tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205176315620907142024-03-04T21:11:51.728-08:00Vida. Risa. Amor.Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-32994639574752557852013-01-28T17:05:00.000-08:002013-01-29T21:36:07.716-08:00Play onSo not only have I pretty much disconnected myself from the blog world, I haven't even visited my own blog in 4 months. Until just now.<br />
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I think I had thought when I started blogging it would be a way to connect to others somehow, though I'm still not even sure if that's what I wanted out of it or not. Sometimes I just wanted to blog so I could keep my family's memories alive...even if I didn't have a picture of the moments. But with a family of 4 kids there's a plethora of moments worth writing about, even if there's no energy for blogging. And clearly I've run out of energy, and finally have the soccer balls to admit it.<br />
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Truth is we're busy, and I work. And when I'm not at work, I'm still at "work".<br />
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I'm my kids #1 fans and I live for watching them from the sidelines...it's kind of my "home" away from home these days. I have been able to watch my girls grow into truly talented athletes. And I don't say that just because they're mine, but they have the whole "package": good hearts/serious discipline/true team players/great skills. My soccer girl finished of her team's final game of the season with their last goal. It was a "captain-worthy/olympic-style/that's-my-girl" - kind of goal. I also had the priveledge of witnessing my softball girl hit a few double plays and homeruns this season as well as catch a few outs in her place in the outfield. They are both well liked on their teams and I am so proud of them both.<br />
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My boys are at the beginnings of their sports "careers" too. Presently I am sitting in my bedroom and in my view is my youngest kicking his soccer ball consistently back and forth in the backyard as he's bummed that his practice has been cancelled due to floods from this weekend's rain. He has to play alone as his brother is sick on the couch unfortunately, but he knows I'm watching him and glances up every so often to check.<br />
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I'm right where I want to be: any place in view of my kids doing what they're passionate about at the moment. I suppose I could take it one step further and actually go out and kick the ball around with him, but so far he's happy enough I'm watching, and I have this 4 month overdue blog post to finish. Plus it's cold outside.<br />
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But suddenly we've arrived in 2013 and all that I've found myself thinking of is May of 2014...when my firstborn will graduate. A lot will happen from here til then, but it will all have a sentimental flare to it..."last homecoming/last soccer season/last winter camp...<br />
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When I sit and think about it, a lot changes in 5 years. Five years ago my kids were 1, 5, 8, & 11. Five years from now my kids will be 21, 18, 15, & 11. Ready or not it's where we're headed.<br />
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My family is on the borders of changes and though I'm keeping up, time isn't cutting me any breaks. Our family already has 5 cell phones, and I'll have two highschoolers next year. We're going to need a 3rd car, college scholarships, and a softball bat savings account.<br />
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Time presses on, and changes are inevitable. It may be months or another year before I pause to blog again. But until then we'll play on.<br />
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Live/Laugh/Play 4Ever...maybe a better title for a once in a while blogger of 4 athletes. ;)Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-65536130150142407612012-09-04T11:19:00.000-07:002012-09-04T22:19:43.943-07:00ChangesA lot changes in one year. Today I'm thinking about all the different changes that my family and myself have been through and realize there are huge parts of our lives that I haven't bothered to write about. <br />
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A year ago at this time I would have been getting ready for work...though I would have been panicking of what to wear because I was nervous about standing in front of a medical class of 60 highschool students. This class was 89% female; 16 & 17 year old girls. So I found out quickly that they really check out shoes, if you share your gum, what you wear, jewelry, if you smell nice, and how you wear your hair. My oldest daughter is in their same age group, and I am impressed to say their generation isn't entirely materialistic. They're mostly good kids, with a lot of hard things going on in their lives, and have the surprising ability to see right through you and know when an adult is legitimately real or not. Around October I didn't feel so scared from coming out from behind the desk so much, and they figured out I was pretty cool and told me so. I loved sitting on the floor and helping them with their projects...and they liked my drawing & whistling.<br />
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So that was a year ago, and I had thought that I would be back to work there again when the new school year started up a month ago, but maybe because of a turn over in administrators, and teachers, I am still left waiting, and wondering. There was a lot that I really liked about that job. One of the best things about it was that it was only 4 hours a day and I had weekends, holidays, and summers off...it really worked with my family's busy schedule.<br />
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And in the meantime I have applied to approximately 15 different jobs. I'm still waiting and wondering, though fully in the project mode since we all know I am incapable for sitting still for long...even if it's 105 degrees. My summer "bucket list" of making a garden is really coming along.<br />
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Another change is both my girls have switched teams recently. We've become a very athletic family and my daughters are very passionate about their different sports; Josie in soccer, and Lanie with softball. It was a hard decision for Josie to leave a team of 3 years to switch to a different one, and as the parent it was hard to leave too, since there were a lot of friendships formed on the sidelines together. There's good things to say about both teams, but the one thing we knew that mattered the most for Josie was the realization that she wasn't going to get any better unless she was challenged and played at a more competitive level. It's the beginning of the new season now with her new team, and so far we hope it was the right one. <br />
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Now that my Lanie is 13 1/2 already, (what?), and because she couldn't continue to play for her 12U softball team anymore we had to find a new 14U team for her to play on. The tryout process takes thick skin, and is truly one crazy ride, because the area where we live in Arizona has become extremely competitive for softball. Tryouts are also a very humbling experience for a 13 year old to have to go through, and I kind of felt like her agent checking 43ft.com every day for new tryout postings of about 25 different teams in the area. Lanie carries herself with a new confidence she didn't have as much a year ago, and the number one team she wanted to make, asked her to join. It was probably the best news of the year for her, and I am so happy she can continue to grow with a great group of coaches and girls.<br />
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With my four in sports again, my family's schedule has already taken over the calendar. And though I am still waiting and wondering if I will find an opportunity to earn some extra money soon, I figure there must be some kind of awesome reason I am gardening by day and taxiing by evening instead of working right now.<br />
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...I guess I'm just a wondering woman. ;)Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-3996967971288598612012-07-28T23:35:00.001-07:002012-09-04T22:18:49.578-07:00Kip Awt(Also pronounced Keep Out). This is what was written on the sign my 6 year old made to tape on the couch cushions of his fort set up today....all the while wasting the afternoon away with fruit loops in his fitted ninja costume with his spider man mask. Sometimes to me he is the boy version of the character Eloise in my most favorite of all times book. I love his imagination.<br />
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It's the end of July and it's about that time the 4 walls of our house seem to melt in on all of us so we're all in 6 different forms of stir-crazy. We're all looking for ways to find space from each other and I have discovered that when I sit in the backyard with my feet propped up in the kiddy pool no one seems to bother me there. I have the right amount of crazy to be able to voluntarily sit out in the heat...which is a small sacrifice for <em><u>quiet</u></em>. I didn't even care that the sun wasn't out today either. Or flies.<br />
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The summer went by fast, but for some reason this last week left before school starts seems to be moving the slowest. I had meant to update all kinds of things on this blog but never quite felt up to it....in fact I'm actually not really in the mood to write anything now either. I'm boring even myself. (Yawn). But I did just reread a few of my own posts to see where I left off and got myself a little teared up, and I was thankful to have those memories written down.<br />
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What I should be doing is soaking up every second of this non-scheduled week, (oh wait, there's still softball and soccer...year round seasons here f.y.i.)...but I'm finding myself feeling anxious...<br />
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Anxious for the not knowing if I'm working again in the fall, or if Lanie will find a softball team, or if I can get Josie to use the brakes: (in driving and with dating), if my boys will ever stop pounding on each other, if the ceiling on my van will ever stop peeling off, if my right ear "deafness" will ever go away....<br />
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Ugh. Enough. It is what it is. And Rylan's sign was just the reminder I needed.<br />
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Worries: Kip Awt.<br />
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For tommorrow has enough trouble of it's own.Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-85930143922466299592012-05-02T20:55:00.001-07:002012-05-02T20:56:46.801-07:00Plodding alongYou know what makes a bad day worse: spilled Sprite on the floor....it really makes your flip flops stick.<br />
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About 6 months ago I used to be able to say I could jog 4 or 6 miles, and even now I still make the effort to try each week, (I run 2 miles away to force myself to have to run the 2 back). But lately I feel myself just plodding along. I miss the days when 8 miles wasn't even something I'd even blink at.<br />
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So I'm tired, but that's not a new topic, and the last thing I really want to be writing about is my struggling jogging life. I'm also aware there's only 3 weeks left of school & 2 weeks of football so I know there's a little rest coming soon at the end of this busy season. <br />
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Softball though, now that's a different story: games are scheduled for every weekend in May, (that is including Friday night practice, Saturday and Sunday games), (except Mother's Day). Softball games aren't scheduled for just one game a day either, not even double headers....we're talking triple headers. all.the.time. So that's been my eye-opening experience in the world of softball. But I have to admit, it never matters to me if my girl's team is losing...it's when there's that moment she slides to catch a fly ball, or makes a 2 run basehit, that I'm loving every minute of it. She looks like a pro in my shades too. <br />
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But I have come to realize the hardest part of it all is getting there. Wether it's dragging my buns out of bed to psych myself up for a 4 mile plod, or packing up the 3 coolers at 6 a.m. for a 3 game day, or carrying a chair, an umbrella, & a cooler & 2 ice-jugs uphill both ways to a football game....once we've arrived we're good.<br />
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And when I've gotten us to where we need to be, then my day feels right. I may be plodding along, but, hey, atleast I'm still moving.Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-83401777310361041232012-03-04T22:00:00.004-08:002012-03-04T22:14:54.207-08:00Reality checkIt was if I was fighting for permission to be frustrated this week. The fact is, Moms need breaks....and the reality is, we get few. <br />
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Not sure exactly how I got on this emotional rollercoaster, but I sure learned a lot about myself on this ride. If anything, I now know I can run a mile in my favorite sandals and jeans. In a duststorm even. Because happy hours aren't always happy, and sometimes it's best to speak less, and when you finally get found down the road, it's best to just get in the car.<br />
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I probably shouldn't have donated my blood last week either. I have needed naps every single day. And chocolate. Somehow I opted for the "power red" which was extra "heroic" in that they have more access to my red blood cells, which helps more people, but I think I need my red blood cells more than anyone now. I almost passed out going up the stairs.<br />
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Last weekend I watched 5 games of softball, of which my daughter played 16 minutes in, a soccer game and a basketball game that both ended in losses. I drove through Phoenix in traffic hour to pick up my very expensive transmission repaired van. I do laundry every other day, and no one in my house knows how to turn their socks inside right. I also procrastinate grocery shopping because it makes me anxious, and I always forget to get the milk.<br />
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E.V.E.R.Y. morning my Kindergardener begs me to not have to go to school, and when I won't let him stay home I am "the worst Mom in the world", even though I make sure the sand is dumped out of his shoes before I put them on. I take my boys to school barefoot & braless in my jammies with several random jackets on, and when I get back home, if I even glance at the tornado that hit my girls room it will only lead me to send them an angry text that is the length of 3 messages.<br />
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I have several projects that I would love to get around to doing, but no longer have the time to be able to commit to finishing. I'd also like to workout to the point that I can see results, but I no longer have time or energy for that either, so until then my arms will flap in the wind.<br />
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But the biggest reality check for me this week was unfortunately when a friend of mine lost her 15 year old son yesterday. No amount of stress any Mom could endure from one week could even compare to that kind of loss and heartbreak. <br />
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Good, bad, or ugly, the reality is Life is precious. Life isn't always beautiful, but it's a beautiful ride. (great country song). <br />
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Tonight my boys both snuggled with me on the couch while we all watched Shrek. Last night I had fun spending time with my girls who turn 13 and 16 this week. And just now my husband just got home safely from work.<br />
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Note to self: Cherish. every. single. minute.Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-40171239371053774842012-02-21T22:33:00.000-08:002012-02-21T22:38:54.592-08:002012 Sports UpdateIt's good to get away from time to time, but after another family road trip has come and gone, it's been another chance for me to realize how much I love home, (my pillows), and my sporty family's world.<br />
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I'm even getting psyched for this weekend's games my kids are playing in. 5 games. 5 practices. (And this is a quieter week). People still don't understand why this could be fun for me to have all 4 of my kids actively involved in sports, but I can't imagine the weekends any other way. I love having my kids play something they enjoy, and I love being there for an assist, a goal, a tricky pass, a touchdown, a flag grab, a basket, a steal, a hit, an RBI, a double, (yep, I'm learning softball lingo), and that crazy awesome noise of when the softball smacks the mitt perfectly and the dirt dust smokes off the top, and the guy in blue yells "Out!" So yeah...it's not so much that I love sports, I super love watching my kids play. <br />
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As Josie's highschool soccer season just wrapped up, her Barca soccer club team had a college showcase tournament this past weekend in Vegas. The highlight of this trip for me was watching my girl play her heart out, with a goal scored and all, I am so proud of her! We've been busy before this weekend typing up her "soccer resume" and sending out letters to potential colleges...I never knew there was such a thing to have to do until now. And I'm really not so sure I'll be able to let her go in just 2 years. Time is flying.<br />
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Lanie's Jr.High Desert Ridge softball team were undefeated all season and won their championship! Great job Lady Rattlers! She also plays outfield with her East Valley Pride club team and recently hit a home run...can't wait to see her do more great things! Love my LanieLou.<br />
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Aydan is finishing up his basketball season and though it was his first year trying out the sport, he really did well! He's already getting conditioned for a new football season as well and this time his team will be the Panthers. He's hoping he'll compete against his cousin Micah, as they are now in the same age bracket and league.<br />
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Rylan is begging me to sign him up for boxing, wrestling, Karate, or a ninja warrior skills building class. We've even recently chained up a punching bag in the backyard for him to pound on and sadly he has found out it hurts his little hands to punch on. (Batman punching gloves come in handy though). And I so very much want to get him signed up soon for something, but I have discovered that even I have limits...(4 in sports = chaos.) Summer will be his turn for camps and trying out different activities. <br />
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So that's all for now. <br />
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Spring is in the air...and I smell lots of fields of grass....and cleats, shinguards, softballs, soccerballs, footballs...Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-65308155001581170932012-02-10T21:21:00.000-08:002012-02-10T21:21:37.788-08:00Time for HugsIt's just been so busy. I say it all the time, but gosh, there's just so much going on in our family. My gas tank went from full to empty in 5 days between work, school, softball, basketball, football, and soccer. (Ok, and Kohls). It seems every minute of every day we are scheduled. <br />
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In the middle of this action packed week, Rylan came home from school the other day telling me that a mean first grader punched him in the stomach. It really doesn't take much for this mother tiger to get her claws out when anyone messes with her babies....especially her youngest one. Sigh. He was so sad, and it made my heart break. The teacher was made aware of it as was his big brother and football buddies, so I'm pretty sure it's safe to say there won't be any more punching going on. <br />
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And so today I was a Kindergarden Mom. He's my last Kindergardener, and I need to keep reminding myself of that because I'll admit that there's a huge part of me that has a "been there and done that" attitude...(3 times actually). I have been slacking in the "volunteering department", and about a month ago I offered to help out at his school for his jogathon. It's easier to check yes, and a lot harder to actually follow through and show up...especially when your refrigerador is bare. I'll admit I even e-mailed the teacher to check if they had enough volunteers, but my 5 year old would not let me off the hook as easily...not even if we didn't have any ice-cream left in the freezer. I haven't exactly been available to help out in his class since I started working part time, and of all my kids, he has been the one to notice my absence. He really has had a rough week, and so I showed up, slapped my Bulldog visitor sticker and smile on and all my thoughts of groceries were erased once I saw, that he saw, that I was there.<br />
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He had a very successful 4 lap jogathon and when it was time for me to go he hugged me goodbye. After I walked away about 50 feet, he chased me down for one more hug. He has strong little arms that squeeze tight like his Daddy's and his head even rested on my shoulder for a few extra seconds. I love his grubby, five year old boy smell. Best hugs ever.<br />
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Every morning I drop him off for school, he walks backwards, shouts "I love you!", and waves goodbye to me until he can't see me anymore. <br />
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...Before the school year ends I'm going to make myself stop the car and chase him down for just one more hug too.<br />
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I'll probably do it more than twice a week for the rest of his life. :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-RNGyK5B-ICINFIXR12U9J8rYhyphenhyphenL8WH3ECmao4hkoPkRIGmVckhFVavp6L3uYP-SOBea3BACvDfa2RA3woV2fxzOJghoDWugPLqct51Jx34leCgWqXt43zEPbY4Lu2RMto2I4GbN8h4Y/s1600/45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-RNGyK5B-ICINFIXR12U9J8rYhyphenhyphenL8WH3ECmao4hkoPkRIGmVckhFVavp6L3uYP-SOBea3BACvDfa2RA3woV2fxzOJghoDWugPLqct51Jx34leCgWqXt43zEPbY4Lu2RMto2I4GbN8h4Y/s320/45.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-22194009885426868872012-01-02T06:11:00.000-08:002012-01-02T06:11:17.474-08:00StrengthWell it's 5:56 a.m. and I just can't go back to sleep. I've been tossing and turning in my bed for about an hour ever since my husband kissed me goodbye somewhere around 4:45 when he set off for work. My head has been pounding for a few days now, but for other reason's besides my headcold, I was left with a huge awareness of the amount of responsibility we both carry right now. I am really bad at telling him, but I am so thankful for his faithfulness to continue to work long hours at the restaurant he works at to provide for our family. He's so good at what he does too. On New Years Eve, he made it home from his 11 hour shift at 11:47 p.m. just in time to find us all in the driveway around the firepit with our neighbors and fireworks to bring in the New Year. According to Rylan I need to remember to buy more sparklers for next year.<br />
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2011 seemed to be a year of brief "hello's", and quick "good-bye's"...soccer, football, and softball. And to be honest, that followed us right into 2012. Maybe because it's now 6:37 a.m., and I'm still trying to figure out my thoughts, I'm feeling a little anxious about today. It's only day two of 2012, and like most people are doing, this is the time of year to make resolutions to improve the parts of our lives that need improving and reflect on the things needing change.<br />
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I don't know that I can change a whole lot actually. Our activities and schedules have already filled up the new calender, but I guess if I were to set a goal, or prayer, it would be for Strength...with a capital S. To develop more endurance and energy, and to remember to stay strong for my family: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me."</strong></div><br />
I looked up and saw another one of my "Isaiah" hawks gliding in the sky yesterday. God finds little ways to remind me he's still with me. Always. Guess I should just look up more often.Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-87657364507778771482011-11-16T21:16:00.000-08:002011-11-16T21:23:29.164-08:00Endless.Tape. Every home needs some, and to this day I don't really understand why I can't seem to ever own a pack with the handy little jagged edge that helps rip off strips for you. I can never seem to remember to grab a pack at the store, so I am forced to spend 10 minutes of my days searching for it's "invisible to the naked-eye" edge and make lame attempts to carefully peel it up evenly to make a smooth tear. Never happens. Ever. <br />
<br />
It's a boring story actually, but every time I find myself staring at my edgeless roll of tape, it seems to be the metaphor of my life. My patience is lost, I wonder if it's best to give up, and the end seems nowhere in sight.<br />
<br />
Maybe that's too deep to compare myself to a roll of tape, but it somehow made sense in my mind and I'm going "stick" with it... (hehe).<br />
<br />
I realize my family's activities this season sounds ridiculous to most people. Soccer. Football. Club softball. Club soccer. Highschool Varsity soccer. Jr.High softball. All in one week. An average of 5-7 practices a week, and 3-4 games on Saturdays. I'd be lying if I didn't admit it makes a Mom tired. Proud. But tired.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnDVNVaBOtUkMXIlRRsQm-8AV6fKZO2kVFSBKQ2zJApb1i5_1WM0bou9gEFDuIKuAE9EWdS7NAdujL8Cwldy4COXOAYP4fRX8pEJ1t452JFr5hUG42HpPvcQbaCyue-6VaVhhdn5eQiE2/s1600/whatev+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnDVNVaBOtUkMXIlRRsQm-8AV6fKZO2kVFSBKQ2zJApb1i5_1WM0bou9gEFDuIKuAE9EWdS7NAdujL8Cwldy4COXOAYP4fRX8pEJ1t452JFr5hUG42HpPvcQbaCyue-6VaVhhdn5eQiE2/s320/whatev+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I don't always know if this was the lifestyle I imagined for our family. It's just a season and I know the "end" of it is coming eventually. My kids seem happy with what they're involved in, and we're happy to watch them.<br />
<br />
So, just for now, I know I won't know who the biggest loser is, or the next dancing star, or what's really pinteresting. Piles of socks will always be turned inside out in the laundry and grass and chunks of dirt will forever be ground into my van's carpet. I have a "Little Caesar" to thank for feeding us so often too...<br />
<br />
Guess I'll keep "rolling" with it all for now.<br />
<br />
I hope I can remember that when it comes to <br />
whatever is next for my kids futures, <br />
that by God's grace, <br />
...the possibilities are endless.Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-58379247517060630652011-10-19T21:28:00.000-07:002011-10-19T21:51:10.927-07:00Sports-"Fanatic"<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I wish I could be able to see my breath this time of year...and that if I breathed in, my boogers would freeze. It's October, and it's still 100 degrees. Supposedly it's going to cool down, (if you consider 90's cooler), and with Halloween around the corner we all sure hope for it. I think the heat is starting to get to me a little more this season since I spend most of Saturday in the sunshine on a field.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So I signed up all 4 of my kids for sports this season. It seemed like a fun idea at the time...and it is. I think. Well, for the most part, anyway. (I may have both sentence and thought finishing issues because of this).</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCM6VOL9WuAnyWsM_GDocYKO8w24ypAAimSHoIcHZ8OU9HGC2YXaYzDnbsk_AOAjnoDlihZnPhvSoCitATZaUoXKraD6GRu-OJ7Rk2lFGT1bIDcuF3EZOyM92eBVINA1gaDxK9AwNGys6s/s1600/September+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCM6VOL9WuAnyWsM_GDocYKO8w24ypAAimSHoIcHZ8OU9HGC2YXaYzDnbsk_AOAjnoDlihZnPhvSoCitATZaUoXKraD6GRu-OJ7Rk2lFGT1bIDcuF3EZOyM92eBVINA1gaDxK9AwNGys6s/s200/September+020.JPG" width="200" /></a>Yep. I am starting to feel insane, and have even gotten the vibe that other's are secretly starting to agree. I'll even admit I come close to hyperventalating every Friday night when I look at my kids schedule for games for Saturday, (which is when I plan out who's driving who to where and when). Not to mention, we, (I), already have been to and from 6 or 8 practices during the week as well. But after all the schedules get figured out, when Saturday comes, there's really no other place I'd rather be than under my shade in my lopsided lawnchair, with my cherry coke zero in hand, getting ready to watch my kids play. </div></div><br />
When it comes to cheering, I really don't consider myself "hard core". And wow, there are definately a lot of those kind of parents out there. I promised myself I will never shout: "Man up!" every two seconds like some football Dads do, or spit endless bags of sunflower seeds while shouting "Come on, you can do better than that!" like I've heard some softball parents do, or a be a "swear at the ref" kind of soccer fan. Sheesh. Like the kids don't already know when they made a mistake, and I'm sure they don't need their parents announcing their disappointments. When it comes to game day, I don't ever expect perfection from my kids, but just that they were trying their best. Winning isn't everything, but competitiveness and the drive to play a game well will always run in my blood....but the love for my kids comes before any of that.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmV6Lii30xE0z6T5ngnd-bJYefO3IDk7VtK4OuuNlKXdnO2mccWLdVu1bF7cx6tNd55jDO_CLz3mgWOqaX3HOoxOY04HyL6s4qb3y9DWHZBsYKOa_b1rF6G2d42-YhtAoX0TiUjt-A4Xrf/s1600/September+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmV6Lii30xE0z6T5ngnd-bJYefO3IDk7VtK4OuuNlKXdnO2mccWLdVu1bF7cx6tNd55jDO_CLz3mgWOqaX3HOoxOY04HyL6s4qb3y9DWHZBsYKOa_b1rF6G2d42-YhtAoX0TiUjt-A4Xrf/s320/September+016.JPG" width="214" /></a>This is Rylan's first year playing any kind of sport at all, and since we're mainly a "soccer" family, (we also have every size of hand-me-down soccer cleat available), so what better sport than to give him a try at soccer. (The game day fields are literally in our neighborhood as well). At this age, his Blue Raiders team plays games on a mini field with mini goals with 4 mini kids playing at a time. It's adorable. There are no goalies, so it's fun to watch them score a goal. His "mad ninja ball kicking skills" have scored him two goals so far!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7MSRDZekhcrxYEjYaUxbgCxfv1EbOAchrYHYNiK2bRwbrQ7MdFWhPwxTZWSIoAYbQb4x4dDLB9aONvgd9SdWtZQgZn5SgBpldq3GGqK_tsZOZtgA3xXX-v3A-5ZnJ_gGLQXS5cSAMkTW/s1600/September+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7MSRDZekhcrxYEjYaUxbgCxfv1EbOAchrYHYNiK2bRwbrQ7MdFWhPwxTZWSIoAYbQb4x4dDLB9aONvgd9SdWtZQgZn5SgBpldq3GGqK_tsZOZtgA3xXX-v3A-5ZnJ_gGLQXS5cSAMkTW/s320/September+034.JPG" width="224" /></a></div>Aydan has played several seasons on his Cardinal's football team, (he'd know the exact amount...I lost track), and still plays with most of his buddies from school. Something "clicked" in his little brain this year, in that he learned as soon as that whistle blows, he charges for the flag. (Like a bull, hence, the name, "El Toro"). I'm second guessing my plan of "bribing" him for a dollar a flag because I think we're up to $18 for just 3 games already. I'm so proud of him.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LAuupD2n9910zC285RE4P0vGNb2BwmnTD4Q-5l1neG79Rl_74kLjJT4kmZ2NBNquSTeCQvqPu40aHtOYskyPLn58TEC1lxnuBCPR7YJdb6CgG10mSjaBW-4lhFgPqtpulQkADA89_Kkb/s1600/September+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LAuupD2n9910zC285RE4P0vGNb2BwmnTD4Q-5l1neG79Rl_74kLjJT4kmZ2NBNquSTeCQvqPu40aHtOYskyPLn58TEC1lxnuBCPR7YJdb6CgG10mSjaBW-4lhFgPqtpulQkADA89_Kkb/s320/September+011.JPG" width="272" /></a>Lanie has been playing for her East Valley Pride softball team for about 2 months now. This team is everything Lanie ever dreamed of for a softball team, except for maybe the part of underestimating the time commitment it requires. Every other weekend there are 3 games in a row to go to in Casa Grande, (that's a 9 hour day), occasional Tuesday & Thursday double header games, (expect to be there about 4 1/2 hours each night), and every Friday night from 6-8:30 is batting practice. That's a lot of softball for our 12 year old, and her taxi driver. She's mostly playing outfield for now, and it's so much fun to watch her hit and steal bases. I can tell she's hoping to make a homerun soon, and I want to make sure I'm there when she does. I have three goals as a softball Mom: learn how to take down stats, how chew sunflower seeds, and build up game watching endurance.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuF6yUXm49yhPy5OwolveD7L1yXyPLYG6JbMYl_vDI86WEd2AP0kK1ai13NlYPtwfFXMHvxQ2D5qNGeKDBApU2oFHPi-rxAnElXe-hWJyiVixRQusTeyWP67mTfQ33051E3ddyOaq9IjVe/s1600/soccer+season+074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuF6yUXm49yhPy5OwolveD7L1yXyPLYG6JbMYl_vDI86WEd2AP0kK1ai13NlYPtwfFXMHvxQ2D5qNGeKDBApU2oFHPi-rxAnElXe-hWJyiVixRQusTeyWP67mTfQ33051E3ddyOaq9IjVe/s320/soccer+season+074.JPG" width="320" /></a>Josie is on her 4th season with her Barcelona soccer team. Sigh. Let's just say, her team isn't doing so well this season. All losses...two ties. At the beginning of the season, about 5 of their forwards transferred to different club teams, and the newer members of the team play only defence. Well, kind of. So...long story short, when you can't score, you kind of can't win. Josie is counting the days away from highschool soccer tryouts, and can't wait to play on a team with some girls who aren't afraid to finish and play on a more competitive level. It's been a difficult season for her, but she's learning what it means to have to try to keep a winning attitude on a losing team. I love watching her play. She's got some amazing talent....<br />
<br />
All my kids do. It just must be in their blood. ;)</div></div></div>Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-60656994455679671772011-09-05T16:49:00.000-07:002011-09-06T03:00:40.977-07:00Labor Day Weekend.It's Labor day today and I can honestly say I'm not sure what to do with this holiday. I work part time during the week as a teacher's aide, (of a highschool nursing class), so I understand the concept of looking forward to a three day weekend a little more now. I am usually incapable of taking a "day off" anyway so looking back on my three day weekend I did exactly what I usually like to do: got a bunch of stuff done. (I assumed I was supposed to labor anyway).<br />
<br />
Lanie made a club softball team a week ago, so until she has games she has practices both on Friday night and Saturday mornings. There was a lot of time spent in my lawnchair in that dusty dirt dugout with a watered down diet coke, so as soon as we got back home I decided to disappear in the front yard with my leaf blower. I didn't seem to notice it was 110 again, and I am still under the impression my neighbors think I am insane...(well, atleast they can see I like to keep my yard clean).<br />
<br />
Sunday was the only day this week where we had abso-freaking-lutely NADA on the calendar scheduled to do. I should have done exactly that: nothing...but as I have mentioned before, I have serious issues of pulling that kind of day off. Instead, I had the genius plan that it might be fun to take myself and the kids up for a daytrip to Sedona. With all our phones, DSI's, and the portable DVD player packed, we had pretty much everything to make the 2 1/2 hour drive pretty bearable. What I didn't plan for was the extra hour the last 13 miles was going to take to actually arrive to Sedona, because it seemed that half of everyone in Phoenix had the same idea as we did. I also didn't realize the temperatures were going to be the same 103 degrees as the valley area, and that I should have had cash instead of a credit card to park to go hiking. The lot where we wanted to hike was full anyway, so our place in line was going to be farther back if I had to drive the 20 miles back to an ATM to get cash and come back, so we checked out the stores and bought Ikea meatball-sized scoops of icecream for $3 each instead. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_MmyADk7hOQsPBok2guP7lJJRq0kGdhzAoBSsK8SBveMTBHiM3wWKM8QsbZGQTsIMKQFVKH3zT8E6TdC3Aq3sAdU1nBs7jKo_8YvEvmQodJ027cEi4hkn1TqHabHz_Q9PfyqB1jzsuGa/s1600/Sedona+Labor+Day+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_MmyADk7hOQsPBok2guP7lJJRq0kGdhzAoBSsK8SBveMTBHiM3wWKM8QsbZGQTsIMKQFVKH3zT8E6TdC3Aq3sAdU1nBs7jKo_8YvEvmQodJ027cEi4hkn1TqHabHz_Q9PfyqB1jzsuGa/s640/Sedona+Labor+Day+001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiak630YBlgMCmnQ6_QqYfaxh9qH6EQm0LxupPJWlvwDR2_P8qtjrFKtjyiqHnRb1UhVSFP0ez-yxqOT9phIzeae4RebazWYOlQtR6m89XvNyufO5GiEvW0dVOY88oWKz4QOT-JFIeP2AEL/s1600/Sedona+Labor+Day+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiak630YBlgMCmnQ6_QqYfaxh9qH6EQm0LxupPJWlvwDR2_P8qtjrFKtjyiqHnRb1UhVSFP0ez-yxqOT9phIzeae4RebazWYOlQtR6m89XvNyufO5GiEvW0dVOY88oWKz4QOT-JFIeP2AEL/s200/Sedona+Labor+Day+020.JPG" width="140" /></a></div>What made this trip worth it for my kids was when we stopped in the Los Abrigados Resort near Tlaquepaque where they played minigolf at the park with a creek behind it all to splash around in....(nice that it was free.) What made the drive worth it for me was the smell of the leaves and listening to the sound of the running water at the creek while being shaded under the huge trees. I love nature and hope my kids grow up loving it too. As an extra bonus a little nature rock found it's mark on the windshield on the drive home.<br />
<br />
Today, besides laundry and grocery shopping, I decided I wasn't quite finished with being outside so I conquered more yardwork. I was in a mood to trim my backyard trees, so with country music blasting, and standing on the last rung of my extension ladder, I found a way to slice those wicked palm fronds off. (By the way, those branches have no mercy on you if you accidently scrape your arm along the edge.) I also realized my mesquite tree was looking pretty shabby and one power-saw tool later I had about 3 wrist thick heavy branches successfully sawed off. I also got mesquite sawdust up my nose and in my eyes. I sat in the kiddy pool for about an hour after that. Yep, still not sure what my neighbors or my kids think of me some days.<br />
<br />
I admit I like projects and yardwork, but I love more the bits and pieces in a weekend that allow me to catch up with my kids and just be around them. Maybe the hope to create a memory in Sedona was more spent in the moments during the drive, and I loved that I had all 4 of them to myself. I'll take as much of them as I can get.<br />
<br />
This was the last unscheduled weekend before the games begin, and it's going to be interesting to see how we're going to juggle all four of them in sports this season....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJQbJXgvk3vhWR99YVPeF8I7DmMJuhQbVG7svE6jIzuS5Y9kzWHhkgSd5rgnxIRcxYcPEN9is2hetcsvx_OfnR6owd1zwKftnjNTqo0aOLFAcCdBjfM2KWZ9gcALJ6E7MiZYxUNkrJbba/s1600/Sedona+Labor+Day+056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJQbJXgvk3vhWR99YVPeF8I7DmMJuhQbVG7svE6jIzuS5Y9kzWHhkgSd5rgnxIRcxYcPEN9is2hetcsvx_OfnR6owd1zwKftnjNTqo0aOLFAcCdBjfM2KWZ9gcALJ6E7MiZYxUNkrJbba/s400/Sedona+Labor+Day+056.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">They sure are fun to watch though.</div>Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-65585802842173121142011-08-19T21:24:00.000-07:002011-08-19T22:02:53.104-07:00One Complete WeekBefore I knew blogs existed, in my college days in the early 90's, I used to write down memory filled and busy weeks in incomplete sentences. I eventually threw those piles of memories away as I think some things back from those times might be better left unsaid. <br />
<br />
19 years later, my brain occasionally doesn't seem to want to function in complete sentences, so this choppy sentence style is going to be given another chance. Hopefully I might grab a memory or two of this very busy week, (season). So here's what's been up:<br />
<br />
Sophomore Jaguar<br />
Jr. High Rattler<br />
3rd grade and Kindergarden Bulldogs.<br />
<br />
Job hunting. Resume building. Reference searching.<br />
Website browsing, facebook stalking, email checking.<br />
<br />
Softball tryouts: Friday, Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday:<br />
Birth Certificate copies, 20 page tryout packets, fund raising.<br />
Back to school signatures, school supplies, forms, forms, forms.<br />
Homework helping, checking, signing.<br />
Club meeting, soccer tryouts, football meeting.<br />
Reservations, scrimmages, tournaments.<br />
<br />
112 degrees.<br />
Lightning storms.<br />
5 minute rain shower.<br />
Humidity = sweaty kids.<br />
<br />
Coupon cutting, ad checking, saving 65%.<br />
Fry's, Albertsons, CVS. Pantry organizing.<br />
Dish loading, garbage dumping, bed making,<br />
Laundry sorting, washing, drying, sorting, washing, drying, sorting.....<br />
<br />
6:30 a.m. Drivers Ed., <br />
7:30 grumpy boys wakeup, <br />
breakfasts, make lunches, tie shoes.<br />
8:10 drop off.<br />
8:12 clean, clean, vacuum, vacuum.<br />
3:15 back home....hungry kids.<br />
<br />
Fashion disasters, clothes donating, shopping.<br />
Weight lifting, treadmill sprinting, ipod charging.<br />
Spray painting, garage organizing, car cleaning.<br />
Goodwill hunting, Target browsing, IKEA meatballs.<br />
<br />
Ornament making.<br />
Yes really.<br />
<br />
Desk building, furniture rearranging, new laptop.<br />
Checklists, messages, voicemail.<br />
Blog writing, blog deleting, blog blech.<br />
<br />
Grandma makes us food. <br />
She's Mrs. Incredible.<br />
Grandpa helps with softball.<br />
He's Mr. Incredible.<br />
<br />
Texting, texting, texting,<br />
texting, texting, texting,<br />
texting, texting, sore hand.<br />
<br />
Driving, driving, driving,<br />
driving, driving, driving,<br />
driving, driving, need gas.<br />
<br />
Too tired to watch movies.<br />
Too hot to be outside.<br />
Too busy to slow down.<br />
<br />
Too much for one week.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-38951878185852755192011-08-05T17:53:00.000-07:002011-08-08T13:06:14.434-07:00Milestones"Runaway Train"...never goin back.., (by Tom Petty), was the song that was playing in my shiny red car the day I drove away from home when I left for college. The rain and my tears were both pouring out in buckets that gray day back in January of 1993, but I was determined that it was a road I needed to travel alone. (Judson college was only a 28 minute drive away, but for an 18 year old that never left home, it felt like I was relocating to the other side of the country). I do remember that my parents lovingly offered to help me get settled in, but I stubbornly refused because I was determined to face the biggest milestone of my life: independence.<br />
<br />
Before I transfered to Judson, I was taking courses at a community college to become an executive secretary...which I did very well at & enjoyed. At the time, I misunderstood the importance of earning an actual education or degree & transferred from that community college to a 4 year private school in hopes to live "the college experience". I was basically known at Judson as another "transfer student" until I made new friends after joining the girls softball team, (even though we didn't win a single game). A better scholarship offer came the summer after Judson, and the savings was a no brainer, so I decided to transfer again to Liberty University in Virginia, (which was literally the other side of the country this time). I completed one year and possibly 2 1/2 months when I realized my camping weekends were turning into camping weeks and that college wasn't really something I was committed to anymore.<br />
<br />
To this day I am still a little confused as to what I hoped to accomplish with my "college" days. I remember the day I flippantly walked away from what was most likely the best scholarship offer available. I remember those camping days with friends as some of the most adventurous days of my life. I remember heartbreak, being broke, Jimi Hendrix, ramen noodles, and my awesome blue truck.<br />
<br />
I remember that leaving college brought me right back to my best friend....and we've been together ever since.<br />
<br />
I am thinking back on those days a lot lately, mostly because as of August 10th, all 4 of my children will be in school full time. (No, I will not be listening to any Tom Petty songs or anything that has to do with saying "goodbye" or "letting go"). One will be in highschool, one in jr. high, one in 3rd grade, and one more <em>last</em>-first-time-kindergardener. (I have seriously stocked up on tissues).<br />
<br />
So yeah, I have a lot of regrets of choices I have made in my past, but I also realize part of life is learning from those mistakes. I did actually complete 2 & 1/4 years of college, though an actual Bachelors degree would come in handy about now...(I have thoughts to revisit that option soon).<br />
<br />
My "resume" reads that I am always going to be on duty 24/7, but this is a new season where I realize I am mostly needed from 6:15am to 8:15am, and from 3:15pm to practices to bedtime and weekends. So yeah, that's still a lot of time that I'm "needed", but I realize that I have a huge 6 - 7 hour time gap from 8:16 am to 3:14 pm, Monday through Friday, that I seriously need to figure out what to do with myself.<br />
<br />
I might take some of my friends advice and cut myself some slack and just go ahead and enjoy the freedom a little. But I'm not sure I will be home as much during those hours, the silence might scare me...otherwise the radio will be blasting.<br />
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Milestones have a funny way of sneaking up...ready or not, and I needed to hear these words that I recently read from a friend's post on facebook today:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>When one door of happiness closes, another opens...</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>But often we look so long a the closed door that we do not see</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>the one that has been opened for us. </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>-Hellen Keller</em></div>Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-54018569112549563672011-07-03T15:01:00.000-07:002011-07-03T15:12:23.645-07:00Rising "Temps"...I had big plans this week. I was going to cheerfully tackle all the things on my to-do list while being a patient, loving, and cool mom. I was even going to make rice krispies in the shapes of stars with red-white-and blue sprinkles. My home was going to be relaxing, yet fun, with a dash of who cares... <br />
<br />
And then it just got hot. Scorching hot. July is the month a couple of things equally rise out of control: the outside temperatures...and my own temper. When my Wii-crazed son wouldn't answer me after my 4th call for him to come sit down for lunch, I sort of lost it.<br />
<br />
No matter how long we've lived in Arizona, (it's been 8 years for us now), for some reason it still surprises me when the temperatures reach triple digit proportions this time every year...as if I didn't remember this from last summer. I would cry a river, though my tears would just evaporate. Literally.<br />
<br />
I'm not a native, but I have learned how to get us from our air-conditioned house to my air-conditioned van to an air-conditioned destination with military precision. My van's AC unit is basically useless if the temperature outside is anything hotter than 103, and so I guess that means I have the next 3 months to figure out how to keep us all cool. When I drive I lean forward so the sweat off my back doesn't soak my shirt and my cupholders are stocked with ponytail holders to keep my hair off my neck all summer. I also keep a stash of large McDonalds cups that I refill before trips with ice-cubes that I balance on my lap. (They also comes in handy to toss at whiny children). I try to never leave the house without drinks for the kids, and since their cupholders don't get used much this season, (they better not dare leave crayons in them), my kids hold whatever they can to keep cool.<br />
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When we're on the road, and I see that I have to wait at an intersection that has a shady spot 20 feet away from the stop line, I will wait there until the light turns green. Go ahead and honk, I'm not moving, because finding shade is like finding treasure. A rockstar spot is now the space that offers shade, even if it means we are 300 feet away from where we have to walk to. And in the case that the entire parking lot only offers one tree and only two of the branches are offering shade in the "Associate of the Month's spot, I'll still take whatever I can get. (Those signs should be abbreviated anyway). Because, what really matters the most, is that my van will obviously be 50 degrees cooler to come back to. My car shades are almost ripped to shreds, but until they are replaced, they will continue their purpose in life...("cooler van=cooler Mom"...kind of goes along the lines of "happy wife=happy life").<br />
<br />
Yesterday, I had a garage sale, painted the bathroom, and made a meal for a family, (and the kids). Garage sales are awesome in Arizona: they start at 6:30 and end at 9:30 and I usually always make more than $100. What I realized about painting a bathroom is that it is mostly trimwork....little awkward angles, and tackling precise corners that require hovering your face below the toilet at an insane angle as to not paint the baseboard or touch the back of the toilet with your paint brush. Pretty. I really just wanted to take a roller to the wall and be done with it. I was equally drenched in paint and sweat. Surprisingly, the kids really knew not to let me hear them argue. <br />
<br />
I'll admit after a big day like yesterday I feel a little sluggish and tired. So, today, we aren't going anywhere, and it's supposedly going to reach 118. Pools feel like bathwater anyway in this heat and the farthest I want to drive is to the mailbox. It's easy to tell it's July at our house when the main 4 are on: Wii, TV, & Facebook, and the delicious smells coming from a crockpot.<br />
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I just heard the 5th fudgesicle wrapper being unwrapped downstairs...I better grab one before they're all gone. <br />
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Cool Mom = Cool Home. Less=More.Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-52355257837064318242011-06-15T21:34:00.000-07:002011-06-15T21:35:56.639-07:00Life's a BeachIt's been awhile since I'd blogged. School has ended, family vacation has come and gone, we've been t-p'd already, and summer has officially arrived with it's first 107 degree heat. The kids & I are back in our gym routine, and it's been interesting since we now have 2 gyms we go to...(I just couldn't pass up $20 for 3 months at a gym where my "preschool-mom" crowd are all going this summer). My kids prefer Lifetime Fitness, where there's an indoor playground of all playgrounds and a pool with waterslides to play in after. But I like the other gym for the classes, since it's easier to endure thigh burning lunges, 5 minute ab ripping planks, and combat kicks with friends you can laugh & suffer through with together. There's also something about going back to a gym that made me realize I wasn't in that great of shape I thought I was in....and so, I will be a "gym-rat-junkie" until I can master a 5 minute plank. I just will.<br />
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Vacation was wonderful: 7 days in a row of the the beach and pool. We also came home "rich" in sand dollars, and I have to admit I was getting a little greedy for them. I have even hid them from my kids until I figure out a crafty way to display them. They are "my precioussssssss"....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3dFXphxIyvB9ahoxqS__tLS7zU0kz91OVOJZ4DfFNdJTUbPRSENHkIXuGJMltIxOuTF9CLpnYjYlFst4hBkuBvEP3R958z1EE0w19gztvnHj-HxM4x91ARRrjrHQwsUaTXhVBL46cEcX/s1600/rocky+point+046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3dFXphxIyvB9ahoxqS__tLS7zU0kz91OVOJZ4DfFNdJTUbPRSENHkIXuGJMltIxOuTF9CLpnYjYlFst4hBkuBvEP3R958z1EE0w19gztvnHj-HxM4x91ARRrjrHQwsUaTXhVBL46cEcX/s320/rocky+point+046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I do need to backtrack and mention that getting to our vacation destination...wasn't exactly pleasant. I have a recurring nightmare actually, (not kidding), and it usually involves me at an airplane ticket counter searching and searching for my family's passports and they are no where to be found, and so we are somehow doomed to be stuck in an airport forever. I never realized this was a prophecy of a similar reality someday to come. It takes me a couple of days to pack for vacation, (I still pack for 4 out of 6 of us: me and the 3 dudes), and so I like to think through all that needs to be taken: medicines, underwear, waterbottles, tweezers, foods for breakfast/ lunch/& dinners/snacks, and all the other obvious things to bring to a beach. And so, when I asked the night before to my lovely husband if he could get his passport papers ready, I assumed he actually heard me. (He did grunt some sort of reply).<br />
<br />
After two hours into our trip to Mexico, the exit just as you enter Gila Bend, was when my husband and I actually had the conversation if his passport was packed or not. He said he didn't. I said are you kidding. He said no. I said no really, are you kidding. He said no. And I said awesome. (No actually I said a lot more than that). And so we turned around and headed back to the house to get the man's passport. I had to explain to my crying 5 year old why we couldn't just get his Dad "another credit card", as he thought that's what we were going back for. Josie's announcement of "it was all a simple misunderstanding", was the understatement of the week. Year. (I think she was secretly happy she had a few more hours left on her cell phone before we'd be out of range for a "whole week" once we crossed the border)....which she also drowned later that week in the ocean. Tragic.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_w_Bvc5b6LbClLrYNXTLHAw1l5WjaFtDpbY1VCmdbJd8CDIYArStowoDK_jLwqwBxXgR5VL4lulv63Q8cerBYl6Oga26psbMwUDpSYLfvK7LIKNQwsXyft1o_R578rPLa_PBtgNamDLAg/s1600/rocky+point+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_w_Bvc5b6LbClLrYNXTLHAw1l5WjaFtDpbY1VCmdbJd8CDIYArStowoDK_jLwqwBxXgR5VL4lulv63Q8cerBYl6Oga26psbMwUDpSYLfvK7LIKNQwsXyft1o_R578rPLa_PBtgNamDLAg/s200/rocky+point+043.JPG" width="186" /></a></div>Making an 8 hour trip out of a 4 1/2 hour drive will definately go down in Palacios Family Vacation memories forever. Oh yeah, and it will definately never happen again. It's might be a while for us to be able to mention the word passport without thinking of it as a curse word.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSVzB5igtKMtkBwoZMDiZVrZH0ZfcviLYi6ZlbnOp5sVdZoL9khDfFMpGv5ZONHn4bAgzChQ3JvPk8CALVszN0gswniePx2kK4HAM_oMZezo7AGThpW6KIFnwAwl3wrsdZp9CGrJDcd7B/s1600/more+rocky+point+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSVzB5igtKMtkBwoZMDiZVrZH0ZfcviLYi6ZlbnOp5sVdZoL9khDfFMpGv5ZONHn4bAgzChQ3JvPk8CALVszN0gswniePx2kK4HAM_oMZezo7AGThpW6KIFnwAwl3wrsdZp9CGrJDcd7B/s320/more+rocky+point+038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cerveza Senora? Ha, ha...si. <em>Claro que si.</em></div>Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-46417383018202019092011-05-25T20:56:00.000-07:002011-05-25T21:02:19.721-07:00Last Day of PreschoolI thought I'd cry. Get choked up. Sniffle. Anything. But nope, not a tear was shed today.<br />
<br />
Except when I drove by a parked SUV with balloons and <em><strong>"Congratulations Grad!...Class of 2011"</strong></em> graffittied all over it. I realized my daughter will be graduating high school in 3 years. Three. Class of 2014.<br />
<br />
But back to Rylan. Preschool Graduation: 2011. <br />
Highschool Graduation: 2023.<br />
<br />
I woke up to his feet kicking my ribs this morning. I thought we were done with this chapter in life, but evidently he still has bad dreams. Rylan is adorable when he sleeps, and I cringe to have to wake him up for school because he wakes up like a bear. There is much "growling", crying, and arguing over what is going to be worn to school. Today he ordered me to call his teacher because he was convinced he was supposed to wear a graduation gown and cap. You know what's grumpier than a baby bear? His mama who hasn't had caffeine yet. Or food. grrrrr.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYOjjcg9TN5_3qPpdsn0GXUySfJfanN5AM1xvwlaoeCdUiwcoOFnN_65wobraH9HVfaMsyCX40pmitNDPminvuBxKIGNx9dVBDqhLQVzIyxFIbseBoId-cBZly-QcNPVS2j73RnuNEtwA/s1600/preschool+graduation+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYOjjcg9TN5_3qPpdsn0GXUySfJfanN5AM1xvwlaoeCdUiwcoOFnN_65wobraH9HVfaMsyCX40pmitNDPminvuBxKIGNx9dVBDqhLQVzIyxFIbseBoId-cBZly-QcNPVS2j73RnuNEtwA/s320/preschool+graduation+025.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>I'm supposed to say how cute my boy was in his graduation, (he was), and how memorable today was, (not really), and since I don't know how to cutesify this morning into words, I'm just going to tell it like it was for a paragraph. Usually it's amusing to watch little kids perform their little songs, and though they are completely adorable to watch, (for 10 minutes), Rylan looked a little spaced. I tried to capture a hand clap, or a thumbs up, or a smile, but it was slim picking in his singing performances. Tiny people chairs are uncomfortable to sit in...for an hour, and the two little one year old siblings running circles around the class during their song time, (one is standing next to him in this picture), made me want to tackle the parents for not controlling them. I know I have very large issues, but that was something I seriously had to get off my chest. That, and preschool rooms make me want to organize and clean something.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEtjRb-iPvJOacRVMBsTy4F631Q9ZxWNAAJOCz5vIh38TVzZ5Ea_8MndaqQ2ONQ1p4L4xoJkm9jq3DLIAj-zVkGHArNcTlfaHmShI-CCDVP0I6qsVu1y4lDOj716R0dibsc9RGJDN_Las/s1600/preschool+graduation+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEtjRb-iPvJOacRVMBsTy4F631Q9ZxWNAAJOCz5vIh38TVzZ5Ea_8MndaqQ2ONQ1p4L4xoJkm9jq3DLIAj-zVkGHArNcTlfaHmShI-CCDVP0I6qsVu1y4lDOj716R0dibsc9RGJDN_Las/s320/preschool+graduation+044.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><em>Sigh.</em> My baby just graduated from preschool today, and summer has finally arrived. Our <em>last first</em> day of Kindergarten is only 3 months away, but the countdown to our beach vacation is only 9 days away. I might cry about it tommorrow, but for now all I can think about is <em>Destination: <u>Relaxation.</u></em>Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-89990159133754075142011-05-17T20:20:00.000-07:002011-05-18T11:18:43.079-07:00Much significanceI liked this quote I heard recently:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>"What we choose to do in life is insignificant. </strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>But it's very important that we do it."</strong></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A "typical" weekday 9pm evening at the Palacios homestead can usually look like this: As Chemo arrives home from work, Kate has finally just put her own feet up on the couch to find something that's not the news on TV. Aydan and Rylan "untuck" themselves from bed and tackle Chemo. One daughter decides to eat cereal, while the other daughter is showering. Bedtime schedules get thrown out the window with the junk mail. Everyone decides to eat cereal. Dishes pile up. Kids finally go to bed. ("someone" is usually still on facebook upstairs). Then sometime around 10:09, after Divers, Drive-ins, & Dives gets muted for a few precious moments of conversation alone, there's almost always one question that gets asked, (well two actually):</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><em> "How was your day, and what did you do?"</em></strong></div><br />
What did I do today? hmmm.....sometimes I actually draw a huge blank. I don't always actually remember. A few days ago I was asked the same question from the pedicure guy and I had the same "blanked out" moment. I wonder how he would have responded if I had told him that I had spent the first part of the morning curling my daughters hair for her Greek costume, spent an hour clearing out Chemo's car "space" in the garage of a bunch of garage sale junk because I decided I really didn't want to have a garage sale after all, went to see my daughter's 6th grade class "world fair" and her display of the country Greece, bought strawberries for my 5 year old that was begging to have a strawberry shake with his turkey sandwich for his lunch, cleaned out all our toilets, and then spent an hour on my firm fanny lifter cranking out squats and lunges. Instead I just said, "oh well, not much," and went back to flipping through my stack of magazines.<br />
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"Not much". What if my answer truly was, not much? What would that look like?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0bCn_6fR0RDdy98NaKz662a_bg7ok2jworaXzjtTQPL1mntDLx4bHIMeUbTc9fLRxlbazQqMhgIrnMrFcjiUUpT2QBg6tKpl0ybo7G6s35nDqD3TdpftNaBqbdhlXTBRtz9jsvbxE0zl/s1600/projects+2011+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0bCn_6fR0RDdy98NaKz662a_bg7ok2jworaXzjtTQPL1mntDLx4bHIMeUbTc9fLRxlbazQqMhgIrnMrFcjiUUpT2QBg6tKpl0ybo7G6s35nDqD3TdpftNaBqbdhlXTBRtz9jsvbxE0zl/s200/projects+2011+002.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQQXJbvedgsSp9sNtDL7Fgwdh_08-TSCu55ds09l8EEZ9daVS-8bWg6zjPjmbmd7kCeb9ZHlW_CfxBU0CzBH4bDSxEUQAZS8SP3GxcthdhX-wYtewlmBaobOwSajr66_YIR9xKL9uY339/s1600/projects+2011+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQQXJbvedgsSp9sNtDL7Fgwdh_08-TSCu55ds09l8EEZ9daVS-8bWg6zjPjmbmd7kCeb9ZHlW_CfxBU0CzBH4bDSxEUQAZS8SP3GxcthdhX-wYtewlmBaobOwSajr66_YIR9xKL9uY339/s200/projects+2011+005.JPG" width="192" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Rylan wouldn't have made it to preschool, or had breakfast, and still would have had sand in his shoes. I wouldn't have dug out the window treatment out of the garbage can full of grass this morning that I ripped out of the window in a rage two days ago. I also wouldn't have realized that clacker curtain clips are unfixable and wouldn't have wasted 43 minutes of my time trying to hose them off and attach them back on. But then I also wouldn't have found a $10 sunblocking curtain in Target to replace the clackers I tried to repair hopelessly with duct tape... </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdvLMwjBVEHLga61famwAWpZIQ9m64zcXxAWtn9CtAOK947lhbTFv6HCV0DJNK6sDrZNzUCJ9u7e0rPrDznUfPvke6KL00-sA339GOAyogElIX8jRryoBO5d4bCjseDRilklt1nz5Pqd-/s1600/projects+2011+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdvLMwjBVEHLga61famwAWpZIQ9m64zcXxAWtn9CtAOK947lhbTFv6HCV0DJNK6sDrZNzUCJ9u7e0rPrDznUfPvke6KL00-sA339GOAyogElIX8jRryoBO5d4bCjseDRilklt1nz5Pqd-/s200/projects+2011+012.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFR0qCxHajnfj8IQXud_5Y0g7Uu4eS_ipzancpXlWUzk5zIEtm5diBc9sdNjwZspYdbzGDeM4u69u34CJlc83QpY84hA_7ob0_mVj7v5CDJb8HPB9m3SOA9siyDynxT0ge2YZVXb6xmjO/s1600/projects+2011+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFR0qCxHajnfj8IQXud_5Y0g7Uu4eS_ipzancpXlWUzk5zIEtm5diBc9sdNjwZspYdbzGDeM4u69u34CJlc83QpY84hA_7ob0_mVj7v5CDJb8HPB9m3SOA9siyDynxT0ge2YZVXb6xmjO/s200/projects+2011+009.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">...And so then I wouldn't have realized I'm a thrift-decorating genius. My palm tree would still have 10 dead palms hanging on them. There would still be a football and a frisbee on the roof. I would smell because I wouldn't have taken a shower. My flower pot in the front would still have only 1 live flower growing in it. I'd still have 2 loads of laundry to do. There would be spit splatter all over my kids bathroom sink. Rylan would have claws for fingernails because they wouldn't have been clipped. There would be fingerprints smeared all over the patio door and shoes all over the kitchen. The vacuum cleaner wire wouldn't have been run over & ripped to shreds because I wouldn't have vacuumed...and so there would still be crumbs everywhere. Library movies would be overdue. I wouldn't have gotten two free laundry detergents because I wouldn't have cut the coupons. The freezer would have been disorganized. Homework wouldn't have gotten done. There would be light sabers all over the playroom, and batman toys all over the living room. The recycling bin wouldn't have been filled or taken out. There would be dishes piled up. There wouldn't be a homemade lunch. Or dinner. And there wouldn't have been kiss" cookies, while there wouldn't be milk in the fridge.<br />
<br />
Sometimes it seems like much of my doings in the day don't matter.</div></div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It might even be said that much of this stuff is insignificant, </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">or unoticable if you separated each task individually.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zjoKKt7YLImGFelztGcWkFcPUpIRE0M0EQpQZKEDuL8heKU-1DCyStdJB-pzJwlfJXvks22BCx-E2t_Ky3x_LHflijKIFFZWo2mkZWg3cGgIUon4C-Z9Yi97Yyibp5_axdzt5jbLegHl/s1600/projects+2011+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zjoKKt7YLImGFelztGcWkFcPUpIRE0M0EQpQZKEDuL8heKU-1DCyStdJB-pzJwlfJXvks22BCx-E2t_Ky3x_LHflijKIFFZWo2mkZWg3cGgIUon4C-Z9Yi97Yyibp5_axdzt5jbLegHl/s200/projects+2011+013.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>And I don't believe a person's "value" should be weighed on all that they accomplish or do...we all have special gifts and talents.<br />
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And in this season I am thankful to be able to contribute, and am thankful I get to be the one to do....</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">whatever needs doing.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">...Porque toda en la vida esta muy significante. ;)</div>Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-52213051204246097712011-04-21T22:56:00.000-07:002011-04-24T23:10:30.451-07:00Singing Angels<span style="color: red;"><strong>Luke 15:10: In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of angels of God over one sinner who repents.</strong></span><br />
<br />
After I was done praying with Aydan tonight, I got to tell him that angels were having a party singing in heaven just for him...because today, April 21, 2011, he decided to ask Jesus into his heart. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqbx_MCAOm7lwqCvU30pba8UQwgwzyspElk71kaSVmRAehE9z_n7UmLChZuz_dnMS7ige2Fn9E1vI-6CYp8w2YN6qDZGdhQKHERPJQ9M9BnXGQ5yt_KiHBOQZoaAT3DEa14imqhXGZDnm/s1600/cubs+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqbx_MCAOm7lwqCvU30pba8UQwgwzyspElk71kaSVmRAehE9z_n7UmLChZuz_dnMS7ige2Fn9E1vI-6CYp8w2YN6qDZGdhQKHERPJQ9M9BnXGQ5yt_KiHBOQZoaAT3DEa14imqhXGZDnm/s320/cubs+018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Explaining the story of Easter and who God is in a way my kids can understand hasn't exactly been easy. Just like I did, they have so many questions...Who is Jesus? Who is God? Why can't we see them? Why is there a bad guy named Satan? Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Are we going to die like Jesus? So Jesus defeats the bad guy named Satan? How? What does it mean he wants to live in my heart? If he's alive where is he? How do we get to heaven....no really, how exactly? Where is heaven? Did God really make everything? Does God really love me? Why do we need to be saved? What do we need to be saved from? <br />
<br />
I'll admit I don't know how to eloquently answer all these questions, and when I can't, I do my best to try to search for answers in God's word. What I do hope, is that each of my kids will come to understand that God loves them more than their own mother could....that He would lay down his life on a cross for them...and that He Lives. And that they would choose to believe in Him.<br />
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I am thankful to God for entrusting me with these children, and I hope I'm doing my best by them. This month has thrown quite a few parenting challenges my way as usual, but I was thankful to be able to share that prayer with Aydan tonight. (Another cool fact is that it was also his Papa Chemo's birthday tonight; Aydan's middle name is Anselmo who he is named after).<br />
<br />
When Aydan was born into this world he arrived only 20 minutes after we getting to the hospital, January 7, 2003. I literally crawled on the freezing sidewalk in front of the hospital from my Isuzu Trooper to the emergency room, until Chemo could find a wheelchair for me because I was in so much pain. After they rushed us to the delivery room, the nurses begged me to try to wait for the doctor to arrive. (The chance for an epidural was not an option, and so of course I was furious...especially since he was over 10 pounds!) This boy was in a hurry to show up for some reason, but I truly felt God's presence with us that night, and out of some deep instinct I started praying the Lords prayer only minutes before he was born.<br />
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He is my first boy and he'll always have a special place in my heart. He has such an excitement for life, a great sense of humor, and a tender little heart. He's got a lot of little ideas brewing in his little 8 year old head, and I just hope I'll always have the energy to keep up with him....even if I have to crawl to keep up.<br />
<br />
It's probably not a coincidence that I put Hasta La Vista on the back of his football jersey this season.Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-25550673685047963062011-04-15T15:58:00.000-07:002011-04-15T16:21:08.851-07:00Hips Don't LieI've had one thing on my mind all day today, and now it's time I just face the facts: It is just no longer a possiblity to "suck in", my arms continue to say hello after I'm all done waving, the capris I bought for myself last summer haven't shrunk, and "muffins" are not cute. <br />
At all.<br />
<br />
My suspicions were confirmed a few weeks ago when I made an "appearance" on the scale in the ladies locker room at the gym last week. Three pounds heavier than last summer. What in the world.<br />
<br />
Here's my week in a tiny microscopic nutshell: I have run over 15 miles, hiked up a mountain for 3 hours, finished a Firm weight workout twice, moved seventy-five 10 pound bricks from eyelevel on a shelf in Home Depot...to the back of my van...to my parent's backyard....to help make a raised garden bed...which also required shoveling and moving 10 wheelbarrels full of dirt. (I seriously LOVE outdoor projects by the way, and secretly wish I was a professional landscaper). Weeded my backyard and found time to make a mini brick patio in the front of my own house...(thanks to my bro for all the free bricks). Still made dinners & dishes & laundry, still got the kids to practices & school & church groups, and yet STILL after all this physical activity, no pound has decided to melt off of my body.<br />
<br />
Needless to say, I'm feeling a bit discouraged. And tired. Of course I am thankful my body can function and do amazing things, yet the reality is I'm not getting any younger. Or skinnier. Why if I want to eat Peanut M&M's do they have to stick to me?? I don't like that losing weight usually requires to eat less and work out more. Ugh. It's downright exhausting, if not depressing.<br />
<br />
And yet, that's what half of the Mom's I know, just know. No Pain, No Gain. When I saw a Mom pushing through the rain with her baby in her stroller just to get out and jog last week, I felt I could relate. Been there. We do just about anything to squeeze in time for our workouts. We want to look good. We want to be healthy. And we'll jog in the rain if it helps us get there.<br />
<br />
I like working out and I like to eat. Let me rephrase, I like feeling healthy and strong, and I also like to enjoy food....(my favorite food to eat is the kind someone else makes for me). So sometimes I workout so that I can eat. And drink. And it is quite possible that this is the scenario that is secretly backfiring on me, and at this point I pretty much know something needs to change. So if that somehow requires portion control and giving up on chocolate and carbs for a while, then so be it. Sigh.<br />
<br />
In the movie Eat, Pray and Love, Julia Roberts went out and bought herself "big girl pants". (Dumb movie anyway). All I really want is to fit into the jeans I own now...maybe make them a little baggy on me if I'm being completely honest.<br />
<br />
Bring on the early morning jogs again.Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-19866853282939469262011-04-09T14:58:00.000-07:002011-04-09T20:06:56.585-07:00Movie MarathonWhen I was a kid growing up in Illinois there used to be plenty of weeks, (months), of rainy, wet days that I'd basically have to figure out what to do for the afternoon. One of my favorite things to do was cozy with a bunch of blankets on the couch and pop in my favorite video and eat a whole bowl of popcorn all by myself. (It's a "Stamm" thing).<br />
<br />
So today in Arizona we are facing an entire Saturday of rain. Rain is always rare in the desert so we're supposed to enjoy every drop we get, but today it's actually cold enough that snow is sticking to the top of Superstition Mountains again. Brrr. I know I will be dreaming of days like this in July when it's 115...but for now, I'm just enjoying the coziness of being trapped inside the house with the kids today. Since their games have been cancelled, we're going to fill up the whole day with couch lounging, movie watching, popcorn munching, and cookie baking. (Quite the nice contrast to last Saturday that involved 6 games...in 90 degree temperatures).<br />
<br />
When I found Swiss Family Robinson at the library, I had a little "flash from the past" moment, but I knew it would be a great movie to watch with my boys. They seem to have a lot in common with the youngest boy in that family, Francis...always finding adventure in trouble....(too bad they didn't give him a better name though). I wasn't sure if the movie was too dated or not, but the boys seemed to get completely mesmerized in the story. Funny how I still remember most of the lines, and that cute little tiger they trapped in a pit in the ground to scare the pirates away.<br />
<br />
Later on this weekend I'll probably find a romantic comedy to enjoy with Lanie, and stay up late with Josie to watch another action thriller...and the boys have been begging to watch Tron. Again.<br />
<br />
So movies will probably always be a big part of my family's life, and it's just one way it brings us together once in ahile. We had the surround system blasting so loud the Fed Ex guy ringing our doorbell couldn't be heard.<br />
<br />
Rain, rain, you don't have to go away... <br />
I'll jog off my popcorn and shakes tommorrow anyway.Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-18465341293318193372011-03-23T22:39:00.000-07:002011-03-24T08:03:35.115-07:00Country Songs<span style="color: blue;"><strong>"I'm all, I'm all, I'm alright. It's a beautiful day, </strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><strong>and not a cloud in sight, and I guess I'm doing all right. </strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><strong>Yeah, I guess I'm doin alright"...</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br />
<strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><strong>"God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy"...</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br />
<strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><strong>"I thought if I could touch this place or feel it, this emptiness inside me might start healin, out here it's like I'm someone else, I thought that maybe I could find my self. If I come in I swear I'll leave, won't take nothing but a memory. From the house that, built me"...</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br />
<strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><strong>"She grew up, on the side of the road, where the church bells ring, and strong love grows. She grew up good, she grew up slow, </strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><strong>like american honey"...</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br />
<strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><strong>"Remember when, the sound of little feet, was a music, </strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><strong>we danced to week to week"...</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br />
<strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><strong>"I went sky-divin, rocky mountin climbin, I went 2.7 seconds, on a bull named Boomanju, and I loved deeper, and I spoke sweeter, and I gave forgiveness I'd been denyin, I hope someday you get the chance, to live like you were dyin"...</strong></span><br />
<br />
There's just about a country song for every situation in life, and I just love it. Not all of it, but most of it is so down to earth and it occasionally tugs on my little heartstrings. My husband doesn't understand why it sometimes makes me cry, and since my kids mostly cannot stand it, one of my favorite times to listen to it is while doing yardwork. (No one else seems to like to do yardwork at our house either). So today while I was covered in dirt up to my eyelashes from attacking dandelions and battling the leaks in the sprinkler system this afternoon, I heard the funniest song ever on the radio. I mean ever. I wish I knew the actual name of it, but the whole song was basically about the "joy" of being a Mom raising teenage daughters. <br />
<br />
Hi, that's me.<br />
<br />
Being a mother of teenage girls is fun. And frustrating. Exhausting. Confusing. Hilarious. Emotional. Tough. The exact opposite of boring. Shampoo depriving. Tweezer disappearing. Shirts on the flooring. Shoes "borrowing". Mood swinging. Plans every nighting. Chores arguing. Jokes making. Movie watching. Laughter bringing. Texting. Chocolate. Hairspray. Busy. Busy. Busy. Love it. Really.<br />
<br />
The song I heard today summed it up better than I just did...so once I find it I'll put it up on this blog. <br />
<br />
And yeah, I really just wrote a post on country music & teenage daughters...but why not? <br />
<br />
I like both and they each have a way of making me laugh and cry in a 2 minute time span.Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-90693534336290586002011-03-11T14:18:00.000-08:002011-03-11T14:29:58.051-08:00Cutting CornersI am actually having quite a boring afternoon, but I'm kind of glad since the past two weeks have been quite a whirlwind. Our newest discovery was actually a first for us: zero dollars in the checking account. Zero.<br />
<br />
So, needless to say, this was a serious wake up call and forced us, (me), to re-evaluate exactly where our dollars have been going...and where they need to stop going.<br />
<br />
As I look around the community I know we're not the only ones in a "pinch", and though some haven't been so fortunate, I am pretty sure we'll come out of this alright. Two words I am most thankful for this season: tax returns. Two words I am slowly becoming more worried about: gas prices. <br />
<br />
Surprisingly, finding ways to cut back on our spending hasn't been a burden, it has actually had the reverse effect and helped me to feel more free. Free from consumerism, debt & the worry of feeling that we will never really have enough stuff....cute Target stuff. I might need to wear some of the same clothes for a while, but that's a small "sacrifice", (if we'd even call it that), compared to a worse situation that keeps coming through the mail named "bill". And luckily my girls and I have found ways to raid each other's closets, I mean, share each other's wardrobes. And tweezers. And hair conditioner.<br />
<br />
I am also always reminded that even the poorest American is probably ten times better off than someone in a 3rd world country right now. Our home is not under water or taken away by a tornado or tsunami or earthquake and I have never been more thankful for the desert we live in right now...the earth seems to be "groaning" more and more for it's return of it's Creator. We really have all we need and more: a roof over our head, clothing, our health, employment, and a stocked freezer and pantry that I finally get the chance to feed my family out of for the next few weeks. And even then, I'm pretty sure we still won't run out of Cheerios or scalloped potatos. Or cherry coke zero.<br />
<br />
Saving money was something I thought I was good at, and times have taken a turn for me to kick those skills into a higher gear...my debit card is also having a stay-cation of it's own as well this month, which has re-inspired to think more creatively of ways to cut corners. I've even sewed patches on Rylan's ripped jeans, (patches made from another pair of ripped jeans...and then that pair was turned into shorts). Thriftalicious. (And he's not even five so he doesn't care yet...and plus, he's a boy.)<br />
<br />
Yes times are taking a new turn, and in this whirlwind of change I have been busy figuring out new ways to save. <br />
I have returned $100 worth of un-needed clothing back to stores, scrounged up items to include in a garage sale, bought less expensive hair products, gave haircuts at home, found free items by matching coupons to ad deals, found free <em>new</em> DVD's at the library, drank more H20, carpooled, and mostly, just quite simply, <br />
stayed home.<br />
<br />
Perhaps in less than a few months I will find myself taking an even different path: employment. My "stay-at-home" hours might soon need to be cut back, and so I have found myself treating those hours a little more preciously. My kids aren't so little anymore either, so that will make things go a little easier as well. I am more than ok with going back to work, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit I wasn't just a little nervous about it.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Proverbs 3: 5-6:</strong> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>and lean not on your own understanding.</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>In all your ways acknowledge Him,</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>And he will make your paths straight."</strong></div><div align="left"></div>Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-21380499255073629402011-03-04T20:02:00.000-08:002011-03-06T20:02:02.742-08:00Birthday GirlsRight now I am surrounded by fifteen 6th grade girls.<br />
Yes, fifteen.<br />
<br />
I guess I'm not exactly surrounded...I've escaped upstairs and I can hear them all downstairs laughing up a storm about something. I've done my duties of serving a 4 course "fiesta" dinner, lit the candles on the cake, organized the pinata "rules", and allowed the loud music to continue...so I figured at this point I really only need to make an appearance every 20 minutes or so. I'm just hoping they aren't spraying silly string on each other or smearing hot pink frosting in each others faces anymore....or playing tag near my rose bushes. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXmdKKXFemMwR_rLLLFoTwL8TOKoJumCJXAUjGVkgLMC2YqkRZ-d22aN7oai15TPbDvWoJFT3FWimPQqX7NlG-ZKDiFCqciilQNE_1mox8MzFUpd1ZsQwNKTxhj-Oja1Gz3Uk8p9JRys9/s1600/March+2011+202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXmdKKXFemMwR_rLLLFoTwL8TOKoJumCJXAUjGVkgLMC2YqkRZ-d22aN7oai15TPbDvWoJFT3FWimPQqX7NlG-ZKDiFCqciilQNE_1mox8MzFUpd1ZsQwNKTxhj-Oja1Gz3Uk8p9JRys9/s320/March+2011+202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
But it's all good. 6th grade girls are easily entertained, and my daughter Lanie has a fun group of friends. It's been fun for me to just sit back and observe their silliness, wittiness, and laughter. What fun it would be to be 12 again....not too little, and not in jr. high yet. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGhUZFQ2Qz2iM2g5Q0LkpM7j7ClmDP6gYvtPFO407CJ2Dj6HbCKD8wP_BvUdFCCQuFiitkZ09QLHYl1_6rB4Wt2Z5LFEfnlJa_fJAoMEUpCyOJLNYH8N7s9TuRM2aT1q9j05E_7AjZLmk/s1600/March+2011+184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGhUZFQ2Qz2iM2g5Q0LkpM7j7ClmDP6gYvtPFO407CJ2Dj6HbCKD8wP_BvUdFCCQuFiitkZ09QLHYl1_6rB4Wt2Z5LFEfnlJa_fJAoMEUpCyOJLNYH8N7s9TuRM2aT1q9j05E_7AjZLmk/s200/March+2011+184.JPG" width="133" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
My mind is also thinking about my oldest, (<em>almost</em> 15), who is out on her very first "date". I'll admit it, I caved. She has to play her 3rd soccer game in a tournament on her birthday this Sunday, so I decided to "let" her have Friday night to go out. Dinner and a movie. <em>Sigh</em>. And I'll also admit, they looked cute. I really only check up on her every half hour or so through texts...really. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I realized something tonight. I miss my little girls. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Ages 3 & 6, 4 & 7, 5 & 8. </div>Pigtails, braids, dresses, pink, princesses, <br />
dressup, bows, dolls, dance classes.<br />
<br />
Where did those times go?<br />
<br />
They still dress up. And when they do, they are always beautiful princesses. I love my girls. This is the one week I can't think of one without the other since their birthdays are literally 3 days apart, and it's been a long, but fun week of celebrations.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0m-dN1gcQhcm47Yf5eKnZhcS8X5rCy6WELuhChQNLYz1ILJcFU2fW1Xl08QT2aT9lXu7WwuSpooCUUF1vF3CUL3yWD51vg7F5u8lbXdYlbpu8dY0X2z41rLiJKLrxl-KwF7APM_w1jo1/s1600/march+birthdays+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0m-dN1gcQhcm47Yf5eKnZhcS8X5rCy6WELuhChQNLYz1ILJcFU2fW1Xl08QT2aT9lXu7WwuSpooCUUF1vF3CUL3yWD51vg7F5u8lbXdYlbpu8dY0X2z41rLiJKLrxl-KwF7APM_w1jo1/s200/march+birthdays+043.JPG" width="167" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIi1hzlCn4at-6yrXiHeoz-8F1wzjXeCv_DvQI9UiMCmSz2V6Y4jiQNKGWodNcRV4Bqi2fvXawetAfer7PhPCqwr41dqqQWZMhM2LAaDtYKV_oQBusREsT6L-L1lHqe6Su6-8tXAIsxcX/s1600/35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIi1hzlCn4at-6yrXiHeoz-8F1wzjXeCv_DvQI9UiMCmSz2V6Y4jiQNKGWodNcRV4Bqi2fvXawetAfer7PhPCqwr41dqqQWZMhM2LAaDtYKV_oQBusREsT6L-L1lHqe6Su6-8tXAIsxcX/s200/35.jpg" width="169" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">12 and 15.</div>Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-54948004985873462532011-02-09T22:12:00.000-08:002011-02-09T22:16:35.143-08:00ChillaxationMy visit with my friends in North Carolina was so <em><strong>chillax</strong></em>. (I wanted to use this word I heard Lanie say to me today and I'm not sure I can quite pull it off)...but what I'm trying to say is that it was so nice to just chill. And relax.<br />
<br />
The best part of my trip wasn't just that I got to<em><strong> hang</strong></em> with my chica's...but it was also the perfect escape from any kind of plan, agenda, or schedule that comes with all the non-stop busyness of our <strong><em>hood</em></strong>...(the mother-hood). ;)<br />
<br />
A girls getaway was just what I needed....my soul just needed to be around a bunch of really good Mom's...Sweet. Encouraging. Godly. Honest. Twizzler-loving and Real.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wdwJWlldY_B66lRg1L28yLvUuUu8jHMZAl3s922DtbikZmGWA8gQ95IOSZum7jg6mvgzj3xwFrP2PjZM2n7c-p890r1ZIpvTaVYBbX8zlziXf_fdLhyphenhyphenHOIMbghyphenhyphenw3_J2q8NyjWx-aKUE/s1600/us4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wdwJWlldY_B66lRg1L28yLvUuUu8jHMZAl3s922DtbikZmGWA8gQ95IOSZum7jg6mvgzj3xwFrP2PjZM2n7c-p890r1ZIpvTaVYBbX8zlziXf_fdLhyphenhyphenHOIMbghyphenhyphenw3_J2q8NyjWx-aKUE/s320/us4.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>Instead of a hotel, we all actually stayed in my friend's Mom's house....so it kind of felt like a flash back to our highschool sleepover days. Her mom has a cheerful and welcoming spirit; she loves to laugh and smile when she's talking to you, and for years she has reminded me of Snow White. Not only did she cook us some delicious white chicken chili, but one of the first things she said when we arrived was that she wanted us to be as comfortable as possible and to make ourselves at home. She already had my day made when I saw their fridge stocked with Cherry Coke Zero! And when we went to see where we'd be sleeping, she had put together a cute little "goody" basket in our room overflowing with valentine candy, granola bars, and snacks!!<br />
<br />
And so I got to thinking, (I just can't help it), there were a lot of my friends Mom's that have influenced me over the years, in lots of different little ways. Each Mom had their own style from their cooking, music, clothes, birthday parties, home decorating, hair-styles, cleaning, fashion, driving speed....<br />
<br />
And I got to thinking some more....my kids have a lot of friends they bring over here and what will they remember me for? My pot roast and grilled cheese sandwiches?<br />
<br />
It's humbling to know there are other people's kids observing me. I just hope that when they think back on me someday that they would remember me from the days when I was in a good mood, and that I wasn't permanently attached to my vacuum cleaner.<br />
<br />
I hope they would remember that my door was always open for them, and that they could just come over and chillax.Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320517631562090714.post-78558081724170396722011-02-01T19:34:00.000-08:002011-02-01T20:01:21.395-08:00Awesome Foursome<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKVozTQNMzaKDhUh2DPo2SNNs5XZtZ4mO7H3JaK_hDhhKP129sEXkKzpH01UHt3SHlZw7ew3eR06V1gMiE0PehfOS8KiRNu26lc691I_FkwXbbOPW5pCWI3ebOyGO4X_Qzh6g6dOUDUod/s1600/Face+Masks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKVozTQNMzaKDhUh2DPo2SNNs5XZtZ4mO7H3JaK_hDhhKP129sEXkKzpH01UHt3SHlZw7ew3eR06V1gMiE0PehfOS8KiRNu26lc691I_FkwXbbOPW5pCWI3ebOyGO4X_Qzh6g6dOUDUod/s200/Face+Masks.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eiQCL86F2bFpmzQAs-snUHrOxRu1FiqSme2byi5IZ1W4yW-iPOqGp3_t00eJAx-oQd9sneTRqoLD77ow2U_VreO0JaIv9sfOkdqoQ72TgO7ySbmy1csKDWrI6pLA6mkQ8OWgO77YNPjO/s1600/The+Flea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eiQCL86F2bFpmzQAs-snUHrOxRu1FiqSme2byi5IZ1W4yW-iPOqGp3_t00eJAx-oQd9sneTRqoLD77ow2U_VreO0JaIv9sfOkdqoQ72TgO7ySbmy1csKDWrI6pLA6mkQ8OWgO77YNPjO/s200/The+Flea.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>With all the busyness that January brought this month, I haven't had much time to think about the fact that in just two days I will be on a plane headed for North Carolina to see my three favorite friends! I have known these girls since training bras, tretorn shoes, aqua-net, and braces....hard to believe that was about 25 years ago! Growing up together in a small town in the midwest, we've been through church camps, sleep-overs, tee-pee wars, boy crushes, drives to Carlos Sweeneys for chips and salsa in "the flea", rap music, and tubing with snakes until sunset down a neighborhood creek. (Ofcourse I can't forget the most important....each other's closets!)<br />
<br />
So even though now we're all hundreds of miles away from each other in different parts of the country, and all in our "mid" thirties with kids of our own now, (15 altogether between the 4 of us!)...when we are together we are still the same group that just loves to laugh our heads off and just be girls.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNtF0uERscTIlqL4ZtmL6mdHfmFEDnglpsMPOhvxe8SzpsHNwCUK_Gbj_scQnaVHhryqsPmWDXH9y_sk3r9vozAcCvqf1RF8nZsAoxosNeZ5tK-oZBC0f3Rj75UIvn1_sibbJeUB_YvVd/s1600/3cc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; height: 182px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 201px;"><img border="0" height="177" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNtF0uERscTIlqL4ZtmL6mdHfmFEDnglpsMPOhvxe8SzpsHNwCUK_Gbj_scQnaVHhryqsPmWDXH9y_sk3r9vozAcCvqf1RF8nZsAoxosNeZ5tK-oZBC0f3Rj75UIvn1_sibbJeUB_YvVd/s200/3cc.jpg" width="200" /></a>I have missed them, and I'll admit I so need this "girls getaway". I love that they already know me and that we've kept in touch all these years. It's a guarantee when we're together there's never a dull moment...and I'm looking forward to meeting the two newest little girls of the group....both only 2 months old.</div><br />
I can't imagine what life would life would be like without just one good friend, and I'm realizing it's rare to keep friends this long...even three of them! <br />
<br />
...So I think it's safe to say by now they're my friends for life.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eKwn5Eg243a8vLm3nKmDx0jGORmBuIM0wfntNdYsTYVIcibDmqsZGRjXyOqGv0-kZgWYRUB2CqyG2GOF5Ir5Imn58dJqSRMSQOOhMqYVLOHeCw3l2FaUFkS15WPkezpOJp497aqhyphenhyphen3Kc/s1600/scan0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eKwn5Eg243a8vLm3nKmDx0jGORmBuIM0wfntNdYsTYVIcibDmqsZGRjXyOqGv0-kZgWYRUB2CqyG2GOF5Ir5Imn58dJqSRMSQOOhMqYVLOHeCw3l2FaUFkS15WPkezpOJp497aqhyphenhyphen3Kc/s320/scan0007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>(Chicago: 2008):</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTvGGi8lTmWONt7zAOqAEqVykCQj4t4ogeL40SqTJUsTfBTLlkzjrzF5e3crGI1Lb22UqaeqvhYWQrmcL4R8nbGGs8NUCjeH1izWUDTLqEvFjKlUUW1eTPQK_yyDdowdCeAr0JrbgFl1Y/s1600/DSC01566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTvGGi8lTmWONt7zAOqAEqVykCQj4t4ogeL40SqTJUsTfBTLlkzjrzF5e3crGI1Lb22UqaeqvhYWQrmcL4R8nbGGs8NUCjeH1izWUDTLqEvFjKlUUW1eTPQK_yyDdowdCeAr0JrbgFl1Y/s320/DSC01566.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><strong>...Best friends four-ever.</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Kate the Great:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11545645747101769226noreply@blogger.com0