A demonstration in exhaustion

I asked our dog Annie to please demonstrate how tired we have all been lately.

I think that pretty much sums it up.

Thank you Annie.

Isabelle's class had a volleyball game versus the teachers at an all school assembly last week. The cheering was so extreme and intense that I think I lost the hearing in my right ear. That is what happens when the first graders sit right behind you!

This picture is right before the 8th graders smashed through the paper and sprinted around the gym a few times really getting the younger kids amped up. You would have thought the crowd had main lined sugar and caffeine right before they entered the gym.

In a more subdued environment the next day, Isabelle had her last handbell performance to which the parents were invited. They played some great music including Amazing Grace. I didn't cry. Honest!

Okay, maybe a little.

Then the kids had to pick someone from the audience to get up and perform a group song. Luckily Morrie and my sister also had to get up and play! Isabelle is teaching me how to work a chime.

I am really doubting that I can in fact work the chime.

The play! The play! This is outside the theatre, where 2 very excited girls let me snap their picture.

Our motto: "Stage Crew Rocks!"

Mostly because we look like a lot of stealth ninja's in all black, running around in the dark carrying furniture.

This morning: One last picture with her braces on!!

No way!!!!! Look!!!

I can't tell you the extreme joy that this kid had today. She came out of the orthodontist's office giggling and exclaiming "This is so awesome!!" and "This is the BEST DAY EVER!!!".

Well, at least until Thursday when she graduates.

Boggled Mind

I can't tell you how many times in the last month, I have gone to my blog and looked at it with a blank stare. I didn't know what to write.

I was in a black hole of writer's block.

At the beginning on the month, I was a nervous wreck as I was interviewing for a new job and gave notice at my old job. Each day I was a bundle of sweaty nerves. It wasn't pretty. I couldn't sleep most nights, which doesn't help when I want to write some profoundly funny item for my blog. Nothing funny was going through my mind.

At all.

By the time I wrapped up my last day of work, I had a To-Do list that was a mile long for my first few days home. There were things that had been piling up during the previous month that I couldn't get to. Instead of taking care of them in a timely manner, I was spending my days at work clenching my nervous stomach (have I mentioned I don't prefer interviews?). The rest of my "free time" was spent volunteering at Isabelle's play practice as a stage crew manager and then I would come home late at night and try to get in some more work. Thus, a pile of things to do at home, that was a mile long and 3 stories high.

I knew the enormousness of this list.

Yes, that is a word. Enormousness. It expresses great girth and giant awesomeness.

The first week I spent tackling the phone calls that had to be done, the grocery shopping that was in dire need and attending to my inbox. Part of the list was consumed with Isabelle's graduation items- parties to plan and countless "last events" to go to at school and turn in money for, and drop off goodies for, and go to school to watch. I was starting to sleep better (how can you not when you are totally exhausted?), especially as things were getting crossed off.

I still found myself opening up my blog, and my mind was still, sadly, blank. I was trying to wrap my mind around Oprah leaving my living room forever and Isabelle graduating and it was just too much to handle. Why were they doing this to me at the same time??

The second week was spent almost 100% at the theater as we were in final rehearsals for the play. In the last 7 days, we put in 50 hours of time for the play. I was sleeping like a rock. However, every night before I fell asleep and every morning when I woke up, the songs from the play would go through my head. Then, by some miracle, there would be a moment during my day when the music stopped. It was a peaceful silence.

It lasted about 4 seconds until Isabelle would start humming one of the songs and I would try not to grind my teeth in frustration.

The play finally wrapped up yesterday and I slept today. Then I slept some more.

It was nice.

Now I have a final "final" list of to-do's for Isabelle's graduation week and one of them is to buy kleenex at Costco. At least 2 carts full should do nicely. I am going to wake up on Thursday and still not know what I am wearing that day because I haven't had the time to figure it out. I still need to bring juice to school for the picnic tomorrow, order the cake, get the dog nails clipped (before I go insane from them clacking on the floor), take the kids to 2 doctor appointments this week, and hit the grocery store no less than 3 times. Because I will forget something. Twice.

Does anyone ever need time off from being a mom? I feel like I do.

So, my mind is still void of anything funny, but I felt it was time to get something posted. A "Diary Entry" of why my life is crazy no matter what it is currently consumed by.

Will I feel calm and collected next week? No, but that is another story for another day.

Thoughts

Sometimes I think that I need to go back to 1998 and hang out with this girl more...

Because when I see her like this, I FREAK OUT:

In all honesty, this picture was a little joke we pulled on Dad. I took it with my phone, and came home and told Morrie we found the perfect graduation dress. Then I showed him this picture. He says to me "Don't you...Don't you think it's a little LOW in the front???" as he started to hyperventilate.

It was the best 3 minutes of my life.

This is how perfectly beautiful she really will be. She had graduation photos at school already. I may have cried.

Unless you think that makes me ridiculous, then I definitely DID NOT cry.

Really.

Hand me a tissue please.

Then I dried my tears and we went to a Sounders game and all was right with the universe (it's funny how that works).

They gave us free stuff.

You can ignore the fact that the stadium looks empty. We were there 2 days early. We REALLY don't' want to miss anything.

Although, sometimes when it is really cold and rainy at the game, and I have a poncho on, and I can't even clap because my arms are inside the poncho, I wish I was curled up at home in front of the heater like this:

Or playing cards with this girl:

Who decidedly has NO poker face.

I like to play her for quarters.

Semi finals = Break out the Defibrillator!!

I can't take it! Maria had Semi finals for soccer, then tryouts and now Izzy has to go to Semi finals too? It's too much for my pounding heart to take.

Give me some antacids.

Roalids?

Asprin?

Anesthesia?

This girl only wishes someone had given her mom some sleepy anesthesia.

"Mom, stop talking to me".

"We're busy being cool. And nervous".

Their coach brought them all flowers.

The girls loved it.

Maybe it was a gift for the parents as we have spent the last year driving around in a very smelly car. Teenage girls do NOT actually smell good.

They had to walk out with the 4 officials very professional like.

Did you hear me? I said FOUR officials!

I expected a news crew to roll in any minute.

Izzy is at the end of the line hoping that nobody is looking at her. Wishing the sun would go down so nobody could see her. Wanting to dig a hole and bury herself in it. That's what happens when you play where the Sounders play. It's overwhelming.

Hey! Who is THAT hot guy???

I had an official press pass to be on the field to take pictures. It may have been completely awesome.

Or Isabelle may have been completely awesome.

Either one.

She played a team that expected to come out and kill Izzy's team. You know what happened?

Izzy's team held them.

I was having small but frequent heart attacks on the sideline.

Why is my heart racing?

Hey! Who are these YO-YO'S???

Soccer is not, I repeat NOT a laughing matter.

Hey Isabelle! Stop growing up already. Your mom can't handle it!

The other team couldn't score for 69 minutes. I think their parents were in awe.

It happens.

Then, the other team scored int he last 20 seconds of the game. No I am not making it up.

You thought I was exaggerating last week when I said Maria lost in double overtime? Now Izzy lost in the last 20 seconds?

I know. It's unbelievable. It's unfair. One moment, one pass, one goal is what separates soccer teams.

It is brutal.

Then you go eat lunch and the parents of the other team compliment how well your team played.

Shucks..

Then Izzy goes and stands in line for a smoothie. She sees other players from the winning team. She tells them they did a good job. Then they tell her how well her team played.

You just don't hear this stuff every day.

Then Izzy tells her mom what just happened in the smoothie line. Her mom wanted to cry because Isabelle is nice enough to compliment other players. Her mom wanted to cry because it was heart wrenching to see 14 girls come off the field with tear stained cheeks, wishing they could have just done a little better, wishing they could be jumping up and down screaming like the other team.

It was kind of hard.

Then Izzy and her mom went to the Sounders game where they SERVED Toronto 3-0 and all was right in the universe.

Happy Easter!

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter, and perhaps explain my prolonged absence from blogging.


I have been pre-occupied with nervousness. Anxiety.

Someone get me a paper bag!!

Maria's team was in the semi-finals of state cup, and Isabelle's quarter final game of state cup was scheduled for the exact same time on the exact same day. I was horrifically torn, not knowing which one I should go to and very nervous for both girls. We decided that Morrie would take Maria and video tape her game for me. I wanted to have game updates, but I know it is impossible to text and use a video camera. at the same time.

Morrie did NOT want any texting whatsoever. He was in his own ball of heart palpatations.


We knew Izzy would be doing things like this:


When she got dressed for this position, I was a heart attack waiting to happen:

I hate to see her in goal, and her goalie was injured, but there was a possibility that the main goalie would play. We crossed our fingers. We said extra prayers. We lit candles. When we got to the field, the other back up keeper got dressed. We obviously didn't light enough candles, but this would work out. Phew!

Then the second half came and Izzy had to put the gloves on. I was dying. I knew Morrie did not want to know this was happening. However, I was surprised that he hadn't texted me ANYTHING at all.

It turns out, all the parents watching Maria's game were freaking out as it went into double overtime.

You can see a cool highlight video that Maria and Morrie made here:

www.youtube.com/fcalliancepremier

Izzy's team won their quarterfinal and were decidedly overjoyed:

We met up with Morrie and Maria to find out that she had lost after the poor kids played an 80 minute game. It wasn't a fantastic experience for Maria and we tried to sweep up her sorrow by going out to dinner and getting caught in the worst traffic around Southcenter mall ever.


Maria's tryouts were the week following state cup and she wasn't sure if she should tryout again. In the end, she decided it was worth a shot as there would be a new coach.

Here is a picture of a girl I plan on seeing more of this year:

She was excited to be offered a spot on the A team, and we look forward to much more soccer inspired fun for the next 12 months. I sure am glad she had that one day off from practice!

Just kidding, I think she will have May off.

Maybe. Probably.

Well, I'm not totally sure.

I can't think about it anyway, as I have to prepare a stack of paper bags for Izzy's semi final game this weekend. Why does it feel like my heart is beating in my stomach? Why do I keep waking up at 3:30 in the morning?

Is this called socceritis?

Kleenex Alert!

Okay, maybe YOU don't need kleenex for this one, but I needed some. As a matter of fact, I think I need a therapy appointment for my gooey heart and melty memories that make me weepy. Isabelle was once a second grader. She was really cute. It was Christmas one time. We draw names at Christmas. Every kid (even the big ones) hope that my Dad gets their name. He likes lists. He buys the whole list. He's pretty much like having Santa in your family. This one year, when Isabelle was second grade cute, my dad had her name. She opened her gift, that turned out to be a note. That led to another note. She was obvisouly planning on something grand, because it looks like she is dressed for the Oscars. Anyway, this note led to yet another note. It was very exciting as all the little cousins chased her all over the house listening to her read aloud, telling them where this epic adventure was taking them next.

It eventually led to the porch.

Outside.

Where there was a brand new bike waiting for her.

She saw the bike, and then quickly looked at Mom to share an over the top moment of excitement that only you can share with your mom.

Because you mom knows you THAT well.

And it still makes your mom cry every time she sees the picture of the shared look of sheer joy.

Then she cries harder as she sees those little hands wrapped around Grandpa's neck thanking him for the most fantastic gift a girl could ever get.

Thanks Dad. It was a gift that that I won't ever forget!

Camera+

To say that I am "enjoying" my new Camera+ app on my iphone would be an understatement. I just spent an hour playing with it instead of making breakfast. Have a banana people, I am busy! Sometimes, the most willing subjects are the ones that can't cover their faces.

That is my dog from 1979.

Okay, it was from yesterday, but I love the fact that I can re-create what it would have been like to go ride my big wheel and come in and pet my dog.

That was my cat from 1893.

Amazing?

The borders! The effects! I can't take it!!!

I actually have 2 camera apps on my phone, so imagine what my life will be like when I am obsessed with both and not just one.

Learn how to cook your own meals is my only advice.