No, I have not fallen off the face of the earth.

I know it seems like it...after all I haven't updated my blog in almost three months, I didn't send a Christmas letter, I never call my friends, etc. etc.

I am still very much alive, but SUPER busy.

So busy, in fact, that I have about 2 minutes until I have to leave on a fundraising extravaganza. Oooo, lucky me!

I hope to remember that I have a blog, and post an update soon (lots has happened, and I think I'll forget if I don't get it down!)

Until then, thanks for being patient with me!

One Whole Month

Wow!
I can't believe I have let almost a whole month go by without posting anything. I have been busy. not just lazy. Here's what I've been doing:

1. Making a gazillion swimsuits. Okay, maybe not a gazillion, but a lot! I've gotten practice suit orders off of my website, team warm-up suit orders from Olivia's team, black figure suit orders from the team, and routine suit orders are starting to come in. In fact, I sent an invoice to a team in Colorado yesterday for a very large amount. It's kind of weird. (But also kind of nice!) I have even gotten email inquiries from teams in Europe. Strange, small world.

2. Getting ready for the annual Murder Mystery Party (including painting the living room and entry). This year is a Medieval theme, and the kids and I have made rock walls, knight banners, swords and shields. In addition, I have made my costume, Brandon's costume, Olivia's and her friend's (they are going to be the serving girls), Dan's and his friend (they are going to be the court musicians). My sewing machine needs a rest.

3. Entertaining the kids during Fall Break. Really, I didn't entertain them, but they wanted me to. We made decorations, watched some movies, did a lot of fighting (them, not me), and basically couldn't wait for school to start again (me, not them).

4. Spending WAY too much time with my bestie! But we have so much fun! We manage to find lots of ways to make the day go by (always goes way too fast), and her favorite thing to say is, "Your kids will be home in an hour". Ugh. Too true. In fact, looking at the clock, they will be home in an hour. Where has the day gone?

5. Reading. I have read the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series (1-4), The Girl Who Could Fly, and something else, but I'm having trouble remembering what it was right now. It'll come to me eventually...

6. Making cookie dough. For the Desert Dolphin Holiday Cottage. The synchro team is putting on a boutique kind of thing, and I have signed up for a booth. I'll be selling some of my mom's quilts, some appliqued kitchen towels and homemade cookie dough. Hopefully to make some dough so Olivia can go the National Team Trials again. If she makes the team this year (which her coaches think is a given), she might be competing somewhere internationally (I heard Greece at one point). So, some more dough would be nice. :) If anyone wants to come to the Holiday Cottage, click this link.

Well, that's a bit of what I've been up to. Now, it's back to the sewing room...

Happy Happy...

...Birthday, Daniel dear. Happy days will come to you all year.
Or, as the kids wanted to sing...
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you,
You smell like a monkey,
And your siblings do, too.
I can't believe he's thirteen. I don't feel old enough, but I guess I am. He didn't get a whole lot for his big day since he got a fancy schmancy iPod a couple of months ago. However, he did lay claim to the bottle of coke and the bag of dark chocolate pretty quick. I don't think he's going to share. (Good thing I didn't get him something I like.)
And, alas, I am still a bad mom and didn't have any candles in the house (Julia's birthday, too) so we lit a match and stuck it in the cake. At least the cake didn't catch on fire. That would have been bad. After we cut the cake, Dan proceeded to tell us how many hugs he had gotten that day. Apparently, he is quite the popular thing to hug at school. I'm not sure why the girls seem to like him--don't they know that he is a smelly boy? Listen up girls, he is a SMELLY boy! (Although, he does shower quite regularly. And he is concerned about his appearance. Okay, I admit, he is pretty cute. And tall. Did I mention that he's taller than me? He is. Not that I'm bothered by that...)

Seriously though, I'm proud to call him my son. He is a good kid. He is talented. He is smart. He can be kind. He is a great leader. He is responsible. He is creative. He is incredibly special to me, and I will forever be in awe of the spirit that was entrusted to me to raise.

I hope I don't screw it up.

To Shave or Not to Shave

Last Sunday, Dan came home and said that Brother Peterson said he should shave.

Let's think about this...

He is 12. TWELVE!

He has a little bit of upper lip hair, but he is 12. Got that? 12.

So, being the blogger mom that I am, I thought: "Hmmm, I should blog about that. I could even take a poll and see what everyone else thinks. I'll take a picture, post it and wait for the opinions to roll in."

Today, I got out my camera and went to take a picture of the offensive upper lip.

There was NO HAIR.

Dan shaved.

I'm not ready for this...

Business

So, most of you know that I have recently decided to make my sewing into a legitimate business, complete with business license, tax license, wholesale shopping in California, website and PayPal. Part of me is wondering what I have gotten myself into. Part of me is excited. Part of me is thinking I was crazy to even attempt this. After all, what was wrong with "under the table" sewing for just Olivia's team? Brandon has thought for a long time that I should advertise and bring in more business. Part of me is wondering if he really knows what that will mean (dinner?!?, who has time to make dinner?) But, then there's the part of me that wants to create and design and make wonderful things.

A few months ago, I was talking about the whole business thing with my mom, and she made this statement: "Once it becomes a job, it is no longer fun". I've thought a lot about that in the last few weeks. True, setting up the business, filling out forms and making sure I'm doing it all by the books is not very fun. But, shopping for fabric in California was TONS of fun. Designing suits is fun, even making suits and seeing them all lined up on a rack is fun. I'm sure having some extra money will be FUN, too!

But still, the best part is (and always will be) seeing how excited the girls are. I made a suit last week for a new girl on the team. When she came to practice the next time wearing it, she had the biggest smile on her face. Her mom had a big smile, too. Then today, I got an email from my website from another girl. She said she loves my suits, they are always so cute and that I am amazing and talented. Not to be big-headed about it, but that made my day! I love doing something that makes other people happy. And in the end, whether it's a job or not, that is what makes it worth it.

P.S. Just as I was about to press "publish", I got another message from the website. Apparently, I need to share my secrets "in case I get hit by a bus". I'll make sure I stay away from those darn buses!

Randomization

Last Friday, I drove to Tucson. Dan plays the bass, and needed a size upgrade. The only one I could find in the Phoenix area was $85 a month, so I decided to make the trek to Tucson and pay only $50 a month. Worth the $40 in gas it took, right?

Since I couldn't find a buddy to make the drive with me, I let Dan play hooky (sp?) from school and go with me. It was an interesting drive. First, we talked about school. It was a short conversation. Then, I tried girls. An even shorter conversation. Finally, Dan started playing his "randomization" game. It goes like this: you say something random. Then you say something else random (that can't in any way be connected to a previous response). Dan excels at this game. Here is a sampling of what most of the four hours consisted of:

aviator

handle-bar mustache

plexiglass

platypus

belly button lint

auxiliary

dial soap

tangerine

tuna fish

moose crossing

laundry detergent

ham sandwich

tooth mouse (which happens to be what they call the tooth fairy in Mexico)

hammerhead shark

bicycle seat

...and the list goes on and on and on. I realize that just reading this list probably isn't funny, but I was laughing so much. Dan has such a dry sense of humor and just they way he says stuff is funny. Add to that the fact that he fires off random words at a pretty quick rate (about 4 to my 1) and I was thoroughly entertained for the drive. Even now, as I write this, he is over in the corner playing the silly game with Olivia. She keeps naming stuff that she sees in the house, but he is completely random. It makes me wonder, "what goes on in that mind of his?" I really wonder if there's something whacked or if he is a genius.

Today, I'm going with whacked.

15

15 years.

Lots has happened...

4 kids, 3 states, 6 homes, 4 jobs, 2 pets, 4 cars, countless church callings, more business travel than should be allowed, fun family vacations, hit and miss date nights, lots of laughter, lots of misunderstandings and frustration, lots of silliness.

But under it all, lots of love. The kind that doesn't go away. No matter what.

Socks

I hate socks.

Or, more to the point, I hate putting socks on my six year old.

School started four days ago, and it's been smooth sailing each day. I thought all my troubles with Julia were over.

Not.

What I didn't realize was that she had worn the same pair of socks each day. The ONLY pair of socks she likes.

So today, when I told everyone I was planning on doing the wash, she had to find another pair of socks. *sigh*

It all started again. Her crying. Me yelling. Her kicking. Me spanking. Olivia insisting. Sam leaving. More crying. More yelling. Socks on. Socks off. Shoes tied. Shoes yanked off. Etc. Etc. Etc.

Apparently, she detests the way socks are made. You know the little line that goes across your toes? She hates that. The heel part? She hates that. The fact that sometimes socks aren't soft anymore? She hates that.

I am ready to give up. I hate getting her ready for school. I hate P.E. days. Sometimes, I even think I hate her (not really, but I do hate her behavior and unreasonableness). I'm tempted to let this ruin my day, as I did so many times last year.

Help.

Does anyone know where I can get eternally soft socks with no heels or toe lines? It might just save my relationship with my daughter.

Good Times in Colorado

We are having a great time in Colorado! Here's an update:

We arrived Sunday afternoon and our fabulous friends, the Browns, barbequed hamburgers and corn on the cob for our culinary delight. Then we made smores out back over their really cool firepit. We stayed up late, but it was so fun!

Monday morning, we took the kids (who are all getting along great, by the way), down to the neighborhood pool. While Olivia worked out, the other kids got to play. It was a lot of fun, and we had the entire pool (25 yards by about 15 yards) all to ourselves.

Then it was back home to have some lunch, climb some trees, play video games, chase the cats, play with the dog, enjoy the cooler weather, etc.

After lunch, Angela, Olivia and I left for Colorado Springs. We picked Olivia's coach, Lorette, up at the airport and after a fight with Mini (who happens to be a GPS unit), we finally arrived at the Olympic Training Center (OTC). We checked Olivia in, and got to wander around the athlete areas for a bit. We felt a little snobby about this, because those areas are closed to the public. How cool are we? Then we left Olivia with her roommate, Leilah (from California), and walked out the door. It was weird. It felt like leaving her at college, but she's only 11! Strange.

After we dropped Lorette off at her hotel, Ang and I went out to dinner, then shopping at the mall. We had so much fun! I can't remember the last time I giggled so much! Finally, around 9:00 that night, we decided to show up at home again. I got a big hug from Sam, a nod from Dan and pretty much ignored from Julia because she was busy tormenting a cat.

Tuesday, we went to the Downtown Aquarium, spent a lot of money and had a lot of fun. The kids continued to get along (for the most part). We roasted Starbursts that night over the fire (try it sometime, it's yummy!) Olivia had a good first day of trials. She had figure competition and did well, and passed the splits test.

Today we are going to the beach. Dan had to remind Seth that Colorado is land locked, so how are we going to a beach? But, apparently there is a reservoir that is not far away with a cool beach. So off we go. Olivia has more trial stuff today, and tomorrow we will go and watch the final stuff and be there for the announcement of the National Team. Keep your fingers crossed.

I miss my bed (actually, I just miss not sleeping with Sam or Julia), but I'm not sure I'm ready to come home to the heat! But, I'll sacrifice, just so my kids can go to school. Yay! School starts on Monday!!!

Adventures in synchro

Tomorrow I leave for Colorado. We (the kids and I) are going to see some friends who moved a couple of years ago, and also to leave Olivia at the Olympic Training Center for phase 2 of the National Team Trials.

While the other three kids and I are having a great time doing vacation-y things, Olivia will be back in the pool, stressing herself out over such things as a swordfish, a kip, a really, really fast routine, a sustained spin, and flat splits in the water. I think she has done all she can to prepare, I just hope that she keeps the home-sickness at bay so that she can do her best.

I have been with her for all of the really important meets up until now (except for one, and she didn't do so hot at that meet). Sometime or other, she has to grow up and learn how to do her best without her personal cheerleader, but it does make me a little sad that I won't be there. It is also a little worrying that if she does do her best (and makes the National Team), she will be gone for almost 2 weeks. That's a long time for an 11 year old to be away from home. I told her to pack her favorite "Olivia the pig" blanket, just in case she needed a little bit of home. I think she thinks I'm crazy. I'm so proud of her, and it's so exciting that she is one of only 16 girls in the ENTIRE country that gets this opportunity, but I'm going to miss my B.

But enough of that, I just want her to get out there and show those other girls what the youngest among them can do! Go for it, Olivia!

New Respect

I have new respect for all synchronized swimmers today. I have long known that it is a difficult sport, and takes a lot of skill and athleticism. But, now I really know. Like in, I have tried it and failed miserably!

Here's the story. Back in June, when Olivia competed at the Grand Canyon State Games, there were two Master's routines that swam. Master's is for anyone over the age of 20. A group of coaches from one of the other teams swam, and four ladies from Sun City West. I think their average age was 82. So, I got talking with a bunch of synchro mom friends, and we decided that next year, we would swim a routine. I mean, how hard can it be, really? And if 80 year old women can do it, then so can we! Right?

So, one of those moms and I decided that we better start swimming now to get in shape, so we don't completely embarrass ourselves. We swam a few laps a couple of weeks ago, and then last night we went with Olivia to practice and decided to really give it a try.

Let me just say, I am completely out of shape. Or maybe my shape is just super jiggly and weak. But after a pathetically few number of laps, I felt like I was going to throw up and then I could finally understand why some swimmers cheat on their laps.

So, after resting up for probably way too long, my friend and I started to try to do some figures. The operative word here is try. I have no idea how any synchro swimmer does anything they do. I couldn't even do the basic of the basic. How sad. We tried to coach each other, but since neither of us really knew what we were doing (you'd think we would after the amount of time we spend at practices, but apparently we really don't pay attention), it didn't go well. Finally, Olivia took pity on us and gave us a few pointers. I still couldn't do any of it, but after some encouraging words from both Olivia and her coach, I guess I'll give it another try tomorrow.

I'm not sure the routine next June is going to happen. I think this body is too old to teach new tricks to. And it has too many parts that hurt, or don't work right, or are too chubby, or too flabby, or just plain too old.

I think Olivia is embarrassed by me. And I can't say that I blame her.

six!

I can't believe my baby is SIX!!! Yesterday was her birthday, and in true Julia fashion, there was NO WAY we were going to forget it. She reminded us about 20 times a day for the last week, and was so disappointed that I didn't have presents wrapped and piled on the table for days beforehand. As it was, we managed to fill the day with enough stuff that she was content to wait until after dinner for presents and cake. Dad even made it home for dinner by 6, and then it was all about JULIA!!
She is such a girly-girl. Way more so than her sister. She made me a birthday list that had nail polish, makeup, jewelry and other girly things on it. Luckily, it's easy to get that stuff! She was very excited about it all, and immediately had to wear her new headband, earrings and lip gloss. She wanted to paint her nails right away, too, but I managed to convince her to wait.
It's so hot that I really didn't want to make her a cake. So, we went shopping and she found one that she liked, and the best part was that they wrote on it for her, in PINK!

Unfortunately, I didn't realize while we were at the store that I didn't have any candles. So Dad "Macgyver-ed" a candle for us. (Really just a match that he stuck in the cake). But before she could blow it out, it went out. The look on her face says it all...

But then, she did manage to blow it out, and all was well!

Happy Birthday, Little Stuff! We love you!

eSynchro Age Group Nationals

Olivia and I just got home from Nationals. Here's the scoop:

Team finished 5th in the Nation!!!

Duet finished 5th!!!

Trio finished 4th!!!

Olivia finished 16th in figures and qualified for phase 2 of the National Team Trials next month at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. AWESOME!!!

We had a good time, but I'm glad to be home. Florida is beautiful, but I'm glad I live in the dry desert! It was nice to have a break from my own kids, but I was glad to turn those 8 other girls over to their parents! All in all, it's good to be back.

And...

a few days before we left for Nationals, Olivia was honored with the "Athlete of the Year" award at the end of year party and award night. WOW! It's been a great year for her, we are so proud of all she has accomplished.

Father's Day

Things I love about the father of my children:

• he plays with them, and very rarely tells them he is too busy (even when he really is)
• he makes them breakfast on Saturdays (smoothies and waffles)
• he is a fabulous provider for our family
• he is conscientious and always does his best in everything
• he is a hard worker, hopefully the kids will learn by his example
• he figures out how to fix things around the house, and usually lets the kids help
• he teaches the kids life lessons without them realizing it
• he is proud of each of their individual talents and abilities
• he is fair (or at least as fair as possible-sometimes it's hard to know who started it...)
• he loves their mother

Happy Father's Day to the best husband in the world. I am so lucky.

Grand Canyon State Games

Olivia competed in the Grand Canyon State Games this past weekend. She took first place in team, trio and figures. I got some amazing photos of a couple of her figures. This barracuda was the best of the night--among all 72 girls. Just to put it in perspective for all you non-synchro people, most girls aren't completely vertical, or they only get up to mid thigh. Here's a pretty typical barracuda:

And here's the girl who finished in second place for the night:

We leave for Nationals in four days, it's time to start thinking good thoughts and sending good karma her way!

Watch Out for the Paparazzi!

Olivia was recently featured in a local magazine, Kids Celebrate. Click here for the online version of the article. She'll be signing autographs, donations are always accepted! (just kidding)

Family Fun

We had lots of fun out in the pool today. It was finally hot enough that we didn't freeze when wet! We had chicken fights (even three people high, but it took all of us, so there was no one to take the picture!), lots of flips and somersaults, a display of amazing flexibilty (I know she doesn't get that from me), and even some Olympic caliber face contortions.

This video shows the best back tuck somersault of the day--and, no, it's not from the girl taking diving lessons, but from Sam! I think he might have a future in diving! It was awesome!

Look what I did!

Do you like my new background? I made it MYSELF!!! Of course, I should have been doing lots of other things, but instead I was creating useless stuff for my blog. I also fancied up the Arizona Desert Dolphin blog. What a great time waster! I love computers!

Two Thumbs

We saw "Up" tonight. It was fabulous! Sam and Julia giggled throughout the whole thing (Olivia might have been, too, but she was not next to me). The 3D was really cool (and didn't give me a headache). Funny, funny movie. We give it two thumbs up!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to Sam today.

He is a BIG seven!

He opened presents and we had cake yesterday because Dad and Dan left at 5:00 this morning for Scout Camp. Poor Sam (and Julia) had to be woken at 6:00 to go with me to take Olivia to practice. But, he did get McDonald's for breakfast (one of his very favorites). He got a new game for the DS, a new swimsuit, a bag of kettle corn, money from Grandma Ekberg and a Webkinz monkey from Grandma Anne. I think he looks like the monkey. Happy Birthday to the silliest, smartest boy in the world! Love you, Sam.