The Sideline Mom

A dog and his boy.

This dog loves his boy.

He waits patiently for him to come out and play. Everyday.

You see his boy here is his quarterback.

With a great arm I might add.

Going long. And fast.

Best reciever in the league.

Then the boy switches from quarterback to left tackle but the dog.. well... his skills are far too advanced for the boy.

A few quick juke's and it's Touchdown for the dog!

There can only be one winner.

But they never let that come between them.

This boy means far to much.

To this dog.

A dog and his boy. 

It's a beautiful thing.

 

(I've got two hundred and forty three thousand things on my to-do list today so my post was incredibly short)

Hope you enjoyed it despite it's simplicity.

I love you all.

The SLM

A little of this. A little of that.

Yesterday I spent the better part of my day removing years of grit and grime from the carpets of my SUV. Today I am paying for it. The elbow grease that it takes to remove the type of dirt left behind by two sporting boys is a little more than my body can handle. So I have discovered.

Something a little more my speed.

Baking. Pies to be exact.

Apple will be the first. The second is a Pumpkin Creme Pie.

Imagine that.

Pumpkin.

Cream.

Pie.

Yummity yum yum!

Also working on the inside pages of my  December Daily 2010

This is such a fun project. This will be the title page below. C is for Christmas and also Chandler and Celebrate and Cheer and... I could go on and on.

This being the third year I have chosen to create and document this I have found it to be one of the most enjoyable things I do all season.

The concept is to prepare the album ahead of time so that you can simply record each day as it comes. That is such a great idea but I always have a hard time with this for some reason. I slightly prepare my pages. They are all very tentative if that makes any sense.

I basically lay out my supplies for the month and create as I go. I found that this is what works best for me.

I really enjoy having my holiday supplies out all season long. Plus they are fun to look at.

In between all this fun baking and creating there is a to-do list the length of the English channel I must tend to. (I never exaggerate much)

How are you planning on documenting your memories this season? I would love to know. There are many ways to do it.

A journal.

A premade photo album.

Even Facebook and Twitter are great ways to jot out things you don't want to forget. 

Think about it. 

Over and out.

The SLM

His first sponsor.

In September I called our local skateshop to inquire about a particular skate item one of my boys needed at the time. Calling the skateshop is something I do almost weekly due to the fact that my littlest guy is shredding through a deck about every three weeks. I am not kidding. Every three weeks he has torn/shredded his skateboard deck (the wood part of a skateboard) and needs a new one.

Check the one below here in this picture. Oh my.

 

Purchasing new decks every month can get pricey.

It can also wear a mama out. Like totally.

Anyway I was calling the skateshop for a particular skate item (most likey a new deck or new kneepads) and the owner who is an ex-pro skateboarder himself and a great encourager and teacher to the kids who skate on our area answered the phone.

I asked about the said item and before we could hang up he asked if Morgan would be interested in being on a a twelve and under skate team through his shop.  

No one could have imagined my excitement. And I had not even told Morgan yet.

Would he ever! I said.  

I was completely and totally excited about the entire thing.

He then went on to tell me of the details. It was a great day!

 Immediately after hanging up the phone I went to tell Morgan.

But not before I paused a moment to consider how to tell him the great news while also considering his brother's (a great skateboarder himself and 4 years his senior) feelings as well.

It's a tough dynamic in our home.

Morgan's face your fear and plow through attitude gets him to new levels so much faster than Austin's cautious thought out considerations.

But upon telling them both the good news Austin could not have been happier for his little pip-squeak brother.

We went to celebrate.

Taco's at our favorite place. Yummo.

And lots loud celebrating. (but not too loud)

And lots of laughs.

Guess this means I'll be sitting at skateparks and snapping pictures and taking video even more now.

That's just fine with me. There is not much I wouldn't do for my guys.

We are really thankful for to Donny and the Franklin Skateshop and for their support and encouragement. It means so much to my kids and to so many others as well.

Looking forward to watching my guys get better and better at this sport they love so much. They work so very hard at it.

Really they do.

Over and out.

The Sideline Mom

 

Daily December Album. Hurray!

Went very, very simple this year. Very unlike me in terms of scrapbooking design. I like abundance in the way of embellishments and design but for some unknown reason I wanted clean and simple this time around.

I decided on the Parisian Anthology Portfolio Album by Pink Paislee.

I love this album for so many reasons. For one it's a canvas album. That means I can paint on it. For those of you who know me you already know how much I love to paint.

Last year's 2009 album was the Donny Downey canvas album and I did indeed paint it. I sketched one of my favorite artist's lettering and Santa upon it.

And the boys loved it once it was finished! (reminder to self-need to paint 2009 on the spine soon)

This year I thought I would paint again. I thought maybe the painted album was going to become a tradition. But when I recieved the album I thought the canvas album was so beautiful in and of itself I decided not to mess with it very much.

I also love this album because it was a full 8 1/2 by 11 in size. I wanted my stuff to all fit inside this year. I don't usually mind my pages extending beyond the album itself but last years contents were getting a tad bit crumpled as you can see here..

Even my 2008 album contents are getting a little shabby around the edges. And I really don't mind this I just wanted this year's album to enclose and protect everything for a nice little change.

So to keep it simple I did this. First I removed this cute little locket sort of thing ont he front. It just snaps right off. And now I can re-use it on another project.

Next I grabbed this ribbon that has been calling my name for years now.

Found it at Michaels a few years back and I love the berries. It has a burlap sort of texture of it. Somewhat of a vintage look. The red stitching on the edges is very pretty. 

I simply (there's that word again) glued it to the front of the album.

Then I layered an additional coordinating ribbon on top for texture.

For a little embellishment I stacked two the the Parisian Anthology Flair Variety Pack "florets" so to speak.

I also added a brad to the top. (this one I believe is an old Making Memories brad)

Very simple and clean. I will add a green felt 2010 under the ribbon and embellishment later.

To cover the ends of the ribbon I covered the inside with festive paper.

And for now added just one small embellishment to the inside.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas wouldn't you say?

Next up will be a few of the pages. The page protector's for this album are wonderful. And another reason why I chose this album.

Those up next.

I promise.

That's all for now.

I have no idea.

I was organizing and cleaning yesterday. It was our first real cold fall day here in middle Tennessee and I just didn't want to go outside. I wanted to stay inside and clean. And organize. And prepare for winter. Go figure.

So I started thinking. This can sometimes be an alarming situation. Just ask Keith. But indeed I was thinking. That thinking was along the lines of household order and function. Or is it function and order?

Whatever it may be I happen to like order and proper function. I also knew that it had been a good span of time since I had last purged the deep dark crevices of my home. I like to throw things out is what I like to do. It always seems to make way for better things to come. Kinda.

About six and a half hours later I had made some really great progress.

I managed to part with several large garbage bags full of unnecessary stuff.

Hallelujah!

Also during the process I  found this.

A large ziploc bag of over a dozen rolls of undeveloped film and toss away cameras.

Seriously?!

What in the world?

What could be on these said rolls of film?

I have no idea.

None.

Long lost Christmas shots?

Baby photo's of the boys? Since I did not purchase my digital camera until 2005 when the boys were well past their toddler years. 

Pictures of me when I was um.. er.. less pudgy? Those might be nice. Then again maybe not. 

I have no idea.

I'm going to find out.

Should be interesting.

Over and out.

The (plagued by mystery film rolls) Sideline Mom

 

 

 

What a kid really wants.

Yesterday we made yet another trip to the Insanity Skate park in Alabama. With it being Veteran's day the park opened its gates early and invited us all to come shred awhile. We decided to take them up on it.

Along with being abundantly thankful for the enormous sacrifice so many have made to ensure the safety of our country's people I was also thankful for this.

Time with my boys. So very thankful.

The boy's had expressed a strong desire to go back to this particular park because of the vert ramp. They like this ramp. Its quickly becoming a favorite for them. I was sitting beside the ramp watching each of my boys fly and after a good number of runs on the said ramp this guy plopped down beside me for a little convo.

Morgan: "Hey mom, what cha doin?"

Me: "Just watching you and taking picture's of you kiddo. You are skating really well."

Morgan:  "Thanks, this is really fun" Thanks for bringing us".

Me: "You are welcome. What do you think about this ramp now that you have already braved the first drop in?"

Morgan: "I like it and it's not even scary anymore. How much vert do think is actually on it?" (meaning the strait or flat surface right a the top)

Me: "Looking at it from right here I would say it's about a foot and a half to maybe two feet of strait vert"

Morgan: "Yeah, I think you're right. (he won't always think this way I'm sure) It looks like about a foot and quarter."

Me: "Yes, and you are skating it really well. You look very comfortable up there now. "

Morgan: "Yeah, it's SO fun. I could ride it all day."

ME: "Well that is exactly why I brought you so you could ride it till your heart is content, or your legs give out" 

Morgan: "Yeah. I'm gonna try to get up to the coping with my backside air will you watch?"

Me: "Absolutely! Go for it!"

And off he went to challenge himself once again.

And I watched. Oh and snapped pictures of course.

It's my favorite thing to do.

A little small talk. A little outdoor activity on a beautiful November day. Its all a kid really wants.And his mother too.

Over and out.

The SLM

My weekend in pictures.

We attended a skate event at a local church on saturday. It was chilly but he sun was out in full spectrum. The boys let there light so shine. A great time was had by all.

Morgan did a lot of this.

And this. I took a lot of pictures of both.

Austin skating well.

He even scored a new deck. Very excited about that one.

Blurry picture of skateboards purchased at the nifty low price of five dollars a piece at our local sporting goods store. We purchased five boards. There are many a time when are at a skatepark and we meet a kid who does not have one. Thought these might work.

Even if they do have goofy graphics.

Went to conquer a 12 foot vert ramp in Alabama. I know it's hard to understand but ... It's a skate of mind. Sorry.

It took some time but the task was completed.

This was a big accomplishment for such a little dude. We were really happy for him.

Several good buddies came along for support and to skate for the day. Also to conquer the ramp themselves.

My Epiphanie camera bag/purse arrived this weekend.

News flash! If you are a photographer and take pictures by the hundreds everyday of your life you need one of these beauties. I am just trying to help a sister out here. I have been waiting for this for a long time.

No longer will my camera roll around unsafe at the bottom of my purse. This bag is the answer. Ya hoo!

   

It was a good weekend. A full out skateboarding weekend.

Happy I was with my boys every moment. 

They are growing up so fast.

Every moment matters.

Every second counts.

Oh how I love them!

 

Over and out

The SLM

 

Five reasons why I was glad to see October 2010 go.

 

I absolutely love the Fall and under normal circumstances I would have been celebrating the many joys this colorful season has to offer and would have been taking in every bit of it's pleasures and delights with the utmost enthusiam. But it was not to be. I really could not enjoy this month because somewhere about a week and a half into this very month things started to happen.  Weird things. Freaky things.  So saying goodbye to last month was as they say just fine by me.

Here's why.

 

Reason 1.     My sister was out of the country.

Her company sent her off again to a place far, far away. Way to far. Like to India far. For three weeks. This would be the second time she has been to India for a three week time span and it always makes me uncomfortable. Not like I have to be comfortable or anything it's just I like life so much better when she's in our country. I just do. You can call me weird, but if you've ever been to India you'll understand my distress. She'll be back this friday. Thank goodness.

Reason 2.    Morgan whacked his head.

He was skateboarding like he does mostly everyday of his life. Was fully padded helmet and all (I know, I was there)  and he hit what I can only imagine was a slippery spot of concrete and he slammed his head with what I can only imagine was a great amout of force. An enormous goose egg appeared. Despite having the helmet on.

A goose egg! Like of epic porportions.

Then he said "Mom my eyes hurt".  Awesome!  

"How does that happen?" I asked the ER nurse no less than fifteen and a half times. Then I asked "Does the helmet not help at all?"  She said "That is just and indication of how hard he fell and how important helmets really are." 

He checked out all well and fine. His mother is who I am worried about.   

Reason 3.  Morgan had a mysterious spider bite.

He said "Mom, I've got a spider bite." I checked it out and instructed him to leave it alone so that it would get better. It did not improve and in fact while walking into a restaurant to have dinner with family the very next evening he kicked the affected site with his opposite leg by accident and was reduced to tears. Not his style. Crying he believes is not a cool hobby. Back to the Dr. to discover a small but very painful staph infection from his skateboard kneepad.

He got a hefty dose of anti-biotics. His mother got enough cleaning supplies to cover the state of Texas and went home and cloroxed her entire house and car til near midnight. I'm a germ-a-phobe like that.  

Reason 4.  While volunteering at the YMCA skatepark Morgan fell and cut his knee.

The Y was building a new skatepark. We were all there to help. While I helped stain the fence posts the boys swept up saw dust and picked up loose screws left behind by the construction crew.  We were getting ready for opening day.

After much of the clean up was finished Morgan decided to roll around on his skateboard a bit. His mother seeing this said "If you are going to roll around go and put on your helmet and kneepads!" He happily complied and while in route to the car to retrieve his pads he hit one of those said screws which sent him flying into a pile of scrap wood which then sliced his knee open. What are the odds people!! Seriously, what are the odds?!

He got five stitches. His mother got a lovely bottle of wine on the way home to have all for herself.

Reason 5.  Morgan stumbled fell and hit the concrete the day after he got stitches and  busted the said stitches out. (no I am not dramatizing things for effect here people)

He had a birthday party to attend. I told him with the stitches currently in his knee that he could not participate in the party festivities but that we could drop off our gift and say Happy Birthday and leave. He hobbled off to talk to buddies. As I spoke to the Birthday boys parents to explain why we could not attend he decided to go off and running with friends. While running he tripped, fell and snapped those lovely stitches we had just recieved less than 24 hours prior. Back to the ER where I was sure I was going to be questioned by child protective services or something of that manner.

He then got the knee restitched. And his mother got busy checking out one way flight's to Tahiti.   

 

Bonus:    And as if those five reasons were not enough for me to bid October 2010 a harty farewell, Keith also found out that his position as Financial Advisor for the past seven years at the Tennessee Credit Union would soon be outsourced.

Don't you just love life challenges?

All that said I am very grateful that we all are fine and well and that these things are in the past. But for the record I would perfer not to ever repeat the past thirty one days.

Hello November! I don't think I have ever been this happy to see you.

I'll let you know what happens on the job front. I think something bigger and better is on the horizon.

Until next time.

The SLM

 

 

 

A very punky Halloween.

Every year I try to dress my kids the way I would like them dressed. I try to steer them clear of the chaos, influence their choices for costumes and generally keep them on the strait and narrow. It's what moms do right? 

Well apparently there comes a certain time in a every moms life where the exhaustion takes over and you're just plain tired and you give up the fight. At least that what I think I did this year. I'll let you decide.

When that happens this is what you get. 

Purple hair.

Purple hair and nose rings.

Purple hair, nose rings and skull jewelry.

And if that wasn't enough I also got a zombie skate punk.

Complete with sliced up face and body. And a blue mohawk. (as if he does not cause his own self enough bodily injury on a daily basis - lets make it look even worse shall we.)

Where have I gone wrong? Anyone? Bueller?

There is only one place to take guys dressed like this. A place where cute toddlers in Dinosaur costumes and Fairy princess gowns won't be scared to death and have nightmares for weeks after seeing my guys dressed this way.

That place would be here.

A place where other fellow freaky people hang out.

Freaky.

Very freaky.

Extremely freaky.

And all that freakiness was skatingboarding. Can you believe it?

This guy actually wasn't freaky. He just wanted a little peace is all. (yes that is his real hair just for the record - ultimate coolness )

Besides not wanting to scare the little ones we really just wanted to hang with buds.

Our skater buds to be exact.

And we wanted to do this. This would be the Halloween balloon bowl.

And in reality it's actually a Halloween balloon mini-ramp. The old location of this skate park had a bowl that they filled with balloons for the skaters to roll through. Since they have moved to the new location they now have a mini-ramp. They decided to fill it this year also.

The boys were pumped. Morgan was about to drop in.

He made his run.

He flowed through the balloons in all of his freakyness.

But since there were so many wanting to the skate the ramp all at once it got a little dangerous out there. Austin never even made an attempt. And Mo nearly got flattened by someone who did not see him.

So we decided it was late enough to hit the streets and get some candy without frightening anyone too terribly bad.

It was a fun watching my freaky skate dudes skateboard door to door to get their treats.

We could hardly keep up.

And they made a great haul.

I should know I went through it all and tested much of it myself.

I'm a punk like that.

Happy halloween ya'll!

Hope it was a freaky fun one!

The Sidelinemom.