Cute and Sporty Kiddos

Benny was born a Kicker. Those of you that were close to me durinng my pregnancy with him may recall him practicing Goalie Kicks on my right ribcage for months. It's true, it was insane and painful, but it became a beloved pain of security - On the rare days he needed to rest, you could find me at the birthing center, hooked up to the monitor, listening to his heartbeat, watching his heart and movements on the strips the machine spit out. As I think about it, Benny and Desty's temperments were evident from the get-go. Desty enjoyed tender moments, teasing me with spurts of soft baby movements. I swear she was in there rolling, floating to the sounds of bubblies and her garbles, intentionally tickling me with her long toes! At first, I was quite disconforted by her reserved approach of contacting me. In the beginning, in fact, I feared something was wrong with Desty. After some reassurance though, I enjoyed our tender moments together, and I came to really appreciate the lack of abuse she expelled in me. Part of it might be that I was so tired and distracted from keeping up with "the time bomb" (as his daddy lovingly called infant/tot Benny), Desty knew that the best tactic was Hard To Get!

Mommy-Tangent! Oh well, that's what this blog is all about, right?! :-)

Benny's been wanting to play soccer for a long time. I was determined to get him into some kind of soccer program this summer. Unfortunately, I fell short after attempting to fill out a YMCA Soccer Camp application. It required the same verifications as does our Section 8 (housing subsidy) recert. Lacking the time and energy to go through all that, and still pay too much for four mornings of a 45-minute 'Soccer Camp', I threw in the towel.

It was my Assistant's idea and resources that got me back in the ring, but more importantly, Benny into cleats. She comes with a posse of athletes, and one of her friends' agreed to give Benny some soccer lessons. This clip is from Benny's 2nd lesson...check out his perfected Goalie Kick!

Here is a little Benny Soccer album, dedicated to his Mee-Maw, and her soccer-clan, and also to the Cutler's who recently took us to a competitive game ;-)

Now the great soccer news! Desperate to get Benny in a program in the fall, I decided to take a stab at Boulder's NOVA, a soccer club that I've heard has great Junior program. The financial application was one page - no $ info, just questions like, "why do you want your child to play soccer?", and "which of these programs are you on?..."! I hand-delivered it on Friday, and within minutes, rolled away with a full scholarship for Benny - probably for as long as he shall live! Soccer Mom SCORE!!! Honestly, in a time when everything seems like a battle - it lifts my spirits when something is so easy.

Thank you NOVA SOCER CLUB! Benny will be placed on a kindergarten team in two weeks, then play on his own school field in the fall.

And finally, on Wednesday, Benny was allowed to participate in Slide-Time with Desty's swimming class. Watch Big Brother in Action!

Funny, he's so protective of his kid-sister at activities like this, but at home, she needs protection from him!

Our Little Swimmers!

The one constant activity in our lives is Infant Aquatics Survival Swimming Classes. Benny began swimming in June 2007 at nearly age 3; Desty began swimming in September of the same year, and she was a very teeny near 2-year-old.

Both kiddos LOVE swimming, the confidence and freedom that comes with knowing how to be safe while having a blast in the water! Mom and Dad love the comfort of knowing we have done everything we can to make them comfortable, safe and confident in water. The bottom line is that Benny and Desty have a much better chance of surviving the typical water accident than if they were dependent on floaties, an adult or the like. If these kids fell in, they'd automatically roll over, and look for an edge. No swim suit necessary - they've floated in their snow coats and boots!

No, I'm not overly confident - adult supervision is ALWAYS a must, but in an accident, time is the worst enemy. Give kids as many tools as possible to prevent a slip into a pool, a pond, whatever, from turning into an terrible accident. No guarantee...but a sure better chance. Isn't it like teaching a teen to drive safely, or preparing a pre-teen/teen about the pressuures/dangers of sex? Only, the joy and dangers of water come long before driving and hormones! ;)

Now watch our fishies go!



Of course Benny can doggy-paddle and he just moved into Stroke class, but they can both Swim, Float, Swim, which is key to survival. Here in these clips, the kids are focused on swimming, but they can relax and float for a loooooooong time.

Kids Say the Darndest Things!

Dustin and I began writing down and collecting Benny and Desty quotes several months ago. Dustin has posted them on Facebook, but I want to post 'em here too, for everyone's ennjoyment. This is just a short sample from our collection.

HAPPY 4th to you!!

Benny said "Mommy I think I know how your hip got hurt. When you drink Dr.Pepper, it goes down your throat - all the way down - and stays in your hips and that's how your hip got hurt."

"Cheesecake! Cheesecake makes my tummy laugh!" - Destiny

Destiny: Talking tummies are Tummy Dums
Benny: You said a bad word - Tummy DUM!

"Some tummies talk and some don't. I call talking tummies 'Tummy Dums' and I have a Tummy Dum. Part of the name is a half bad word - Tummy DUM" - Destiny

Benny: "Hey, Mom, you know what? WE DRINK MILK FROM COW PEEEEEEEE!"

Destiny: My Leg Hurts
Mommy: Like Mommy?
Destiny: Uh huh
Mommy: Did you have a surgery?
Destiny: Not yet.

Benny: "Hey, Mom, you know what? WE DRINK MILK FROM COW PEEEEEEEE!"

On St. Patricks Day
Benny: Pick out Green!
Destiny: No - Because Mommy Loves Me the way I am (she wanted to wear pink)

Benny: I don't want chicken strips.
Daddy: But these are chicken fingers.
Benny: Chicken Fingers! (runs to kitchen table to eat)

Daddy to Benny: It's not a roll - it's Garlic Bread
Destiny Interjects: There's a spider named Garlic Bread (Charlotte's Web)

"Mom, I want to be a baby again in your tummy and when I come out - I want a Pink Luvy!" - Destiny (Benny gave her a yellow luvy doll at the hospital when she was born)

Mommy: Destiny, do you have a brain?
Destiny: Yes, it's right here. (points to leg)
Mommy: Mine's in my head.
Destiny: Ha! Mine's inside my cheek!

"Daddy, this elephant needs to go potty" - Destiny

"I'm a people-changing dog. Did you know that? In just a minute, I'm gonna turn back into a bad dog." - Benny

"Mom! The dog's gonna scratch your hip!" - Destiny when Benny was playing like a dog

"I Love you Higher than Pluto. Higher!"
- Benny, who was studying space and planets at Sunflower Preschool

"I found this in your room - so it's mine!" - Destiny

"Chomp starts with Chomper." - Destiny
(Chomper is a young T-Rex on The Land Before Time cartoon series)

"I wish you had a Better Brain, Mom! You just Forget. Forget. Forget. Forget." - Benny

Mommy: I love you Darling!
Destiny: I'm not a Doggie, Silly!
Mommy: I love you Darling!
Destiny: I'm not a Dolly, I'm Desty, the Daughter!

Benny: Do you remember when we went to the Cemetary?
Daddy: Arlington Cemetary?
Benny: Yeah. When can we go back and see the Dead People?

Daddy: Be Careful not to step on Mom!
Destiny: I didn't - I stepped on Myself!

Each day, Destiny likes to tell us about the dreams she had the previous night, here is one instance:
"The Soldiers attacked my leg and that's how my leg got hurt Like Mom."
"I was in my Dream, and you weren't - you stayed Home."

"I'm never going to school again, Until I Die!" - Benny

"Huh?" - Destiny

"What?" - Destiny

"Get That Cat Out!" - Destiny, so angry she shakes

"There was a Poopy in the Potty and I tried to Pee it Down." - Benny

Daddy: How did your room get this messy Destiny?
Destiny: A Monster did it!

Daddy: You need to keep that icepack on there for a while so the bump & swelling will stay down.
Destiny: I want it to stay up!