Promotion Dance 2012

Sage is finishing 7th grade as he attends the Promotion Dance.   And to all of our surprise, he goes with a date!  The theme was "New York."  One more year of middle school and he'll be in high school.  The kids are growing up too fast.

With his date Riley, fellow Hillbilly.

The Tough Guys. 

The 7th grade class, Idyllwild Middle School Class of 2013.

Akane

We had our first exchange student experience with Akane, who came from Marmumori town in Japan.  She was one of ten students, and one of four who chose Idyllwild instead of Hemet.  We had her for about a week, which seemed too short for it was over right when we were starting to get to know her.  We got to play Tour Guide, which was fun, and I think it was nice for the kids to learn more about Japanese culture.  Hopefully my kids will cross paths with her again in the future.

At the Fort.

May Valley

Agua Caliente Hot Springs Pool

May Valley, acting like stereotypical Japanese  people.



Lookout point, Anza Borrego Desert.

Palm Desert Mall

Food court.

Old Fashioned Hand Dipped ice cream at the Candy Cupboard.  Sooo good.

Cahuilla Indian pictographs.  One of Idy's hidden treasures.



Akane's first Pixie Stix.

Idyllwild Town Monument.

Nature Center Loop.

Lake Hemet.

Students & Families.

Our First Scout

The last of our children also became the first one to join the Scouts.  Abby's in 5th grade so she is a Junior.  We were never really into Girl Scout cookies, but with her selling them this year, we bought and ate more then we probably should of have!

Girls are Growing Up Too Fast

Girls Day 2012. Emi's 14 is a Freshman in high school. Can't believe I have a kid old enough to be in high school already... *sigh* She's hardly ever home now so this year for the first time the girls didn't take a picture together. So Emi got hers taken several days after the official day. She kept mumbling that I need to put the dolls away so she would get married. Remember Emi, if you don't get married, it's NOT THE DOLLS' FAULT! ^_^

And Abby's 10, in 5th grade. Next year she'll be in middle school already. Geez, time flies, which means I'm getting old...

Roscoe turns 1 (or 7).

Our little dog turned one. So Abby made him a cake and a poster, and we sang to him. Yeah, we're suckers.

3-pt Shootout Champion

Sage played in his second Tournament of the Mountains this year at with his middle school basketball team, and this year his coach chose him to compete in the three-point shootout. More than half the boys make it to the second round, but Sage kills it by nailing six out of nine shots going on to win the title. Way to go, Sage!

Three's Company

Emi's first performance at IAA's Piano Fest, playing in a trio on one piano. See it here on IAA's USTREAM channel.

San Luis Rey River Trail

Abby joined us this time so we headed to the San Luis Rey River Trail, a 9-mile paved road that runs along the San Luis Rey River in Oceanside. Since we knew we'd have to go the same distance back, we started at the 3-mile mark and headed west towards the beach. We pedaled along the beach, then through the harbor. I think in the end it was about 15-miles which was about the right distance for Abby. Her butt started to hurt towards the end but I think she had fun and will join us for the next one.

My Bike Date with Sage

This one day, David was out doing an overnighter and both girls were away at sleepovers. It was a good opportunity to go something with Sage. So we packed our bikes and headed down to San Diego to go biking along the water. We did a nice 13.7-mile loop starting along the SD River, along Mission Bay, then up the boardwalk along Mission Beach and Pacific Beach, along the bay and back, topped off with some Pho noodles. Good day. ^_^