Month: May 2007 (Page 2 of 3)

Natalie had her Highland Children’s choir concert last night. She even sang with a small group, and did GREAT. Here’s a tiny picture of her and I’m sure you can’t even spot her, but you can try if you want.

Ryan is a wonderful dad, as he took the kids to the Provo tabernacle for this concert without me for the 3rd time. I don’t know how she does it, but this director always has her concerts on a Wednesday night right before one of my concerts, so I can never go. I know. I feel terrible about it. But such is life. (I had my own dress rehearsal in the Salt Lake Tabernacle for our bell choir concert, which went pretty well, despite a few mess ups, but I guess that’s to be expected.) At the last minute, we realized that John had a fever (could it have something to do with that unfortunate incident yesterday? I sure hope not!), so Cole and John stayed home. I’m proud of Natalie for singing her best. I don’t think she wants to do choir next year–she wants to take a cheer or dance class instead, she tells me.

Tonight Cole has a band concert (Thanks for the advanced warning, Cole. I think he told us on Monday, that he had a band concert), Megan has a Hope of America type program tomorrow at school, and then we’re almost done with all these concerts. Like I said, May is insanely busy for us, and we’re just trying to get through it!

1. YOUR REAL NAME: Paige

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME (first 3 letters of real name plus “izzle”): Paiizzle

3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME (fave color and fave animal): Green giraffe

3. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name and your street name): Jess Sampson

5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 Letters of your first name, first 3 letters of mom’s maiden name): Eripagag

6. YOUR SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Red diet coke

7. YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME (father’s middle name and mother’s middle name): Eloise Eugene

8. YOUR GOTH NAME (black, and the name of one of your pets): Black Zuzu

I must admit that I’m not the best soccer mom around.  I don’t go to every game for every kid.  I do my best to make sure that THEY are to most every game, and most every practice, but I’m not all that into it.  I don’t know all the rules, and am always asking the other parents things like “what is off-sides?” In fact, even when I’m there at the game, I’m really only paying attention about 1/2 of the time.  I’m either watching over or taking care of younger kids, chatting with other moms, or whatever.  But I must say, Saturday’s game with Megan was a bit different.  I got her there way early to find the field, and she and her teammates were pretty excited about the game.

   

This team has been together for two years, but this was their first year in a competitive or AAA league (whatever that means, right?) They’ve had a good season, but by no means did they win every game.  They’ve done pretty well in the past two weeks of tournament, though, so this was the championship game.  They were playing a team they had beat before, so that was a little bit of a comfort to them.  They started out great, and scored a goal in the first half.  In the second half, they scored two more, and shut out the other team.  Megan is a “sweeper”, so she’s the last line of defense before the goalie, and that girl can run!  She’s not a goal scorer, but she does her job well, and loves the game.  When the final whistle blew, it was very exciting!

 

Here they are right after the win, and then getting her trophy from her coach.

It was so great!  I was very proud of her! The guy who was awarding them their trophy was so cute.  He said, “In Region 5, Triple A division, 11 and under girls, there’s no team better than you!”   Here’s one last picture of her with her team, all proud with their shiny trophies!

In other weekend news, Jenna’s dance recital was very cute.  Need proof?  Well, here you are:

   

On Saturday night we attended the Butler Stake’s production of the Wizard of Oz, and it was very well done.  I had a few complaints about the boring character of Glinda, but then again, after seeing Wicked, I expect greatness, I guess.  It was a fun show, and the kids really enjoyed it.  John sat still and watched the whole thing, which was kind of surprising.

We had a lovely Mother’s day, too.  I bought myself the kids gave me some nice presents, including the new Donny Osmond CD (what a shock!) and a lovely new watch that I just LOVE.  They also made some cute cards, and Cole even made me a movie!  It should have been titled “a bunch of bad pictures of mom set to music”, but who am I to complain.  He made it with love.  Church was really great, with great youth speakers in Sacrament meeting and an awesome Sunday School lesson, and my lesson in RS went well.  We got some pretty pansies as our Mother’s day gift from the ward, and of course they had extras, so I let the kids choose some, so we’ll be planting those today.  We went to my mom and dad’s for a fun barbeque, and had a very nice day.  We should have Mother’s day more often than just once a year, don’t you think?

My mom taught me many great lessons and has given me some wonderful advice. In fact, she’s still teaching me things about how to be a better person and a better mom. But one lesson I remember wasn’t really something she taught me in words, but in her actions.

(Now my memories of this story may not be the most accurate, since this happened a long time ago, so, Mom, if you are reading this, feel free to add any details in or correct me if I’m wrong.)

My mom had been to visit a neighbor and I went along with her. I wasn’t very old, probably around 5. As she and this neighbor were talking in the front room, I wandered back to the kitchen, and spotted the two loaves of freshly baked banana bread that were cooling on the counter. That bread smelled so good and looked so pretty, I was drawn to it. I guess I thought if I just picked a piece out of the corner, no one would notice. It wasn’t like I was taking a piece off the very top or anything. That piece tasted so good, I broke off another little piece and ate that, too. I don’t remember how much of that bread I ate, but basically ruined both loaves. If they were meant to be a gift for someone else, they were no longer give-able. If they were meant for her own family, they were somewhat mangled, what with little nibbles picked out of the corner.

The ladies finished their visit and we went home. I’m sure it wasn’t long before my mom received a phone call from this woman letting her know what her daughter had done. When my mother asked me about the bread, I of course denied eating any of it and suggested that it must have been a mouse. My mother didn’t yell at me, but prompted me to tell the truth. She was teaching me patience and honesty right then. I guess I broke down and told her that yes, I had eaten it, and I was sorry. My mom must have made some bread or some other food to take to this neighbor, and when we took it over to her, I picked some flowers and gave them to her and told her I was sorry that I had eaten her bread. My mother was teaching me that it’s not enough to just say you’re sorry, but you have to make it up to them, if possible. Although I felt terrible from what I did, and my mother must have been so embarrassed by my hungry little actions, I was not punished. There was no spanking, no time-out, no yelling. She let me think about what I had done wrong, and I punished myself for my actions. Mom was teaching me to develop my own sense of right and wrong.

After we came home, my mom hugged me and told me that I had done the right thing in apologizing, and she hoped I had learned something. By her loving actions, I learned more than I would have if she lectured me for hours. How grateful I am for a mother who taught me important lessons in life. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I love you.

Congratulations to Megan, and her soccer team, the Tsunamis.  They won their game on Wednesday night, and they will play on Saturday to determine if they are the 1st place team or the 2nd place team in their division. Go, Megan!

And congratulations to all soccer moms out there, for surviving the soccer season.

I don’t want to skip over this month, I just hope we can all survive it.  We are just SO busy!!  Last night was Megan’s first softball game,so that ushers in a new era of softball.  Plus, this week she’s still got two more games for soccer.  Natalie’s got a soccer game tonight and one on Saturday.  Jenna’s got a dance recital on Friday night, and pictures for that this afternoon.  Cole, Ryan and John have the father’s and sons campout this Friday night.  And that’s just this week!  Oh, and did I mention we’re watching two of our neighbor’s kids for a couple of days?  We are.
Next week is my concert for bells, as wells as Natalie’s concert with the Highland Children’s choir, which I will not be attending, because I have rehearsal almost every night next week.  I honestly don’t know how we are going to make it to everything we need to.  I need an assistant.

Some friends were trying to schedule a dinner out, and I seriously had to say no to every available date until we get into June.  Then I hope things will slow down a bit.  They have to!  I don’t want to skip all the fun end of the year things at the school, I just don’t know if I can make it to them.  This week alone I have three different things at the school to go to.  Then come field days, programs, Kindergarten graduation, pre-school graduation, etc. etc.  I guess I just have to rely on friends and other moms to share the load when I can, and get myself really organized.

Or order pizza every night, which is what’s happening tonight.