Mark's first soccer game, Lizzy's meet 9/20/08

The Phipps' kids had a big day on Saturday. Markie had his first AYSO soccer game. He had a blast. Some crazy person scheduled the game for 7:45 a.m., but we made it. It is fun, there are four 5 minute quarters, it is 3 on 3 with two games going on simultaneously so that more kids can play and get to the ball. It was very relaxing and enjoyable. Markie seemed to really enjoy being a Shark. (the name of his team)

Lizzy's first real gymnastics meet was Saturday evening. Her gym hosted the event, so the meet was called jammie jam so they had special pajama bottoms and red tank tops made for their warm - ups. Lizzy improved a little on her scores, she had all low 8's, so that was good for her. She was all smiles the whole meet. She got a 9th place medal for all around in her 8 year old age group. There were 9 8 year olds. I guess someone has to be last. Her all around score was 32.60, which isn't bad, her age group was just really good. Hey, in the end she got the same medal as first place, as you can see from the picture with her and another gal saluting, she was happy. Expressed a little disappointment over not getting more medals, but got over it pretty quick. Her and Mark spent 11 hours at the meet today, volunteering at the meet. Mark says she had a blast there running around with her friends and helping and watching. As a mom, it is heartbreaking to watch your child finish last, however to know she is somewhere she belongs and is comfortable is very heart warming.

All in all it was a fabulous day, and thanks to some great luck on reserve I made it home from my trip in time tosee it all, what more can I ask for?

Mommy duty

I have heard this one before, but it is hysterical. I have to say, Mark is definitely in training for this series, I will have been on the road working 8 of the last 10 days when I get done with this trip on Saturday, I am on the road in Indy right now. Mark has a big test tommorow, he has to get the kids ready for school pictures in the morning. I laid out their clothes this morning before I left and told him how to get Lizzy's bob haircut to lay right. Anyways, take the time to read this, it is great.


THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES
Six married men will be dropped on an island with one car and 3 kids each for six weeks.

Each kid will play two sports and either take music or dance classes.

There is no fast food.

Each man must take care of his 3 kids; keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework, and complete science projects, cook, do laundry, and pay a list of 'pretend' bills with not enough money.

In addition, each man will have to budget in money for groceries each week.

Each man must remember the birthdays of all their friends and relatives, and send cards out on time--no emailing.

Each man must also take each child to a doctor's appointment, a dentist appointment and a haircut appointment.

He must make one unscheduled and inconvenient visit per child to the Urgent Care.

He must also make cookies or cupcakes for a social function.

Each man will be responsible for decorating his own assigned house, planting flowers outside and keeping it presentable at all times.

The men will only have access to television when the kids are asleep and all chores are done.

The men must shave their legs, wear makeup daily, adorn himself with jewelry, wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes, keep fingernails polished and eyebrows groomed.

During one of the six weeks, the men will have to endure severe abdominal cramps, back aches, and have extreme, unexplained mood swings but never once complain or slow down from other duties.

They must attend weekly school meetings, church, and find time at least once to spend the afternoon at the park or a similar setting.

They will need to read a book to the kids each night and in the morning, feed them, dress them, brush their teeth and comb their hair by 7:00 am.

A test will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be required to know all of the following information: each child's birthday, height, weight, shoe size, clothes size and doctor's name. Also the child's weight at birth, length, time of birth, and length of labor, each child's favorite color, middle name, favorite snack, favorite song, favorite drink, favorite toy, biggest fear and what they want to be when they grow up.

The kids vote them off the island based on performance. The last man wins only if... he still has enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moment's notice.

If the last man does win, he can play the game over and over and over again for the next 18-25 years eventually earning the right To be called Mother!

Lizzy's Golden Birthday

I have to admit, Markie said it best the other day when she got another card in the mail and it had a gift card in it. It was a couple of days past her birthday, and Markie said, "Hasn't it been Lizzy's birthday for like two weeks?" Which it pretty much was. Her party was on August 31, a home party with swimming, making mini- pizzas, painting picture frames, a sleepover with bingo, rock band on the Wii, and 7 little girls up til almost 2 a.m. Then we went to Oregano's on Sept 8, her actual birthday, with Nancy too, who shares Lizzy's birthday, and then on to Kim's for cake and more gifts. Gifts rolled in through the mail over the following few days from Cleveland, where Lizzy has lots of family. It is her golden birthday because it is her eighth birthday on September 8th of 2008. It took me a while to blog about the event of Lizzy turning 8, because it was a bit overwhelming.

September 8 2000 8:11 p.m.
When I became a Mom to a little baby I named Elizabeth.

No she is Lizzy, 8 going on 13. Outgoing, bubbly, confident, friendly. Loud and goofy. Intuitive, smart, an over achiever. A gymnast,the most flexible kid, a budding violinist, an excellent student, a fashion plate. A whiner, a grunter, a screamer, yelling at Markie constantly, leaves clothes anywhere she takes them off, hates to be late, a worrier. My daughter.

Special Needs in the National Spotlight!

A small portion of Sarah Palin's speech last night at the Republican national Convention.


And in April, my husband, Todd, and I welcomed our littlest one into the world, a perfectly beautiful baby boy named Trig. From the inside, no family ever seems typical.
That's how it is with us.

Our family has the same ups and downs as any other -- the same challenges and the same joys.

Sometimes even the greatest joys bring challenge.

And children with special needs inspire a special love.

To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters.

I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House.


Folks, this is going to spark a national conversation that is long overdue:




Sarah Palin, Down syndrome & the brave new world

By Valerie Karr

Thursday, September 4th 2008, 4:00 AM

Republican vice presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin has put children with disabilities in a national spotlight. Her recent decision to have a child with Down syndrome places her in a tiny minority of American women. A staggering statistic: 92% of unborn children diagnosed with Down syndrome are now aborted in the United States. I don't normally get overly exercised about the issue of abortion, but this number is striking - and a searing indictment of social values. Somehow, we are saying the lives of children with Down syndrome mean less than those of so-called normal children.


Now my words.
Last night, as I put Lizzy to bed I told her there was a woman running for VP now. I also told her she had a son with down syndrome, like Alex. This led to a discussion about Alex. Lizzy said, other kids with down syndrome all look the same, but Alex doesn't look like them. I said, that is because you know Alex, so he just looks like Alex to you. I explained that some day she might have to defend Alex if other kids tease him since they don't understand down syndrome and she does since she is alex's big cousin. She asked me an interesting question, if it was on Alex's birth certificate that he had down syndrome. I said no, because that is not who he is. I really can't put into words how cool it is when the VP nominee holds up her baby proudly for all the world to see, a perfectly beautiful baby boy.

A woman VP?

I highly recommend that you take a look at the blog list I have to the right of this and click on mommy life. She has all of the latest on Sarah Palin. If you want to learn more about Palin, that is the easiest place to find it. I can't wait for Sarah Palin's speech tonight at the convention. See, Sarah Palin did something 85% of women in America do not have the courage to do, she gave birth to a boy with down syndrome when she knew through prenatal testing that she was pregnant. Yes, 85% of women terminate their pregnancy when they learn the baby will have an extra chromosome. Now one of those babies is on the cover of People magazine. A gift from God. Here is a picture of another gift from God. Oh, and did I mention that Governor Palin and my sister share the same wedding anniversary? Here's to a ticket that values life above all else. Go McCain - Palin!