Seahawks, Skittles, and Miracles

Last year, we received a few special things in the mail. 

We LOVE getting mail. 

These things came from fellow 12s, direct from Seattle. 

Thanks Julie

Thanks Dave

They arrived just after this memorable game against the 49ers. NFC CHAMPIONSHIP. If you don't remember this game, then you must have lived under a rock or NEVER turned on a TV, computer, or any sort of social media at ALL last January. I'm thinking it's the rock scenario, for sure. 

Poor Erin Andrews looked terrified, as she interviewed this man, just after he made a huge play to seal the deal. Richard Sherman is an athlete and did not intend to frighten Erin Andrews.  He was just  SUPER pumped up after this play. Of course he's going to be stoked about going to the Super Bowl. Of course he was happy that once again all his trash talk was confirmed. Of course you were either super excited with him, or decided to cheer for the Broncos at that very moment. :)

We clearly were excited for him, and the rest of the Seahawks. 

When it was Super Bowl Game Day, we were prepared to watch the game. 

What do you need to be prepared?

1. Seahawks gear (not a must have, but highly recommended)

2. Skittles (AN ABSOLUTE MUST HAVE)
3. A belief in Miracles (just in case)

Before the game, I put together this board. I wanted my babies to enjoy this special game, like we knew their Daddy would. I wanted them to actually watch the game. This incentive of Skittles, kept their attention.

It was a great game for my babies because we practiced A LOT of counting. 

I mean A FREAKING LOT of counting. 

(So win-win. Learning and Loving the game)

Do you remember the score? 

Here it is in case you forgot.

Seahawks are Champions.

My Sugar was so excited. 

He danced and screamed. 

He jumped up and down. 

He felt true jubilation. 

He thought for sure that because of this win, we would finally agree on a name for our unborn child. 

He was sure in his heart that I would NOW agree to naming her Marshawn'nuh Carroll Westra.

He was wrong.

To help him get over the name refusal, I gave him a ring. This ring was to celebrate the official win. He wore his blue raspberry Ring POP proudly, that he adorned with Skittle jewels. 

He still tried though bless his little, insane heart.

Later on that year, my Sugar was invited by his loving brother Dave to come out to Seattle. To be able to walk on CenturyLink Field, to be part of this memorable experience for the city of Seatlle, and to spend time with other proud 12s, was an amazing experience. Well, he said it was... I wouldn't know because I wasn't invited. (I'm not bitter though, can you tell? :) HA!) 

He loved every minute of it and I am so glad he got to go.

This last season began with a rough start. I won't go into it, because this post is already ridiculously long, and doesn't seem to flow well, but that's okay. 

This post is just about the Seahawks, Skittles, and Miracles. 

And I have been trying to build up to explaining it all. It is just taking me awhile. I never said I was a good writer.

Miracles you might be asking yourself?

Yes, miracles. 

Did you watch this last NFC championship game? 

Did you see Russel Wilson throw a million interceptions? 

Did you see all of the turnovers?

Did you see Aaron Rogers do what Aaron Rogers does?

But, did you also the Richard Sherman's arm almost get snapped in half, AND he kept playing?

But did you see Jon Ryan's touchdown pass on a fake field goal attempt?

Did you see Marshawn Lynch do what he does again, 

and again, 

and again? BEAST MODE

Did you see Luke Willson catch this 2 point conversion late in the 4th quarter?

Did you see Jermaine Kearse catch the game winning touchdown in overtime?

And did you see this man, openly weep and remain HUMBLE throughout it all?

You know why he wears the number 3 right?

You may not agree that these were actually MIRACLES, but you can't deny that they were MIRACULOUS plays.

I am excited for this Sunday's game. I am excited that my Sugar, a born and raised Seattle boy, will have a chance to see his Seahawks go to the Super Bowl for the second year in a row. (We know he needs it, the Mariner's aren't getting it done and didn't Seattle used to have a basketball team?) 

I am excited that my babies will cheer along side their Daddy in the gear happily eating Skittles for the great plays that take place. AND you know they will!

I am excited to see what Miracles will take place this Sunday.

Go HAWKS!

"Shut Up and Dance"

My girl has asked me turn up THIS song by Walk the Moon EVERY time it's on in the car. She sings it loud and it always makes me smile. Although the song is NOT about a father and his daughter, it always makes me think about how much my sweet girl loves her daddy. And how much he truly loves her. She definitely has a power to get her loving daddy to do just about ANYTHING for her, like DANCE.

 

She was so excited one day after school, as she showed me a flier beaming. "It's a Daddy Daughter Dance and now we can finally go on the daddy daughter date that was supposed to happen like forever ago."

 

She talked about it everyday. I LOVED hearing her try and figure out what she should wear. Or what Daddy should wear. How her hair should look. She was hopeful that she could borrow some of my jewelry and girl spray (perfume). It was precious. (Yes, I let her borrow both. Even some blush and lip gloss as well.)

 

But, nothing could top helping her get ready for that special date with her Daddy. She is a pretty lucky girl, BUT I think we are truly the lucky ones to call her ours.

 

"Oh don’t you dare look back
Just keep your eyes on me
I said “You’re holding back”
She said “Shut up and dance with me” This woman is my destiny
She said “Oooooh, shut up and dance with me”

 

 

She took my heart 

I don’t know how it happened 

We took the floor

And she said 

 

 

"Oh don’t you dare look back

Just keep your eyes on me 

I said “You’re holding back”
She said “Shut up and dance with me” This woman is my destiny
She said “Oooooh, shut up and dance with me”

 

 

Deep in her eyes 

I think I see the future
I realize
This is my last chance
She took my arm
I don’t know how it happened
We took the floor
And she said,

 

 

"Oh don’t you dare look back 

Just keep your eyes on me"
I said "you’re holding back"
She said “shut up and dance with me”

This woman is my destiny 

She said “Oooooh, shut up and dance with me.”

 

 

I'm so extremely thankful that my girl will have these special memories with her Daddy to cherish. I lost my Daddy when I was just five years old, and my memories of him are few. Still, I love him and think of him always. As I think back now, I realize how much I really missed by not having my Daddy there.  I missed both little things and big things. Although those opportunities and memories are not mine to cherish, it's okay. I can and do enjoy them through my girl's eyes. 

 

Once a Daddy's girl, ALWAYS a Daddy's girl.

"Pick it. Lick it. Stick it."

My boy is smart. He can count to forty, no problem. He can count to 100 using a hundred number chart. He can count by 10s to one hundred, and has almost mastered counting by 5s. But my sweet little dude has a hard time recognizing 8 & 9 in isolation.

We practice every day that we pick up sister at the hop scotch spot. I say a number and he jumps to it, but it's always hit or miss on 8 & 9.

So we practiced some more.

I got out the deck of face cards, only picking Ace - Ten. Then I had Jack place them in proper number order, I talked about least to greatest. Nothing too deep, because we were just introducing it.

Then we played a number version of the Hedbanz game. We mixed up the cards, and placed them face down. Then, we had to PICK a card, so that you could NOT see your own card, LICK the card and finally, STICK that card on your own forehead. See where Jack came up with "Pick it. Lick it. Stick it."

The next step was that each person had to count out cubes to make the exact amount of what is on your neighbor's card on their forehead. (Important step!) By doing this, you are practicing counting and number recognition. It also allows you to determine exactly which number is sticking to your own forehead. (I hope that made sense, because it DID to me! Ha, but I played it, so I already know how to do it.)

Once we figured out our cards, then we placed them down with the cubes underneath. They were NOT in order.

At the very end of going through all ten cards, Jack was able to better visualize the LEAST to GREATEST talk we had at the beginning of our game. He could see that one cube was definitely smaller (less) than ten (greater). He placed them in order Ace first ALL the way to 7. We didn't make it all the way to ten.

It was a great activity, until Jocelyn destroyed our cubes. :) Cute girl just wanted to play. She likes learning like her brother and sister do.