MVP

 Erik got the xray and he doesn't need surgery, just 3 more weeks in the cast- hooray! There is a shard of bone that will round out on its own since he's young, but if it doesn't, they'd have to file it down after the cast is off. Always something to keep us on our toes!

Now that the soccer season ended and the medals and trophies have been given out with pictures taken, I can finally post this. Erik's team, the Sharks are fantastic and had an amazing season! They were undefeated in the regular season, beating most teams by at least 6 goals. At the Canton Cup, they got 2nd place. They lost during the first game to Erik's best friends' team, his twin friends from church. It was a tough game and the Raptors were ready for us. Their coach had come to our last game to watch how we played and they brought their best game against us! We choked and had some very bad calls by the ref, but we learned from it. 

The next day, we came ready for our game and played well, but it still was close, even though we won. Our next game was scheduled for Sunday morning, during sacrament meeting. I had already said we weren't going to make it because we only have 3 Deacons and Erik takes his Priesthood responsibilities very seriously. We would have our final game just after church and we figured that would be good enough. Well, after watching the Sharks during the Saturday evening game, I wondered if I should have him play the next morning after all. He's one of the main goalies and a very tough defender. I knew how badly they wanted to win the final two games and I also knew that our Sunday morning game was to a team that we had lost to the previous 2 Canton Cups, and the only one we lost to then. However, I kept telling myself that his going to church was indeed the better option and that he would be well-rested for the final game only a couple hours later. That night, Jason received a text from Erik's very good friend's dad from the team. He is a Sikh and a man of high integrity. I sit with his wife at every game. He said in essence, that while he knows how important Sundays are for us in our worship and for family time, he really felt like the team needed Erik at the Sunday morning game and if we could find it in our hearts to let him go, the team would really appreciate it. 

So, we decided to let him go. I took him to the game, which started 30 minutes before sacrament meeting. Everyone else went to church. 

I have to say that I didn't expect to have a turnout the way we did when we chose to miss church for this game. The team played the best they'd ever played against the very tough Tigers and Erik played his personal best ever! We had a pretty good first half offensively. It was back and forth, but the best part was Erik got to play midfield for part of it and scored his first goal ever! We were ahead 3-1 at the half and the Tigers came back for the second half with a vengeance. They were on our side for most of the second half and our defense played hard. It turned out that Erik was goalie for the second half and while the Tigers kept shooting and shooting, not a single one got past Erik! He blocked 10-11 shots, one after the other. The other parents around me started calling him the MVP of the game and I was just amazed at my boy out there playing his heart out. The score stayed 3-1 to end the game and we had finally beaten the Tigers! I was so shocked at how well he had played and was excitedly talking to the other parents about it and the final game only two hours later, that I didn't see the team holding Erik up on their shoulders and chanting "MVP!" until they were just about to set him down. I got to soak it in for a brief moment, almost in tears but missed that amazing photo op. 

Coach was so proud of the team for our long-desired win and so grateful Erik was there. Our last game was also very close and the game ended up in a tie, but we still took 2nd place in the Canton Cup because that team had lost to two teams, whereas we only lost to one. 

It took a couple of weeks to get the trophy and then the medals for both the Canton Cup and the regular season, so when we finally had our last gathering and scrimmage on Tuesday, Erik was all cast up from his break that occurred later in the day after our final game of the season. I'm glad he made it through and so grateful for the growth he made during this season! Now he just has to heal for the next season in the fall. Go Sharks!

Erik's not afraid of getting in there to defend!

He's very good at communicating and supporting his teammates. He's sometimes like a mini coach because of his viewpoint as a defender or goalie and can tell teammates when to move up or move back. At one game, when we were 7 points ahead, he was playing defense and waiting for some action on our end, he turned and looked at me and said, "Hi Mom!" It was hilarious because it was so unexpected and out of the blue! 

Goalie!

I don't know how I don't have a better pic than this at this particular game, but I love his smile!

Two medals!

And a trophy!

The OG teammates from our previous team years ago that are together on the Sharks team, but Nielesh is going to try out the travel team. We'll miss him!

Class of 2023

Graduation has happened! It was an interesting high school experience for Victoria full of highs and of lows and was definitely memorable! We're getting ready for the big Michigan-style graduation party that so many families host, so there's still lots of preparation to be done, but I'm trying to enjoy it all and soak it all in. 

Here are some pics of Victoria's graduation from seminary, which was a considerable sacrifice with the late-night dance classes and early-morning seminary, but with huge sacrifices come great blessings. 

Poster her teachers made her and her award from the underclassmen. The seniors also gave awards to the underclassmen and Kai got "Most Likely to be Late to Class" as well!

Here are some pics from high school graduation. It was at Eastern Michigan University and it happened to rain that day, whereas it hasn't rained for a whole month here (that's saying a lot!)

Shaking hands with Shawn Wilson, Erik's teammate's dad who's on the board of education. 

And Victoria got some professional pictures done with some friends, about a month ago, which worked out well, since it was raining on graduation day. 

Abby, Victoria, and Mallory

Mallory is combining with us for the grad party.

It just so happens that this is the year Erik "graduated" from elementary school and Austin from middle school. Both events were today. It was sad to close the Miller Elementary chapter of our lives. Discovery Middle School still has a Mercado to run through its system, so that wasn't so hard. 

Mr. Lee's class

Mr. Lee, his 5th-grade teacher

Mr. Sharp (VP) and Mrs. Klco (P) 

Victoria got to attend the ceremony. 

Austin and his besties. 

Mr. Noriayn (VP) and Mr. Sawchuk (P)

Discovery Eagles!

His advanced math teacher, who happened to be very young, and his favorite teacher!

Band teacher for only 1 year, but we grew very fond of him in this one year. 

Choir teacher who he had for 2 years and Victoria for all 3 years when she was there. Kai is now in orchestra with her daughter!

Erik even got to pop into Red Bell with me today so he could see my students from this year one more time. Erik will go to his last day of Elementary school tomorrow, so he won't be able to see these students again. As Mr. Billings said today at Erik's ceremony, "We're moving on so that the new kids coming in can have a turn to be where we are now." Onward and upward!

Many Visits

 I don't know where to start right now. I had more things to blog about, but I'll give more details about those later. On my mind right now are my crazy days Saturday and Monday and the results today. 

Let me lay out my Saturday schedule first.

9:00-10:45 Erik's last soccer game (Victoria was at her first dance recital of the day during this time)

11:00-12:00 Austin's piano recital

1:00-3:00 Erik was at his school fun fair at High Velocity Sports (got a ride with a friend)

1:30-4:30 I was volunteering at the bake sale for the second dance recital

6:00-9:00 we were all at the 3rd dance recital

Some time during the bake sale I received a text from Erik's friend Nicholas' dad saying that he thought Erik had broken his pinky while being a goalie at the fun fair during a soccer game with some middle schoolers. When I came back to eat between dance recitals, Erik was in a lot of pain. We iced him, gave him ibuprofen, and convinced him to come to the Victoria's last dance recital. Jason got him a big slurpee to hold onto for the beginning and I got him something from the bake sale to much on during intermission. 

Meanwhile, Austin, who celebrated his birthday the day before and had missed school for 2 1/2 days due to a fever, developed a bad ear infection on his birthday night at the movie theater. We were giving him ibuprofen Saturday and Sunday. So, Monday morning, I woke up knowing that I would have to make an appointment for Austin's ear and Erik's finger that day. I already had an appointment set up for Kai to get her cast off. 

Austin's appointment was first. His ear infection was so bad, the doctor said she thought it was probably killing him just to move his head. He got some antibiotics and is doing much better. I left work early to take him and after dropping him back off at school with more ibuprofen and an antibiotic pill in his system, I picked up Kai to take her to get her cast off. I came home and took my mom to the airport, then picked up Erik for his visit to the Urgent care that we had signed up online to get in line for. Having had lots of experience with broken bones lately, I know you can only get bones casted after the swelling has gone. So, we kept giving him pain killer and I took him when I could. They confirmed the break, referred us to the very same orthopedic office that I was at earlier that day, and I took Erik there today. 

I didn't take pictures of all the angles. I just can't look at it too much, it makes me hurt.

The bone is definitely broken and the doctor suggested he get surgery to put some pins in, but also wasn't against Erik just getting a cast for 4 weeks instead. He said that it won't be very obvious that it isn't straight, in the future, and that he shouldn't have any mobility problems. The surgery would have just been mostly cosmetic. Since Erik was absolutely adamant that he not get surgery (it wasn't "I don't want to" , it was "I won't get surgery!") we decided the cast would be fine. Back in January,  Austin didn't have a choice and it was a little traumatic, but definitely worth it in his case, though I don't know how Erik would have faired with all the surgery procedures. He was crying with just the thought of it. That's why he looks so happy getting his cast on!

Big cast for a little pinky...

We go back next week for another x-ray to be certain it's healing properly, otherwise, he'll have to get surgery right away before it's too late. So, everyone pray that it will be healing properly, because he's still adamant that he won't get surgery. 

Phew, I'm tired...

Another wrist

Kai's had some excitement going on. She heard a "pop" from her wrist/ thumb area while trying to hurry and get something out of the car (something they're not permitted to do during school) when her bracelet got caught on something and she pulled really hard.  Her thumb was swollen, so we thought it was that. The school nurse recommended that we get an x-ray.  The x-ray showed a small fracture at the very end of the radius, which is why it affected the thumb.  The urgent care referred us to a hand specialist because they weren't sure if it needed a cast, the brace was pretty good. However,  the specialist decided that 3 weeks in a cast would be best for proper healing.  This is the fourth broken wrist in our family- 3 by Austin. 

The doctor said, "I'm guessing you want a black cast?" Lol!

Sadly,  she won't be able to play in her final orchestra concert this week and was just recently made First Chair. So hopefully she gets that opportunity again next school year. She also was recently chosen as Student of the Month by her math teacher for the month of April. We were very surprised by this because she hasn't liked her math teacher very much this year. He hasn't always honored her 504 plan and geometry hasn't been her favorite. When we found out he was the one who nominated her, we were shocked! It turns out, he noticed how hard she has been trying and improving this whole school year and wanted to recognize her for that. I was touched that he recognized that and I know Kai was too. It seems they have a better relationship now. Thank you, Mr. Zirk!

Kai also had a clay pot selected to be entered into the Art Show two weeks ago. It was a very busy day, but I wanted to be sure to stop by to find it and take a picture of it with Kai. 

So proud of Kai! Kai's my only child not graduating from something this school year, but moving on to be an upperclassman!

Tiny Dragon

Before the Multi-Stake Western Dance