Soccer Mom

This is my rant - I have contemplated posting this for a couple weeks and decided I just need to vent.  It probably won't interest most of you but it's my blog and I need to post it.

Chatty plays club soccer (yes I know plenty of people out there think she is too young to start in a club league - but she loves it and would play everyday if we let her and she has learned so much).  Chatty adores her team and coach, we love the other families on the team - we have a great group of parents.  I am the team accountant for her team.  Needless to say I put in my fair share of time doing stuff for the team and making sure coaches get paid, etc. 

Our league says we are developmental at this age group, however players have been slotted into positions and don't rotate much, if at all.  In addition the substitution during games is not very fluid.  Mr. ESPN and I vowed we would never be those parents who complained about the coaching.  Well something happened and Mr. ESPN got so frustrated (which is a fairly rare occurrence) he sent an e-mail to the coach asking about her coaching philosophy and why positions and players aren't rotated.  He also discussed it with her over the telephone.  The coach had several reasons none of which Mr. ESPN or I agreed with (i.e. some parents only want their kids playing certain positions).  I want my child to develop and learn all aspects of the game as I firmly believe this will help her (as well as the other players on the team).  Yes I am competitive and yes I want to win and so does my child.  But I want my child to learn all aspects of the game and positions, develop her skills and have fun.  Is that too much to ask?  How do I accomplish this - anyone, anyone, Bueller??? 

Being a parent is hard work and this is piddly stuff compared to what some of you are dealing with.   

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?

Year End Catch Up

Even though I am a terrible blogger these days, I figured I would try and recap all the Christmas festivities before the year ends.  We had a busy month and while it was enjoyable, I have to admit I am kind of glad it is over.  My in-laws left yesterday morning (Chatty cried ... a lot) ... Mr. ESPN went to work ... I think he strategically plans it that way so he doesn't have to help get the house back in order.  All of the Christmas decorations are down and back in the attic ... courtesy of me.  My arms look like I got in a fight with my tree and the tree won.  But it is snugly in it's box in the garage cabinet so I am happy.  So back to the festivities ... warning - picture overload - I am too lazy to separate into more than one post.

• The girls saw Santa at Boys and Girls Club - with Bia acting her normal shy self.

• We decorated sugar cookies with Nana

• We decorated our reusable Gingerbread (plastic) house.

• The Godfather stopped by for a visit with his mom and sister. 

• We attended Christmas Eve services and our kids were better behaved than most in attendance (that's what I call a Christmas miracle)

•  Santa and Grandparents brought lots of great gifts to the family including an iPAD, soccer goal, camera, soccer clothes, Just Dance 3, puzzles, movies, etc.

That's wrap ... time to go play Just Dance 3 with the girls ... I hope you all had a great holiday!!

How Do You Do IT??

Seriously I don't know how you all do it ... have a life ... blog .... jobs ..... family .... kids!  Ugh I just can't find the time or motivation to blog these days.  Maybe it is because I sit on a computer all day at work and don't feel like getting on when I get home or that by the time I get home I am just too tired or have too many other things to do.

OK - so what have we been up to???  Birthday parties, soccer, Thanksgiving, soccer, dance, soccer, decorating, soccer ... do you see a theme here?

Birthday Party with Face Painting

Soccer Ball and #11

Of course she wanted a Puppy - her favorite

 

 Falling asleep in the car on the way to the

USA vs Sweden Women's Soccer Game.  Drool much?

Lunch at Oregano's ... mmmm good!

Tonight it Bia's dance performance. Hopefully she doesn't have stage fright! Nana and Poppa are joining us for her tap debut! Can't wait. This weekend Chatty has a soccer tournament half way to LA - seriously it is on the other freakin side of town. Oh well the things we do for our kids!

We decorated the house for Christmas, although I must admit I am not really in the spirit and Christmas songs are kind of annoying me, not sure why.  Maybe because I have done very little (almost none) Christmas shopping, no baking (my new oven is being delivered next week - Merry Christmas/Happy Anniversary/Happy Birthday to me!) and we haven't even put the ornaments on the tree yet. Hopefully the spirit will give me a swift kick in the rear this weekend!

My still undecorated tree - it has lights and pinecones and an angel 

The kids tacky sweet little tree

Have a great weekend!

Run Like a Girl

As many of you know I participated in the Women's Half Marathon supporting the Komen Foundation.  Our team was Mamas for the Tatas (I can't take credit for the cute name).  Through the support of our family and friends we raised almost $5000!  For those of you who supported me, I can not thank you enough!  You truly are ROCK STARS!! Your support is what kept me running until the end and helped me shave 8 minutes off of my personal best!!

A special thanks to Mr. ESPN and my girls ... even if Chatty thought it was boring to come watch me run!

Gotta love Bia and her constipated/fake smile 

Strategic Planning and Other Mishaps

Strategic Planning - Coordinating a business trip to NJ to coincide with my Aunt's visit to NYC for a girls' weekend.

Mishap - Locking the keys in my rental car just before I head into the city to meet my Aunt and her friend.

Yes it did happen ... it was raining and took over an hour and a half to get someone to unlock my rental car.  Then I had to drive to the airport, catch a train to Penn Station and then walk/run a mile to the apartment (in the rain).  The worst part was we had tickets to Wicked that night and I was afraid I would miss it.  Luckily we were only a few minutes late to the show.  At the time it wasn't funny ... but looking back now it is pretty comical and makes for a good story. 

After an eventful Thursday night, I woke up to this view Friday morning (btw - not sure what is up with my camera but all of my pictures are hazy ...)

The Hudson River

After some NY bagels we ventured to the Upper West Side and walked and walked and walked ....

Love the fall colors in Central Park

Then we hopped on the subway and headed down to lower Manhattan and Wall Street.  I had to bite my tongue when we passed the protesters but I did say to my Aunt "I hope they freeze their a**'s off!".  We had tickets to the 9/11 Memorial.  Before we went to it we headed into Trinity Church.  It was very emotional to see all of the items on display.

After that, we got in line and headed into the 9/11 Memorial.  Very beautiful and tastefully done.  A lot of people were taking their pictures at the sight.  I sort of felt like it was sacrilege to take a photo of myself in front of the memorial.

No words ....

As we were leaving they were raising the flag outside the memorial.  Even though they said the tickets were sold out for months, I was able to get some online two days before we went.  I highly encourage everyone to go see this.  Very moving.

The next day we were part of a Once in a Lifetime Event (according to the NY news).  October snowstorm in the northeast .... I guess that's what happens when a someone from central Florida, South Beach and the Desert spend a weekend in NYC!  We bring the crazy weather.

The view from our apartment on Saturday afternoon

Making the most of the weather-chilling our beer on the balcony

Luckily the weather cleared on Sunday ... one last photo before we headed home ...  

Thanks Aunt Susan and Fran ... I had a great time!!

Halloween

Hope you all had a great Halloween.  To be honest this really isn't my favorite holiday.  I do enjoy hanging out with my neighbors and seeing the kids get excited about their costumes, however I am glad it is over.  I am ready to move on to the other BIG holidays ... but before then a ton few pictures from our adventures last night.

Yes Chatty was a soccer player - not much of a costume but she couldn't make a decision and it didn't cost me any additional cash so I went with it.

Bia has mastered the fake smile

Bia and her BFF

Chatty and her Knight in Shining Armor (our neighbor Jack)

Bia, BFF and BFF's lil sister

Riding in style

Mr. ESPN's creation

Enjoying her stash

As usual we had a great time with our neighbor's.  We were so glad Bia's BFF's family could join us this year - they are so much fun!  Stay tuned for a post on my NYC adventures!