Tag: MapNo

OC Tournament

After two wins Saturday, including an amazing comeback game, they secured a spot in the semifinals and their best tournament finish to date. Unfortunately they struggled against a really good team in the semi finals and lost. Some tears were shed. They placed either 3 or 4th out of 12 teams in their age group.

HS Soccer

Hazel had her first high school soccer match, starting for the JV team. It was pouring rain and pretty cold! Hazel played great, with 3 solid assists for goals and almost a goal in the first half. At halftime they were winning by 5-0, both teams were wet and cold, and the other team forfeit […]

Last league game for the fall

Margot had her last game for the fall league yesterday. They played incredibly well against a strong team and ended tied 3-3. It was a great season. They moved up a flight, and started the season with some losses. But they didn’t give up, they worked hard, Coach worked on specific skills, and they maintained […]

Apple Pie

Hazel was teasing me a little about my pie not being “from scratch” because I used a gluten free flour blend, while she mixes her own flour blends. I pointed out that I grew the apples, and it doesn’t get much more from scratch than growing major parts of the dish. The pastry crust was […]

Halloween

Had a fun Thanksgiving. Both girls dressed up, Hazel went with friends to trick or treat and have a sleepover. Kim and I met up with Margot and her friends and went trick or treating. Margot won a $20 gift card from a costume contest!

Great Pass from Margot for a goal

Margot was very happy with this assist to her teammate Selena for a goal. She’s #9 that takes the ball from the opponent in light blue then passes to her teammate right in front of the goal, who kicks it in.

Coffee for a hard worker

Hazel has been working really hard at school this year. Soccer practice 4 days a week after school, volunteering, an AP class as a freshman, student newspaper, homework, etc. There have been some late evenings and skipping some family stuff to work. She’s been putting in the work for sure. Last night, as I was […]

Pomegranate

Kim picked pomegranates this morning. Most of these are the size of a softball, and the tree still has lots.

Margot’s first official Cross Country Race

Margot had her first official race with the middle school cross country team today. There were about seventy girls from 6 different schools In the middle school category. (6,7,8th grade). Margot was 13th overall, and 4th for 6th grade! Big thanks to Coach Adam for the time and effort he puts into the team.

Crochet Chicken

Margot recently decided she wanted to crochet a chicken. She didn’t have a kit or instructions. She just looked at some pictures of chickens online for “inspo” and then made this up in her head then crocheted it. I’m amazed at how she just figures stuff like this out, and it ends up well proportioned […]

Surf Soccer – Fall 2025

Margot plays for the Surf Soccer Club, and really loves to play. This album is for favorite pictures of her playing from the Fall 2025 season, and I will be adding pictures throughout the season.

Mini Cooler Bags

As parents, we often get caught up in trends we don’t fully understand. Trader Joe’s mini cooler bags have gained immense popularity, with people eagerly queuing for them! My daughter Margot was excited to find the perfect peach bag for her school lunch. After months of anticipation, the big day arrived, and we were thrilled to join the long lines. Come along as we enjoy this fun shopping trip for a simple bag!

Grand Canyon 2025

I’ve been blessed to find myself with invites to row the Grand Canyon 3 years in a row. This year the invite came from Michael Picker and Nini Redway, and I was eager to accept. It was just Margot and I this year, but we joined a crew of 14 others and had a fantastic […]

House Rock

This is House rock rapid, one of the first big rapids encountered. Those rafts are 18 foot rafts for scale. I was too far left and we very nearly got swept off the boat, but I caught the oar tower on the way out and managed to stay in the boat. Sonya and Margot were […]

one of the craziest travel days I’ve ever had.

I have a bit of a reputation amongst some friends for having somewhat ambitious travel arrangements. But even by my standards, today felt a little crazy. We woke at 4:45 a.m. Saturday Japan time. Took Metro about an hour to see the tuna auction and get sushi for breakfast. Then an hour back to our […]

Promotion

5th grade promotion! After 9 years between both girls, we’re finishing elementary school. It’s been a big part of our lives. Margot got the Presidential Academic Excellence award!

Graduation Card

Hazel has her promotion from 8th grade tonight and Margot made her a card.

Monster Tote Bags

Who needs to stand in line for the latest trader Joe’s bag drop when you have an artist at home making custom tote bags?

Friendly Monsters

Margot has been drawing friendly monsters, and I’m really impressed. She drew this for Kim for mother’s Day.

Dance

Dressed up for a fancy dance!

lizard

Ran into this guy outside PetSmart, and now Margot wants a Tegu lizard.

Cardboard Boat Race

Hazels school has a fun tradition where at the end of 8th grade, students build and race cardboard boats. Only allowed materials are cardboard and duct tape. There was a wide, wide range of effort on show, including some that literally looked like they were done this morning to some that looked like they had […]

Wooble Crochet kit

Margot loved making this turtle, from a kit she got from her grandparents at Christmas. She named the turtle Aitutaki, after the turtle we saw there on our trip a few weeks ago.

School Soccer

Last week Hazel’s team broke a 4 year losing streak for her school with a win. (Much of the team, including Hazel and some other strong teammates are new this year). This week they followed it up with another 4-2 win, and that was despite playing a player-down from the other team, and having no […]

Baking

My little baker got up at 6 this morning and made cinnamon roll pancakes. I thought they were pretty delicious. Yesterday she made breakfast tacos. We also got dutch baby pancake s

Breaking a bad streak

Hazel and her teammates broke a FOUR YEAR losing streak for the girls team at her school. Solid 4-1 win yesterday. Hazel’s second game with the school. She’s very excited for soccer.

Crepes!

Not a great picture, but this morning I woke up to the sound of someone working in the kitchen. A bit later Hazel bursts into the room proudly announcing “I made crepes!”

Soggy Saturday of Soccer

Margot and her team played in a challenging tournament this weekend against higher ranked teams than they normally play. They did awesome. Lost every game, but played super well and held several games to much tighter games than expected.

School Soccer

Hazel had her first game with the school soccer team. She played super well, especially considering it’s been 4+ months since she played a game.

Birthday

Margot isn’t a fan of most cakes, so she got po tat (custard tart) for her birthday.

Hazel is home sick today. She texted me this: I’m stuck at homeSuper-duper sickNo places to roamI wish this was a trickI’m so boredThis house is so quietOutside birds soaredWhat rhymes with quietI’ll be better by tonightI wish we had more guacamoleBy friday I’ll be rightIn our garden there’s a roly poly

Sick Day

Hazel is home sick today. She texted me this: I’m stuck at home Super-duper sick No places to roam I wish this was a trick I’m so bored This house is so quiet Outside birds soared What rhymes with quiet I’ll be better by tonight I wish we had more guacamole By friday I’ll be […]

Ear Piercing

We took the girls for the long promised and long overdue ear piercing, and then for some nice indian food after.

Poetry Book

Hazel had a poetry assignment for school. They had to create a book with a certain number of different styles of poems, including haikus, cinquain, diamante, ballads, ode, and elegy.

Taco Night

#9 and #10/52 new recipes for 2025 i make tacos pretty frequently, but these were significantly different recipes. Both were delicious. #9/52 Mango Jalapeno Carnitas #10/52 Orange marinade smoked tritip. the tri tip was not quite as tender as I would have liked, but still over the top delicious and a great smoky flavor.

mysterious

We did Tuesday tacos, and Margot was playing with my phone while we waited. She said she was trying to look mysterious.

Gluten Free Baking

If anyone eats gluten free or cooks for someone that does, highly recommend two things: 1) Get yourself the pictured cookbook. The recipes aren’t simple, they involve a lot of mixing your own flour blends, but they have all been fantastic. 2) Get yourself a talented teenager who loves to bake.