Thanks Rich!

Who's this guy? Richard Lindon. Thanks to Rich we now have the football. He is believed to have invented the football with rubber bladders. Lovely. Footballs were first made with pig bladders. Think about that the next time you're watching the game. Yes indeed, it's that time of year! It all started August 1st when Max began football practice. The big day is this Saturday when the Utes play at the Big House. Two from this household are going. One isn't me. I get to stay home with our other 4 kids. Did you just ask me if I have issues about this? I actually don't have issues with them going. I know they'll have a blast.

Who would think I would have a long post about football? Here are some random facts about my life with football.

1. My dad use to watch football ALL the time. I use to think it was all the time. It was only Sundays and Mondays "back then." He would fall asleep while watching it. My sister and I would change the channel while he was snoring. I wanted to watch Little House on the Prairie. As soon as we would change the channel he'd wake up instantly and say "HEY! I was watching that." Whatever Dad!

2. My dad would take me to Oakland Raider games as well as San Francisco 49er games. I really don't think I watched it. I am sure I cared more about the food.

3. Claim to Fame: My dad was friends with John Madden. I have no idea why they were friends but I am positive my sister can tell you. She remembers EVERYTHING.

4. I didn't realize how obsessed Andy was with football until we were first married. It was raining outside so Andy opted to watch the game at home. When he turned it to the local station he WAILED "It's an infomercial!" We then got on our rain gear and headed to the stadium. All of Andy's friends thought I was the "coolest" wife to sit out in the rain during the game. I thought I was insane.

5. I can never remember how to play the sport when the season starts. By the end of the season I remember most of the rules. I have to start all over again when the season begins.

6. There are way more politics involved when watching your child's football game. We've done soccer, basketball, and baseball. By far, football is the worst. Every parent knows the game perfectly and is a way better judge than the coach or referee. If you dislike the all-knowing football parents I recommend you sit by me.

7. I hear about football ALL SEASON long. If it's not about Max's games, it's about the U. Not only after the game but during the week as well. We record all Utah games on our TV. Andy watches the games over and over. I ask him why he watches them so much and he says it's something about the plays.

8. I guess being obsessed with football is okay. It gives people something to look forward to. Just like the new obsession with the Twilight series, people are obsessed with football. Another note, I have not read one of those books and probably never will. I do have other things I look forward to like my daily doses of Diet Coke and the season premiere of The Office. What happens when the Utes play on a Thursday, the same night as The Office? Luckily our recorder will tape both at the same time.

Now....go play ball!!!

I'm It!

I like doing TAGS because it gives me something to write about.

3 Current Goals:

a. Goals?

3 Current Obsessions:

a. my flower garden
b. Facebook
c. sleeping

3 Fears

a. Nielsen's closing
b. uncontrollable situations
c. how I am going to do it all with 5 kids.

3 Random Facts

a. I love popcorn: microwave popcorn, air popcorn, movie popcorn and caramel popcorn. I use to not care much about it but I really like it. Especially with a large Diet Coke (not with the caramel).
b. I use hair conditioner on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I set up that schedule because I always forgot when I used it. Do you ever take a shower and forget if you washed your hair? Always happens to me.
c. This is my FAVORITE commercial of the summer. I can watch it on YouTube over and over. You seriously need to watch this!

3 people to tag: Lindsay, Celeste, and Gretchie. I'm skipping you, Jayci because you get tagged all the time. I'm giving you a break! Have fun!

Superman vs. Supermom

Does this picture look familiar? Yeah, it's Andy. A couple of months ago a friend was telling me about something she noticed. Isn't it interesting when a dad takes all his kids to the store people tell the dad what a great and brave dad he is? Just a wonderful husband and father. Whereas, when a mom takes the kids to the store...nothing. Mom's just take the kids to the store. Maybe even getting some judgemental looks from perfect parents. Let me tell you, Andy has stepped up to the plate. Somehow he managed to take all 5 kids to the high school football game Friday night. He wasn't even crying by the time he got everyone in the car and arrived to the game. Notice how I didn't say the kids weren't crying, HE wasn't crying. He might as well as received a gold medal when he told me all the comments he got about his "bravery". At least when Andy takes all the kids he appreciates my job a little more. Someone was telling me that men take their kids to the park as a way to pick up a new girlfriend. I guess it makes the man look all motherly and responsible. I say, go ahead I could use the extra help!

Chillin'

What do you think of these new chairs I got for the girls? I bought them for many reasons, one being their necks. Another reason was to get them off their flat heads. Claire (on the right) can sit in the chair for a long time. Kate, her neck isn't so strong so she either leans forward or starts to cry after 5 minutes or so. I love putting them in there. We all love it.

Yo Mama!

A friend of mine had a discussion a while ago about being a mama. She is a bit older than me and had an insight that I have thought about since that time. I'm interested to hear what you think. I only want HONEST answers and anonymous guests are welcome.

Our discussion was based on the expectations of moms. The pressures that moms feel to have "perfect" children, houses, bodies, and lives. My friend said that she didn't feel that pressure as a mom but can see that it's an issue now. I totally agree with her. I feel that pressure and I feel a lot of guilt. This in not an invitation to tell me I am a good mother. Though that would be very nice, I'm not going to believe it unless I believe it myself first. I'm interested to know if you feel guilt as a mom. If someone comes into your house and it's messy, are you mortified? Do you feel pressure to fit a mother mold? Do you feel like you're a good mom? Do you feel guilt that you don't meet the mold? If you feel like you're a good mom, do you feel that it's easy? Do you ever feel like your children are better than others? I don't expect other to be perfect though I expect myself to be. It's a relief to learn that others lives aren't perfect yet it's still easy to pin imperfection on myself. At times, it's easy to place imperfections on others only to make myself feel better.
If you feel at complete peace as a mom and your job as a mom, let me know how it's done. I'm not interested so much in you telling me what to do but what YOU do.
I'm going to clean my house now.

Two Thumbs Up!

Two movies in one week! Never thought that would happen. When one considers entering the mental ward in the hospital, try going to these movies first. One will have you laughing, one will have you crying. If you aren't in the crazy mental state that I am in, you may not cry during the movie. It's is a GREAT chick flick! If you need someone to go with you, to either one, I'm here for ya!

Cake

It was Michael's birthday last week. I took the camera to the place where we had his party but this was the only picture I got. Between watching Maggie and feeding the babies, I didn't have a chance to get a picture of the birthday boy. I took this picture of his cake in the car on the way home. I can only laugh at this picture because it represents my life right now. We're getting by, but just barely. Things will calm down when school starts. I'll just keep laughing until it does.

Nick

Maggie was outside tonight (it was probably 10 pm) riding her tricycle in her underwear. She was saying " I love Nick. I am going to kiss Nick. I am going to break-up with Nick." Most moms would know she is talking about Nick Jonas. I would much rather hear her say that about Nick than what she was singing the other day... "I kissed a girl and I liked it." Yes, I didn't get to the radio fast enough to turn that song off.

I try to be a good mom, really, I try.

Patience

19 more days til school starts. But who is counting? If you are a homeschool mom, good for you.