Random Thoughts

Well, the fall soccer season is officially over. Can I get an AMEN. Zoey's team ended up winless and Paige had to miss her last game because she has strep throat. The beautiful fall weather made the games so much more enjoyable however. (If you live in Michigan, you know I'm fibbing.)


Paige came home with a helpful card about "How to Handle Bullies, Teasers, and other Meanies". (Our school district has an excellent program called Project Charlie that works with elementary through middle school students to teach kids how to make good choices. Prevention vs. intervention - good strategy for life and parenting.) Anyway, I got an absolute kick out of their ideas so I thought I would share them.

Say "that's bothering me, please stop." (Obviously, they have never met my husband, this just encourages him.)

Ignore it and walk away. (Not a realistic option to those of us with short fuses. We never walk away.)

Give a witty comeback. ("Your point is?" "Whatever!!!!" "No, really?")

Agree in a funny way. (For example, someone tells you your breath is bad and you say, "I know, thanks for noticing!" How can they really feel like they teased you after you say that.)

And my personal favorite. Confuse them with a compliment/kindness. (For example, when my dad once told me in my first trimester that I was really big I should have said, "I really like your shoes.")

I love it when we can empower our kids & teach them how to use humor!

Ziglet, Zo-Zo, Zozalina

Zoey has always had many nicknames. Lately, she has been given this one time & time again by her daddy, our friends, and especially by Grandpa Pettinga - "mini - Laurie". It is kind of strange to look at her and know that when I was her age, I looked almost identical. Now the only question is: When are the freckles coming? :) The other day I asked her if she could put on her socks and she said, "Why do I have to do everything? Am I your maid?" Nice Zo, very nice. And just for the record, I don't think you can acheive the title of "maid" when you rarely make your own bed, have your clothes magically laid out every morning, and your snack is always packed in your backpack for kindergarten by mom.

Fall into Fall

Yes, I do like pictures of my kids playing in leaves. And I love reading books to my little dragon. Check out Zoey in her costume (she was looking down and so her face is completely hidden.) She has decided that since Halloween is coming soon, she needs to try on her costume daily. Two entries in two days - just for my friend Fabes who was worried about my blogging hiatus. :)

I am studying Acts in Community Bible study this year and found these passages to be inspiring this week. When we come to God and ask for something ... he will answer.
Acts 4:29 & 31:"Now Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness." After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."

My Husband, the Indian Princess

Jeff organized a fun event this weekend for the Indian Princesses (now called Y Guides because it is more P.C.) This is Jeff & Paige's 2nd year of Y Guides and they both enjoy this father/ daughter group. They went letterboxing at Seidman Park in Ada yesterday. For those of you who don't have a clue what letterboxing is, let me briefly explain it. Letterboxing is an outdoor treasure hunt where you follow clues to find a box hidden in the woods. Once you find it, you read their log book and stamp your journal with their stamp and can sign your name and put your stamp in their log book. Here are just a couple pics of yesterday's big event ... and it was big baby. My ever capable hubby made homemade caramel corn, bought granola to eat on the trail, and packed an entire cooler full of picnic food. I was impressed and yet, a little bit mystified. After all, if he can get this all together on his own - why doesn't he help me more when we have company over? :)

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!

Ladies and gentlemen ... it is with great pleasure that I report that after watching my daughters play ten soccer games - we finally have a W in the Guikema home. Oh yeah. The drought has lifted. The month of September found us 0-8 and a little concerned about the future of women's soccer. :) Paige's team finally won today but Zoey's team is still 0-5 (I blame the Coach entirely ... oh wait, that's me.) Both girl's are learning a lot and having fun and the highlight of each game continues to be having a sugary snack after it. Coaching five year old's has been interesting and I have to say my competitive side came out a little today when I saw a girl on the opposing team using her arms a bit too much. After watching her manhandle my girls and go on a breakaway right at me, I just had to stick my foot out and tell her to watch it with those arms. I didn't exactly stop the ball or her forward march down the field ... but I got her to pause, if only for a second. I know, I'm rude. Her mom asked if that was interference and I just laughed and said, "well, she needs to watch it a little." She nodded and kept cheering her "princess" on. (This little lady came strutting up to midfield at the beginning of the game and struck a pose, lost her shoe two times while kicking and made everyone wait while she put it back on, and got "injured" and laid on the ground for a full minute going "oh my gosh" - read as OH MY GOSH.) I feel my actions were more than justified. Wait, am I really trying to teach a valuable life lesson in the middle of a game? :)

Fall Collage

These are the beautiful fall colors found at our house. Our maple tree has four colors right now - green, red, yellow, & orange. In the words of Wheezie on 'Dragon Tales' - "LOVE IT!"

Ohhhhhhhhh Kids

This blog entry is entitled: Things my kids can say to me ... but if you did, it would just be wierd. (Remember, these are real quotes from my kids.)

1. "I don't have a peanut. I'm a girl!"

2. "I like your new underwear."

3. "I need more paper toilet."

4. "Look how big my poop is!"

5. "Why are your boobs so floppy?"

This picture is to document how two year old boys feed fish. This earned 'ole Zach a timeout and a spanking tonight. (By the way, no I did not even giggle a little because this was the third time we lost an entire canister of fish food. The first two went in the toilet followed by a big flush!)