Blooms in our yard

It's a bright sunny day here today so I took some pics of the blooms in the front yard Above are my daffodils in a row, and behind them is the Magnolia bush which is bloomed out in light pink.

Above are the daffodils from another angle.

Here's the front view of the Magnolia bush. We pruned it way back last fall, so it will take a while to fill out again. I just love this bush ... it's the first one to bloom in the spring.

Alek's Championship Flag Football Team

IMG_2946 a photo by tony-chester on Flickr.

The Seahawks win the championship!

Alek's Championship football game

IMG_2710 a photo by tony-chester on Flickr.

Alek scored the first touchdown in his championship flag football game on Saturday. He played center, snapped the ball then ran downfield. He was totally open, and the quaterback threw to him, he caught it and ran into the end zone.

This is not a picture of that play ... but it's a good one of Alek running.

Another pic of Ben

This one was taken by the photographer at Peak on Saturday ...

Peak Experiences Comp - 3/5/11

We went up to Midlotian Virginia on Saturday for the first top rope competition of this season. Ben did very well, placing 2nd in Youth D boys. His top 5 scores were each 5.10's and 5.11's, which are very difficult routes. Here's some pics of him climbing, and my best description of what's happening in the picture ...

He's getting ready to do a cross-over move to that big yellow hold on the right
And he makes it - it was tricky because you have to dyno (jump over) to it, and your body swings, and if you don't control the swing then you'll flip right off the hold. Ben got it! He's been practicing these at the gym.

Ben has gotten so tall over the last year, he can reach a lot further now.

The climbing walls all have different angles, so you have to control your body over the angles.

The next few pictures follow this amazing route - it was the most difficult route he completed, and was a 5.11. Here he's starting to turn parallel to the ground to traverse the arch. We have a similar set-up at our gym, only it's 6 feet off the ground. Here, Ben's about 30 feet off the ground.

Following the route along the underside of the arch. Ben is anchoring his feet while moving his hands.

The most difficult move was from the last picture to this one - going from hanging under the arch, to reaching up and shifting your entire body weight over an up to start moving up the wall. Last year, there was a move like this in one of his season finals routes, and Ben couldn't make it. He's gotten so much stronger.

Now the hand and foot holds get really small and flat. It takes a lot of strenght and balance to move up the wall without much to hold onto. And, get over the big triangle!

Perfect execution over the triangle.

And he's up to the top! 70 feet off the ground. He looks back at the belayer to ensure he gets full credit for the route.

Alek's pictures from the 5th grade tea

The famous LB and Alek (as in 'LB Bread')

Alek and Jack are in coats - who are the other two boys?

Grant at the next table over from where Alek is sitting.

Table's eye view of the place setting

Jack in a tux.

LB

Either Alek's eye or Jacob's eye ... hard to tell

who is this Alek?

Jacob

5th Grade Tea

The 5th grade tea is a longstanding tradition at our elementary school. Each spring the girls and boys learn about etiquette and then practice at the tea. All are asked to dress up. It was a fun day acting like proper children! The sandwiches and desserts were delish, and the even the tea was good! Of course, sugar cubes were a part of making the tea soooooo good!
Ben looking dapper

Ben having tea - the school cafeteria was transformed!

Jessica, Brian, Ben, Anna and what's his name - Nick?

Jessica and Ben waiting to be seated

Jacob, Nick, Cameron, Gabi, what's her name?, Alek

Alek looking very dapper

Ben's placesetting

Sandwich table

Dessert table

Alek's placesetting