Tournament again!! In Oregon

Another weekend, another TKD tournament. This time it was in Cottage Grove Oregon, a hefty 6 hour drive from our house. Ugh. It shouldn't be but the traffic through Seattle, Olympia, Portland make it so.

Felix did the best this time. I'm so proud of her. Her ring is the 11-13 yr old 1st Degree Black Belts. Every girl in this ring are from Oregon and all know each other. And they're mean, mean fighting machines. Seriously. I would not want to meet on a lighted street let alone a dark one. They'll kick you from here into tomorrow if they had the chance. They're forms too, are mean and precise. Good blocks, punches, kicks, etc.

So Felix typically does very poorly in this group. She has my competitive spirit ... which basically equals nothing. She needs to have my sister as her mom. Lisa is very competitive and would train her right. Unfortunately, I didn't do such a great job in that area. Oh well.

However, when they were calling out the winners for the various competitions, lo and behold! Felix got 3rd in Forms! Even with seven girls in her ring. She was a shocked as I was! I was trying to keep track of the points that each competitor was getting but I'm just not a good enough "Soccer Mom" to write those things down (and believe me; MANY parents write down every one's score to compare it to their childs' score. Can't do it). So I was totally surprised when she won. And totally proud. And she was proud of herself too and felt like she wasn't such a loser anymore like she has been for the past eight months. Her ring is a bit more tough than it used to be and this was very good for her psyche.

Felix holding her well deserved Trophy!! (with her DS stylus in her mouth)

Robee didn't place but he's already state champ for last year so he didn't really care. Thomas placed 2nd in both Forms and Sparring and I placed 3rd in Weapons and 3rd in Sparring.

Robee in the back during our road trip. He has my ipod while playing his DS. Technology makes kids stop looking out the window but it can make the trip not as grueling.

So our next and last competition for the season is April 25. I also have a Instructor Camp next weekend to test for my Instructor's License. A bit nervous about that but it'll be okay.

This is a pic of the Portland Temple. I tried to get one of the Angel Moroni but He was going by too quickly.

Spring Day (finally!)

We finally had a nice Spring day, albeit a little cool. But hey!! The sun actually came out and we finally saw our shadows!!
This is Felix and I at the school playground. I believe my shadow is suffering from Winter bloat. Hmmm. Time to run.


Robee going down the slide. I think I need to do this one again and rotate the danged thing. Sorry. Too lazy to do it now.

This is Robee after the slide and falling out on his back. I don't think the injury is too serious but who knows.

Felix holding a ladybug, the first of the season!! She finally had to find a plant to deposit it because the little thing wouldn't "Fly Away Home" off of her hand.

Yep. Me on the climbing wall. Bare-footed. Going up was fine but coming down on that bark-covered ground ... yikes. My poor feet. Whatever happened to just falling on the asphalt?? Wimps.

Robee's Track Meet

Robee joined the Runner's Club at school. They trained for a mini-track meet for about three weeks. He seems to really enjoy running (unlike my other off-spring) and liked going to practice. His meet was two weeks ago Saturday and it turned out to be a cold, windy day. Poor kids!



This is Robee and his friend, Jayke. I'm not sure if this is before or after his run. Actually, I'm thinking it was before his run because I think he took off the vest to run. And the sun was barely shining just before the meet started.


His first run was the mile and he didn't place high, but he did finish and he didn't walk (one of his goals). His second run was the relay and he was second to run. He actually passed a kid and put his team in third place. Unfortunately, their anchor brought them into fifth. Oh well.

He had a great time and I'm posting more pics as soon as I can get them off my phone.

Good job Robee!! I'm so proud of you.

Life goes on ..................

Okay. The viewing is done. The funeral is over. The plot has been dedicated and Mom is flying in good health.

And I am moving on. I'm not the first person to have a parent die and I won't be last.

On to happier things, eh?

In Memory of My Mother - Lucile Dorothy Van Alfen Barker - 6/1/35 to 3/7/09

Bye Mom. Love you. Good health to you now.

Lucile Dorothy Van Alfen Barker, 73, passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 7, 2009. She was born June 1, 1935 in Ogden, Utah to Dutch immigrants, John and Pauline Herbert Van Alfen. Lucy was raised in Ogden with her eight siblings and attended Ogden High School. After graduating in 1953, she worked for Safeway Stores and her father at their family real estate office. She married Joseph Keith Barker on August 30, 1955 at the County Courthouse in Salt Lake City. Their vows were later solemnized in the Logan LDS Temple in 1956.

Lucy endured 20 years of military life, moving 19 times throughout the United States and Thailand, before returning to Ogden in 1978. She was a member of the LDS church and enjoyed serving in various callings in the Relief Society. Lucy was an avid cook and was known for her delicious pies and chocolate candies. She loved her many pets on ‘Ma Barkers Ranch’, especially her poodles.

She was a fan of Neil Diamond, Tom Jones, and Englebert Humperdink. Lucy’s notable skills include her excellent penmanship and her organizational abilities. Lucy also loved painting, collecting dolls, planning family reunions, and shopping catalogues. One of her greatest joys was spoiling and loving her grandchildren.

In recent years, Lucy suffered from numerous health problems and her family is grateful she is no longer in pain and has returned to Heaven to be reunited with her sweet babies.

Lucy is survived by her selfless and loving husband, Keith; children: Jeff Barker of Salt Lake City, Cory Barker (Colette) of Orem, Kristi Neeleman (Thomas) of Arlington, WA and Lisa Harris of Tigard, OR; grandchildren, Brandon Barker, Brooke Tu‘ifua, Bryan Teeter, Heidi Strickland, Benjamin Barker, Rebekah Barker, Feliciti Neeleman and Robee Neeleman; great-grandsons J.T. Barker and Jacob Tu‘ifua and step grandchildren Jen Neeleman, Emilee Morzelewski, Angie Neeleman, and Ben Neeleman. Also surviving are sisters Diana Prawitt and Virginia Stark and brothers John and Paul Van Alfen.

She was preceded in death by her parents; baby daughter, Leslie Ray Barker; baby sons, John Michael Barker and Mark Anthony Barker; and sisters, Gertrude Carr, Thelma Martin, Pauline Thomas and Joan Robbins.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, March 14, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. at Larkin Mortuary, Ogden, Utah. Family and friends may call on Friday, March 13, at Larkin Mortuary from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday prior to the service from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Interment will be at Leavitt’s Altorest Cemetery.