One for the vault

I wish I would have played tennis more before Mark and I had children. I just did not appreciate the simplicity of it. Mark's sister, Jane, has been playing in a league and he has been giving her "lessons" for about a year. I was able to join in recently, although I can only manage to get about 15-20 minutes of playing time before Layla, comfortably seated in her stroller on the court, tells me it is time to quit.

Last night, we went to Jane's for a quick dinner and some doubles. I think she was reeling from a bagel beating and needed Mark to boost her confidence. Mark has a knack for taking the moon balls people send flying at him and returning them back to the center of the court so that you can promptly shoot another moon ball at him. After icing Ava's fat lip (the result of a "Jackass"-like stunt of riding her scooter off the park bench) occupying Layla with lots of toys and finding Mia the Plasmacar to drive around, Mark and I took the end of the court against Jane and her friend.

I had not played a "match" since the spring of '07 so I had my fair share of moon balls and errant shots. I had just settled down enough so that I could return the serve and get Mark into the point when we were suspended in total darkness. As our eyes adjusted to the lack of light, I heard a small voice call out:

Mia had shut off the lights on the court. These floodlights are such that once they are turned off, they must cool all the way down before they can be lit again, about a 10-20 minute delay. There was nothing to do but pick up the girls and head home. I couldn't stay mad, but decided to just marvel at Mia's surefire way of getting our attention.

Like I said, I sure didn't appreciate it when it was so easy.

Look who posted again!

Aren't you glad to see a new post and not the Breaking Dawn quiz? It is funny because, the longer I wait to post, the more I dread it and tend not just stay away from it!

We ended September with Mia's 4th birthday! Her birthday has always been a funny time for me because I remember how miserable I was at the end and the seven days or so leading up to her birthday, I always think, "I wanted today to be her birthday!" She was super cute though, and even though Ava and Layla were both sick, we managed to squeeze some fun into the day.

She chose these glasses out of the Treasure Box at preschool. Ready to go hunting!!!

I can't figure out why she has her nightgown on, but it's her day!

Here are the things I have been doing that have caused me to neglect my lovely blog.

1) I have been doing Body Pump at Fitnessworks 3X per week for over a month now. I am FINALLY losing the baby pooch. I feel so much stronger and I have stopped wanting to quit 20 minutes into it. I now wish it was over 35 minutes into it!! That's progress right!

My SIL told me my butt had disappeared and my friend (I'll keep her anonymous) told me I had a hot ass.

2) Halloween costumes. I wish I wouldn't decide to sew new costumes every year rather than letting the girls decide and put their costumes together. I figure my window for creative control is small so I have to take advantage. Mia is Tinkerbell and Ava is Wendy Darling this year. We're going to throw Layla in pink sleeper and she can be Michael.

Mia's Tink costume. She won't try it on til "tomorrow."

Now here's a good sport.

3) My crawling monster. Enough said....

4) My next digi-scrap volume! I am back at the computer. I have gotten a lot better and can finish pages faster. I also don't have to "scraplift" as much. Hopefully arriving under my Christmas tree!

Here are a smattering of my fave pages.