Christmas spirit

Loving sitting down here and listening to Gabrielle play Christmas music on her flute upstairs.

WHOOO HOOO!

Gotta give some love to Gabrielle, and also eat a little crow. Gabrielle has been playing soccer for 6 years now. She has always loved it, and has always been one of the fastest girls on the field. But in my opinion, she didn't really seem to "get" soccer. She could beat most anyone to the ball, but then would just give it a big boot; sometimes right to the other team. The coach would be yelling "dribble" or "pass" but one good kick was usually all he got.

When they asked for volunteers to play keeper (goalie), she would volunteer, but was still a bit afraid of the ball, and sometimes actually ducked as the ball came at her while she was in the net.

Fast forward to approximately 3 weeks ago. She had the best quarter, and best game I ever saw her play. They don't play exclusive positions yet at this level, so this particular quarter, she happened to be playing defense. She was fast, seeing the field, making some great plays and great passes. And during one play, she blocked the ball with her body without flinching.

Fast forward to game 1 of today's double header. Coach put her in goal first quarter. Her team played amazingly well, so granted, she didn't have much work to do as the ball was at the other end of the field for most of the quarter. BUT, when it counted, she stepped up and made 3 nice saves, one which came pretty hard and fast right at her chest.

And then, coach put her in at forward, midfield, and forward again, and she had another great game where she was seeing the field, making plays, passing, and yes, when necessary, booting the ball up the field. The difference was today, it was a conscious decision to boot it over the opponent's heads to her teammates up the field. She ended up scoring 2 goals in their 4-0 shut out, and another 2 goals in the afternoon game of their double header. SO proud of her!

Props also to her whole team. I must say, in 6 years of watching soccer games, this team plays AS a team more than any other I've seen. They are all just clicking, and it's so much fun to watch. Usually by now I am sooo ready for soccer to be over, but I gotta admit, I'm gonna miss watching these girls.

I just can't...

...let go of some of my strict boundaries for the kids. I was okay leaving Tyler and his buddy at the school playing basketball on a Sunday afternoon while I ran home for a bit to get snacks and drinks. I didn't think twice about it, and I didn't even worry.

But the following week, when he asked if he could walk down there with the basketball and shoot some hoops, I suddenly realized I had to run to the store for milk, and could drop him off. Except of course, as we drove up, I saw 7-8 boys already on the court. They looked to be high schoolers. So I told him I would get the milk first and drop him off on the way home. As we pulled up, one carload of the boys was driving off, and the others were walking off the court to their car.

I dropped him off and he ran over to the court and started shooting as I drove away. As I passed the greenbelt behind our house, I noticed another group of teens hanging around. I got home, put the milk away, and couldn't stop thinking that the last group of boys on the court had not actually left the parking lot before I did. Or that Ty would have to walk by the group of teens in the greenbelt as he came home. After letting my stomach churn for another 15 minutes, I hopped back in the car and went to get him.

Ty ran over to the car, flushed and smiling, and said "Wow, that hour flew by."

Ummmmm. Sorry bud. You've been saddled with a psycho worrywart for a mom.

Love Story

Yes, I seem to be having my own little "mom crush" on Taylor Swift. I can't stop raving about what a great show she put on that was TOTALLY APPROPRIATE from the second she stepped on stage to the second she left (which by the way, was a good solid 2 1/2 hours after she began her show).

Now, I am the first to admit that I love me some Katy Perry "Last Friday Night", or Rihanna "S & M", and can sing every word to those songs when my children aren't in the car. However, in this hypersexualized world that we are trying to raise 2 daughters (and a son) in, it is refreshing to see Taylor Swift; gorgeous, gracious, modest, and publically embracing her "role model" label.

Taylor has every reason to be a spoiled, bratty, young starlet, yet isn't. She enjoyed her first success at the ripe old age of 16, has won every Country Music award under the sun plus a couple of Grammy and American Music awards as well. She has brought her mom to awards shows, she sings about fairy tales and first kisses, and she thanked the crowd at least 10 times for showing up, supporting her, and buying her music.

Her set included a sparkly, revolving tree at the opposite end of the stadium from the main stage, and she walked right through the crowd, shaking hands and hugging little girls (and some older girls too). I embarassed my daughter when I teared up as Taylor spotted a little girl with no hair and a pink headband, who I can only assume is going through chemo, went straight up to her, gave her a hug and took off the bracelet she was wearing and dropped it in the little girl's hand. I love this girl!

I guess you know you are a mom (or maybe just old) when you get home from a concert, and you want to write a fan letter, not to the artist, but to her mom for raising such an amazing young woman.

Fair fun

Today was a great (albeit HOT) day at the AZ State Fair! We don't go every year, so that seems to make it a bit more unique and special for the kids. We managed to squeeze in rides, a butterfly pavilion, games, a piggy talent show, LOTS of walking, people watching, and some nice compromising by the kids (I'll go on that one with you if you'll ride this one with me).

We ended the day with 4 tickets left on our "Fun Pass". The least expensive thing to do at the fair seemed to be 5 tickets, so we went to one of the games and asked the man to check our balance, hoping I had miscounted and we actually had 5 tix left. But no, only 4. We glanced at the game we were standing at, which required 10 tix for 2 balls. I offered him the remaining 4 tix for one ball, and he laughed but said "ok". After the one ball, which did not break the plate, he discreetly gave each of the kids at least 3-4 more balls to throw. Of course he was saying things like, "you can have this ball if you throw it with your eyes closed." Or, "you have to stand on one foot." I wasn't entirely sure we weren't going to get "punked" or end up on "Goofiest Fair Videos". At the very end, Tyler threw a ball that broke a plate, and he pulled out a bin of small stuffed animals. Tyler chose a blue dolphin, and the man then passed the bin to both Evie and Gabrielle, who also chose dolphins. They thanked him profusely, and he replied with "the smiles make it all worth it." Thanks sir. You made the kids day absolutely perfect with that act of kindness!

planning ahead...

A few weeks back I asked Evie to help me pick up twigs from the front yard (we had trimmed the bougainvilla and there were MANY) and I told her I would pay her a penny a piece for each twig she put into a plastic grocery bag.  She picked up 107 twigs from the front yard, and I told her I owed her 107 cents.  I tried to give her a dollar bill, and 7 cents, but she told me she would rather have the 107 pennies.  I told her I didn't have time to count it out and I would do it later.
Fast forward to 5 minutes ago, when she came down and said, "You never gave me the pennies.  Remember when I picked up all of those twigs?"  So I told her she was right, and I would give her the pennies right now.  And her response?  "Because mom, I'm not going to have any money when I'm in college, so I need that to save for money when I'm in college."

REALLY??  Where on earth did that come from?!

Grand Adventure

You all know that one of my very favorite places on earth is the bottom of the Grand Canyon.  The kids also became intrigued by the Canyon when we went up last September for the release of the Grand Canyon National Park quarter, (and they hadn't even been IN the Canyon) so I promised them we would go back and camp there.  Finally, we were able to make the time to do it, so the kids and I headed out last Wednesday. 

We arrived pretty late, and finished setting up the tent in the dark.  It was a little saggy, baggy at the front, but not bad for being so dark AND the fact that I had forgotten the mallet to pound in the tent stakes!  We awoke Thursday, and while eating breakfast, 13 (yes, thirteen!) elk came to visit us, picking their way through our campsite while finding their own breakfast.  Then we spent the day hiking along the rim, and went into the geology museum at one end of the "Geology Timeline".   Den met us that evening, and we enjoyed the stars, the cool air, and the quiet.

Friday, Gabrielle, Tyler and I planned on hiking part way down Bright Angel trail.  Den and Evie walked us a few hundred yards into the Canyon, took some pictures, and then said "goodbye" and went back up to spend the day on the rim again.  The older two and I took off, with Gabrielle and Tyler practically skipping down the trail, they were so excited.  We made it to the 3 mile mark,

sat down, ate a little snack, then turned around and started back out.  On our way out, a big horned sheep crossed our path twice!  (Not a very good picture, but the best I could do on short notice as it just sort of jumped in our path.)

The kids also participated in the Junior Ranger program, and went on a "Fossil Walk" with Ranger Robb.

All in all, a great camping trip.  So proud of all three kids.  They didn't ask for "technology" even once!!