The Countdown

Only 1 week, 3 days left until I'm working full-time.  I've been "in the office" a lot, but I still have the flexibility to not be there every second... it's hit me that this is going to be a huge test of will.  We've been preparing for it and everyone is trying to do their part, but this is BIG.

I'm very excited and I can do the job, but still in the back of my mind I wonder if I'm doing what's best... the house is a little messy, the kids are a little tired, my patience is a little less, but all in all my goal was to do this to gain exposure to continued teaching at the college level...... and I have accomplished that.  I'm booked with classes through next Spring and I am very grateful.

So, if you stop by my desk is a mess, the dogs are happy to have an extra pat, the kids are busy doing homework, Joe is cooking and I'm surviving!

Are you ready?

There comes a time... often for me... when I get discouraged.

Right now I don't feel healthy.  I'm doing some things to help myself {and my family}, but it can be a slow process, especially this time of year.

I found this blog {it is now in my blog roll} which has re-inspired me.  It just makes sense!

97. health... my cousin just had brain surgery... she's doing great, but something like that really makes you think about your life.
96. my growing children, particularly this new pre-teen phase... woah!
95. my ability to be independent and get things accomplished
94. my dependence... I can't quite do it all
93.  our puppy... she is just too cute and fun

92.  my big dog... you can't beat a gigantic snuggler

Living in the moment...

I've realized that I need to better about living in the moment and enjoying each moment as it happens.

For example... Fall is my favorite season and.it's.gone.

How did I celebrate it? (Besides celebrating Thanksgiving.)

Did I embrace the beautiful changing colors of the leaves?

Did I enjoy the texture, the chill, the sun breaks, the crinkling leaves?

The big answer is... no.

So, now that Winter is almost upon us and Christmas is rapidly approaching I'm realizing that I'm not living the experience. 

Living Today... my countdown...
100. I stood back to admire our Christmas tree.
99.  I watched proudly (and cramped) as my son sang in his Winter concert (and cracked his knuckles the entire time).
98.  The warmth of the pellet stove.

A day of snuggling

It has been a long few weeks... transitioning to working a lot more and looking at working even more. Yesterday was filled with snuggles, movies, jammies, puppy love, etc.  It was just what the family needed.

Missing in Action ?!?!!

No, not missing, just missing from my blog.  It has been a whirlwind of adventures and I'm trying to enjoy (and keep my sanity) with each and everyone!

Fall soccer has ended, basketball has begun, indoor soccer is in swing and the list goes on and on. 

I've found some new challenges at the University in writing a new undergraduate level class as well as preparing to teach two classes in January.  Social studies boards, tutoring, supervising... not to mention being a MOM!

The kids are doing great... we have a preteen which is making life interesting and a 10 year birthday rapidly approaching.

They always ask to do more, and while we welcome new opportunities (Mad Science, Swimming, Piano) it's important to keep life in check.

We "squeezed in" the pumpkin patch between soccer games.

Wishing I had more time... time to foster and develop friendships further, time to clean my house better, time to craft, time to attend bible study... this is my life in this moment... and I love it!

And they've finally settled in...

It's been one of those afternoons/evenings... everyone picking... a few too loud... one wanting quiet.  We headed to the park (practice of course), with our intention to come home and get things done, it was apparent that they all needed to stay and play and run. 

So we did.

Upon on arrival at home the picking continued, the too loud and one wanting it quiet. 

Husband is traveling, again.

Missed my bible study, again.

But now, their bellies are full and they've all retired to their beds to read.

All is quiet, finally.

In this season...

This is a season for us... FALL SOCCER.  It is all we do and we love it... sadly, my posts end up with the same photo "look".  We've had our ups and downs with wins and losses, but in the end my kids continue to grow and grow in all ways.

Joey has been picked as one of the captains for the fall season... he's working very hard.

Joey's team photos (I took these!)

 They are learning how to lead... sometimes the are successful and other times they are not.  All of my children are learning responsibility... what a lesson.  It's is a constant battle... some days I feel like I'VE FAILED.  Other days, I feel like I've done my job. 

Daisy playing at the soccer game... she is the life of the party!

I'm getting prepared to host my little sisters baby shower... she's due with her first baby in December. It's hard for me to believe that she's having a baby... she's been married for 10 years, but my first memories of her are visiting her in the hospital when she was born.  There is only 4 years between us, so I was little, but I remember pressing my face up against the glass to get a peak at my new baby sister and then I saw my mom walking down the hall to see us... she was in a robe and slippers (in those days we weren't allowed to go back to her hospital room.)

Emmi playing goalie.

 My baby girl is growing up... reading Junie B. Jones, enjoying her friends, making new friends, joking with her coaches, etc.  It is so much fun to watch her come into her own.  She REALLY wanted to try an afternoon program at school, Mad Science, so she's taken it on and LOVES it.  I love watching her try new things... the other night she came down in her version of a karate outfit and asked if she could take karate classes.  She also wants to begin piano lessons... I'm sure her life will continue to be full!

Showing her skills.

It's the good stuff...

Daisy at the soccer game... playing with the shadow!

1.  Snuggling with miss Daisy Duke is fabulous... it's like she's teaching me to slow down a few times a day and just be at peace.

2.  Watching my kids do well in their soccer games, but more importantly watching them take leadership roles.

3.  Buying and putting together a new desk for myself.

Phinneous has become a great leader on his team.

4.  Working as a supervisor for student teachers -- I LOVE IT!

5.  The changing of the season.

6.  Missing my husband, but appreciating all that he does.

7.  Planning a baby shower for my little sister.

A homemade breakfast for Joe!

8.  Laundry -- trying to hard to love it... I do love my new homemade laundry soap.

And we're only half way through the month!

Joe's birthday flowers -- We had a Mexican food theme "party"

Joe's sushi lunch.

A new nephew... so sweet.

Got to watch our favorite volleyball player!

Baby girl's birthday.

Tent camping in the backyard.

Camping Birthday

Here are the pictures from Baby Girl's 8th Camping Birthday.

It was simple. I'm happy with what we did.  I have found ways to improve (such a teacher... always).

However, my baby girl was HAPPY!

Cake pops shaped like marshmallows... lantern from Target (it's solar and is awesome at night in her bedroom).

Cupcakes (digital fun added)

Baby Girl helping.

The table... fruit kabobs, cake pops, cupcakes, create your own trail-mix -- FUN!

Back to School

It's hard to believe that summer is over and the kids have headed  back to school.  We have a 6th grader, 4th grader and 2nd grader in our home now.  Boy does time flies... it just seems like yesterday that they each started Kindergarten.

Countdown to School

The kids are headed back to school is 2 days and counting.

As we prepare for the big day (hair cuts, supplies, nerves, etc) I wonder ... did we slow down and enjoy our summer?  Did we spend time together?  Did we get to just "be"?

I don't know that we slowed down... it seems that life is always a bit hectic around here.

We did spend time together... Maui, soccer fields, driving to many soccer tournaments, swimming, etc.

I think I would have prefered more time at home to just be... I certainly know my yard would too. 

 Ready to snorkel.

 Playing together.

 Mama watching the kids play in the pool at night.

 Joey working hard with his team (they took 2nd place 2x this summer).

 Stefan working hard with his team (they took first place 2x this summer).

 Mirror Lake... look at this beauty!

 Wildwood at Mt. Hood

 2nd annual 3-on-3 tournament for Stefan and his buddies... they took 3rd place in their division.

 Putting up the shots!

The comment I heard last night was, "I think I'm ready to go back... it will be fun."  I guess that means we've done well with our summer fun.  Now, to make it through the first day jitters!

No other way to say it... my children were {{bad}}!

I had one of those parenting days.  The days when you just want to through your hands in the air and declare your demise.  It was bad... it was the boys... BOTH of them.

It started with an adventure to go swimming... but first let's tidy up, put away laundry etc.  Ack... it took forever.  They kept declaring their work finished and I was dumbfounded.  {{Your work is not finished if I can not walk in your room without walking on something!}}

We finally headed to the pool... my boys screamed and fought with each other forever.  I was the ref... I made them get out of the pool, I made them go eat {{because surely they were misbehaving because they were hungry, right?}}, my girlfriend finally lit into them... and it helped, for a second.

Some days we all end up on our "bums"

By the time I got home, I was done.  I looked at Joe and said, "Our boys were bad... even the friend I brought to the pool was dumbfounded.. she'd never seen them behave like this!"  Joe talked to the boys and made them scoop the yard.

Then, all was quiet.  I heard the tv on and thought {{good}} a little peace.  And then I realized that both boys were asleep and it was only 5:30... but I let them sleep because I was spent.  Baby girl, Joe and I ate dinner and the boys slept.  We had icecream and the boys slept.  I finally tried to move them upstairs for bed {{at 9pm}} and they woke up and they were hungry and then I was up until 10:30 with them and then I declared bed time again 'cause Mommy was tired.

Lesson learned: sometimes big kids are really rotten because they are tired and they need a nap.  I should have just made them go lay down.  In hindsight, Pepe had a long, exhausting weekend of soccer and he was tired.  When Pepe is tired he enjoys bugging Phinneous; which then turns into chaos.  Didn't I learn this when they were 2 and 3 years old?!?!?!?

Mom's Day 2011

Mother's Day began with an alarm clock blaring at 4;30am... another drive north for a soccer game with my boy!


After 2 days of driving up and down the free at ungodly hours of the morning I was sick by the time I got home Sunday afternoon.



That didn't stop baby girl from celebrating! She create posters, place cards (for dinner), letters (5 of them), confetti and she gave me a mini pedi (hee, hee... it was actually a manicure, but I love her words for a mani/pedi). Phinneous picked out white roses and asked that I catch for him outside... unfortunately my body wouldn't cooperate, so we took a rain check on that. Daddy also picked out cards... his gift was... 2 bathroom remodels... yay me!

Sometimes growing up is just hard....

We headed up to the state cup for soccer this past weekend... the games did not go well... the kids did not play up to their potential... it was just sad. (They did, however, have a great time together in the hotel... so much fun watching them hangout and do the pre-teen thing... a little scary too for mom!)

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!

See that cute boy in my blog header... it's his birthday today! Pepe is 11 years old and I can't hardly believe it.

I'm so proud of the young man he is becoming... we have definitely hit the pre-teen phase over the last few months, but I have to say that we are all handling it well (most of the time)... skinny jeans (purple and orange) and long hair... oh my! He's smart (really smart), talented, athletic... he's coming out of his shell, he's becoming less afraid to be himself and I am so happy and pleased to watch him go through these phases in life.

I had the opportunity to go to dinner with just him last night... he chose Izzy's... we talked, we had a conversation... he's getting that big. He made his own food decisions and I was an observer. A different role for me, but one I'm happy to take on.

Pepe is known for his quiet ways (don't get me wrong... he's very loud when playing)... he just doesn't need to be talking all the time. But I still enjoy his chats at night... he's always been a night talker... like when the lights go off for bed time and I hear him say, "Mom, can we talk." Oh, how I love that moment... when he doesn't want me to go and bear hugs my arm and just wants to talk.


For all the rough times we have, there a million more great times. It's never easy being a parent and it's certainly not easy being a child... but we are both doing a good job.

Happy Birthday Pepe!
(Kick bootie today at your soccer game!)

"Home-made" Pizza

Some of us love pizza, some of us don't... but we eat what's put on the table.

We've discovered the joy of making our own pizza... don't get too excited, I still buy pre-made crust. Our favorite is this... and I wish it came it whole wheat... I do want to try to make my own crust, but in the meantime we'll stick with this. (Best price Winco $1.58)

I topped it with 1/2 cup of sauce (I used Classico red sauce).

Pre-shredded Mozzarella and Colby Jack Cheese.

Half the pizza I covered in pepperoni.

The other half I covered in mild italian sausage (precooked... I used the pampered chef meat tool to get it nice crumbled) and black olives (which Pepe chopped for me using the pampered chef food chopper).

Baked for 13 minutes on my pizza stone and it was fabulous! The entire pizza was gone :)

We had a green salad made with butter-leaf lettuce, cucumber, red pepper and avocado.

A scrumptious family meal for a few dollars and a lot of taste and fun.

Conversations with a First Grader

Another adventure in the suburban...

Baby Girl: Some girls told me that a boy likes me. (Please remember she's 7, so as my heart skipped a beat and I wanted to scream, "NO boys!")

Me: You're too young to like boys (still panicking).

Baby Girl: I know... but if he likes me HE should tell me. (How does a 7 year old get this... will she remember this in high school?)

Me: You're too young to like boys (... panic continues)

Baby Girl: (confidently) I'm not into boys... I'm into hair, horses and bling!


Me: Smile, chuckle and again remember another reason why I adore this first grader :)

Oh, how I love this first grader!

The first video is of Baby Girl's letter to Jeep.

The Second video is Baby Girl reading the letter to Jeep.

How cute is this first grader... and she's all mine!

Busy

I saw a post about a mom's desire to not be busy (I am not judging her wishes... it just made me think about my life... these are my thoughts)... to have her family at home with her... and while I crave my time at home with my family and being "just us", I feel that it ?IS US" when we are together at our events. My kids have learned to support each other, cheer for each other, and help each other. I feel that for the next few years I have to find balance between being just our family vs. giving my kids the opportunities they've asked for.

For us it means we are heavily involved in athletics... they each have a sport each season and in true athletic fashion all of those sports overlap a bit... which can make for crazy times. And now I've found that as my kids get "good" at something they crave it more... individualized lessons, open-play time, etc.




I always laugh when people tell me ...

• just say no... my thought is who do I say no to... do I tell baby girl that she can't swim because it's inconvenient with her older brothers schedule? Do I tell Pepe that he can't participate in math club because I need to take Phinneous somewhere... NO... for me I figure it out.
• I won't allow my children to play/do ________ (aren't these the times that shape who we will be become... I don't expect professional athletes, but I do expect hard workers, the ability to work on a team, to stay focused... all of those skills will transfer into life)
  

The joy I have in watching my children play, focus, interact, find determination is incredible. So my weekend included 6 soccer games, 2 basketball games and one swim lesson... I loved every minute of it!

Play on!