He's a Winner!

Justin and his team won their division in baseball this season. It was so exciting. After losing the first few games they went on to win almost all the rest. They ended in third, then went on to the playoffs. They beat the last place team, first place team, and the second place team to win the whole thing! It was so exciting to see the team improve and learn together. At one of the last games the umpire had to tell our coach to have the parents quiet down. One of the best moments for me was during the last game. Justin had a single, then on his next up he hit a home run. All of the parents and relatives were standing and screaming in the stands and I was jumping up and down. It was one of those "proud parent" moments. Another highlight of the last game was when Justin's teammate, Shaun, was on base the other coach yelled out to the field that Shaun was slow and they could tag him out if he stole a base. There was yelling and booing from our side at such unsportsmanlike conduct from a coach. Then Shaun proceeded to steal second, third, and finally home. We were screaming again (no wonder we've been shushed) and yelling at the other coach to eat his words. I loved every second of it. Justin's team went on to a regional tournament, but unfortunately Justin was sick and couldn't play. It was still one exciting season!

Competition Creates Champions

If you know me you probably know I am a bit competitive. You may not realize how much so. I like to win. I am okay with losing if someone else deserves to win, but I like to win. Sometimes I even compete with myself. If there is something I don't want to do (like unload the dishwasher, fold laundry, study, etc.) I will set a realistic goal of how long it should take, then I cut off a chunk of the time, set a timer and see if I can do it. I also don't let my kids win when we play a game. I tell them to do their best and eventually they will pass me up and then it will be a true victory. Now, I don't cream them. But they do have to work for a victory.

This summer I made a chart of things the kids need to do everyday. There is unloading the dishwasher, walking the dog, cleaning their rooms, vacuuming, reading, math worksheet, etc. Each time they complete an item they get a point. At the end of the week there are prizes for obtaining 50, 75, 100 points and to the one with the most points. Mia is unmotivated, but Justin and Emma are hilarious. Justin gets up early and works on items before Emma has a chance. Yesterday I whispered something to Emma that she could do to get a point. Justin tried to overhear and yelled "Oh, yea? I am going to clean up dog pooh first!" as he ran out. Funny thing was, I didn't say anything about dog pooh. This is the first time Justin has cleaned it up with such vigor. Then today I asked Emma to do it and Justin followed her around cleaning up anything she missed so that he could get credit too. He even cleaned her bedroom while she was in the shower so he could get that point.

Another bonus, Justin just told Mia "I just cleaned the family room. Don't mess it up." Muh, ha, ha, my plan is working.

*Disclaimer: Charlie originally suggested some sort of list.

End of School, Summer Begins

I have some pictures that should have posted awhile ago. Last month Charlie was out of town a lot. Mia had the cutest lesson at church and I had to take a picture for him, but Mia was not happy about it.

Mia graduated from preschool a few weeks ago. She was so cute, sweet, and funny. She will talk to random strangers and tell them all about her life, but stand her up in front of a group and suddenly she is shy. She barely sang her songs, but I knew she knew them. She had been singing them around the house for weeks.

Emma has wanted her hair done a certain way for months. I told her on the last day of school she could do it. Then when I tried to talk her out of it yesterday she recounted the conversation exactly and said "see, you said I could." This is her "crazy" hair she wanted. And chocolate on her face from her treat at school. (She is sitting on my new couch Charlie got me for my birthday!)

Mia was taking a long time in the bathroom yesterday. I went to check on her and this is what I found her playing with. I guess she just makes due with what she has to work with.

We Don't Have P in Our Ool.

Last weekend we took the kids to Grandpa's house to swim with their cousins for Memorial Day. It was a fun day, but when it was time to go home I told Emma to go to the bathroom. She said "I don't need to go. I went in the pool."
I tell her ew, that is gross. You aren't supposed to pee in pools. She then got some attitude and spoke to me like I didn't know anything "Mom, you're supposed to pee in pools. How do you think they get warm?"