Hola!  I am here in Yakima with my new niece!  She is absolutely beautiful!  Kiersten does a whole lot of sleeping (in short spurts), eating, and … getting rid of what she’s eaten.  She also seems to be taking well to the subliminal hints I’m dropping about being her favorite aunt.  So far I think I’m the only one she’s met, so we’ll see how long that lasts.

Now that it’s been forever, it seems weird to write a long missive about Mary’s wedding and the end of school.  Mary’s wedding was wonderful and I’m glad Jamie encouraged me to tough it out when I had the stomach flu.  It was so beautiful to see two people so in love and to be reminded of the meaning/sacredness of marriage.

Before the wedding we went up to Whitworth to see how things had changed.  Other than a few missing buildings, a few new buildings, and rocking chairs by the campanile (is that how you spell that?), it was just like I left it.  I got all nostalgic seeing the campus again.  :)

The last days of school went okay.  I sent home 4 (!) behavior contracts on the 2nd to last day!  I could barely believe it–just hold it together, kids!  By some miracle I got all my assessments done before the kids left, then was VERY busy on our grading day (and two days after that) writing report cards and preparing the room for the summer.  This year was one of the most difficult I can remember, so it’s strange that it’s over.  I’m not sure how to feel about it.  There are definitely things I would do differently, so I kind of want another try with these kids, but at the same time I’m very excited for a clean slate.

Last weekend was spent in New York for Mitch’s (who would have been the best man in our wedding had he not been in Afghanistan) wedding.  Jamie was a groomsman and was busy with his duties as such.  I was his faithful sidekick.  Good times.  The wedding was beautiful, and there was a saber guard!  Weddings are more fun when weapons are involved.  Jamie even came to find me to dance at the reception–he’s learned fast how to make his wife swoon!  It will be fun for Mitch and Meg (new bride) to come visit so we can get some more relaxed time to get to know Meg better.

We returned Sunday, took a nap for 6 hours (we’d been up since 1:30 Washington time), then I cleaned the house and did laundry for an hour and a half in preparation for my trip to Yakima on Monday.  Now here I am.  I should probably go make myself useful.

P.S.  My hubby is the bestest.  Just so you know.