{this moment}

{this moment} - Inspired by SouleMama. A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Chicago vs. L.A.

This year, Henry is #5 for the Chicago Wind.

He is clearly loving it and is such a nicer kid after practices and games. What's even better is that I think he actually understanding the game and how to be a part of a team.

In this league, there are still no goal keepers and the only rule of soccer I remember, offsides, does not apply. The learning curve for the parents continues.

Now if this heat would break, all us spectators could sit and watch without the umbrellas, coolers, ice packs and water bottles. I can't imagine a Saturday morning hike to the field without carrying all the cool-down equipment with me...I'm just a sherpa for that oldest child...just living the dream, living the dream.

{this moment}

{this moment} - Inspired by SouleMama. A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

{this moment}

{this moment} - Inspired by SouleMama. A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Adding to the Previous Post

We have been hanging out in Alabaster, enjoying wedging our superheroes' feet in between bricks and hanging princesses upside down by their hair.

That's the kind of end-of-the-day play I can really handle lately.

I have heard the term Helicopter Mom the past few days for the first time. Apparently, this is a common term. I totally understand the inspiration behind and labeling of that kind of parenting.
I'm not a Helicopter Mom, however. I am more of a C130 Mom.

My problem with my new title is that I am not sure if a C130 can hover appropriately. Uncle Brad, a little help?

Uncle Brad flies C130's in the Air Force so it happens to be the only plane I can call by name. I know it is huge, it holds tons of cargo, and it's kinda old.

I jive with all of those things.

I like to think that I can carry around a lot of cargo in case anyone needs anything (wipes, tissues, Tic Tacs, Altoids, screwdriver, notebook, black pen, granola bar, CapriSun, etc.), or have room to pick up any extra kid to come home with us or to drop off somewhere. I also like to think I can hover in the necessary position until reassured that all are safe. This is all normal, neurotic parenting, right?

So it's okay that while we were sitting outside balancing our toys in the bricks, we were watching about 8 neighborhood kids race down the hill in a plastic car whose battery had been removed so they sped assisted by gravity, making the 90 degree turn they pulled at the bottom of the hill - the turn that made the car screech sideways on 2 plastic wheels - the thrill of everyone's life. Except mine.

I watched Henry and Svea wondering when they were going to ask about getting a turn in that car. I seriously had to pop some antacid chewables while we watched and listened, wondering if my C130 self would be able to move fast enough, calling 911 on my cell while running to stop the bleeding of the multiple head, face and body injuries that were sure to come.

They never asked to participate. No neighborhood kids were hurt on my "watch."

Henry did say, "They are making good decisions by taking turns in that car, but maybe they are making a bad decision going down that hill."

Hooray for already instilling fear! Hooray for delaying our talks on self-destruction and wild play and how it scares his mom so he has to wait a little longer for that freedom! Hooray for calm play at the end of the day when I am 8 months pregnant! Hooray that we can work all this out in a few years with a therapist!

Until then, I'll continue hovering, C130-style.

Just Hanging Out...

...Alabaster style:

Hannah Kate says Roll Tide

Ha! Not really...Hannah Kate says War Eagle too...sometimes.

Last week a friend of ours who works for Hannah Kate children's clothes came over to take pictures of Henry and Svea in the new line of Alabama clothes. Luckily we found some sweet stand-ins to wear the Auburn gear.

You can see more photos here and here!

Roll Tide today!

or whatever.

{this moment}

{this moment} - Inspired by SouleMama. A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.