Goodbye to Soccer ... for this year ...

Tyler's last soccer game was last night, so we're done for the season. I LOVE that my boys love soccer. They really do. I don't think I even realized how much they loved it until we got our nice zooming lens, and I noticed that Tyler is smiling in almost every picture that I take. We've never had to talk them into going to their games -- I just mention that we're headed to soccer and they get ready and go.

I'm especially glad that as of now they're just enjoying playing. One day they'll probably get a little more competitive (if they are anything like their mother), but for now I'm the only one who gets nervous! They both love to play goalie, and until the last couple of weeks I've felt like I need to go stand next to them and remind them to pay attention when the ball is coming their way. Believe me, I have plenty of pictures of them goofing off, especially while playing goalie. However, they've both done really well at the position.

Anyway, here are a few pics of my cute little soccer players having a blast:





Here are the two things I won't miss:

(Eating quickly to get out the door or grabbing Little Caesar's on the way)

and

(Trying to keep Shayla off the field. She was great most of the season -- we pointed at the white line and told her not to cross it. If she did she got stuck on a lap for five minutes, which she hated, so she wouldn't do it again. Then two weeks ago she started testing her limits as you can see -- she's not PAST the white line, just as close as she can be to passing the line. :) Last week she kept running out on the field no matter what we did. Needless to say, that was her last game to attend!)

I'm sure we'll have more soccer stories and pictures next year. For now, adieu!

Other parents!

So I'm leaving soccer this week when another parent annoys me. As I'm driving out of the parking lot, I'm watching out for kids since there are a lot in the parking lot between games, but I'm also trying to get out of the parking lot. I see a family walking toward the roadway, and I watch them closely. Sure enough, the two-year-old darts out in front of me. Because I was being careful, I was able to stop without a problem. I had to make a sudden stop, but there was no screeching tires or close calls. However, the boy's mom (instead of grabbing him or telling him not to run out in front of cars), steps in front of me, turns toward me and shouts, "SLOW DOWN!" Excuse me?

I was so annoyed! It was a really good thing I was borrowing my sister's car, because the windows are broken and don't roll down. Otherwise I may have rolled down my window and suggested she keep an eye (and maybe her hands) on her kids in the parking lot.

This just got me thinking how I really get annoyed by some other parents. You all know what I'm talking about -- there are some things that other moms do that just rub you the wrong way. Here are three biggies that always bug me:

1. Asking kids' permission to things. "Sweetie, is it okay if mommy goes to the potty now?" Why are you asking your kid for permission for something you're going to do anyway? Don't ask if they want to go to the store -- if they say no you either have to not go or deal with the fallout. You say, "We're going to the store now." Kids shouldn't have power over things like that, and honestly I think they act worse when they think they have it!

2. Threats, but no follow through. "If you do that again, we're leaving." [Kid does it again.] "I mean it! If you do that again, we're leaving." [Kid does it again.] "No more warnings. If you do that again, we're leaving!" [Kid does it again.] "Can you hear me? What did I say would happen if you did it again? That's right -- we'll leave if you do it one more time." HELLO! Does anyone see a pattern here??? Don't make any consequences you're not willing to follow through. If you say you're going to leave, then you better darn well leave or the kid isn't going to learn a thing ... except that mom doesn't mean what she says ...

3. Not putting kids in seatbelts. Okay, this one is not only annoying, but dangerous! I see so many people leaving the elementary school with kids packed in like they're circus clowns! Honestly, I see women I respect and look up to doing it and it makes me sick. I have actually thought of asking a cop to come sit outside the school and watch for incidents to cut down on the problem. You are risking your kid's lives by not using seatbelts! Yes, we live only blocks from the school, and yes, you may drive more carefully when they're not in seatbelts. However, you can NOT control other drivers! And an accident at 5 mph can injure a child seriously!!! Why even risk it?

I once picked up Becca, and she said her friend was a little miffed she couldn't get a ride home with us because there weren't enough seatbelts. The friend's mom even called me and let me know that she was okay if her daughter sat on the floor of the car if there weren't enough seatbelts. I informed that mom that I was NOT okay with her daughter sitting on the floor -- not only would I feel horrible of something happened to her, but I don't need her to become a flying projectile to injure anyone who is seatbelted in! I let the mom know that I'd be happy to make two trips if her daughter ever needed a ride again. The mom thought I was nuts.

I am often amazed at how adamant you have to come off for people to realize you're serious about seatbelts. I told one carpool (who wanted to add another child/driver) that I would drop out if there weren't enough seatbelts for my son. And I mentioned that they have to be legal seatbelts -- not the front seat, not shoulder straps without boosters, and no boosters with only lap belts. They always seem a little surprised by my concern and insistence. I'm always shocked by anyone's lack of it!

Okay, that's my griping for today. I'm sure as a parent I do things that annoy other parents, too. Isn't it amazing how parenting styles can vary so much?!?

I've been tagged!

Here's my response to the blog tag ....

5 Things I was doing 10 Years Ago...
1. Going to Brigham Young University slowly finishing my PR degree and psych minor
2. Working as an editor at The Daily Universe (BYU newspaper)
3. Being president of BYU's Public Relations Student Society of America -- got to go to Boston! Yay!!! And to Los Angeles, not as cool ...
4. Doing an internship at Novell (Have I mentioned that PR was my life 10 years ago?!?)
5. Starting to be roomies with my BFF Hilary and teaching a bunch of people how to play Yahtzee!

5 Things I Need To Do Today...
1. Finish laundry -- I "do laundry" on Mondays
2. Take my car to the shop
3. Buy kids' toothpaste. They've been out for two weeks and complaining ever since about having to use yucky toothpaste
4. Take someone to soccer -- don't remember if it's Tyler's or Zachary's night tonight
5. Clean. Not that I will, but it needs done ...

5 Snacks I Enjoy...
1. Brownies. Hands-down my favorite, especially when warm, and sometimes w/vanilla ice-cream
2. Candy bars, specifically Reese's Crispy Crunchy bar, Take 5 or Snickers. (Actually, most any will do. :)
3. Pretzels
4. Granola bars -- the crunchy kind, although chewy ones work
5. Wheat Thins

5 Things I Would Do If I Were A Millionaire...
1. Get more space in my home (buy bigger or add-on)
2. Set up some kind of charity. Probably something like Make-A-Wish, which is awesome! Or just contribute to Make-a-Wish.
3. Anonymous donations to random people
4. Travel
5. Get a getaway -- a cabin that's close enough to visit frequently but far enough away to be a getaway

5 Places I Have Lived...
1. Mapleton, Utah (where I grew up)
2. Southern Georgia (mission)
3. Provo, Utah (MTC & BYU days)
4. Kent/Covington, Washington (bachelorette days and newlywed years)
5. Spanish Fork, Utah (now)

5 Jobs I Have Had...
1. Cherry picker
2. Dump-truck driver (very short-lived)
3. Children's reading program at library
4. Pizza Hut
5. BYU Travel Study
6. Events Staff at BYU football games
7. The Daily Universe (BYU newspaper): receptionist, dummier, editor, Web editor, layout, etc. (a new job every semester). This is where I got someone fired for sexual harassment, but that's another story ...
8. Novell intern (twice)
9. High-tech PR professional for Microsoft, SAP, T-Mobile and PogoPet
10. Mom -- worst pay and best benefits :)
Oops, my stroll down memory lane brought out more than 5 ...

5 People I Tag...
1. Anyone who wants to be tagged
2. Anyone who doesn't want to be tagged
3. Everyone else
4. Nobody else
5. Although I'll usually respond, I don't usually pass on tags or hugs or poems or other chain e-mails, even under threat of bad luck or failed casseroles ... :S

Rules: Each player answers the questions themselves. At the end of the post the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let them know when you've answered the questions on your blog.

A very young old

Aren't I really a lot too young to feel so old? I've been amazed this year at really how old I feel. It doesn't help that this year I have started developing arthritis in my fingers. Hello! I'm not even 35 years old, and I have arthritis?!? I thought that was an old person thing ... sigh ...

I came to a realization recently that my body really is too old/tired/worn out to consider many more pregnancies. Again, I'm not even 35! However, I realized that my pregnancy with Shayla was a lot more painful (and I'm a baby -- I still have so little pain compared to many women) than my first two pregnancies, which were a piece of cake. Does it get worse with each pregnancy? Or is it just because I'm older? I'm still trying to figure out why most women in the USA wait until their late 30s to even consider having babies. Hello! Do you realize how much easier it is when you're younger? :)

My sister claims that women shouldn't have babies over age 30. Mind you, our family would be very small if that was what I had done -- we had Tyler and Zachary and that's it. Not all of us get married young enough to even consider that "goal." However, I see her point! Not only does pregnancy destroy your body to the point of feeling really old and beat-up, but chasing after toddlers gets a lot harder the older I get.

In any case, I never expected to feel old so young.

Canon Rebel, I love you ...

I know we're not supposed to love material possessions, but I really do love my new camera. Yes, we finally broke down (or at least are broke now :) and bought the new Canon Rebel. This one actually was a great deal -- we got the camera and two lenses for what the camera alone usually costs. In any case, Paul has been tracking it very closely and talked me into it. (He keeps mentioning that it really wasn't very hard to talk me into. Of course it wasn't! I've wanted one for years! :)

In any case, I think he's more excited about it than I am. He's going to know how to use it all before I can really get my hands on it. :) To date, we have taken 700 pictures. (Keep in mind that we didn't open it until Friday night.) Paul walked in after work on Friday (after tracking it online) and said, "Did you open it yet?" I hadn't had a chance (kids actually thought they needed dinner that night), so he opened it and brought it straight to Tyler's soccer game where we got these pics. Don't you love how you can tell the ball is moving while Tyler's running to get it? (We didn't have the lens for better close-ups yet. That should come today.)


Oh, and here's the picture of Paul looking at me with the camera right before saying, "Can I have it back now?!?"


Our friends Scotty and Marilee were kind enough to "donate" their daughter Amelia to our camera practice on Saturday during the BYU game (well, if you can call it a game). Here are a couple of really cute ones we got:



Then Scotty said, "Denise, you know we have other cute kids, too." Yes, but there's nothing as cute as a newborn! So, here are the cute pics of their other kids:


Yes, I know Savannah is crying, but I still happen to think it's a really cute picture. I love taking pictures. And I love even more taking really cute pictures. Sometimes you don't even need a Canon Rebel for that. I got these pics of Hilary's girls last week with my "old" camera (that really wasn't so old). I was driving home from soccer when I found the perfect location:


Anyway, here's your fair warning -- this blog may contain a lot more pictures from now on. Of course, you may be safe for a little bit since I've still got to figure out this camera now that I have it ...

Babysitters

So, yesterday afternoon I realized that Becca would not be home in time to watch the three young'uns while I went to scouts. I thought about just taking them with me, but then I remembered that Shayla went down late for a nap, and the lady whose house we go to has a dog that would scare all my kids.

I thought about asking Hilary to watch the kids, but then I thought better of it -- she's very busy these days and I'm using her all day Friday while I head to the Scrapbook Expo USA. (Hooray, horray for that ... but that's another story ...)

I finally decided that I'd just call a neighbor girl to come watch the kids for 30 minutes until Becca got home. With Shayla asleep and my boys fixed on the TV that I let them turn on, I figured it would be a very easy few bucks for the girl. I showed her where to find some good books I had as a teenager and said she could just read if she liked.

Needless to say, when I got home a bit later, I found that she had cooked mac & cheese. I asked the boys if they had asked for mac & cheese, and they said no. (I figured not, because I don't ever make it for a snack, and they had both had snacks before I left.) However, the entire box was gone. I'm figuring the girl must have been hungry and saw the mac & cheese box on the counter where I left it (after almost making it for lunch), so she went for it. Paul said, "Cooking the mac & cheese probably took the entire time she was here!"

I still laugh, because it was just strange. She knew she'd be there for only 30 minutes, and she made mac & cheese. I don't mind, but I do find it very funny.

It made me wonder if I had any other strange babysitting behavior. The only thing I could think of is a girl who called me to find out how to run the TV/VCR. I would have died before calling someone to find out how to watch TV while I was babysitting. (Not that I didn't watch TV, but I would have never called to find out how to do it!) This same babysitter ended up ruining one of our VHS tapes. She did try to replace it, but I told her not to worry about it since it was one that was given to us and I didn't think we'd ever watch it again.

We've been very fortunate here in Utah living by family and Hilary to not really have to use "outside" babysitters much. And we're very grateful that Becca is now old enough to babysit as well. (You'll all get your own live-in babysitter one day! :) In the meantime, any of you have strange babysitter stories?

PhotoShop Elements, my new friend ...

So I've been having a bit of fun with PhotoShop Elements. I was first exposed to PhotoShop in college, but I figured I'd never be able to afford the $800 program. Then I learned about PhotoShop Elements -- a smaller version that is also a lot smaller in price. I'm loving it!

Mind you, I bought it years ago and there are two new versions (well, as of next month anyway) since mine was released. However, I'm thinking I can upgrade to the next version for something like $40 now that it's the "old" version. I don't need all the new features anyway, although I'm sure they really would be nice.

In any case, I'm having a blast making baby announcements for people. I HAVE to share the one I made for my friends Scott and Marilee Gillins. Not only did the announcements turn out cute, but isn't that baby adorable?!? I took these pictures in the hospital when she was just two days old. I can't wait to see here again because she's so cute:


I also made one for my sis-in-law a couple of months ago, and she got an adorable picture of her baby smiling:


If I ever decide to open up shop and do these for money, I have some cute samples stored up, which is easy to do when the people around me are all having such adorable little babies!

Oh, back onto subject. Well, kind of. Did you all know that one day I plan to get braces? I went to the orthodontist for years and my parents paid a bunch of money, but my teeth came in so late that I didn't really get much done before we couldn't afford it anymore. In any case, I plan to -- when we CAN afford it, and probably after all of my kids have had them -- get braces one day. In the meantime, I can use PhotoShop Elements to straighten my teeth:


Really I just wanted to show off my new BYU T-shirt. Isn't that awesome?!? And it was on clearance at the BYU Bookstore. In any case, I'm enjoying learning a few new PhotoShop things and am having a bit of fun doing it.

In case anyone is wondering (based on this blog), I don't do digital scrapbooking. I prefer putting on all the stuff separately and "getting my hands into it." I figure maybe one day I'll do some digital pages, but I'm still enjoying the "old-fashioned" way for now.

For those who use PhotoShop Elements, what are your favorite tricks? Let me know if you have any sites you peruse with cool ways to do things. :)