Why I LOVE Watching Sports

Tonight I just saw one of the best basketball games I've seen in a LONG time. Before Christmas I saw a great high school game where our team all came together and made magic on the court. It was so much fun to watch. But tonight's game was University of Oklahoma and Texas. I only watched from half time, just in time to see Blake Griffin, star sophomore forward, suffer a concussion after taking a blow to the nose. (I kept rewinding it but could not figure out how this happened. I don't know how the ref's see all the little things that they do. It all happens so fast!) You could feel the "uh oh!" in the air. Now we all know that one player does not make a team. And the Sooners demonstrated that tonight! Willie Warren (freshman guard) went on, I believe it was, a 14 point streak shortly thereafter, and I can't tell you how many 3-pointers he made. A LOT. One great 3-point shot went in OFF THE BACKBOARD! His last 3-pointer was followed by what looked like an ankle injury but turned out to be a bad cramp.

Texas had their own heroes, and ended up winning by just a few points. I figured out tonight why I love watching sports so much. I spent most of the day in bed (okay, all of it) because I've been fighting this darn sinus infection and, well, because I could! I started feeling better around 7 pm, but by the time the game ended at 10 pm, the energy from the game came right out of the television and into my body. Even though my team didn't win, I saw some great basketball. It reminded me of the great plays I made as a kid on the field, as well as the great swims that nobody thought I would do. Seeing the talent on the basketball court, I know these guys have such great memories from little league all the way through high school and college. Sure, sometimes we mess up. But those great plays and moves always stick in the brain longer. They make us realize that when we work hard enough for something, we can do great things.

I also like watching little league games. I've seen a number of kids make awesome plays and it feels so good to know that when they are attempting something difficult in their lives, they will probably remember that play, and realize they CAN do it. My daughter is learning, at the tender age of 6, what hard work can accomplish. She started taking gymnastics at the Y this month, and while she only has class one day each week, she has practiced just about every day at home. The progress she has made is absolutely amazing. She has always loved tumbling and swinging. She had a natural ability to walk on the beam, even as a toddler. But she is now learning what her body is capable of and how she can teach it to do a handstand, cartwheel, or back walkover, and how much easier it gets each time she starts a new practice session. She is learning SO MUCH through this, all on her own! (And I can't wait to show her the DVR'd "Tyson American Cup" where 13 year old Jordyn Wieber won the competition).

So when I watch sports and see improvement or just some awesome plays, I know that people out there are putting their all into something, and you know, I guess it just makes you realize that there are still good things happening in the world. And no matter what the decade, every generation has that in common!

The CPSIA Meets Dr. Suess

If you know anything at all about the crazy legislation regarding lead testing for children's products, you will appreciate this wonderful "Dr. Suess" style poem!

http://www.easyfunschool.com/the_CPSIA_meets_Dr_Seuss.html

Sick in the City...Country...Wherever!

I've been on facebook a lot lately, and it seems like people everywhere have something right now, or their kids do. It all hit at the same time, right around the middle of January. Sure, it's cold and flu season, but it almost feels like these things are going through the internet! I was super healthy, working out everyday, when it hit me. First I woke up with some really bad gunk. I still blame this on cleaning the bathroom with a chlorox product, which I usually run from. A few days later, I lost my voice. Within a week, I was 100% better, and the next day, I woke up with something else! So for the past two weeks I have been coughing, blowing, and sniffing. I have never in my life encountered so much gunk! Seriously! I woke up Monday with such a bad headache, I knew that the gunks had over populated every possible cavity in my skull. I would blow my nose every two minutes and there was just more again ready to come out right after. My hearing was bad...it was time to go to the doc. So I went, and got a z-pak and some sort of decongestant that didn't seem to work at first. But tonight, after a little more than 24 hours, I can finally taste my food again! My nose is drying up, my cough is calmed down, and I think I just might live! Chances are, you or a child is sick right now. I feel for ya! Sometimes they just sneak in there. If you aren't, keep eating your veggies, wash your hands a lot, and stay awa y from the sick folk! My kids stay healthy by taking their vitamins. Also, try and get more sunshine this winter. Dr. Mercola blames cold and flu season on lack of vitamin D. I believe him! I tan once a week during winter, and when I didn't for a couple of weeks...I got sick! Coincidence? Perhaps...

Super Bowl is over...now what?

I guess I'll keep on watching basketball, but there's something disappointing about the end of the football season! College football has been over for about a month, and it's been fun watching the NFL playoffs. And I guess basketball started over a month ago. I've been watching basketball and the thing about basketball is that there is ALWAYS a game on! With football, they don't play as often, so I guess it's easier to appreciate Saturdays or Sundays for the games and doing absolutely nothing while you cheer on your favorite teams.

Anyway, it was a great game last night. I wanted the Cardinals to win, but even though it wasn't the outcome I hoped for, I can't complain about the game. It was up, down, right, left! Awesome entertainment and something you could not script if you wanted to. I secretly hope that Kurt Warner decides to play another year and that they make it to the Super Bowl next year. This was a miracle year, but next year, who knows? I've seen them make some amazing plays and darn it, I want to see some more!

Britax Car Seats on Sale

If you need a new car seat and want a Britax, now is a great time to shop! Just hop on over to Amazon and you will see all the Britax car seats on sale, up to 20% off! Sale ends February 15, 2008, so hurry!

Sale includes Boulevard, Frontier, Roundabout, Marathon, Regent, Decathlon, and Diplomat. These are available in many cute styles and prints!

My kids both use the Britax Regent. They are 7.5 and 6. We've had them for almost two years or so, and they loved them from the get go. We chose this seat instead of a "booster" because it has a 5-point harness system, which is safer for kids than just the seatbelt. My older child is asking when he will be able to stop using a car seat, and I'm not sure. The laws seem to change every year, and even when he's old enough, I don't think he will meet weight requirements. Make sure you check your state requirements if you are not sure, but I know I've read that no matter what your law is, kids are safer in car seats up to age 8, and even longer if they are particularly small. Looking online just now, most sources say that 4' 9" is the height they need to reach, and they need to weigh 80 lbs. to get out of their booster/car seat. Mine will probably stay in their Regents until the straps cannot go any higher and they can't buckle them anymore! (My 7.5 year old is under 60 lbs. ; I'm not expecting him to gain 20 lbs. in the next few months!)