Finishing up at St. Agnes

RJ's science project - power from metals and salt water earned third place

RJ gets sportsmanship award for his efforts in cross country

RJ performs at 8th grade Shakespeare play

RJ attended ... but was careful to point out that he didn't dance

Next up: Graduation!

RJ gets Phone

RJ, after signing the phone contract, now has a phone. His first text ... to Doug ... who was sleeping and didn't get it. His first phone adventure ... biking to McLean and getting lost.

Now RJ has the best phone in the family ... uugh.

More Chicks

The chicks are starting to become chickens. This means they are messier and louder. 

Charlie gets in on the action before McLean day

Book club involved more chickens than reading (I think)

Family fun in the backyard - chicks don't stray from their box

RJ with Kaki and Taco (or Pokey)

Doug and RJ noticed the chickens had a different temperament after book club and the long hockey weekend.

McLean Day 2026

While Doug and RJ were at a hockey tournament, Sara rounded up Julia and Charlie and headed to McLean Day.

Julia on the climbing wall

Staff really looked like the Wicked characters!

This bag of cotton candy was gone before Sunday afternoon

Period break. Team was 2 losses, 1 tie, 1 win. 5th place out of 6 ... doh!

Chickens Hatch

After 21 days of waiting the chickens started hatching.

"Taco" was the first to hatch

Stuffed Pebbles looks on as Julia prepares to transfer out of the incubator

Kids transfer chicks to the brooder

Playtime in the kitchen

More pics coming ... 

Strawberry Picking

Best time to go strawberry picking ... when Doug is not around to limit the pounds of strawberries that you bring home.

Classic shot

That's a LOT of strawberries

When Doug got home all the windows were open from burned strawberry pie in the oven. Other fun things included chocolate covered strawberries, strawberry drink(?), and smoothies.

School Stuff in May

Plenty going on at St. Agnes in the month of May ... 

May 7: Julia and friends at Nats game field trip

May 1: Missoula Theatre performs the Jungle Book 

May 7: RJ in newsletter holding he limbo bar

Julia was an alternate in the Gold Medal winning team for the Battle of the Books

What is Battle of the Books? It's a contest in the Arlington diocese that involves 5-6 graders reading books and answering questions about them. Julia got the day-off from school and a party by participating. She requested to be an alternate.

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Julia and the girls at field day (schoolwork seems to dissipate in May)

RJ's Confirmation

 After a few retreats, logging mass attendance, and some additional preparations it was time for confirmation mass.

Grandma and Grandpa came to town for the big event

Hillary and Logan attended and Bishop Loverde had a LOT to say in the homily

RJ, Liam, Desi, and Samuel

RJ and the Fence

Walking along the St. Agnes fence seems harmless enough.

Look ... a fence with a fun ledge to walk along ... 

... ouch

RJ slipped and got his arm caught on the metal spikes. For a while he couldn't move his arm without a lot of pain. On the following day he wore a sling at home. Two days later he went to the doctor. Four days later he was playing hockey.

Birds - almost

New bird made a very small nest in the side tree.

Mom guarding the nest

Babies in nest

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This tree doesn't seem to be good luck. The nest was empty 3-4 days later.

Business Trip or Boondoggle?

Doug's week long trek around the country.

San Diego

Top partners are invited to a rewards event every year. I was invited to socialize and mingle with the partners. 

Rock cave on bike tour

Nimble Doug avoids oncoming water

Lots of wild live to comment on ... talked about a 'silver' seal for a while

Vancouver

After a flight to Seattle and a 2.5 hour drive to Vancouver I got to see ...

Hastings street ... but the good part

View from the room

After a 4 hour drive back to Seattle I flew home on Friday afternoon.

Dallas

Trip to Dallas to visit Nothing Bundt Cakes ... first week in April.

Hotel was literally across the street from the airport ... amazing that I couldn't hear planes