Spring Fling

She sang...

She had a speaking part...

She got to give the music teacher her flowers..

That's my girl. :)

The Perfect Sports Weekend

Yes FC Dallas beats Chivas USA 2-0. Very Nice. Kenny Cooper is the leading scorer in the league and Dallas is the top of the West. I like. I like a lot.

San Antonio Spurs beat the Phoenix Suns 117 - 115 in double overtime. It was pretty close there but we finally pulled it out after what seemed like a billion hours of play. Good Stuff. That's all I have folks. It's been a long day.

Yeeee Haw!!! (UPDATED)

It's the annual HOEDOWN at the preschool today where Melody and I will mosey on over to feast on the grubb that my little cowgirl is fixing. They're saying it's going to be chili! yum!

I realized that she was really excited about her day when Morgan exited the car at school. Maya chimes out from her seat, "Have a cowgirl day! Yeehaw!"

***I added video of her entering for their little show and even though it's blurry you get the gist of it. I wonder who's going to be the actress of this family?

While I do appreciate a good kid's meal...

Jack In the Box has lost a customer tonight by including a DUCK WHISTLE as the toy in my 2 youngest daughters' meals. Add them to my list of people who live to torture me. They include - stores with treats at the check out, stores that have carts you have to pay for, need I really continue?????

My next FC Dallas related purchase...

"El Bell Diablo" Ohhhhh... yeah.
One of the guys in the supporters group

LOS TOROS

has one of these. I'm jealous. I need one. I'll slap an FC Dallas sticker on the back of it like he did and bang the helloutofit.

I know I said I wanted a vacation but a different destination next time please...

This was me yesterday. I had a headache. After throwing up twice I headed to my doctor who charged me twenty bucks to send me to the ER. After 7 bouts of hurling I was MRI'ed, IV'ed, drugged and sent home in a walking coma. My dear husband took care of the screaming rebels.. i mean.. adorable children.. and my neighbor/good friend Lori and her dear husband Ron helped pick Nathan's car and get the girls to bed.

Next time I vote for Mexico and I'd like to take Lori and Ron with me as a thank you.

The Good News and The Bad News

First, the good news, direct from the orthopedic surgeon..
I AM a candidate for a hip replacement... there is actually a possibility for 90 degrees of flexibility in my post op hips. My muscles look pretty crappy but he believes that the possibility of them supporting replacements looks pretty good.

The not so good news...
I need hip replacements! AAAHHHH!!!! Surgery.. and not just that - but they have to be done one at a time, two weeks apart. (and to think I felt sorry for Morgan having to get one ear repierced because she already knew it hurt.)

All joking aside, I'm really grateful that there is something that might be helpful to me and now it's just down to figuring out how and when and how much valium is medically possible to give me pre-op.

FCD 3 HOU 3

Ok so I would have been happier with a win, but this will do for now.
Welcome back Kenny!

Roomates!!

A couple of little people in our house moved in together and decided that cribs were for babies :)

Old Dog New Tricks

Ok so she's young but she's learning new stuff.
In the first video, she's at the very back doing a roundoff-backhandspring-back tuck.


Messing around on the beam at open gym.


Not quite landing the front tuck but she usually does.. you get the general idea.

I love Pablo

You know what's so great about the Backyardigans? (Besides Pablo's razor-sharp wit..) I love that three of them can be Tarzan at the same time so when Maya says, "I want to be Tarzan" at her little sister.... I can reply, "But look! There are 3 of them. We can ALL be Tarzan."
Thank you Backyardigans. Crisis over.

Gymnastics Fashion Show

Behold the wonder that is my mother, the seamstress.

Poetry Revisted

When I was at Texas Tech University I took a creative writing class. My sister Sarah, my friend Christine and I came up with some beauties for the poetry units. I so wish that I could find my files of poetry which were composed by a trio of crazy young ladies hopped up on easy cheese and redi whip. Alas, I was too much in a hurry to marry a certain Scottish Lad (see post below) to keep such items. So, for your viewing pleasure, (and mostly Sarah's benefit) - I will post a rewritten poem with some original content mixed in.

The Ballad of Creative Poetry

The prof wants us to write a verse.

To me this seems to be a curse.

What do I write? I don't quite know..

I'd love to write like E.A. Poe.

Instead I write of precious things;

My mother's books, my sister's rings,

A brother who is far from home,

A sleepless night, a shoddy poem.

Eleven Years

I'm pretty sure I'd marry this guy again. It's been 11 years and as Morgan says.. we

"still haven't killed each other".

Hard to believe that in 11 years we went from two silly young people
to

then

and finally

Amazing. And we still haven't killed each other.

My Continuing Endeavor to turn away my wrath...

My husband picked me up this little beauty from the Deseret Bookstore on Saturday after I had complained about my out of control temper with the little ones. I'm not a violent woman but I am an emotional one and a goal of mine is to control my temper with the kiddos. It might not seem like a big deal to most people but I went three days without so much as raising my voice to my kids. I felt pretty good about that. I had a little setback today but I'm determined to get back with it and make it a habit. This book has some good strategies.

Stardust

Am I the last one to see this!? Incredible. What an amazing movie. I highly recommend it.

We're back baby

Oh yes.. it's that time of year again.. the time when all of you soccer haters get irritated by my blog. Great game tonight. It looks like a promising season for Dallas. The score was FCD 0 LA 0 but that's so much better than last year.... the play looked so much better and the players were connecting better. I can't wait for the season to start. We bought half season tickets this year and I am looking forward to it!

Too much computer time...

88 words

Speed test

Luckiest kids in the world

I have always said that my kids are so blessed to have two sets of grandparents who adore them. For example, they are so incredibly supportive of Morgan's sport. My mother has sewed several leotards at a fraction of what the commercial ones cost. The amazing thing is that Morgan loves these leotards so much more. She has a unique leotard that fits amazingly well and they are one of a kind. When she was here a few weeks ago we purchased fabric for at least 4 leos and the cost to me was only 26$! One leotard usually costs 35+ dollars. Thanks mom! (We'll be doing an online fashion show soon.)

Both sets of grandparents have attended a meet and always want to see videos. Nathan's parents generously helped out with the cost of Morgan's competition wear. Between their help and the reselling of her previous gym's wear we are able to break even. We are so appreciative!

Yesterday I was surprised to find a box from FTD on the doorstep. I thought I had the most incredible hubby to remember our anniversary early! I was surprised to find that Grandpa and Grandma Erickson had sent flowers to Morgan to congratulate her on her meet this weekend. She was so touched. We are blessed.

Melody goes to the hair salon

An Extensive Update

For those of you not following our gymnastics drama the past month, here is an update. We spent the first week in February gym shopping due to a disagreement at Morgan's then current gym. We still have great feelings towards them and wish them well but Morgan and her parents collectively decided that she needed to move on. Surprisingly the best fit for her was a gym located closer to home and she started training there.

The staff there has worked well with her and decided that she fit in best with their group that was training for level 6 in the fall. Morgan competed level 4 this past year and was thrilled to be moving up to 5! The new plan, formulated by the gym's owner, was to train Morgan on level 4 and place her in a meet which the gym was hosting in early March. The purpose of this meet was to get her the qualifying score required to move up to level 6 in the fall. The required score is an all around of 31.00.

Her competition was yesterday. There were a very small group of girls so Morgan was excited that she might even get a medal or two if she tried really hard but I reassured her that her main goal was to get a qualifying score and with only 4 weeks of training she had plenty to be proud of.

Imagine my surprise when she took home 2 golds, 2 silvers and a gold in the all around. Her score was a 35.55. I couldn't believe it. I'll post her bar and beam routine since they are on the flip video and recorded the best. I didn't get a good video of her floor routine (user malfunctions!) and the vault is on the big video camera so I'll try to cattle prod that out of Nathan later.

Even God loves Soccer

Look who they put on the NBC news website for Dallas...

It's Maya!! (scroll down)

Edited... they've taken the link down now but it was fun while it lasted~!

What? No Preschool?????!!!

But it was worth it. Even to a couple of Northern born parents, it was worth it.



Elementary started 2 hours late so Morgan got to play too..


After much convincing, Melody put on tights with her dress and donned boots (instead of her sandals) and went to join in the fun.

Jason Who?

You catch the recap

here

but the general idea is...

97

94

You know I was wearing the pink jersey today..

Count Your Many Blessings, Name Them One by One

For those of you who aren't LDS these lyrics might not mean much to you but I found myself singing them this morning as we were getting ready. (That didn't change the fact that this morning was CRAZY hectic, but still...)

Yesterday I had an appointment with a wonderful orthopedic surgeon. I was there for a long time and was evaluated thoroughly. My amazing friend Jessica and my dear husband managed the kids while i spent nearly all day in downtown Dallas. The topic being addressed was what to do with my increased left hip pain. I went in to the appointment optomistically, thinking that I might need a hip replacement but that in itself might be a blessing.

The appointment didn't go as well as I had hoped.. I need to go back for a CT scan of my hip to determine if I am even a candidate for that type of procedure. I am not sure there are many options for me if I can't get the joint replaced but in general the answers were not what I had expected. The doctor was so sensitive to my position and tactfully (and lovingly, truth be told) that I would need to start making adjustments instead of adjusting my body to do things that are difficult.

I started taking naprosyn last night and this morning. I went and got a handicapped parking tag from the tax office yesterday. I bought a grabber-stick to help me pick things up off the floor. I got myself an aid to help put my socks on for days that it is difficult. I need to start considering water exercises.

Now I can't say that this news that I will have somewhat of a struggle is easy to hear. However, I was thinking this morning of my blessings so here they are..

1. My amazing surprise-miracle baby came before all of this began. (and the other two before her!) I was able to carry her, deliver her and take care of her as a newborn. As my problems become more difficult, she will get bigger and more independent. I can't imagine my life without Melody. I can't thank the Lord enough for this amazing miracle.

2. Handicapped stickers ROCK!! Do you see how close to the door you are?!! Eat your heart out people! (especially around Christmas! LOL!)

3. My husband (for some reason) expected this sort of future for me and loves me anyways. I can't help but wonder why the Lord gave him a wife who will be so high maintenance but I have no words to express how loved I feel when I think of it. His example of unconditional love is astounding.

4. Members of my family (and good friends) are so close and so willing to be of help when I need them. I had a wonderful visit with my parents this weekend and I am so proud to be their daughter.

5. Physical Afflictions are temporary. I know that when I live with my Heavenly Father again that all of this will be a distant memory and that my body will be perfected. Amazing.

6. I found an amazing physician who is honest and open with me but so full of knowledge that I know I am in good hands and will get the best care possible. I am so grateful to have found him and hope that he is around for a long, long time.

I know there are so many more but these are the ones that stick out in my mind right now. (plus the miracle child is demanding attention! lol!)

I am so blessed and I want to remember that every day, even when things are hard.

It's beginning to look a lot like spring...

The bunnies have arrived...

The Bargain Shopper

I need to publicly thank my friend Sharron (who really needs to start her own blog, by the way) who properly taught me to bargain shop. This week I got several free boxes of Quaker Oatmeal (Simple Harvest) and granola bars. I got cereal for 1$ a box. I bought handsoap for 30 cents, got toothpaste for 30 cents.. the list goes on and on. Hopefully with this kind of determination we'll be able to support our daughter's gymnastics habit.

Don't get me wrong.. I'm never comparing receipts with Sharron. I surrender to greatness.

A Cinderella Story - glimpses into an afternoon at my house...

Coming Clean...

I have gained a little over 10 pounds over the past year. Man I'm bummed about that. I told myself that after the holidays I would buckle down so I could take my official "after weight loss and tummy tuck" photos. Don't get me wrong. I feel pretty good. My tummy's pretty flat. I just don't feel my BEST. I can use the usual excuses.. sick husband, sick kids, husband traveling, celebrations, date nights.. etc.. but it all comes down to priorities and self control.

The worst part about it is that when I feel physically crappy I am cranky and my family suffers. It's time to buckle down. Swimsuit season is coming... oh crap... yes, seriously time to buckle down. Words of wisdom would be appreciated now. I so need an infusion of self control...

Happy Valentines Day!

That's the extent of my creativity for the day! :) The kids liked them though!

Cancer Sucks.

See those beautiful ladies in the middle of my brother, sisters and me? They are Marsha and Kathryn, my mom's sisters and my wonderful aunts. Marsha is about to undergo some chemotherapy. Prayers would be appreciated. You won't ever meet a nicer woman. Some days I don't get it.

It's recruitment time!!!

The new FC Dallas season is fast approaching. I just know there are closet fans out there visiting this blog! Come out of your hiding places!!! Join us!! Become a superfan! Visit LOS TOROS and keep up on the pre-season. Keep your eyes peeled for information on special offers, incentives, info on where to get cowbells, mullet wigs and all things required for an exceptional experience at the game. Look for streamers on sale at Hobby Lobby and buy them out. You WILL get on the jumbotron. We'll be tailgating and chanting. We are family friendly. Come on now... section 126 is the place to be :)

Whole Lotta Princesses

There is a serious princess parade going on over here today! Check it out!

Happy Birthday to You

Nope it's nobody's special day. It's Melody's favorite saying... she'll just randomly wish you Happy Birthday! Here's Nathan taking advantage of bathtime to get her to say it.. and I hope you enjoy the loveable sisterly interaction and brilliant ending. Enjoy!