We're still alive....

Seriously?  It's been OVER a month since I've posted on here?  I am a disgrace to the world of bloggers, and I should have my blogging license revoked....or something like that.  Nevertheless, we are still alive and here... just extra, extra, extra (one more extra for good measure) busy.  Just when we began the countdown to the end of the soccer season, Caeden's soccer club opts to enter a tournament the weekend before Thanksgiving.  So, instead of soccer being over November 14, it's now over the 21st.  And did I mention that the weekend of the 21st is a tournament?  So, it's all soccer for 2 days?  It's all good.  I can honestly say this has been a really good experience.  We've met some really great parents (and one really AWFUL dad), and Caeden's had fun playing with some really sweet girls.  She doesn't get a break after soccer season, though, because basketball practice has already started.  Her daddy is coaching again this year, and I'm assisting him (LORD help us all).  

Other than that, things have been tres quiet in the Price house.  I'm including some Halloween Pictures for your viewing enjoyment!  I hope you have all been great!

Ok, so this is not a Halloween picture, but the Hubs had a birthday since the last time I posted, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Mr. Price!!!

Kai got to dress up twice for Halloween: once the Friday before Halloween at Gymboree, and the second time on Halloween.  She was the Princess Frog at Gymboree....she's just way too cute!  Even though I would have preferred she'd have dressed up as the Princess Elephant,  I can get over the frog for her!

Kai posing...as she often does!

Here she is at Gymboree.  She is so proud of herself and her costume.  Notice little Tommy on the bouncy thing behind her admiring her steez....Yeah, it's like that.

And for Halloween she was a Princess riding a pink pony...
She took the hat off, and gained a cookie. We went to the "safe trick or treating" at Publix... She wasn't too happy at first, but she eventually warmed up to it.

Here's Anna, Caeden, Madison, and Kai before we headed out on Halloween.  It rained, but the older girls were dead set on going out!

Same crew....
Here are Kai Baby and her daddy as they trick or treated.  She wouldn't physically walk to ONE door, but she wanted to go to EVERY door Caeden and her friends went to.  A MESS!

He Makes Me Smile.....

If you've read this blog before, you've read how my husband thinks EVERYTHING is a competition.  The day to day things we take for granted, Peerless has to excel at.  "Fun" card games lose their "fun", because rather than have the spirit of "fun" competition, he just. wants. to . win.  He subconsciously keeps count of who has the most jeans (I swear he does), shoes (no joke), bottles of cologne....hopefully you get the picture.  I've convinced myself over the years that this competitiveness is just inherent to his makeup as an athlete, however there are times when he is just downright abnormal.  

Take a few moments ago, for instance.  He comes out of the bathroom so uber sexy with toothpaste foam around his mouth, fresh out of the bath tub.  He looks at me oh so adoringly and begins to tell me how I should yearn for him nonstop because, (sit down for this reasoning), he "brushes his teeth and has good hygiene."  I nearly pee'd on myself laughing at this man.  To make things WORSE, he let me know that the reason he brushes his teeth SOOO much (thereby making his hygiene so impeccable) is because he sees me in a constant competition with him over who can brush our teeth the most.  HUH????  Yes, my husband believes I am competing with him over who can brush our teeth the most during the daytime.  12 years ago I HAD to have this man, because he was/is the love of my life.....12 years later I have to have this man, because--while he still is the love of my life--he KEEPS me laughing. He is PRICELESS!  

The Daily Grind...

As I sit here and listen to the sounds of my house--Dora's spanglish on Kai's DVD player and Caeden's voice carrying in here from the foyer where she is giving a one woman concert to...umm...God--I realized yet again how BLESSED I am.  I have two healthy, happy, children; a marriage that is real with ups, downs, happy times, and some arguments, and a mama who lives so close to me and loves us all unconditionally.   Sure there are times when I wish I could wave a magic wand and have my clothes folded, lunches made, house completely spic and span, and a dinner made that would cause Emeril, Martha, and Paula to be green with envy!  Shucks, there are day when I wish I could just push PAUSE on life and take a good breather.  At the end of the day, all of sounds I hear let me know that the life I live is one of love, blessings, and happiness.  It's not my 9-5, but rather my 24 hour gig, and I love it.  My daily grind is a total work of love!

THANK YOU!!!

I just wanted to take a second to say "Thank You" to my sweet friend, Anne Freeman! She unselfishly helped me to give my blog a much needed facelift, and I love her!!! Thank you Anne!!!!  You have an endless supply of "cuss-isms" for whenever you need them!!!

Life at 5656 has been pretty routine lately.  It kind of gets thats way when Caeden gets into school and we get her extracurricular schedule set.  It's school, soccer, and chorus around here. Not too much more.  Caeden's having a really good soccer season, though.  The group of girls she's playing with is a really talented group, and I'm really happy to have her as a part of that team.  Here are some pictures of Caeden in action on the soccer field...

This shot was taken during warmups, but it's one of my all time favorite action shots of Noodle!

Still warming up...

I called her name to get a picture of her, and this is what I got.  Classic Caeden.

Here is Kai in her fly " Team Caeden" shirt eating "fruit froops".... Check out those thicky thighs!!! HA!

This was taken before a game...the "after" shot had a huge, red popsicle stain on the front of the shirt....

David and Goliath...

Today's soccer game was quite a doozy.  There were many so-called "Goliaths" waiting in the wings.  First, the little girls looked to be, on average, at least an inch taller than our girls.  Second, they were the "Atlanta Fire United"...the "best" soccer club in Atlanta or its surrounding areas. Third, our girls were/are a U9 team.  There are only two little girls on the team who are in the fourth grade (the rest of our team is in third grade and will be nine before October).  Finally, it was early and wet which made the grass and BALL very slick.

At the end of the first quarter, the score was 2-0, them.  I had resigned myself to the fact that this team really was "that" good, and was ready to give the best pep talk I could to Caeden.  By the end of the game, the score was 6-4 US!!!  Yes, you read right--we BEAT a bigger, supposedly faster, older group of girls.  Caeden didn't score, but boy did she play well!!  She had some PHENOMENAL assists, some AMAZING passes,  and just an overall good game.  We were all extra, extra proud.  Our cousin, Cricket, came to the game to check her out, and Caeden wanted to show out especially for her.  There is NOTHING more rewarding than seeing the people you love happy.  As a matter of fact, we all were happy today!!!  Go CAEDEN PRICE!!!

The REAL Real Housewives of Atlanta....

Ok. I've been silent on the show for long enough.  Big ups to these women for landing a gig, getting some money for doing so, and keeping enough people captivated to land a second season.  I have had about 40 people ask me whether housewives in Atlanta were really like Nene, Shere, Lisa, Kandi (last season Lisa), and Kim.  You would be AMAZED at the number of women who ask me, "Do you act like that?" (While I'm thinking do you SEE me acting like that?) "Do you know any of them?" (While the answer is 'yes', do you THINK I want you knowing who I know so you can automatically begin making comparisons between the two of us...) or my PERSONAL favorite, "Why didn't you try to get on the show?" (Ummmm, better question:  why didn't I submit my information to Bravo to be turned down or put off a show, because my life is DEVOID of incessant drama??????)

Again, I APPLAUD the hustle!  These women have sensationalized drama in a way I can't even begin to describe.  Brands we may have NEVER heard of (She by Shere, WuBaby, TARDY FOR THE PARTY) are now KNOWN.  But at what cost?  Is it really that important to be successful at the expense of being known here and forever more as a drama queen? A liar? Untrustworthy? A whore?  IS it??  

Let me say this:  the only one of these women I know personally is NOT who she portrays herself to be on the show.  When our husbands worked together, she was VERY quiet, very professional, and all about her business.  Added to that, she was actually NICE.  Now she's portrayed as this uber important drama making golddigger, and I just don't get it.

As far as the demographic these women represent, let me touch on that.  How many women are entertainers?  Mistresses?  Athletes spouses/ex spouses?  Exactly.  These women represent a very SMALL class of women in the "A."  I NEVER bring up what my husband does/did professionally, but because of his past affiliation I feel completely able to speak on the subject:  ALL ATHLETES WIVES DO NOT SPEND ALL OF THEIR TIME SHOPPING OR DRINKING WINE OR HAVING GIRLS DAYS OUT OR TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES!  Quite the contrary.  An example?  No problem. ME.  A typical day:

6:30 am:  Wake up and get Caeden ready for school

6:55 am:  Out the door to the bus (either me or the Hubs)

7:45-7:55 am:  Wake Kai up and get her ready for school or Gymboree 

9:00 am:  Drop Kai off

9:30-11:00 am:  work out

11:30-11:55:  Shower and dress 

12:15:  Pick Kai up

12:30-1pm:  Head to the grocery store to get supplies for dinner

1:30-3:  Kai naps...during her nap I either get dinner ready or sit beside her trying to make sure she gets a good nap (on a rare occasion, I'll get an hour in myself).

4 pm:  Pick up Caeden from the bus

5-7:  Homework, P takes Caeden to soccer, dinner gets ready, laundry, lunches made, clothes ironed

7-8:30:  Kids fed, bathed, and put down for the night.

9 pm:  Shower, finish cleaning for the night, etc.

10:30: Bed

Now, don't get me wrong:  Fridays Peerless and I have a date night (unless we have soccer the next day, in which case we order take out and watch Blockbuster on the couch), and Saturdays we typically relax, because the girls are with Mimi.  Nonetheless, this is not the sensationalized, glamour filled life you see on the RHOA.  I don't have time to find out what's going on in my extended family, much less to stir up drama in someone elses household.  Right now, I'm about to go get this jambolaya and broccoli together while the kids are gone with their daddy to soccer....Then it's a hot, steamy date with two baskets of laundry that are arguing with each other about which is to be put up first....Yes....that is the life of a Real Housewife of Atlanta.  What's even better?  I'm happy. And that means everything!

Happy Birthday to Caeden!!!

In all the excitement of Kai's first day of school, one of the most EXCITING parts of the day got all turned up in the mix--CAEDEN'S BIRTHDAY!!!!  My Noodle turned 9 years old on August 18, and she was SOOOO excited.   Monday night I was on the phone at 9pm with her teacher (sorry, Mrs. Briggs)  trying to establish a good time for me to bring cupcakes and goodie bags to her school.  I was able to get her the FLYEST High School Musical Locker cupcakes (big ups to Publix for taking the 9pm order and having it ready at 8am!), and her daddy went and got the goods for the goodie bags!!!  It all pulled together, and the little girl had a fantastic birthday.  What made it even better was that Tuesday was picture day at school, and she was able to wear her own clothes to school--instead of a uniform--ON her birthday!!!  After school, we went home where she was greeted by her birthday present--a trampoline!!!  She couldn't run outside fast enough to jump on it (yes, in her pretty skirt).

The Birthday Girl with her High School Musical pull apart cupcakes/cake at school.

Caeden's High School Musical Pull Apart Cake.

Caeden and Mrs. Briggs, her fourth grade teacher.

This is Caeden's "board" birthday card.

Caeden and Mommie on her Birthay at School.

I loved this poster in Caeden's classroom.

Noodle's cake was FINGER LICKING GOOD!!!!

Caeden helping Kai get on her (Caeden's) birthday present.  She has been jumping like a jumping bean since her birthday!!

Caeden LOVED her birthday present!  Kai wasn't/isn't so sure about it!!!

After the trampoline jumping extravaganza, we headed to Caeden's favorite restaurant--Olive Garden.  Of course the staff came and sang "Happy Birthday" to her, and she was OVER THE MOON.  Unfortunately she won't be able to have a traditional birthday party, because she's going to be in soccer tournaments beginning this weekend until November!!!!! 

Nonetheless, she had a GREAT birthday, and I'm so happy for her.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOODLE!!!  LOVE YOU!!!!

School Daze!!!!

I've been told about a hundred times in the past year that my youngest baby, Kai, is way to smart to not be in school.  Last August I tried to put her in school, but the closer and closer it got to the first day I just couldn't do it.  This year I decided I was doing her a severe injustice by keeping her home with me.  While we try to teach her stuff during the day, none of us is "trained" to teach 2 1/2 year olds, and therefore we KNOW there are things we are missing!  The decision to enroll her in a three day, half day program was EXCRUCIATING, and taking her to school was no less painful.

We are now on day three of the school year, and both Kai and I have cried EVERY day when I drop her off.  I do good to wait until I'm out of the classroom, but I just can't seem to hold it together.  I feel like the WORST mother, ever, for leaving her while she's crying, but I know I have to leave to give her the opportunity to bond with and get to trust her teachers (who, by the way, have been AMAZING).  Ms. Leann took pictures of Kai yesterday once I had left, and she was smiling and laughing in all of the shots, so I at least have that little bit of comfort.  Check out the wee one on the first day of school....and pray that it gets better for us!!!

Here's the big girl in her classroom.  Yes, I know her teeshirt was too big, but it was the shirt they wanted EVERYONE to wear. I wouldn't send her to school raggedy!!!

Here she is about to walk into the school.  Notice the look of indecison on her face.  Doesn't she look like a big girl, though???

Before we left home to head to the school.
Oh, happiness!  She was just making her way down the stairs to get ready for her first day!
Still coming down the stairs....Oh, what the day did hold!

She did make it through the day, and when I went to pick her up she said she was going back.  Hopefully things will make a turn for the better, and SOON!!!!  Meanwhile, I felt like the worst mom, EVER, because Kai's first day of school just happened fall on Caeden's birthday....  Never fear, I pulled it together to perform my "Mommie" duties by taking cupcakes and goodie bags to the school.  Wanna hear about it??  Stay tuned!!!

We're still here...

It's been a while, I know, I know.  Summer is supposed to be a time for relaxing, but we have had quite the busy, busy, busy summer!!!!  Caeden has been attending camps every week this summer, and Kai has been, well, Kai.  Kai is talking ALL the time, and speaking clearer than some adults I know.  Some of her recent favorite things to say are, "Yesterday.... (as in "yesterday I bumped my head")"...this is never used right, though, because she'll say something was done yesterday that was actually done, oh, four weeks ago.  Yeah, she has that everlasting memory like her big sister, too!!!  It's amazing!!!  Caeden is walking around here with this phenomenal tan, and I'm so jealous!!! When she tans, she gets darker, but it's more of a coppery, golden color.  LOVES it.

P and I have been travelling on and off all summer.  Now we're about to go on the family vacation to the Bahamas. Caeden looks forward to that EVERY year, so I'm sure she'll love it!!!

In a nutshell, that's what we've been up to.  Mimi's job is still pushing on, and sometimes PISSING her off. One week they'll give her 25 hours and then the next she'll have all of about 2!!!!  It's crazy.  She's happy, though, and that's very important.  She and her neighbors put together a block party this past Saturday, and I went.  It was a really, really good time!!!!  

Life with and for the Two Priceless Princesses has been really good.  I find myself being more and more grateful for them every day.  My family is very blessed to have each other, and I love being able to share it with you guys.  I promise I'll do better about posting on here.  Talk to you soon.

There are some universal truths in the Price household:

1)  The children are not allowed to take a bath with the husband anymore, because they have realized there is a difference between girl parts and boy parts.

2)  If you fall down, hurt yourself, or find yourself in any other perilous situation (except the URGENCY of needing a bug killed, let outside, or otherwise disposed of) you call the Mommie.

3)  If the husband runs bath water, there will be a 2 hour window between the bath and the final phase of "readiness" to leave the house.

4)  The husband is responsible for ALL cleaning of cars--whether he does it or has someone to come and do it for him.

5)  The wife cooks. Period. No questions.  Unless there is an argument going on in which the husband will make "noodles."

Now, those are the basics.  There are some others, but I'm still too taken aback by today's activities to go into that.  

Today Mr. Price did IT.  He got on the GRILL.  Yes.  Understand:  he cooked breakfast for the girls on my birthday, and I was uber impressed at that.  We have had a very event filled weekend, so we weren't even doing the whole "Memorial Day cookout" thing, but I woke up this morning with a hankering for some baked beans.  That's all I wanted.  So I had the bright idea of making baked beans, pasta salad, and turkey dogs and turkey burgers on our range top grill.  Everything went fine, until I went to turn the grill on.  There was the familiar "click, click, click" indicating a fire was SUPPOSED to be coming....but never a fire.  I told Peerless I was having a problem with the stove and he tinkered, and tinkered, and tinkered...and still didn't get it lit. 

At this point, I began prepping for regular old stove top burgers and dogs.  I mean, if we couldn't get it started, we just couldn't get it going.  Peerless, however, decided that we WERE having grilled food--one way or the other.  He went outside to our gas grill, cleaned it off, and said HE was going to cook the meat.  Ok.  Please refer back to the universal truth section. Please.  I HATE grilling.  I know how, but I ABHOR it.  With that in mind, the husband set his sights on our impromptu cookout, and....Well, look at the pictures!

The husband with oven mitts on, tending to the turkey dogs and turkey burgers...He has a serious fear of being burned by cooking fire...Please, don't ask.

Oh, I don't really think you can tell this man he is NOT the Grillmaster at this point.  The baby even looked on in amazement and said, "Daddy makin' my hot dog!?!?!?!?!"  Pretty much the sentiment of the entire crew.

Still at it.  Have you noticed, at all, the determination and seriousness of this man's face??? He was in a pretty somber mood all day, so he was all geared up to complete his serious job!!!

Meanwhile, the kids kept on their dressup clothes outside in the icky weather.  

These are their "silly faces."  You have to love it!

Here's Kai's OTHER silly face.
Mmmmmm.  The oldest girl's is the same.  Note:  this dressup is the SAME outfit she wore in Friday's recital.  She hasn't been separated from the shorts part of it since.  Can you say RIPE????

Peerless got so full of himself he felt he could sit back and chill while "his meat was on the grill."  Hilarious.

9 Little Girls.

So, as you guys know we spent last Friday night hosting a slumber party for 9 little girls.  It was the "unofficial" sleepover for our basketball team, and Caeden also invited a little girl from her class.  We had a really good time, no one cried (well, one little girl got hit in the eye by another accidentally, and she shed some tears, and one other little girl had her mom come and pick her up at like 11:30...., but other that that it WAS uneventful).  I thought I'd post a few pictures so you could see what a good time the girls had.  I'm really glad they had a chance to have the sleepover (although Saturday Peerless and I were in the bed EARLY).  Enjoy the pics!!!

Here's a shot of the girls all in the pool playing.  Pool time was NOWHERE in my well thought out agenda, but this is what they wanted to do, sooooo.....

Golf cart rides around the neighborhood was also not a part of the agenda, but somehow the Husband got suckered into "Driving Ms. Daisies" around on joy rides.  Now, I WARNED said Ms. Daisies that Mr. Price drove fast, but they didn't listen.  As I mentioned before: no one broke any bones, so that was all good.

The 9 having a blast!

Emma Grace, Kaleigh Hughes (I really think she's a Price), and Jettie Jones (who FINALLY talked to us!!!) waiting for Ms. Stephanie to bring a few bathing suits back.  When you don't know there will be swimming, you don't tell parents to bring bathing suits, and then you make due.  Thank GOD Stephanie and Richie live in our neighborhood and have two daughters. Between their swimming suits and Caeden's we made it.

Caeden and Maja.  Maja's originally from Germany and she has the CUTEST accent.

Kaleigh Hughes...BALLIN'!

The morning after.  These crazy girls were waiting on the golf cart for Peerless to come and drive them around AGAIN.  Gluttons for punishment.

Successful!

Just a quick note to say the sleepover was a success.  The girls all seemed to have had a really good time, and I'll post pictures from the night soon!!!

FUN STUFF!!!

My Noodle is SOOOO excited with her life right now!!!  We are having eight little girls over to spend the night tomorrow (seriously), and she is OVER THE MOON.  We had thought about doing this sleepover for quite some time,  and we were going to shoot for this weekend or next.  Next weekend was NOT going to work, and when heartbreak hit her this weekend AND things fell into place for tomorrow we knew the Big Guy was looking out for us.  I doubt you'll hear from me this weekend, but I will definitely let you know how it goes.

Mama Bear Mode...

Anyone, no EVERYONE who knows me or who reads my blog knows there are a few things you just do NOT mess with in my life.  Namely:  Peerless, Caeden, Kai, and Mimi.  I'd get down for anyone in my family, but these particular people are MINE, and I don't play when it comes to them.  With that being said, could someone please explain to me why I am on FIRE about my 8 year old having the most DEVASTATED feelings EVER right now?  One of her "friends" (Note:  if I was 8 years old I would beat the little girl who hurt my baby's feelings up on the playground. I swear.)  invited her to a birthday party on Sunday and then promptly informed her yesterday that she'd revamped her guest list, and Caeden wasn't  a part of it.  Now, don't get me wrong:  I don't expect Caeden to be invited to everyone's everything, but when you EXPRESSLY tell someone they're invited (actually you send an email explaining how your BESTIES and you can't WAIT for them to come) you just don't un-invite them on G.P.  

I'm sure some of you are amazed that I'm even addressing this topic, but understand this:  when you hurt my people, you hurt me, and I can cut DEEP!  It's taking all I have in me to not call this little mean girl's mama and give her a tongue lashing on behalf of the grown woman living inside of my 8 year old's body.  I won't though, because I am a WORK IN PROGRESS.  Understand, however, that (as the sam Un-inviter told Caeden at the beginning of the school year):  I am PISSED off!  (yes, an 8 year old said that to my child.)  Ugh!  When did children get SO mean????

DENIED!

Yesterday Caeden had her last soccer game for the Spring 2009 season.  She will be trying out for the Dacula Soccer Academy later in the month, so please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.  Now to the game:

The husband was not really feeling a Monday evening game.  The thought of the team going to school all day, playing around, and then having to come and perform on the soccer field afterward was just NOT a good idea to him.  Not to mention the fact that we were playing the team with the  best skill set we had seen all season.  We'd battled this team earlier in the season and were able to come back from a 4-0 deficit to win the game 6-4, but the comeback happened in the 4th quarter.  None of the parents on the team were looking forward to the game (not to mention our ENTIRE team.)  

The trepidation did NOT arise from the opposing team as a whole, it came from ONE player. One very large, outstanding, impressive, Freddie Adou (or however you spell it) type of gal.  Her name was "Denai" (pronounced 'deny').  Denai has a serious foot on her.  She can LITERALLY stand in the goal on one end of the field and kick the ball into the goal at the other end...SERIOUS skills.  She also has a very swift foot and is really a good ball handler.  Top all that with the fact that she is Manny Pacquiau tough, and about 5 feet tall, and you have a very tough opponent.  (Oh, by the way, did I mention that Denai was 6 years old?  Yup, she has to play up TWO years, because she dominated the 6 and 7 year olds she previously played with.

Now that the Denai stage has been set, we can discuss the other players on her team.  They are a very quick, well gelled machine.  It is apparent that their coach really works on their skills and focuses on them working together.  If I haven't gotten the point across: they are really A GOOD team.  A team we were NOT looking forward to playing.

Enter Monday afternoon.  I picked C up from school at 1:30, because I wanted to give her a chance to lie down before she hit the field.  At 4:50 we were all in the car headed to the game, geeked and ready to play!  ALL throughout P's football career we have had routines EVERY game day (same breakfast, same piece of luggage, etc.).  About midway through C's soccer season we began wearing a button emblazoned with her soccer picture on it.  We didn't wear said buttons yesterday (I'm convinced at this point that was mistake number 1).  Now I get to the business at hand....

First Quarter:  Our starters were Kerrigan at goalie, Big Meg, Caeden, Lil' Meg, and Ashlyn...  The other team?  4 little girls and Denai.  If you ever wanted to see a team spooked, all you needed to do was be present at our game, watch our girls' faces when they saw Denai walk onto the field, and there you'd have it!!!  I've never seen my child visibly shaken by the presence of another player, but I did on this day.  Whenever there would be a battle for the ball, and Denai was anywhere in the fold, CAEDEN was NOT! My Noodle was a NERVOUS mess! Her daddy sat beside me in a state of utter FRUSTRATION, because she was playing, well....BAD.  She was missing shots, backing down from the steal, not pressing--just OFF her game.  On a good note, her ENTIRE team was playing much the same way. It was sad.  Then IT happened:  Denai scored.  Spirits CRASHED. Then another girl on the opposition scored...and another....  They were up 2-0 in the 1st quarter!!!  And we were DEVASTATED going into the.....

Second Quarter:  Hmmm.... Much of the same.  Denai was NOT in the game!  The other team's coach's daughter was, however, in as goalie and she was a BEAST.  We put in Lil' Meg, Rebecca, Big Meg, Kerrigan, and Ashlyn as goalie.  I guess our spirits had been nearly crushed, because the first quarter activity continued, until on a pass from Rebecca, Lil' Meg scored.  Our girls just couldn't seem to gel.  There were some wide open shots that just kept being missed, more missed passes, consistent steals, and they just didn't look like themselves.  You could see the frustration on their faces, and it was a very dismal feeling over on the parent's sidelines.  I can honestly say, though, that we did NOT give up on cheering for our girls, and  I am proud to have been a Lightening parent yesterday!  Our game fell over into.....

HALFTIME:  Our entire team was on the bench having their pep talk in a snotty, boogery, crying FIT.  Caeden just had that one look on her face; the one that says, " one wrong look, and the waterworks will begin over here."  I saw Coach Mumme pull Caeden to the side, say something to her, saw Caeden's hands flailing as she said something back, and then she came and got her daddy to come onto the field and practice with her.  Peerless very bluntly told her he was about to play her like Denai, because he--by now--was EXTREMELY frustrated at the thought of her being afraid of an opponent.  They went onto the field and were--genuinely--two prize fighters at battle.  He then gave her a few words (I have NO clue what they were) and she trotted off to the bench, and that's when we began the....

Third Quarter:  Denai was back in. *SIGH*.  We played Caeden, Lil' Meg, Kerigan, Lauren, and Big Meg as goalie.  I won't drone on with the "more of the same" report, but that's what it was.  They were trying, but it just wasn't happening.  I hated to say it, but our undefeated season was being handed to us in a gift wrapped package.  It was sad, and I was kind of happy to get to the....

Fourth Quarter:  I'm guessing the other team knew they had it in the bag, because Denai was in the game as goalie.  I had seen her during warmups, and I leaned over and told my mom and P that her feet were better than her hands.  Nonetheless, our poor girls could only look in the goal and see this huge, impenetrable force.  We put Caeden, Rebecca,  and Ashlyn on offense, Big Meg down low to defend, and Lil' Meg in goal.  Somewhere a spirit of resilience came over our girls, and you could see a bit of a change in them.  About two minutes into the quarter, Caeden dribbled down the field, and scored.  At least we wouldn't have her streak in scoring broken, as well as her undefeated season.  A minute or two later, she scored AGAIN.  This brought the game to 4-3, US!  As the game continued, our parents continued cheering the girls on, and the other team became increasingly quiet.  Halfway through the quarter, Rebecca scored! 5-3!  The game continued, the other team was fighting, Denai was kicking the ball downfield--nearly getting it into the goal.  Meg and Meg were on the other end of the field defending our goal. Caeden, Becca, and Ashlyn were fighting to keep their lead, like fierce warriors, it was INTENSE.  Suddenly there's a battle going on for the ball, and Caeden emerged victorious.  She dribbled down the field, and SCORED yet, again!!! 6-3!  When the referee blew the whistle three times signaling the end of the game, our sidelines ERUPTED!!! Our girls were running into each other ELATED!!!  It was a scene straight from a movie!!!

I think once Caeden figured out that Denai wasn't as impenetrable as she first thought, something in her clicked.  She became that player she had been all through the season, and was ready to be a part of her team's comeback to defeat their own personal Goliath!  Yesterday was one of those games where you tell someone, "Let me tell you about the game on Monday....", and I just did.  Thanks for sharing in our victory!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there.  Many of us became mothers by birthing children, others became mothers because you bravely have stepped up to raise children who you didn't naturally give birth to, other became mothers by "imputation", and some of you are just all around fantastic women with a natural, maternal instinct that automatically makes this message applicable to you!! Have a wonderful day, and know that ALL you do is greatly appreciated!

ONE MORE THING!!!!

Don't watch Dancing With the Stars, ANYMORE!!! Lil' Kim got voted off, and that cowboy is still on it.  Now, I understand Kim looks a little scary to children (and to some adults--myself included), but let's face it:  the broad can DANCE.  If we're voting based on talent, there's NO reason Kim shouldn't still be dancing this coming Monday!!! Let's band together to show ABC and the rest of the fans that we are NOT standing for this bull!!! DON'T WATCH DWTS!  Thank you for your support!

I blame it on Eve....and Pullups training pants....

I just HAD to share this with you guys, because it gave me SUCH a laugh.

I've often times tried to figure out when in a relationship that certain sense of decorum goes out the window.   You know, ladies: when is it ok to tie your hair up around your significant other, put face cream on your face around him, pick that chicken sandwich with fries and a large coke over that soup and salad combo (as long as the soup doesn't have cheese it, in which case the cheese melts, gets on your lip, and dangles there while you sit trying to look coyly--yet innocently--at your beau...I digress...), anyway, you get the point.  The ULTIMATE question is: when do you let your significant other know that you do have natural bodily functions.  Like flatulence...or bowel movements... or urination. (Give me a break, folks--I'm trying to be as P.C. as this post will allow me to be.)

Soooo...my husband (depend on him for a periodic reality check) reminded me last night that even though people may have been together for 12 years,  there are still PLENTY of opportunities for straight on embarrassment.  

I was fresh out of the shower, lying in the bed, relaxing from the hustle and bustle of my day.  I was already stressed out and in pain (big ups to that heifer Mother Nature for deciding to come and visit), and BLAZING hot (the boy doesn't seem to feel the humidity in our bedroom is at 120%).  Here comes P, plopping down across my legs, head rested on my thigh, and ready for conversation.  We were having some random conversation when in the middle of his sentence my spouse--the same one I made some SERIOUS vows to--lifted his head, peered at my stomach (I thought), then looked me dead in my face, and said (in his Kai Baby like voice), "Mommie, you got on a pullup???"  Yes. He. Did.  It was all I could do to laugh, but I can honestly say that I was THOROUGHLY embarrassed that my husband--who I have children with--and with whom I have had my most intimate moments--knew that I had on a PAD.  Not even that I had on a PAD, but I had the nerve to have on one of those extra long, super thick, never leak, front to back, James Bond impenetrable, bulletproof, overnight pads.  

*awkward silence*...

So. Now. I. Know: The awkward moments never stop.  UNLESS YOU'RE A MAN in which case your exhibition of flatulence first thing in the morning is nothing more than a serenade dedicated to the night of sleep you just had.  The never ending battle of the sexes.  Curses!!!

Field Day Part 2

Husband running in the parent/teacher race.... He won.  Shocked? LOL.

Husband before the race....

Caeden and her classmates thought it would be fun to give him their "water" version of a Gatorade victory bath!

Caeden and her homie, EG, in the relay.  Both ran the anchor for their teams.

Noodle pushing it to the limit in the one lap race.  We tried to get her to sit out the next event. SHE WOULDN'T.  

Caeden, EG, and Kai Baby at Field Day.

Per Kembree's request (and thanks to my homegirl, Beth Martin at Lakeview) here are some pictures from Field Day at Caeden's school last week.  Please note her serious look on the picture where she's not in the lead. That was the 1 lap race...led the whole way, then cramped, got tired, and let up.  Big ups to Jackie (the little girl who won) for pacing herself.  We're coming for you next year, though, little girl!