Thursday, March 29, 2012

The Big Girls

Both of my girls have been busy, busy, busy lately.
Hailey finished up her gymnastics season at State Meet with an 8th in the State on beam and 10th on bars.  It's been an up and down season but she finished things off REALLY well.  I could write an entire post on the life of a gymnast...or a post called...a day in the life of a gymnast's family...but that's not my intention for this post.  I do, however, want to say that proud doesn't come close to describing how I feel about that beautiful young girl, I mean, woman.  She works harder than any kid I have ever known.  Her whole life has been about discipline, determination, concentration, hard work, integrity, courage and honor.  She's beauty in motion!!



Maddy has finished basketball and is in the middle of her soccer season.  Two teams.  Lots of games.  She enjoys playing soccer for her school the most.  Her new coach is goofy and awesome with a side of crazy and he knows how to talk so that she will listen.  (Only a select few can obtain that great honor.)  Nothing makes me happier than watching Maddy when she's happy playing her sports.  The girl can sparkle sometimes.  She's fantastic at her balancing act as well.  She is the perfect amount of intelligent, ambitious, intuitive, diplomatic, problematic, compassionate, fun loving and confident.  Not sure how she manages all of that...but she does it with grace.  She's beauty in motion.

 (she's number 11)
  Here's a word from my dad on Maddy's last game.  He is NOT biased at all.
See Maddy Run! Whether it's putting a Basketball thru an 18 inch hoop, or booting a Soccer ball into a net, Maddy loves to Score. Carmel girl's Soccer team moved to 6 and 0 yesterday coming from behind at the half to win at Mint Hill 2-1. Moosh juked herself into the open and scored from 30 feet out with a stinging shot to the back of the net with under 2 minutes to go. That's what I'm talking about!

Saturday, March 10, 2012

52 photos project (a little late)

Theme:

A safe haven...

This reminds me of a book called The Pilgrimage and the quest to find your destiny.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

I'm so behind...

I am so so so behind these days. I will rest soon. I feel it coming.
But for now, there shall be no rest for the weary.
So I have a pile of unedited photos to go through, a million random thoughts to try and place in a post coherently one day soon, and a messy house that needs to be somewhat tidy before I leave town...TOMORROW.

For now, I'd like to post some photos of my date with Stella and our friends A and E.

 



(she was so excited to go to Dish It Out.
 she'd never been there before.
 she has no idea how it will look after it's fired.
 I'll have to post the after photos when we get her pieces back.  if i can remember..that is..).

Thursday, February 23, 2012

52 photos project

Theme:
What's inspiring you right now?

And here's what made me pick up my camera today....

Gymnast hands.

Yes. Those are holes in her hands. 
OUCH!!

Monday, February 20, 2012

Early Bloomers

Look what I found on my back porch today! I know they've been popping up all over town but the large ones in my front yard haven't bloomed in a couple of years. They always start too soon, sometimes get snowed on, and no flowers actually bloom.

BUT then... when I went outside to tidy up the leaf infested patio so Stella could play out there...I saw these!! Yay! Minis!

They made my day.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Queen City Champs!!

Here are some photos from our final, most intense game.  The photos are not that good.  I was nervous and yelling a lot. 

But here ya go....


We had a rough start.  Couldn't sink anything we threw up.
Very nervous.
Both teams wanted to win...BAD. 
(we are the guests...)


Hawthorne calms Maddy.

 
But things continue to get ugly as Courtney (on floor) and Allie
fight for the ball.


We are still down, and girls start to freak out. 


And then Allie hits a three from just inside mid-court to tie us up at the half time buzzer!
That was the momentum we needed. 
Every shot went in after that.
Our 8th graders were ON FIRE.


We never get behind again...


We end up winning by 21 points.


Celebrations at Salsaritas!


Happy girl.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Winter Update

Many, many things have been going on since I've last written!  I have managed to post some photos here and there but MAN have we been busy.  We are always this busy this time of year.  Basketball, gymnastics, soccer, birthdays...you name it. 

With birthdays past ( and i can't believe i didnt even have time to do a proper bday post for either girlie...sheeeesh), and basketball complete (BEST SEASON EVER!!), things will slow a tad...just a tad...until middle school soccer starts.  And I think tryouts are next week. I will enjoy having Maddy home in the afternoons for a few days.  When it comes to Madge, I take what I can get these days. 

Which reminds me of a Maddy story. 

Yesterday morning Maddy woke up at 6:30 am (unheard of) and came upstairs with a look of panic on her sweet, tired face.  She held up her left hand and said, "I fell asleep with my ring on and now it won't come off." 
Now this ring is a big ole silver monogrammed ring.  Hand Picked.  All her girlies have them.  Maddy got it for her bday and she loves it BUT it's a tad too small.  I had her try on my rings and I thought I was getting the right size, BUT Maddy is 2 inches taller than I am.  Bigger feet.  And apparently bigger hands.  So I have been telling her I will get it sized but she's been dying to wear it.  Which is ok..sometines...on her left hand ring finger..when her hands are cold. SO she was wearing it in our cold basement that gets cold enough to freeze your fingers a size smaller than normal. 
THEN she fell asleep in it.
I said, "It will come off.  Let me see it." 
I tried to hide the horror on my face when I spied her fat swollen knuckle.  She had obviously been pulling on it for a while already.  I gave her an icepack to hold.  Made her stand outside in the 30 degree temp for 5 min.  Then made her try lotion.
Full on panic set in.  "MOM!!! WE HAVE THE BIGGEST GAME OF MY LIFE TODAY.  I can't wear this in a game.  IT HAS TO COME OFF.  GET IT OFF!!!!"  (not worried about her finger.  just the game.)
So I say,  "Fine.  But it's gonna hurt.  Give me your hand"
I pulled.  She screamed. 
I pulled some more.  She started to cry and crumbled to the floor.  Mostly from fear but also from pain.  I felt it give a little as the lotion got all up under the ring and started to work it's magic. 
I gave one last twist and yanked hard as I prayed to God that I wouldn't rip her finger off. 
Finally, it popped off and went flying across the kitchen and slammed into the kitchen window. 
I checked her hand. 
Finger still attached.
I checked the window.
Wasn't broken. 
Checked Maddy's face. 
Pure relief.
She stood with tears streaming down her face and said, "GOD THAT HURT.  Thank you GOD that I can play today. Thank you so much Mommy." 

Sweet baby face.  I wonder if she will ever wanna wear that ring again??

(in case you want to see the look of a satisfied champion)

Many other things to tell. Big plans for me and Stell next year. But I will elaborate later!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

52 Photos Project


THEME:   A Love Note


(this note has been in my camera bag for about 3 years)

Thursday, February 2, 2012

52 Photos Project

Theme:  COLOR WITH EMOTION


Saturday, January 28, 2012

From YELLOW to PURPLE









Finn got his purple belt today!! 
As you can see, the boy was well prepared and very excited !! 
 Yay!

(and Grand Master didn't have to call him out for his room being messy this time. 
Umhmm.  Lesson learned.)

Thursday, January 26, 2012

52 Photos Project

Theme:  Where I lay My Head



I was going to take a lovely photo of my bed...all made up nice and neat. 
But then I remembered this photo. 
My bed is the "best bed in the world" according to the babes. 
And often, when I am ready to lie down at the end of a long day,
there's some kid in my spot.   

Monday, January 23, 2012

Paper Airplane

This just flew past my head as I enjoyed a late dinner with the gymnast...

Sunday, January 15, 2012

One Flew Out of the Cuckoo's Nest

I have all of my babes home now except this one...

She's still in FLA with her team.



And it's starting to hit home, AGAIN, that this first born baby bird
 will soon be leaving the nest.

What in the world will I do without her???