Becky and Allison are home today. Why? Well, because. Because I feel like they needed a day to chill out, take a moment, do NOTHING, and hopefully recover a little bit from the cold or allergies that have plagued them for over a week! I think it's allergies. It would be nice if the two doses of claritin that they've had will start to do something. Unless it's a cold and then we're only prolonging the inevitable... I also wanted to spend some time with them. I'm going to NYC next week with Katie for a couple of days and I thought Allison and Becky might like a day with mom too. So, in honor of chilling out and spending time together (and recovering from the creepy crud that plagues them) we are going to see a movie later. We're going to see "UP" the new Disney movie. Should be cute. Allison is all into the dog that she keeps seeing in the previews! Sometimes we all just need a day like this, don't we?
Shop Talk: My critique group continues to amaze me with their insight. I submitted my latest writing project to them and was encouraged by their suggestions and praise. It helps me to believe in my ability to tell a story and inspires me to keep at it. I love my critique group!
So, Ed will Mr. Mom next week while Katie and I are away. I'm sure he'll do great. I'll leave detailed lists of things like "remember to pack snacks for the girls for school", or "don't forget to take Lucy out," or "the bus comes at 3:00!" Actually the bus comes at 3:10 but it'll be good for him to get there early! He's planning to go to work while they're in school and come home for the bus. It will be a busy couple of days for him.
Friday, May 29
Thursday, May 21
This and That
I was asked yesterday if I was wanting to work full time at the girls' school. The autism teacher said she'd love to have me working in her program. I don't have any desire to work a full time job. But I asked her about part time. She said there's a possibility that I could work with Buddy part time. Hmmm.... She wants me to think about it and let her know. Part time is about 15 hours per week and it would allow me time to write, do household stuff, and still volunteer if I want to. I think it would work and the regular fun money income would be super! I think that I will talk to the teacher about it some more. I guess the bottom line is that if I can work the hours I want with the child I want then I'll do it. If not, I'll stick with subbing. I'll keep you posted.
Guess what happens this weekend. It's a holiday weekend during soccer season so that means a tournament! Katie's team will play four games in two days and possibly advance to the finals on Monday. Unfortunately I won't be able to attend three of the four games. That's alright though. Ed's dad is coming into town and Katie will love having Grandpa Cook there. The next game Allison has will be against a team whose coach is quite intense. She's all about structure and rules and having preschool/kindergartners play like they're 12 instead of 4,5,&6. She likes to keep three defensive players at half field and three offensive down the other half. I don't do that. I tried it, but I found that my kids are more engaged in the game if they can run after the ball no matter which half of the field it is on. When I was playing with a defense they all stood there, scared to cross the line and not really sure what to do when the ball came at them. Forget it. Isn't the point to touch the ball as much as possible and be involved in the game? That's my philosophy. I've discussed this with the league director who supports my game style 100%. I wanted to make sure that my style was o.k. with him and he actually said he'd talk to other coaches and tell them to forget the defense/offense players at this level. I'm not sure whether he did or not but I have a feeling that this other coach won't care either way. So, I'm dreading the next game just a little. I'm pretty laid back out there on the field. I follow basic rules for out of bounds, like throw ins, corner kicks, and goal kicks. We also start with a kick off after each goal. That's about it. They'll get the other stuff as they move up in the program. They'll be ready for it then. And let's face it, the difference between a 3 or 4 year old and a 6 year old is pretty significant so it's important to do what works best for the whole team taking into consideration each players abilities and skills. Wow, that was a lot of blah, blah, blah!!!
I get to do another home visit for Labs 4 Rescue either today or tomorrow. There seems to be quite a few people in our area adopting from them! I'm psyched about that! It also seems that I'm the only one in our area able to do home visits - that's okay. I like being able to be part of helping a homeless lab find his new family :)
Time to get to work writing. Lots of ideas swirling around in my head - got to get them on paper!! Happy Thursday!
Guess what happens this weekend. It's a holiday weekend during soccer season so that means a tournament! Katie's team will play four games in two days and possibly advance to the finals on Monday. Unfortunately I won't be able to attend three of the four games. That's alright though. Ed's dad is coming into town and Katie will love having Grandpa Cook there. The next game Allison has will be against a team whose coach is quite intense. She's all about structure and rules and having preschool/kindergartners play like they're 12 instead of 4,5,&6. She likes to keep three defensive players at half field and three offensive down the other half. I don't do that. I tried it, but I found that my kids are more engaged in the game if they can run after the ball no matter which half of the field it is on. When I was playing with a defense they all stood there, scared to cross the line and not really sure what to do when the ball came at them. Forget it. Isn't the point to touch the ball as much as possible and be involved in the game? That's my philosophy. I've discussed this with the league director who supports my game style 100%. I wanted to make sure that my style was o.k. with him and he actually said he'd talk to other coaches and tell them to forget the defense/offense players at this level. I'm not sure whether he did or not but I have a feeling that this other coach won't care either way. So, I'm dreading the next game just a little. I'm pretty laid back out there on the field. I follow basic rules for out of bounds, like throw ins, corner kicks, and goal kicks. We also start with a kick off after each goal. That's about it. They'll get the other stuff as they move up in the program. They'll be ready for it then. And let's face it, the difference between a 3 or 4 year old and a 6 year old is pretty significant so it's important to do what works best for the whole team taking into consideration each players abilities and skills. Wow, that was a lot of blah, blah, blah!!!
I get to do another home visit for Labs 4 Rescue either today or tomorrow. There seems to be quite a few people in our area adopting from them! I'm psyched about that! It also seems that I'm the only one in our area able to do home visits - that's okay. I like being able to be part of helping a homeless lab find his new family :)
Time to get to work writing. Lots of ideas swirling around in my head - got to get them on paper!! Happy Thursday!
Monday, May 18
Nurturing the Blog
Since becoming a Facebook junkie I've neglected my poor blog worse than ever. That's not good. For over three years now I've hung onto this blog hoping it would be a nice place to visit and catch up with me and my family. I need to work on this a bit, don't you think?
Busy weekend. Mom and Dad came down and we had three soccer games to go to. Plus, Ed and Dad put together most of Allison's new swing set. On Saturday as we were getting ready to head to Allison's game she fell down the front porch steps and knocked out a tooth! It bled alot. It was a loose tooth but clearly wasn't quite ready to come out yet. Poor little miss. It hurt alot too. She's a trooper though and played her game, but she was kind of dragging and I thought she looked a little pale. A little bit of Motrin seemed to help the soreness. Then Katie had a game later that afternoon and one yesterday afternoon. They won one and lost the other.
So, we are planning to head back to Disney World next April vacation. The unfortunate thing about Disney World (DW) is that most of the rooms on Disney resort property don't fit a family of five. They are for families of four. Unless of course you're willing to shell out a big chunk of change for a deluxe resort. We are not willing... There are a couple of options on DW property, like Port Orleans Riverside or the family suites at the All Star Resort - but even so these rooms are a bit cramped for us. That means I've had to explore other possibilities - off DW property. Fortunately, I read a website called Mousesavers.com. I've used suggestions from that site more than once and have been very pleased! There's a whole section on hotels that the site developer recommends and why. There are some really good options for us! And the thing is, since they are off DW property they are MUCH CHEAPER than a room on property! And you get a bigger room with nice amenities like Bath and Body Works products, balconies, breakfast included - you get the idea. I think we've narrowed it down to two choices: Royal Plaza & Caribe Royale. I'd be interested in any opinions you have to offer :) Mousesavers has negotiated special rates for these hotels as well, so the price really can't be beat. I love planning trips!
This summer the girls and I are headed to Maine to spend a week at Camp Good News. Katie has been there a few times as a camper but this year she'll go as a Junior Counselor along with her cousin Michayla and friend Alicia! Becky will be a camper, with her friend Rachel. And Allison will be a day camper which means she'll bunk with me (I'll be on staff there) at night and do camper activities during the day. Even our nephew, Kaleb, is going! My mom will be there too - which I think is awesome! It's going to be a great week! The only downside is spending a week away from Ed :(
Time to be productive before heading in to work at 11:30! Happy Monday!
Busy weekend. Mom and Dad came down and we had three soccer games to go to. Plus, Ed and Dad put together most of Allison's new swing set. On Saturday as we were getting ready to head to Allison's game she fell down the front porch steps and knocked out a tooth! It bled alot. It was a loose tooth but clearly wasn't quite ready to come out yet. Poor little miss. It hurt alot too. She's a trooper though and played her game, but she was kind of dragging and I thought she looked a little pale. A little bit of Motrin seemed to help the soreness. Then Katie had a game later that afternoon and one yesterday afternoon. They won one and lost the other.
So, we are planning to head back to Disney World next April vacation. The unfortunate thing about Disney World (DW) is that most of the rooms on Disney resort property don't fit a family of five. They are for families of four. Unless of course you're willing to shell out a big chunk of change for a deluxe resort. We are not willing... There are a couple of options on DW property, like Port Orleans Riverside or the family suites at the All Star Resort - but even so these rooms are a bit cramped for us. That means I've had to explore other possibilities - off DW property. Fortunately, I read a website called Mousesavers.com. I've used suggestions from that site more than once and have been very pleased! There's a whole section on hotels that the site developer recommends and why. There are some really good options for us! And the thing is, since they are off DW property they are MUCH CHEAPER than a room on property! And you get a bigger room with nice amenities like Bath and Body Works products, balconies, breakfast included - you get the idea. I think we've narrowed it down to two choices: Royal Plaza & Caribe Royale. I'd be interested in any opinions you have to offer :) Mousesavers has negotiated special rates for these hotels as well, so the price really can't be beat. I love planning trips!
This summer the girls and I are headed to Maine to spend a week at Camp Good News. Katie has been there a few times as a camper but this year she'll go as a Junior Counselor along with her cousin Michayla and friend Alicia! Becky will be a camper, with her friend Rachel. And Allison will be a day camper which means she'll bunk with me (I'll be on staff there) at night and do camper activities during the day. Even our nephew, Kaleb, is going! My mom will be there too - which I think is awesome! It's going to be a great week! The only downside is spending a week away from Ed :(
Time to be productive before heading in to work at 11:30! Happy Monday!
Thursday, May 14
Ah, Spring & Other Ramblings
Ah, to see the leaves on the trees and the lilacs about to bloom. The crab apple tree's pastel pink blossoms are at their peak and each of the vegetable rows I planted are peaking through the soil. Spring time is full of new life. On our way home from piano lessons this afternoon the girls and I got to see two baby donkeys and a baby Shetland pony. Sweet baby animals. New life. Precious. I love spring. Even on rainy windy days, I love spring. Inhale deeply with me and smell all the newness of spring...
Shop Talk: I submitted my baseball article to ANOTHER magazine today. That's number four. It's an article I believe in so I'll keep submitting it until I find the one that wants it. The reasons it's been rejected by other mags is that they simply didn't need any baseball material at the moment. I even got a nice hand written note from an editor. That's okay. We'll find a home for it someday.
I've been working on a fiction piece and quite frankly it's turning my brain to mush!! There's so much I want/need to include and I'm getting overwhelmed. It's been in my head for awhile and now it needs to be on paper. That's always the hard part for me, transferring what makes sense in my mind to having it make sense in written form. I'll keep plugging away at it. I'm actually using an outline this time. I don't usually like outlines but it's the only way I can remotely keep track of details.
Mom and Dad are coming tomorrow. YAY! It's always fun to have them down. They were here for Easter but somehow it seems longer ago than that.
Time to bring Katie to soccer practice. There's a chance of thunderstorms in awhile. I won't tell Katie - she'll completely freak out! Hopefully soccer will be all done before any rumblings get started!
Shop Talk: I submitted my baseball article to ANOTHER magazine today. That's number four. It's an article I believe in so I'll keep submitting it until I find the one that wants it. The reasons it's been rejected by other mags is that they simply didn't need any baseball material at the moment. I even got a nice hand written note from an editor. That's okay. We'll find a home for it someday.
I've been working on a fiction piece and quite frankly it's turning my brain to mush!! There's so much I want/need to include and I'm getting overwhelmed. It's been in my head for awhile and now it needs to be on paper. That's always the hard part for me, transferring what makes sense in my mind to having it make sense in written form. I'll keep plugging away at it. I'm actually using an outline this time. I don't usually like outlines but it's the only way I can remotely keep track of details.
Mom and Dad are coming tomorrow. YAY! It's always fun to have them down. They were here for Easter but somehow it seems longer ago than that.
Time to bring Katie to soccer practice. There's a chance of thunderstorms in awhile. I won't tell Katie - she'll completely freak out! Hopefully soccer will be all done before any rumblings get started!
Sunday, May 3
The Weekend Summary
Another weekend gone by. Why do the weekends go so quickly? Why do children grow up so fast? Why do I keep having to yank grey hairs from my head when I am clearly not old enough to HAVE grey hair? Okay, maybe I am old enough...
My little soccer team did SO well this weekend! I was very impressed! This is my fifth season coaching this age group. When I started I seemed to have a lot of really young players on my team - probably because many of the other kids were friends of Allison's and so they were the same age as her. Now that she is older it seems that many of my team is older also. The other thing is that I've been coaching at least half the kids on my team for at least three seasons. Well, I finally feel like all of the instruction I've been giving them all these seasons has actually sunk in! For instance, after a goal is scored all I have to tell them is "Okay, back where you were when we started the game!" And off they go into their positions! It used to take me five minutes to get them all into positions and ready to go! Same thing with throw ins. On Saturday I told Molly, "Go ahead and take the throw in." She went to the sideline and with her feet firmly planted on the ground behind the boundary line she did a perfect throw in. I used to have to be right there giving them reminders about a correct throw in. I was so proud of them! They are totally getting basic soccer stuff!! Even my shyest player got in there and scored a goal!! He's come such a long way! My little miss scored a goal too! And she did a great job as our goalie!
Back to school tomorrow. I'm working in the afternoon a few days this week. That's good because it gives me a chance to do my groceries. I have such a hard time dragging myself to the grocery store in the afternoon!! I'm working with a little boy in Allison's class - he's a cutie! The other day I was sitting on a chair and he stopped as he passed by me to give me a peck on the cheek! Very charming! So next time he gives me a run for my money I'll have to remember how sweet he can be!
We're planning on going to Disney World next April break! We haven't been in 2 1/2 years! It would be okay if we went somewhere different BUT I really want Allison to be able to go again. She doesn't remember being there :( I want her to have that experience. We were going to do the Disney cruise for four nights and then the resort for three but boy oh boy is it expensive! So now we're just planning to spend a week in Florida instead. If the price is right we'll stay on property, if not we'll find a nice condo outside the park. We'll see.
Got new tires on my SUV today. I've been driving around with a nail in one for about a month. The air kept leaking out SLOWWWLY. I bet I'll be getting better gas mileage now! Ed said he thought it rides better now too.
Our new nephew is supposed to be born any minute! He was due yesterday. My poor sister in law! I remember waiting for Katie to be born - she was TEN days late!! I was so ready for that child to be out of my body!! Hopefully Erica won't be waiting much longer!
Have a great week!
My little soccer team did SO well this weekend! I was very impressed! This is my fifth season coaching this age group. When I started I seemed to have a lot of really young players on my team - probably because many of the other kids were friends of Allison's and so they were the same age as her. Now that she is older it seems that many of my team is older also. The other thing is that I've been coaching at least half the kids on my team for at least three seasons. Well, I finally feel like all of the instruction I've been giving them all these seasons has actually sunk in! For instance, after a goal is scored all I have to tell them is "Okay, back where you were when we started the game!" And off they go into their positions! It used to take me five minutes to get them all into positions and ready to go! Same thing with throw ins. On Saturday I told Molly, "Go ahead and take the throw in." She went to the sideline and with her feet firmly planted on the ground behind the boundary line she did a perfect throw in. I used to have to be right there giving them reminders about a correct throw in. I was so proud of them! They are totally getting basic soccer stuff!! Even my shyest player got in there and scored a goal!! He's come such a long way! My little miss scored a goal too! And she did a great job as our goalie!
Back to school tomorrow. I'm working in the afternoon a few days this week. That's good because it gives me a chance to do my groceries. I have such a hard time dragging myself to the grocery store in the afternoon!! I'm working with a little boy in Allison's class - he's a cutie! The other day I was sitting on a chair and he stopped as he passed by me to give me a peck on the cheek! Very charming! So next time he gives me a run for my money I'll have to remember how sweet he can be!
We're planning on going to Disney World next April break! We haven't been in 2 1/2 years! It would be okay if we went somewhere different BUT I really want Allison to be able to go again. She doesn't remember being there :( I want her to have that experience. We were going to do the Disney cruise for four nights and then the resort for three but boy oh boy is it expensive! So now we're just planning to spend a week in Florida instead. If the price is right we'll stay on property, if not we'll find a nice condo outside the park. We'll see.
Got new tires on my SUV today. I've been driving around with a nail in one for about a month. The air kept leaking out SLOWWWLY. I bet I'll be getting better gas mileage now! Ed said he thought it rides better now too.
Our new nephew is supposed to be born any minute! He was due yesterday. My poor sister in law! I remember waiting for Katie to be born - she was TEN days late!! I was so ready for that child to be out of my body!! Hopefully Erica won't be waiting much longer!
Have a great week!
