volleyball championship

Liesl's team played in the end-of-season tournament on Saturday -- single elimination 8-team championship bracket. They were seeded second going in, because they had a regular season record of 13-1.

First game was at 9 am and our girls were asleep. They couldn't serve the ball over the net, they couldn't pass, they lost the first set. But they rallied and won the second set and then the tie-breaker third set. Phew! On to the semi-final at 11. They were amazing for that game, serving and spiking and looking really dominant, winning easily in 2 straight sets. On to the the final, against undefeated Cleveland. Unfortunately, things did not come together for the girls. Some of our key players were just off; Cleveland had tall girls who could block at the net and we were not prepared for that. We lost in two straight sets. Oh well! It was an okay season -- Liesl liked her team and enjoyed practices, but didn't see a lot of playing time, so she is ready to move on.

Liesl at 13

Liesl turned 13 on Friday. She's 5ft and 80 lbs of love and creativity and athleticism and competitiveness and joy and sweet friendship. We are so proud of our girl. 

These are just some morning photos in the past month.

 

We knew that Friday was going to be pretty busy, so Liesl opened a few presents on Thursday night and we had her birthday dinner (steak, mashed potatoes, peas, salad).

 

Seb came through with these super baggy (but cool) sweatpants from the Lincoln HS store.

 

Steve and I woke up early to make Liesl's usual birthday breakfast before school and work: challah French toast, berries, bacon.

 

Liesl's friends Ella and Fiona decorated her locker. So sweet. It was one of the things she was most sad about missing last year, when she was away at Outdoor school on her birthday.

 

After school, Liesl headed straight to AnaLucia's house for the Friday night dance dinner. There was amazing Mexican food and a chocolate cake, and I brought pumpkin cupcakes.

And then they were off! I was a driver this week, delivering 4 girls to their dance lessons (the waltz and rumba this week), picking them up 90 minutes later and delivering them to Ben&Jerry's for ice cream, and then taking everyone home.

We rolled in around 9:30, just in time for a few last birthday presents, including these amazing donut socks.

Happy happy happy birthday to our girl.

end of Lincoln soccer season

Lincoln HS JV played their final game of the season on Monday against Grant High, a rival. Some of Seb's friends from his PCU team were on Grant, so that was fun to play against them. Lincoln lost 2-0 but the game was evenly matched (and sloppy, on uncut grass and an uneven field). There will be a break for a few weeks, and then on to club soccer --

Columbia Gorge half marathon

Christie and I drove out to Hood River this morning to run a beautiful half marathon along the trails above the Columbia River. It was a perfect day -- 50s and partly cloudy -- and we ran our fastest race yet. I finished in 1.53, an 8.41 pace, and it felt really great for nearly the whole distance. We talked and stopped for a selfie and cheered on other runners.

 

 

I placed 48 of the 630 women running, 146/966 total runners. For women aged 41-49, I was 7th.