Alex's Fast and Furious Trip to DC

 For EBC week, Alex got to go to Washington DC with about 30 other 8th and 9th graders. What an amazing experience. The trip was dubbed "Fast and Furious" based on the amount of walking they did and number of sites they saw. 

Bend and Portland, OR

For the first time, Alex and Julia didn't have the same spring break. We made the most of it with Julia, Joanna, and Maeby doing a road trip down to Bend, stopping in Portland and the Gorge. Then Alex and John flew down to Bend and we spent 3 days together. Then, Alex and Joanna skiied Mount Bachelor and then drove all the way back while John and Julia flew. 

Julia and Joanna had some great meals in Portland - Thai, mediterranean, donuts, churros. And we hit up some great thrift stores in the Hawthorne neighborhood. For a huge adventure we attempted to hike Dog Mountain. We made it to the lookout but stopped about 0.3 miles short of the summit due to waist-high snow that was burying Maeby with every step. She wasn't scared.

In Bend, we had more snow and Maeby had the greatest time at the snow-covered dog park. We had a great rental home right by the Newport Market. We climbed Misery Ridge in Smith Rock State Park and visited an Alpaca Farm. We walked around Main Street and went to a fun brewery in the west end. We did our annual Easter egg hunt in the rental. What a cool town! Skiing was a little cold and snowy, so we will return in fairer conditions. 

Catch up on Tennis and Other Activities

Other goings-on...Sounders FC season started. We have 4 tickets although we struggle to have everyone available. OL Reign season also started and Julia and Mom were in attendance in the supporter section. It was a ton of fun and we'll definitely be back. We almost wish we had Reign season tickets vs. Sounders. 

Mom won the 35s singles at the CPTC tournament and lost in the finals in doubles with Susie against Andrea and Shelley (3 sets - not the greatest showing). Mom got 6th place in singles and lost in the doubles consolation final (with Kris) at the US Clay Court Championships at the Houston Racket Club. That included a couple of decent wins and a couple I'd like to redo. I won the Wilson World Tennis Tournament in Palm Desert (45 singles and doubles) and had a few nice wins. It was fun traveling with Kris and I'd love to get to know a few more people to travel with. Excited for USTA season starting in April. The Houston tournament was amazing with free breakfast, lunch, some dinner, awesome club, fun 80-90 year olds still playing. Awesome experience!

While at the Wilson, I visited with G&G Felton at Deep Canyon Tennis Club and watched them play with their Weed rackets. Grandma got hooked on wordle. We had some nice restaurant meals at Backstreet Bistro and Okura. 

John survived the Granfondo Ephrata.

Alex is starting to do more "high school stuff". He went out to hot pot with his debate friends and he went to the upper school skating social. I was hoping he'd sign up for soccer but no such luck. He's been riding his e-bike most days and often stops at Town and Country and uses his new debit card (Julia has one too). 

Julia is now doing school track and boxing in addition to soccer. She's closest friends with Mahika, Vika, Kayla, and Mo-Lin but is friendly with everyone. 

We also traveled to Whidbey for an afternoon to see Aaron and Marie. Maeby had fun chasing their puppy. It was great to see them for the first time in 18 months.