Author: Ruth

Last night De went to a baseball game with the Jewart clan.  Earlier this spring she had won a trip with her coach Alex and his daughter/her friend Maddie as a prize in the end of year celebration, so this outing was it.  She had a great time, despite her almost complete lack of interest in baseball. 

Jenya and Ana both had skating tests today — Jenya tested Juvenile Moves in the Field & Ana tested Pre-Juvenile Moves.  Both girls passed!

   

 

A really nice day at Mentor Sunshine skating competition today.  Ben & Ana competed pairs for the very first time, and did a lovely job.  There were two other pairs teams there as well, so they got to watch the other teams and actually compete, which was really cool.  And they won, which is pretty nice too. 

Ana also competed her singles (no test), and placed 2nd (out of 5). Because they scheduled Jenya & Ana at the exact same time, Crystal couldn't put Ana out for her event, but Ana handled it like the capable young person that she is, and did a nice job.     

De skated her Basic 6 routine, with a lovely high spiral, nice presentation, gymnastics hands, and a spin that really doesn't spin.  But she looked great, and she placed 1st (out of 5).   

And Jenya skated a nice pre-pre compulsory and placed 1st (out of 9), and her pre-pre free, which placed 6th (out of 7).  One clean axel/loop, one not quite clean axel, and some spin problems, but also some very nice looking footwork and I really like her spiral.  

I think this is the first skating competition where all the kids came home with a 1st place, so that's kinda neat.  Our own little picket fence.  Very happy children on the way home.

 

Nostalgia for the tiny carosel, and practicing the new lift in the entryway.  And LOTS of waterslides and fun in pools, but my camera’s not waterproof, so no pics of that.

Quick tour of the Jelly Belly warehouse, and it was so much fun that it almost made us late for skating.  Fun tour, great gift shop. 

Wonderful evening at a beach north of Chicago.  Warm but not too hot, and the girls were absolutely ecstatic.  They haven't been to a beach since Jenya was 3 and the twins were one. 

On the way to Chicago, fun with hats at the Cracker Barrel

The girls spent yesterday at a Biotechnology boot camp hosted by CCAC.  They learned all about DNA, got samples of their own DNA in little vials that they put onto necklaces, did a forensic analysis project, learned about bioengineering, and generally had a wonderful time.  Plus at the end there was cake.  And they got lab coats and goggles and all kinds of CCAC swag.  Terrific day, great program.  Really cool!

Jenya wrote a very impassioned political post on her blog.  Check it out!

Grandma’s birthday yesterday, and the girls made her cards.