The Sideline Mom

Clash of the Titans? Nope, just a homeschool field trip.

 

This would be the Parthenon. Er...I mean... actually... it's a replica of the Parthenon. Here in Nashville. Located in Centennial Park Sorry I am no history buff. Anyway we were studying ancient Greece in our history curriculum last week and thought since we have this neato place here just a hop, skip and a jump from our home that we would drop by for a visit.

The boys were excited.

 

They have not been on a field trip this year. Austin has been a bit bored lately. Normally by this time in his school year he would have already been on at least 429 field thus far. Hence one of the many reasons we are not a part of regular school anymore. Getting out of the house every now and then is good but we do not need to see every historical site from here to the Mississippi for crying out loud. Anyway it was good to get out. Even if it was 29 degrees. We froze.

 

We played and froliced amongst the massive columns, pretending to be great Athenian warriors who were defeating the Persians. Hey,  it helped us keep warm - a little. When the battle ended we picked up our swords, shields and battle weary selfs and headed inside to thaw out our taut grecian hineys. Ok mine is not what you would call "taut" persey but we were pretending r e m e m b e r?

Once inside we viewed historical pics and memoriabilia of how the Nashville Parthenon came to be. And....  Then...   Then....   we saw her.

 

A T H E N A ! (say it with a powerful, whisper-like voice like they say the name "Mufasa" in the lion King.) It sounds more "Greece Goddess-ey" when you say it that way. Really it does.

But I must say, she is quite impressive peeking through the ginormous columns in her luminous flowing gown.

 

Even the boys were drawn to here. She stands at a massive 41 feet and something inches tall. It took 8 years to build her because they wanted her to  get her as close as possible to the original. She stands victorious with her shield at her side protecting the "snake" which symbolizes the second king she just saved from a possibly very violent death by the Persians. And little ol' Goddess Nike sits in her opposite hand. The Goddess of Victory. And yes that is why the athletic brand Nike is named after her, but you probably already knew that.

Someone did an excellent job on her makeup if I do say so myself. She's flawless.

   

And we are not suppose look at that old Medusa there on her chest. Ddo you know why? Did you see the movie Clash of  the Titans? I did. If you did you will know that if you look at Medusa you will turn to stone. yep, sure will. I've watched Clash of the Titans 5349 times. It was one of my favorite movies as a kid. Told you I was weird. Go figure. My sister and I called it the Clash of the tight panties. I don't know why so please don't ask ok.

   

Then the tour guide told Morgan to go and try to move the 2 ton door that is the entrance to this delightful place

    

He was able to do it with great ease. Amazing what engineers can do these days.

All in all it was a great time even if it was cloudy and cold.

   

 Centennial park is very pretty when eveything is not dead. So I believe we will come back another time. 

Over and out.

Happy Weekend!

In another frame of mind. (til spring arrives)

 

The minutes seem move at the speed of an 95 year old snail on crutches as we anticipate spring and much, much warmer air. I posted a few days ago that I have been reading the Twlight series. I still am (on book 4) and I have been gone. Completely. In another frame of mind. But in a good way. A much needed mental mini vacation. I think I will continue this. I will find more fiction. (thanks Jen) it does balance the overwhelming reality of my life that just "is" on a daily basis. Enough with the self-help books I've been reading for centuries. Sheesh. Fiction, give me more fiction. Maybe I won't choose to read about vampires in the future, but love... yes love for sure. While the winter's (freezing) winds continue to howl against my window I will sit with my nose buried in a book. Oh yes I will.

Now I'm off to take the boys on a quick field trip. Whoopeee

Until next time.

 

 

  

Books are ruling my life.

I said ruling not ruining. There is a difference. Kind of.

Since I decided to homeschool the boys books have taken utmost prioriety in my life. Not that I did not like books before. My favorite pastime is hiding out in the quietest corner of Borders pouring over oodles of self-help and childrens books while enjoying the fragrance of the fresly roasted coffee that aimlessy wafts about. It's my number one thing to do. I love books. Always have but this is a whole new book buffet I'm devoring these days.

See here? This guy in enveloped in the overabundance of fascinating facts this new science book offers. We came across it right after Christmas and just had to take it home. It was calling to us. Really it was.

He is completey engrossed. It's content is interesting above and beyond what you can imagine. Really. All of us are enjoying it. We sit for hours and browse through it. 

   

Today what caught  our attention most was the precentage breakdown of energies we use in our home. He thought it was fascinating. With wide eyed wonder he exclaimed that while 77% of energy went to primary heating of the home only 12% went to warm our water. And even more incredulous was the little 9% that went to home appliaces and only 2% that went to lighting. He found that stupendous! Whatever floats your boat dude.

 

This is what caught my eye today.

 

Einstein and his theory of relativity. In particular the speed of light.. He concluded that speed of light remains constant, reguardless of a light sources motion. An stuff like that. In truth I must say, I think the whole speed of light thing only caught my eye because of this... these books.

 

well not the "books" persay but ...um.. Edward Cullen. He  and also the rate at which I am reading the books right now is  Ah... yes, at the s p e e d  of  l i g h t.   More on that later. Now my sister got me this set for Christmas. Ummm.. I'm going to be really honest here. Real honest. I also don't want to hurt anyones feelings here but I think truth is good. Like a cave man or neanderthal would say "truth be good, me like truth"  or something like that. Anyway here goes. In no way what so ever did I have any desire to read these books.  NO desire. None. In fact at Christmas my mother-in-law having already read the first of the series asked "have you read the Twilight series?" and I had to say not just say no, but absolutely not and I don't want to because I think for me they would be a real waste of time. While I was sure the writing was good, and sure it is probably a decent story, really, adamantly I knew it was not for me.  I had heard the hype, knew what they were about and  still thought of the one million and twenty two thousand things I feel I have to do on a daily basis, the last thing I would want to add to it would be to read a book series on vampires. I mean vampires. Really? Seriously? Come on people! So when I opened the gift of all four of them perfectly posed in a perfectly made for them sized box I thought to myself....hmmm... what in the world shall I do with these? Sorry Jen. I did. I just did not think I would read them. And glaring at the size of each book I thought, NO WAY! But do you know what? Do you know what I am? I am NO QUITER. So I bent a bit like a tree in the wind and said ok, maybe I will. You know what else...again, actually do you know what I love? I love being wrong. LOVE IT! I read the first in a day in a half then ran out to see the movie. Just finished the second. Started the third...

 and think what in the world kind of a dummy am I? Had I missed this series I would have been really losing out. Big time. Anyway, I am truly, completely, consummed. With Edward that is. I've been watching all the you tube interviews and read carpet questions about why the story is so popular. No one has said it yet. H E L L O people, what do you think the fascination could be? Not one person has said it yet. At least not one I have heard. For heavens sake people, please figure it out.  So forget the vampire part if you're not into all that , don't worry, the love will get you. Love like that is no match for anything else. Nope. Nothing.

 I dare you to read them and say different. I just dare ya.

And Jen... thanks a million!

 Love ya!

REpetative REorganization.

 

Does that mean I am just putting off til tomorrow what I can do today. Your guess is as good as mine but I am again moving things around, cleaning listening to my Ipod, scheduling a sisters weekend birthday trip and homeschooling all while posting this message and trying to get in my daily 8 glasses of water. I can do all this at once because I am Wonder Woman. Ok, not really.  It just happens to be a skill us moms have. Not sure it's all that great a skill to have but we can do it so why not right?. Anyway, life is just plain full of things to get done is it not?

So I'm off to load the dishwasher (for the second time this morning), vacumn up the dog hair, paint a bedroom and clean under the washing machine. Yes, the last one is true. Our old washer died last weekend and  new one is arriving saturday so I must clean up the grunge. It's a dirty job, but somebody has got to do it and I don't see any volunteers standing around raising they're hands so that means it's up to me.

I let you know how it all turned out when I rise up out of the muck and mire.

Over and out.

Love ya,

The Sideline Mom

My favorite prayer this month.

"Dear Lord help give me the strength to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference."

AMEN!

We're back!

Home from a quick trip to visit aunt Jenni and Uncle Jason in Atlanta for a late Christmas. All was fun. The boys love being there. They love hanging out with someone other than their mom and dad and they like being around younger more hip humans beings like Jen and Jason. Very unlike their dad and me. Hey, I'm just speaking the truth here people. Keith and I lost our "hip-ness" years ago. Ok, If I'm really speaking the truth here... um... Keith and I have never actually been hip in the entirety of our lifes, but ya know what, there are worst things right?  

Anyway we cheered the Cardinals onto victory and had all all around great time. If the Titans can't be superbowl bound then by golly it might as well be Arizona seeing that I was born and raised there and all. Seems fittin right? fittin?  

Warpaint.

 

A big pot of chili for chili dogs of course prepared by my professional chef brother in law. YUM!

 

A little pumped up and ready to go.

Organized chaos, mayheim and foolishness. But all in good fun.

 

Then when they won..

 

the texting did not stop for hours. My dad, aunts an uncles and others were all at the game so they  wanted to start as soon as possible using those bragging rights they just earned.

 

So it was an all around fun and filling time . I ate too much. I'm going to run now. Bye.

I'm kidding.

On a final note, for Christmas I did recieve the full set of a very popular series of books. I suppose this is the one I'm to start with first.

 

Jen thought I needed more fiction in my life. And so my love affair with Edward begins. I let you know how compatable we are over the next few weeks.

I am grateful for:

1. football

2.chili

3.road trips

4.visiting with the ones you love

5. books

bonus: Ikea. Man I LOVE that store! I just can't get enough! Thanks for taking me again Jen. I'll miss our cinnamon roll conversations until next time.

Again thanks Jen and Jason it was a wonderful time!!

Over and out. with much love and giggles

The Sideline mom (and my punky little team players)

Fr-e-e-z-ing

It's dang cold people! I feel like this little guy. Frozen. Solid. Right now this very moment with the wind chill factor its 15 degrees.  I'm moving to Bermuda. This poor little snowman ornament missed the train back to plastic tub storage land and is sitting on my counter waiting to be reunited with the other Christmas schmigma. I'll get to it at some point. Not like that is interesting or anything it's just that I really don't have anything to report other than we are getting ready to head to Atlanta this weekend and I'm trying to finish laundry that has been piled up since November. With homeschooling, there are just some things that get left undone.  It is what it is.

   

I am looking forward to the trip but have been feeling a bit flu-ish, so I am hoping it's nothing big time and leaves soon.

So until I have more of absolutely nothing to talk about I will be trying to get to feeling better.

Have a beautiful frozen day!

Love and shivers,

Sideline Mom

My view from the sideline. Blur-ry.

 

It was all a blur. Keith however said to him the game moved at snails pace. I think I was a bit hyped up on caffeine. I had just used my new French Press coffee maker and I followed the directions precisley. Whoa Nelly,  did I ever feel funky. I think the one cup I drank must have been in reality about 4 cups. Or 8. Anyway the game was the the epitome of fun.  The team played very well. Morgan's very first experience was a success. He has never played basketball before, yet he scored 12 of the 28 points and made 6 assists. The final was 28-2. The crowd was cheering loudly. So loudly that older guys from other teams were coming over to watch.

See here?

 

Parents of little leaguers can be infernally loud. See those guys in the background.  The noise drew them over from the other court and they watched for a long time. I would have loved to hear their convo.

 

We were really happy for this little # 10. He played really well and he listened to the coaches. That's a good thing. Good because normally he has selective listening skills when it comes to hearing his mother. So I'm always happy to see him taking in information that actually helps him. It can be a rare occurance. Welcome to my world. Or do you have selective hearing/listening males in your household also?

 

To his mother (that would be me) I thought he looked cute. I wanted to kiss his cheeks. He would not have went for that. Being called cute that is, or being kissed for that matter. He would have wanted me to say he looked cool and would have been angry had I kissed him in front of any other human being other than well... nobody .  And do you see those Under Armor armbands? They are cool. Just plain cool people. That's what he says. I myself should have bought stock in Under Armor. It would have been the smart thing to do.  I have bought more Under Armour gear than there are grains of sand on Ft. Walton beach. It's insanity. But I'll survive.

 

So if I can remember to not drink 8 cups of coffee before next weeks game and seek out a few helpful tips from my local Wolf camera store about what to do when shooting in the horrible lighting situation of a YMCA gym, next week may not seem like so much of a blur. 

 

But blurry or not, I just love watching these guys. Especially that really handsome speedy #10. I'm kinda sweet on him.

I am grateful for:

1. gifts

2.basketball

3. Under Armour (really I am)

4.children

5. fun

Over and Out.

Sideline Mom.

We have different gifts according

 to the grace given us. Romans 12:6

Plethura of randomness.

I've got a lot on my mind this morning. Kinda of. Well I just wake up some mornings and my thoughts are on ticker-tape mode. They just keep going and have no real purpose. Anyway a few nights ago a man knocked on our door and introduced himself. He said we are thinking of leasing the house next door. Ms. Margie's house. Remember her from Halloween. She was excited to see the boys.

   

She decided to move to Phildelphia to be near her son and did not want to sell her home so she's leasing it. Hmmm... do I like that just any ol' body can rent the place next door? I don't know but it really does not matter what I like because that is what is going to happen. So anyway the gentleman seemed nice. He builds hospitals and is doing a project for HCA here in Tennessee. He wanted to know if the neighborhood was nice and if there are lots of children in the area. His family needs a place to live while he's working on this project. Right now they are in Boise, Idaho. Then He saw our boys and asked they're ages. Then he said I have 6 children from6-17 years of age and they are all homeschooled. Wow! I told him we just started to home-school this year. He thought that was great and said they had always home-schooled because they have never been in one place for very long. Never more than a year of two. While this conversation is taking place the pigeon dove, Rocky that adopted us for Christmas,   remember him         well...

   

he or she is jumping from this nice gentlemans head and then onto mine and then back again for the entire conversation. Meanwhile the dog is trying to lunge at the bird. Austin is trying to drag the dog by the collar into submission. Morgan is bouncing a basketball loudly in the foyer (something he is not suppose to be doing) and I am standing there smiling oddly in my sweats, no bra and slippers with no makeup and a messy ponytail.  Keith had just pulled in the driveway from work and stalling while getting out of the car because he can see the whole sordid affair transpiring.  I'm convinced that the bird is deranged and I believe the nice gentleman does not know what to make of it all. He possibly thinks we are all deranged. The bird is now in the garage in the dogs crate until further notice. The gentleman leaves. I don't think they will take the house. There is no way he cannot think we have not all lost our minds.

Guess the gentleman does not care to much about the "crazy" he had experienced on our doorstep the other night because the leasing agent came by last night and knocked on our door to ask a question himself and told us that indeed the family of 8 will  be taking the place. Now back to my ticker-tape mind. What will they be like?. Will the lady of the house have lots of home school tips for me? I can always use more advice. Will the 6 children and my boys be good friends?  This is how my mind works. And all of this is running through my head before I even get out of the bed.  I decide to get up because I can't wait to try my new french press coffee maker. Here it is. She's a beaut!  Those would be several of PW's  recipes on the counter there in the background. I put them in page protectors and organize them in a binder. They are the best thing since sliced bread. I  make her recipes weekly. Try them. Try them right now!  

   

Anyway I decided to get a F.Press  because this guy here  reminded me of how wonderful they are. When Keith and I were on vacation in Charleston S.C. when we were first married 12 years ago we went into a dessert and coffee house where they brought one of these to the table. It was the BEST coffee I had ever tasted. So yesterday I thought instead of drinking a crapytasting cup of coffee every morning I will get this little contraption and enjoy my coffee from now on. I just had a cup. It was a very, VERY good idea. Thanks Ryan!  

My thoughts then switch to the project I am working on.  A painters canvas/photos project. It's going to be a little touch of beauty on my wall. I will be posting the "how-to" next week. You must try this little project. It's exciting, fun and so very satisifying. Like chocolate. But less caloric.

Next is the reality that Morgans first basketball game is today.

 

I do not know if I am more excited than nervous or more nervous than excited, but I'm a bit shaky. Maybe it's just the two cups of french  press coffee I just drank. Anyways I can't wait. The game is at 1:00. He's a force to be reckoned with. I told him we would go and get him a pair of new basketball shoes because his old sneakers are getting to small and hurt his feet. But it's POURING rain right now and it makes me want to curl up in a ball and not leave the house. But I must I suppose. So there you have a healthy dose of randomness and really there are 2492 other things floating around in my brain but I think will stop there save you the pain and discomfort and call it a morning.

And I hope you yourself have a randomly spectacular day.

 

I am grateful for:

1. new neighbors

2. basketball

3. fresh coffee

4. new beginnings

5.art

I'll be back with another scouting report tomorrow. I don't really know what that means but I will for sure post again tomorrow ok?

Over and out.

The Sideline Mom.

The bird that adopted us for Christmas.

On December 21 as I was walking up to the front door with my arms loaded down with Christmas packages and out of the clear blue sky a bird swooped in and tried land on my head. In all actuality it was dark out so the sky was not clear blue but you know what I mean. Anyway, I know that I  eggerate from time to time but this time folks I tell the absolute truth. The bird was trying to land on me. I ducked and dodged the feathery visitor and it instead of roosting on my head or shoulder took a landing on top of my Christmas wreath. I immediately knew this bird was different. He or she was in fact trying to get my attention and was a very forward about the whole thing. I was intrigued so I grabbed the camera and snapped a few pics.

Here it is.

 

After about 40 shots I ran inside closing the door quickly behind me. I did it quickly because the dang bird was trying to follow me into the house and  I also really wanted to identify the bird online.  I mean what bird on this earth would be so tame, personable and aggresive all at the same time. I was stumped. 

 

I went here to www.whatbird.com and discovered that it was a Rock Pigeon Dove. The boys named it Rocky. I don't think I was really to concerned about the boys naming it at that time because I thought it would soon fly away. But I was wrong. It stayed another day and then another, another and another.

See here it is on Christmas morn when we went out to watch Morgan ride his Rip stick G.

 

It sat right here on Keiths car and posed for me while took several more pictures. I this point I was beginning to think it may possible be one of my long lost relatives coming back to visit me. Not really. I don't believe in all that stuff. I least I don't think I do.

Then it flew right in and decided it would help itself to a nice warm spot on our banister. I had to pick it up and remove it from our house. It did not mind one bit in fact it was completely comfortable with me handling it .

See?

Anyway It is still here and has made a grand mess out of Christmas wreath and front porch.

I ran into one of our vet's assistants at the grocery store a couple of days ago and I told him about the whole sordid affair. He is convinced it is a pet and told me to hang pictures. I don't think I will go that direction. Instead I think I may just call and see if they will make a new home for it here. Austin has gone here for many year to nature camp when he was a little tike. It's a peaceful and  beautiful place for birds. I think our visitor will enjoy it there.

  

The boys are disappointed. They seriously want to keep it. But I just can't do it. Even though it is sweet (it's outside cooing? purring? at this very moment as I type) and lovable and really likes us I had to say no this time. I just can't have a pigeon dove to clean up after.

So I'm off to try and salvage my wreath and wipe up lots of...well... you know what.

    Have a great day!

 

Sports photography and I'm dreaming a little about spring. (but just a bit)

I love to take sports action shots. Absoultely LOVE it! I cannot put my finger on exactly why I love it so very much but I do and I think I have a few ideas here and there of why. Perhaps it's the athletes. They are strong, able and in motion. All of that to me is interesting. It's life in motion really. That to me is fun to watch. And photograph. Then there is the possibility that I love it because they can do what not many other humans have the ability to do and that is very intriguing to me. How do they do what they do? Amazing! Or maybe I just love it because of the super hot players themselves and they're muscular bods. I mean seriously, have you ever seen Chipper Jones' hiney in a pair of those baseball pants? Did I just say that? No I did not. Stop arguing with me. I would never say something like that. Never. Lets just move now shall we. Anyway, I love to take sports action shots and if you would have told me this 15 year ago that I would someday love to do this and get great enjoyment out of it I would have giggled uncontrolably right in your face. But not in a mean way of course. I just was not all that into sports as a young person and so the fact that I love snapping pics of professional athletes is just so very surprising. In every way.

So last year we took the boys to they're very first Braves game.

 This was eventful for two reasons. For one Keith's Mom has driven him from South Carolina to Atlanta to watch games ever since he was 4  year old. He loves the Braves and  now he wants to share with the boys something he himself has enjoyed throughout his childhood. And second the boys love baseball. Like crazy. So it was a great to go and have that experience. I have never blogged these photos because I did not have blog at that time so this morning while I was dreaming a bit about spring I pulled them up to view and enjoy and thought hey, I should share them with you.

Turner field is really awesome!

 

The boys were in awe.

 

   And John Smoltz was amazing.

 

Alex Jones was spectacular.

 

And Chipper was ... well... Chipper.

His hiney wasn't bad either. I should be so ashamed of myself but I'm not.

 

Anyways they were playing the Diamond Backs.

 

They were pretty great also.

 

But we are not D Back fans we are Braves fans.

But Jen and Jason are D back fans.

It's a crying shame cause they live right outside of Atlanta and could have season tickets and stuff. I'm off on a rabbit trail aren't I?

  

Ok back to the Braves. John, yes John. He was great, great great!

   

Really great.

 

Austin was mesmerized watching him this close up.

 

And the other players were inspiring to watch as well.

Morgan was speechless. He was fun to watch also.

Then at the end of the game when the boys stepped out on the field to run the bases. It was a moment to remember for sure.

   

One we the four of us will never forget. For myself getting a chance to take actions shots of pro players was great but it can't hold a candle to this.

 

Or this

 

So we are dreaming of spring a bit and getting excited to see the Braves again soon. But for now we are happy to be hibernating and making plans to head to Hot -lanta and take more pics and sit  and dream and enjoy. 

 

What are you planning to do this spring?

Over and out.

The Sideline Mom

 

Loving what IS right now.

This would be my little sister. She is 6 years younger than me and has always been the apple of my eye. We love each other, despite the fact that we may have possibly caused each other some bodily harm and mental frustration as a children, but that's another story for another time.

 

Right now at this very moment she is pregnant. For the fourth time. The other three times that she was pregnant  just did not work out as they would say. We are very excited again for the fourth time. I am loving what IS right now in this very moment on this very day.  That is what I am doing everyday these days. Loving what is in this moment. Or at the very least trying to accept whatever it is that is happening.

 

We cannot know what tomorrow will bring or even what will pop up at 5:00pm, but in each moment we can love what is or accept it best we know how to. Because as I am learning, this is life. Life is what it is.  

Life is what ever is happening right now. It's all perfect. God's plan is perfect. There are no mistakes. Kind of like the way the font type in this post just jumped to teeny tiney an how no matter how I have tried to change it, it just won't. This is how it is. So I am going to leave it.  

Anyway, this would be her and her husband  and my excellent chef of a brother-in-law Jason. He cooks for me when I come to town. I love him for this. I am always cooking for everyone else. No one cooks for me. Only Jason. I love him forever and ever.

This was last year when the boys gave them a hamster for Christmas. That is definately another story for another time.

 

But in this moment they are expecting and I am praying that all will go well this time. Will you pray too? Thank you.

And I am really, really loving what is right now.

 

Over and out ya'll.

Love you.

The Sideline Mom

Just a little organization.

Ok so the Christmas schmigma is all put away and I vacummed. I vacummed long and hard. Then I straightened a few things out. Like my spice cabinet. Ya gotta start somewhere.

    

I figured that if I just started somewhere I would keep going from there. Not that everything has to be organized from like top to bottom, east to west or north to south. It just needs to be in order. I believe I think better that way. Maybe not but it could be possible. 

   

I'll let you know. Not like you really want to know that or anything. 

   

Who knows where all this organizing will take me. To new and never thought of horizons?  I don't know.  

Perhaps I just really don't know what I saying at all. So I'll go for now. But I'll be back and maybe I'll have something interesting to say then.

Ya just never know.

Over and Out.

Sideline Mama

 

His middle name should be fearless.

This little guy never ceases to amaze me. I know you think this is just another selfish bragfest from his overly proud mom but it's not. This child absolutely amazes me and it's an inspiration just to simply sit and watch him do what he does. Whatever it is.  Quite honestly watching him in action is more uplifting that yoga at dawn. Not that I've ever attempted yoga at dawn or even just plain and simple yoga for that matter. My body won't contort in that fashion. contort in that fashion? but that's another story for another time.  Anyway, it's mesmerizing and it's fun to watch so let me show you what he did yesterday. Not like you can get the idea of it from the pictures but I like to try.I'm working on getting my videos on the blog.  Here goes. Yesterday we headed down to the COOL skatepark here in Nashville. It's a part of Michael W. Smith's place here and it's really a great place in all actuality. in all actuality?

 Cool is what the boys call it, I myself call it a bit scary and grungy but lets not focus on lables right now ok, anyhow, it was our first visit to this particular park. This summer we started to frequent the skatepark at our local YMCA but it's a whole different ballgame and a whole different sideline for me. This one is BIG with lots of BIG boys and well... it's grungy. But cool, yes very, very cool. I'm trying to stay positive here can ya tell? Oh and on saturday morning between 9am-12pm they can skate with other 9-12 year olds not have to worry about getting run over by the really BIG boys like the 12 to 20 year olds. This helps a mom breathe a bit easier. Except for one more little thing. Morgan just turned 7 three short months ago. He's not even in the 9-12 age group. So on with the story.  

Here's the layout of the place. This is one end. Big I tell ya. Big. I'm up in the observation deck trying to hold onto my sanity by a string. 

 

Here is the other end. I have not found out yet but this must have been a factory or warehouse or something because it is ginormous and grungy. You can see the kids over there in the distance on that ramp in the corner. It's a very large facility. Facility?

So the boys sped off into the graphic graffiti and brutality wild blue yonder to have a great time. And I sat down to pray. Ok, actually I got my camera ready, but I was praying all the while that they would not have any major spills. Mom's don't like their children to have to many major spills right? Just little spills are ok. Anyway it only took this one about 7.3 minutes to find the largest ramp that he could attempt.

He went strait for this one that is 49.9 feet high. Ok, let me be real. It's about 15 feet (i'm guess-timating)  I'll have to ask next time to be sure, but I held my breath and my whole body started to tingle as he started down it for the first times.

 

He floated down like a butterfly. And that was all she wrote.

Goodbye.

I'm kidding. But after that, there was no stopping him.

 

For 3 hours strait he was in constant motion. His Dad and I got great amusement out of watching the 12 year old kids ask him while standing at the top of the ginormous ramp various questions and then pat him on the head.

See here they are in this next picture.  This is what it must have sounded like (or as Keith and I can only imagine)

12 year old skater boys:  "So like hey dude, like how old are you?"

Morgan:   Seven, what's it too ya anyway?

12 year old skater boys: "DUDE! thats like totally rad man, your a good skater"

Morgan: "I know."  * note to self - remember to teach more humility at home*

 

And so the story went.

He grinded, olleyed, and did several other totally rad tricks that I don't know the names too. But I'm learning the lingo can ya tell? I'm an excellent cool mom like that. Kinda. Well, at least I'm trying. Give me a break , sheeeesh!

 

The big boy was there too. But he marches to the beat of a different drummer. He's bit more of a thinker. Where little guy does first, thinks later. Austin  takes his time and does his own thing. While midget over there "Has the need...the need for speed!" Name that movie. 

Several others asked pipsqueak question after question.

See here again someone is asking something (it's a blurry pic sorry) Morgan is in the purple helmet.

 

 This happened over the next several hours and when we got in the car nosey mom had to ask "So did those other kids ask you anything sweetie?" He responded "Yeah, they wanted to know how old I was" And then me proding "what did you tell them?"  Morgan is a man of very few words. He said I told them I was seven" Nosey mom again says "well what did they say when you told them you were seven?"   He said  "they told me I was a good skater and I said, I know."  Um... looks like folks, I know my kid all to well I'm afraid. WE will be starting classes in humility next week. Thank you for your support. 

So it was an all around inspirational day with a bit of nervous anxiety mixed in for good measure? Kids are just darn amazing are they not?

 So I encourage you to go and be inspired by a child today. It's a great breath of fresh air. And if your so inclined, go be fearless yourself. I might try it myself.

 

Over and out.

Love and tickles.

The Sideline Mom

 

The one thing they didn't ask for.

Every year for Christmas it's almost a definate that my boys will ask for some sort of football jersey. Professional league, college or some  local school here in our town. They just have to have one. Usually the jersey they request dons the name of one of the seasons most popular or widely publicized players. Usually a player that for the past year has either surpassed all previous outstanding records for running, passing, recieving and funky endzone dances, or has gold teeth and has gotten into some seriously ridiculous trouble and is just plain crazy. Not that gold teeth are bad or anything. Anyway, they choose these jerseys I suppose because in some way or another they either want to honor that player, be that player, or simply rebel and support the bad behaviour of that player, I'm not for sure, your guess is as good as mine, but anyway, they have always wanted a jersey of some sort every year. Always. Except for this year. They just did not ask.  I'm a little happy I think. Do you know how many we have ? It's a little ridiculous. Here let me show you. This would be Austins closet. 

 

Now mind the fact that not all of his jerseys are clean. There are at least 391 dirty ones piled on my laundry room floor just waiting to be baptized in Gain detergent and Downy. I kid, there are only 204. But anyway.

This would be Morgans closet.

 

Sorry blurry picture. But as you can see here he too has a good bunch. Again lots of his at this very moment are  smeared lovingly with grass stains and Gatorade driblets and are currently awaiting a squirt of Oxy Clean and the long wash cycle of my washing machine. It's the never ending story I tell ya.

Anyways, what I'm saying here people is this, I have one less to wash this upcoming year and that's not such a bad thing right? I mean how many of you sideline moms out with 150 too many jerseys to count can feel my pain?  Yep , that 's what I thought.

So for now, this year I will breathe a sigh of relief because I have one less jersey to pick up off the floor, hang while still damp, and find room for in they're ever bulging closet. I will enjoy this time of sparity and nothingness and sing joyfully. Because ....  because    there is always next year.  

 

 

Over and out ya'll.

Oh and      GO TITANS!!!!!

Love ya bunches

Sideline Mom