Pictures say it all!

I have to explain some family history as to why this is hilarious (and my dad playing tennis is NOT the hilarious part.) Umm..my family is what you would call competitive! We are all athletic and enjoy playing things together that will allow us to display our extraordinary skills! It doesn't matter if it is on the field, on the court, on the track, or at the table playing games...we are competitive. We have most definitely passed this trait down to our own children. My children are, for the most part, competitive but I would say none come close to being as much so as Hayli. She has been that way all her life. She has been a top competitive gymnast, diver, cheerleader..among other sports such as softball, track, and her favorite, volleyball. She truly gives 110 percent and can be a fierce competitor...and THAT is what makes this so funny. Okay, on this particular day, my family had gotten together at my sister's and decided to hit the hard court for a mean game of tennis. My brother was paired with my niece Ashley, who plays for her high school and my dad was paired with Hayli. In the above picture, I have cut it in half to show the incredible skill, focus, and determination in which my dad can still throw down.(note the air time...go dad!) His partner on the other hand..........









ummm..no, not so much. She clearly is not as determined or even paying attention that her partner is about to slam a serve and there could possibly be a return! My mom took this picture and when I saw it I knew I had to have it! It makes me laugh every time I look at it. I have given Hayli such a hard time but even she thinks it is funny(sorta)....maybe her competitive streak isn't as strong as I thought......NAH!!

What is wrong with you people?

Okay, I realize that BB Allstars is a reality show and not exactly the most educational or informative show I could be watching OR that it is worthy of a national debate but PEOPLE...WHAT ARE YOU THINKING???!!! These Allstars are driving me crazy. Dr. Will is the most egotistical player I think I have ever seen in BB history. What was up with his speech last night at the Veto ceremony? And every time I hear him in the Diary room about how insulted he is that he is not nominated I want to throw something at the TV. Why do they not see him as a threat or at the very least a total annoyance with his I hate everybody, please nominate me, I'm the greatest BB player in history, I am now pastey white self. (BTW his spray tan at the nomination ceremony was HILARIOUS!)I have been out of town and just watched it today and I think it is CRAZY that they say they want to keep Will in the house. WWWHHHHYYYYYYYY? I know this is worthless television but it is my one guilty pleasure...well, until Survivor comes back on!

School of hard knocks..literally!

What is it about crutches that makes kids think they are so cool to play with. They are for injured people who after about a day on crutches want to pull their hair out. Ask Chandler..he decided to play with some adult crutches. ( which were suppose to be in the basement ) He thought he might go from the top floor of our house to the main floor which is 16 hardwood steps. He went head-first down them instead.. knocking his head in several places, busting his lip, cutting the top of his nose, bruising his legs, hurting his left ankle and breaking his little toe of that same foot and then fracturing his right foot...note the cast and CRUTCHES!!!! He is very lucky however, although his injuries aren't nice, it could have been a lot worse. We are just grateful he is okay. After about an hour with his cast on he is whining "it's hot and sweaty" and "mom, it's too tight." Oh, I know sweetie but you have to keep it on for a month. "I don't want to not play or swim for a month!" I know honey.
Let's just say, lesson learned!

The Birthday Girl!

Happy Birthday Meggie!
Today is Suzie's birthday and poor girl had to spend half of it taking an entrance exam required for kids entering her grade at the private school she attends. Yuk! Hopefully, we will be able to salvage what is left of her special day and make it a good one!

Milestones.

Life is all about milestones. When I was a kid I would count the days until that upcoming life changing milestone. Once we become older and we have children of our own, it becomes about their milestones...the first time they roll over, when they take that first step, or when they loose their first tooth. Soon it is when they start school, when they turn eight and are baptized. Then it is all about the AGE and the freedom that comes from each advancement. When they are twelve they are ready for middle school and get to go onto YM/YW's. Once that long awaited moment comes it is met with their longing to be fourteen so they can attend dances, Youth Conference, and high school! But alas, even though that day was surely the highlight of their lives..it is not near as great as it will be when they turn SIXTEEN! Then the dreaded ( for mom and dad ) double D's..driving and dating! (group of course) However, turning eighteen to them, will be the greatest of all because it is off to college and they are officially ADULTS! Shortly after, the harsh realty will set in that ADULT= responsibility! This year we are reaching or have already reached many milestones in our family. I am truly enjoying the changes that come from each.



Chandler has reached the exciting milestone of turning eight. He had been so looking forward to that day when he could be baptized. It was a wonderful day. He is my only little boy and I enjoy him so much. He is a typical boy, I think...if this means he plays outside all day (even forgetting to eat sometimes ), he could wear the same thing every day and if it hasn't been washed that makes it even better, and he jumps over everything, throws everything, and destroys quite a bit in the process. I love watching him pal around with his dad but at the end of the day he is still momma's little boy!









My little SuzyQ. Her milestone is the one that breaks my heart! She is going to be an official MIDDLESCHOOLER! The end of the innocent. She is going from the somewhat kind and nurturing world of elementary to the harsh, crazy, eat you alive, world of middle school! what happens to kids between elementary and middle school? Somehow, they become hormone raging, fist fighting, teenager wannabes, trying to figure out where to fit in. I dread her being in this environment. Luckily, we have had great success with private school and a HUGE majority of those issues are not such a problem. Kids will still be kids but over all it is a much calmer environment. Doesn't the idea of someone being mean to your child make your blood boil? The very idea of someone hurting my Suzy's feelings gets me very upset. Aren't all parents that way? She is so sweet, creative, smart and makes friends so easy. I hope her experience will be a positive one and that she will make good friends. Oh, if I could protect my kids from the world...but it just doesn't work that way.


Sweet Kayla! Her milestone is one I can remember so well. Turning 14!! This allows church dances, youth conference, and EFY!! She is so longing to be able to participate in these things. She has watched her older sister be able to do all of them and hear how much fun they are! I told her the other day I thought when you are the oldest you can't wait to do things that you will be able to when you reach that certain age but it is not as bad because you don't really know what you are missing. But when you are younger, you know EXACTLY whet you are missing because you have an older sibling to remind you! She is such a social bug and thrives on being with people! She will start high school shortly after she turns 14, another milestone. She is so adorable and is pretty darn smart! She will have a blast going to the dances. Most of her friends are already going and that makes her even more anxious. No one likes to be left out. They look forward to her going too because she is so fun to be with and can definitely get her groove on!




Hayli's milestone is the least we are ready for. My baby is growing up! I am not ready for the double D's. Her driving scares me to death. Not her driving specifically, it is just the act of driving itself that I am afraid of. So many kids are killed nowadays on the roads! I got my license when I was 16 and was out driving on my own..with very little experience! It is a wonder I didn't kill someone or myself. (I did have an accident within a week or two of getting my license but thank goodness it was minor!) The second D ( dating ) I am less concerned about...although my husband is going to probably have a nervous breakdown until she leaves for college. ( Too much interest in his little girl and he doesn't think any are good enough for her...typical Dad, right?) We are VERY fortunate. When it comes to boys, Hayli is unteenagerly-like smart! She is very spiritual minded and the idea of having a "steady boyfriend" is years down the road in her mind. She wants to date ALOT but she just wants to go out with good guys, mission bound a must, with no pressure. Needless to say this narrows her choices, but she is perfectly okay with that! She is kind of shy and wouldn't know if a guy liked her if he advertised it on a billboard. She is so beautiful inside and out! It is going to be interesting to watch..I hope her Dad can survive it!

I'm on a blog binge...somebody stop me!

Okay, today I blog for the first time in my life and next thing you know I am blogging three times already today. Hello! Did I forget about the whole "I don't have time to blog" and "I don't need another commitment" GEEZ! Maybe it is because I have been sick the last few days and have been preblogging in my head with the idea that I wouldpossibly blog today and now it is just all rushing out in this big blog binge! Step away from the computer!!!!!! Well... since I am already blogging, it wouldn't hurt to just put up one small blog about my two youngest kiddies, right? They are so cute together. They are two peas in a pod except Meg is a girl and Chandler is a boy and 3 years younger than his sister. Nevertheless, they hardly leave each others side during the day. Where one goes the other goes...unless Meg has a friend over, then Chandler is usually demoted to annoying little brother. I am glad they have each other! Chandler loves Megan to death and Megan loves Chandler when none of her friends are around...but even then she'll let him hang around or be their little slave. And he is happy to do it!

So sweet....

Sisters....




I am constantly in awe of the dynamics between my girls. They are sisters...sometimes that means they are the best of friends and sometimes it means they want to rip each others hair out! One minute I hear them yelling at each other about why something one borrowed from the other last week is still on their closet floor DIRTY and the next minute they are laying on one or the others bed laughing and talking in some secret code that only they can understand or making up crazy dances to video text. It is fascinating! I love having daughters. They are moody and emotional but I have begun to get a glimpse of the true friendships I will have forever!

To blog or not to blog...that is the question?

Seriously, this has been a question I have asked myself many times. First of all, I DO NOT have time to blog! And we all know nothing is worse than an irregular blogger...you check their blog periodically and it is the same as it was the last three times you checked. Somehow there is this commitment there to not just blog at your leisure but to entertain everyone who reads your blog! Well, that is too much pressure for me. I do not need another commitment in my life. Furthermore, I am very much against kids and the whole myspace thing. I have seen good kids be exposed to not very good people and things and because of that my kids have not been allowed to have one. ( Not that they ever really wanted one to begin with. ) So I had to ask myself, is having a family blog that much different than kids having a myspace? I have come to the conclusion that it is. I may decide that it is not tomorrow, who knows, but I do enjoy reading my families blogs and even their friends and families blogs and it is all very family oriented. So today.. I will blog!