I remember the first time Sophie tried to be on a soccer team. She was so excited. We signed her up, paid the fees, bought her a new soccer ball and uniform and cleats, and geared up for her first game. When the whistle blew to sound the start of the game and the girls all started scurrying around the ball, Sophie was there too. But she wasn't scurrying around the ball. She was sobbing.

We called her to the sidelines to find out what was wrong and to comfort her. We begged her to rejoin the game. We coddled and cajoled, but there was no sportsmanlike conduct to be had from Sophie. 

"What's wrong, Sweety?" we would ask. "Are you hurt? Did someone step on your toe? Are your shin guards too tight?" We even thought maybe the parents cheering and yelling had frightened her.

We found out later what it was. In Sophie's 6-year-old voice, she explained why she quit soccer and never wanted to return to the game: "I was ready to play the game, but when I saw Sabrina on the side of the field playing with some other kid, I got jealous and didn't want to play soccer ever again."

Sophie is now almost 10 and the scars of betrayal by her older sister playing with some other kid have healed. 

And I'm proud to say she has returned to the game.

Watch out, sideline kids. A ball might come your way when you least expect it.

Sophie and I had a fun day on Saturday, just running different errands and going to a local park to walk around (she rode her scooter). Since we were both hungry and Culver's was right next to the park, we decided to grab us some burgers and fries and then head home. 

I don't usually care much for fast food joints, but Sophie loves them. And one thing that always gets on her nerves is that I don't like eating inside these fast food places; I'd prefer to just grab our order in a drive-thru and go home. But on Saturday, Sophie convinced me that it would be best if we ate inside.

Since I knew it would surprise her when I agreed, I agreed. And it surprised her. And this put her in a really good mood. 

And that's when she decided to try her hand at making Culver's french fries commercials. I'm not sure what, exactly, was in those fries, but I do know that if Culver's ever went national with this campaign, they would own the french fry world. Maybe not bc of their french fries, but probably bc Focus on the Family would be calling for an end to the ads, and that would garner them much attention. 

Sophie doesn't watch much tv outside of Disney channel, but you'd never know it.

Culver's French Fries, take 1:

Culver's French Fries, take 2:

Culver's French Fries, take 3:

And finally, the cleaned-up version:

It's definitely going to be drive-thru from now on. This way neither one of us will be surprised.