My Soccer Stars

Tonight was game 2 of Marlena & Jay's 2012 soccer season. This is Jay's first season EVER to play and Marlena's 2nd. They both LOVE it! Jay's best buddy Chade is also playing on their team for his first time ever in soccer and scored a goal each game so far. Both times he has scored, he and Jay find each other and do a chest bump--too cute!

They love it and I look forward to many exciting games this season! Can't wait for a Sipes to SCOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE!

The Double-Digit Luau

While studying the Pacific Islands, Marlena chose to do a project that basically required she plan a luau. As she researched, she began to plan a party that would later become her 10th birthday party! She chose recipes: Mochiko chicken, frozen fruit punch (a HUGE hit!), a fruit tray and a green salad. Nothing too complicated but the punch and chicken required a bit of work the night before. They were all delicious! She also researched different games and printed out her favorites.

Once we decided to save it for her birthday party, she got busy making decorations. She found a cardboard box which she turned into a lovely palm tree. She and Lindy made grass skirts for two dolls, and she even made her own leis! I was impressed by her own creativity and willingness to try anything! She looked up ideas online and then tried them. She definitely didn't get that from me! I abhore craft projects but I'm blessed with two girls who love them. As the week drew near, Marlena even made her own invitations to give out to three friends: Brooklyn O'Connor, Taylor Everett, and Cailey Prehoda. At the last minute, Lindy asked if her friend Daisy could come, so we had a house full of girls and all stayed the night on September 7.

They had a blast! They even learned some hula moves, thanks to Lindy and Marlena. The cake we made was purely mine and Marlena's favorite cake right now--Ding Dong Cake!! Yum, yum! We bought fake flowers and Marlena even decorated the cake herself. It was a special way to bring on the double digits!

8th Grade Night

It's hard to believe that we are now in the "last year" of anything with our children because they are all supposed to still be small! I am not old so how can my children be finishing something like middle school?? Are we seriously starting one in high school next year? Last night was 8th grade night before the last home football game and with it came a certain amount of nostalgia for me as Taylor's mom. This is only our 2nd year to even be doing "the school thing," but it still came with the reality that time is moving quickly. I imagined walking the field next year with Lindy, and then 2 more years with Marlena, and then in 2 more years Jay. . ."I'm not ready for an empty nest!" I thought. Okay, so I still have some time: my kids are 3, 8, 10, 12, and 13. But it was a great reminder to treasure every moment. We don't get them back and high school is right around the corner. On a more positive note, I am very proud of the young man Taylor is becoming. This is his 2nd year playing football and he is more confident and more aggressive. He takes it seriously but is also still cautious because he does NOT plan to ruin the rest of his life by a football injury. (his words, not mine) He treats people with respect and seems to be a genuine friend to others. He wants to let his light shine but struggles with not wanting to be different--don't we all? He is a leader. For now, it might just be leading the guys in his class to wear neck ties with their t-shirts for "casual Friday" or even to wear "faux hawks" (fake mohawks) one Friday to go with it! But I trust that God working in his heart will eventually help him to lead others in spiritual ways, as well. I love this boy and am so proud to be his mom!

How Could You Do That?

I have done the unthinkable, maybe even the unpardonable for a mom. It is no excuse that I have 5 children, or that yesterday I found myself driving the van to pick up 5 more children and taking 8 home after church. It doesn't even help that I was the driving force behind our teen Sunday School going out for lunch once I got back from driving the van route. None of that matters to Jay, my precious, tender-hearted, eight-year-old son who got left at home alone yesterday for lunch.

How could you do that? you might ask. Pretty easily, I guess. When I picked up the group waiting for me in the church parking lot to go to lunch, I assumed (first problem!) everyone was there. Halfway to Fulton I thought outloud to my husband in the van: How did the Everetts (who were meeting us at the Mexican restaurant) fit both Marlena and Jay in their little car? Oh, wait, Marlena's in the van with us, so it was just Jay. Simple enough. After all, Jay had asked after church if his friend Chade (Everett) could come over and play and I said, "Sure, after the restaurant." So of course the boys rode together. . .and I didn't give it another thought. . .until I walked into the back room of LaCabana's and saw the Everetts sitting there with their TWO children. WHERE'S JAY??? He went home after church, they said, looking a bit puzzled. Faguely aware of the line of teenagers following me in, I barely contained my panic as I searched over their heads to find Jason. If memory serves correctly, HE went home and changed clothes while I was dropping children off after church, so SURELY he would feel somewhat responsible. "We left Jay!" But as he quickly turned around and headed back the 20 miles that we had just come, all I could think was "How could a mom forget her child like that?" Well, this one's going in the book. You know, the book that one of these kids will write to tell the world all the mistakes we made as parents. We often joke about what's "going in the book," and speculate as to which child will be the one to write it. We have made many mistakes over the past 13, almost 14 years, that we have been parents, but this is one of the most humbling. Of course, Jay was so gracious about it, and was more embarrassed about all the hoop-lah we made when he showed up later with dad. Hugs from Lindy and mom, a quiet,tearful apology from mom in his ear. But through it all, I am so grateful that God is watching out for my children when I fail to do my part. What was Jay doing all that time we were gone? He was upstairs playing the Wii. I do know that he realized we left him but I couldn't bring myself to ask how he felt at the moment of realization. And yes, I called the neighbor to come over, check on him, and tell him his dad was on the way, but still. . .

Great Start to 2012-2013

The first month of school is over today and I am very pleased with how smoothly everyone (including mom!) transitioned into the routine. Time now for the "first day of school" pictures:

It's hard to believe our oldest is in his last year of middle school already--8th grader now!

Our beautiful daughter is in 7th grade and loving it!

This is our very middlest child and she is in the 5th grade already!

Here's my handsome second son who just started 3rd grade. I guess I forgot to take a picture of the 3-year-old son who is NOT in preschool this year. :)

Mother's Day 2012 (never posted this one!)

A picnic at Columbus Park--that's all I really wanted for Mother's Day this year. Time with my family at our favorite park. God blessed us with a gorgeous day, so we stopped by Little General's for chicken and headed out after church. I took my camera with the intention of repeating something we had done on Mother's Day many years ago in Brazil (with 2 fewer children). I got pictures with each child, just them and mom. I have always treasured those, and decided it was time to do it again. Dad turned photographer and here are the results:

For Better of For Worse

Forty five years is a long time to do anything.

But Joe and Regina Senter committed to God and to each other 45 years ago today to "love, honor, and cherish one another as long as they both shall live." I am happy to announce that they have been faithful to keep that committment! What an example they are setting for me in my marriage and for my other 3 siblings and their marriages. Let me just add that they are not merely surviving but they are THRIVING! They are definitely one of the biggest blessings in my life and I am so thankful for them, especially today. I love you, Mom and Dad!