Rogers High School Decision Day 2026

Ron and I met at Lia's high school this morning to attend the Decision Day assembly which is a really cool tradition that has been going on for eleven years at Rogers High School.  Lia's school hosts an assembly where all of the seniors are recognized in groups, based off of their university, college, or trade or technical school that they will be attending or the military branch that they will be joining.  It is a super fun assembly filled with energy and excitement.  Lia was able to walk in with the two others students who will be attending BYU next fall and go around the gym holding up a sign with the name of their university on it.  After everyone was seated, the principal called up each group one at a time to walk back up to the front of the gym to get some free swag that their college had sent and to also take a group picture with the other students attending the other colleges in their region.  It was so fun to see Lia laughing and smiling as she walked around the gym wearing her BYU shirt.  She is truly soaking up all of these senior moments and it is so fun to watch her experience so many of them.

Lia walking in with her group of students.

Lia and the two other BYU students walking at the front of the gym.

Lia waving to Ron and me after sitting down and finding us in the crowd.

Lia and Hilary, her friend from the stake who is also going to BYU, waving to us.

Lia and Hilary posing for a picture with all of the other students in their group after getting their swag.

After the assembly was over, we were able to take a few pictures before the seniors went back to class (or skipped 3rd period and went tot Chick-fil-A for lunch like Lia did with a group of friends).  Here is Lia with her proud parents.

Lia posing with her four closest senior friends, Ani, Hope, and Erika.

Lia Receives the Outstanding Seniors Award

Lia found out a few weeks ago that she was chosen as one of the Top 20 Outstanding Seniors at her high school.  This is a very prestigious award that our district gives every spring to twenty seniors at all three of our high schools.  Since there are over 600 seniors at each high school, only a small percentage of students are chosen.  Teachers nominate students and then a selection committee meets to chose the twenty seniors to be honored at a school board meeting in May.  These students are selected based on their academic excellence, leadership, service, and overall character.  This is quite an honor and we were all thrilled to learn that Lia was chosen!  Since she entered her high school less than three years ago barely knowing a soul, this really is a massive accomplishment for this quiet daughter of mine and a huge nod to how hard she has worked in many areas of life these past few years.

Since Lia didn't know which teacher nominated her, we had to wait to find out that her choir teacher, Mr. Wisness, chose her.  Everyone but Logan (who was at a track meet) went to Ballou Junior High School tonight to attend this special meeting.  We met in the cafeteria and listened as each principal recognized each of the seniors one at a time and read the excerpt that their nominating teacher wrote about them.  Afterwards, each school of seniors shook hands with the different members of the school board before receiving a certificate and a special medal that they will get to wear at graduation.  Overall, it was a wonderful event and I am so glad that we were able to be there to support Lia and cheer her on.

Lia standing at the front of the room while her principal addressed the school board.

Lia's slide that appeared on the screen while her principal talked about her.  He read the following passage written by her choir teacher:

"Lia has excelled in choir for three years while earning leading roles in musicals and

plays throughout her high school career. Lia balances academic excellence and

artistic passion, demonstrating dedication, leadership, and a commitment to growth

in every performance. Lia has made Rogers a better place to be"

Lia walking back to her seat after receiving her certificate and medal.

Two of Lia's friends at the two other high schools were also chosen as Outstanding Seniors.  Her beloved childhood friend, Sienna, who she has known since PreK was chosen as one of Puyallup High School's seniors.

One of her good running friends from junior high school, Heather, was chosen as one Emerald Ridge High School's seniors.

Since Lia went on to a different junior high school and high school as the rest of her elementary school, it was fun to see some students for the first time in six years.  Here are Lia and Sienna posing with two boys, Dylan and Riley, who also went to the same elementary school and were chosen as Outstanding Seniors.

Girls Date to See Phantom of the Opera

When I learned months ago that Phantom of the Opera was coming to Seattle this spring, I knew that I had to take both of my girls to see this iconic Broadway show.  This was the one and only Broadway show my mom took me to see growing up with my high school choir group since we were learning several of the songs to sing at our next concert.  Although I had forgotten the majority of the story line, I still remember the music and love so many of the songs.  After gifting these tickets to both of my girls (and me) for our birthdays, we headed out today to see the matinee show.  As I had expected, the show was amazing from beginning to end.  The music, costumes, and sets were just incredible and we thoroughly enjoyed seeing this incredible musical together.  I am so grateful for this chance that I had to share this experience with my girls, especially since this is the last Broadway show that Lia will see before leaving for college in August.

Lia and Ella standing outside the Paramount Theater with the Phantom of the Opera sign on the marquee.

Standing inside one of the many balconies that overlooks the lobby.

The three of us in the theater before the show began.

At the end of Act I, the chandelier came crashing down and stopped just a few feet from people sitting on the main floor.  They left the chandelier down in this low position during intermission and raised it back up at the beginning of Act II.  The girls and I were able to walk down to the front of the balcony where we were sitting to see it up close.  Here is the picture I got of the two of them with the chandelier in the background.

Mother's Day 2026

After we celebrated my 50th birthday on Friday night, we turned around and celebrated Mother's Day on Sunday.  Ron and the kids did a great job again making me feel loved and appreciated on this day.  I enjoyed a fabulous breakfast that they made in the morning and opened a few gifts after church.  We then went to my parent's house on Sunday evening to celebrate with them and Eric's family.  We enjoyed a dinner made by the men and watched my mom open a few gifts.  It was so nice to get together with the family, especially since this might be Eric and Rebecca's last time spending Mother's Day with us as they are moving to Spokane this summer.  Sniff.

The kids and I enjoying our Mother's Day breakfast together.  Please note the massive crown that Ella and Emmett made for me that morning.

Posing with my four children before church on the front steps with the freshly potted flowers that they gave me for Mother's Day this year.

After church, we opened a few gifts, including this decorated tile and card that Emmett made for me at school.

Holding up Ella's gift that she made for me at school..

Another mother and children photo while holding Ella's gift and the crocheted flowers that Lia bought for my at school from the Crochet Club.  I thought that this was such a cute and unique gift!

Emmett and Eric watching my mom read our card.

My four children posing with their beloved grandma at the end of the evening in front of one of her beautiful, Dogwood trees in full bloom.

Celebrating the Big 5-0

Well, it's hard to believe, but I turned 50 years old yesterday.  In some ways, I never thought this birthday would come and, in other ways, I totally feel 50 years old due to how tired I am and how much my body is falling apart.  So, as depressing as it is, it kind of makes sense that I turned this old this year.  My family did a great job making my 50th birthday feel special and celebrating with me on Friday night.  Here is a quick run down of the birthday fun I had this week.

This is a sceenshot that I took a few days ago when Lia and I were texting back and forth about this weekend's plans.  I flat out asked her what her plans were for Friday night, my birthday, since I had totally forgotten.  This text conversation perfectly sums up my 50-year old brain and how it doesn't remember everything like I used to in the past.  I thought that it was so funny that I had to take a picture of it and include it in this birthday post.

As always, my mom came down to Puyallup to take the elementary age kiddos and me out for a picnic lunch during school.  She came on May 6th since I was working on May 7th and 8th.  Although it wasn't a really warm, sunny day, we still enjoyed going to Edgewood Park for some play time and a delicious picnic lunch.  We realized that this is Ella's last year joining us which was a sad thought for all of us.

My kids and me on the playground.

On May 8th, I subbed for one of my favorite classes at my kids' school (Resource) and got a kick out of wearing the sash that my friend, Sarah, mailed me and the crown that my friend, Kristina, loaned me.  Here is a selfie that I took in my classroom after Sarah requested that I send her a picture.

After school and work, we all gathered around the dining room table to enjoy a Thai dinner that Ron had picked up at my request.

We then moved into the living room to open a few gifts.  Here are all of the kids posing with me while I am wearing Sarah's sash and tiara that she sent me.

The kids and me opening up a few gifts.

We finished off the evening by eating some delicious cupcakes from my favorite bakery in town.  Here I am with all of my kiddos before they sang "Happy Birthday" to me.

Logan's First 8th Grade Track Meet

Logan competed in his first Kalles Junior High School track meet today.  It was a home meet and it fell on a perfect spring day--not too hot and not too cold.  Unfortunately, I had a sub job today and couldn't get to his meet until 4:20, so Ella, Emmett, and I missed seeing him run the mile.  But we were there to cheer him on when he ran in his second race, the 800-meter.  He did a great job in the mile and PR'd for a second time this season (after running it last week at the Mercer Mile) and ran it in 5:34 which is just amazing to me.  I am so proud of how hard he is working this season at training with both his school and club track teams and can't wait to cheer him on for the rest of the season.  Here are some pictures below of his 800-meter race.

The boys taking off at the beginning of the 800-meter race.  Logan is in the second group of boys from the right.

Logan running past us at the beginning of the race.

Logan running in the pack.

Approaching us at the beginning of the second lap.

Logan passing us a second time.

Logan pushing hard as he races towards the finish line.

Crossing the finish line.

Jogging off the track and onto the field after finishes his race.

Lia's Senior Prom

Lia just attended her senior prom with a bunch of her running friends last night and had a blast!  They started off in Tacoma by having their pictures taken on the Spanish Steps by Lia's good friend, Alyssa.  After pictures, they drove to The Olive Garden for dinner before driving to the Foss Waterway for the dance.  The girls all had a great time spending the evening together and making some fun memories at this last dance  I am so grateful for these wonderful girlfriends that Lia made while running XC and track during her freshman and sophomore years of high school and for all of the great times that she has had going to dances with them over the years.

Since two of the girls in the group are juniors, Lia and her friend, Erika, had to invite them as their "dates" so that they could attend.  Lia decided to make this extra fun and officially invite Willow to prom.  She made a Taylor Swift themed poster and showed up on her doorstep with the poster and flowers.  Here is the Instagram story that she posted after asking Willow to prom.

All six girls lined up together on The Spanish Steps.

From left to right:

Esley, Willow, Erika, Lia, Hope, and Ani

The four senior girls.

All six on the steps.

Lia and her dear friend, Erika, who she has known the longest as they became friends during XC season their 8th grade year and waivered into Rogers High School together.

Lia and her "junior babies."

Lia and Hope, her friend who she calls "Darling."

A solo shot of my lady in red.

The silly picture that they took of them wearing shades with Hope posing with her hands in the air and her back to the camera since she was the one person who forgot to bring her sunglasses.