Last Place, No More

We won another game last night, so we're no longer in last place to start the CCC tournament this weekend. 3-8 is not my idea of a great season, but the girls have come a very long way. When you think about the games that we were ahead by a lot, then choked, it goes to show that the other teams are beatable..we just have to focus on not beating ourselves.

I think we're going to surprise some people in the tournament.

Little Momma

The other night before I picked Avery up from Bible class, I watched her through the window. They were playing with baby dolls; feeding them, rocking them, hugging and kissing them, covering them up and putting them to bed. Avery was doing her best, but hadn't really gotten the hang of it all yet.

Yesterday she started noticing her baby dolls at home. When I say, "can you love your baby, or can you kiss your baby," she does...but normally just carries them around by their hat or bows.

Today she didn't know I was watching her, and as she was walked around the living room talking to herself, she spotted her baby doll; picked it up, rocked her and 'loved' her (which consists of a big squeeze and "ummmm"). Then she kissed her head.

I loved it! I didn't tell her to do that; she just knew! I guess motherly instinct is coming out in her already.

As I write this, she's learned she can crawl under the baby gate we have up to restrict her access to the computer room. (It's up high so the dog can get to his food.) Our computer room is also our laundry room and pantry. She's discovered the canned goods and is walking around with a can of beans. I asked her to put the can back on the shelf and I watched her until she did. After I turned back to the computer, I heard, "Yeah!" followed by {clap, clap, clap}. She's proud of herself.

Here she comes with another can.

1 and 4...Let's Win Some More!

The matchy, matchy ribbons...

The bowling...

The pre-game fruit...

The crazy crashing coach...

The Hot Tamales and Big Red gum with the 'we're on fire' message attached...

It all came together tonight with a win! Go Eagles!

I feel the beginning of a winning streak!

Tonight's the Night

I can feel it! Tonight is the night that Alabama Christian Academy Middle School volleyball team is going to take home a win!

Even though I've felt that the past few times, here's why I think it will be different tonight:

This is the first game since the team 'gelled' while the coach made a fool of herself.

This is the first game since we had our team bowling outing last Sunday.

This is the first time we've had to wait an entire week to play, so the girls are ready for competition.

This week in practice, the girls have been showing much improvement.

This is the second time we've met this team, and even though we lost to them, it's a very beatable team (even though it's their JV).

This is a home game.

This is the first time since our first game that I've felt this nervous.

And, like I said, I can just 'feel' it in my gut.

Thigh Master

How come chunky thighs don't look as cute on me?!

Crash..Bang...Into The Wall of Shame

As you all know, my volleyball team has been on a bit of a losing streak. One of the things I've been trying to promote is team chemistry because the lack of it is such a factor in our losses. Another thing is that losing doesn't seem to bother them...(Preview: they saw what someone who doesn't like to lose looks like after a loss.)

Sidebar: Last night we played 3 of 5 games instead of 2 of 3, and we finally won 2 games. Unfortunately, it was not enough to pull out the match win, but it was a step in a more positive direction for us. End of sidebar:

So, following last night's game, practice this morning included some running. The girls were scheduled to run 11 windsprints. They ran 6. The atmosphere had been a good one up to this point, so for some reason I told them they could pick who they thought was fastest and race me. If I won, they ran the rest; if they won, they didn't have to run anymore today. (Apparently I'm still pretty cocky about being a sprinter.) So, four of them decided they had nothing to lose and wanted to race me. Everyone started chanting; people from the hallway stuck their heads in to watch...it was a big deal...and it never crossed my mind that I would lose.

We line up, and I pick to run beside the fastest girl, (in reality I was only running against one instead of four, but the other three thought they would be in it). They say go, we start running...Brooklyn is a step ahead of me; "what's up?" I think. We get to the end and turn to come back, "I have to turn before she does," I thought As I turned, I tripped and FELL! How EMBARASSING! So, they ALL beat me. "Yuck!"

Those who know me, know I don't like to lose...it wasn't over. Yes, I was fair and they won the bet; earning not having to run. But of course I had to prove to myself that I can win, so Brooklyn and I line up to just run down, not back. This is my second mistake. We start, and again, I'm one step behind. The finish line is quickly approaching with Brooklyn still one step ahead. The only thing that I can think of to explain what happened next is that my gut, soul, and athlete in me hates to lose so much, that I instinctively lunged....

...and threw my body over the finish line. I still don't get it because I didn't tell my brain to dive, but apparently my brain told my body to do it without letting me in on the secret until it was too late.

Let me try to describe what it felt like. (Someone on the team could tell you what it looked like.) I hit on my knees, then stomach, then slid like a base runner sliding into home plate. I didn't think I was going to stop, but wait, lucky me! There was a brick wall waiting for my head to smash into it. I stopped. Hard. And somehow ended up crumpled in the corner of the wall and a beam. I'm just glad I didn't hit the beam. As I lay there on the floor, the first thing I thought was, "Oh dear; I've fallen twice and lost all credibility with these girls."

The first thing I heard was, "you fell again!?" So, now my pride and my body is hurt. Of course I didn't let the girls know I was hurting. They kept asking, "are you sure you're okay? That looked bad." NO, I didn't go for a third time.

I told them I was tough and didn't like to lose, that's all....(and apparently something good came out of it; it seemed to help them pull together a little. Even if it's because they were all laughing at me, I guess I'll sacrifice for the team.)

...and now I'm at home with a limp because my knee really, really hurts! But don't tell them.

Kenny told me that where I went wrong was not in challenging them to a race; he said that I didn't get them tired enough before challenging them to a race.

My dad told me that I'm old and have had a baby so my extra weight has been readjusted. (At least Kenny didn't say that!)

This is a Test; This is Only a Test...

This past week has been a trying week for Avery and me. I don't know if it's a combination of things, or if she's just testing her boundaries. She's gotten so independent, but along with that comes some frustration. Last week included lots of spankings, lots of crying, lots of whining, lots of hugging, and lots of rocking.

Kenny decided during one of her 'fits' after a spanking that he would take a picture. It really is a sad sight, and for the most part she is learning what she can and can not do.

I'm just glad she's a fast learner because it's sad giving her spanking after spanking when she continues to do the same thing over and over.

Oh, and her most recent thing she has learned is the word, "no." So, now when she knows she's doing something she's not supposed to be doing, she looks at us with the testing look, and says, "no, no!"

What's the funniest story you've heard about kids testing their boundaries?

A Special Husband on a Special Day

Today is a happy day for me because it's my birthday. My mom was always the best about making our birthdays special. She would start the week before, and build up the hype about what a special day it was going to be, and so on and so forth. It was great, so of course I went through withdrawals when I grew up and didn't live at home anymore on my birthdays.

I must say that my wonderful husband has taken the place of my mom (in that aspect anyway). He's always made special occasions happy for me. Most of the time, he tries to keep his plans a surprise for me so I'm guessing up until the last minute what is going to take place.

Also, as you know, my birthday falls during football season...well, those of you who know Kenny know that he takes his coaching job VERY seriously, so there's little spare time during the season. But, somehow, he always finds a way to make me feel important on my birthday.

The treat this year included showing up at the volleyball tournament where Avery and I spent our morning (while he was in film with football guys) with a dozen beautiful red roses. Everyone was jealous of me, and he received a big, "ahhh..." from the crowd, as well as the girls on the bench when he arrived.

It's always fun to get flowers, but it's more fun to get flowers when everyone sees that you're getting flowers! :) Is that vain? It's my way of bragging that I have a great hubby.

(And I think I'm in for a treat tonight that involves some of our friends and Olive Garden! YUM!)

Kudos and brownie points to you, Kenny!

0-3 Fiddle-Dee-Dee

So, once again, we played and we lost.

Needless to say no one wanted to talk to me last night. The only humor I've found is that last night after the loss and after the yelling...the girls chose to give me my birthday present. Talk about bad timing...it was more of a 'here you go coach' while handing me a card. Really is funny when you think about it now. I think they drew straws and whoever lost had to be the one to hand it to me.

So, this morning we've turned over a new leaf. Apparently the nice Coach Simpson has to be tucked away while I pull out Big Meanie. I guess the girls don't care if they lose as long as there aren't consequences. Hopefully they got the idea that there will be terrible consequences for lack of will after this morning's practice. Not only did they have to push through the pain, they had to do it in silence. It was pretty awkward for those who chose to walk through the gym this morning.

Not only did they get a chewing from me, they got a chewing from the Varsity coach. She had me nervous and almost in tears, and I was on her side. I'm also pretty sure that since they were able to stumble off the court that I didn't make them run enough. They should have had to crawl. Although, they were moving pretty slow as they headed to class.

One girl didn't show because, and I quote, "I didn't get to play in the game, so I'm not going to show up to run." Where do you think she's going to sit the rest of the season if that attitude doesn't change? And guess who gets to do exactly what everyone else did today come Tuesday morning.

I'm making enemies! And I like it.