"Dancing Princess Soccer Superstar"

Spencer and I had our first glimpse today of this mysterious creature. I think we were both a bit apprehensive for Ella. Turned out it was all for nothing though, she rocks!

Ella was a complete riot. She already has the soccer stance down. Check her out:

We have no idea where she picked this up from but every time the coach talked, Ella stood like this.

She took the whole thing very seriously. I think she assumed she was semi in charge (who, Ella?). Whenever the coach would call one of the kids to come back to the group, Ella would walk over and put her arm around them and shepherd them back. She has never met these kids or the coach before but immediately took on this role. When the coach would blow her whistle, Ella would whistle. If Ella saw a cone knocked over, she would run over and set it back up. I think the coach was really appreciative. The class is for ages 2-5 and it is really heavy on the 2 year old side. I think she loved having a little girl who was actually listening and helping.

They don't allow pics during practice but here is one after class. Ella just kicked the ball and scored a goal. You have to imagine her little voice going very deep and yelling "Goooooaaaaaaaalllllll!" which she does with abandon almost every time she kicks the ball. Gosh I love this little lady.

Sunday Summary

This week - like most weeks - has been crazy busy so I didn't get a chance to update my blog at all. I saw this on my friend's blog and thought it might be a good way to keep track of the weeks highs and lows.

- Spencer is full on into baseball season again which means lots and lots of practices. I've noticed as the years have gone on that as the boys get older the number of moms and dads at the practices switch. In the T-ball phase and the first couple of years, it was mostly moms and some dads. That has slowly evolved to all dads and me. Hard core baseball dads. Let me tell you, it is great fun. He had 3 practices this week (technically 4, but he didn't go to the Sunday one). I am finally enjoying practices more though because Ella is old enough to play at the park without my assistance which means lots of reading time for me! It was amazing watching the kids on Saturday. We are finally at the point where the ball is caught the majority of the time and the kids can throw pretty far. It looks like it will be a good season (a GREAT season if you listen to the dads patting each other on the back at the end of practice).

- Ella starts soccer tomorrow. She informed me today that she will be a "dancing soccer princess superstar." I am anxious to see what that translates to on the field tomorrow.

- In addition to baseball practice, Spencer attended a pitching clinic at Pinkman's Academy. The coach set this up as optional for the team since it was an additional fee. Spencer thinks it was well worth it since he is going "pro." I thought it was well worth it so I wouldn't be ostracized by aforementioned dads.

- Spencer won "Best Overall" for the father-son cake decorating contest at the Blue and Gold Banquet. We interpreted the father-son loosely and instead my brother decorated it with him. Between Lance's work schedule and Spencer's after school activities, it just wasn't going to happen.

- Bathroom humor has descended upon Ella this week. Why, why, why does my beautiful little girl think the word poop is the funniest word known to man??? Spencer never went through this phase. It seems Ella has picked up his slack and then some. She has entertained us all week with stories and songs that all end in "and then he pooped" followed by raucous laughter from Ella. I think my favorite was when she "read" us "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly." Ella's interpretation of the story was "She ate and ate and ate, then BOOM, she 'sploded and lots of poopies came out." This too will pass (soon please!) . . .

For Tricia

This blog entry is specifically for Nate and Tricia Lawrenson (but feel free to read!). You may have seen my link on the right hand side to their blog (Confessions of a CF husband). Tricia has Cystic Fibrosis. While waiting for her double lung transplant she discovered (miraculously) that she was pregnant. Doctors advised termination because of the high risk to both mother and baby but the Lawrensons continued the pregnancy. Gwyneth was born at just 24 weeks. Tricia is back waiting for the double lung transplant. She got to hold Gwyneth for the first time last week when she was 8 weeks old. Nate blogs about the lives of his two girls. He is refreshingly honest and his perspective on things is amazing. Anyway, one of their many many readers blogged about how there are so many things she takes for granted with her kids. Things that maybe day to day she finds annoying but Tricia would give anything to experience right now. She challenged everyone to make a list for Tricia, so here's mine . . .


I can't wait for you to be holding your daughter above your head and right when you look up she spits up all over you.

I can't wait for her to wake you up every night around 3 AM because she wants to snuggle in bed with you.

I can't wait for your daughter to write her name in marker all over the walls of her newly painted bedroom (and then for you to be too sentimental to scrub all of them off).

I can't wait for you to be at a theme park (Disneyland) and have your child pee all over you first thing in the morning and realize that you brought a change of clothes for the child but not for yourself.

I can't wait for Gwyneth to tell you 15 minutes before school that she was supposed to bring a hand decorated Valentine's box for their class party.

I can't wait for you to hear the words "NO - MY DO IT!!" out of your 2/3 year old's mouth.

I can't wait for you to sit for what seems like endless hours every week and watch Gwyneth practice and play sports, dance, or whatever she enjoys.

I can't wait for you to sit with her at night while she says her prayers and get a glimpse of God through a child's eyes.

Book Review #4

How could I forget this book last night when I was doing my reviews - this one is GREAT!!!

13. Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman goes Behind the Veil (Deborah Rodriguez) - Debbie Rodriguez is a fascinating woman who goes on an aid mission to Kabul just months after the reign of the Taliban ends. She leaves behind an abusive husband who tells her as she gets on the plane "I hope you die in Afghanistan." She tells him "I'd rather die than live her with you." War torn Afghanistan seemed like Paradise compared to her life back in the states. But Debbie is no victim. Short with spiky red hair and plenty of attitude, she takes on Kabul. The Taliban had previously banned beauty salons and Debbie realizes that by training women in Kabul she can help empower them. It is one of the wealthiest occupations they can have. While there, she ends up allowing two of her friends to arrange a marriage for her and she becomes the second wife to a man that doesn't even speak English. Read this book - it is filled with a really interesting look into Afghani culture, humorous (and sad) stories, and an inspiring message. You won't be disappointed.

Such a sweetie

Last night while I was putting Ella to bed I told her she could have anyone she wanted to sleep with (meaning her dolls or stuffed animals). I asked her if she wanted her pig, rabbit, etc. She kept saying no. Finally, she looked at me and said "I choose you Mommy." How could I say no to that? So I snuggled with my favorite girl for awhile. I love this age.

Book Review #3

8 . The Devil Wears Prada (Lauren Weisberger) - I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's one of those books that you pick up and can't put down. It's an easy read full of interesting quirky people. The book is about a girl who gets a job as an assistant at a high profile fashion magazine. This is definitely not her dream job and is using it as a stepping stone to launch her career as a writer - if she can survive her boss. It is rumored that it is based on Vogue magazine as the author used to work there. I saw the movie a couple of years ago which I liked also but the book was better. I could completely identify with Andy (the main character) minus the amazing job and horrible boss. :)

9. Everyone Worth Knowing (Lauren Weisberger) - I enjoyed The Devil Wears Prada so much that I checked this one out from the library also. This book follows the same formula as her first one. Young smart girl gets caught up in a world she knows nothing about. This time the girl gets a job as a party planner for the rich and famous. This is also a fun, quick read. I would call these "beach books." The kind of book that is perfect for laying on the beach all day and not having to think about anything.

1o. The Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife (Peggy Vincent) - Best book ever!!!! I need a to develop a rating system for the books I read this year. If I had one, this would be off the charts. I think every woman should read this book. Peggy writes of her experiences first as a labor and delivery nurse, then a lamaze coach, and finally a midwife. She delivered babies for over 30 years in Berkeley, California. One of the things I really liked about this book was that she wasn't judgmental about whether or not somebody used a midwife, had a home birth, or used pain meds (she in fact did with her first). She writes primarily about the miracle of life however these sweet little babies make their entrance. Her stories are hilariously entertaining.

11. Mrs. Kimble (Jennifer Haigh) -This is a story about the three different wives of Ken Kimble (at different times - he wasn't a polygamist :) I really don't have much to say about this book. I had such high hopes for it. I guess I didn't love it but I also didn't hate it. It reminded me of watching an episode of one of your favorite shows and it not being too good but you stick with it because you know it will get better eventually. I was disappointed with the flaws in the characters and expected more out of them. This book did get GREAT reviews from other people though so if you are contemplating on reading it don't take my word for it.

12. Change of Heart (Jodi Picoult) - Let me start by saying Jodi Picoult is one of my all time favorite authors. Her books are like candy to me. I think I have read everything she has written. I like them because they are entertaining easy reads that really make you think about tough issues. Hmmmm . . . now that I think about it they are probably the book version of Lifetime movies (but better!). Anyway, I didn't know she had a new book out so I was so excited to see this at the library. I liked this book but I didn't think it was as good as her others. I felt like it dragged at times and her characters were too formulaic. That being said, I read this last week and still find myself thinking about it. Anything that manages to stick in my brain longer than a day must be good! I don't want to give any of the plot away so let me just say it is about a man on death row and the family that put him there.

WHEW!!! I am done with book reviews for the night! Now I can update my reading list on the side. I have been wanting to forever but I don't let myself change the books until I have actually reviewed them on here or I would never get around to it. Hopefully I will have time to do it tomorrow because I am reading some amazing books right now!

The Ideal Family/You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover

So in my old ward there was a family I loathed. Okay, not really, they actually were wonderful people, it was just painful for me to watch them in sacrament meeting. All four of their kids (from ages 1 to 10) sat perfectly still and actually listened to the speakers - even the one year old!! They never had toys, paper, nothing. Then there was us - our whole row strewn with toys, food, crayons, you name it AND the kids still weren't being quiet.

Now fast forward to this Sunday. While listening to one of the speakers, I started to think about things we could be doing better as a family and felt guilt start to sink in for everything we aren't doing right. Then I looked over at my kids. Spencer was reading the Book of Mormon. He had just finished Words of Mormon in his personal reading (He is doing the Hinckley challenge). Ella was quietly sitting looking at BOM stories for kids and an ABC gospel book her Aunt Michelle made her one year for Christmas (thanks Michelle!). My kids were dressed really cute, hair was done, they were clean, etc. There were no toys strewn anywhere, everyone was calm, and I could actually listen.

In the row ahead of us there was a family with 3 children older than mine. One of the kids was playing solitaire with actual cards, one of the kids was on the floor having a fit, and one was playing solitaire on a Blackberry. Hair wasn't brushed, clothes were wrinkled. The mom kept looking back wistfully at us (I love that word). I totally recognized the look in her eye.

In that moment, it hit me. She probably thinks we are this amazing ideal family like I had thought of the family in my old ward. Judging by appearances, we were impressive. It made me laugh! If only she could have a glimpse into our crazy day to day life. This family just moved into our ward a couple of weeks ago and when she spoke I was really impressed with some of things they were doing daily with their kids that I want to emulate with mine. I guess the old adage is true - you really can't judge a book by its cover.

But more than that, that brief moment this Sunday took away a lot of the mommy guilt that I'm sure is familiar to many of you. I spend way too much time comparing myself (and my family) to other people - or I should say my perception of other people. I might all of this time been holding myself against a standard that wasn't ever really there except in my mind. It made me realize that we all, for the most part, are doing the best we can. And that's okay.

(If the girl in my ward ever starts reading my blog I will have to delete this post - I think she would die. They are really an amazing wonderful family - I think they were just having an off week this past Sunday)

I Heart Harris Teeter!

I usually grocery shop on Tuesday's while Ella is in preschool but today decided to go after picking her up. I realized today that if I bring Ella with me I can not only get my grocery shopping done but also feed her a free healthy meal. I am all about saving money and not having to make a lunch. Ella (like me) LOVES samples. She will eat almost anything on a toothpick. So first we hit the produce and had samples of all the fruit. She insisted on taking two of everything so she could have one for her cousin Maddi (later I talked her into eating them). Then we hit the veggies and sampled a LOT of broccoli (Ella took a little more than I think she was supposed to - but she had the produce guy laughing). Next we hit the bread where they had 3 different types of organic bread to try out. The deli section was painful for me while she got to sample a bunch of different yummy cheeses. Finally, she had a cookie on the way out the door. I love that what they have out to try is not the normal processed foods (although I really like those too). When we left, they pushed my cart to the car and loaded all my groceries. I don't usually let them do that but I might start - it was really nice to just put Ella in and go. Gotta love a store that makes it fun to shop!

The Universe is Working Against Me

I recently started working out again. I have wanted to forever but haven't been able to because of doctor's orders. One of the medications they have me on for chronic pain is notorious for weight gain and I'm living proof. Anyway, I have been faithfully working out this week and eating so much better. Yesterday, I fell down our basement stairs. All the way down. I'm sore but decided to perservere and work out anyway. This morning, after I put my tennis shoes on, I twisted my ankle. So I guess I will just be concentrating on abs today. I'm such a clutz.

Just in case you miss it . . .

I started working on a Tag on Wedneday and didn't get back to it until today. I posted it but it showed up under my post about my brother's car accident. So, if you want to read all about me - scroll down a little.

Book Review #2

5. Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum - I really really liked this book. It explored a mother/daughter relationship after surviving the Holocaust. I am still thinking about it a few weeks later and how I would have reacted had I been placed in that situation. I definitely recommend it.

6. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Stephen D Levitt - Don't let the subject of economics scare you away from reading this book, it is downright fascinating. He turns conventional wisdom on its head. Some of the topics he discusses are why swimming pools are more dangerous than guns, why crime really went down in the 90's, why drug dealers still live with their moms (if they are making so much money), and what impact parents can really have on their kids, etc. It makes you look at the world a little differently after reading the book.