Cake!

Happy Birthday Sophie! It was so much fun to watch you decimate your cake! You didn't really eat too much of it, you licked off some of the frosting. You were generous and tried to share. Your brother and sister tried to help you open all your presents, their excitement exceeded your own. I can't believe how fast the year has gone and how much you have grown!

So, I spoke too soon....

We have one more soccer game left in the season. Tonight we lost, pbbbbbft. Really, it's okay, I'm not at all bothered. Regardless we will have a winning season. Bella did awesome tonight. She bounced back after a ball knocked the wind out of her and she stole the ball away more times than I can count. I did alright as a coach, but what happened here to my hair!

I look like someone from Battlefield Earth! Could no one have mentioned it! Yikes! That's Forrest Whittaker by the way-even more yikes!

Then at dinner we had a catastrophe. I ordered pizza as soon as we got home. I order it online from Domino's because they have a cool little tracker thing that says stuff like "Kelly is now preparing your pizza!" "Tim is boxing up your pizza!" Anyway, it makes the whole process seem faster and more fascinating.

Anyway, Jack asked if he could try some of the crushed red peppers on his pizza. I said sure, go ahead. Nate wasn't there to rescue the situation. He would have known what a wrong turn things would take.

You see, our kids think ketchup is spicy. Really they do. And, I was not paying real close attention, so I didn't see him dump most of the peppers in a clump. The first bite wasn't bad, so he took another. All of the sudden, runny nose, teary eyes, chugging milk.

Running to the fridge for water (new fridge-cool water dispenser on the inside!). Then some true crying as his head was all sweaty and nose running like a faucet. I try and encourage them to try new things, but in this case, I spoke too soon.

All over the place....

Sophie has some hair issues. I think she is going for a teenage boy/Don King/Andy Wharhol kind of a look. She refuses to keep bows, barrettes, rubber bands in it. I am not going to cut it, it's long on top, short every where else, and so we will just have to tough this phase out. I do love the color-where did it come from! In the sun it looks like spun gold.

How Do You Spend Your Friday Nights?

This is how I spend mine.....

The kids and I pile in the car and head down to the High School. I put Soph in the Bjorn, we load up on hot dogs, hamburgers and chips and head to the bleachers. I appreciate the food at the game. I have no range in my kitchen right now, and cereal and sandwiches are getting old.

We spend the first fifteen minutes or so trying to attract his attention. I try and sit us in the same general area each time so he can find us easier.

In the second quarter Tyler asked Lindsay to Homecoming over the intercom. She said yes in the third quarter. High school kids are fun. Really, I have learned quite a bit about them in the past four weeks. Such as-they are all really touchy feely to each other. They all hug when ever they see one another, in such a way you would believe they hadn't seen each other in ages. Then they proceed to talk about the English class they have together. Most of them have cell phones. They talk to or text the person one row over constantly. They like to rotate where they sit every two or three minutes. And if a mom with kids such as myself asks them to stop using bad language in front of little kids, they comply quickly and seem a bit embarrassed.

These girls are Bella's favorite part of the game. She really wants to do this one day. I told her it's expensive, start saving. She really wants to have a box with her name on it she can stand on, it's hard to see in the picture, but all the girls are standing on big black boxes with their names. And more than anything else she wants some pom poms. The moms of the cheerleaders and dance or drill team ( I can't tell) all get to wear things that identify them as "cheer mom" or "pionette mom". Usually if you sit by them you will have more room after half time when they take off.


Jack is always very absorbed in the game. He is my own personal commentator. He recaps all plays to me and laments that his dad gets to be on the tower and have a much better view. He is counting the days until he is suited up and out on the field. I am the worst mom in the world for not letting him bring his football and go out during half time to play.

This one likes to be outside, but gee it's tiring. She usually naps for 45 minutes in the middle of the game. And I usually have to nurse her at the game, which I figure is educational for all the teenagers I am surrounded by. Actually they barely seem to notice-thank heaven. They are all way too absorbed in other things.

I must interject a brief bit of advice to teenage boys. First a bit of wisdom from Cher Horowitz:

"So okay, I don't want to be a traitor to my generation and all but I don't get how guys dress today. I mean, come on, it looks like they just fell out of bed and put on some baggy pants and take their greasy hair - ew - and cover it up with a backwards cap and like, we're expected to swoon? I don't think so."

I haven't seen too many baggy pants, but I have seen too many tight tight tight pants with little skinny ankles on boys. Please, please stop. Also to the boy that came in a wrestling singlet, please no. The one in the footie jammies, those were way too small for you. And my overall advice would be look in the mirror before you leave. Just pause, just for a minute and make sure this is the message you want presented about yourself. I actually like all the school spirit stuff they wear and adorn themselves with. I would wear purple and black striped tights all the time if I could get away with it. I love the purple hair, purple shoes, and purple necklaces. It all makes me nostalgic for our purple car. If we couldn't be blue (La Grande High and BYU) at least we get to be purple.

Sadly they lost tonight, making their record 2-2. It was close tonight and we held on to hope until the last few seconds. If anyone is keeping track, Bella's soccer team is 5-0.

Best Laid Plans

So this mess represents a tiny area of sub floor from underneath the refrigerator, not the whole thing mind you, just a small part. Count the staples, I dare you.

Not that it has anything to do with anything at this point as it is all sitting in a garbage can down the street. And the floor is actually coming along okay. We have finished the front room and are in the kitchen now. It's looking how I wanted it to look-well sans all the dust and dirt tracked everywhere.

Speaking of stuff every where, Nate came up with a keep the downstairs clean plan for Sunday afternoons. Fall is upon us and football is here. Jack could watch game after game with nary a peep if we let him. Bella hides under a blanket and proclaims her dislike of all things football. And really, by Sunday she has already been to a LHS game, and one of Jack's games, so I can't really fault her for being upset about it all. Well Nate told Jack a story about when he was young he did push ups and sit ups during commercials to bulk up. So he thought we should do productive things during commercials during the game on Sunday, push ups and sit ups weren't what he had in mind though. Laundry, toys, books, and other random things are what he wants to conquer. So the deal is, people get to watch football while also helping out around the house. Poor Bella, this situation does nothing for her, we will have to work on that later.

So looking around down here today I see some evidence that things happened, the couch is full of folded laundry, toys are in the toy box, no stray shoes to trip over. However there is a large amount of felt, thread, stuffing, and sewing paraphernalia laying around. Oh wait, is that my mess?!? Find out more about what I am up to here.

Hey Coach!

Bella is there in the striped socks. I couldn't find Jacks old ones and realized knee socks are way more fun. And there I am on the side, yes I have gone crazy and am coaching her soccer team. I have no prior experience, have never played soccer, and have never coached before. But we are halfway through the season and so far so good.

But also we have....

...this guy. Second season for him. He looks like a pro up there with the headphones calling plays. The kids and I try and get his attention during the game and he never hears us. He is soo focused on the field. So far they are 1-1. This week will be crucial in turning the tide. If they win it will help their confidence a lot and we will have a happy coach. If they lose, much moping will ensue. Did I mention my team is 3-0. Oh wait, so far I have a better record. Hmmm, maybe I should start a friendly competition, especially seeing as I am already ahead. Of course, my players are 5 and 6 and still listen, while he has to deal with teenagers, so I have an edge. But, all is fair in love and sports and bragging rights.

First Day!

Jack started school two weeks ago. I have been slow in posting because...

We tore up the floor. And are still tearing up the floor. More on this later. On to....

He was really irritated I made him stop to take his picture. He just wanted to get back to his class and then on to recess. He seems to like his teacher, and knew a ton of people in his class from previous years. He is pretty excited school is back in session, even though summer was short.

This one started Kindergarten on the 25th. She absolutely would not hold still, or give me a hug goodbye. She just dashed into the playground like a pro and went to play. She is having a ball so far. On Wednesday she woke up and said "Third day of Kindergarten, third day of fun!" I love that she loves it.

Now, back to the floor. We are putting in laminate in the kitchen and living room aka sewing room. The carpet was not so bad to tear up, but the linoleum has been a bit overwhelming. The people who laid it down used a staple gun every two inches or so all over the whole floor. I had no idea the kitchen floor was earthquake proof.