Mad Max the Football Player

It started with his teacher's appreciation for the Steelers. And Eric and Rey going to the Cardinal's game. And us cheering Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald through the season. For Christmas, Santa delivered a full-on Miami Dolphins football uniform (he loves dolphins). The months since Christmas have seen Max in full gear practicing to be a football player, calling out "plays" in the living room, and pestering everyone to throw him some catches. I think this kid is motivated.

So Max will play Spring 2010 Flag Football. He is super excited and so are we. Max has watched Bryanna play sports and although he expressed interest in soccer, we want him to have his own game. Besides, at this level we think flag football is the best fit. He can totally understand "get open so they can throw the ball to you and you catch and run like the wind over the goal line and don't let anyone pull your flag". He has been playing at recess with the other boys every day.

I have signed up to be team mom and overall helper. I guess my cowbell is gonna see more play time!

Brimhall Track Team

Come help us cheer Bryanna as she competes on the Freshman team in the 200m, 400m, 75m hurdles and long jump. All meets start at 4 pm. Her schedule is below:

Thur Feb 25th at Brimhall
Sat Mar 6 Brimhall Invitational at Brimhall
Thur Mar 11 at Powell Jr. High
Wed Mar 31 at Brimhall
Sat Apr 10 Kino Relays at Kino Jr. High
Thu Apr 15 at Brimhall
Sat Apr 24 City Meet (place to be announced)

Guess my cowbell is gonna start ringing again!

The Same Yet Different

As a parent, sometimes you get a chance to contemplate your children. In between the necessities of making dinner, running errands and taxi driving, you get an opportunity to ponder the little people who run your life.

Lately, I have been thinking about how different my children are. Each has their own unique quirks, thoughts, desires and interests. It is fun to watch them develop according to their own timeline.

Eric is all about math, physics, flight, time travel. He will delight in explaining the how and why of things to anyone who will listen. He puts his papers in for his mission in March- his life is about to change big time.

Bryanna is all about school, reading and sports. If she isn't on the soccer field, she can be found in a Barnes and Noble snuggled into a chair reading a book. I know she is aware boys exist, but right now she hasn't found a reason to care.

Max loves math too - this is the seemingly only link between our kids besides the last name. He will talk your ear off about multiplication and grouping and a book called Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

If you don't have a testimony of the premortal, then have kids. As you watch them grow and develop, you will come to realize they started on their own path long before you were trusted to guide them. I strive to do the best job I can. It is such a privilege to be a parent and partner with Heavenly Father. It has been the best part of my life.

Rainy Game Memories

I have thoroughly enjoyed watching Bryanna play soccer this year for Mountain View. She has fought through injuries (3 stitches, broken thumb in two places, lower back strain) and emerged a better player. Last night it rained slightly for the JV Team - and although they didn't win, it is always enjoyable to watch your child play. We decided to stay for the Varsity game, and we were rewarded with rain. Lots and lots of rain. Buckets of rain. And it made Bryanna and I snuggle up together under a too-small umbrella and laugh and sing. We sang to the warm up songs, we cheered our team, we held hands to keep warm, and this mom was in heaven.

On second thought, I don't think I mind the rain. Let it come again.

Happy New Year 2010

We had such a wonderful Christmas time with my sister Mary and her family for the second year in a row! We are hoping this is a tradition - we had so much fun. RockBand (Mary was getting good on guitar), the endless rounds of Spades (Mom and Mary were this year's big winners), Taboo, Outburst, Balderdash, Martinez visit to the Grand Canyon, Paranormal Activity movie, marathon Criminal Minds and Twilight Zone, New Year's Eve. We laughed, cried and had a wonderful time. If you could have heard our Christmas Eve carols or saw our super great pajamas, you would have wished you could be there! You haven't LIVED until you have heard us sing Christmas carols in three different keys all at the same time!

This is Eric's last Christmas before his mission (he puts in his papers in April), so we wanted it to be a special one. And Mary and Rey made it wonderful. I love my seester!

Investment in Education - Always a Great Payoff

This wonderful son of mine just got STRAIGHT A's his first semester at ASU in the Aerospace Engineering program. Calculus, Chemistry and lab, Intro to Mechanical Engineering....all A's! He even managed to get an A+ in a weighted class, so his GPA is actually 4.3
Way to go Eric! Keep this up and you will get a scholarship and placement in the masters program for sure (you have to have a 3.6 GPA to be accepted in the masters program). We are so proud of you! So worth the $4,000 tuition a semester. We believe in education.

Mountain View JV Girl's Soccer Schedule

Bryanna's very first game is today - in Tucson! So we will all wish her good luck and hear about the highlights later.

Bryanna's JV game schedule is listed below. JV plays at 4:00 and Varsity right after. All home games are played in the stadium at Mountain View (2700 E. Brown Road). We invite anyone who loves soccer or just wants to support Bryanna to come to her games. She will be playing Sweeper and Goal Keeper. Go #22! Hope to see you there!

Dec 14 (Home) Hamilton (this should be a great game)
Dec 18 (Home) Deer Valley
Jan 5 (Away) Mesa
Jan 6 (Home) Cibola
Jan 8 (Away) Dobson
Jan 19 (Home) Higley
Jan 22 (Away) Gilbert
Jan 26 (Away) Westview
Jan 29 (Home) Basha