Soccer is for the Birds?

This is Alyssa's game. She scored 2 goals today and her team
won 11-0 today and 5 to 3 yesterday. She is the blue team, she is on right. It must be the coach. He is way Hot! ( it's my hubbie) Way to go Panthers!

This is Brandon's team. (They could go deer hunting with those

colors). His team won yesterday and today. No goals for Brandon,

however, a lot of assists and a couple almost type deals. He is coming off the field at this point. Go Barons!

This is what I had to deal with today. I felt like I was going to get pecked or pooped on. Or what was that movie about the birds? I was freaked out and the kids were ducking their heads at some point because they thought they were going to get dived upon. There were hundreds of these things flying around. Not only the seagulls eating everyone's crumbs, but goose poop everywhere. (a pond right next to the soccer complex) Thank goodness this was the only double header weekend. The only reason I spent 6 hours at the field this weekend was it was rained out last weekend.

CP Nightmare

New phone for Alyssa= big headache for Mom.

87 text messages in 3 days! Who has that kind of time? I looked and she finds time on the bus and after softball practice. I only got her the 200 messages a month package. I really don't want to add another $30.00 a month for unlimited...what is that teaching her? This way she has to learn to budget. Hopefully after our talk this morning she can maybe use her voice instead of her fingers!

Devil Made Me Do It

I think the devil moved in overnight and has taken over Emma. She was quite crazed out this morning. Her alarm goes off at 6:30 and the devil started talking for her. To prevent this, we even pick out her clothes the night before, but for some reason she couldn't wear what we picked out and she didn't want to wear anything else either. At that point I was ready to have her go to school in her Ariel nightgown. It took her seriously 45 minutes to calm down and pick out something completely different. I really am no help during this process because the devil took over my personality too.

So after a 45 minute battle of the wills, she finally gets dressed, eats a quick pop tart (no time for some real nutrition), some apple juice, and a kiss and a hug. I got into my car and left for work. She was calmed down and Alyssa took over and got her on the bus. Thank goodness for big sister who came to the rescue.

If I am even 1 minute late for work...it results in a talking. How crazy is that?

3 Good Reasons

My oldest daughter has been begging me for a cell phone for a very long time. I even did a post on it in August. When we went shopping, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. She couldn't even give me 1 good reason why she needed a phone. She just WANTED one. So I dropped the idea for the remainder of the summer...then she started Middle School.



She would come home and say everyone has a phone...(seriously Alyssa, not EVERYONE), but to her she was feeling left out. During the first week of middle school she was to try out for the girls softball team. Alyssa was on a team for the past few summers and seems to be a standout even amongst the coed teams she is on. She is a pitcher, plays third or first base. She was even on the all star team this summer. Way proud of her. So, she tried out and I know she tried her best. I knew they were going to cut approx. 15 or more girls and I really was trying to prepare her just in case she didn't make it. When she went to school on Monday of last week...SHE MADE THE TEAM! I was so proud of her. The first thing she could say was...I really want a cell phone, then I could call you when to pick me up from practice. What? Okay...whatever, we'll talk about it.



So, after a whole week of this crazy practice schedule (she also plays soccer), she really felt that she needed a CP(that is what she nicknamed it). I was so sick of hearing everyday the same thing. I want a cell phone. So, we put her to the test. Give us 3 good reasons why you think you need a cell phone. This is what she wrote down.

1. I will fell safer and comfortable with one.


2. If someone needs to contact me at any time for emergency they could (If I ever get one)


3. If softball is cancelled and the buses already left, I could call you or mom for a ride.

So we pondered about this all weekend. We even went to a birthday party Saturday and all of the adult men (seriously more like teenage boys) were egging her on. Why don't you have a cell phone? You really need one. It went on for I swear an hour.

So, today I broke down and we got her a cell phone. However, I will pay the monthly bill, she actually bought her own. I was very proud of her. She shelled out $100.oo of her hard earned babysitting money. She will get $50.00 back in a Visa Debit card, which is pretty cool for an 11 year old almost 12 in about 3 weeks.

To be honest, I feel better since she is staying at school 'til 6:00 for practice and will be attending the school social next Friday night. That way, she always can get a hold of someone for anything. She played with this phone all day. It is a pretty cool one.

I've been sticking to my 10K training program. The weather around here this weekend just sucked too. It rained the entire weekend. The remnants of the hurricane and other things too. However, I ran 4 miles today. So proud. I never stopped the whole run and it felt awesome. Another great week ahead...training that is.

Meet My Family

• My mom likes to yell.
• My dad likes to sleep and watch tv.
• My brother likes to scream.
• My brothers are good at fighting.
• My mom loves the computer.
• My whole family eats, sleeps, and drinks.
• My sister likes to shop.
• My mom is good at cooking and sometimes dad is too.
• My bunny likes to eat our vegetables.

From the journals of Second Graders. I smile and chuckled at this today. So cute...I had to share. I love the things they say. It is so funny. They sometimes look at me like I'm nuts. I wonder what my own kids say about me in their school journals.

Yesterday, one of my students asked me if I had my house key hanging from my ear. I guess my earrings looked like they could pick a lock! I was trying to take a photo of them, but fear of someone walking into my classroom and seeing me taking pictures of myself, I thought it was best not to follow through.

Happy Friday!

First Day Excitement

Brandon and Emma (Alyssa was still primping)
First day of First Grade for Emma (my baby is growing up)
Emma, Brandon, Alyssa, and Zena (the dog).
We are ready for our first day.
Waiting for the bus. Alyssa went on a different bus this year. She is at the middle school and the other two are still in the Elementary.

I think I drove her nuts after school today...I was drilling her about everything. I am a nosey mom. I need to know DETAILS!! (who she talked to, who is next to her by her locker, her teachers, the lunchroom, the bus, etc). She was awful excited about the boy who has a locker next to her. However, that is the boy that gave us a wake up call at midnight. She has been smitten with him since Kindergarten. Hopefully, the year goes well, I am sure it will.

It was a great first day. The weather was the hottest it has been all summer long. It was 90 degrees by 9am. I had no AIR CONDITIONING. I thought my little second graders were going to pass out. I was letting them get drinks every half hour. They didn't hardly use the washroom today. We were sweating it out all day. Thank goodness for the cold front that will come through tonight. The only thing is that we will get the rain from Gustav for about 2 days. We need it around here and I will welcome the 70 degrees that will head our way this week.

I increased my run today...2.4 miles. Tomorrow is strength and crosstraining.

Baking At It's Finest

If there is one thing Alyssa loves to do is bake. She takes pride in her wonderful desserts she makes and of course shares with her family and friends. Today is the day before school starting and what better way other than sharing the blender with your buddies.

They were off to make the chocolate chip/chunk cookies. I think that the dough sometimes is a bigger hit than the cookies itself.


Emma, Paige, Alyssa putting together some of the ingredients.
Taking turns....because that is what friends do.
Almost ready...
This is what is left of their cookie baking bonanza. Not only did they eat
a lot of the dough, but as soon as they came out of the oven the kids and
of course their friends had to have a sample. I am not kidding...they ate
4 dozen cookies...only 8 are left. Hopefully they don't have belly aches in the
morning.

Tomorrow is the first day of school. We are so excited...the kids are, I am too, the only thing, it is suppose to be 90 degrees tomorrow and I DO NOT HAVE AIR CONDITIONING in my classroom. That is right...the poor little second graders will be a sweaty, tired group by the time the dismissal bell rings. I am sure I will too.

I ran today...I was so excited because it has been 3 weeks since my surgery and I am officially starting my training program for the 10K I will be doing in November. I did some interval runs today. It was hot...around 85 degrees. I needed to start slow. I ran a 9 minute mile. Tomorrow a longer run. So excited to really be back in. Game on!!

Where Did the Time Go This Summer....

OMG! I can't believe this is my true last day of summer vacation. I go back to work on Monday. I have procrastinated all summer....now today I am going to torture my children and bring them on endless errands. Can I get it all done in one day...probally not, but I will try.

• Drop off forms at Doctors (physical forms to be signed) I've had them since May.
• Get eyebrows waxed...why does it need to be done every month? I hate plucking..tried this morning...gave up after my eyes starting watering.
• Dye my hair. The sun has really bleached it out. My son asked me the other day "Mom, when did you dye your hair blonde?" Maybe he was seeing too many gray hairs popping through. WTH? You turn 40 and seriously everyday I find at least 4 more. I tried to pluck them out...fear of going bald on top stopped me. hahaha
• Go to the outlets and find good deals for the kids...have to look cute for Back to School.
• Buy groceries in bulk so I don't have to do it again for at least another month. I hate grocery shopping...I would rather go to the dentist.
• Do laundry...A tells me I need to wash whites...no socks or undies...I should teach her how to do this. She will be 12 in 6 weeks.
• Make a dish to pass for our Back to School luncheon at school. I may forget this...there is always more than enough food to go around. No one will notice.
• Get the truck packed for the Brewer game tonight. Which reminds me I think I will have the perfect Christmas card after tonight. Yes...the whole fam has Brewer attire to wear. How cute...a picture in front of the Stadium supporting our favorite baseball team.

I know I am forgetting something. This is the start of a terrific weekend...wouldn't you agree?

Off to torture the kids.

Growing up Too Fast

My oldest daughter is entering Middle School this year. I am a nervous wreck for some reason. I had this dream that I secretly (or tried to be) attend classes with her. I wanted to be there to hold her hand or something. She is sometimes shy, so I have been trying to encourage her to be confident in herself and talk to kids to get to know them. That is such a hard thing because she thinks I am being insensitive or something. Everything I say or do lately can lead to tears for sure.

Anyways, the biggest dilemma I have been having for a while now is do I get her a cell phone? I want her to have one for my own peace of mind, but does she really need one? Is she going to suck all of my minutes up and break me on the texting that she may do? She tells me that EVERYONE has a phone....I don't think everyone...but a lot of kids her age do. So,today I am going to go and probally give in and do it. Peer Pressure ( I feel like it anyways).

Over the weekend we were awakened by some boys who obviously have cell phones that wanted to talk to her. (could tell by number) Mr. Handsome tried to be nice to them and say we would appreciate you not calling for A at Midnight!! You should call before 9pm. Kids....

There will be rules for usage and also leaving the phone in my room overnight...don't want to find her texting or talking at 2am.

"Tri" Like A Girl

Alyssa finished her first triathlon this morning. It was such a great experience for her. She tried her best and she finished. She completed the swim, bike, and run in 44:52. There were so many times during the race I felt so much emotion for her. I am very proud of what she did and look forward to many more.

Getting ready for the swim.

Coming out of the bike transition.

Way to go girl!!! So proud of you!

The girls celebrating their triathlon finish!

Congratulations!!!

Whacked Out Wednesday

Whacked out indeed. I am listening to all of the commotion while laying on my favorite chase lounge. (in pain can't move)

EG found a mouse in our window well and of course it is alive. She wants to catch it because she is afraid that the toad that is in there with it will be eaten or something. So she is looking for the butterfly net. She can't find it so she has B get it. B retrieves the mouse and lets it go. Zena (our dog) chases it all around the yard...kids are screaming...yelling at Zena...and yes Zena finally gets the mouse and it is now a dead mouse. The kids bury the mouse in the garden while B describes how its guts were oozing out of its body. Lovely...

Yesterday B instead of burying a mouse he proceeds to tell me about the injured bat that has made its way to our yard. At least it wasn't killed and they returned it to the nearby woods. I was in the hospital yesterday and didn't see this, but he took some pictures of the bat. How sweet of him.

The bat nestled right by the sandbox.

Trying to fly, but can't. B returns it to the woods.

Cheap Labor

Putting the kids to work- for the basketball court that is being poured this weekend. EG helping in her dress and all. She was willing to use her muscles to help out her Dad. Great job B!