Think Spring

One of my school classes from today

Some of the cute girls I get to teach skating to during the school day

Spring Break begins...

bring on the sun!

It looks like spring...

when you look outside

and see this

and this!

Soul Sisters

Photo of Liv - taking a photo - of the girls

Gotta love the self-timer feature

Loved seeing Soul Surfer last night with the girls. It was the incredible true story of Bethany Hamilton, the young surfer girl from Hawaii who lost her arm in a shark attack. Soul Surfer was an entertaining show, and certainly what people who think movies are a godless art can get behind. It's a nice movie, in temperament if not always quality.

Bethany quit surfing but returned to competition, urged by her parents and a missionary stint aiding tsunami victims with worse problems. Carrie Underwood plays her youth worship minister, so Soul Surfer has more than the usual celebrity for a church flick.

It's a heart-tugging story, and the director never missed the chance to remind viewers of that. What Soul Surfer needs — what any story needs — is a richer sense of conflict, some chance that someone won't do the right thing.

I don't doubt that the real Bethany is as wholesome, happy and pious as Robb plays her. So is everyone else in Soul Surfer except an invented surfing rival, who is without any compassion for Bethany.

That would be a spoiler except Soul Surfer never intends to surprise. It's more technically polished than typical family films, especially the excellent digital "erasing" of Robb's left arm after the shark attack. I couldn't even tell in most of the scenes.

Soul Surfer is so clean that it squeaks, but sometimes that's exactly what I like to hear.

Storming the Field

Max up to bat right as the storm started to hit.

Even with three blankets, my ski coat, hat and gloves, I was still freezing cold tonight at Max's game against the Braves. The ump finally called the game in the fourth inning, when the White Sox were winning 8 -2 to finish the game another day. Thank heavens, as Max was so cold even with a blanket on in the dug out when he wasn't on the field. And drinking hot chocolate. I had him hop in a hot bath as soon as I drove him home and made him some vegetable beef soup for dinner. Then I kissed him good night and went to see Soul Surfer with my BFF's for girl night. Pictures tomorrow. Until then...

Stinky Sox

Max - Sox

Max's White Sox team lost to the Yankees last night but only because they forgot to use an 11-year-old pitcher. I guess it is in the rule book and the coaches forgot...oops. Other wise they would have won 6-2. I took Max over to the field but could only stay for the first inning before I had to go teach the spring skills clinic for the older kids (Pee-wees and Bantams). He was kind of disappointed after forfeiting because of a coaching oversight. I think they will remember that rule from now on.

Follow The Prophet

 Ward Primary Children

At church for sharing time yesterday - photo taken of the primary children to send to the prophet. They all wrote him a letter or colored a picture for him to tell/show what they are going to do to follow him. 

Air Arena

Marko and Karsen at Airbourne yesterday

Markus was SO thirsty after jumping for 2 hours

Trying some crazy backflips off the wall tramp

While the boys jumped I read, and read, and read some more. Airbourne was packed with kids and even some adults. One of the adults hurt his knee while jumping and the paramedics came to carry him out on the stretcher. He was moaning in agony when they moved him. Other then Karsen hurting his neck a couple of times from landing on it while attempting back flips, they came out unscathed.

Rinkside

Just came back from drop-in hockey. Markus and I were at the rink from 11:15 to 2:00 and he didn't stop once! He loves it and was so excited that his friend Karsen was there today. They actually had a few kids they knew there and had so much fun without any coaches telling them what to do - just playing for the love of the game.

Karsen & Markus

I was at the rink teaching the power skating portion of the spring skills clinic until 7:45 last night and I was at the rink again at 7:45 this morning with my figure skaters. Then I taught the learn to skate classes and ran home to pick up Markus for drop-in. I feel like I get to spend a good share of my time rinkside. Now I am off to take Markus and Karsen to jump around at Airbourne. Later... 

Soul

Max's friend Olivia asked him last night if he could go with her after school today to a movie with a whole group of kids from school. They went to see Soul Surfer, and after I finished teaching I went to pick him up from her house, he was talking about the movie for about an hour afterwards. He really liked it and was excited to tell me about it.

Hi-ho

I once had a friend who bragged she had never done a day’s work in her life. Over the weekend, while pondering my life list of all the things I’m grateful for, I realized one of the things I was most thankful for was work.

Work brings about love/hate responses. It shows off our strengths, reveals our weaknesses, and pushes us sometimes kicking and screaming, into unknown waters to sink or swim. There are things in jobs we love and things in jobs we hate but at the end of the day, we get something from them—even if it’s nothing more than a paycheck or aching feet.

Oh, I have worked lots of jobs over the years, everything from cleaning the rink (basically mopping floors and cleaning windows) when I was in junior high, to endless babysitting at $2 an hour. There was acting, wedding catering, hostessing at Ocean's bar & grill (the perfect job for a Mormon girl), title insurance (I can type any legal description), and many more. Each experience taught me something—a skill, a habit; each one exposed me to new things, new people.

I don’t think I ever really realized before how important these sometimes menial tasks were in my development. The mastery of those “contributions to society” or these things I did for the noble cause of cold hard cash.

I’ve worked part time, I’ve worked full time, I’ve worked overtime, I’ve worked no time. Not all work is paid work, as many thankless interns and volunteers (and mothers) can attest. Some of my best work experiences have been unpaid. Working for money makes you think about money in a new light and consequently all the things you spend it on.

So as I glance in my rearview mirror of work gone by, you are welcome to take a peek:

Professional Ice Skater, circa 1976, North America. Lesson: I learned how to smile. How to survive in only the company of a half dozen kids all day. It taught me to be spontaneous: I can make a baby bottle out of a crayon and read books amazingly well. Rewards: Those memories have permanent residence in Ms. B’s heart and I experienced the very genuine warmth of a family that works together. And my skating skills are cracker-jack.

Acting at a TV commercial level, circa 1982, LA Area, CA. Lesson: I got to film a six-hour rain storm scene (yes, they were exploring alternate tire traction). That pretty much helped me overcome any fear of being out in the rain for any length of time. I had to learn how to film a commercial from the bottom up and go on commercial calls a few times a week with interesting, colorful casting directors. I had to talk to people face to face and on camera. Reward: A twenty-minute sacrament meeting talk doesn’t make me bat an eyelash.

Ice rink manager/skating director, circa 1990, SLC, UT. Lesson: I became a master with running a cash register, exchanging skates, and wrapping laces (probably lost a few brain cells along the way due to Zamboni fumes and freon) and it taught me to think creatively. I had the job of transforming little people into graceful ice skaters and holiday-like shows with the help of hundreds of hours, lots of ice, and dresses. I concocted life-sized ice skating Santa events and competitions for skaters made out of beginners and trophies. Reward: It was where I met my HS boyfriend, but I didn’t ever go out with him, so scratch that. Being downtown I sometimes would work the Nordstrom sales as a cashier and get discounts on clothes as well!

Deli clerk/wedding caterer/hostess, circa 1992, Uptown. Lesson: Well, I overcame any fears of navigating public transportation. As a necessity I had to learn to talk to everyone; there was no room for shyness. You had to meet them, greet them, and take their order. Reward: Competency in my profession, confidence talking to anyone, and the most exquisite memories of watching dream weddings unfold when I would work into the evening.

Legal assistant/title insurance, circa 1993, SLC, UT. Lesson: What stress at work really means, when it comes to real estate and million dollar transactions. Reward: Having an attorney for my boss that carried me with him through three different company changes.

Skating Instructor, present, County. Lesson: Has made me have faith in entrepreneurship, my own dreams, and the power of creativity. Reward: Umm, I get to skate for money. Does life get much better than that?

Motherhood, circa 1995-, Home. Lesson: Well, I have got world travel with babies down. I’ve mastered the art of occupying kids for a week out of what I can pack in one suitcase. I include in this category a very short stint of teaching at Markus' preschool. Rewards: A passport full of stamps, thousands of smiles, friends the world over that all manage to fit inside my heart, and the constant realization that the world is actually very small.

I am thankful for work! My life is so much richer and fuller for all those experiences.

Just Kids Having A Ball

Markus had his first game of the season tonight and although it was a little warmer than last night, it was still blanket weather. He played great and his coach Jeremy asked him to play both pitcher for a couple of innings and catcher, which he has never really played before but he still got a runner out at first base, he was excited to tell me all about it after the game. Which they lost to the River Cats 12-8.

Take me out to the ball game

Max had his first baseball game of the season tonight. It was freezing and they lost 8 -4 to the Cubs, but he still had fun.

He tried out for the accelerated league as well tonight. If he makes it they will post it on the league website Saturday at 5. He is a little nervous as he is up against all the kids that have been playing all winter for the super league team that he wasn't able to try out for between hockey and football games on the same day. That and all of the league tournaments were the same weekend as most of his hockey tournaments, it just didn't work out for him to be on that team. So anyways, that is why he isn't too sure about making the accelerated team.

What can you do? 

Come Run With Me

My sister Sheri invited me to run in the Intermountain Healing Hearts 5K with her next month. All the proceeds go towards helping children with heart defects. So grab your running shoes and come join us. Please.

Do you fondue?

{Cheese Fondue}

{Chocolate Fondue}

{Why yes we do, thank you!}

Mmmmmm...

Enjoy!

The fondue party at my sister Monet's house today was yummy, for lack of a better word. Monet just bought a new fondue pot so we made a meal of it first with a cheese fondue recipe that I found on FoodNetwork.com and then by just melting chocolate chips and dipping strawberries, bananas and apples in it for dessert. All while watching conference and playing games. Thanks for the fun day Monet, Kailey and Aria.

Iron Cup Champions



7 a.m. game against Davis County Wind = Win!



2:30 game this afternoon against Park City = another win

9:30 p.m. game vs. the Wind again for the Championship  = Third win today! 

{Playing defense on the starting line up, Max was on the ice for a few of the goals}

Final score 8-4

This is the Lightning's fifth and final championship title of the season

All the boys were celebrating after the game and sliding across the ice

Captain Alex holding the Iron Cup

2011 Peewee Iron Cup Champions

{After the game I saw more then a few teary eyes, as the season has come to a close. I couldn't help but be a little emotional.}


****************************************************************************

But the real champion was this little guy who stayed awake for the game! He fell asleep as soon as he got in the car.

On the way home in the rain, Max and I stopped for a frosty at Wendy's to celebrate life's little victories.

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Max also had a girl named Olivia call him twice this weekend to see if he could "hang out". He of course couldn't with all the games going on, and told her so. She called him yesterday to ask him if he wanted to go snowboarding today with her. Olivia goes to school with him and they ran into each other at Brighton a few Saturdays ago. They spent the rest of the day riding the slopes with another friend from school. She is a cute girl and apparently she is persistent.

April Fool's

I tried to trick Markus this morning by telling him that school was cancelled because it was a snow day, but as soon as he looked outside, he wasn't buying it. No snow today! It was B.E.A.utiful weather.

After school the boys played outside while I went to teach and then it was time for the Iron Cup tournament. The Lightning played great and beat the Aggies 9-2.

Pee-Wees

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Grizzlies

Right after his game we went to the Grizzlies game. My friend Shawna gave us tickets since she was going out of town and the place was packed. Markus invited his friend Cooper to come along and he is spending the night as well. I am not sure who won, as we left in the middle of the third period, but the Grizz were down 1-0. Since I am taking Max to his game at 5:30 a.m. tomorrow morning, I should probably go to bed now. Good night.