Not the perfect life

When you read my blog do you wonder if I live in this little perfect world..... Great husband, three wonderful kids, stay at home mom. Jane made a comment that you don't want the world to know what really goes on in your life. It is true, I think about what I want to write, careful not to let anyone know I had a bad day, yelled too loud at a child, didn't accomplish any housework or didn't take time to just sit and listen. I am going to try and let some emotions show. That I get mad, frustrated and somedays just cry. I watch Colleen go thru these preteen years trying to figure out who she is, trying to fit in, trying to please her family etc... and it makes me realize that I still have days that I am a preteen. Maybe preteen and pre-menopausal are the same nasty hormones:)

Soccer Sunday

Due to the Jewish holiday on Saturday, we played soccer on Sunday. Colleen and Conlan were first. They both played excellent. Colleen was the kicking machine on defense and Conlan was a super duper goalie. They still lost 2-0. The two goals Conlan missed were kicked way over his head. Donavan's team tied 4-4. Donavan and a couple of his buddies are developing a new sport that involves rolling and crawling with a soccer ball. The video clip is of Donavan playing soccer.
We enjoyed a rare evening at home as a family. That was the best part of the day!

Saturday Football

Conlan had a game at 2. We had to be there at 1 and it was only 91 degrees! At least I wasn't there in pads and a helmet. Conlan's team lost 19-0. Conlan plays tight end. He actually had a pass thrown to him. He dropped it. I asked him if he was surprised, he said he knew the ball was coming to him, he just didn't expect to be hit when he was trying to catch the ball. Later in the game he was open down field, but the quarterback got sacked and fumbled the ball.
Weight watch.....2
Conlan in the video is on the far side tallest kid

Soccer

We also had two soccer games last night. D-mans team lost 1-0. Colleen and Conlan's team won 1-0. D-man is a bit taller than the rest of his team, but still one of the younger ones!

The Verge of Popularity

Colleen had her back to school night. She was not happy when she realized the boys were going to be coming. "Mom, I am on the verge of popularity, the boys will send me back to dorkhood for the rest of my life!" Unfortunately for Colleen this has become the running joke of the family. I do have to give her credit, after making sure her brothers and I were dressed appropriately and we didn't make a fool out of her. She commented on the way home " I don't know why I was so worried about the boys, Mario had his five brothers and sisters and they couldn't even sit still! At least Conlan and Donavan are quiet and well behaved." The trails and tribulations of being eleven!

Ray's Physical

Ray had his yearly physical for the firedept. today. The doctor detected a heart murmur, so he goes to a cardiologist on Oct. 2. The doctor didn't think it was anything, but he needs to have it checked. We will pray that it is nothing! His BP was good, which is always his main concern. He has had numbness in his heel for the last couple of weeks. He had gone to his regular doctor, he had thought it might be a disc in his back pushing on a nerve. Recommended new running shoes....the doctor today didn't think it was his back , since he has had no back pain...probably a injury to the heel. GO BUY NEW RUNNING SHOES! Hopefully today Ray will go get his new shoes and that will take care of that problem. 40 is hitting Ray hard!

Atlantic City

Wow!

We had a great time. Gin and I left early Monday morning and drove to NJ. We arrived around 12. Gin didn't know we were staying at Trump Plaza so she was quite surprised when I pulled in to the valet parking. I had gotten a "cheap" rate so I was thrilled when we got to the room and had a ocean view! We walked down the boardwalk and lunch and hit different casinos. We might be lucky in love, but neither on of us is lucky w/ slot machines.

The last time Gin was in Atlantic city was 42 years ago. This is a picture of her and the hotel she stayed in. Can you believe things have changed in 42 years???? I think what upset her the most was the slot machines. They are computerized now and $5 is the minimum you can put in a machine. You get a ticket when you cash out, not a bunch of coins falling out indicating that you won.

I loved the Shops at the Pier. 2 levels of "fancy mancy" shopping but the third level was a place you could stay for days. It had several restaurants, but the neat thing was it overlooked the ocean with huge plate glass windows and they had a "fake"beach along the windows that you could sit in chairs and just watch the water. We had breakfast at the Taj Mahal on Tuesday. Gin thinks they had the ladies from the RED HAT Society decorate it. Lots of purples and reds.

I got home just in time to go to Colleen's soccer game. The team played a great game until the last three minutes when the goalie let a couple of balls go pass him. After the game I went to the elementary school to back to school night. Donavan got a 100 on his first spelling test! It was posted proudly on the board. They are awarded pennies when caught doing something good or at least doing what they are suppose to be doing. He had lots of pennies, so apparently he is behaving. Conlan's teacher seems like she is going to be a great teacher for Conlan. She is going to push him, but of course that makes Ray and I very busy with trying to make sure he has gotten all his work completed and done correctly.

Last week Conlan was studying the planets. He comes home saying Pluto is no longer a planet we don't use Pluto anymore when doing planets. So on the worksheets when asked to put planets in order or what is the smallest planet we left out Pluto. He brings home the paper and it is wrong b/c we left out Pluto. I asked Conlan what was up with that He said the test still have Pluto so we have to use Pluto. I asked his science teacher about how he was confused, and other parents piped in and said their kids also did the same thing. She said she change their grades and gave them credit for it since she had told them originally to leave out Pluto. Funny how Teachers don't teach to the TEST, but will continue to give kids the wrong info b/c that is what is on the TEST.

Redneck Suday

After church today, the whole family including Ray's dad went to redneck heaven. There is this place that you can shoot, do archery, fish, and canoe. Ray and his dad try and take the kids once a month. I have always opted not to go and enjoy my peace and quite at home. Today I took the plunge. It was fun. Everyone shot 22's at the gun range. I had never shot a gun before (maybe once with daddy). Ray and his dad were very patient with me and the kids. The kids are pros. They know the drill. Everyone stays behind the stand until the last person is finished shooting, never wave the gun around, SAFETY FIRST. After an hour the kids started getting bored so Ray took them down to the pond and they also shot the 410. Ray's dad stayed with me and taught me the fine art of shooting the 22 and pistol. It was fun. I was pretty good if I say so myself. Conlan said " You are better than daddy." Colleen was learning to work the canoe by herself. She thought she was a baton twirler with the paddles. She is too funny. One minute shooting a gun and while waiting for her turn she is practicing her model walk. She is the perfect girl.
Tomorrow I am off to Atlantic City with my mother-in-law. I will make sure I take pics!!!

Colleen's Soccer Game

They lost 1-0. They played a tough game. Colleen did an excellent job playing midfield and defense. Not one to brag but she is the best player on the team. Conlan played backfield the first three quarters and then got to do goalie the last quarter. He was super at that position. He has that football mentality that you dive to the ground and get the ball.

Busy Saturday

It rained last night so Conlan's football game was canceled. Which worked out for me since I help coach D-man's soccer team and it was scheduled for the same time. Donavan's team won 3-0. Donavan played a great defensive game. Colleen and Conlan have a game at three hopefully I will be able to get a couple of pics to post.

Colleen's friend is spending the night tonight so they can work on their Spanish project. They had to choose a Spanish speaking country to do make a food from that country and do a report. Colleen's friends mom is from Panama, so they have the inside track.

Where did the last 6 years go??

This week I have done activities I haven't done since Donavan was born. I went and got myself not just one job but two. It is difficult to fill out job applications when you haven't worked in a while. Diplomas? College transcripts? Social Security card? Past employer info??? Can't they just look at me and tell I am a good catch?? I am going to start being a substitute teacher for the boys elementary school. For the month of October I am going to help with school tours at a pumpkin patch.
The other activity I did that I haven't done for years was Step Aerobics last night. OMG! did I ever sweat. I am on a mission to lose weight and get in better shape. I have been doing water aerobics with the senior citizens ( who are a bunch of great ladies), but Colleen brought to my attention I was not old and needed to do exercises with people my age. Of course after my knees hurt last night I realized why I started doing water aerobics. I am going to do a weight watch but I am only going to post the last number of my weight. So this morning it was 4.

I want to be just like Sarah

Sarah has inspired me to try this blogging thing. I hope I can share with my family and friends all the "stuff" that goes on in our lives.