Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from the Capps Family!

We will be attending the Briarwood Boo Bash before heading back to practice this evening at 6:30 pm. Good thing Charlie is still too small to trick or treat ... I would really be sad.

Eliot

Two nights ago, I was lying in bed having just put Charlie to sleep upstairs. I was watching television and much to my delight, the Oprah show came on (it is replayed each night at 9 pm on one of the NBC stations). I was able to catch part of the show that night and it was on "Miracle Children." This morning, then, I saw this clip on YouTube and was so excited as I wanted to share the story and message.

One of the features on the show was about a baby named Eliot. They showed a video and it brought absolute tears to my eyes. Seeing this baby with tubes connected to him and knowing that he was fighting an uphill battle, the parents celebrated every moment of this child's life. It was inspiring. The showed this clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th6Njr-qkq0 to explain Eliot's journey and there was not a dry eye in the house. In a way, it reminded me of our start with Charlie. The tubes, the NICU, the weeks before he was born of the "unknown."

I could not help but think about how lucky we are to have Charlie and how blessed he is to be so healthy as I watched this video. We had a rocky start with him, but he is HEALTHY and HAPPY! I can't imagine (and hope that I never do) how these parents feel knowing they gave birth to a baby that is not going to be on earth very long. Putting their own feelings aside, they formed such a strong bond with this little boy and celebrated every moment of his life. I am sure that is why this littly guy lived so much longer than most babies with this condition -- many never even make it through birth.

Eliot's short time on life was planned by God. It was his way of reminding people to be thankful for what they are given and to slow down and celebrate the small things in life. Most of us are guilty of now celebrating the small things. We are so busy with our jobs and other things in life, we forget to celebrate small accomplishments or to enjoy simple pleasures ... a dinner with a loved one, a hug from your child, a smile or note from a friend. Charlie is teaching me so much about my own life. It is not about me ... life is about him and what I can do to help him grow. Things that I have stressed over in the past seem so stupid now considering what we have been through in the last year. Finding a balance is so important to living a happy life ... I am really trying to work on that. We only get one chance at this and making sure that you take full advantage is so important.

Every Woman

'MAYA ANGELOU'S' BEST POEM EVER

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . a youth she's content to leave behind....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . one friend who always makes her laugh.. and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE a feeling of control over her destiny..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to fall in love without losing herself..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without; ruining the friendship...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.... how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... where to go... be it to her best friend's kitchen table.. or a charming Inn in the woods.... when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. What she can and can't accomplish in a day... a month...and a year...

In Full Swing!

I have tried to remind people as much as I can that basketball is in full swing. As a result, I have not been very good at returning phone calls and emails the last couple of weeks. I am SOOOOO sorry if this is you! I promise that I will get to all of them, but please be patient.

I am still getting used to juggling work and home now that Charlie is part of the equation. No longer do I sleep in just a little later and get to work on time .... now I find myself packing the night before to make sure I don't forget anything (especially now that it is getting cold!) We are usually out the door no later than 8 am (which yes, is a few minutes later than some of you), but I make up for it on my nights and weekends.

My evenings go just as fast as the mornings ... practice is usually over around the 6 pm hour so I get home somewhere around 6:45 or so and then have until 8 pm to play and spend time with Charlie before putting him off to bed. I am trying to make the most of the time when Charlie is awake so the cleanliness of our house has suffered a little bit. Don't worry -- it is not gross or anything. Eric helps out quite a bit so we are able to do it all. It is not perfectly kept, but gosh, with a hubby, drooling baby and drooling bulldog, that is almost IMPOSSIBLE! To me, it does not have to be perfect .. there are more important things going on right now.

Sunday Night Thoughts

HaHa!!! I have gotten several emails from friends and family telling me how "sad" Charlie looks in his Halloween costumes. You all -- I promise that he doesn't hate them. I will admit that I like dressing Charlie up (for Halloween or just going to the grocery store), but I don't "torture" him with it. Theresa took those pics of Charlie last weekend and he was just over us and the noises we were making and the TONS of pictures we were taking.

Nothing too exciting this weekend to report. I was in the gym most of the day today as I ran our Coaches Clinic. I had to be there shortly after 10 am this morning to make sure everything was ready to roll and everything ended up there about 5:30 this evening. Eric and I had a nice dinner then before heading to the grocery store. The temperature has dropped and the wind has increased. I will admit ... I was impressed to see that Eric had actually packed a winter hat for Charlie to wear while we were out this evening. He stayed home with Charlie all day as I was at the gym. Even managed to get Charlie to nap, get him dressed in a "cute" outfit and get him to dinner without getting cold! Yeah, Eric :)

Tomorrow is our "day off." We are required to give our players one day off per week during the season. These will usually fall on a weekday so it is not really a day off for us as we are in the office most of the day. But, we need to win ballgames so that is the way it is.

Option #2

Maybe he should be a pumkin!!!

Little Monster!!!

One of his Halloween Costumes ... he also has a pumpkin and a Tigger outfit!!

Can't you tell how excited he is???