Maaaaay

Okau okay, May has been one of the most jam packed months that we have had in a while. The good news is that it is almost over, we have survived, and we made it to all of our events. Never mind that I have 9 things written on the calendar for today. Whatever.

As we wind up for summer, we are looking over the girls soccer practice schedule, the tournament dates for both of them, and squeezing in a few little "vacations". Mostly, we will be reading in the sun in the backyard while the dog barks at the neighbors. I just found a new great sunscreen. We'll see how many times my kids burn with it on. Isabelle got a sunburn while wearing SPF 50 during soccer tryouts. I can't keep up with their evolving skin, it is scientifically not compatiable with sunscreen I guess.

We have a big day today, it is Maria's last gymasntics practice, and I already know I will be teary. The tears probably won't last long because we have to leave a little early from it to race up to her first soccer practice which we are both excited about (her to meet new friends and me to finally get going after 4 weeks since tryouts). This girl lucks out, her gym coach has been the best thing since sliced bread. She loves Maria, and constantly gives the kids holiday goodie bags, has parties at her house and encourages them every week. Maria's new soccer coach has been coaching for over 25 years and I have heard nothing but fantastic things about him from people throughout the club. So, we leave one era and enter a new one today. Heavy.

Isabelle is pooped. She hasn't even started soccer yet (that's next Monday). She has been spending every day- 5 hours- a day at play practice. She ate dinner lastnight at 9:15. By Monday (after a weekend full of 3 performances) she should be exhausted...I mean READY to go for soccer. Yeaaaaahhhh. We'll see how mahy kids make it to school on Monday...

Room Makeover, Complete!

Here is Isabelle's room, all done! She came home from camp tired, dirty, but in great spirits because camp was SO fun!! She had a great time. I told her I had something in her room for her and made her wait outside the door while I was inside with the camera! She flipped out!

This is Isabelle talking on the phone to Morrie. I switched on the light and she looked up and saw a new light fixture (there was none before). She screamed, it was awesome! Everything went off perfectly, and then I got to tell her Kiana would be playing soccer with her this year. What a day, it doesn't get any better.

Crazy Happy Endings

This here is my buddy Kiana. Okay, okay, she is Isabelle's buddy. But not just any run of the mill friend. Her mom, Julie and I met on the internet when we were both pregnant and due in June 1997. Julie finally went into labor on June 26th, and I was still overdue with no action. Isabelle was finally born on June 28th and they have been fast friends ever since. She had her first sleepover with her- at 18 months old- they shared many Halloweens together, and most recetnly played soccer this past year together. It was so awesome to have them in an activity together, something we never could have imagined.

Soccer tryouts this year were trying to say the least. We knew Isabelle's old team was kind of going seperate directions and we might be trying to get into a club closer to our house. It was sad, the end of a short little era. Isabelle did pick FC Alliance and Kiana hadn't tried out with them, so our partying days were over. We'll call, we'll still get together , but really, do people really call? Do they really get together?

Due to an extreme set of bizarre and fateful circumstances, Kiana had an emotional past 72 hours figuring out where she would play soccer. One team that she would have played on suddenly folded due to low numbers, another club didn't seem to have the skills necessary for a good team...things were bleak. Then a new tryout time opened up for one of the clubs. Kiana's Dad made some fancy computer moves and contacted the coach who said he would like to see Kiana - bring her by. So I got a message this evening at 7:45 that had a very excited Kiana on the other end. Turns out that coach was from FC Alliance, and she was offered a spot on one of their 3 teams. It happened to be the team Isabelle will be playing for! The joy that is flowing over these two households is not even quantifiable.

We have regained what we had thought to be lost. We have extended our time with this fantabulous family, and made 2 girls the HAPPIEST girls around. Oh wait. Isabelle is at camp, cannot be reached and has NO IDEA!!! So, Isabelle will come home to a room makeover, and the most surprising, best news she could ever imagine. It will be quite a day! I'm even getting a little teary just thinking about it!!!

Extreme Room Makeover!

Before I even get to what is happening this week, I need to wrap up last week. Isabelle had soccer tryouts, which means Morrie and I were super nervous for her. She was trying out for 2 clubs (5 tryouts over this past 3 days) and it was going to be a hot one! To top it off, Isabelle woke up Friday with a cold. It wasn't pretty. Morrie and I were pumping her full of cold medication and supplying kleenex. She had told us that Northwest Nationals B team would be her first choice (as opposed to their select team, she wanted to move up to the premiere level this year). FC Alliance has an A, B, and C team and Isabelle wanted their B team. Whoa, that is moving up a lot!

Morrie and I were hoping for FC Alliance since it is the club right at our backdoor, and Maria will be playing for them this year as well. However, we knew we couldn't push Isabelle into anything, she would have to make her own choice and she wanted what she knew and was comfortable with. By Sunday afternoon, the kid was sweating through 75 degrees and playing a full 11 on 11 game (this were intense tryouts!). She was making fast friends at FC Alliance in just 2 days and I couldn't believe how happy she looked when she would come off and start chatting with some of these new girls. At the end of the second 2 hour tryout, she was offered a spot on their B team (and a few hours later offered a spot on the Nationals B team as well)! She was thrilled and definitely wanted FC Alliance. I said "Are you sure?" and she said "YES MOM" (I haven't seen a smile that big in AGES). Okay then, there we go! So we have 2 girls at the same club, in our neighborhood!!! I think what changed her mind was the fact that she was overwhelmed with the friendlieness of the FC Alliance group- and that is a big deal for her. We are so proud of her effort this weekend and pleased that she now knows she is good enough to hang with the premiere people. Isabelle and I got back to the car, closed the doors and screamed! Woohoo!

So, this morning, I sent an exhausted and still sick Isabelle to camp for 4 days with her class. As soon as I dropped her off, I started "Operation Surprise". Her birthday is next month and she has been begging forever to have her room repainted. So while she is gone, her room is receiving a huge makeover as an early birthday present. I will keep you posted on the progress. So far, I just finished cleaning up in there so I could move furniture and paint. That only took me 2 hours - jeez!

Gymnastics 101

For most of this past year, I have run Isabelle to Mukilteo while Morrie runs Maria to Woodinville for after school sports. Since we are on a soccer break right now, I have been going to gymnastics with Maria and she has impressed the socks off me. Here are a few things she did yesterday during floor. Warm up with 50 jumps with a jumprope on a beam...

Stetching, stretching, stretching...Check out those abs- hold your legs, low back and arms off the floor!!

Here Maria and Amanda are going to show the class how to do the next skill. And last but not least, walking acorss the floor on your hands!!! She is so strong, and has come so far, it's awesome to watch!

Great Mother's Day!!

We had an awesome day yesterday - thanks in part to the sun making a warm appearance! We went to the Sounders game with another family and had soo much fun! Morrie got me a jersey and the girls sported Sounders hats - mostly to keep the sun off their faces! The guys looked great out there on the pitch.
The girls are really into the team and know many of the players and what they do. In the elevator at the field, someone asked Maria who her favorite player was and she looked all shy and said "I don't know..." WHAT?? WHAT??? Haven't I trained you better than that??? Needless to say we will be working on player stats this week until we have them down pat, reviewing game tapes and deciding who really is our favorite.
If you ask me- and I know you didn't but it's my blog- the players that consistently impress me with their speed, foot skills and overall performance would be Tyrone Marshall and Steve Zakuani. There are other bigger names, but you have to be consistent with me to win favorite! Kasey Keller is a very impressive guy, but that is too obvious a choice, so I had to skip him!
Maria recently got new soccer shoes and there is not a lot of choice in her size, and she surprised us with her absolute desire to own a pair of orange shoes. She HAD to have them even though we recommended her to NOT choose them. She is in love.
Fast forward a few days to the Sounders game, when the great Sebastian Le Toux started as forward, showed incredible speed, skill and performance and was wearing orange shoes. He scored our only goal in the game as well. Maria feels quite justified in her choice now and has stated that she indeed has a favorite player now. We'll still go over some stats just to be safe.

10 Things

Since I can't come up with a cohesive thought, here are 10 random things from this week:
1. It was great: Isabelle got to practice soccer with some of her old teammates - before tryouts begin in 2 weeks.
2. It was not so great: I had jury duty for 2 days.
3. It was great: I got to read my books for 2 days without interuption!
4. It was not so great: I worried about my girls and their soccer tryouts.
5. It was great: Maria made her soccer team! YAY!
6. It was not so great: I left the house at 6:40 to drive to Kent (jury duty) and noticed (after driving 2 blocks) that there an awful lot of bird poop all over the windshield.
7. It was great: There is nothing great about bird poop.
8. It was not so great: I have yet to get it off the windshield.
9. It was great: I walked 7 miles with my friend and caught up on her life.
10. It was not so great: My calves were killing me at mile 4, but I pretended it was fine and paid for it the next day.

Blindsided!

I was doing my hair yesterday and decided I needed a little hairspray to hold everything in place. Morrie saw me getting ready and when I sprayed the hairspray, I yelled "AHHHHH!". He responded with "What? Did it attack you?". In a way, yes, it did.