Keep Your Eyes on the Mariners

The Mariners were the team to watch on Saturday. I know, you think they're season is over. Don't be mistaken. I'm not harkening back to the MLB team looking for a new general manager to bring them a winning season in 2009. I'm referring to the Mariners vs. the Pirates on Field 2 of the Round Rock YMCA T-Ball Fields.

This was Abigail's first t-ball game, and she was an all-star! Our Mariners took the field first, with Abigail at short stop. She was all hustle as she fought her way to get every ground ball on the left side of the field. Anything left of the pitcher was all her's no matter what the pitcher and third baseman did. The funniest times were when she had to wrestle with players from the Pirates who left the base path to mistakenly field the ball instead of continuing to run to third base.

Her first at-bat was a stellar performance with a quick single to second base. She was so proud to stand atop first base for the first time!





It sounds simple, but it wasn't every player who made it to first base alone. Many had parents running alongside them to direct their paths. The funniest site was one of the Pirates who felt very strongly about his desire to not be on the field. His mom held his hands onto the bat and hit the ball for him, and then drug him through the entire basepath. As a sidenote, I don't see a manly future in this young man's path. Not only was this scene hilarious, but due to the unusually large size of the shirt on his small body, his well-meaning (yet, very wrong) mother gathered his shirt into a ponytail at the small of his back and bound it with a hair scrunchy. He looked like he had a tail! I felt sorry for the boy, but it was good entertainment for us. Back to the game...

Abigail made it around the base path, never straying to field balls, as many players did, and was ecstatic to score her first run ever.

In the second (and last) inning, Abigail was at third base. We instructed her to stay back, near the base, so that the other kids could have a chance to field the ball. We didn't want her to be as much of a ball hog as she was in the first inning. The best highlight of the inning for us was watching her wrestle to catch the ball when it was thrown to her in an attempt to throw the runner out coming to third base. However, the wrestling was only because the runner was trying to catch the ball! (I'm telling you, this is great entertainment if you're looking for something to do on a Saturday!) I was on the first base path, so I didn't get a great shot of the struggle, but you can get an idea.




In her last at-bat, Coach Joe worked on her swing, and she took a few cuts before making contact, but it was a hard hit.

She rounded the bases nicely, until having some problems when she reached third base. I was readying the after-game snacks nearby so I didn't have my camera in hand, but I was just a few feet from the fracas. She was head (his) to shoulders (her's) with butt ponytail boy who was standing with his mom on third base. His mom didn't seem to understand that just because he was supposed to be on third base, didn't mean that his actual location was to be atop third base. The Pirates' young fielder and my daughter nudged each other off and on the base a few times until Abigail grabbed him by the shoulders and gently placed him where he should be standing near the base to field the balls. It was a great moment! She was nice about it, but strongly assured him that she was supposed to be standing on the base and couldn't because he was in the wrong place. I definitely needed the video camera for this moment in time.

In the end, the teams shook hands and got more excited about snacks than anything.

However, Abigail asked many times throughout the rest of the day about who won the game. I tried to explain to her that they don't keep score, no one wins, and no one loses. Daniel has repeated this to me every time I ask. He says we're just out there to learn the game and have fun, so I relayed this speech to her. She wasn't pleased with that idea (I'm on her side with this one), and insisted that she wanted to win. I'm with her! Don't kids need to learn how to win, and lose, as much as they need to learn the fundamentals of the game? Eh... I haven't shared this with Abigail, but there's no need because she came up with the same ideas on her own. She's such a smart girl.

Going Green: Update

So, I took the plunge and bought a stack of the reusable shopping bags at Wal-Mart. Guess what?! I love them!

I'm not going to lie. I'm not earth conscious, (Not even just a little. Okay. Close your mouth and stop gasping.) but I am digging these bags. Anything that makes life easier for me is awesome. They hold twice as much stuff as a plastic or paper bag, and have long handles so that you can throw them over your shoulder to bring them into the house. It takes just one or two trips from the car to bring in enough groceries for two weeks! That's worth it!

If you haven't grabbed some of these for yourself, go for it. 

But, I recommend getting the bags from Whole Foods. They're super-cute!

AMBER ALERT: Stephanie's Mind

Has anyone seen Stephanie's mind? She appears to have lost her mind, as she hasn't been seen using it in more than a week. 

Maybe the people who helped Britney Spears find her mind will be able to offer their assistance. Is there a search team that specializes in this type of search and rescue effort? 

Any assitance you can offer in finding this important piece of equipment is appreciated. 

Going Green?

Not completely. Maybe I'll be a sage green, but not all the way green. 

I've always had an issue with the mounds and mounds of plastic bags I end up with after bringing home a load of new groceries. It seems like such a waste, and I hate seeing them strewn along the side of roads. Fortunately, our local IKEA has a donation box where they collect these pesky plastic bags and recycle them. I've been collecting my own mound of suffocation-risk bags and planning to drop them off next time I'm there. 

But, I think I'm done collecting the bags. I've decided to jump on the re-usable cloth bag bandwagon. I'm a little surprised at myself. You see, I'm not an Al Gore groupie and I still drive a gass-guzzling SUV.  But, this issue just seems to make sense. 

However, I'm a little peeved about one thing. I don't want to actually buy the bags. I know I have no choice, and I will buy them, but I don't want to. Since the neighborhood grocery stores currently pick up the tab for the millions of plastic bags we use to carry away our grub, shouldn't there be some kind of kickback to those not costing them money? I mean, I want some actual "green" for being green. I propose a discount to those not taking the free plastic bags. If the grocery giants didn't have to buy the plastic bags, they would be making more of a profit. Do you really think they don't build in the cost of their supplies to the prices you see on your receipts? I shouldn't have to pay for the bags everyone else is taking and tossing. Or, I have another option for the Waltons and their less wealthy counterparts. Give the bags away for free. For one month, each shopper can pick up 10 bags per shopping trip. After that month, the plastic bags and free re-usable bags are gone. It sounds reasonable to me. We're working together to be sensible, right? 

My Two Cents

I'm busy, very busy. 

Yesterday was a race to get the kids and myself ready and out the door to church. On the way home from lunch, we stopped off to pick up food for lunches and breakfasts that have to be packed every morning. We made it home late but I still got both of them down for short naps. While they slept, I tried to conquer the week's laundry. It's all done and folded, but still waiting to be put up. I'll get to it before I sleep tonight.

This morning was the usual. I raced around in the dark of morning and rushed out the door by 7:15 to get Abigail and Cooper to school. I made it back home just in time for work at 8. I used my lunch break to pick up Abigail and take her to swim lessons. Once school was out, we ate dinner, had baths and spent the rest of the evening at storytime at the library. (On a sidenote, the puppet show was outstanding tonight.)

Tomorrow is no different except there are no swim lessons or library events. I will spend my lunch break at the YMCA filling out paperwork for t-ball that starts next week. After dinner, there is a parent/teacher meeting at Abigail's school. On Wednesday we'll head out to AWANAs for the evening, and so on. 

Lest ye forget, I also have a full-time job I throw into the middle of all this mommy stuff. But, that job doesn't involve world peace and meeting with hurricane victims and balancing the federal budget and schmoozing with legislators. 

And, I only have two kids. Sarah Palin has five. 

I know, I know.  You think I'm sexist that I'm bringing this up. But, please know that I brought this up about Barack Obama long before Sarah Palin was a household name. He touts his young daughters and parades them around to make it appear as if he is a strong father figure. Maybe he is, but I doubt it. And, if he becomes the president, he most certainly won't be there to tuck them in at night. He won't be at all their school assemblies or soccer games. And, I say the same about Sarah Palin. Will she be visiting the troops in Iraq on Christmas Day or at home with her kids? 

The same people who are screaming to bring the troops home, and shout the horrors of daddies having to be gone from families, are touting candidates who also have families at home that they will be essentially abandoning for at least four years. Both party tickets have candidates with young children still at home. Can anyone really convince me that you can chase down Al Qaida while attempting to solve the energy crisis during the day and be home in time to have dinner and tuck the kids into bed at night?

I don't fault anyone singing Palin's praises and sticking "McCain-Palin" bumper stickers to their vehicles. From what I've read, I fully agree with her policy stance. But, I just can't get past her family role. And, how can evangelicals hoist her up on their shoulders after years of preaching family values? Have they forgotten their own teachings or are they just picking the lesser of two evils? If it's the latter, I wish they'd clarify that.

I'm done listening to pundits and talking heads. I picked up a few books at the library tonight. "Family Driven Faith," "Beyond Left & Right: Helping Christians Make Sense of American Politics," "Why the Right Gets it Wrong & the Left Doesn't Get it: God's Politics" and "The Great Awakening: Reviving Faith & Politics in a Post-Religious Right America" are hopefully going to help me clear a path through the thoughts I have on this upcoming election. And, if I take my daughter's advice, I'll find some truths in the Bible that lead to a clearer understanding of my own position on the issues. I'm sure God has an opinion on this situation. Don't you think?

Should I Be Concerned?

Abigail is fantastic when it comes to entertaining herself. And, I can't help but listen from my office as she teaches her babies that blue and yellow make green, puts her teddy bears in time out and performs concerts with her pretend microphone in the living room.

But, today I picked up on some of her commentary and am wondering if I should be concerned. I'm not going to call a therapist just yet, but I am chuckling to myself quite a bit.

She has a pink teddy bear she has named Hello Pink Eye Kitty. That is not a typo. She named a beloved stuffed animal after an infectious disease that causes green snot to ooze from an infected eye. 

She sang a song many, many times today. It was an ode to her cheesestick that she (obviously) loves dearly. "Cheeseus loves me this I know..." You know the tune. Yeah, it's everyone's favorite Bible song with a Mozzarella twist.

You Can Quote Her On That

"You know that boo-boo on my foot, Mom? Well, the band-aid came off, so I put it back on. Then, it came off again, and I put it back on. Then, I just took it off and put my tough face on."

There's No Place Like (a Church) Home

Along with this massive and not-so-fun move we have been attempting to conquer, we are faced with finding a new church. This is one of the few areas of the move I am not looking forward to at all.  We were seriously involved at our home church in South Carolina and had no reason to find a new church home. But, we won't be able to make the 26-hour drive three times a week so we have no choice. 

We've been asking a lot of questions of friends and neighbors, and googling and inspecting websites and everything we can about local churches. But, when you step into a never-before-visited worship service, you can never truly know what to expect. And, we're honestly afraid. What if this is what we find?

Salute to Our Sailor

It began on March 27, 2000, and it ended yesterday, September 2, 2008. That is, Daniel's career in the United States Navy. He is now officially a civilian, although I think he'll always be a submariner at heart.

Since Daniel's job is highly classified, no one outside of his co-workers ever saw him at work. Here he is, in all his glory.  

This West Pac in 2003 was likely his most fun time aboard the USS Bremerton, a Los Angeles class fast attack submarine. Although, I know he missed his family, and I missed him.  He spent many days underway with close buddies, and a few days having fun. He learned to scuba dive in Guam, and continued diving in Saipan, a Northern Marianas island. (Fortunately for him, I'm not sharing the photos of him singing Karaoke in Japan.) In the above photo, he was attempting to show off his "beard," otherwise known as homeless man face scruff he proudly grew while underway.

There were many other memorable moments in the Navy, which I'm sure Abigail and Cooper will be hearing stories of until they can tell their own children. I won't steal his thunder by telling his stories, but I do share some of his joys of the Navy. 

Mostly, we share the appreciation and gratitude for the wonderful places we have been stationed. Before we married, I visited Daniel in Charleston, SC, and Saratoga Springs, NY. Together, we lived in San Diego, CA, Honolulu, HI, and Charleston. Of course, there is also all the travels we've enjoyed (mostly) from Cooperstown, to Los Angeles, to Las Vegas, to the Grand Canyon to everything between Texas and California and Texas and New York and Texas and South Carolina, Maui, the Big Island, and many other smaller destinations abroad. We've seen volcanoes, baseball history, canyons, Rodeo Drive, whales in the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and fantastic friends at every stop.  We couldn't have asked for more enjoyable locales, and are grateful for the memories and friends we made along the way. 

There were certainly more than enough long, hard days and not many of them spent together over the past eight and a half years, which is why the end of Daniel's military service is also joyful.  I am elated to have my husband back, and Abigail and Cooper have certainly enjoyed his presence at home. I'm sure our extended families are also thrilled to have us closer to home in Texas.

For the last time, I know we all wish him fair winds and following seas...

First Day of School, Part 2

The day has finally arrived, and Cooper is (hopefully) enjoying his first day of school. He was mostly excited about the new SHOES (He loves shoes, but hates wearing them. I know, it doesn't make sense to me either. But, he gets really excited about them, yells, "SHOES, SHOES!" and then promptly takes them off as soon as he can.).

He began his new school year at LifePointe Christian Academy this morning and couldn't even take the time to say "goodbye" to his parents before running off to color with the other kids. Needless to say, he was certainly ready.

He has been practicing by wearing his backpack around the house since I bought it more than a week ago. It's almost as big as he is, but he brings it to me to put it on him, and he trots around the house, even up and down the stairs, wearing it. This morning, with his supplies and lunch weighing the bag down, Cooper could hardly stand upright but insisted on wearing it anyway.

Fortunately, Abigail has reiterated that school will be good for Cooper. "They're going to teach him how to act like a two-year-old."

Growing Family

I made the mistake of shopping on Saturday. Well, I guess my mistake wasn't actually shopping but rather the size of my purchase. After laboring over a vase at Ikea, I ventured out to Hobby Lobby to take advantage of the 50% wall decor. (I know what you're thinking, and 50% is awesome. I can't tell you how excited I am about my new mirrors!) I made off with a new bathroom shelf and three large mirrors.

Since I was with my sister and driving my mother's very small BMW, I hesitated before selecting the new dining room mirror. It is 5' by 4'. Yeah, it's big. She insisted that we could move the front seats up as far as they would go and slide the mirror into the back seat. We managed the shelf and new bathroom mirror, but the manager had to carry out the remaining two mirrors for us while Kelly Ann pulled the car near the store's front entrance. Then, we began the ridiculous plan that KA had concocted only to see that the ridiculousness was at an all-time high. People were actually pointing and laughing at us as they walked and drove by our circus. I quickly gave up to eliminate further public embarrassment and called Daniel to request the use of his large truck. This is where my mistake was made.

Daniel gladly came out and loaded up the mirror and took off saying he would see us at the house. Only minutes later, he called saying that he was getting a dog. A dog?! What?! I just needed him to deliver the mirror and get back to his Saturday afternoon napping. Where did a dog factor into this plan?! I zoomed over to the PetCo parking lot to find out what was going on. It was too late. He was already snuggling with a very cute puppy and was convinced that this was his new pet. I couldn't bring myself to say no, although I still don't see the point in us being so outnumbered. This brings our household population to the two of us on defense and two kids with three dogs making up the offense. Are you imagining the potential for us being steamrolled by our opponents?!

Daniel eventually made his way home with his new pet to introduce him to the kids. They were elated to see the 8-week-old Labrador/Golden Retriever mix playing in the front yard. He soon began to make his first mess as he pooped and pooped and pooped and still kept pooping in the front yard. It was so comical that Daniel commented, "He's pooping so much, he looks like a slurpee machine." Yes, we all laughed at the observation, but unfortunately so did Abigail. She proceeded to name the dog Slurpee and continually repeat the phrase she unfortunately heard her Daddy mutter. It's been three days and she is still referring to the puppy as Slurpee.

Not ones to succumb to our children's plans, we have overruled Abigail's dog naming. Since this dog is joining our mutt mix of Maui, the Basset Hound we acquired in Hawaii, and Charlie, the malti-poo we gained in Charleston, we can't help but honor him with a Texan name. Meet Alamo.