Champions of a different sort

Today was the 7th grade volleyball tournament. We had a heartbreaking loss to the #4 seed in the championship game. (That #4 seed (Rocky River) is probably feeling mighty fine right about now. They knocked out the first place seed (Vermillion) and the second place seed (US - North Ridgeville).

It was so sad to lose but there is no shame in second place. For many of these girls -- like Addysen -- this was their first time ever playing volleyball. They had a first-year coach -whom we love- and they ended the season with the best record in their school's history (12-2). (And believe me when I say that their school has been around for a very, very long time!)
We'll be hosting the party in a few weeks...just enough time for Greg to finish putting the highlight video together.
We're looking forward to future years with these girls.

Not my finest parental moment

Today was a busy day. Addysen had a volleyball tournament. Cannon had a scout campout. Brynnley had a Halloween/Birthday party. Greg and Addysen had a youth Fall Festival. I had to get groceries.
It was a busy day.
So busy, in fact, that I did something I swore I would never do. I completely forgot about one of my children.
Brynnley. Yep -- completely.
I left her at the birthday party.
I'm not really sure what I was thinking. (Or perhaps, I simply wasn't thinking.) I grabbed a few groceries after dropping her off at the party, came home, made dinner and got the girls in the bathtub. I cleaned up the kitchen and family room (how can it get so messy when we aren't even home most of the day?) and started editing some pictures. We had family prayer (and, it should be noted that in that family prayer, Kenzie even prayed that Dad, Addysen and Brynnley would get home safely) and started reading Kenzie's library book.
Just as we were about to join Barbie in her discovery of the lost treasure, I suddenly remembered my middle child. I threw the book down with an exclamation of, "Oh! I forgot about Brynnley."
I promptly told Kenzie to head to bed and picked up Cambrie to start our nightly song ritual.
"You are my baby, my little baby..." was quickly interrupted with, "Don't sing it faster." I looked at my watch and realized that the party had ended 45 minutes prior to me even remembering there was a party. You can bet that I did "sing it faster."
Oh. My.
I used to wonder how it could happen that people would stumble over their kids names. I also used to get annoyed by that.
I don't anymore.
I used to wonder how people could simply forget that they needed to pick up a child.
I don't anymore.
Thankfully, the party wasn't too far from our house and as I sheepishly showed up at the wrong door (turns out, they live in a duplex and party-people's house is around back...sigh....) I continually apologized. Then I asked at what point they would have called me if I hadn't shown up.
Brynnley's response was simple: "I hoped I was spending the night."
And there you go.
Not my finest parental moment.
It was a first...forgetting a child. (I've had plenty of not-fine parental moments.)
Unfortunately, it probably won't be a last.

Baptized

Brynnley was baptized on Sunday, October 16, 2011. We were lucky enough to have friends and family attend...in addition to a lot of ward members. Interestingly, I met her teacher, for the very first time. She was baptized by Greg and confirmed by my dad, her Grandpa Purcell.

Just a normal day....

 Exhibit A - Cambrie clinging to the top of the stair railing.

Coincidentally, I was in the kitchen, texting Greg about an incident with Kenzie. I was explaining to him that our plans had suddenly changed (since he'd left the house 25 minutes earlier) and we were no longer going to soccer practice. Instead, Kenzie was going to her room for the night (without dinner). When will they ever learn that they can choose their behavior, but they can't choose the consequences of that behavior?

No worries, I am getting to the part about Cambrie.

But back to Kenzie.

For reasons known to Kenzie and only to Kenzie, she decided to make a nice gash in the material of not one, not two, not three, but all four of our kitchen stools. Granted, they are in sad shape -- no doubt. (And believe me, I handled the situation much better than I might have if they were not in such bad shape.) BUT, just because they are stained with markers and food...they were very usable...and we aren't in the market to replace said stools. Now, however, it looks like I will be figuring out a way to recover them...

As a result of THAT choice, Kenzie was told she isn't allowed to sit on the stools for awhile. (I know...not really a punishment to most of us...but what is the natural consequence for cutting a stool?) Apparently, in her 5-year-old mind, this "punishment" translated into, "you will never, ever, be allowed to eat, drink, socialize or do anything fun again." Suffice it to say, she pitched a fit....and threw a pencil.

With that, she was informed that she would not be attending soccer practice or eating dinner.

And I carried her upstairs.
Whew -- so with THAT background, I can tell you about Cambrie.

I was in the midst of texting Greg about our situation when we heard, "Somebody help me! Somebody help me!" I sent Cannon to investigate the whereabouts of the desperate voice and he discovered Cambrie, clinging to the stair railing. (Thankfully, no children were endangered or injured during the taking of this picture. I'm not sure what her fascination is with the railing - -last week she got her legs stuck in it.)

I got a snappy reply from Greg (in response to Kenzie's attack on the stools) which simply stated, "Nice." Not long after, I sent him the picture of Cambrie, to which he replied, "Sounds like you can't be trusted with the kids alone." I quickly responded with, "You are probably right about that. However, for the record, I believe Kenzie cut the kitchen chairs this afternoon -- while you sat at the kitchen table!"

Exhibit B - After many minutes of ranting and raving, things got quiet...too quiet.
This time, I went to investigate.
Admittedly, I panicked when I opened the door and didn't see her on the bed. A quick scan of the room, however, and it all made sense. She was asleep, UNDER the laundry basket, on top of the dirty clothes which she had dumped out of the basket.
Well now, if that isn't a proper and appropriate way to deal with bad behavior -- I don't know what is.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Blogging is such a blessing. I can't wait till my kids are old enough to appreciate the things I so lovingly put up with on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis.
Hey, at least we're keepin' it real.

Fall Wedding #1

 We did it.
(Actually, I should say I did it...because I don't think it was really any big deal for Greg.)

But, we left our children, in the care of a non-family member and went to California for a wedding.

This experience was not without a certain amount of stress and trepidation...and much document preparing on my part. (Insert pages and pages of schedules, emergency contact information, insurance information, child care "in the event something should happen to us," documention....)

Of course, everything went well. Betty took great care of the kids and Addysen was an incredible help. (She texted me the Sunday we were gone and said, "I need a vacation. The kids were naughty during Sacrament. I got everyone dressed and did everyone's hair...including Cannon's. I need a vacation.)

We had a lot of fun in California (as we always do!) We totally enjoyed incredible weather, food, family and activities....not to mention a festive and fun-filled wedding.

Now that we know we aren't really needed around here...it's time to plan the next trip.