Typical Saturday...

Saturdays can be quite busy around the Wilcox household.  There are times when it seems like we are always running around, going here, there and everywhere.  I decided to take a moment and create a flowchart of this past Saturday to see if it was just my imagination. (Note: Luckily daughter #1-Ali, had nothing until 5pm and slept until Noon)  Here it is for you to decide and compare:
(click on graphic for full view)

1A: (6:45 AM) - Terry and Brooke have to be at softball fields in Winchester for 7AM pictures and to work at the snack bar.

1B: (7:10 AM) - Jerhi returns home after dropping them off to wake-up boys (TD, Chase).

2A: (7:50 AM) - Jerhi takes TD and Chase to do some weeding for a ward member so they can earn money for their summer Scout Camps.

2B: (8:00 AM) Jerhi heads back over to Winchester for Brooke's 8AM softball game.

3: (10:00 AM) - Jerhi, Terry, Brooke head home from the softball game.

4A: (12:30 PM) - Pick up TD and Chase from work assignment.

4B: (12:45 PM) - Grab them some lunch and head home to get ready for 5A and 5B.

5A: (2:00 PM) - Drop off TD at another friends house to do odd jobs to earn money for summer Scout Camp

5B: (2:15 PM) - Drop off Chase at Wheat Field for his baseball game.

5C: (2:30 PM) - Return home (this actually also included a stop at the church and post office)

6A: (3:30 PM) Jerhi goes to Chase's baseball game with Brooke (Here is where Terry and Jerhi split up as the need to be in two places at once).

7A: (4:00 PM) Terry picks up TD from work assignment #2

7B: (4:20 PM) Terry|TD return home to get ready for 8A

8A: (5:00 PM) - Terry|TD|Ali head to San Diego Temple for youth temple assignment (along with the rest of the YM/YW)

6B: (5:30 PM) - Jerhi|Chase|Brooke head home after Chase's baseball game

8B: (9:30 PM) Terry|TD|Ali head home after completing assignment and after the traditional "In and Out" stop.

Time to rinse and repeat for next Saturday!

The Youngest Gold Digger

Softball is a new experience for the Wilcox family. As Brooke decided that "Boys Stink" and it would be much funner to play softball with friends from school, we have had to adapt to a new approach to youth sports.  It's girls softball (and we have just gotten over the learning curve of girls volleyball with Ali, the BIG learning curve) and we or better said Brooke is a Gold Digger (no idea the significance of the names, last year she was a Flaming Hot Cheeto.

Of course there is "no crying in baseball or softball" (I had that linked to that scene from "League of Their Own" but then playing it back I realized how much cussing there was in the clip, so I unlinked it as this is a family site and Mom just wouldn't approve), but that is hard to learn for a bunch of 9-10 years old that get hit with a ball that contrary to the name is really not that soft.

 

It is also interesting how many more rules are recognized in the softball leagues that are not in Little League Baseball, like; advancing on a dropped 3rd strike and stealing bases when you wish.  The part that is really entertaining are the chants, cheers, and skits performed by the girls in the dugouts during a game.  Not only is it perfectly accepting to taunt and make fun of the other team, you are encourages and expected to do it with style.  We are not just talking about "pitcher's got a rubber arm"... here are a couple of my favorites:

We don't play with barbie dolls (2 times)
we just play with bats and balls (2 times)
we dont wear no minny skirt (2 times)
we just wear pants and t-shirts (2 times)
we dont drink no lemonade (2 times)
we just drink our powerade (2 times)
so if I were you, I'd scoot your booty back (3 times)
but I'm not you so I'd stay where your at (3 times)

There she goes just a walkin' down the line,
Singin' do‐waa‐diddy‐diddy‐dum‐diddy‐do.
Pointing her finger and laughin' at you,
Singin' do‐waa‐diddy‐diddy‐dum‐diddy‐do.
ball two, ball three, ball four,
C'mon pitcher walk some more.
Do‐waa‐diddy‐diddy‐dum‐diddy‐do,
Next batter up says WALK ME TOO!

The Start of the 2010 Baseball/Softball Season

So starts another season of baseball/softball with the running around to different practices, games etc. I can't complain because 99.9% of that running around is done by Terry. No coaching or team mom duties for us this year.  We get to be little league parents with the occasion "snack mom" duties.

As we reach a time in our lives where we have 2 kids that have aged out of Little League, and only a couple years left for those that remain, I have some advice for those parents out there that are knee-deep or even kneck-deep in it all.

1. Skip the banners - they get hung on the dugout and after the initial "that's cute", which the boys after the age of 6 don't care about, they only get in the way (block the view) and then shortly get forgotten.
2. After the age of 11, skip the snacks. Under the age of 12 ther are surely kids that play ONLY for the snack that is given at the end of the game. But after the age of 12 they should play for the love of the game not for the "snack pack" that is put together by the "snack mom".
3. Snack pack competition - let's get serious parents, the competition should be on the field not among the snack moms that compete to see who can put together the best snack pack that many times seems to include all the major food groups along with 7 different types of processed sugar. What ever happened to the traditional "Snow Cone".
4. Picture Day - An age old traditional that will mark my words be forgotten. In this day and age where most soccer moms have better DSLR than the agency taking the pictures, and those that don't know someone that does, paying and posing for a pic of you kid standing there with a stupid grin doesn't compare to the action shots that the photo moms capture each and every game.




Chase would play baseball 365 days a week if he was given the chance, and is excited for each and every moment of baseball. Finally getting out of the shadow of his older brother, Chase while not talking much, carries a big stick, otherwise known as a bat and let's that do the talking. A great eye for the ball, he usually gets on base, and now is developing the power to get multiple bases per hit.

Brooke is strong willed player (that is a nice way of saying a player with attitude). Growing up with 2 older brothers and an athletic older sister, has pushed her to be fearless. After 3 years of baseball (easier on the parents to have the kids on one field), Brooke enters her second season of softball as the star player on her team. She controls the field from her catcher position, letting the players, coaches and umpire know who is really in charge.

Stop by for a game, they are easy to catch during the next couple of months, it is now one (1) down and about eighteen(18) each to go.

Scout Camp: Joshua Tree National Park

Nothing like a winter camp in Southern California, although it probably did get down to the high 40's. It's fun going with the boys, and I enjoy it even more so as two of the boys are my own, TD and Chase.

 

 

Here's they are all looking so innocent at the top of Mastodon Peak.

 

If you are really brave, look at this rare footage of the mammal known as "Scout-O-Sauras" in their habitat. Warning: Not for young children or those with a weak stomach. Although no "Scout-O-Sauras" were harmed in the filming.

Moments...

There are moments when all seems like it will turn out okay...peace in the world and all that. But then those moments pass and it is back to the rat race.

It's so important to slow down, take those moments and enjoy them.  With the way these kids are growing there won't be many left.

Here comes the Sun

The sun is out and shining again here in The 'Fee. Although lots of drying to take place. On my morning walk around the lake you could see lots of evidence of the flooding that took place.

Paloma park, will be used by ducks this weekend in lieu of family and little leaguers.

Wet BBQ'ing

The Parking lot.

And since it is appropriate why not take a listen to my favorite Beatles song.

A Broken Leg and Crazy Glue

 

Read more about A broken Leg and Crazy Glue over at Eaten By an Ogre.

Less Meetings = More BBQ

The weekends are usually days for BBQ (not that I need an excuse), and this weekend even more so as Stake Conference brought fewer "misc. meetings", and time to fire up the Traeger.

You gotta love it when these before pics after 2-3 hours with some

hickory, maple and apple wood turn into...

juicy BBQ as this...

especially when using the rest of that Everett & Jone's BBQ sauce as discussed over here.

A Visit from Grandpa and Grandma

This past week we had the pleasure of Grandma and Grandpa Wilcox visiting with us for a few days. It was great to have them, and we took advantage of the great California weather to do a few things.   It all started out with the wedding of Erin Cannon, where we got to see family that we usually don't get to see except for major life events such as these.  One thing I noticed though, was even though we had not seen many of the family members for a long while, it still felt that we knew who they were, and what was happening in their lives thanks to blogs (many linked to the right) and Facebook.  It really showed me the value of blogging and micro-blogging to keep friends and family up to date on what is going on.

It was great having Grandma and Grandpa for the week full of activities from fishing to horse racing, movies and more.

Bring on 2010

It's 2010, another year of the kids getting a little taller, more expensive and a bit more lovable. Ali is racing through her Sophomore year and saying one of those teen-age phrases that make her dad cringe, "Learner's Permit". TD is so ready to go to high school this year as he has passed almost everyone in height and wants to play some real football. We are hoping that 2010 will be the year that Chase finally talks, and carries on a conversation with someone as we know that once he finally talks he will have something important to say. Then there is Brooke, well we don't want her to grow up and I don't think she does either, she enjoys being the youngest that gets away with everything with the full teasing and protection of the the threee older ones.

It's exciting to see what 2010 will bring and we have the full hope and faith that we will rise to any challenges it will bring, as well as enjoy the blessings that come along with it.

Fourth of July at Grandma's House!

We had a great dinner, grilled on Grandpa's new grill. The kids had a fun time playing on the tramp, going down the slide and watching Phil light the snakes. After dinner, we had fun watching a few Utah (read boring) fireworks. A fun family fourth of July!

Cousins (April 2009)

It was a couple of days with all the cousins; runnings, jumping, swimming, flying kites and then we all left the hotel rooms and went to the beach.

For all the cousin pictures that Terry was running around taking, go here and download and print as you desire.

I'm hoping...

that I see lots of fun pictures from everyone that went to California! I hope you are all having a great time. All animals that we are caring for are great :)

Random...

... And Now

I love looking at old pictures! I could do it all day.

It's so fun to look back at how cute my brothers and sister and dog were when they were so small!

Ali's Club Volleyball

While we are waiting for baseball season to start. Ali is keeping things busy with her club volleyball. She plays for the Temecula Viper Volleyball Club, and has practices every Tuesday/Thursday from 5pm to 8pm and then tournaments (notice I say tournaments, it is an all day, or multiple all day affair) every other weekend.

She is good at it., really good! It amazes me when I think back and thought that the little 8 year old that wouldn't leave the house, because she was afraid of dogs, is now this in your face volleyball player.

Arrow of Light

It was cub scout pack meeting tonight, and Chase earned his Arrow of Light. You should have seen the excitement on his face...not! The best part of the night for me was when they were making the announcements for upcoming events a la "Blue and Gold Banquet" and Chase, the kid of very few words leaned over and said, "I don't have to go to that right? I am done with cub scouts?!"

Yes Chase, you are now officially out of cub scouts, and into boy scouts, and now the real fun starts. You soon can trade in those belt loops for merit badges, nerf guns for BB guns and pinewood derby cars for real cars.

Winter days in San Diego

I post this not to gloat, well maybe to gloat just a little bit. But yesterday with a day off from work or school we went to the beach. Yes the beach, in January, it was around 80 degrees and plenty warm for some fun in the sun. Someone had to do it, and after all we pay for all this Sun with our "California Sun Tax"!



For family and friends you are welcome to come join us...anytime!

Move along...not much to see here

Alas the news from the Wilcox clan has been a bit lacking lately...the holidays and then getting back into the swing of things has caused a slow down in the blog world. But if you bored and don't know what else to do you can always check out Jerhi's blog and see the latest of happenings of:

- His latest tweets (at the source)
- Real Hero Posters
- Free Realms (It's coming...go sign up for the beta)

Hannukah Party

Last night the SoCal Wilcox clan were invited and attended a Hannukah Dinner at the Temple Beth Sholom , along with the Sobek's, Hilton's and Phillipson's.

Hannukah, the first successful fight for religious freedom in the world. People had been forced to pray as the ruler prayed.

In 167 B.C.E., a group of Jews, lead by the family of Mathathias of Modi'n, sent up a cry that they would not desecrate the name of G-d or abandon the laws of Moses .They were willing to fight the mighty empire of Antiochus IV of Syria, to preserve their freedoms, or die in the attempt. Their battle, and the Miracle of the Lights that went with the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem, is remembered to this day.

Today, people around the world stand up and proclaim their inalienable right to worship in their own way, and to be free from political oppression. This right belongs to all people.

Everyone was very friendly and made us feel right at home. The food was good, the conversation interesting and the singing, well not so much.

Little Brookelynn even won a door prize!

Christmas at GG's

Every year the Saturday before Christmas we have our family Christmas Party at GG's. Lots of food including the icecream drink, tons of people, decorations and even Santa are at our party. We really missed those of you that were not with us and hope to see you soon.

Most special is the Nativity scene this year acted out by the children. We had Mary and Joseph with Baby Nic as "Baby Jesus", along with the shepherds, Wisemen and a multitude of angels.