Soccer Mom

So I've been told I can't be "Mother of the Year" so I'm now calling myself an official "Soccer Mom"! The girls started soccer and have already played 3 games. They LOVE it! I think they look great in their uniforms!

I think Sophia is a natural at this. She is really in her element and "gets" the game.



Emma enjoys running around and playing with her friends. She loves being on a team!



The girls have also started dance. They are doing a creative dance that has been perfect for them! A couple of girls in our neighborhood go too, so we get to carpool! Yey for me! They both love being in dance class with friends and love that they can dance freely. They are so expressive and really get into it! It's been so good for them!



Even Ian got into it. Anything his sisters are doing he wants to do too! To Michael's dismay, he got out there and danced his heart out!



I now have such an appreciation for Moms with lots of kids! I only have 3 but I feel so busy all the time! Between school, homework, running them to dance class, soccer, getting dinner on, doing laundry, reading time, dishes, baths and bed--wow my day is full! And they are only in kindergarten! I know it gets worse! I don't know how all you moms do it! I'm getting it now! So my hats off to all you "soccer moms"!

"Mother of the Year"

This is an x-ray of Ian's hand. So here's the story:
I was putting clothes in the dryer when I heard CRASH, BOOM, BANG on the stairs. Then I heard Ian screaming. He had tried to pull his chair down the stairs to reach a dart and he and the chair came tumbling down. He said his hand hurt. I examined it and his hand seemed fine. He could move it and wiggle fingers and there was no bones sticking out or blood so I figured he just landed on it wrong. But he was inconsolable. I called Michael at work and we talked about taking him in. But then we remembered his last stair incident in August with his foot. We were convinced he had broken his foot and rushed him to Insta-Care to find out it was a slight sprain and he was fine ($200 later). So we both decided to wait and see, against my better judgement.
So I gave him Motrin, took the girls to school and hung out on the couch with him all day. When we came home from getting the girls at school he begged to play outside. I stayed out there with him and watched him play. He seemed fine but was still favoring his hand. Again after dinner, he begged to go play with his sisters. He still seemed fine so I let him. I guess he tried to get on the trampoline and leaned on his hand. Caely and Morgan brought him home, screaming. Michael and I looked at each other and him in the van. I took him to Insta-Care at 7:30 pm. They did x-rays and, sure enough, it's not only broken in one but two places! I felt like such a wonderful mother! I should have taken him in right then and there! But no! I let him suffer all day long, even let him go out and play with a broken wrist! So please nominate me for "Mother of the Year"!

Oriental Chicken Wraps

I just had to post this recipe from my friend Andy's blog, Dinner's On Me! We've made it a couple of times and it is now our favorite dinner! First you make the teriyaki chicken.

Teriyaki Marinade

1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup Sprite
1/2 tsp minced garlic

Then the rest is do it yourself assembly--so yummy!

Oriental Chicken Wraps

teriyaki chicken, shredded
mandarin oranges
bag of mixed salad greens
crispy chow mein noodles
sliced green onions
Creamy Sesame Dressing (recipe below)



Creamy Sesame Dressing

1 c. Mayonnaise
2 Tbsp. Sesame Oil
2 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
1/3 c. Sugar
1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper
5 Tbsp. Milk

Combine all ingredients & enjoy!

P.S. The Sesame dressing recipe makes a ton--so I always have some left over. If you live close by and want to try some really good dressing--come and get it! First one here wins!

Sleep Over Madness

So what do you get when you cross this

with this

and these?

Lots of Cousin Fun!

We had Michael's 2nd cousin's kids this weekend for a sleep over. It was our first sleep over so I didn't know quite what to expect but I tried to make it as fun as possible. We had pizza for dinner and then went to the park to play. When it started getting dark, we came home to make caramel popcorn or as the kids like to call it "sticky popcorn"! They loved watching the popcorn pop out all over the counter--great entertainment! Then they picked out Robin Hood to watch before bed. Not that they really watched any of it! They were to busy eating, talking, showing what tricks they could do off the couch, etc. Then it was time for bed. Yeah, right! We had them all in Emma and Sophia's room and "down" by 8:30 pm but the talking and giggling went on until about 11 pm. I was surprised they went to sleep at all! Then they were all awake by 6 am! Not my idea of fun! It was a long day Saturday! We played dress up, barbies, and went to the park again all before lunch! At 1:00, I was exhausted! So they all went down for a nap! Every one passed out quickly and slept for 2 HOURS! It was heaven! We love these girls and are so happy they live close enough now we can see them more often!