What To Expect As a First-Time Soccer Mom

Today I have an article on familyshare.com about our first experience with our kids playing soccer this spring - What to Expect as a First-Time Soccer Mom. If you haven't been to familyshare.com yet you should check it out. It's an awesome website with great resources for families.

This spring, my 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter played on soccer teams for the first time. If you haven’t had the experience of watching young children play soccer before, trust me it is entertaining and sometimes quite hilarious to watch.

Last Saturday was their final game. Following their games, it was very cute to see both children receive their Valuable Player trophies with such pride. As I watched my little ones walk back to the car, trophies and team pictures in hand, I thought I noticed a bit of newfound confidence in their steps. They were soccer players and had actually received an award for it. It was good for them to have the experience of playing on a team and feeling accomplishment from it, regardless of their skill. I chalked up our first go at soccer as a successful one.

Yes, the experience was a fun one. But of course, as in any experience, there are lessons to be learned along the way. Here are some valuable ones I learned this season which will most likely be the first of many soccer seasons to come:

Read the rest of the article here.

Hope for peace on earth, good will to men this holiday season

Like most of you, I’ve been extremely distraught since hearing the news of the shootings in Newtown, Conn., earlier this month. I find myself getting teary-eyed over seemingly small things that pop up in unexpected moments: smiles from my children, a song on the radio, a commercial, and of course a news blip reporting something related to the tragedy.

I first heard about what had happened when my husband called me from work the morning of Dec. 14 and relayed to me the unthinkable news he had just read online. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t want to believe it. Of course, the first thing I thought of was my own children.

I didn’t turn the TV to a news channel all day, not wanting to risk my 4- and 3-year-old children hearing about the horrific event. After awhile I pulled up the Internet on my phone and found a recap article of what had happened. Usually when something big in the news takes place I read an article online and then hop over to another, and another, trying and glean information and viewpoints from a couple different sources. But this time I couldn’t even stomach that one article. I got halfway through and felt sick. I had to stop reading.

Finally that night, after the kids were all settled down and in bed....

Read the rest of this article here on ksl.com.

Thanks for reading :).

The unintended consequences of using polite words

I have a story on ksl.com today - The unintended consequences of using polite words. This was a funny little experience I had with Luke that made me laugh and smile, and was also a little eye opening. It's funny how kids interpret things that will surprise us. 

Are you (or me) a "Mom Jean" offender?

I had this article on ksl.com yesterday - Are you (or me) a "Mom Jean" offender?

Mom Jeans...should we avoid them, or embrace them? 

It's up to you!

One of the best compliments I've ever been given

I had this article on ksl.com yesterday - One of the best compliments I've ever been given.

Thanks to my Lukey guy for the sweet compliment :).

What would you save if your home was about to be destroyed?

I realized I never posted this article I had a couple months back, so here is the link. What would you save if your home was about to be destroyed?

Lessons learned from talking on the phone while driving (Deseret News article)

Here is the link to an article I had in the Deseret News/online this past Thursday, "Lessons learned from talking on the phone while driving".