The final countdown

This is the face of a boy who just lost for the last time. Therefore disqualifying him to continue onto the final round. This year they ran the race a little differently and you only had 1 chance to qualify. One loss, your out.
I was happy with the fact that it took less than 45 minutes to run an entire race for 20 or so cub scouts.
I was a little disappointed with them only getting to race one 1-2 times unless you won. But they left the track up for a long time afterward so all the boys could do their own races. That was the fun part. Watching them grab their cars at the end of the track and running like mad to do it again before the slots filled up. I am glad he has learned to be a good sport through it all. Taking his loss for what it is and for cheering on the ones who did win.
I am not one of those parents that thinks everyone who participates is a winner.
That, by the shear fact of showing up to something negates all the hard work others put into playing and actually winning. If you win every time, you have nothing to work towards.
Why try hard, or harder, if you get the award at the end just the same.
Losing is hard. It is hard watching your kid that you would stand in front of an on coming car for, be hurt by something you can't protect them from.
I tried that.
My son, like I've said is a thinker. He likes to know the ins and outs, the hows and whys of things.
A moving ball coming right at your face, no matter how big or small, does not compute with his rationalizing brain. Plus, your arms and feet have to move in sinc and that is just not happening with him.
His strengths will sometimes be less obvious and a little irritating ( like when he is at the dentist and she can hardly clean his teeth for all the questions he is continually asking). But he will know the answers that no one else does. And has the desire to eat up words and knowledge like he is starving.


I was a little too over-protective and stood in the way of him learning through his shortcomings.
Like when he was a kid, I signed him up for baseball and soccer.
It wasn't a pretty picture.
He was his own worst enemy.
That and the fact that by the age of 6 these kids were pros.
So, I stood in the way.
I tried to protect my child from embarrassment and hurt feelings.
While I taught him that I would always be there to protect him, I was also teaching him that he wasn't "good" enough to play sports, or that he shouldn't even try. To which I am paying dearly, as the kid won't even go outside when all the neighborhood kids play baseball. ( He will however till his sister so she can go play.)
Not at all my intention.
So, even though he really really wanted to win his last pinewood derby, by stepping back and allowing his failure, I also allowed him to know what it was like to want to win.

And hopefully that small lesson will help him in this race of life we are all in.

The many faces of Easter

We took Drew out to the movies the Saturday night before Easter, so my little sis came over and dyed eggs with the rest of my kiddos. The pictures are her fine art work. You can tell she is a document/photographer like myself. It drives my hubby nuts that I have to take so MANY photos EVERYWHERE we go. But I always tell him that from those 1,000's you get one that is truly amazing. So, thank you Anna for 1,000's of photos from your night of egg dying.

These are the many faces of William. Long after everyone else lost interest, he stuck around. Anna calls him her little buddy. There have been many tears shed by this little guy since Anna went back to school.
He says he " Just misses her so much it makes his tears"

"Bassetball" (aka: basketball)

( the title is how Bubbs says basketball)

Looking at this photo makes me realize what a big world it is that he faces.
There he is in his too big yellow shirt, marching onto the court with his head held high.
I missed out on a lot of things in my lifetime because of fear.
Fear of the unknown.
Fear of making a mistake.
Fear of not being perfect.
But looking at this, I have realized that no matter how small you are and how big the world is,
just go out with your head held high and have no fear.
And I am pretty sure that with a great big yellow #8 shirt, that we ALL could do anything we set out to do.
I am sooo proud of you Bubbs. You faced that great big court and played a great game. My Dad always said " If you come home tired, than you tried your hardest. So, come home tired."
You fell asleep before we pulled out of the parking lot.
Good game Bubbs.
Good game.

And the award goes to.....

Sis and Brenna for not only most runs down the hill.......
but for making it look this fun.
I hope that their fearlessness lasts them a lifetime.
They definitely earned the award for:
Best jumps
Most runs
Showing up all the boys
and
Being so darn cute while sledding.

Spring Break observations

Drew is the professor.
In this photo he looks like the evil professor.
"This is my creation....if all goes as planned it will blow up as soon as it senses girls nearby. Especially sister girls......Bwhahaha!"
Everywhere we went he was the first to build something. Including the nice leftover lump Gwenna is sitting on in photo below.

We called her the observer.
Sometimes it is more fun to play it safe and watch everyone else ( well, only me the Mom,)
gets hurt, and snow burns, and soggy wet. I did eventually trick her into going down the hill with me and Bubbs and ended up in a head-knocking-teeth-jarring-is anyone bleeding crash. I, or mostly my head, took the brunt of it. No regrets though. Having pain in this instance was soo worth the pleasure.

We called him the pro. He had the shoulder tilt action. He could maneuver back onto the track, around a tree, and use his feet to brake, all for the perfect 10 landings. He is a boy of few words but great actions.

We called them stupid. ( the ones on the bottom) Others called them the best Dads in the world.

At the end of the day this is what it was all about.


A special thank you to the Taylor's who are one of the few people that can get my hubby to laugh a belly laugh.
Thank you.

Well said. No, really.... I agree.

Awkwarfamilyphotos.com

According to today's regulators and bureaucrats, those of us who were kids in the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s or even the early 80s, probably shouldn't have survived. Our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paint. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors, or cabinets, and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets. (Not to mention the risks we took hitchhiking).

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pickup truck on a warm day was always a special treat. We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle. Horrors! We ate cupcakes, bread and butter, and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we were never overweight because we were always outside playing. We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle, and no one actually died from this.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of wood scraps and fruit crates and then rode down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem. We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

Now one was able to reach us by cell phone. Unthinkable! We did not have Playstations, Nintendo 64, X-Boxes, no video games at all, no ninety-nine channels on cable, videotape movies, surround sound, personal cell phones, personal computers, or Internet chat rooms. We had neighborhood friends! We played dodge ball, and sometimes, the ball would really hurt. We played other games such as Kick the Can and Capture the Flag. We fell out of trees, got cut, and broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. They were accidents. No one was to blame but us.

We had fights and punched each other and got black and blue and learned to get over it. We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and ate worms, and although were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes, nor did worms live inside us forever. We rode bikes or walked to a friend's home and knocked on the door, or rang the bell or just walked in. Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.

Some of us weren't as smart as others, so we failed a grade and were held back to repeat the same grade. Horrors! Tests were not adjusted for any reason. Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected, no one to hide behind. The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law. Imagine that! This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers and problem solvers and inventors, ever. -anonymous

I fell

This picture is so funny it made me think of a lot of things.

1. Falling down the stairs.

2. Wearing cut-off denim shorts.

3. Falling down the stairs while wearing denim cut off shorts.

Deep thoughts.
I know.
But most of all.

4. Being able to laugh at yourself while falling down the stairs and wearing denim cut-off shorts.

Photo source: JunkFest...someone PLEASE tell me how to link!

I am sooo drooling over this talented girl's blog.
I DREAM of having a room like this.
If a room could describe a person, this room would be me.
But, seriously, these girls are super talented.
Go check out their blog.
They are super nice too.
I know 'cause I e-mailed them about how much I love those clocks and they e-mailed me back.
That's right.
We're like best friends now.
Well, maybe not.
I lied.
A girl can dream though.

Craft

I want to make this.

I need to make this.
I will try and make this.
Well, probably not.
Anna, if you are out and you find a frame like this even if I have to paint it, call me, you have my #,
Oh, and if you see a nest like this, buy it. I will pay you back. Yes, really.
If there are any eggs like these,
same thing.
And don't you have paint this color?
Tell you what, since you'll have all this stuff, just go ahead and make this for me.
I promise to act genuinely surprised.

Ever have a day like this?
I do.
More than I'd like to admit.
Thank goodness for friends and family who are always there to remind me that the sun always eventually comes out again.
Even if that friend is named Dawn and has to climb into bed with you to check and see if you are alive.
Thank you.

And can somebody get that girl an umbrella.
And some pants.
Seriously, where are her pants.


Photo source: Unknown.

Reading..........

photo source: Awkwardfamilyphotos.com
Go there.


This is what my children see when they interrupt me reading.
House is burning down?
Hope you get out okay.
The dog ran away?
That's nice. Run faster.
You're starving because I've neglected to feed you so I could finish this extra long chapter?
There's leftover beans in the fridge. Oh wait. Never mind I finished those this morning.

I.........

photo source: Awkward family photos.com

This is a prime example of why everyone in my family is glad they are not having a birthday in the near near future.
Oh, you thought this is what they would get as a punishment or because I am in a bad mood or something......no,no.
I like refried beans.
A lot.
I have no shame.
This would be my ideal birthday cake.
Stick a candle in it.

Ken's Perfect Hardboiled Egg

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
• 6 cups water
• 8 eggs

Directions

1. Combine the salt, vinegar, and water in a large pot, and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the eggs one at a time, being careful not to crack them. Reduce the heat to a gentle boil, and cook for 14 minutes.
2. Once the eggs have cooked, remove them from the hot water, and place into a container of ice water or cold, running water. Cool completely, about 15 minutes. Store in the refrigerator up to 1 week.
   

Tried it. It is super amazing. Go try it. I dare you.

XOXO

This one is for my very own frog prince. Sometimes there is more frog than prince about him, but who's complaining.
Oh......I am.
I am still under the illusion that a simple kiss will help turn him into a prince.
He requires a little more than that, well, a lot more than that, but he is and ever will be my knight in shining armor, or frog or whatever.

I liked this one for my kids. If life is a sport, than I am glad to have them on my team. I choo choo choose them.

Sometimes.

No, that's mean, ALL the time. See? I AM a good mom.

This one is for my mom, sisters, and friends. I have been truly blessed to have people in my life who truly get me.
Anna, if we weren't related I'd wish we were. For the sole fact that you "get" what I just said makes it even more so. 'Nuff said.
Mom, you are the only person who knows what I am feeling with a simple "hello" on the phone. You are what I aspire to be with my daughters.

Wishing you a very early Happy Valentines day.
XOXO,
Michaela