A Happy Surprise

 

I have been feeling guilty that the girls haven't had their pictures taken, professionally, for quite some time. Those feelings gnaw at my sense of motherhood, eating it away and screaming about how horrible I am.

 

I have found a cure to this ailment. I didn't even know it was happening, it just appeared before my eyes! Izzy will be taking a digital photography class this fall and wanted to test out my camera before hand. I said sure, handed it to her and she took off. I didn't explain anything about what metering, shutter spead or f-stop meant. Nadda.

 

She took off with her sister and came back some time later asking how to download the pictures. I was pleassantly surpirsed. I guess she was born with some sense of SLR knowledge. Is there a strand of DNA for this?

 

Thanks Izzy for catching these moments of your sister at 12 years old. Your mom is suddenly not so sad that her girls are getting older. Teach me everything you learn at school. Please and thank you.

First Week of School

 

Most of the pictures I have seen on facebook about the first week include captions about families that will miss the beach, vacations and camping trips. I am just plain sad that my kids are getting so old. As a matter of fact, I think I need a weekend vacation to the beach, just to mull it over.

 

Isabelle gets up and leaves way too early for these kinds of pictures now. Humph...10th graders! But Maria is still a good kid and lets us squeeze her as hard as we want to.

 

 

 

 

 Izzy had her first week of school as well as her first 2 high school soccer games. Very exciting for this mom to be able to attend. Last year I missed all but one of her 9th grade games. She not only won her games but actually seriously got to score a goal against one of the rival schools.

 

Every fall, her club team members scatter to the various schools in our area and we get to bump into them during the high school season. They love eachother an awful lot and even though they wear different uniforms in the fall, they still squeal and scream when they see one another. (It's only been 3 weeks since they all practiced together, but evidently it feels like a lifetime)

 

 

 

* I feel the need to point out that I took their picture on the bleachers, and they are really all the same height. My camera can't actually make those kinds of adjustments.

 

 

 

Pinterest- An Epic Craft Journey

 

I love Pinterest. I don't love thinking a certain project will be a breeze and then finding out it is much more of a hassle than I originally thought. Take melting crayons for example. I have done it once before and thought we could step it up a little the second time around- instead of using a hair dryer, we were going to dry glue gun melting. Looked very cool. We decided to make a birthday present for someone. This story is based on actual events and unfortunately, all TRUE.

 

Step 1) Place duck tape along outer edge of canvas. Easy enough.

 

 

Step 2) Place large letter stickers on canvas. Realize that the letter stickers you purchased are not sticking to the canvas AT ALL. Substitute much smaller letter stickers instead. Ponder if anyone will notice.

 

 

 

 

Step 3) Unwrap crayons for melting. Use xacto knife. Poke yourself 3 times and conclude that your 12 year old is doing a much better job of unwrapping crayons than you are. Hold paper towel on thumb while daughter finishes up the rest.

 

 

Step 4) Create staging area for melting with drop cloth. Unwrap BRAND NEW mini glue gun- all the blogs say to use a mini glue gun for this project. Turn on glue gun. Try to place first crayon in mini glue gun and realize that crayon is TOO BIG. Try to think of alternative. Get out regular glue gun, and conclude that it will not work. Try mini glue gun again. Still not working. Sigh heavily.

 

 

 

 

Step 5) Scrap mini glue gun idea. Decide to use hair dryer. Create newer and larger staging area for melting. Glue crayons to scrap peice of cardboard. Realize that you don't have enough and throw on extra crayons. Do not unwrap extra crayons for fear of more holes poked in fingers from xacto knife. 

 

Step 6) Hold carboard of crayons over cranvas while daughter melts crayons. Realize this is causing huge mess. Realize wrapped crayons do not melt as quickly as unwrapped crayons. Calm 12 year old as she gets upset that the yellow and green are merging into a gross color. Start ripping crayons off of cardboard and hold over canvas to melt one by one, thus filling in blank areas and remedy the yellow-green color debacle.

 

 

Step 7) Let artwork dry and harden. Get excited about removing stickers. Use xacto knife to carefully cut around stickers and remove. Realize that melted crayon has seeped under stickers and created a peice of work that looks nothing like Pinterest. Calm upset 12 year old. Again.

 

 

Step 8) Spend 2 hours gently scraping off colored wax where stickers were, in hopes that you save the project for the birthdya party the next day. Upon reaching the hour of midnight, decide that it is as good as it is going to get. Cross fingers.

 

Step 9) Show 12 year old the next morning and sigh in relief as she exclaims how awesome it is.

Step 10) Remember to never do this project again.

I have hundreds and HUNDREDS of soccer photos to go through. We have been through a few tournaments this summer and although I can't wait to see what turned out, I know it will take me a very long time to get them sorted out. So why don't we just look at one and pretend like I went through them already?

Our cutie dog has become quite attached to her lovies. When I come home from work, she sees me through the front window, runs and finds a stuffed animal, and then greets me at the door with it.

Sometimes, when I come home from work, I get to share the evening with this amazing girl. She just left for soccer camp for the rest of the week, and I might, just maybe, be already missing her. I am going to go curl up under the covers until she comes back.

I kinda think I am toast for when the girls go to college, wouldn't you say?

Charmed

I am publishing this from my phone, so it will be interesting how it works out with the pictures! I haven't been able to access blogger for the past 2 months and it is very frustrating!

I have included 3 charming pictures today. One is from the womens Sounders game where Izzy is one of the girls holding the field flags (I volunteered her because she loves a good crowd!). I was at work the other day dying from sleepiness so my good friend who was on her way to get coffee, offered to get me some as well. This is my kind of friend! The barista (who I don't know) wrote me this cute note that made my day! Love friendly baristas!!
Finally, who doesn't lead a charmed life when they get their photo taken with Steve Zakuani??

What is up this week?

I thought I would let everyone know what has been going on around our house this week...

I caught a picture of a lion roaring in my bedroom...


The crate used to cart animals to and from the vet created quite a stir when brought out...Annie was busy smelling every inch of it...for perhaps a misplaced bowl of food??? Ming decided it was just the opportunity to scare the dog.



I got a haircut...while wearing my lumberjack shirt.

I found out this is how soccer girls lay out to get a tan...

I found these two cutie pies in my car...I feel like they are smiling too much. Should I be worried? Did they just break something???

Teenage girls can do awesome things with their own hair...

And finally, if you are looking for a misplaced pot of gold, we found it on our way home from soccer the other night...

It's at the post office if you want to claim it.

Out of the 7 of you that read this blog, I am guessing only 2 of you know which post office this is.

The State of Soccer

There are soccer highlight reels that are inspiring to watch and they might even bring a tear to the eye. They chronicle goals that impossibly reach the back of the net, moves that defy gravity and and moments of genius.

That is not what today is about.

Today is about the hard, smelly road of soccer for the moms and for the kids. There are days that I just want my girls to come out alive, without major injury. Amongst the kids on their teams, there have been many concussions, broken ankles, knee injuries, bloody noses, sprained everything, and too many cuts and bruises to count. People wonder why I carry an extra set of crutches around in my car. Because the fields are a long way from the car, and these kids are too old to carry! Hellloooo!!

But look, this girl is so considerate of my Izzy, that she is trying to wipe her nose for her. Wow. So thoughtful!


Thanks. How about you sit on my kid. That would be great. What is going on? Were you trained by the Minnesota Vikings defensive line?




It's alright, my baby is strong. Plus, you made her so mad, that she challenged you back and ruined your ability to pass the ball. She might rip your hip socket out of joint. I would watch your back if I were you.

I know people think my life is all glamorous, going from one soccer game to the next to the next to the next. Scheduling drop offs and pickups with my husband and still having to go to the same field 3 times a night, twice a week to get the kids. Waking up at 6:30am on a Saturday so we can get to a field on time. Standing in the pouring rain for 2 hours, holding an umbrella, and STILL trying to take pictures with my other hand. Not to mention the heart palpitations, the gasping when my babies get hurt, and the general state of concern I have for their well being.

I know, it makes people green with envy.

It's glamorous for the kids too, as you can tell.

Here are Izzy's knees that are already turning purple from bruising and have bloody spots where the turf has worn the skin away. All in a days work.

But somehow, they love it. Day in and day out, they are at it again and again. They must have an extra strand of chromosome somewhere that is the mega sports gene or something.

Izzy didn't even have practice or a game today, and still she is on the couch, in her shorts and soccer shoes ready to go. So we went and found a field and played around. I was verrry coordinated the entire time. Really.

Cleats on the couch? Seriously? This is why we can't have nice things people!!

We have soccer junk EVERYWHERE. We have turf EVERYWHERE.

We even have a soccer bag drying on a shoe drier (thank you incessant rain for that one). All their gear is soaked every single ever loving DAY. Enough already!!

Izzy loves it when I get pictures like this one. I call her my flying ninja (it has happened more than once). It is to her benefit though, look how she is freaking the people out around her. They are grimacing and the ball is nowhere near them! Izzy is kicking the ball towards the ref in case you needed some perspective. Is your hamstring alright honey? Can I get you anything?

Stop tackling my baby!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are you okay Maria? Come here, and I will put you in my pocket and keep you safe and warm. Do you need a jacket? Do you have enough water? Are you sore? Let's hug.

Quick, get a chiropractor!! Why does soccer involve the head? This hurts me.

Oh look, not 7 feet away from the shoe drier, we have ANOTHER soccer bag hanging in the kitchen. Nice. It's not like they smell or anything.

In one week, this is the laundry I get. You would think I have 14 kids of my own playing soccer. Yup, this is the life, hand me some more bon bons please.

Oh great. At the exact same time that these soccer socks are ready to be folded, this is what I come across in the next room.

Smelly socks and smelly shoes.

Sometimes I wonder why I love this game so much. Where the passion comes from that drives me to watch my kids play soccer, my friends kids play soccer, my sister's kids play soccer, and I have been known to watch games that I don't know any of the kids on the field. How can Morrie and I put up with the early mornings, piles of dirty clothes, turf in OUR OWN shoes, water bottles spread across each room of the house, lost jerseys, and endless amounts of gear that needs to be purchased for a game where you only play with your feet and ONE ball.

I must have 8 extra strands of that mega soccer gene.

Because, even with all of the things we just discussed, I still really love this game!

Hey, can someone turn on FOX soccer, let's see who is playing!

Inside out and Upside Down

I walked downstairs to start my breakfast and noticed there wasn't a dog excitedly bouncing around my feet as I entered the kitchen. Nobody there trying to jump up and lick my hands, Although I was enjoying the serene atmosphere, I asked Morrie where Annie was, my voice filled with concern. He replied that everyone was still asleep.

What???

It was 7:06 and Izzy's bus comes at 7:22. That was so not going to work today.

I raced up the stairs, taking them two at a time and eased her bedroom door open. Softly I said "Izzy, are you going to school today?". I didn't want to panic her. She sat straight up, glanced at her clock and GASPED as she threw the covers back. "My alarm didn't go off!!" she cried. She was full of panic. I wrapped her in a hug, told her it would be okay and that I would drive her to school.

Sometimes when you wake up late, it can turn the entire day upside down and inside out. You just aren't on your game and it's like you are balancing on a tightrope all day, and seemingly falling off every other moment. It's like you wake up enveloped in a kind of black karma bubble, filled with a horrible fog laced with bad chi. What I didn't realize at the time, was that the bubble is very sticky. A sticky glob of unfortunate events that, as I hugged her, popped right off of Izzy and onto me.

In order to take her to school, my time to get ready for work was cut short by 25 minutes. Meaning my hair wasn't totally done, I had no lunch packed and was very unorganized. We hit horrible traffic going to school, and I was stuck in awful backups trying to get home. This made me almost 15 minutes late picking up my niece and nephew who ride with Maria and I to school each morning. Luckily everyone made it to school on time, and I flew into work with just a few minutes to spare.

Once at work, every ball that I had in the air, fell out of my reach, bounced funny and either got away from me or hit me in the face. I should have known to be more careful with this heavy fog hanging off of me like a horrible black slime. Before I knew it, I had slammed my finger in a drawer. OUCH! Holy cow it hurt. At this point I knew it was just not my day. Mind you, I was also trying to pretend I was not sick, but was really 4 days into a yucky cold. That alone can bring a girl down.

As the day wore on, it got so bad that my co-worker said to me "Wow, today really isn't your day!". Oh. Thanks. The day was full of headache situations and unusual calls that left me rattled. By the time I was ready to leave, I just wanted to crawl in my own bed and pull the covers over my head, and perhaps take some NyQuil. As I gently closed that last door, being careful not to let it slam because it is a very heavy door next to a glass wall, guess what? I ended up closing it on another finger! Ow, ow ow!!! I slammed my foot against the floor several times, tried not to cry out and held my hand over my head as if to ward off the swelling I knew would come anyway.

I didn't actually get to go straight home that night. I met Morrie and the girls at Maria's school for her volleyball game and finally got home for dinner just before 9pm. I did ask Izzy how her day went. She looked at me and said "It went fine!".

Of course it did.