October Part 1

October was a little crazy between soccer and the election. Here are the Pict's and stories that I wanted to post, but didn't have the time.

Soccer:

Hailey and Riley both did soccer this year. They both had a lot of fun, and want to do it again next year.

Hailey was on the Bumblebees. She wasn't the most enthusiastic player out there. For the majority of the games she would stand in the middle of the field and watch the other girls go after the ball. At one point the ball was kicked to her. She stood there and looked down at it. The other girls ran up and kicked it around her. She didn't even turn around to watch the ball, she just stood there staring off into space. She did make three goals over the season, unfortunately they were all for the other team. In her defense she was easily one of the smallest girls out there. She didn't like getting pushed around and knocked down. Also in her first practice she got knocked down and another girl fell on her. She hurt her neck so bad that she couldn't move it. We made weekly visits to the chiropractor for almost the entire season. She did perk up during the last two games because her Dad and Uncle Steven told her that they would both pay her 5 dollars if she made a goal for her team. Steven also told her that he would stick around a little longer. She tried a lot harder after that. So I guess the moral of her soccer story is hold out until the money is right, then go for it. She says she wants to play again next year. Her Dad and I will have to think about it.

Riley was on the Swordfish and had a pretty exciting season. This was the first year that Riley was old enough to keep score and have playoffs. It got quite competitive and was a lot of fun. The Swordfish went 9-2 for the season putting them in a great place for the playoffs. They ended up in fourth after a couple last minute heart breakers. It was a lot of fun to watch. Riley has a natural talent for soccer. The coach often pointed him out in practice as someone to follow. He would never give up. If someone took the ball from him he was right on it, and they rarely got far. I think he is also made of springs. Whenever he fell down he was back up again before anyone else had time to take two steps. He was also one of the boys they liked to play at goalie. He felt horrible when a few goals got through him, but he made some amazing saves. Where some of the boys would stop the ball, Riley would go all out and dive for it. There was no fear of sacrificing the body from him. He was on one of the only teams that actually played as a team. They passed to each other, communicated, and worked together. It seamed to me that the other teams had one or two stars that they relied upon to do all the work. The swordfish worked as one. They had some great coaches too. I was very impressed with the coaches and the amount of time they donated to the boys. It was a great team and a great year. Riley got awarded the go getter and one of the goalie awards from his coach. The coach also said that Riley was a big part of the teams success, that he was a good leader and example to the other boys. It was fun to see my son exhibit some of the qualities I hoped he would develop. I hope he continues to be a go getter and give his all for what ever he wants to succeed in. Big thanks to Coach Rick for all the great pictures.

I never go tired of seeing this happen. It was almost funny. Sorry other kid!! : }

You are trying to do what?

This morning while I was composing my first post for the day, I know I'm on a roll today this is number three, I heard Sydney get into the fridge.  I asked her what she was doing.  I didn't get a satisfactory answer so I went to investigate.  Sydney and Carley were standing in the kitchen looking at a broken egg on the floor.  I thought that is weird.  I asked Sydney why she got an egg out of the fridge.  "I don't know."  Okay.  I asked her to stay out of the fridge and went to get ready to leave for the day.  Again I heard her in the fridge so I came out to investigate. This time I found an empty egg carton on the floor in front of the fridge.  I thought that was a little strange, but decided that the broken egg must have been the last in that container.  I threw away the container and continued getting ready.  Finally I came into the living room where the girls were watching PBS cartoons, yes I plugged them in while I was getting ready, and told Sydney that it was time to do her hair.  Now look at this picture and see if you see anything out of place.

Don't see anything unusual, look a little closer.

Okay, if you still don't see it here is the extreme close up.

Yes, she was sitting on three eggs.  She was really upset when I took them away too.  I asked her why she had them. "Because"  I told her that maybe if I understood why she wanted them then we could work it out.  She said that something to the effect that she was watching a movie and wanted the eggs.  My best guess is that one of the cartoons had something about birds sitting on eggs and baby chicks coming out.  If you read the post before this you know that Sydney loves baby animals.  So much so that she was willing to put the time in and sit on those eggs until they hatched.  I tried to explain to her that it wouldn't work with our eggs.  I don't think she got it though.  When we were walking out the door she was back to begging for the egg so she could snuggle it and have it be her baby.  I love her imagination.  I forgot to add that to her birthday blog. Sydney has a very active and vivid imagination.  I am also amazed and grateful that she was so gentle with them that they didn't break on my chair.  She is probably grateful for that too, even if she doesn't know it. 

Sydney is 3!!!

Sydney turned 3 on Sunday.  It was a fun day.  She was so excited.  She wanted to make sure everyone knew that it was her birthday.  She told everyone she came close to that it was her day.  She is such a sweet and loving little girl that is full to the brim of vinegar and spice.  What else could she be with me being her mother. HEE! HEE!

Our family has a tradition that when it is your birthday you get to choose what we have for dinner.  It took Sydney two days to come up with Pizza.  I told her if she didn't tell me she was going to end up with cereal, she didn't think that would be too bad.

She was bursting at the seams waiting to open her presents.  I love this picture!!

Sydney's favorite presents by far were her little pig and camera.  She has taken or tried to take them with her every where.  

After cake and ice cream Sydney gave us all a little fashion show.  Notice her little pig. The only reason she didn't have the camera is because she was having us take "pictures" of her with it.  

She had a lot of fun with her princess cake.  

Sydney loves to be the center of attention.  She loves to preform.

  

She has a very outgoing personality. She has no problem going up to perfect strangers, saying hi, and making new friends.

She is protective of her little sister Carley.  She has no problem beating Carley, but let anyone else try it and that is another story.  

She loves animals.  Her birthday wish list consisted of a baby kitty, a baby horse, a baby calf, and a baby pig.  I told her she would have to talk to Howdy y'all Grandpa about most of those.  (Good luck Dad!)

She is a lot of fun.  Our family wouldn't be complete without her.   Happy Birthday Sydney!!  We love you!

On a side, but related note.  We started giving the kids allowances this last week.  I am proud to say that Hailey and Riley used their first allowances to buy Sydney birthday presents from them.  Tender moments.

Profound Gratitude

It is hard for me to believe that last week was election week and the end of soccer.  Since I have had so much less to do and to pull at my time, it seems that time has moved differently.  I feel like last week should have been weeks ago instead of days ago.  Maybe that is because so much has happened since then.  Things that I have no control over and that I can only stand by and watch in dismayed silence.  I am more grateful today than last week that I was able to stand for something so important as restoring the definition of marriage in California.  It seems the more opposition there is and the more misunderstanding is shown, the more solid I become in my stance.  If that is possible.  I am profoundly grateful for the knowledge I have of the Savior and his eternal plan for us.  For the knowledge that even though this may be a short won battle in the great war of what is to come that everything will be okay.  I am also grateful for the peace of mind that this knowledge brings.  I have been overwhelmed and admittedly a little surprised by the amount of peace that I feel.  I had a friend call me today and tell me she was afraid for me and my family because we BELONG to The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints.  I told her thanks for the worry, but we are okay, and will be.  I know that no matter what opposition comes from this or anything else we will be okay. 

VERY BUSY, STILL ALIVE

I have been very busy lately and have not had much time to sit down and blog. I thought I would take the ten minutes I have before I have to go to let everyone know we are still alive. This month has been one of the craziest months ever. I will have to give you a complete run though later, but here is an over view of the things that have kept me running this month. Hailey and Riley Soccer, Yes on Prop. 8, Riley Scouts, Yes on Prop. 8, Riley Karate, Yes on Prop. 8, My Preschool, Yes on Prop. 8, Halloween costumes and parties, Yes on Prop. 8. As you can see between my kids and campaigning for YES ON PROP. 8 I haven't had a lot of time to sit down at the computer. I have not blogged on Prop. 8 before now because 1. I haven't had time, 2. I don't think that more than a hand full of people read this blog. I left the heavy blogging to those whose blogs are more read and hit the streets. I am pleading with anyone who does read this before tomorrow to please vote YES on Prop. 8. If you still have questions or concerns about this proposition please go to PreservingMarriage.org

Grosgrain: Marie-Thérèse Gown GIVEAWAY!!!!

This dress is AMAZING!! Check it out. I can't even imagine taking the time to make something as amazing as that. I don't know if I would ever be able to finish it. It would be really fun to see my girls in it though. Hats off to the very creative woman who made it!! Check it out below!!

Grosgrain: Marie-Thérèse Gown GIVEAWAY!!!!

Top Fifteen Reasons we moved.

15. The sound of Silence.

Our new place is so quiet.

14. An Ocean view!!

Okay it is very far off and very tiny, but it is still there.

13. A working oven.

My oven takes about an hour or more to heat up. It will be nice to have one that can do that in about 15 min.

12.No more laundry outside!!

Hailey didn't even know you could have laundry inside. Oh sad.

11. No more Ants!!

Since the house was tented for termites we have been taken over by ants. They are everywhere. Most of the time I can't even figure out why they are where they are.

10. Definable Space.

Having a Kitchen, Living Room, Dining Room, instead of a livingroomofficedinningroomkitchen.

9. Carpet!!!

We have found you need this for boys to wrestle safely.

8. Better School.

The school the kids are in now is okay, but the one they will be in is the best in the district.

7. No more smoke.

Our neighbors smoke outside to save their kids from second hand smoke, I guess. Unfortunately it is right outside our living room window. The smoke drifts into our house and we get the second hand smoke. Yea for us! (Hear that last statement dripping in sarcasm.) YUCK!!

6. No more BIG SHIRLEY-

Great for exercise really bad for parking, or backing your car out. This picture doesn't quite catch the actual steepness of this hill. One more percentage and they would have had to pave it in cement because asphalt would slide off. YIKES!

5. No more baked Braman all-a-mode.

10:00 am, 5:00 pm, 7:00 pm
Before making dinner. After making dinner.

This will be the first time, since moving to CA 81/2 years ago, that I will have central air!

4. A window for the girls.

This has worried me since we moved in. I have had nightmares about there being a fire and not being able to get my girls out. A window will also help so they don't roast.

3. No more neighbors puking outside our bedroom window at 4:30 am.

This happened on Labor Day. The new neighbors moved in on Thursday and on Monday (Labor Day) had a roaring party that lasted until 4:30 am. It only ended when one of them puked outside our bedroom window. This also happened to be the night before the First Day of School. Although, it was kind of a blessing in disguise. If they hadn't made such fools of themselves we wouldn't have looked for a new place to live.

2. Safety.

In the 19 months that we have lived here I have put my own house on lock down twice for our safety. The police were canvasing the neighborhood on foot, in cars, and from the air. Never a good sign.

1. A better bed to bloom in.

There is a quote, "Bloom where you are planted." Usually I totally agree that you should make the best of where you are. However, I have found that sometimes when the weeds are shutting out the sun, you feel like you are shrinking instead of growing, and there is no way that your beautiful petals will ever be seen, it is time to find a new bed.