's today. Swing batter, swing.