Napoleon Dynamite comes to Canton

Our church has an annual "Talent Show" for the little kids. These kids are so creative--we have little boys demonstrating light saber duels, others are showing off somersaults and cartwheels. Little people playing piano solos, singing songs, showing how they can run really fast. This year a 4-year old girl and her grandma even presented a modern dance with scarves. Too cute!

Jake usually participates in the talent show. He signed up during his Sunday School class. After church, I got a phone call or two, and then my older kids told me Jake's plan. He signed up to do the "Napoleon Dynamite Dance". Ohhhhh Noooooo. Couldn't he show off his lego sets or juggle a soccer ball or show some of his great art---something that was somewhat intelligent?? No amount of coaxing worked. He was determined and so excited about this hidden talent!

He practiced, gathered his costume, and last Saturday afternoon, it was Showtime. His performance was priceless--so well received by his audience that some church members posted it on YouTube. You can check out Jake's version of Napoleon Dynamite at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrS82brhZ-0

I Wanna Be A Track Star...

It is Track and Field season--and this season is my initiation into the many events of track and field! Zach is pole-vaulting, Carly is doing the 4x400 relay and the 200 meter hurdles, and Josh is running the 800 meter dash. (Doesn't that sound like a oxymoron??--Can you really run two times around the track in "dash" form? I definitely know that I can't! If I were competing in this event it would need to be the "800 Meter Leisure Laps.") This is a pic of Carly doing hurdles...I think she inherited her long, thin, bird-legs from me....NOT!

Track and Field seem like natural sports for Zach and Josh. But, when Carly told me she was going to try out for Track, I had to turn away to hide my complete shock--actually I was smiling inside. One of the things that I love most about Miss Carly is her laid-back approach to life. Some words to describe Carly: easy going, loves to talk about everything and loves to talk about nothing, and she takes things at her own pace. We wondered if she could even compete in Track events--where time does count!

I actually wish I was more like Carly--I seem to always been rushing, running kids here and there, making "lists", multi-tasking to the point of craziness. Carly takes things in stride and seems to enjoy the little stuff that I completely miss! Does any of this sound familiar to my fellow moms?? I love it when my kids remind me how to be a better person. Carly reminds me that it's good to slow down and savor the "sweet stuff".

However, I am happy to report that Carly can run and runs competitively! She seems focused and driven--her times have been pretty good! Her hurdles are actually quite amazing and she holds her own in the Girls' 4x400 Relay. She has become my running idol. Way to go, Sis!

Josh's Hair

Josh was born with a great head of curls. When he was little, we let it grow so that we could enjoy that great hair!

After many years of missionary cuts, he is now 16 and has decided to grow out his hair a little longer. At one point, he talked of dreadlocks and corn rows...gratefully, we think he has outgrown that phase. So lately, Scott has gently (and sometimes not so gently) encouraged him to get a hair cut. It usually goes like this...


"Josh, you need to get your hair cut--you are looking really scraggly." or
"Josh, your hair is way too long. I am making an appointment with Barry." or
"Josh, your hair looks really bad. I wouldn't leave my house with my hair looking like that."

Last week, Josh got wise and pulled out Scott's Nordoff High School yearbook. And low and behold, what did he find?!!

You decide. As for Josh... he rests his case.

Thursday Mornings

Every Thursday morning I drive to the North Canton Y to play racquetball with two good friends. I have tried to do this religiously and make it part of my routine. I do this for many great reasons.

Did you know that one hour of racquetball burns 1700 calories--second only to running! (In our game, we think we probably only burn about 1000 calories because we like to chat between plays)... So burning calories is defintely one motivation.

Another reason is that it is a great stress reliever--we can smack the ball as hard as we want, scream when we miss a ball, and laugh hysterically when our teammate makes a bad play. It is ruthless. The name of the game is "Cut Throat"--every woman for herself. It's two against one--No holding back. Competition at it's highest level. The sky's the limit with these gals. (Swearing is not allowed--this is an unspoken rule, mostly for me). No makeup, no shower, bad hair..au naturel.

Mostly I play racquetball for therapy. Spending time with great women is therapeutic. We've laughed on the court, taken and given good "mom advice", and borne our souls! It is time well-spent. So come rain, sleet, snow, and sunshine, you'll find me on a beaten path to the Y. I love Thursday mornings!