The Baby and his Ball......

When did "the baby" start spinnin' up turf?????

Anyone? At least he comes by this addiction honestly...

Maddie's Cheerleading Comp 2.26.09 (Winter)

Hi Dad!! Since you're away, we wanted to put this up so you could see it.

Maddie starts out in the back right corner of the triangle....the right-most position on the clip...then you sorta lose her in the mix.

R O C K E T S
Love, Mom and Maddie ;o)

What's a Fairy Tale?????

Fairy Tales: an awesome topic!! Here's an excerpt from a message/discussion. Wanted to capture it here too. This generation, in particular, has wanted very much to create a sense of flawless-life for ourselves and our children.

These metaphors are a fact of life. Whether it is financial, geographic/weather (earthquake, hurricane), health, loss of a family member, we have ALL been there and will continue to endure these "storms"...partly because we accept them as a fact of life. Without the hard times, the breaking bough, the poisoned apple and the wicked step-mother, or the unanticipated enemy, we may fail to appreciate the moment-to-moment, and day-to-day joys.....such as having a chance to sing a lullaby to your child, or read them a fairy tale.

Consider the root of most "classic" fairy tales....the lesson being that you rise up out of the ashes and survive. Also true in some of the more recent Disney-esque tales...Little Mermaid, Lion King, etc.

Bambi - Mother dies, shot by hunter.
Lion King - Father killed by uncle, and Simba initially failed to "step up".
Cinderella - essentially abused, mother died, has no "place" in the family/step family.
Sleeping Beauty - curse placed on her AT BIRTH, and was set to die upon adulthood.
Snow White - dead mother, evil step mother tries to have her killed, she shuttles off as a young girl to live in woods....etc, etc.
Red Riding Hood- Grandmother eaten by wolf, victimized, terrorized.
Three Little Pigs - freakin' wolf again.
Beauty and the Beast - Deep plot, but is equally tragic at it's low point, revolving around the "stolen rose".
Hansel & Gretel - Children lost in forest to defend themselves, wicked witch tries to shove them into a stove.
Goldilocks & Jack and the Beanstalk - Really only warns against the dangers of greed or dishonesty/curiosity, and aside from poverty there is no "tragedy".

Even Ring Around the Rosie......BUBONIC PLAGUE. All dead children. That's twisted. And unfortunately, not "made up"....very real part of history. Google it...lots of them are the same way, but I don't hate it...I love it! Don't get me rolling on Nursery Rhymes like Jack and Jill & Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary! Well, nothing rhymes well with "beheaded". Children were not spared the lesson, only some of the details...and heck, might as well make it rhyme so they don't forget it!

Anyway, you get my drift. We've come to use the term "fairy tale" interchangeably with "perfect life, in every way"...in EVERY instance of a fairy tale, it is a tale of survival, overcoming despair and the hardest of challenges.

THIS, my friend, is the benefit. This is what I wish to instill in my children. Like you, I've always wished that my children are spared this, but given that it is an impossible feat, it is imperative seed to plant. ANYTHING can be survived. It is within your power to be resilient enough to make it a fairy tale.... Consider taking the lullaby moment and cherish it's perfection. Today, that is what you can instill. If any of you follow my moms blog about my Dad, see her more recent post about the Daily Bread. The last paragraph is exactly what I'm talking about. She's the bomb. ;o) http://muckerheide.blogspot.com

One more point...What favor do we do our children when we eliminate the extreme natures and examples of GOOD and EVIL? Didn't we, as children, have to make a fundamental choice as to who we wish to emulate? The good or evil characters? What is the consequence for asking if Little Red Riding Hood's wolf had a poor upbringing, or abusive parents. Does that take the onus off Lil'Red? Is her grandmother's death less tragic?

The moral of the story is: Own your part, and create your ending in the beginning. It's never too early. The route may be altered along the way, but the journey is yours. Do more than just expect it! Survive it....Live it.

Maddie is reading over my shoulder, and wanders by and said "I guess if there's no turmoil you are forced to go from "Once Upon A Time" to "The End" with no story at all. Who wants THAT????" I guess I've made my point with that one...didn't even have to explain it to her... God, I love that girl. I hope she has as little turmoil as possible. As I do with all my kids. And as do each of you.

The Empty Vase

Valentine's Day is a silly, commercially-driven excuse of a holiday.......

right??

Well, of course. But Damn, A little sexy goes a long way...

Teasingly warm days

The last few days have had some real unseasonably warm spring-teasers sprinkled in. Clearly, even the die-hard lovers-of-winter get excited, get outside and get in a few breaths of fresh air.


I'm eager to get outdoors, clean up the yard, wash the remaining dirty salt of the truck and return to sending the children out into the yard and get warmed up for...well, baseball, football...you name it. Just get out there!

I'm waiting for the sports schedules to come, half holding my breath because I KNOW when they do, my "free time" will dwindle and the clock will, again, become my enemy. As I've said so many times before, I can't help but get excited for the games, the sunshine, the smell of spring and the color to return the the world around me. I just can't wait, and yet this teaser-weather has brought it in a little early, and here, on Valentine's Day, I'm holding my breath for spring.


Come on, Mama'Nature....bring her home early for me this year. If March could be littered with some nice days, and April 1st can be a beautiful day as opposed to a April Fool's Joke, I promise I will thoroughly appreciate this spring and summer. I can hear it calling in the distance! Whispers in the wind....hiking, beach days, Concord, Pergatory, even High Rock! And baseball and yes, even soccer....