Random Catch Up

Gee, so what's been going on since I last posted?  Well we had a 38th birthday, 5th birthday, Easter and an 8th birthday in our house.  And that was just in the last 2 weeks!  This time of year is always crazy for the ESPN family.  Add to that a major project on Greek mythology for Chatty, a trip back east for me and a crazy workload at work and people wonder why I am cranky! 

But in all honesty that is nothing compared to what some friends of mine are going through.  I admit, I am not the best at praying.  In fact my prayers are more like little conversations with God at the most random times.  But it seems like lately I have been having a lot more conversations with God (which is a good thing) ... to say thanks for great things happening to sweet friends and to ask him to take care of others (please keep Sara and her sweet family and baby JR in your prayers).  During these conversations I am also trying to remember that I can't control things (thank you Laurie for reminding me).

I am so thankful for my great support group of friends who remind me of what's important!  Speaking of great friends, we are heading to Austin next week for the Godfather's wedding! 

And some random I-phone pics because I can't seem to find time to download any pics from my real camera!

The girls just before Bia's Birthday Party

The joint party was a huge success!

Easter Sunday before Church

Yes we are wearing the same dresses to the Godfather's wedding

Ignore the huge cold sore I have in the picture

Chatty's Greek Mythology "Wax Museum" Presentation

Notice anything wrong with this picture?

Yep - she put her wings on upside down!

And yes - she was wearing her Nike kicks!

What We've Been Up To

So much exciting stuff that I don't have time to blog!  Kidding - nothing exciting, just staying busy, as usual.  And - like my cousin Jann, I just haven't been in the mood to blog.  Probably because work has been busy and by the time I get home I don't even want to think about getting on a computer. 

So a recap of what we have been up to lately (excuse the quality of the photos - all from my phone since I haven't had time to download any from my camera ... and if you are FB friends with me you have seen most of them)...

Playing so hard at school that we destroy our clothes

Attempting to fill the niche in our family room, we've only been in the house 8 years!

Finishing up our soccer season ... Woo Hoo!

   

 

Attending a Girly Girlz Party where they painted nails and did hair.

Taking our first family hike.  Dee you woull be proud of us!  Chatty loved it and Bia had a good time but was worn out by the end.

Trying to find outfits for spring (birthday) pictures

That's about it ... up next - basketball games, pictures, soccer party, Mr. ESPN's birthday, Bia's birthday and party, work travel,  Chatty's birthday and Spring Break!

Back in the Routine

This week has been a little tough on all of us ... Mr. ESPN went back to work Monday, I went back to work Tuesday and the girls went back to school yesterday.  Needless to say the early morning alarm clock ringing is not music to my ears after two weeks off.  The only one who had no issues adjusting back to the routine is Chatty, who bounced in my bathroom yesterday morning at 6 am dressed and excited for school.  Well I guess 1 for 4 isn't horrible.  Oh how I wish Bia and I had her enthusiasm in the mornings!

Anyway - back to soccer practice and games and tournaments and dance and homework and all the other stuff that seems to occupy so much of our time.  Add to that a little congestion and cough to 3 out of 4 of our family members and there it is - our normal routine!  Now if I could just nail down some healthy meals my kids will actually eat, time to exercise, more sleep, etc. my routine would be even better!  Maybe it will happen this year ... I can always hope right?

Random Ramblings

I really don't have anything fabulous to talk about just some random things ...

1. My good friend is having an awesome giveaway on her blog check it out here - cute aprons from Etsy!  Go check it out but remember I need the apron (even if I am on a baking hiatus!).
2. Coco and I can't figure out why mom's let their little girls have long stringy hair.  Especially in the summer when they swim - ick!  Yes Mom - now I realize why you kept my unruly/curly/smelly (yes it smelled and I never wanted to wash it) hair short as a child
3. Some lady who smelled like cloves got on the treadmill next to me the other day and I about died - I couldn't get done quick enough!
4. I am going to a Women's Retreat at church tomorrow.  I am not sure what to expect but I hope I am not one of the only young women there.  I keep having dreams that it is me and all of the Grannys!  Overall I think it should be a good experience (plus it means a kid free day).
5. I am annoyed that it is taking so freakin long to find out about the position I was asked (by the hiring manager) to apply for
6. Bia looks like Albert Einstein's daughter when she wakes up in the morning.  No exaggeration there at all - it is funny and a little scary all at the same time.  Note to self - document it with a photo!
7. Chatty started a basketball skills class last night.  I asked her if she was any good and of course she said yes.  Her daddy said he would buy her a new basketball so they could practice together.
8. The girls had their annual checkups on Monday.  Chatty is in the 90% for height and weight (a little like her mom) and Bia is in the 50% for height and weight (which is a major improvement from previous years).
9. Bia told me this morning I had a very big booty.  I told her that wasn't very nice to say.
10. Chatty wrote all of her own thank you notes this year (I wrote a template and she copied it).  I am not sure if my 84 year old Mam-ma will be able to read her writing or not!

I guess that's it ... have a good weekend

Tuesday Ramblings

Don't have much to report just a few random things ....

• I think I lost employee of the year today. When I got home from the gym and walked in the door, Mr. ESPN says "Your boss just called". I am think "Oh Crap" what did I forget to do (it is month end close at work). So I call my boss and low and behold I forgot to make a journal entry and they can't close the books (and it was 6:00 p.m.). So much for that employee of the year award! Anyway I made my entry and then come to find out my friend (co-worker) forgot to make one too so I didn't feel too dumb! That's why I always tell my boss he shouldn't let tax people like me do REAL accounting work - yes believe me there is a difference, that's why my degree is in Finance and Entrepreneurship and not Accounting!


• Chatty Cathy - Her belly button is healing nicely - yeah! Chatty Cathy is always talking (hence the blog name) and more importantly she always has to tell Mr. ESPN and/or I something. Below is an example of a typical daily conversation with Chatty Cathy.


• Me - "Chatty Cathy please go do -------- (insert anything you would normally ask your child to do, i.e. brush your teeth, wash your hands for dinner, get dressed, go to the bathroom, etc.)"
• Chatty - "But Mom I HAVE to tell you something"
• Me - "It isn't an emergency, you can tell me after you have finished doing what I asked you to do"
• Chatty - "But it IS an EMERGENCY, I HAVE to TELL you NOW!"
• Me - "OK Chatty, what is it that you have to tell me now?"
• Chatty - "My friend at school wore a GO CATs shirt today" (or insert any other random - i.e. non emergency - event that occurred during the day)
• Me - "UGH - GO DO ------- NOW!"

• Bia - She is her usual stubborn self (I have no idea where she gets it from - LOL). Every morning (for the past couple weeks) after Mr. ESPN gets her dressed she walks into the master bathroom pushing her purple grocery cart filled with her lovies (Puppy, Monkey & Gorilla) and blankies (big one & little one). She is very adamant about this routine so there is no use discouraging it unless you want Princess Whiny Pants in the house at 6:15 am! I am not sure what started it and if I was more awake and in a better mood at 6:15 I might actually take a picture - but we all know that probably won't happen anytime soon!
  
• Mr. ESPN - I asked him to start pulling out his clothes last weekend for our trip to Florida - which of course he didn't get around to. Yes, I pack every one's clothes. If I didn't the other members of my family would be wearing wrinkled clothes the entire vacation and may or may not match. Tonight I decided to pull out some shirts for him to take and folded them so they are ready to put in the suitcase. He is at the gym right now so we'll see what he says when he gets home. He likes to pick out his own stuff, although I have been known to switch it out to something I prefer when he isn't looking!

That's the exciting stuff around here, I warned you at the beginning that I didn't have much!