Blanket/Raincoat/Snuggie

It is sports season at our house. Three girls on three different soccer teams + one boy on a baseball team with his dad as the assistant coach = UGH! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to watch their games. I love to watch them have fun (and don't tell them, but I seem to enjoy it even more if they win). The only problem is the COLD! I think we only sat through three warm baseball games last spring. Soccer usually seemed a little warmer, just windier.

We were at a store picking up baseball hoodies for the team, when I saw this giant blanket/raincoat/snuggie thing. I told Jared I would never be caught dead in it. UGLY! It is a blanket thing with a hood that is used as a poncho with pockets on the inside to keep your hands warm too. Just use your imagination as to how ridiculous this thing is. Tonight, I am seriously considering making the purchase. I have three games to sit through in the next four days, all with highs in the forties. My toes are still trying to defrost from the five o'clock game tonight.

Would my family sit by me? Or would they try to steal it from me? I could probably use it forever. Does it come in pink? Or at least a feminine color? Decisions, decisions. What is your opinion?

Just Waiting

So here I am, sitting here waiting for DCFS to come knocking on my door. It is a joke around here that when Jared is out of town our children get injured. Everyone thinks I beat them. NOT TRUE!!!!! I have proof: when Lizzie got a huge goose egg on her head, the neighbor's brother dropped her. I was inside. When Ainsley sprained her arm, her and Emily were wrestling. Lizzie's friend's dad was at our house picking up his daughter. When Ainsley broke her hand by falling down the stairs, I was sitting at the kitchen table. Ainsley's four year old friend was right with her. Tonight, when Tyler fell out of our tree and broke his arm, I was in my van driving to pick up a friend. See, I did not cause any of these injuries. Jared has been around for some other injuries, but he blames me for these also. RUDE!!!!

Funny story about tonight.....Sunday, some friends reminded me to be nice to my kids since Jared would be leaving. Today, when they came over and I was not home, they told another friend that I was probably at the doctor with Ainsley for an injury since Jared was out of town. Thirty minutes later Tyler fell!!! I think DCFS should be called on my friends for cursing me with these things!

Anyway, if you feel the need to turn me in, let me know so I can start documenting who was around when my children were injured!

Cell Phones

I have had a cheap pay as you go cell phone for years. We have literally had the same number for about ten years now. Recently, because of school events, we felt it was time for Em to move past her own pay as you go emergency cell phone, to a real plan. You know, the kind that comes with a monthly bill. The kind that gives you unlimited texts. The kind that you can chose a "free" cool phone to go with it. My kids were always embarrassed by the dinosaur cell phone that we used. I did lots of research before signing a plan. Which company, how many minutes, all that kind of stuff. Then I ran out of minutes, and Emily was asking for a cell phone for her birthday. I broke down and signed the papers. You know, the ones that say I owe them money every month for the next MANY years. At the time, the add a line feature was on sale. A no brainer really. Add Lizzie a phone now for the same price it would cost to add her a phone in a year when she goes to junior high. Plus that guaranteed that when Tyler needed a phone some day his would be cheaper too. We were planning for the future! :)

Because this was a surprise for Emily, I picked out the three "free" cool phones. She wanted a touch screen, but I didn't know what I wanted. I picked out two touch screens, and a slide phone. Then I could try a a touch and a slide to see which I liked better. I fell in love with the touch. I could text because it had a full keyboard! (Lizzie has the slide, and loves to use it occasionally) "No, we don't need the insurance." If the girls ruin or lose their phones we still have the dinosaur that they can use. It would be their own fault, right?

Fast forward four months. I took my pants off and carried them right to the wash. I never check pockets. I have never had a reason too. Until, ten minutes later when I remembered my phone was in my pocket. I fished it out of the wash and stuck it in rice. We left it there for days (after I removed my SIM card) I had to use the dinosaur. It was horrible. I am not talented enough to use that number pad for texting. So slow. I am an old dog who does not like new tricks. The dinosaur just wasn't my new "free" cool phone. But, I told myself I needed to live with the consequences like my girls would have. After about 72 hours of this however, I was done. I am a mom dangit, and if I can justify an expense, I deserve it, right? I searched on line and in a few stores (one salesperson told me that at least I have a clean phone. That was not funny), and finally found a new touch screen phone that I could justify buying. The way I look at it, I did my three girls a favor. Emily and Lizzie won't have to buy themselves a new phone if they lose theirs; they can use the dinosaur. And Ainsley got a new CLEAN pretend phone!

Anyway, long story short: always check pants pockets when you put things in the wash!

White Sox and the Bees

Last week, Tyler's baseball team had the opportunity to join the Salt Lake Bees for their Field of Dreams. It was ADORABLE! (I know adorable is probably not the right word to describe a bunch of 8 and 9 year old boys, but from a mom's standpoint it was adorable)

My cousin Eric works for the Bees and he helped Jared set this all up for Tyler's team.

The boys all showed up in uniform and got to go on the field for some pregame activities.

They got the chance to meet some real baseball players.

The boys got to go play catch with a whole bunch of bubble gum.

The boys got to line up before the national anthem. They then ran up to say their name and position into a microphone.

They ran to their postion and the Bees players were announced as they ran to their postions. It brought tears to my eyes to watch those little boys stand next to someone they admire while our national anthem was played. AWESOME!

(Unfortunately, we didn't get a good picture of this part.)

When the game began, Eric took the boys for a tour of the stadium. Meanwhile, all us fans got to enjoy the baseball game. It was only fitting that it was a cold rainy night; every one of Tyler's games this year has been played on a cold rainy night. YUCK!

After the tour, the boys caught foul balls, chatted with the relief pitchers, got autographs from Bumble the Bee, and had a great time.

The team has struggled to get a win this season, but not for lack of trying. They still have lots of fun practicing and playing together. I think this event will be a hightlight for the season.

GO WHITE SOX!!

I LOVE this little boy who LOVES baseball!

Choice of Shoes

This story is about my child who loves shoes. Any kind of shoes. Flip-flops, sandals, ballet flats, running shoes, etc. She will often change her shoes three times a day. When she broke her ankle in January she cried daily about her shoe options. She had one pair of tennis shoes that would fit over her lovely brace. It was a fight to get her to wear the same pair of shoes every day for five weeks. We bought two new pairs of shoes (for after the brace) to use as bribery to wear the same shoes everyday.

This is the same girl who talked about playing soccer for three months straight. When does soccer start? When will I sign her up? Who will her coach be? What color of shirt will she get to wear? Etc, etc, etc.... When she finally got to start soccer she stayed in her uniform for 24 hours straight; each time she wore it. She loved playing in both games and the one practice she got to enjoy.


These are the PINK soccer cleats that I found on clearance and bought for my darling daughter's two soccer games and one soccer practice. She practically did back flips when I brought these home. What mom couldn't resist these for her five year old soccer player?


That same child who loves shoes, loves soccer, and has pink cleats now gets to wear this on her leg for three weeks since she broke her other ankle last week.
Luckily, she still has one foot that she can accessorize with random shoes, three or four times a day. And no, she did not break her ankle at soccer, just while running around at home.
And that's why we call her Crazy Jane!

Will She Make It?

After having such a fun year as seventh grade representative, Emily decided to run for eighth grade rep for next year. Elections are today, and she is NERVOUS!!!! She had to make a few posters and a video. Posters were easy, the video stressed me out. Oh, we also had only 36 hours notice about the video. Factor in piano, baseball, school and sleep'; and I had 6 hours left to devote to making a campaign video. She knew what she wanted to do, but it was up to me to figure out how to make the camera, computer, and editing program all work together. After downloading several programs to make everything compatible we got it to work!

The next day, when the videos were to be shown to the school, Emily's didn't work. Luckily, several other students videos didn't work either, so they were shown again the next day.

When I asked Em what the students who didn't know how to make a video did, she replied to me that a teacher was staying after school with a video camera to record people making a campaign speech. WHAT?!? Six hours of my time when she could have just stayed after school for a little bit? Oh well, I do have to admit her video turned out pretty cute.

As an update for Emily. She is officially a cell phone carrying teenager. Where did the years go?

Good luck today Emily!

Since typing this post the election results were tallied.....and.....

SHE MADE IT!

Wiggle Bikes

I just wanted to let all my wiggle biking pals know something.......my friend Rachel was at the Sandy Costco today. She said they had red plasma cars for $38.99. That is a GREAT deal! Summer fun or Christmas in advance..... Holler if you need a Costco membership to use!