last game of the season

Well, the rugby season is over

(accept for an alumni game next week)

Rugby Jack made it through without any broken bones -

Here he is playing his position -scrum half- don't ask.

It has something to do with standing outside the scrum (all those guys leaning over in a circle) & rolling the ball in then getting it back out....? it makes more sense when you're there, well kind of.

Time seems to be flying by. This season went so fast.

It's hard to believe my boy is graduating from High School in a couple of weeks. I have to admit I am feeling good that he didn't get seriously hurt. He did get punched in the face & called some pretty bad words. The hulligan that did it wasn't man enough to let me run him down in my mini van.

jerk.

converted

Last Saturday morning after dropping Megan off at the airport

{picture by Hailey}

We ran home, threw together some blankets, warm clothes & hot cocoa - it was raining buckets, went to the bathroom (sat down my camera & left it....aaargh!)

then headed out to

The Rio Tinto Stadium

to watch Rugby Jack go at it again.

We got to the pro-stadium, sat down in our seats,

the rain stopped & the match began...

ARE YOU SITTING DOWN?

because- you are not going to believe this!

I loved it

I had an awakening of sorts.

A change of heart.

Every rugby game I have ever been to has been me sitting on the side lines.

From the side lines it looks like a jumbled up mess of flesh

going after a ball, all willy nilly, who knows what?

But in a stadium....

with stadium seating...

-WOW-

When you can see it... Rugby is kind of cool.

there is stadegy & purpose to all that huddling stuff- who knew?

Dear Rugby Jack-

I am sorry. I am truly sorry that I have been giving you heck for playing rugby for the past three years. I am sorry that I did not support you & get excited for your games like a mother should. I feel bad that I didn't order you the team sweats or bag, just because, "you are a senior & you won't be playing next year"- (even though I bought many, many t-shirts last year.) I am proud of you for sticking with it, going to practices & being part of a team. It was fun watching you play the whole first half on Saturday, although I will admit when the punches flew & while other boys were getting smashed into the grass I was on pins & needles. As the other team, parents & coaches got into fights yelling obscenities... I was proud of my boy & his team- such great sportsmanship! Even though every time you got the ball I screamed, "just throw the ball Jack- hurry!" It wasn't because I didn't think you could do it... you see I am your mother. You may not like it, it may seem crazy, but you will always in my mind be my baby. The worst part about being a mom is I make a lot of mistakes. Surely just when I get really good at it- everyone will move out.

I finally saw rugby. I am sad that you are playing in your final tournament this weekend. Even though I didn't miss all your games, I did miss out. I will be there. I hope I can see the game- not just the mess of bodies & supposed confusion. Good luck.

I love you,

mom

p.s. remember your senior photo session is next weekend so do me a favor-

keep your face off the grass okay?!

You can see Jack's Rugby team here

mamas don't let your babies grow up to play rugby

Dear Wende the photographer,

We still need to set up a time for Jack's senior pictures.

How are you at taking right profile shots?

He has another game Saturday, but don't worry I will only allow him be taken down by his head & have it smashed into the grass on his left side.

Sincerely,

rugby jack's mother

P.S. how much extra do you charge to photoshop a beat up kid to look shiny & new again?

journaling a saturday

It has been a really busy weekend. The kind of weekend when you feel like you need a break & you're ready to go back to school & work to get one. AFter a long Saturday of yard work & a nagging nine year old who is ready to put in a roof with solar panels on his tree house?? (heaven help us)- brett went to HOme Depot to buy weather stripping for the back door (bronco chewed it up & a snow storm is a comin'.) He brought home some rope for my scouts. How thoughtful - I know?!! Romance is not dead. He & trent measured it off & he taught trent how to burn the ends & tie it up into neat bundles. Now when there is down time with the boys I will have them start working on knots.
It looks like he tying trent up. Hmmm... that's got me thinking?

(quilt squares- I'm working on two quilts for the twin beds in chloe's room)

The Girls had AIM= achievement in music. It's a music testing day... hard to explain- they play two songs for judges, scales & more, then have a written test. There are 10 levels in AIM. Hailey is level 6 chloe is 4. It's pretty tough. But remember- we can do hard things :)

One of these days I will put video up of them playing. Their songs this year were amazing- fabulous & so hard. They are wonderful musicians. March is tough, but one day they will thank me.. right? I tried to take video at their recital last week & my camera wouldn't work!aargh!! Now they probably won't let me... we'll see...

AS I was thinking about telling them 'they could do hard things' I refrained. Moods were low. there was some serious frustration & even piano pounding going on... I kept my mouth shut- but thought to myself. I can do hard things! I got down on the floor & cleaned it! Scrubbed it! the whole painted floor- whole thing. Then cleaned all the floors & got tons of laundry done. I cleaned most of the day. Yes- I can do hard things.

Rugby Jack came home with blood running out of his under armour. Gross. Bronco thought he smelled good though.

Friday I went to Costco & bought this evil stuff that has sustained us through the hard times this weekend. Que Bueno. Have you ever tried it? Don't judge me until you've had it! It's so, so good. Brett tried to read what was on the ingredients but I wouldn't let him- I don't want to know. Let me live in happiness. I only buy it maybe once a year. I mean come on... it's a whole can of cheese sauce. Once a year/can of cheesy queso = happiness.

Later Saturday night the girls & I went to the general YW conference broadcast at the stake center. It was FAntaSTic! I cannot wait for next weekend- Conference weekend is my favorite weekend of the whole year!!!

Now it's Sunday night- Brett was in charge of a YM stake fireside on the duty to God program. He is a great motivational speaker. He did a great job. It was nice to sit in the audience with jack. It snowed at least 5 inches today, but it's melting. More snow to come tomorrow. I just wrote to the missionary. Monday is email day. My favorite. I hope he is good. I know he is.

Yesterday this good lookin' stud & I went to watch rugby jack.

Isn't he cute?!!

He always looks so cute on saturdays with his holey jeans & bbcap.

I just look like one of those frumpy, lipless, mom's who has lost all desire to live.

I have no sense of style...

Oh how I wish I had one!

-I just don't-

There was this really cute mom there with cute jeans & darling mary jane shoes on. I just kept staring at her. I'm sure she thought I was a nutso out of my mind. I was studying her clothes, thinking-- how did she do that?

It was Super Windy & sunny & I had to use my Sunset magazine to keep the sun & wind out of my face. I forgot to mention the other day that I get Sunset magazine. It's okay. The publishers of Cottage LIving are sending it to me since they have been discontinued! I am so sad about this. I read it faithfully from cover to cover. It was my very favorite magazine of all time!! If I would've known I would've saved all my past issues. I was trying to be good, get junk out of the house, recycle- dang it!!!

I am in mourning still....

Trent & his asperger friend were playing in the park behind me. I have said this before- when those two get together They SAy the FuNNIEst things!!

NOw of course, I can't remember them exactly- but one of them had to go to the bathroom, the bathrooms were locked, we ended up running to mcdonalds & I got the play by play on how it all came out- if you know what I mean- over & over.

We don't talk about these things unless we really need to- or if we want to explain the whole drama to dad who missed the whole story- we repeat it- that way dad knows what mom had to go through on the way back to the rugby field.

rugby jack's team won by a whopping 60 something to 9.

I think. I was watching intently. REally I was! When jack got taken down by the neck, I gasped, then just decided not to watch as intently. Maybe what I don't know won't kill me? It was a really good game. No injuries. We won.

He's got a good team this year.

They mixed with another high school in the area so now he's not the team captain & doesn't start every game- so that's a bummer. But it's a decent team & they are making a good showing.


(the stud & his boy)
I have been so inspired lately by
V & Company
I found her great blog last week & I keep going back.



I decided to get out some material & make a quilt.
I have been working on it a little this week then I got CRazy & couldn't stop working on it Friday night & Saturday. I pretty much didn't get my chores done & now Sunday is not set up like it should be..... I love sewing love it- but I LOSE what little mind I have whenever I start a project like this. I just can't stop. If I stop- it won't get done- I think?! Balance- where are you?

But- look how great it is turning out to be!

The sashing is a little wider than I wanted it to be...

My sewing/laundry room is completely trashed now. It just never ends. I am hoping to get the quilt done tomorrow & take it to my friend who is a quilter. I cannot wait until it is ready to be bound!

I am wrapping this up to put in the mail tomorrow!

Today at church it was a missionary farewell. (sniff sniff)- this missionary is going to Mozambique. Oh I am so grateful, for my baby being in Chile. I thought Chile sounded far away?

It was a great meeting- I can't really sum it up- just really good

All in All- it's been a crafty, sewing kind of weekend, mixed with some rugby, dishes, grocery shopping, ballet carpool & cooking.

I am putting one of my all time favorite desserts on

blogger mom's cook tonight-

check it out later :)

rugby jack strikes again

Jack went to a rugby tournament this weekend.

It was in the same town as my parents & sister.

My sister said he only played for a few minutes...

{injured jack asleep- photo by Trent}

but came home with a swollen right side of the chin

and sore collar bone?

You can't tell from the photo, but seriously the right side of his chin & neck are all swollen. He says he got kicked in the face. He did get up & go to church today. We haven't taken him to the doctor. I thought I'd wait since I am thinking about kicking him in the other side of his face.

-let me just say-

I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF RUGBY.

remember this incident last spring?

Jack- you just got into BYU-

-your dad spent 3 hours online yesterday applying for oncampus housing, while you were off getting slammed around?!

-a mind, body, & your parents co-pays

are a terrible thing to waist!

I am starting a poll on whether or not jack should quit rugby.

It's in the top right corner-

Do you think I am over reacting?

VOTE TODAY

day at the capitol, hailey's day, & religious hair??

Today Karrie & I spent the day at the Capitol building. We went to the state legislative PTA conference. It was really great. We went to some fabulous classes on:Community councils, class size reduction, the state school plan- why we should have one- we don't, and gold medal schools. I really learned a lot & love being with such involved & educated women. We had lunch & witnessed some state awards given to two different people who happen to live in our school district- pretty cool.I love the capitol building. It is fantastic. I really need to go on a tour. I really want to go on a tour. I will definitely keep- going on a tour of the capitol- off my new years list for 2009- since I haven't done one single thing on my 2008 list....... (heavy sigh & rolling my eyes.) While walking to a class we spied this amazing room with the door open. We wanted so badly to go in. We discussed sneaking in & getting pictures of us sitting in the hot seat- hee hee hee. Then, noticed there were two people in there- dang. Surely we would've gotten in big trouble then kicked out of the building & kicked out of the PTA.

Cowards...

On the way there we drove by this bumper sticker...?

What in the world?

I didn't know the campaign was religious?

I won't say which is my candidate of choice,

(I think there are enough political blogs out there)

but I will say I think this is a very strange bumper sticker. Now I will also mention that the political sign in my front yard was stolen while we were in Wyoming... brett was totally ticked off. A neighbor brought it by tonight. He found it in his bushes.

Just to be fair- here's another bumper sticker we saw.

Strictly political, no religion attached.

I spent the whole first class listening intently & trying to get a good photo of the cutest haircut ever. This girl was so cute! I think I'm in love with her hair. Actually I'm pretty sure I am. I won't put her irritated, front face photo up. I think she may have guessed I was stalking her. I tried to find the right moment to tell her she had the best hair ever but didn't get the chance.

**

I got home before school got out- I ran a couple of errands- then took Hailey to a group piano lesson. While she was gone her friends came by to secretly decorate her room for her birthday. How fun!
When we got back from the lesson- I told her Chloe had put a birthday present on her bed. She opened her bedroom door & SurpRIse!! How exciting :)
What thoughtful girls! Good friends are such a blessing at every age.

We had our first of two birthday dinners.

The second one is Sunday when Megan & Tony can come down.

Jack had a rugby meeting- he is the captain this year-

so he had to skip out after the present opening.

She opened her presents- spoiled ;) -then- I told her about the girl with the great hair. She said- oh ya that's called the Mormon A line cut. What the world, again? Hairstyles religious too?

what's this world coming to?

Do YOU think this bumper sticker is weird, or am I just off?

Should I get my haircut like this... I really want to- but- Mormon A line? Have you heard of this?

Am I going mad? I think I need get some sleep for once!

rugby jack strikes again

Last weekend Jack played in a rugby tournament.

Didn't I mention jack was going to play in a rugby tournament?

I don't tell you guys everything, ya know.

Anyhow- he said they won third place & were getting trophies & t-shirts tonight at a little practice they were having. Imagine our surprise when he came home with this?!!
(photos courtesy of chloe)
Ya, he was pretty excited- he took it to the H.S. today to show the athletic director & see if they can put it in the trophy case.
Amazing
maybe we should've gone to one of the games?
rugby in 100+ degree weather with an eight year old hyper boy?
well- just in case you are wondering - none of the other parents showed up either
*how hot is it at your house?

the day after

I have to be honest. The day after the wedding I was pretty wiped out. I couldn't sleep. I stayed up & visited with my sister, which I loved. I was runnin' on pure adrenalin for sure. It also happened to be Jack's last rugby game of the season sniff, sniff. I am so sad-not.

You gotta love this kid's hair.

There was a BBQ after. There was so much food!

Enough to feed a whole rugby team & their parents.

Not to worry rugby fans- the championships start on saturday- ugh.

Saturday night I left my family & in laws at home, and went to the Bloggapalooza party 08!

What a thrill- seriously!

Besides these cute cupcakes- I got the awesome opportunity to meet some of my favorite bloggers ever....

Like Michelle- isn't she gorgeous!

Her blog is one of my fav's.

And the darling tip junkie- all the way from Texas!

where does she come up with all her great tips?

KRISTI- my oh my this was like better than meeting a celebrity!

For real!! She is amazing- she is beautiful. Her love for people is so evident, she is charming & so fun- why can't she be my neighbor?!

Then of course the amazing miss Jill.

No one inspires bloggers like Jill. I have been lucky enough to meet her for lunch one day last fall. I was so excited for my blogger mom friends to meet her too.

She is one of the most thoughtful, intuitive women I have ever met.

I really think she should be my other neighbor.

(I already have the world's best neighbors- I'm just a little selfish- deal with it)
We had so much fun- the blogger moms & me. It was really fun to get away with friends even though we got home late.

Getting home things went down hill from there. You know when I'm not blogging things are pretty bad. so... maybe if I get the guts or strength I'll tell that true tale tomorrow.

*have you ever met someone so great - better than a celebrity?

*do you ever get so wiped out after a lot of big event that you get sick?

never a dull moment

Let me just begin this post by saying I picked the wrong day, month.... year to stop complaining, start a diet & quit swearing.

(the picture behind him is titled "100 elephants & a mouse"

- I am calling my photo,

100 elephants, a mouse & a turd)

Last night jack came home from his rugby game with a neck injury. I know he looks pretty innocent in this picture of him in the waiting room of the instacare, but he was truly in a lot of pain. The people at instacare put a neck brace on him & sent us straight to Primary Children's Hospital in SLC. The last time I was in Primary Children's ER was 4 years ago when the missionary got shot in the eye with an air soft bee bee. That's another story, another ugly story.

When you have a neck injury, they take you right back. No waiting-

When you've got a neck injury, neck brace, you're wearing a rugby uniform, & you have grass stains on your knees everyone in the waiting room looks at you. I knew he was okay when he said- why is everyone staring at me, do I have something on my face?

Waiting in the emergency room, I decided this was the perfect time to get some clarity on the whole rugby issue.

If there was ever a time for diet coke, this was it. The nurses & staff were so great.
After getting him evaluated they took him in to take some x-rays.

(By this time we pretty much knew he was going to be okay- in a lot of pain- but okay.)

Right next to the xray room was a HUGE cork board full of comics. I know it's not right but as I stood out there reading them I was laughing & laughing. Jack's dad- who is out of town on business, of course- really would've loved this wall.

I took pictures of my favorites.

I think some of the people there thought I was a terrible mother, laughing & all. But, look at this guy's face as I showed him the pictures.

Down the hall from the x ray room was a vending machine, with mood rings for a quarter- man they've really got this place set up right.

Jack reluctantly let me "test" his mood, which was - relaxed. He said I got ripped off, I think they are rigged.

I offered to read him a book,

Did Patrick impressions (from sponge bob) with a rubber glove,

thought about putting on a mask- but I chickened out. There was a security guard right outside our door...? I started a conversation with him, really nice guy. He was from Columbia & had a thick accent. We talked about the missionary being in South America & he assured me that Chile is the most stable country down there. He told me how he ran the SLC marathon last Saturday- this guy was a stud & very nice. He played soccer all his life so he said he related to Jack's injury...? whatever


They decided he could sit up now. The xrays came back looking really good. So this is a muscular injury not spinal cord injury- oh man, oh man, oh man- thank the heavens.

So after a RX for valium which he says he's not taking- so don't even pick it up mom, 6oo mg. of ibuprofen, a neck brace that has to be worn for 7-10 days & cannot be taken off until he is evaluated again. We headed back home.

The kid hadn't eaten since 3:30- it's now 12:00 midnight.

Hello Wendy

by the way- I'm not a real ice cream eater, or shake drinker for that matter, but they have a new strawberry shake, which jack ordered & I tasted it- the best strawberry shake I think I've ever had. Dad you should go get one- today.("mom, please stop taking pictures of me")

This photo is for posterity.

This photo is jack without broken neck & mom who will never miss another game when dad can't be there even if she does have to get chloe to ballet & hailey to lacrosse. This photo is a reminder of the lecture he got on the way to the hospital after saying - at least I got hurt doing something cool, something I love-

My loud & forceful reply to that.... you know what's really cool, WALKING, living in a home that doesn't HAVE to be wheel chair accessible, NOT eating out of a tube!

Call me old fashioned but... THAT'S COOLNESS TO ME.

* due to injury jack will be out the rest of the season

*don't tell megan, but we are gonna tell her this afternoon jack has to wear the neck brace in the wedding photos- hee hee hee.

*did you get any sleep last night?