I should probably expand on my previous post. My children were not interested in team sports and I never pointed them in that direction except for a couple of seasons of soccer when they were 4 through 6 years of age. Soccer is very popular and inexpensive to play in this town and just about EVERY child plays a few seasons with the local soccer association. Even at this wee age the parents were coaching and hollering from the sidelines. The coaches were all parent coaches. The kids were small and they all played in a little clump up and back and seemed not to care what the score was, if the score was even tallied. I don't recall. It seemed harmless enough. It was fine and we moved on to gymnastics. I put my kids in gymnastics because I was concerned that they develop awareness of and enjoyment in using their bodies. I figured gymnastics would help both of them develop upper body strength and coordination while young. It worked out well. Gymnastics gave them both a great basis. Both of them are strong, slim, muscular, and seem to pick up any sport easily. But neither of them have any interest in team sports. Yes, some people are athletes, some are not. But everyone can and should be physically active and can find enjoyment in athletic endeavor and an appreciation of sports. And some kids may not have enormous natural talent but if they have inner drive coupled with encouragement and coaching some of them are able to develop skills and confidence. I think the focus on team sports and winning leaves these kids behind. Never mind the total non-athletics. I don't know that there is a solution. PE teachers only have so much time and a whole lot of kids. They probably also have goals and agendas that are mandated. I really don't know. And parents who aren't involved or being fitness role models themselves do not help the problem either.

hope all goes according to schedule and he cooperates with pt people...that was the worst thing with my mother, as she was in constant pain...and of course would rather sit than stand! but i did get her home and she finally realize no one else was going to be there, she buckled down and did everythig she could...(i lived in mi, she in las vegas) there are several things you can do to prep for dh...will he need a walker? shower chair? and sadly the furbabies are going to learn to see and hear these things... you mentioned his mancave is on a lower level...how are the stairs and railings? be sure to tell the pt about the number of stairs ect, that was one thing they worked very hard with mother..(her mobile home had stairs to get up and in) take advantage of the home care..caution! take plenty of notes cause they say a couple of weeks but it's more like 3-5 visits total! medicare has so much fine print! grrrr... i'm so greatful you have an extended church family...that means so much... looking foward to your updates!!!

SGS9 is spending part of this weekend with us for the first time in over a year to year and a half. I am picking him up after school today from the far out burbs and bringing him home. DS7 will be at an afterschool playdate while I am driving just to keep things simple. DH will take him home Sunday before church. DH has committed to spending time with the boys, taking them to the park, possibly Disneyland. I think Disneyland is going overboard but hey, I'm just happy he wants to take them somewhere together HIMSELF. If the weather is nice it just may be the beach for bikes and volleyball. Planning this little visit has put me back in touch with SS30 and GF/babymama. It's weird talking to them now but the conversations have stayed on the logistics of this visit. GF/babymama told me that BM said "how nice of LAmom to take him etc etc." Blech! Both parents asked me if other kids will be around as they know we often have playdates with a bunch of kids but to keep things simple I'm not planning that. SGS9 has already asked how many kids will be at our house. Sigh, just you and DS7 this time. We have a long way to go before any more parties. SGS9 has just been put on a three week detention at school for fighting, again. Poor kid is so troubled. DH and I discussed and decided that it is for SS to discipline his child in whatever way and that we would just play the indulgent grandparents. I've laid in some treats I know SGS9 likes. I plan to play it light and loose. DH will be at the helm for whatever activities not me. However, all have agreed that if there are ANY problems, SGS9 goes right back home. A separate but interesting development, SD36's high paying job is at major risk and she may be getting a pink slip as early as Monday through no fault of her own. We had a nice talk yesterday and she may go to work for DH as early as next week. My idea and they both like it. I know, I know, when will I learn? If she works for DH I will talk to her everyday practically and start seeing her often as I will be training her on DH's business needs. Hmmm...for the good? Good for her, she needs the work, good for DH, he needs the help, good for me and DS7 as we will start seeing her a lot. She's been the nicest to us so I was glad to help her out this time. Interestingly she volunteered that BM is going to help her financially for the first time in her life! She said that BM, SS and his crew are going to have to wean themselves off of her support, I just listened without comment. She doesn't even want to see SGS9, her nephew, during his stay this weekend since it usually means clothes buying, video buying, restaurant going gimme gimme. Wow. She lives less than 10 minutes away but said "drive the long way around with him." Wish us luck.

lynnski, you've given me a great idea. Our kitchen, dining area, and LR are essentially one big room except for the pantry wall that separates the kitchen from the LR. If you look at the third pic from the top you'll see a little bookcase built into my cabs where I keep cookbooks. This end of the cabs faces, and is only a few feet from, the dining area. I've thought those cookbooks don't look right; DH says they look "junky." Anyway, I put the biggest Chinese horse in there all by himself, with the blue Chinese box you see in the cookbook photo underneath him, with only one very low shelf. He looks great, and carries on the living room feeling into the dining area. Only questions I have are that there's not much contrast between him and the oak bookcase, and also it might look a little stark. I'll post a pic on a new thread when I can get one. I'm thinking the cookbooks (I keep them neatly) will transfer their "junkiness" to the top of the cabs if I put them there, and they're also not tall enough. Don't think we can afford to put an extra row of cabs up there though. Thanks for your ideas. The Chinese horse looks very much at home. summiebee, you're right about the view. I wanted the house to have as little demarcation between the inside and outside as possible, with a glass wall. Didn't turn out that way -- builder convinced us that with our high winds we'd never be comfortable -- but he also put the windows higher than we wanted, and one expense we're going to undertake is to find a way to make the view windows bigger. They're 8x5 now, but we're going to put in non-operating glass doors or something instead. Thanks again, all.