Sunday Best

First day at church for my sweet Gwen.

December 23, 2012

I'm a Big Boy Now

Logan's soccer season was a little bit special for him.  He excelled in a way that surprised all of us a bit and he learned so many valuable lessons that will strengthen his character and help him later in life. 

 

In previous years Logan hated playing goalie.  After his coach watched the team at practice for a while he told Logan he wanted him to be their team goalie.  He was terrified and a bit upset.  His coach was patient and saw a potential in Logan.  He taught Logan some techniques and made sure he had plenty of training and drills that were goalie specific during practice.  Logan started liking goalie, then he loved it and then he became slightly obsessed with it.

 

He started watching You Tube video clips of professional soccer goalies and decided that Peter Cech from the Chelsea United team in England was by far his favorite and who he wanted to be like.  He watched video after video and practiced and practiced and practiced.  He loved that his team depended upon him and he was an important player.  He loved the adrenalin of knowing it was coming his way and it was up to him.  He loved throwing his body all around and coming home with cuts, scrapes and bruises from practice. With as much as he put into it he got that much out of it.  He got really good and at the end of the season was awarded the team ball.  I was so proud of him.

 

Logan decided he wanted to try out for the All Star team which is a team of the best players from all 12 of the teams forming just one team.  Over 150 kids trying out for 12 spots.  Aaron and I thought it would be a great experience for him to try out win or lose he would have some personal growth by trying out so we supported him in his decision.  My heart sank as it was brought to my attention shortly before tryouts that they had half their tournaments on Sundays.  I knew how bad Logan wanted this but playing on Sundays was not an option for us and was not anything that we would even consider doing.  I was nervous how he would handle it.  As we told him about it he came to his own conclusion that he would not play on Sundays he never tried to negotiate with me or compromise his standards and beliefs for this one instance.  He was bummed but didn't want to play on Sundays.  He thought long and hard about it and still came to the conclusion that he would try out for the experience but made sure that his application said "will not participate in Sunday tournaments."  So try out he did and he loved every minute of it.  A week or so after the last try outs the All-star coach approached me and asked me if not playing on Sundays was an all day thing or just during our church hours.  I told him it was an all day thing for us.  Logan was his top pick but he was going to have to think about it.  The coach really wanted Logan and about another week later came back with a scenario for us to get Logan on his All Star team.  He would get an alternate for Logan who would play in his place on the Sunday games but Logan would play the Saturday tournaments.  It would be a hard getting him to all the tournaments around the state with a newborn and without being able to depend on Aaron for help because of his calling but I was willing to make that effort.  Then we found out practices were during scouts, which meant he wouldn't be participating in scouts for 6 months.  It was one hurdle after another and we were trying to force a square peg in a round hole.  It just didn't work.  His coaches were so sad when Logan declined but Logan held true to his values and beliefs and still keeps in touch with his Coach.  By this time Gwen was born and Logan was so smitten with her.  His exact words when we discussed it for the last time was, "Gwen is worth it for me not doing All Stars."  I don't know where his maturity comes from but it is not from me.  He's such a good boy and I know this experience has helped form his character and will deepen his roots in the gospel.  He will be blessed.

It was interesting to me that another mom whose son tried out for the time as well was going to let her son be on the team if he made it.  She justified her beliefs by saying it was just for a couple of months. It kind of brought me out of my bubble a little bit and I realized that for some living your religion is like a switch that they turn on and off when it is convenient for them.  This made me sad I thought about all the future blessings that she was denying herself and her child.  He did not make the team.

During one of the late night discussions we had with Logan, Aaron shared a similar experience that he had that Logan was able to relate to.  Aaron was able to get to college on a full ride football scholarship to play for the Air Force Academy.  He practiced with the team all spring and summer.  In the locker room they had posted a "depth chart" which listed the starters and then 2nd string 3rd string etc.  All spring and all summer he remained at the top of the chart and was ready to be a starter for the fall football season. 

 

One day after practice one of the coaches pulled him aside and asked him if he was Mormon to which he replied yes.  The coach then asked him if he was planning on going on a mission to which Aaron replied yes.  Nothing else was said.  The next day as Aaron looked at the depth chart after practice his name had gone from starting to the very last.  His coaches didn't want to spend their time and energy on him if he was going to be leaving.  He was upset but it didn't change his mind to serve a mission.  He was told repeatedly by all his coaches that he was making a mistake and throwing his life away by leaving his football career.  Fisher De Berry the head coach scheduled a meeting with Aaron telling him that staying was the best thing for him and he would be nothing if he left to serve a mission.  They were intense and harsh but he remained true to himself and the Lord.  He said it was the best decision that he ever made and so many great things came from that decision.  One of them being me.  Had Aaron not served a mission we never would have met.

 

There was such a sweet spirit in the room as Logan, Aaron and I talked after the other kids were asleep.  I know that this is just the first of "big boy" choices that he will have to make for himself.  As he gets older and has more opportunities, he will have to make more decisions for himself where he will have to be true to who he is and the truths that he knows. He's off to a good start and I'm proud of that kid.



Soccer

My pregnancy seemed to fly by.  Each trimester can be summed up in one word.

1st trimester - sick

2nd trimester - summer vacation

3rd trimester- soccer season

and Done!

 

Once we hit soccer season (late August) time just seemed to speed by.  Infact I was speeding by in my car.  Driving my kids from one practice to the next and one game to the next.  Each of them had twice a week practice at different locations and then games on Friday nights and Saturday.  It was crazy but they love it and I love it as well. The kids had so much fun this year and each learned so much. 

 

Trey really got the hang of it this year.  He has what his coaches call a lead leg and has a direct solid kick.  He is definitely ready to move up in field size next year.  He can kick it from one end of the field to the other pretty easily and make a goal shot.  He still daydreams a little bit and walks around but once the ball is in play he comes alive and hustles.

There are always hot days with soccer.

Logan and Trey would ride their bikes to the park and practice their kicks and goalie techniques together.

 Avery loves to play but is not as aggressive which surprised me a little bit.  She likes to be right where the ball is and then just kind of hovers around.

She does like playing defender.

And she can always be counted on for leaving with a smile.  She has fun no matter what she is doing.

Time to Breathe

I'm alive.  Life has been so busy since Gwen has come into our family.  I spend most of my time eating her up and studying her face as I hold her so I will hopefully never forget this stage. I want to remember her cute nose and the day we all woke up excited that she had grown eyelashes what seemed like just over night.  She has clothes that she has already outgrown which is the saddest thing ever.  With all the loveliness that a new baby brings it also brings a lot of work.  At about 3 weeks the fussiness, gas and colic set in for her.  Oh boy can she get going and cry a river.  All my kids have been "hard" babies but Gwen takes the cake on this one. Did I mention that girl can cry.  My poor visiting teachers came by to check on me and quickly left due to the inconsolable crying from Gwen.  At times she cries so hard that no sound comes out and she goes bright red/purple in the face.  I cross my fingers that she won't be the one that cries so hard in nursery that she throws up.  Poor girl.  She won't take a pacifier and she absolutely detests her car seat.  Needless to say she is inconsolable and I have been pretty much been home bound which is fine.  We pace the floors a lot and I always have the gas drops, gripe water and essential oils close by to distribute.  They seem to be making it a little bit more tolerable.

The good news is that I am starting to see the light.  I think she is slowly outgrowing it and I am able to have a little bit more breathing time.  She will every now and then even give us the cutest open mouthed smile and flash her dimples.  I take this as proof that maybe she doesn't hate us after all.  I am able to run very quick errands 30 min but yet sometimes even then I end up either walking out of the store because she starts crying so loud or I end up going to the front of the line because everyone feels sorry for me.  (She does get me a lot of sympathy votes.)

With all this crying and grumpiness we still love her to pieces and think she is the cutest thing in the world.  I am so very thankful to have Gwen in our family.  The kids have been such a huge help.  There is always a set of arms waiting to hold her.  The kids are constantly begging to hold her and give my claustrophobia sets in when they all surround me when I hold her. As busy as Aaron is and as tired as he is he often stays up late with her so I can get some sleep.  She eats every 2 hours which is actually only an hour and a half sleep before she is back up.  She is growing like a weed which makes me mad but so thankful that she is healthy.

(I'm trying to figure out why blogger won't let me post pictures.)