I miss my bike the most.

We went to my SIL's for the weekend. It's our favorite way to spend a weekend. To make it even better, Jim and Emily and their crew met us there on Saturday.  We watched my nieces soccer games, had lunch and then headed across the street to the high school to play our own soccer game.  I had never played soccer before.  I'm the type of girl who is always afraid of getting hurt or hurting someone else.  So, no contact sports for me.  Until that day.  So much fun.  I had sweat pouring off my back, tears from laughter at certain times and mud on my fancy running shoes that are no longer used for running.

Until after the soccer game.  When I decided it was a good idea to ask my 15 year old niece if she'd like to race home.  And so I'm running.  Faster than I've run since I was her age and it was freeing and amazing.  But then I hit an uneven part of the concrete, rolled my ankle and down I went.  Breena sat with me til the rest of the family showed up and while we sat there I told her I was going to cry.  It hurt.  But I didn't wanna cry.  I wanted to be tough.  So I didn't cry.

When I pulled my sock away from my foot so I could look I think a few of us almost passed out.  The bulge was kinda grody looking.  It was decided {against my wishes} that I needed to go to Urgent Care.  Josh went and got our van.  Joel, one of Breena's friends and my current hero, picked me up and put me in the van.

Josh and Treena took me in.  I felt like a moron.  I got to take off my shoe and sock and get a good look.  What you can't really see is the bulge on top too, besides on the side.  It was pretty awesome.

I felt silly when they made me ride in this.
My first time in a wheelchair. Yay me.

Yes, that's a bag of Doritos and a milk jug you see.
My niece likes weird snacks. At least it's not Nutella at her bedside...

Took the splint off so I could ice it for a bit.
This is 24 hrs(ish) after it happened.

Husband takes TLC to a whole new level.
He's fabulous.

So, x-rays were taken but no radiologist to read them.  The doctor said it's not broken but asked if we had someone to take the x-rays to.  Lucky for us one of the guys we ride bikes with is an Orthopedic Surgeon.  I sent him a text with a picture of my ankle and he quickly called to find out what happened.  I have an appointment with him in an hour so he can look at the CD with my x-rays.

That's the excitement around here.  I can't walk.  Or ride my bike.  And I'm kinda flipping out over that.

I miss her already.  Let's look at a picture of her {my bike} so we can have a moment of silence.

this was the day i brought her home.
{sigh}

I'm hopeful Doc will tell me that I'll be ready to ride with the crew on Saturday.  Okay, so that's not going to happen but let's not tell me that, okay?  I need something to get me through this and if it's wishful thinking, so be it.

Update:  It's broken.  MRI is next.  We'll see the extent of damage and what surgery is needed.  I pulled bone off bone.  Because I'm hardcore like that.

Everyone needs a Chelsea

{my insecurities have cost me years of friendships. it makes me sad.  i'm thankful for second chances.}


There was this one time I went to a bible study on Tuesday mornings for two hours.

Mostly I went for the two hours of free childcare.

If you think I'm kidding about that - you think wrong.

Anyway, the first day I go to this bible study was pretty uncomfortable for me.  It'd been a few years since leaving that church so everyone was really nice to me and that just made me wanna run.  Nice and all, but I wanted to jet.  Please just don't notice me.

{unless I wanna be noticed - then pay close attention}

So.  Sitting there with this group of women when in walks this tall, dark haired, thin, beautiful girl.  With the cutest baby boy on her hip whose decked out in John Deere.

And she doesn't just walk in.  She makes an entrance.

"I'm heeeerrrre!" she says in a sing songy voice.

{If you know her in real life - you can totally hear it, right?}

And I was completely appalled and fascinated at the same time.  She was beautiful.  Funny.  And super loud.

Honest to goodness this was my first thought about her, "I could never be friends with someone who would compete with my loudness."

When I'm with my group of friends or family {and I mean family on Josh's side, because the family on my side can totally rival me in loud} I tend to be the more vocal one.  Shocked, aren't you?  shud it.

Anyway.

I think I only went back to that class one other time.  Not because of her but because most of the girls in my group were dressed super cute and I wanted to hang out with women who were dressed frumpy like me.

Fast forward a few years and Candee wants me to attend a couponing class with her held by Barbie Katie not only because she wants me to learn about coupons but because apparently I need "to meet Katie and Chelsea. You'll really like them."

Suuure I would.  And I probably would.  But would they...like me?

I guess they did because for the last several months we get together on occasion (like my birfday) and email and text and they're a good time.

The deal with Chelsea though is that if you ever want to know what someone really thinks about you or a situation you're in - you call her.  Because she won't hold back.  She's not going to be all shmoopy and make you feel good.  She's going to be real and I love it about her.  Absolutely, so super thankful, love it.

I don't need a friend to BS me.  I need a friend to be real with me.  And maybe I like that about her because I try to be that way with my friends too.  {at least with the ones I feel want that from me}

I love that she can rock a pair of Wranglers.  I love that she loves beer. {whoops, can I say that?} I love that she speaks her mind.  I love her honesty.  I love her obsession with politics.  I think mostly I love that one of her sons is named after Rush Limbaugh.  I love that she's genuine.  I love that even though my kid peed on some of her furniture she didn't flip the heck out.  I love - but am so intimidated by -  how freaking smart she is.

I just really like her.

Loud as me and all.

I'm thankful for her friendship.

Summer Rewind Part {sigh}

I miss Summer.

34 of a million reasons to love him

1. I love that it's going to be so easy to come up with 34 things I love about you.  You, Darling, are quite lovable.
2. I love your ability to work on stuff.  To fix stuff.  You have saved us thousands upon thousands of dollars being capable.  Love that about you.
3. I love your black tooth.  Yes, I do.  I don't even notice it anymore until someone brings it up but I'm sure I'd notice if it were fixed.
4. I love that you feel the freedom to wear jeans and a t-shirt to church on Sunday mornings now.
5. I love your Wrangler butt.
6. I love that we picked up some random hitchhiker who's VW bug broke down on the freeway near Tri-Cities and you got a truck and trailer and we drove her home to Seattle.  I love that you didn't think twice about helping her, you just did it.  Just one of several times you've helped someone on the side of the road.
7. Even though it often drives me crazy, I love the relationship you have with my mom.  I love that when she comes over the two of you talk non-stop about anything and everything.
8. I love that even though you were nervous to meet my bloggy friend, Emily, you agreed to meet the H family in Seattle that day, the beginning of awesome times.
9. I love that if someone needs something fixed, moved, driven, welded, wired, mowed, whatever - that they call you.  Because you'll do it and do it well.
10. I love that you sing with the girls.
11. I love that even though I bit you during delivery with Sugar, you still agreed to have another baby with me.  (I'm sorry for biting you during that delivery as well.)
12. I love your hands.
13. And your abs.
14. And oh, your back.  Oh those back muscles.  
15. I love to hear you laugh really hard.  It's rare that you just let loose but when you do, it's hilarious.
16. I love that even though it's not your favorite place to serve, that you get on the floor in the nursery at church and let those babies crawl and drool all over you.
17. I love that the last two times the kitchen floor has needed to be mopped - you've done it.
18. I love that you've taught me how to paint, drywall, texture, demolish.
19. I love that you work on Amber's car.
20. I love that you're always ready for a phone call from the police station when I leave with her.  And that you're fine with it.
21. I love watching you with our girls. I love that you are firm yet loving with them.  I love that you are patient with them and always take the time to answer each and every question and show them how to do anything they ask of you.  You, Joshua, are such an amazing daddy.
22. I love that your niece - who was 13 or 14 at the time - trusted you enough to cut her hair.  And that you did it.
23. I love the way you described how you felt about your brother that one night we were talking about the two of you growing up.  "If I ever had to go out for any sort of battle, he's the one I'd want right beside me."  Pretty sure only a guy could understand the depth of that but the choked up way you said it, let me know how much he means to you.
24. I love that you always point out the things in the house that I've taken care of, whether mowing the lawn, doing the dishes, FAPA'ing laundry - you always notice and thank me for what I've done.
25. I love that you are never without a job offer in this town.  If you were to lose your job today you'd have a place to go to work tomorrow.  Your reputation in this town is amazing.
26. I love watching you read your bible.
27. I love that you never want our girls to move out and want to buy the house behind us so they can move there when they do have to leave.
28. I love that you are always up for anything at any time.  I love that you take our huge tv and our huge speakers and put them on the deck so we can watch a movie by our woodstove while sitting on a Chevy bench seat.
29. I love that you'll watch a chick flick with me and enjoy it as much as I do.  
30. I love that you encourage me and take care of me. I love that you know what I need even before I do.
31. I love that you never, ever put yourself first.  You are always making yourself aware of what others need and you always put them before yourself.  Whether you know them or not.  I have never in my life met anyone more selfless than you.  Ever.
32. I love that you brush my hair.
33. I love that you married me.  I love that you've stayed married to me.  I love that you've seen me through the darkest, ickiest, worst of times and have loved me through 'em.  You have been Jesus to me for the last 13 years.  Thank you.  A million times, thank you.
34. I love that on that Saturday a few weeks ago while I was riding with Doc and Rick that Doc couldn't sing your praise enough.  "There's no one kinder down deep in his heart than Joshua."  and "There's no one I trust more than Joshua." and this last Saturday when Doc and I were riding out front, talking about homeschooling and how you are my biggest support, he says, "Joshua's a whole lot smarter than anyone gives him credit for.  He may not have gone to college but he's using his talents."  Seriously, Honey.  The man you respect and hold in such high regard, feels the exact same about you.

The list could go on and on.  It really could.  But I need to make dinner before you get home from work in an hour.

Happy 34th Birthday to the man I never want to live without.  You rock my world.

Items needed for a good time...

Remember that one time when Amber and I toilet papered a friend's house in broad daylight? {please click that link, we're hilarious.}

Well, we decided to step 'er up a notch.  She showed up at my house tonight asking if I wanted to join in some juvenile vandalism.

Uh, duh.

I said goodbye to my husband and children, told him to get the bail money ready and off we went to the store.

Ingredients for a good time:

400 ft. of Saran wrap
50 ft. of foil
2 boxes of plastic forks
a handful of business cards
and 8 rolls of toilet paper.

Of course the first trip to the store was only 200 ft of Saran wrap and the 50 ft of foil.  We make the drive up the hill, scope the place out and make a loop trying to figure out where it'd be best to park the car for our getaway.

The first 200 ft of Saran wrap was around the doors of his truck {yes, the same dude from our last trip}

Amber would hold the roll, hand it up to me (I was in the bed of the truck) I'd roll it across the top, hand it back to her and I'd jump out and climb under the truck.  She'd hand the roll back to me and I'd bring it back out to her.  Around and around until it was gone.

And it was gone too quickly.

So, we made another trip to Safeway.

Which is conveniently located about 3/4 mile from his house.

This trip we grabbed two bags of toilet paper, 2 boxes of plastic forks and another 200 ft. of Saran wrap.

Back up the hill we went.

We did the other 200 ft around the truck, the opposite way - of course.

Amber forked her business cards into his lawn while I started on our eight rolls of toilet paper.  We threw the toilet paper into the bushes as high as we could, going 'round and 'round.

Just as we were getting ready to put our garbage in the back of his truck - his front door opened.

We ran.  We ran fast.  I'm opening up my passenger door when Amber starts yelling, "drive! drive!"

So I fly over the console and I'm fumbling for her keys.  She finds them.  Starts it.  And I can't get the rig to go at first.  Her stick is so much different than any stick I've ever driven.  {freaking Volkswagen}

But off we went.  Of course, we had to make a few loops around to see what he was doing.  Admiring our work we sure.

He thinks we're a good time.  He's right.  But he says it's war.  Thank goodness he only knows where Amber lives.

He sent her a text telling her he wasn't sure if he should start cleaning up or taking pictures.  He loved it.

A good time doesn't have to be expensive.  We had the best time we've had in...weeks for only $15.


*and yes, I realize we should grow up but we just aren't ready.

Some Like it Hot...We, However...Do Not

Amber and I decided to be even more ridiculous than our normal ridiculous.

I read on Kelsey's blog about "hot yoga" and mentioned it to Amber, who had apparently heard of it already.

Our gym doesn't offer it so Amber Googled and found a place about 40 minutes away that offered it.  15 bucks and we could drop in for 90 minutes of 105 degree heat at 40% humidity.

Yes, we paid for torture.

But let's back up.  First we had to get there.

Here's a little bit of our FB convo:

Her: Do you know where we're going tonight?  I didn't google that part.

Me: Yes, I know where we're going.  One of us has to...

Her: I'll be beauty this time.  You be brains.

And so I get to her house ridiculously early {and I understand that when I post about Amber the word 'ridiculous' comes up a lot but that's really the only way to describe us.} I get there early because that's how we roll.  I'm thankful for a friend who not only gets my need to be early but has that same need herself.

Newbies to the class are to arrive 20 minutes early.

Like we wouldn't already.  But whatever.

I couldn't find a sports bra at home so I had to borrow hers and thankfully it was a really cute one.  I say thankfully because...well, you'll find out later in the post.

Isn't she so pretty?  I think she's beautiful.

We're driving.  Talking.  Laughing.  We're just a good time.

It's getting time to take exits and I tell her to "get in front of that white car and merge over that way."

She replies with some catty remark about which one of us is driving or whatever.

Let's pause to talk about Amber's driving skills.  They could be better.  She knows it and so does everyone else.  But her car is way cuter than  mine so I like her to drive.

Back to the story.

She's now gotten in front of that white car like I told her to and then all of a sudden she starts taking the exit toward the mall.  She knows that the road we're supposed to be on is off the same road as the mall but what she apparently wasn't realizing is that that road doesn't go through and it would have taken us ten times as long to get there that way.

I'm telling her hello, don't go that way and she says this: "You don't know how to be brains, you only know how to be bossy."

Pfft.

It's a little habit of a firstborn.  Oops?

I get us there (of course) and we're 40 minutes early (of course).  There's a bar down the road and we're both getting a little nervous that we're considering just hitting The Keg instead of The Class.  I have a Twitter friend who lives not too far away and I'm sure he wouldn't have minded a bit had we shown up in our spandex glory.

We sign in.  Pay our money.  Go into the restroom/locker room deal and as we see the other women, we're beginning to feel a little over dressed in all our clothes.  Some are wearing just sports bra and shorty short shorts.

Then we enter the room that is so freaking hot I sweat just by entering.  Amber made the joke that apparently the air conditioning was broken and maybe we should let them know.  {she's really funny.}

There's about 25 of us in there.  Some men.  In Speedo(ish) attire even.  Yes.  Hot, sweaty, old, wrinkly men in Speedos.  Be jealous.

The instructor gets up on this platform to start class, and, get this - says, "I'd just like us all to welcome Amber and Sarah to class tonight."

Yeah, she called us out in front of everyone and we totally wanted to hide under our yoga mats.

15 minutes into the poses and I'm sweating profusely.

30 minutes into the class Amber leaves so she can vomit.

No, I'm not even a little kidding.

I sat down for about 5 minutes to get my head together and my breathing calmed down.

She came back to class and somehow we made it through the next hour.  We aren't quite sure how.

The sweat.  Oh, the sweat.  It wasn't just dripping down my body but pouring out of every part of me.  And, I admit, I wound up taking off my shirt during class and just wearing my sports bra.  I have stretch marks, love handles and a vertical 6-7" scar on my belly I wanted to show off...  My shirt was a mess, Amber's cutie sports bra she loaned me wound up bleeding all over my white tank top.  So, I stripped 'er off.

And this is us after class.  The class that we somehow survived.

Uh huh.  That's us.  What you don't see in this picture - and lucky you - is the woman who is standing right next to Amber who took off her pants and had her sweaty, naked butt right in our faces.  We were dying.  Dying.  She had to have seen that we were taking pictures, why in the world would she do that?!

Anyway.  We not only survived class, we survived that lady's behind in our faces.

I think we'll go back.  Some year.

Just not this one.

World's best father-in-law? I got 'im

I'm that needy girl who didn't get raised by her dad and now has issues.

It's okay.  I can admit it.

{therapy's working!}

For the last 13 years of my life though I've had a rockin' father-in-law.  The best a girl could ask for.

A few weeks ago he asked if I'd like to go out to dinner and do a little shopping.  It's something he wanted to do for his daughter and then us daughters-in-law.

I'm all about food and time with him so I quickly agreed.  He handed me the keys to his big, fatty truck and asked if I'd like to drive (the man knows me).

Buy me food, clothes and let me drive your truck?  Yes.  Yes, please.

He took me to REI to buy a bike jersey I'd been wanting and that he had actually seen a week before and wanted to buy me.  Thankfully there was one left!

We shopped.  We ate.  We had great conversation and I went home from the evening just so freaking thankful that while I may not have my own dad, I have the best father-in-law ever.

Ever.

It's Monday and I'm Choosing to be Happy {oh yes I am}

Today because I want to wallow in self-pity {I know, you're wondering when I'm not going to wallow in self-pity} I'm going to write a list post of things that are currently making me happy.

The balloon rally was a good time.  Pizza with friends beforehand was a good time.  Watching my girls play with friends and making memories warmed my mama heart.

I think my favorite part of the night was when Justin Bieber came over the sound system and Spice flipped the heck out.  Jushtin Beezure!

My mom.  Smiling.  It's been a long time since I've seen it.  Kinda wondering if I ever have actually.  Her smiling makes me smile.

Laying in bed with Josh last night and having him say, "Thank you for making my life perfect."  I choked.  I mean, seriously?  Me?  Make his life perfect?  Oh, buddy.  Sigh.

Google+.  It's sorta like a diary that only 4 or 5 of my friends read.  I like that.

Homemade bread.  There's some baking in the oven right now.

My friendship with Katie.  I love that our kiddos play well together - and may have slight crushes on one another.  I love that she's mentally stable where I'm so not.  So when I'm a little {okay a lot} freakish in my homeschoolishness I can just text her and be calmed down.

Teaching my girls.  Today, they are making me insane.  Insaner?  But I love that I'm home with them.  And I love that Josh busts his butt so I can be here getting crazier each day with them.

In less than two weeks we have a trip planned to visit several of our favorite people.  My heart bursts, BURSTS with excitement over going to see them.  Eeeee!!!

Jeans that are too big.  Bras that are too big.  A scale that I want to make out with for being so good to me.

Tortillas.  I love tortillas.  I wish I were part Mexican so I could actually make them myself.  Okay, I know you don't have to be part Mexican or Mexican at all to make them, I just think it'd prolly help.

A little black dress.  It's not like sleazy little black dress.  It's just a fun black dress.  And it was on clearance. And four sizes smaller than what I would have bought last year at this time.  Happy. Freaking. Sarah.

On Saturday Josh and I didn't get to ride with the crew.  Which was a little bit of a bummer but good since we deep cleaned the house.  I love that I have a man who will get in and do dirty work with me.  We washed windows for the first time since 2003 and I cleaned the tops of my cupboards for the first time since like February.  You'd think we'd left up Halloween decorations for all the webs that were up there.  Geez.

Did I mention that on last week's bike ride with the crew that I puked?  Yeah.  I did.  I rode and rode and pushed and pushed.  I wanted to keep up (read: win) and so I did (sorta) and puked.  I really liked it.  Sick as that sounds.

Okay.  There's my list of happiness.

What are you happy about today?

if i could see, what he sees

Sometimes I'd like to see myself the way he does.

We've been together nearly 15 years now.

He's stuck by me through a lot of muck.

A lot.

That must mean there's some good about me then, right?  When I have days like I did yesterday I wonder why he takes me in his arms and holds me tight.  I wonder why he orders me to sit at the dinner table so he can serve me.  I wonder why he offers to rub my back.

I wonder why he stays.

And I wonder this often.  More often than I care to admit.  Yesterday I was feeling extra sorry for me.  Yesterday I was feeling extra sorry for Josh.  I feel so unworthy of him.  I feel he deserves so much better than me.  He'd be so much better off with someone not so crazy.  Someone who can get out of bed and make breakfast for him.  Someone who can face the laundry pile without feeling overwhelmed.  A woman who can bake a pie from scratch.  A mother for his children who smiles always and loves hard.

I sat.

I wanted to cry.

I couldn't.  Emotions are still dammed.

Then, just when I would need it.  Just when I'm feeling my lowest of lows yesterday I open an email from a friend I love so much.

She says: "You are worthy of that guy."

Only God could have planned that.  There was no coincidence of me feeling crappy and Linda sending those words right then.

I'm worthy of that guy.

I am worthy of that guy.

I don't know how many times I'll need to say it before I believe it.  I don't know how many years of him coming home to me daily after work it will take for me to believe it.

But I'm going to try.  I'm going to just try.

Because apparently he believes I'm worthy and that's what matters.

an untitled post

I'm stressed.

Exhausted.

Weary.

I really just want to get in my rig, grab Starbucks, turn up the radio, turn on my heated seats -

and drive.

I want to throw my cell phone out the window along the way.

I want to pull myself together - alone.  I want to wage war against myself - alone.  I want to let tears that I've dammed up for months - free.  I want to look in the mirror and not loathe the person that stares blankly back at me.

I want to be able to pray.

I want to say yes where I said no.  In turn, I want to say no where I said yes.

I want to smile without faking it.

I want to feel deserving of the man who goes to work each morning with a smile on his face, crow's feet at his eyes, stubble on his chin.  I want to feel deserving of the muscled arms he throws around me when he comes home.  Those rugged hands that hold my idle ones - I don't deserve his tenderness.

And the children.  Those beautiful girls I can hear playing upstairs right now - I want them to remember me as loving.  Kind.  Patient.  Silly.

Their biggest hero.

I want freedom from this.  This mess of me.

I want Jesus to come quickly so I can quit screwing everything up.  I just want to go Home already.

Is that just me?  I don't think it's just me.

Okay.  Done.

Words written.  Emotion on screen.

I think I'm ready now to face this day.

There's a first time for everything

As part of my Summer Rewind (here's the first and second installments) I'd like to rewind back to July 23rd.

The weekend of July 23rd was spent with two friends from high school.

Natalie and Cori.

The three of us went to Natalie's mom's house for the weekend.  No kids.  No husbands.  No to-do list other than relaxing, eating and swimming.  And there was some hiking.

L to R: Me, Natalie, Cori

While we're hiking Natalie says, "Sarah, I remember what today is."

That day was the 12th anniversary of my dad drowning.  That she remembered was so sweet.  That she would talk about it with me, was even better.  Sometimes it seems easier to be pretend to be oblivious.  It's hard to talk about hard stuff.

But that's what her husband had encouraged her to do.

So.  In that moment, the anniversary was acknowledged and that was that.  (thank you, girls!)

That was the first anniversary I've not cried.  I had a wonderful weekend with friends.  I thought about my dad just in that moment and not again for the rest of the weekend.

In fact, I don't think about him everyday anymore.  Healing.  It's good stuff.

a bikini. in public. not my best idea. but i wanted a tan all over.

we went out for dinner. live entertainment rocked.

and there may have been a little pole dancing.

Okay, there wasn't any pole dancing just some pole posing.

There was laughter, sharing of hearts, quite a bit more laughter (Do you like my fancy bed?  I just got it.) and a whole lotta relaxation.

Really hoping this becomes an annual event.

The First of our Days

Today was homeschool day 7.  We had four days last week and three so far this week.  Josh jokingly said last night, "I think you've done more school days in the last two weeks than you did all of last year."

Okay, he wasn't joking.  Kinda true.

We definitely did more than seven days last year but we never did that many consecutively.  What can I say?  Neither of us were into it.  Not that that's a good excuse on my end, I'm just telling it like it is.

I didn't want to homeschool my kid last year.

But this year I do!

And she does!

And we're loving it.

Last week while working on History, we learned that as the nomads settled into being farmers they used a shaduf to water their crops.

I was showing Sugar the picture:



And trying to explain to her how it worked.  She just looked at me.  I was like, "okay, head outside, we're gonna find some materials and we're going to make a Shaduf ourselves!"  Both girls were stoked.  We put on our flip flops and headed outside.

"Pick up sticks.  Try to find sticks with a Y."  Both girls go in search.

"Now I need a small, smooth rock."

We came inside with our supplies and I needed a few more things.  Hot glue gun, wire, and a piece of material that could hold water (I used an old diaper changing pad).

I realized I was going to need a way to stand our Shaduf up.  Farmers built theirs in the ground.  I didn't have that option.  So, I grabbed a large baby red from our garden, cut it so it had a flat surface and then poked our sticks in.

The girls were watching here and there and coloring and chattering.  Once it was done I had Sugar tell me what it was, why they used it, how they used it, etc.  She loved it!

"Wanna go show Daddy?!" I asked her.

"Yeaaahh!"  and we piled in the van drove half a mile down the road and Sugar worked on her public speaking skills telling all the guys about her Shaduf.

The farmers used a Shaduf to water their crops.  They'd dip a leather sack down into a canal, fill it with water and swing it around to water their crops.

Don't laugh but here's a picture of what we made:

I loved learning that day.  I think she did too.

Today was another great experience.  On day one or two of her language lessons I introduced her to a poem that she's supposed to memorize.  She does not like memorizing anything that is not her idea.  (no clue where she gets this stubbornness)

I've noticed that each day when I review the poem she is totally tuning me out.  Yesterday the consequence for her attitude was to write her name five times and she had to call her dad and tell him about her attitude.  Today I open up the book and I look over at her.

She's slumped.

"Not the caterpillar again."

"Yep, again."  But after I said it I just sat there for a minute.  Trying to figure out how to get her into it.  What would make her want to memorize this poem?  What would make it come alive?

I grabbed a piece of white construction paper and crayons.

"Let's draw the poem!" I said to her, super stoked.

Her eyes lit up for a second and then she says, "I don't know what a caterpillar looks like."  I remembered that we had an Usborne book on Butterflies and Caterpillars.  I grabbed it and we read all about caterpillars.

Brown and furry...  (first line)

She grabbed her brown crayon and made her caterpillar.

Shady leaf or stalk...

Green crayon.

May no toad spy you...

Green crayon again.

Little birds pass by you...

Blue crayon, three birds.

To live again a butterfly...

She looked through the book again, found a Monarch and started to draw one.  Apparently orange and black was too boring because her Monarch has orange, black, green and purple.

After her picture was done she recited the entire poem to me.  I know it isn't a long poem but it was the first time she'd tried and she got it!

Again, we loaded up in the van, went down to Josh's work and even though he wasn't there, I had her recite the poem to one of the guys.  She was a little nervous then and missed a little bit of it but that was fine.

I take her down there because those guys are awesome.  They know what we're doing, they're encouraging and supportive and they love my kids like they're their own.  I also take her down there because I want her to get used to public speaking.

Public speaking usually makes me want to vomit and use the facilities for other reasons.  I'm hopeful that if I start her young she won't have quite the issues I do.  (Lord, help her.)

We finally got our math book (we're using Singapore) so we started that yesterday.  We did the first lesson and today she wanted to do two.  I don't want her overwhelmed but if she wants to do extra, I'm all about it.

Other than a few attitude issues, we're doing really well so far.  Also, Spice (age 3) is soaking up a ton of info and came up to me and told me the definition of a noun.  So cute.  I need to get it on video and show you guys.

How's school going for your fam?  Public, private, home or otherwise.

Getting knocked down just makes ya try harder

Last week I remembered that soccer season was coming up.  I looked up the info, called the number I was supposed to call and got a voicemail.  I left my name and number and within a coupla minutes received a text message that registration was closed.

I didn't want to take no for an answer.  So I emailed my friend, Mandy, whose husband, Ty,  is very involved in the soccer-ness and within minutes my kid was placed on a team.

And then Ty tells me that the coach for the team is a little...on the intense side.  He's serious about his soccer.

Josh and I are totally fine with that.  She's gotta learn sometime, right?

At the first meeting her coach shows them the warm up drill they'll do at every practice.  This includes jumping jacks.  Which Sugar cannot do to save her life.  (apparently the poor child inherited my rockin' athletic abilities)  The coach pulls her away from the other 4 girls and tries to show her.

To no avail.

"Okay you just confused. That's okay."

So we came home and Josh worked with her on her jumping jacks.

Then Tuesday came and it was time for the first practice and my poor girl was completely lost.  And the coach tells Josh we have a lotta work to do.

Josh worked with her on Wednesday night and then last night was her first game.  Yes, one practice and then game time.

Oh.

Bugger.

I was all sorts of a mess all day worrying about the game.  Sugar?  Chill.  Of course.

27. 2 + 7 = 9. Perfect. (i have # issues, remember?)

Then it was time for the pre-game pep talk. Some one on one time with the best coach of all.  Daddy.

"I love you. I'm proud of you. Now go kick ass."

Kidding.  I don't think he said that last part.  At least not to her.

Then it was time for the pep talk from the coach. And a cheer for the opposing team.

Then it was game time!  Let's get down to business!

"So, what do you think we're supposed to do?"

"Uh, I dunno."

Standing around is awesome.

Then the girls decided to play.

This is serious business, dude.

She gets those long legs from me..  Whaat?

This girl rocked. Fast. Tough. Determined. & she brought snacks.

Sugar got knocked down pretty early on.  When she got up, Josh was concerned she was comin' up swinging.  She got so determined after that!  In all, Sugar ended up scoring 5 goals.  Yes, five!  A kid who can't do jumping jacks can score!  Her coach was impressed and told us at the end of the game that she had built confidence and did well.

For as hard as he is on the girls, he's super encouraging too.

My favorite part of the game.

Such a fun game to watch.  We're not supposed to keep score but our team totally killed 'em won.

Can't wait for next week!

Summer Rewind Part 2

If you missed Part 1, here she is.

13 years.

Sigh. All clean. Needed to be folded.

I'm the girl who takes pics of engines.

Promise.

My heart belongs here.

My favorite pair of shoes.

Two of my favorite people.  Ever.

The best thousand bucks I've ever spent.

And when we're lazy, we use this.

Straight lines.  Every time. (with the walk behind mower)

Oh. Sweet. Sister. How I love you.

"Look happy!"

Baby wedgie.

Time alone w/my man.  And a Corona.

Chillin' on the picnic table.

The only time it's quiet in our home.

We've had 4. He's the best by far. We love him. Like crazy.

Routine bloodwork.

My heart loves a rainy day.

More to come!