Yesterday, the Bountiful Braves Sophomore baseball team battled the Granger Lancer's on Granger's home turf. It was a double header with the first game ending successfully with the Braves winning 15 to 4, and loosing in the second.
As I was cheering during the game, a friend kindly educated me on proper baseball terms. For instance, there is a ump not a ref, you score runs, not points, innings not quarters, and so on and so forth. Wow, do I have a lot to learn.
Just like there are specific terms in baseball, there is also certain "baseball foods". The most common foods are hot dogs, sodas, peanuts, cracker jacks, and spitz (if you can call them food). In high school baseball games it is VERY unusual to find a snack shack. Most treats or foods must be brought in by the spectators. The only "baseball food" I will usually pack is spitz. They can easily be thrown in a purse or bag.
We braved the weather elements (cold, wind, and a little rain) until the 4th inning and then watched the remainder of the games from the car. Ben and Meg needed to use the restroom facilities, so I drove over to the gas station on the corner. When we walked in the gas station, they had shelves of countless flavors of spitzs. WOW! Ben was so excited! He had been begging me to buy them for him for the last 3 games. He narrowed his purchase down to 3 flavors and we took the bags to the cash register. The friendly, tattooed (not that there is anything wrong with that), young cashiers began to explain to Ben why you don't need spitz, chew, or anything else like that at a baseball game. Playing the game, or watching the game should be enough. They were very animated, and gregarious about their thoughts. Ben said nothing, just observed the diversity of people, and listened to their comments. When we walked out of the store, Ben rolled his eyes and said, "What country are we in anyway."
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
What Country Are We In Anyway?
Friday, March 19, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Processing a Loss
There's an old adage that states that a mother is only as happy as her least happy child. I can attest to that. I feel the heartache my children have endured, and if one of them is sad, hurt or unhappy, at some level, so am I.
It has been a difficult process to watch my children grieve the loss of their Father, their protector, their confidant, their best friend. Someone once said, loosing a Father is like having your leg amputated- you always know it's missing, you just learn to live without it. I have watched as they try to find peace with such tragedy.
I have learned that each child grieves differently, and grieving takes on various elements day-t0-day. I have learned to respect the way in which each child grieves. There are many different emotions such as anger, sadness, emptiness, and loneliness. Each day brings about a different emotion, a new challenge. There are daily, sometimes hourly reminders of their loss.
Little children grieve differently. Sometimes true grieving begins for them 1 year or later, after their loss. Little children are so innocent, it breaks my heart to watch them suffer and try to process such a difficult event. Some of my most emotional times are when I hear things such as, "You know I don't have a dad, or "I don't have to draw a picture of what I would look like when I'm 100 years old, we don't live that long", and the list goes on and on. There isn't a day that goes by without a comment about their Dad. Some comments are too sad to write, and some are happy memories of a wonderful life together.
I don't want to live in a state of perpetual state of loss. We have found and will continue to find joy in our new journey. We have rejoiced in supporting one another in our activities and accomplishments. We have learned the importance of family first. As a mother, I am most happy when my children are happy, and being together brings us happiness.
Leprechauns
By: Ben Brown - Good thing Ben has his priorities straight....money, sports,....oh yea, and chapter books."Spotting a leprechaun brings good luck, according to the Irish legend. To follow the merry mischief-maker is no small task, as they are known to vanish before humans spot them. The sound of the fairy's shoe hammer is purported to lead one to an elusive pot of gold, but the mischievous creatures will cunningly try to entice humans with riches, only to snatch it away in an act of trickery, Time magazine reported."
The St. Patrick's Day leprechaun visited our house this morning. He made mischief changing our milk from creamy white to mossy green. The pancakes were even tainted with this magical color. He left gifts of green for the kids to wear so they wouldn't be pinched at school.
Next year, I hope the leprechaun will choose Lucky Charms for breakfast with white milk. You know, they are magically delicious. There is something about turning non-green food green that is a little sick and twisted. Mike LOVES milk, but not today.
I am personally hoping that today I will spot a leprechaun. I could use some "good luck".
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Happy Birthday Michael
Michael Ryan Brown was born March 7, 1995. He weighed 7lbs 15 ozs at birth.
When I was about 4 month pregnant, we found out we were going to have a BOY! We were so excited. Finally, a boy after 3 beautiful girls. We elected not to tell ANYONE that we were having a boy until the day he was born. I warned everyone in advance not to believe anything Steve said concerning the sex of the baby during the pregnancy. He loves to tease. Grandma must not of heard my pleas. She made him a lovely PINK silky blanket and brought it to the hospital. When she realized she had been spoofed, she was kind enough to save the PINK one for another grand-baby and make Michael a beautiful BLUE one. It became his favorite blanket.
Binky Boys.
Three "Brown" babies born in the same year.
Michael, Jacob, and Elizabeth.
Brown brothers with their boy's.
Steve and Jeff
First Year
Mike and siblings.
Sweet Sixteen basketball tickets!
Happy 15th!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
More Pets?
That night someone (we won't name who), dropped a couple kernels of canned corn in the fish bowl. This person thought fish liked corn. REALLY? Maybe this person should have given the fish a hot bath with soap and water too. Anyway, sad day, no more fish. Up two pets, down to pets, all in a days time.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Baseball Season Opener
Molly and me.
In defense of myself refer to "Eyes On Fire" blog post.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Number One Fan
In the past year and a half, I have been to MANY basketball and baseball games for Mike. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching him play sports. When he excels, I find myself wishing Steve were there watching him, cheering him on. He would be so proud of him. Steve LOVED a good ball game, especially when Mike was involved. He was a doting father, making sure Mike was on the right team, obtaining the right skills, practicing, and monitoring his schedule. His dad was his number one fan.
I also find when the game doesn't particularly go as well as you had wished, missing Steve. He always knew the right thing to say, at the right time. He knew what could be changed, and how to change it. He knew all the rules, and made sure everyone else knew them too.
Mike was so lucky to have his dad so involved with the sports he played.
Ben was only 6 when Steve passed away. In fact, it was two days after his 6th birthday that Steve died. We have great memories of Steve teaching Ben about baseball....how to swing a bat, and catch a ball. It was the summer of '08 that Steve coached his little league team. It is a very distinct memory for Ben, one that he will hopefully remember forever.
When Ben is playing basketball and I notice a very advanced move, I ask him where he learned it, and he always says, his Dad.
It makes me sad to think that Ben won't have the same experience as Mike. He will still have opportunities, but his number one fan will be missing.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Instructional Basketball League
He is still too young to play in a rec league, but enjoyed
Ben informed me that every basketball player absolutely must have basketball shoes. That is.... shoes that are exclusively worn for basketball. You carry them on your back in a shoe bag to change into before you enter the basketball court.
End of the shoe story? Nope! Ben only wore them a couple times when he found his brother's old basketball shoes. He switched between his Shaq shoes and Mike's old shoes that he wore in 6th or 7th grade. As you can see they were a few sizes too big, but that didn't bother Ben.
Basketball Highlights
Friday, February 26, 2010
Germs
Lizzy had Strep Throat, and
I had that nasty, awful, flu,
that has been floating around our house.
When you are REALLY sick, NOTHING is funny or cute at the time.
However, after days of being germ-free, these are the funny or cute happenings
while we were sick:
* Ben came into my room Sunday morning and asked where the ward directory was. I pointed to the floor. He picked it up and went downstairs. I heard Katelyn tell him that he could not just call random people off the ward directory. Ben came upstairs with the directory in hand, to ask me if he could call Sister S to play the piano for me in church. A 7 year wanting to find me a sub, now how cute is that.
*Sarah at Kids Care with Lizzy getting strange looks and comments from the doctor as she impersonated me. Well, maybe she wasn't really impersonating, she just forgot to mention she was her sister not her mother. What is wrong with a 20 year old having an 11 year old daughter anyway?
*Michael coming to dispose of the barf bucket with goggles, gloves, nose-plugs, and some sort of plastic wrap on.
I am hoping this week to become a germ-free house once and for all.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Eyes On Fire
Today I went to the eye doctor for a routine exam. All was well, except a little excess protein build up on my contact lenses. The doctor informed me I had dry eyes. If your eyes are not moist enough, proteins begin to build up on your lenses. They professionally cleaned my lenses, and packed me a bag of samples including lens cleaners, and lubricating eye drops. I left happily with a bag of expensive samples.
On the way home my eyes started to feel a little dry. I stopped at the first red light and dug into my delightful sample bag to find my lubricating eye drops. I quickly removed them from the box, when the light turned green. I hit every green light until I got to Bountiful. Finally, at the stop light at 2600 South and Highway 89 I was able to relieve my eyes with the soothing lubricating eye drops. I reached in my bag pulled out the drops and inserted a drop or two into the first eye. My, it stung! I quickly put one in the other eye so the pain would cease before the light changed. BIG mistake! My eyes were burning as if someone had poked them with a red-hot poker. Tears were streaming down my face and I could barely see to drive. I quickly picked up my drops to see what the problem was. I had put Extra Strength Cleaning Drops in my eyes.
I drove, as best as I could, the rest of the way home, rubbing my burning, blurry, tear filled eyes, hoping I'd make it home safely. When I got home I read the warning on the bottle, and the Caution: "Do not use directly in eye." I quickly began flushing my eyes with water to dilute the solution. The Opthamologist was a little stunned to find out about my little mishap.
I am beginning to understand why so many quirky things happen at my house....it might have something to do with who is in charge around here.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
My kids (or at least some of them) have been hounding me for another dog (no pun intended). I explained to said kids several times, that the only reason we got our dog in the first place is on a pet replacement plan. My words haven't quite penetrated their cute little brains. I have received copious notes from the kids stating the reasons we need another dog, along with the rules that would be followed by having another dog, and colorful print-outs of dogs for sale on ksl.com. I have stayed strong even with their comments such as , "Bella needs a friend," or, "The nice Neighbor G's and L's have two dogs."
I have to say, it tugged at my heart strings just a tad when I saw this:
Bella not only jumps up on top of the fence to watch her fun, furry, friends, Sam, and Lucy, but also jumps over the fence to join in the fun. Sam and Lucy are so lucky to have each other.
Poor Bella, left with Peanut, our official undomesticated pet, to pal around with.
So...which way would you vote for this cute little dog?
Remember....my vote trumps all.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
AAU Presidents' Day Tournament
Game One: February 13th
Final Score: Warriors 53, Davis Metro 50
Championship Game Warriors Verses Metro
Friday, February 19, 2010
Mental Health Day
