My Surprise

I was going to write a blog about my birthday: What I got, What I did, How much fun I had...... But then something happened. This will be a little about my birthday to give you the whole story. I'll start off with telling you what my dad got me for my birthday. I was expecting him to actually completely forget about it, and I was OK with that. So when I found out that he not only remembered, but got me a present, I had mixed feelings about it. I mean, what would he get me? So when the $50 gift certificates arrived for me and Paige, I thought it was a good present and I was happy about it!

But, of course.... it was too good to be true. Later that day my mom got a call from the vice-president of her insurance company. Turns out he had been working late and decided to pull up my parents' policy. Well, my mom's was all up to date, but it seemed that my dad's hadn't been paid since March, so it had been cancelled! The insurance agent had wanted to make sure we were aware. Of course we were. NOT. Well, thanks dad! If something happens to you, there is no insurance money, but at least we'll have $50 to Nordstrom!

But it was this morning that was the real shocker! I got up, made tea, went to choir....the usual. Except when my mom picked us up, I knew something was wrong. How did I know? Two seconds after I got in the car, she said "are you sitting down?" Not a good sign. I knew it was most likely about dad, so with a groan, I said "What happened now." She said "Guess." It only took one guess and Paige beat me to it. "Dad got fired, didn't he." Her silence and tight smile was enough.

I can't say I was surprised. I wanted to be, but I wasn't. I always kind of knew it would happen someday. I didn't want it to, but it did.

-Laurel

the butter made from peanuts

Today I came to a revelation. One so huge, it will probably change my life. How could I have not realized, not experienced this before. I thought I had it all figured out. Life was simple.
Apples were meant to be eaten by themselves, and peanut butter went on a spoon, complementing chocolate milk.
How could a life-changing moment come out of this, you ask? Well, allow me tell you a story. One that will probably make you simultaneously laugh and cry from the sheer awesomeness of it.

Once upon a time......... A couple weeks ago, I found myself in a kitchen. The family there was happily munching away on a snack, and me, never to turn down food, accepted their offer to help myself. What was on the table shocked me, although not at first.
I looked and saw apple slices. Normal, I thought. Then, I saw chunky peanut butter. Also normal. Both delicious, but quite regular.

But then, to my dismay, I quickly observed that there were no spoons! How can you eat peanut butter without spoons! I looked around the table frantically, trying to figure it out. My heart racing, I looked to the simplest place for help. If he knew what to do, I was sure to figure it out. I rested my wandering eyes on the 3 year old. He had just picked up an apple slice, and, to my shock, was propelling it with chubby fingers towards the chunky peanut butter! As I looked on in disbelief, he scooped up some peanut butter with the apple and took a bite!

"How can this be!" I thought, marveling at the sight. But it was true, and I had to try it! Quickly, before I could change my mind, I heaped the butter made from peanuts onto my apple slice and took a bite. I slowly chewed, allowing the flavors to meld and blend together. I thoughtfully swallowed, and with a new mentality, I quietly, almost in a whisper, said "This...Is...Good. And then I knew, that snack time would never be the same.

Laurel

Soccer Kids

Why did I agree to do this? I don't think I had to, I probably could have said no. But if I had I wouldn't have had the experience I had last night.

Last night was my first soccer game as a coach.

Let me explain something to you, I don't like soccer. I thought I did, I tried to at age 10. But soccer and I don't get along, maybe it's the running? It could be the fact that for an entire season all I did was run back and forth and back and forth with my only job being to keep the ball on the field. It could also be the fact that I only made one goal the entire season. Or maybe it's because I didn't get a trophy at the end of the year. We could go really deep and say it's because Laurel's soccer pictures turned out better than mine. Whatever the reason, I never wanted to have anything to do with soccer again, especially after being a referee at age 13.( I don't like to talk about this. Big mistake. Painful memories.)

Even after this fervent promise, when Olivia, Claire, and Quentin signed up for soccer just weeks ago. I found myself in a whirlwind of vague questions and answers, what I believe to be somewhat false information, and slight pressure from all sides. I found myself agreeing to co-head coach Quentin's soccer team. I felt pretty confident about this decision. I mean I was only a co-coach. Until I found out who my other co-coach was...Laurel. When we found out we tried to back down. But it was too late, they had already sent out the schedule with every coaches name and what team they were coaching. Salt in the wound was we didn't even get our own names on it, they put us down as the Tyson Twins. I am so not kidding, it was very demeaning.

but all in all I thought it would turn out OK. I mean, how hard could it be to teach 3, 4, and 5 year olds how to play soccer...You have absolutely no idea.

to be continued...

Paige