The Orange Cheerleaders

My daughter's t-ball season is going remarkably well. We're half way through the season and she's only had one practice and one game. The other twelve events have been canceled due to rain.

On the one day in April when the baseball fields were dry enough to allow competition, the coaches had a lot on their agendas: in addition to teaching thirteen six-year-old girls the fundamentals of the game, they also had to come up with and agree on a team name.

My daughter's team color is orange, which was cause for much wailing and gnashing of teeth.
"Why couldn't our uniforms be pink?" she whined. "It's not fair!"

Clearly this sentiment was shared by many, if not all of Camber's teammates. Three girls had to be shoved into their uniforms against their will and a fourth showed up to the game wearing a skirt and hot pink leggings. That girl just happened to be the coach's daughter.

"Put your uniform on, NOW!" he growled. His daughter responded by asking her father if anyone brought snacks and if so, when they would be distributed.

I immediately made a mental note to invite this girl over to our house for a play date.

To this credit, the poor coach tried his best to find the positives in the hardship of having orange uniforms and a daughter who refused to wear it.

"Who wants to throw out an idea for a team name?" he asked.

Sadly, the process of selection was postponed for several minutes while the coach dragged his daughter--who was writhing in agony on the grass--off the field and into the arms of the girl's very annoyed mother.

"No you cannot sit in my lawn chair!" the woman snapped as her daughter tried to take her seat.

The delay gave the remaining girls just enough time to think up a sensible team name.

"I know!" yelled one girl. "How about the Orange Cheerleaders?"

There was a collective gasp followed by a round of wild yelps and cheers. All was right in the world once again.

"Any other ideas?" the coach asked.

Camber raised her hand. "I like the Orange Elephants," she said. Her teammate's response to her suggestion was less than enthusiastic. Not surprisingly, my daughter's suggestion was outvoted 13-0.

"Why didn't you vote for your own idea?" I asked later.

My daughter looked at me like I was the head cheerleader at a leper colony.

"An orange elephant?" she said tartly. "That's ridiculous."




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Today I'm spotlighting my son Cameron's future wife, a little sweetheart named Bela (I hope she likes younger men!).



Bela is a one-year-old cutie born with a rare congenital heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Basically, God was so sad when Bela was born that he kept half of her heart with Him in Heaven. Bela spends a lot of time in the hospital, so we figured that if she's got to be an inpatient, then she at least she's going to be a cute and hip one! Is she not the most precious thing?!


Baby Bela, Here's what is headed your way: a handmade crochet hat from Stitchin' Time Crochet! Made to your specifications, this super soft hat will glamorize your hospital gown and keep you stylin' through all your upcoming procedures. So cute!



You'll also be getting a deliciously cute gift pack from MiniMe Baby Gear.
MiniMe is one of the hottest baby boutiques in the universe. Designed for an on-the-go girl like yourself, your gift set includes:

* One Wet Happened? wet bag (I wonder: Do they make these for postpartum women as well?)
* One Sip and Snack feeder
* One Perfect Feeder
* One Dwink Box

Retail value: $38!

For Bela's mom Avery, we have a one-year subscription to Eliza Magazine. Hopefully some light reading about your favorite celebs and lots of modestly sexy clothes will make your clinic visits pass by a little more quickly.


Bela: I speak for everyone at the Meanest Mom blog when I say that we're praying for you, rooting for you, and wishing you all the best!

Thanks Sponsors!