WE ARE MOVING…

Don’t get too excited. We are just moving my blog from wordpress onto Jeremy’s domain. Here is the new link:

http://www.saundersstories.com

You can now make comments without signing up.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

I went back to the foot doctor last week. Since he adjusted my dislocated foot the first time, I can barely walk, much less run. Well, the bone had slipped out again, so he adjusted it again. However, I had other symptoms. Mostly PAIN, but also numbness and cold left foot. He sent me for an MRI. The results…

The Good News: My bone is back in place. I haven’t injured myself to the point of surgery YET.

The Bad News: I ALMOST have osteoarthritis in the ankle. (What, I’m only 33!) It seems my avid running habits along with my poor genetics (this runs in the family) has caused the cartilage between my ankle bones to deteriorate. If I keep this up, it will be bone rubbing on bone, no wonder it hurts to walk! So along with the dislocated bone, I also have weakening cartilage in the ankle! A TWO FOR ONE! No wonder why I am numb, tingling, cold, sore, and swollen!

The Ugly News: I probably won’t be able to run…ever? I am supposed to rest for six months, at least. I think the doctor was trying to be nice. I have been researching and all the literature I have found says that cartilage does not grow back. So, if I take up running again…it will just keep wearing and tearing away! So, I guess I better prepare a eulogy for my running shoes…I really can’t believe it, I have really enjoyed running, I don’t know if I can get over this one. I guess it’s time to dig out the yoga mat, the swim goggles, and the padded biking shorts! I will have to find a new love.

For those of you who don’t have feet/ankle problems, be thankful, get out there and run around for me!

GO.FIGHT.WIN.

So Summer, of all people, decided to try out for cheer! I was quite amused when I heard this due to the fact that all her life, she has gagged and rolled her eyes every time the word cheerleader has been mentioned. The thought of giggly girls in short skirts did not appeal to her. I am all for it as this is a good way for her to use her dance experience/talents to support and represent her school (i.e. looks good on college apps). She is such a couch potato that this might be a great way for her to get out there and socialize a little bit!

Of all the years to try out, this is the toughest year. There are only a few spots open, and many of the girls trying out are seasoned, competitive cheerleaders with years and years of gymnastics/tumbling experience as well. They are also bubbly, Summer is not. The cheer coach? She is the competitive cheer coach in town as well. Aside from a cheer clinic and practicing a few times with her friends, Summer hasn’t really had any cheer experience whatsoever. Odds are stacked against her? Probably, but I am glad she is giving it a shot! We are hoping her grades, behavior, personality, and dance experience make up for the rest. Oh, and don’t forget about good looks! HA! I once had cheerleaders at my school persuading me to try out because I look good.

There are three cheer groups. Football, which everybody wants to make, basketball, and wrestling. Summer really wants to make football cheer, as that is the elite status. She doesn’t particularly want to do basketball because it’s a busy schedule, and she is considering wrestling cheer, because you just sit and cheer (sounds like that’s right up her alley!)

DRUMROLL PLEASE…

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Meet our new cheerleader!

(PS, the gal in the pic is Katie, her best friend, and fellow cheerleader, whose sister helped Summer lots!)

CONGRATULATIONS TO SUMMER AND KATIE! GO! FIGHT! WIN!!!!!

In the Poorhouse

Cost of orthondontia for 13 year old boy with cross bite: $5,000.00

Cost of down payment, due at time of initial service: $1,225.00 (and a heart attack)

Cost of beautiful smile that’ll charm the ladies: Priceless?!?!

    Before Braces

 $1,225.00 later

Aaron got braces today, and I was in for a bit of a shock, to put it mildly. The orthodontist didn’t really sit me down to remind me of the cost, it had been literally years since he quoted me. I was expecting it to cost somewhere around Michelle’s ortho work ($1,500), which now that I have been educated, was just a “first phase” (poor girl, it’s going to ruin her day when I tell her she will probably have to have braces again after she gets them off). Aaron’s work on the other hand is a “second phase”, meaning the real deal. I don’t know about you, but we don’t have an extra $1,200 laying around. And they don’t take credit cards. OUCH, guess we are not eating this month! I will have to say yes to subbing more often to pay for that charming smile.

Serious Soccer Sister

Here is my first attempt at capturing Michelle in action (so be patient!). Here are just a few highlights from her first game, where she scored 5 goals! This quote I happened to find reminded me of Michelle’s performance in the game.

“You can’t just beat a team, you have to leave a lasting impression in their minds so they never want to see you again.”–Mia Hamm

Here are some still shots of Michelle doing what she loves best, all taken by an awesome mom on the team (not me).

Getting ready to shoot

Fearless header

Dribbling skills

Controlling the ball past three defenders for the finish.

Satisfaction after scoring a goal.

The Pin King

Aaron started wrestling in second grade with a club in Oak Harbor that was really good. He placed 5th in State his first year. Then we moved to Bellingham…wrestling is not as popular up here, so he stopped for a while. He picked up again in middle school. He had a really good season last year, wrestling at 96 pounds on Varsity. Only one year later, he is wrestling at 117! Can you tell he’s been growing!!!

He was voted Co-Captain of the squad this year, I guess in the history of his middle school, there has never been a seventh grade captain, always eighth. This makes Jeremy very happy as wrestling is where it’s at for him. Aaron has had 4 pins (that’s when you hold a guy’s shoulder down on the mat and he cannot move) out of 5 wrestling matches. Here are a couple videos of him pinning his opponents, for Uncle Nate and Grandpa Saunders!

Sweet Toothed Girl

“Grandma reeaally loves us!”–Summer, in response to receiving a belated Easter package from Grandma Laura, jam-packed with candy. (thanks Grandma!)

“I baked the cake, I can eat it whenever I want.”–Summer, in response to eating the Family Home Evening treats before the lesson ever started. Point taken, she was allowed.

Distractions

We had the girls over to watch Young Women’s Conference at my house this weekend. I loved all the messages. One that really stood out to me is the fact that we tend to be easily distracted from our purpose in life. Unlike the Savior, who was perfect and never distracted from His mission in life, we seem to weave back and forth instead of staying on the straight course.

This leads me to ponder, what is my mission in life? And secondly, what things distract me from accomplishing that mission?

As women in these latter-days, we have lots of opportunities open to us that women in the past have not. Although this is wonderful, it can also distract us from our purpose. So whatever your purpose in life, (that’s a big one in itself), I encourage you to seek the things that distract you from achieving that purpose, because in the wise words of GI JOE, “Knowing is half the battle”.

Some of my potential distractions:

Two Cooks are Better Than One

For the past two days, Jeremy has made dinner! I love it when he does this! Although I help, it is just so nice when someone else is in the kitchen with you. It makes the load much lighter and the time fly by. I especially love the fact that while he is cooking, I can pick up after him, and by the time dinner is ready, the kitchen is clean! We can eat and enjoy the rest of the evening without dishes looming over our heads!

Here is what we had, all courtesy of the Eating for Life cookbook (my favorite):

Turkey Meatballs over spaghetti

Mama’s Chicken Enchiladas

Global Warming vs. Ice Age 2

EXTREME SPORTS: SIX YEAR OLD SNOW SOCCER, MARCH 29, 2008

The toughest athletes live in Whatcom County. I have heard in California they cancel games due to a little sprinkle. Not here…no one would ever get to play. We play through torrential downpours, in lake sized mud puddles, through fierce blowing winds, sweltering heat…and the latest…freezing snow blizzards (will Spring ever arrive?). I kept checking the website for game cancellations, but no such luck. It wasn’t even a nice snow, it was the really wet kind! We dressed as if we were headed to Mount Baker, but why, when Mount Baker can come to you?

I must say, Aidan wins the “happy camper” award. While some were crying because their toes were cold (can you blame them?), others refused to play, and the majority were no-shows, our easy-going kid had a great time planning sneak snowball attacks on mom and dad (I thought someone was throwing rocks at me). He enjoyed hot chocolate, and had a smile on his face during the hour-long freeze fest. He absolutely loves the snow. In fact, he loved it so much, he barely noticed there was a soccer game going on (frustrating!!) The boys who did show up actually did a great job (even those who were crying tore up the field and scored many goals) and they had an experience they and their parents won’t soon forget!

Uh, no mom, I’m not making a snowball!

Wait for me guys! I was busy building a snow fort!

Mmm, hot chocolate’s good for your soul!

P.S. After Aidan’s game, the rest of the games were cancelled. (it does happen!)