The Brady Bunch

You know how you let your kids try out all kinds of sports and extra-curricular activities in an effort to find where their talents and interests lie? Some parents even put their children in every sport year after year so that they are back to back scheduled from basketball to baseball soccer and then football....all year long. I think those moms enjoy the chaos!!! Who wants to take the kids to/from all those practices and games which, let's be honest, really means going through the McD's drive-thru several times a week?! Not to mention your sanity Saturday is no longer that--it's ALL about the kids-ALL WEEK LONG!

I think it wears kids out (and mom& dad too) having so much scheduled for them and doesn't allow a child to be just that...a child. What ever happened to the Brady Bunch and just good 'ole family fun at home? (BTW, Brady Bunch re-runs are a big hit at our house)! We're only missing one INTEGRAL part of that picture.. what happened to our Alice? She's WAY under-rated.

Anyway, the bigger part is that when you schedule a child, you schedule an adult and there's only 2 of us to go around! What gives??? It's a laborious task that we, as parents do for our children...who typically don't appreciate all that goes into the loaded question, "Mom, can I sign up for basketball?"

It really tugs at the bank account and the gas tank especially with six children, four of which are in sports, dance, scouts, achievement days or music of some sort...not to mention school and all its homework, fundraisers, projects, book reports, etc etc. I'm tired just thinking about it!

So, we've given our oldest the time to figure out what it is they enjoy and we think 3rd-5th grade is about the time they can finally decide and hone in on ONE sport and ONE music skill/talent having tried EVERYTHING. And we're sticking to it! (At least this year...)

Brayden fell in love with baseball last spring and because we won't let him continue with Pop Warner Football (concussion last year) he's sticking to baseball until the middle school flag football team becomes an option next year. Ever since he was in K, he's had an interest in violin. We were lucky enough to get him into lessons this year given by the San Marcos Symphony Youth Orchestra. So far so good! Isn't he so grown-up??!!

McKenzie has begged to try tennis, which is a great year-round option here in So. Cal. She just completed her first round and we need to find another instructor...hers more than stinks! She's been playing piano and does quite well but we're also in the market for a new teacher. She and Mons have taken piano for a year through our after school program but it's not individualized enough to keep their interest and develop their skill.

Monson is pretty much great at everything. Not that our other kids aren't. He's just got that extra bit of something with everything he touches. He's a natural athlete and has quickly excelled in everything he's tried. He shoots hoops with his 'best friend,' Mackynzie, across the street (she's 14...and really nice to Monson...you fill in the blanks). Monson just started playing basketball in a league this week and he says he's sticking to it. He's an incredibly talented pianist...he plays by ear. He wasn't great with this piano program we had him in because when you don't care too much about theory and read notes too well you're shoved aside. He composes his own music and adds his friend's guitar into it...amazing. He hears something on a CD that he likes and goes to the piano to figure it out. We need to find him a good Suzuki Method Teacher here so he can fully develop this talent. Who knows what lies ahead for Monson.

Lexie is taking a tap/ballet class once a week that she calls 'her preschool.' I finally got her registered for the local preschool starting right after Thanksgiving. She's already carting around a backpack that's 10x her size just because it has wheels and practices playing school with her baby dolls.

Izzie is just the spunky little 2-year-old. Our friend gave her a talking/yelling/screeching cheerleader doll that her daughter outgrew and I'd like to THANK her for that!! We definitely needed more noise in THIS house! It actually is really cute and funny to see Izzie dance and sing along to the cheer songs, having memorized all of them already...with that same sparkle in her eye that Monson has. Who can resist?

Tomorrow is ALL ABOUT VIVIANA. She turns 6 months....BIG milestone...stay tuned.