Welcome Home!

I would just like to take a moment and welcome my brother back to the United States after being gone for over 12 years!!!! He left his job, sold a lot, packed up, moved and finally arrived on the east coast this morning!! Welcome home, just in time for the Fourth of July, Labor Day and voting in November!! (oh and he arrived in a heat wave back east, sorry!). We're all so darn giddy with excitement to have you in the same hemisphere, to be 3 hours different instead of 17 hours, to have the same seasons and cost less than $1000 to come see you!

Oh Baby!

This is what Dad just sent over email, what an AWESOME picture! Isabelle had some fantastic plays this weekend and moved between the midfield line and forward. Luckily we had no rain for the event (don't ask how we lucked out on that one!). I can't even tell you what a pleasure it is to watch. My dad's email to her was so cute, it said "Please call me when we can't make a game and tell me how it went. Your picture even made the ultimate stage, our fridge!". Sounds like I'm not the only one who is enjoying this girl play! My mom was impressed with my soccer knowledge during the game, but honestly, I couldn't even tell you what a sweeper is yet. Julie and Morrie still have work to do! Although it ISN"T important, Isabelle won her game 5-0. Our poor goalies were bored out of their minds. I would look down and they would be stretching, sitting, or fixing their socks.
They finally got thier warm ups (jacket and pants with their number and team logo) at the game, and you will be seeing a picture of those very soon. I was waiting until they got them to take another pic of Isabelle and Kiana, and in fact, as they walked away from us, heads tilted towrds eachother as they made plans for the evening after the game wearing their new jackets, Morrie and I locked the image in our brains. I could be mushy and say "in our hearts" but I won't go there. I might even say it was a tear jerker moment for Julie and I!! No camera in sight, Dad had left already...oh well. Remember, the camera is on the way...

The Family Computer

I have 3 people makeing noise around me so I don't know how many sentances I can write with one continuous thought. Isabelle is doing dishes right now (please let her remember each part of the job so I don't have to get all over her about it), Maria is talking on the phone with her Emma telling her all about her weekend, and Morrie is watching various parts of movies on TBS and CBC...oh and the comedy channel. Now Maria is telling me about gymnastics as she has given the phone to Isabelle (please don't let her drop the phone down the sink). Isabelle just asked me to check my email because Grandpa J. sent something, but I was just there and I didn't see anything. Can I have a plastic bubble in which I can be on the computer with nobody talking to me? Now Maria is reading over my shoulder.
My camera is on it's way, I think. Really, you will all be sick of my photos on the blog when I get it and then of course figure out how to use it. Maria had her last indoor game yesterday and made a goal, which was very exciting. I love seeing them run around like crazed jumping beans trying to get a chance to kick the ball. Maria played against her own teammates since the other team didn't show, which made them laugh a lot at eachother. I can't wait to see them in the fall!

TGIF

I'm pooped and it's Friday night! I just want to climb into bed. I think I'm going to do just that. Sigh...Goodnight.

June 4th is a big day!

So, I won't even go into my day yesterday. Not the torrential downpour that my child had to practice in for an hour and a half, not the dog getting carsick (AGAIN), not the power going out for 4 hours right as Morrie and I were going to eat dinner... I am not going to get into that, because today is all about my main man Morrie.

A massive 15 years ago today we kissed for the very first time! Ahhhhhh, how sweet. But he tells me that we're not old, why, it's two entire MORE years before we have been together for more than half our lives. Hmmm...not sure if I feel better about that one yet.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. He makes sweet comments on my blog, he misses the girls being toddlers as much as I do, he mows a fantastic lawn, he fixes all my computer woes, he tells me I look great regardless of my actual weight, he lets the cats sleep with us (not something that was allowed when we were first married!), he brings home the bacon!!, he's cute, he takes me to the museum, he gives me all the decorating decisions and doesn't care when I paint stuff all over the walls, he eats a lot of gluten free/dairy free meals for the sake of his family, he builds stuff like a playhouse for the kids, he drives (as in all the way to Montana and back!) so I can look out the window, he's cute, he takes me on lunch dates while the kids are in school, he puts up with my scrapbook mess and oohs and ahhs over my pages when I ask him to, he supports my crazy ideas like walking 13 miles, he makes me laugh, he likes my favorite Thai food, he gets me stuff when I am already in bed and don't feel like getting up, he cleans the gutters and hangs Christmas lights really high up, he lets me hang garland instead of having a tree that the cats knock everything off of anyway, he says "Okay honey" when I say "We're going to remodel the kitchen!", he's cute, he supports my dreams like visiting France or living in a log cabin so that I don't give up on someday accomplishing those things, and most of all, he loves me! Give it up for my main squeeze, YAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYY MORRIE!

Random Notes

The most exciting news of the week is that my new fancy camera is supposed to be here tomorrow!!! We're talking digital SLR here, and I can't WAIT to get back to snapping photos of our family. The kids are going to wonder why there is a big hole of no pictures...old camera broke...what can I say? That's why there are hardly any pics on this blog! The ones you see are either from friends or Morrie using his work camera. Sigh...

Just so you all know, Maria had me type up a document for her yesterday (which she later signed). She has vowed not to ever kill an animal...great, don't tell her that animals have to die in order to have spaghetti. I don't need an 8 year old vegetarian on my hands. I have enough menu trouble as it is. To top it off, I forced one 10 year old to eat salad lastnight (gasp!) and by forced I mean I said "Eat your salad before you eat your pizza". I'm soo mean.

I planted some new plants and turns out the place I bought them from is not so good. The plants practically died while I waited 2 days to get them in the ground. They were so dry, it's a wonder they even looked perky when I bought them. We'll see how they do, at least the week of rain that is coming will be good for them. I have to get out to Flower World where they really take care of their plants and get some good ones. Good thing I saved some room in my beds for better flowers...now if only we could finish weeding the beds so we could plant something...sigh... I have to mention here that my husband is the best weeder ever and has been spending hours out there taking care of our yard. Love you honey!!

Can you say "Only 9 more days of school!!!!" with me??? By the time May rolls around I am so DONE with school and waking up and driving, blah blah blah. I can't wait for summer. Now, last year I got nothing done because summer seemed way busier than I thought it would be. This year I am preparing myself for business and hope that I don't get overwhelmed like a dear caught in the headlights, just standing there wondering what it is I should be doing. By the time mid July hits, I am ready for them to be back in school. We'll see how this year goes.

It's STILL my birthday month and I am enjoying every minute of it. I am happily ignoring the fact that bewteen family and Maria's little friends that we have 8 OTHER birthdays and 3 father's to celebrate as well. I told the girls that I am taking them out to my favorite Thai restaurant for lunch on the said holiday and I got "I don't LIKE Thai food!". Well, great, then this should be really fun for Mommy on her special day. Maybe they can just SIT there and WATCH me eat my favorite Thai food.

Okay, I have to go plan someone else's birthday, those little invites aren't going to get themselves in the mail, and we have umpteen cards and gifts to purchase. Good thing I am going to Costco. Buying in bulk means everyone gets the same thing, right?

GOOOOAAAAAAAAL!!!

WHAT AN EXCITING WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!!! Maria kicked in her goal so hard that it moved the entire goal (they are portable PUGG goals)! I literally ran with Maria as soon as she finished her cheer for the other team and got in the car to get to Isabelle's game. Isabelle was playing center midfielder and I was so excited for her to have several shots on goal. As a defender she usually doesn't have that chance, so I didn't even care if the goalie caught the ball, I was cheering anyway. But then, Isabelle made a goal! She kicked it high over the goalie's head and it was THRILLING! Then, this girl of mine did something she has never done before...she made another goal! It was too cool. Now, typiaclly the forwards make the goals, well, because they are there! For this game we had the assistant coach only and he shuffled things around a bit and 2 other girls who aren't normally in position to do so, also made goals. It was so fun. The best part, was watching the other girls give Isabelle high fives as they ran back. I think it did wonders for her self confidence and made her feel like she does in fact belong in select soccer.

We also saw the Jr. High play that night (A Little Princess) and the girls always think that is the most exciting thing ever to see the older kids taking on these great characters. Isabelle will have the chance next year to try out for a part in the play, do make-up, or be a part of stage crew. I think she watched the play in a different light this year as she had that in mind. I really hope that if she wants to try out for a part that she doesn't let her shyness hold her back. Now when Maria hits 6th grade, she will be asking for the lead I am sure...

I want to give a shout out to my sister, because my family hardly ever reads my blog (one un-named brother never even accepted the invite to view it!) and not only did she read it, but she commented on it...and we all know how much I love comments...(cough cough). So, thank you sister! I also want to give a shout out to those peeps who see me all the time, and read the blog everyday anyway!!! Thanks Mama Julia (that's hoo-liah)! Hey Lawrence, Terrie, Melissa, and well... maybe there's a 4th person out there, I'm not sure!

It's Monday, and it's my birthday month, so it's gonna be a great DAY!!!!!!!!!!