Seeing Green

Our family has always been into the traditional sports. We do baseball, basketball and football. We've even tried soccer and track, but we're pretty normal people. So when Spencer and Seth said they wanted to try TaeKwonDo, both Dave and I hesitated. Its a year round sport without any games. We just didn't get it. But Spencer has been asking to do this for a couple of years and the whim just hasn't gone away. So last fall, we signed them up. They have loved it. Spencer has gained confidence and Seth is more disciplined. Who doesn't want that?

Yesterday was testing day. I always get nervous, but they don't. They did great! I love seeing their progress. They have just cruised along, learning each new punch, kick, defense and takedown. Both of them want to be black belts, even knowing how long it will take and how hard they will have to work. I'm so proud of them for setting a goal and working toward it. So yesterday we celebrated another step in their journey towards becoming a black belt. They are officially green belts. Next it is blue, red, then black. Way to go boys!!

Dancing Queen

My little Tiara wanted to do a dance solo this year. I had told her no for several months last fall, when Dave found out about it. He wanted her to do it. I was very reluctant, since she is only 5, but gave in thinking it would be easier to practice while she's in kindergarten than next year when she is at school all day. You would think I would be the one to push her early, but I just didn't think she was ready. Maybe one day I'll learn to just listen to Dave. He was right about Seth skipping a grade and he was right about Tiara. She has loved it. She has thoroughly enjoyed meeting with her choreographer each week, learning and perfecting her solo. She has learned so much and has become a stronger dancer.

Her first competition was last week. She did pretty well, but forgot part of her dance. She covered very well and took 3rd place. It was a fun night. It was just the two of us. We got there, she danced, we went to dinner, then back to the competition for the awards. I loved spending the night with just her. I so love having a little girl. She was thrilled to get a big trophy and bring it home to show Dad.

Friday was another competition. This time Dave came and she was so excited. She loves to practice for him and I think he secretly loves it too. He's more of a "dance dad" than he'll ever own up to. But Friday morning Tia woke up with a slight fever. I gave her some Tylenol and she seemed to perk up. But by the time we got to the competition, she was hot. Luckily, I brought some medicine just in case, so I drugged her some more, hoping it would kick in before she had to dance. Not quite so lucky. It was just starting to work when her turn came up. I could tell she wasn't feeling great, but she still went and danced her hot little heart out. She did fabulous, especially considering she was sick. All her hard work paid off. She won Queen! She was so excited to get a trophy and tiara. One of her friends thought it was so funny that Tiara won a tiara. I was so proud of her, not just for winning, but for all of her hard work this past week and for dancing even though she didn't feel good. Congratulations Tiara! You're a dancing queen!!

Happy Birthday, Seth!

Seth turned 9 today. He is such a cute loving boy. I just love him to death! We surprised him with a new bike when he woke up. He hadn't really asked for anything for his birthday and we were clueless as to what to get him. He finally learned how to ride a bike last fall and has been riding Spencer's old one. So thanks to Tiara for a great idea. He loves it!

The girls and I went to lunch with him at school. I offered to bring him anything he wanted, but school lunch won out. Ick!! He had better taste for dinner though. We went to Rock Creek Pizza. I love the pizza and salad bar, but that's not why Seth loves it. He loves the cinnamon dessert pizza. He quickly choked down a piece of cheese pizza and then totally pigged out on cinnamon pizza. And since it was his birthday, nobody told him no. Aren't birthdays great? But his request for a birthday cake seemed the funniest to me. I always tell the kids I will make any cake they want. Seth's request -- funfetti cake with yellow frosting. No sprinkles, no decorations, just candles. Well, I guess that makes my job easier. But I felt like a lame mom fulfilling the request. This last year has been a big year for Seth. He was diagnosed with ADD and started on medication. While many would think that is a bad thing, it has been great for him. Once he could focus, we discovered what a smart boy he is. He skipped from 3rd grade to 4th grade at Christmas and it has made a huge difference for him. He enjoys school more and is thriving. I'm so proud of him. He amazes me with how quickly he learns. He is always there with a hug and an "I love you, Mom." Seth, I love you too.

Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

It's the annual Pinewood Derby! This is the event the boys look forward to all year. They plan what their cars will look like, draw them out, and then challenge Dad to cut them just perfectly. It's a month long process to perfect that little 5 ounce car. The Cub Scout motto of 'Do your best' in its full glory. Because nobody wants their car to come in last. I'm still not sure who gets more excited for this event - Dad or the boys. Spencer and Seth wanted matching cars this year and tried their best to create a Lamborghini. They did a great job...Well, let's be honest here, Dad did a great job with a little help from them. With three wards combined for scouts, it made for some stiff competition. And all their hard work paid off. Spencer came in 1st and Seth 4th! They were so excited. Great job boys (and Dad)!

Funny Girl

Tiara is a funny girl. She hears things her own way and thinks some of the funniest things. The other day we were talking about the daycare at the gym and she told me that sometimes she gets nervous to talk to the teachers. But then she said, "I just have to be strong, powerful, and do it!" Wow! Thata girl!

Then yesterday we were driving to the theater and passed a cemetary. She exclaimed, "There's a secretary!" Sorry to all you secretaries out there. I guess you have a pretty dead job. hehehe

Playing Catch-up

Here I am, trying to catch up on all we've done since my last post. I'm still not back in the groove of blogging again and most of the time I just plain forget about it. Not that I have tons of spare time anyway.

Once we got home from Henderson in January, I plunged into baseball. I'm still serving on the Board, so baseball for me starts long before the first pitch is thrown out. The draft is next weekend and things should settle down quite a bit, at least for me. Dave is planning on coaching two teams this year, so his craziness is about to start.

We took another fast trip down to Henderson and this time took my mom to help her do a little personal history work. We drove around to see and take pictures of all of the homes she had lived in as a child. Most of them were still there. We even managed to find the old church where she was baptized. She spent a good part of the time talking into a voice recorder and recalling many stories and experiences of growing up. We also visited with Grandpa Herm, took him for a drive, went to lunch with him and Teri, and also took him to church. It was nice to be able to go to church with him, but I felt bad because most of meeting he couldn't hear well enough to discern what they were saying.

The kids have been off track for 2 1/2 weeks now and I'm sad to see it come to an end. I love being able to sleep in and take things easy while their off. I also love playing with them. Right now, we're at Classic Skating. they are having a blast cruising on their scooters, bouncing on all the inflatables and climbing through the "jungle". Spencer and Seth played laser tag and Seth was so proud to get 2nd place! Only two more days of fun and then back to work for all of us. Bummer!

Daddy's Little Princess Ball

Oh, Tiara's dream came true. Her prince arrived and took her to the Ball. Last Friday night was the Daddy's Little Princess Ball at school. The drama started three weeks ago when she came home with an official invitation to the Ball and a request for her reply be taken back to the castle (school). She has talked of nothing else ever since. Where we are going to go shopping for a dress, how we will do her hair and her coercing Dave into practicing dancing with her every night. It's so darn hilarious and cute at the same time.

I'm told she had the time of her life dancing with Daddy and playing with her friends. I wish I had been there to watch. There were 800+ princesses and their dates making for a crowded castle. I drove them down and dropped them off so they wouldn't have to deal with parking. I sat there for a minute watching all of the girls and their Dads going into the school. They all looked beautiful and so excited for this night of royalty. I even think Dave had a good time. Luckily for him, he had some dad-friends to hang out with and eat cookies with while the girls danced and giggled together. What a fun night!