Making A Splash

This year, I DOVE head-first into a new, unexpected, enormous opportunity/challenge.

In all honesty, I half expected a big, fat belly flop.

Luckily, it turned out to be one of the coolest experiences of my life.

 About 6 months ago, I got a little bored.  OK, a lot bored.

I struggle with boredom.  I like life a little on the crazy side.  I just do.

So, I started looking for a coaching job.

I figured it would be something I could do for a few hours a week to just keep me occupied.

So, I looked around for a little while and nothing turned up.  

Then I decided to check colleges around my area.  Just for fun.  I mean, coaching a college diving team was the farthest thing from my mind.  

I was expecting 6 year old first-time gymnasts.  Seriously. 

Then I stumbled upon the Redlands University website and noticed they had a diving team, but no coach listed.  So, I called and the next day I had an interview and before I had left, I was offered the job.

Just like that.

Crazy.

(Let's just pause for a moment and consider that fact that I had never coached diving before.  Like, ever.)

 There were some definite ups and downs, but I can honestly say that I loved every second of coaching this team.

 And I loved my sweet assistant coach, Hanna.  We laughed our heads off on the side of the pool.  More than once.

 And once, we had a snowball fight during our Christmas party and about 1,000 mini marshmallows got smashed into my carpet.  And I still liked it.

It was so fun watching my divers grown and learn and I'm already looking forward to next year.

Go Bulldogs!

Love Day

February 14th

(in snapshots)

 7:15am

Valentine's Baskets for the kids.

Valentine's card/candy/bookmark/interrupted sleep for Luke.

7:20am

The kids FINALLY notice the trail of hearts that Zoey (our elf) left.  Sometimes she graces us with her presence on special occasions.  Such as this.

7:20 - 7:50am

The kids play with the items from their baskets, eat Conversation hearts for breakfast, and tell me 1,000 times how much they love me.

 

 10:30am

I finally finish our Valentines packages for all our parents/grandparents and chase the mailman down the street to send them.

 12:42pm

We are on the receiving end of the best ding-dong-ditching ever.

2:32pm

We party it up V-day style at the park with the darlingest little group of friends and only get yelled at once by the HOA people.  (They crazy.  The HOA - not the kids.  Actually, both.)

 4:16pm

We receive Grandma Lori's annual Valentines Day package.  One child declares this day as better than Christmas.  Whoa. 

 5:38pm

Heart shaped pizzas.

(P.S. Don't judge my pizzas.  It looked easier on Pinterest.)

 6:15pm

Date night at Kohl's.

Super romantic.

See  this picture of Luke?  

That's how he looks every time we go shopping.  (When he's not standing in the middle of an isle with his arms folded looking at the clothes from 10 feet away.)  Look at his face!  Zero fun, Sir.

8:30pm

Kids in bed.

Best. Valentine's. Day. Ever.

All You Need Is Love

Valentine's Day 2013.

What I LOVE about them.

 I LOVE how Brooklyn has blossomed lately.  That's the best work I can think of to describe how she's grown - she's blossomed.  And she's lovely.

I LOVE how Cameron is really developing relationships with his sisters.  He teases and admires and taunts and adores them.  It's darling to watch.

I LOVE how Aubrey is so tender.  She deeply cares about other people's feelings.  Today when she saw that I didn't have a Valentine's basket, she asked if I wanted to share hers.

I LOVE Brooklyn's moral compass.  It points due North.  She is completely trustworthy and a watchful guardian to make sure we're all doing what's right.

I LOVE how Cameron is interested in everything.  Cars, trains, buses, airplanes, skateboards, dogs, bugs, wheels, robots, balls, water, washing machines, dishwashers, people, babies, computers, blocks, books.  He has a thirst for knowledge and he just drinks everything in.  

I LOVE how Aubrey is so spunky.  She'll be a calm little angel one second and the next she's  a little spitfire ball of sass.  When she gets hyper she can hardly walk straight.  And the next moment, she's in bed in the middle of the day with a pile of books.  Go figure.

I LOVE how Brooklyn can't be quiet.  Really, I do.  I've determined that it's physically impossible for Brooklyn to whisper.  She really can't do it.  It cracks me up.

I LOVE that Cameron is a little imp.  He's got such a mischievous side.  It's going to get him in trouble a lot.  But what fun is a little boy without a little mischief?

 I LOVE that Aubrey is good at everything she tries.  It baffles me sometimes.  I constantly find myself thinking, "She won't be able to do that..."  And then she does it.  Easy peasy.

I LOVE you, little monkeys.

Forever. 

And ever.

I Believe I Can Fly

My dad flies airplanes.

Real ones.

Up in the sky.

And he uses terms like,

 "Niner niner waiting for tower.  Requesting clearance for take off.  Acknowledge."

He's hard core.

Sometimes he lets me tag along.

And sometimes my arms look freakishly long in pictures.  Attractive.

To be truthful, I'm perfectly happy with both feet planted firmly on the ground.

Flying brings out the worst in my already over-active imagination.

Especially when Mr. Pilotman tells me to take the wheel and then refuses to take it back. Rude.

 (See how I'm smiling?  It's cause we're on the ground.)

I do, however, like the view.

And the company.

Thanks, Dad.

A Very Unmerry Birthday to You

Luke turned the Big 3-0.  

That's right, people. 

30.

That's the age that I thought people died at when I was a kid.

We had big plans (The Birthday Project, a whole day and night to ourselves, fancy dinner, a visit to the temple, one whole day of bliss).

Unfortunately, my morning meet that day got moved to 2:30, our babysitter's son got violently ill, and our day of bliss turned into a day of blah.

 So, we treated him to breakfast in bed on the special gold heart birthday boy plate.

 And then Cameron woke up and ate it all.

 Happy Birthday, indeed.