Caeden and Kai's World

We're still alive....

2009-11-07T18:49:00.000-08:00

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.....

2009-09-28T12:04:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-09-23T15:58:00.000-07:00

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!!!

2009-09-22T11:33:00.000-07:00

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!!!

2009-09-21T12:10:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-09-12T13:02:00.000-07:00

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....

2009-09-10T12:40:00.001-07:00

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!!!

2009-08-21T15:36:00.000-07:00

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!!!!

2009-08-20T10:09:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-06-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-05-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-05-20T14:56:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-05-16T16:24:00.001-07:00

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!!!

2009-05-14T11:51:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-05-13T09:13:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-05-12T08:28:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-05-10T19:47:00.000-07:00

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!!!!

2009-05-06T08:18:00.000-07:00

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....

2009-05-06T07:53:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-06T07:18:00.000-07:00

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!

Quick, happy notes...

2009-05-04T12:32:00.000-07:00

Sometimes during the day I need something--anything--to make me smile. Whether I've just been cut off in traffic, found out some not so good news, or just have a case of the "blahs" that I can't seem to shake. In those times of perpetual "blahness" I look through pictures and inevitably end up smiling...Welllll, I thought I'd share a couple of smiles with you. Hope you're having a great day!

Here are (respectively) KB trying on Caeden's clothes (no, C didn't give her permission), Caeden helping to bake a sweet potato pie at Mimi's, and Mia Hamm--I mean Caeden--about to give the BUSINESS to someone's children!

This girl is FOR REAL....

2009-05-01T14:08:00.000-07:00

I KNOW you guys think I exaggerate when I talk about Caeden's athletic ability. I KNOW you all think I make things up to make her seem better than what she is. I KNOW it. But guess what? I'M NOT JOKING. This child is FOR REAL. I have NEVER met a child who naturally exudes athletic ability like C does!!!

Take today for instance, Mimi, Peerless, Kai Baby, and I all went up to the school for Field Day. I remembered how much fun field day was when I was growing up, but I somehow forgot how Field day gave you the ULTIMATE bragging rights. You could LITERALLY walk away as the fastest kid in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. grades. In my old age I somehow allowed these important details to go straight out of my head.

I was reminded of this notion today. My child signed up for, and competed in EVERY single event in field day. I won't try to say she placed 1st in EVERY event, but let's do the tallying:

50 Yard dash: 1st Place

Sack Race: 1st Place

4x1 Relay: 1st Place *please believe she was the anchor

100 meter dash: 2nd Place

1 Lap race: 2nd Place

Victorious in 3rd grade tug of war

She didn't place in the three legged race or the piggyback race, but she had fun, so I'm just as happy for her. She is unbelievable, I tell ya. She was in 1st place the entire way through the one lap race, and then she got a cramp, got tired, and eased up.

She also had a personal victory in the form of her dad. He was a field day "parent volunteer", and he also participated in the teacher/parent race. One guess what he placed...jogging at a comfortable pace....still 1st. You gotta love sports!

Lil' Wayne and Jesus....

2009-04-26T09:17:00.000-07:00

I love music. One of the things that intrigued my husband when we first met (according to him) was my diverse taste in music. I can listen to anything from Shania Twain to Lil' Wayne and be just as content either way. Gospel to classic rock--all in my catalog. In church today our pastor told us a story in which music--pop music at that--gave him an exceptional spiritual experience. The short version of the story is this: he was riding in the car, heard a song, got convicted by the words, and realized that the song so vividly expressed how he felt about Jesus. The song was "You Are So Beautiful To Me." It was a very moving, touching story and as the congregation joined him in singing the chorus one couldn't help but understand the emotional journey the lyrics had sent him on. Just beautiful.

I found myself thinking of all types of songs at this point and how they describe my relationship with Jesus. Now, I know the song I'm going to bring up is going to have most of you sitting there with your mouths wide open, but please finish reading before you call your travel agents and book me a one way ticket to hell for blasphemy!! Pastor Franklin spoke to us about not becoming to comfortable in our lives so we don't aim for better. He gave us a very compelling message about becoming so comfortable in our walks with Christ that we forget to do the important things--fellowship, reading our Bibles, being support systems for our brothers and sisters. As he spoke, then sang that song, one song popped into my head: "Comfortable" by Lil' Wayne and Babyface. Now I KNOW many of you are wondering how I could have thought about anything dealing with Lil' Wayne in church, but seriously--give or take a couple of lines--the song really summed up what our pastor was saying. Here's (on pertinent part) what I'm talking about: (Husband (and Lil Wayne's #1 fan)--please forgive me if I'm messing up the lyrics, but this is what I hear...love you)

"I'm not saying this to shake you up,

I'm just saying this to wake you up,

It's all good when we're making love,

All I ask--never take our love,

For granted,

For granted-love for you is real.

And if you don't love me,

Somebody else will.

Babygirl, don't you

Ever

Get too

Comfortable!!!!"

Yes, I know that Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds nor Dewayne "Lil' Wayne" Carter had not NARY an intent to sing this at the next Christian fellowship disciple's meeting, but for me and MY relationship with Christ--it speaks!!! The lyrics tell me that I need to WAKE UP and realize that if I'm not willing to do the things God asks--no requires--of me as his child, it's no biggie. He's not going to sweat me or disown me, he's just going to lay back and watch me in my comfort zone--realizing that just as I've drawn farther and farther away from him there is a Christian out there welcoming his love, blessings, and peace into their lives. A Christian who has NOT gotten too COMFORTABLE in their walk with Christ to try to step out and do whatever is asked of them to "up the ante."

No, I'm not a perfect Christian, a perfect woman, a perfect wife, mother, friend, daughter--I'M SO VERY IMPERFECT. But I can tell you this. I know that in order for my life to be put into the PERFECT order that God has in store for me, I have to step out of my comfort zone, do what feels a bit weird to me, and not get too....COMFORTABLE. I'm just saying: wouldn't you rather live not letting things be too COMFORTABLE on Earth, so that when we get to heaven we can be COMFORTABLE and not suffer the DISCOMFORTS of hell????

Electric Relaxation...

2009-04-25T17:09:00.000-07:00

A Tribe Called Quest really out did themselves on that tune! I can still hear it and VIBE to it like no other. While being a fantastic song, it also describes exactly what my weekend has been thus far. Caeden's soccer game was at 11:30 this morning, so we didn't have to get up waaaay too early for it. After the game C went home with another girl on her team for a play date, which free'd Peerless, my mom, and me up for the afternoon.

After lunch P and I went to see "State of Play." I thought it was a good movie, but I enjoy most any movie which ends up having some type of twist. We are at home now, no kids, just us....oooohhhh. Perfect opportunity to act like old people and veg out in the theater room watching movies. We didn't have a date night yesterday, so I guess we are quasi-making up for it now....I guess.

A Real Life Phenomenon!!!

2009-04-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen raw talent? I mean the kind of thing that happens when a 6 year old with no vocal training opens their mouths and belts out a tune comparable to the likes of Celine Dion or Whitney Houston (the old Whitney..."Greatest Love of All" style)? Or the kind of talent that last year's "So You Think You Can Dance" winner, Joshua, exhibited having NEVER taken a formal dance class yet still winning the competition???

Well, let me tell you: my daughter has that type of talent when it comes to soccer. She has been playing for a year now, and she amazes me every week at her games. Last March she began playing soccer. The first two games she played she just kind of ran around the field, hung out, and even played in the grass when she got in goal. After watching that for two weeks, Peerless decided to offer Caeden some...ahem....."incentive." While candy, cookies, and other sweet treats may qualify as a huge bonus to some children, they do NOTHING for my 8 year old. She--in the same way as her father--is a capitalistic entrepreneur. The idea and opportunity to make money makes her tick. Want her to clean her room? Threaten her allowance. Want her to do extra work? Give her a bonus. Seriously. I know I don't have to worry about her financial security in the future, because the girl can make money.

Back to the story: so, her father told her for every goal she scored, she'd get $100. Now, there were some conditions to this money. If she misbehaved TERRIBLY the total could be deducted--kind of like a swear jar. Caeden amicably agreed! Her next game she scored two goals....then two...then three....ending the season as the team's highest scorer. She came out of the season much richer and so excited.

Fast forward to the fall soccer season. Having been exposed to a little bit of the game, she came out ON FIRE. First game: 5 goals. Second, 3....this continued throughout the season, and she ended the season having scored in every single game. Her money? Oh, gradually rising. Sure, there were nicks here and there when her mouth would get $10, $20 deducted, but she was still rolling in the dough. Saturdays with Mimi took on a whole new meaning as she asked for "withdrawals" to go shopping. Soccer, indeed, had it's BENEFITS!! What was more interesting that her ability to score, however, was us noticing how she could dribble, pass, be a defender, and just an overall good player.

Now we are back in Spring Soccer, and she's back in true form. She has, again, scored in every game!! Yesterday, however, we thought her streak was going to come to an end. Caeden had had an exceptional game. She hustled, she passed, she ran....just really a good game. She had even been in goal and didn't allow a point to be scored on her!!! When the fourth quarter rolled around, she realized she hadn't scored, and as her mother I sensed the waterworks coming on!!! Caeden and I made eye contact for a brief moment and I knew, without a doubt, that if she didn't score those rosy cheeks and furrowed brow were going to turn into a hot, watery, teary eyed mess, and I just couldn't stand it. I began preparing Mimi and Peerless for the inevitable events. I'd say, "You know if she doesn't score she's going to cry???" or, "Please don't fuss at her if she cries--you know she really wants to score." My pleas were more for myself than her, because I could literally almost feel her determination and desire to score. Somewhere between fall soccer and spring soccer it has become more than just a great way to make a few extra bucks. She somewhere along the line developed a deep love and appreciation for sport. Three minutes left, still no score. I had noticed Caeden becoming more aggressive and really lobbying for the ball. One minute left, no score, and we began deep breathing exercises to get it together. 10 seconds left. Caeden is running down the field dribbling the ball. She's quick, she's agile, she shoots....and just like a scene out of a fantastic sports movies SHE SCORES!!!

I could immediately see her facial muscles relax and I felt myself begin breathing!!! There is nothing quite as bad as your child being disappointed, and I was so happy that my real life phenomenon had her streak still in tact. You've gotta love it!

Easter at O'Charleys...

2009-04-16T14:01:00.000-07:00

Yesssss. I do reliaze Easter was four days ago, and I'm sorry for the late post. Time just won't wait for me to catch up during the day, so I always seem to get behind on the updates.

Easter was really nice. We went to church (Kai didn't even act out, because she went to sleep!), and then headed over to O'Charley's for Easter brunch. All of the pictures are of brunch, because going into and leaving church was akin to going into and leaving a Beyonce concert. There were hoards and hoards of people there, and we didn't even try to brave pictures in the parking lot. At any rate, we were able to get a few pictures in the parking lot before we eat, so I hope yo enjoy.

After brunch Caeden and Kai had to lie down so the Easter bunny could come and drop off the eggs for them to hunt. Let me just say: Kai Baby was all about finding eggs-any type of egg. Caeden? It was all about the money egg!!! It took her a minute (not to mention a little help from us in the form of "hot, cold"), but she found it. I hope you all had a wonderful Easter, and got a chance to reflect on the beauty of and meaning behind the day. See you soon!

A letter to the lady at the pool who could have ruined my vacation...if I had let her.

2009-04-13T14:47:00.000-07:00

Dear Lady from Ohio (Heather, you know who you are),

First of all, let me say I am thoroughly aware, accepting, and compassionate of and to your situation. I have a friend whose son has autism, and I have spent the last two years watching her struggle, fight, hurt, and succeed on his behalf. I know it is difficult to be different, because although I am not limited by any medical condition I have been in situations in which I was the lone outcast or in which I felt completely and totally ALONE.

Now, with that being said, let me tell you a thing or two. First of all, it wasn't your place to approach me and say a THING on behalf of your friend. IF your friend had a problem with anything my 8 year old child said, she should have cowgirled up and come to me herself. Secondly, I'm sorry your friend's child has a condition which unfortunately renders her "different" in our society. As I mentioned above, I have very little tolerance for displays of intolerance to difference.

I kept my composure, listened to what you had to say, and now--because I have battled myself since NOT saying what I SHOULD have said back to you in an attempt to not ruin YOUR day--you will hear what I have to say. My 8 year old is a lot of things. She's beautiful, intelligent, smart mouthed, witty, athletic, fun loving, impressionable, inquisitive...and that's the short list. What she is NOT is malicious, mean, or hateful. I don't say this because of what I see at home. I say it because a parent's greatest compliment is the feedback you receive when you send your child in public and someone has nothing but good things to say about them. I'm not bragging--wait, yes I am--but the WORST thing I've ever heard about Caeden was that she talks too much. Not talks mean, disrespectfully, or nastily, but just too much. I'm quite sure she knows bad words--she's heard them all around, but I also know that the fear of God has been instilled in her as far as letting an adult hear her utter even the BEGINNING syllables of a curse word.

You so calmly looked me and my husband in our faces and told us that Caeden said the word "midget." I'm sure to a person who is height challenged, being called a midget is quite an insult and may have been equivalent to being called, oh...a bitch, maybe. The thing about it is this: I asked Caeden if she said that, and she didn't give me the usual "oh, my, I might be in trouble because I shouldn't have said that" reaction she would've given me if she had said it. Instead, she was sincerely baffled and trying to figure out why I was asking her such an asinine question. If I had followed my first mind I would've called Caeden over to us when you came to report her "misdeed" and would've been able to correct you right then and there for lying on my child.

Not only did you lie on her, but you--a white woman--had the audacity to UTTER the word "Nigger" to me--likening the level of offensiveness of hearing that word to that of calling a little person a midget. I'm not even going down the "I'm not racist, I have white friends" road with you--anyone who has to defend their anti-racism with explanations of the color of their friends is automatically suspect to me, but let me tell you this: it was nothing short of a miracle from the ALMIGHTY GOD that I didn't forget who, where, and what I was and smack the taste of LIFE out of your mouth. I don't know what ship you rolled in on, but understand this: I don't say "Nigger" freely--even in slang it can have negative implications, but you--under no circumstances--should EVER, EVER, EVER say it. I'm really proud my husband didn't jump up and turn you into a Sportscenter highlight, but he didn't, and I'm proud

Anyway, lady, hear me: you are an offensive, bossy, and rude TRICK, and I hope you never run up on the wrong people spouting your insane nonsense. Be forewarned: my children are PRICELESS to me, and the quickest way to an immediate grave is to cross either them, the man who helped me make them, or the woman who made me. Think it's a game.

Happy Easter!!!

2009-04-12T15:36:00.001-07:00

I'm still planning to update everyone on the spring break trip to Orlando, and I really apologize for the delay. Things are just really hectic around here--trying to get ready to get back into the swing of things after such a nice, relaxing break. At any rate, I just wanted to take a minute and wish you all a very Happy Easter. I can't go through this day without reveling in the MAJESTY of all it stands for!! The fact that Christ died for us and rose is so amazing to me I just can't even express it in mere words. I hope you have all had a very blessed, beautiful, and happy day.

Back to Reality!

2009-04-10T20:09:00.001-07:00

We LITERALLY just got home from Orlando. A supposed 8 hour trip took almost 10 due to traffic. I'm happy we made it home safely, though, so I'm not hardly complaining. We had a LOT of fun, too. Caeden, as always, made friends and got the chance to play. I'll update you guys tomorrow on the events of yesterday, though, because her friends parents turned innocent child's play into a potentially DRAMA laden situation!!! Nonetheless, pictures and more commentary will follow either tomorrow or later this week. See you soon!

Greetings from Orlando!!!

2009-04-05T16:52:00.000-07:00

So.... Today we officially began our annual vacation in Orlando, Florida for Caeden's Spring Break. We actually left out yesterday and drove down. Peerless , Caeden, and Mimi all teamed up to convince me that the best thing for us would be to drive down instead of flying. Now, I don't know how road trips go in your car, but I just wasn't too stoked about spending seven hours in the car with the oldest girl, that baby, the daddy, and the Mimi all fighting....incessantly... did I mention that it was for seven hours???? Welllllll.... Thank God for small miracles, because there was only a brief period of argument--at the very end of the trip. The oldest girl got a bit antsy and started acting, well, like that oldest girl does. She really did do well in the car, when I put things into perspective. We left Atlanta--as planned--at 9:30. By 12 :30, we were still in Atlanta!!! The powers that be the Georgia DOT decided it was a GOOD idea to close four lanes of the interstate on the weekend 95% of Georgia schools went on Spring Break. Great idea?? Not so much.

Nevertheless, we made it to Orlando without any other additional incident, and began our fun this morning. Mimi headed over to the pool with the girls (no, Kai didn't get in at first, but about midway through, she was all into getting wet!!!) Peerless stayed and soaked in a little NBA action while I ran to the grocery to get the necessities: food for the week, snacks and drinks, and A LOT OF SWEETS TO REPLENISH ALL OF THE SUGAR WE HAVE MISSED OUT ON FOR THE LAST 40 DAYS!!! Finally, after getting things at the condo settled, P and I headed over to the waterpark with the girls and BOY did we have a BLAST!!!

Caeden entered--and won (well, her and one other little girl won)--the hula hoop contest in the 8 and over age group!!! We were so proud!!!! When she ran to tell Mimi about her placement in the contest the husband goaded me into trying my hand at the adult competition. I did...and I'm proud to say I represented the Price quartet pretty darn fabulously! I (along with the mother of the little girl Caeden co-won with) won the adult division!!! WOOO HOOOO.

The husband was on pool duty with the girls, and they made sure to keep him going, and going, and going, and going.... All in all, it was a very relaxing, uneventful day. But we were together, and that means more than anything else.

<---Kai Baby decided to try on Caeden's goggles...and looked like a fly.

And the Fruity Drink Saga Continues...

2009-03-31T18:37:00.000-07:00

Where were you at 5:00 Last Thursday afternoon??? I was laying on the beach in St. Martin pretending I didn't have two kids at home or about 10 loads of laundry that needed to be done....Instead I was frolicking on the beach with a HOT man not even feeling the LEAST bit self conscious about my body (probably because there were 72 year old women in G-string tops and bottoms, all the while weighing in at a cool 350..no joke). Nonetheless, I had a blast. I love him. I love him. I soooo love him.

So, this past weekend the boy and I took a quick, mini-vacay to St. Martin. While I am so thankful for the time away, let me just tell you that St. Martin is NOT a mini vacay type of place. The island was beautiful, and we had what I am convinced was the BEST Italian food I've ever had in my whole life. You need, at minimum, a good 7 days to really enjoy the island, but I can tell you we made the most of the four days we were there. We are SO blessed that my mom lives here, because I NEVER worry about my girls when I'm gone. I mean, I have the regular "what if this or that happens" thoughts, but I know they are with someone who loves them, snotty noses, nasty boogers, stinky pull-ups, and all, and I can relax with that knowledge....

The funniest thing on the entire trip (besides my ultra friendly-post fruity drink self) was the day we got there. We were checking in, and Mr. Surprises hands me an envelope and tells me to tell him what it says. Keep in mind, he NEVER lets me open anything, because God only knows what he's put together. So, I oblige, open the envelope (thinking it's the standard "welcome to our island paradise" letter, and begin reading, aloud, our confirmation for a romantic, private dinner on the beach for the next night. He then looks at me and begins to tell me how nosey I am!!! HUH????? I did nothing more than laugh at him and tell him how glad I was to be there with him. So sweet. Anyway, I won't bore you with the nitty gritty details of the trip, but enjoy the G-rated photos I was able to include. See ya.....

Baby got back...or at least wishes she did.

2009-03-22T18:53:00.000-07:00

The title of this post may seem a little off, at first, but if you give me a second to take care of a few administrative tidbits I promise it will make sense. Peerless and I had to take a trip to Chicago this past week, so he could have an extremely in depth (think 2 days of poking, prodding, x-rays, mri's, and what he fondly refers to as "electrocution) examination of his 32 year old body which functions at times like one 20 years its senior. While I HATED to see him subjected to all of that, I can't lie and say I wasn't happy. Not happy he was going through it, but happy that this really signaled yet another step in the direction of football being over. I love the fact that my husband was blessed to live out his dream playing a game that he absolutely loves and is fantastic at. I love the fact that other little boys who grew up in the inner city can look at P and see that YOU CAN MAKE IT without robbing someone, selling drugs, or buying into it when people tell you're not good enough! I love the fact that I've made and continue to maintain friendships with some PHENOMENAL women through our travels with different team. I love all of that. I also love that my husband can walk from room to room without the assistance of a cane, wheelchair, walker, or me. I love that the two year old can use him as a human jungle gym, and the eight year old has a steady sparring partner. I love all of these, and I love knowing that I don't have to worry about him stepping onto a field and all of that coming to an end. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Now, back to the matter at hand. My butt. My family symbol is "the Jackson butt." For a brief period in high school, I really knew mine was well on its way. I could fill out a pair of jeans in the derriere, and feel oh so nice about doing it. Most of the women in my family have watched over the years as their Jackson butts have spread beyond recognition. My great aunt, Lauron, has such a donk that I SWEAR she could stroll in Magic City and put all the other (ahem) "dancers" to shame. She's 70! It's just what has been in my family...the women have all--at some point--had a big ol' butt.

With that backdrop, understand my dilemma. I have been feverishly squatting, lunging, and stepping up for the past 3 years in an effort to GET the Jackson butt that is my BIRTH RITE! I don't understand why I can't seem to get this butt. Also, understand that I want it. I have cousins who make jokes that they'd gladly give me an ounce of theirs. UMMMM...I WANT IT. It depresses me to look at tv, because all the women have butts. For example, this da** Kim Kardashian. Why is her butt like that???? Where did it come from? And where can I buy it??? Jessica Biel??? When did that happen???? All I want is to walk out of the room, sashaying my butt, and KNOWING my husband was watching me walk away thinking dirty thoughts all the while. Sir Mix-a-lot is my ENEMY, because I KNOW Baby does NOT have back, but she wants it........*sigh*

2009-03-13T16:02:00.000-07:00

First off, see my beautiful shoes that my hubby gifted to me the other day? He can be so sweet....Big ups to Gwen Stefani for her L.A.M.B. summer collection. I needed black sandals, and he hooked me right on up:

I'm in the bed recovering from an oral surgery from this morning...YUCK. I always hate that after anesthesia feeling, and that's what I'm going through right now. Mimi is over with the girls, instead of them spending the night with her, because she's my mama and still worries about me like I'm 4. She didn't want me to be here alone, because she didn't trust that I'd take my medicine...or eat...or any of the things you're supposed to do during recovery. Gotta love that Mimi.

The boy just left for the Hawks' game with his friend, Ray. I told him to go ahead and go, because I didn't want him here sulking about having to stay in. I'm telling you he has adult ADD. He is an on the go type of guy, and I knew staying here with me would be no fun, so I told him find him a friend and have a boys night. We went to the game this past Wednesday, anyway, so I'm hoping he has a good time. OK...I'm headed to lay down and ice my face.

SPLITSville.....

2009-03-01T13:30:00.000-08:00

Every now and then the athlete in my husband will jump into OVERDRIVE, thereby causing him to engage in activities which may be...well...HARMFUL to his health. Take, for instance, last night. We were having a pleasant evening (day two of the weekend with the children). Caeden and I were sitting on the couch having just finished watching "Space Chimps", when in walks her father. I could tell from the walk, alone, that he was in a challenging mood. He had the gait of a male alpha lion in the wide open sahara of Africa, walking around looking for his next victim. He came around that corner, and I HAD to look away. I just KNEW something was about to go down. Caeden proceeds to jump off the couch and slip into a split. Keep in mind, she hadn't stretched, hadn't practiced, hadn't ANYTHING, and went into a pretty good split. This somehow presented Peerless with the prime challenge material. The next think I knew Caeden was running to the back to get P a pair of shorts (his jeans were just too constricting), so that he could demonstrate for us that he could get down into a full split.

So, here we are: Caeden and Peerless on the floor in front of me, and Kai a little behind them too young to know not to try to imitate them. Caeden steps up. BAM. She falls into her split. I tell her her back leg isn't all the way straight, and she just rolls up and straightens it. She then gets up, looks at her father, and then back down at the floor as if to silently say "your turn." I was laughing hysterically by this point, but it got even better. Slowly, P inches his way into what he self describes as a perfect split. His back leg was about as straight as a boomerang, and he is utterly and completely proud of himself. He SELF DECLARES himself the winner, and then struts around the house for the rest of the night telling us how he did really good. Did I mention his explanation for the boomerang leg? He said that he did GREAT....for a 32 year old semi-retired athlete.....The laughs never stop in this house!

Happy Birthday to Kai!!!

2009-02-27T16:01:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday we celebrated Kai Baby's 2nd Birthday at Gymboree. Let me just say: the Kai that showed up for this party was a marked difference from the Kai who came to the party last year. This year's Kai was friendly, outgoing, playful, and happy. When it was time to cut the cake she was super excited to do so!!! She sang "Happy Birthday" (not realizing she was singing to herself), and ate herself silly with pizza, cheetos, juice, and cake.

During the play portion of the party she was all over the place. She spent all her time running, jumping, and having an all out ball. She was allowed to do each activity every time it was done, and she took full advantage of that. She had 16 of her friends at the party, and she love every second!!!! The party was, simply put, an all out success!!! I can remember being in the hospital two years ago after just delivering her thinking how quickly time flies....boy was I right.

Sick No More

2009-02-06T15:48:00.000-08:00

For the past two weeks my family has been overcome with an incurable case of the crud. First, Kai Baby got it--she fought fever and a snotty nose for three days before we tapped out and took her to the pediatrician to be told "It's viral." Thanks. Next, Caeden's nose began running, and she got a cough. By Friday Peerless was hocking and coughing all over the place, and I was just pleased that I had escaped healthy and unscathed.

Monday afternoon I started getting an eerily familiar scratching in my throat. I began a regimen of airborne, Emergen-C, and juice and water. Tuesday I woke up feeling ten times worse. I REFUSED to give into the illness, and pressed on. (Especially when I came home from dropping Caeden off at school and Peerless had gotten third row seats to the John Legend concert for that night). So, we went, and it was good, but I felt like a big bundle of EEEW!!!

By Wednesday morning, when Peerless and I were headed to Caeden's school luncheon I felt like I was going to pass out and die walking. The fact that my temperature had gotten to 102 didn't help, either. I still, however, fulfilled my maternal duties and showed up for the luncheon. Immediately thereafter, I made a beeline to Mimi's couch, where Kai and I remained until the husband and the oldest daughter came to pick us up.

Pretty boring, and uneventful in the land of illness, huh? Yeah right!!! Wednesday night Caeden and Kai had a resurgence of their fever. Then yesterday morning Caeden was DETERMINED to go to school, so she could present her book report (she was super cute dressed up like Sacagawea). She left home, and she just didn't seem like herself. (I didn't notice, because I was still asleep in a Nyquil/sudafed/motrin induced stupor--Mimi had spent the night to help us out, and she told me the state Caeden was in when she left). I emailed Caeden's teacher to tell her to PLEASE watch out for Caeden because she was ill, and if she needed to come home to feel free to call us. No sooner than I sent the message was she contacting me to tell me Caeden was lying down in the nurse's office and needed to be picked up. When her daddy went to get her, she came home, and sure enough was boasting a 102 temperature. She kept the temperature on and off throughout the night, and when she woke up this morning, she just still wasn't herself.

After finally realizing the Caeden was NOT getting any better, I picked up the phone to make an appointment at the pediatrician. At this EXACT time she got a nose bleed, and went in the bathroom with Mimi to take care of it. As I sat on the phone with the appointment maker at her peds office, I heard Caeden let out a frustrated scream, then heard Mimi tell her to go and lay back down. My 8 year old came staggering out of the bathroom with the most bewildered look on her face and then suddenly, BAM. SHE PASSED OUT!!!! I began screaming into the telephone at the appointment setter, who got a USELESS nurse, Mimi began screaming for Peerless, and poor Kai Baby is looking at all of us like we are total idiot. Peerless and I jumped into some kind of clothes, and were two steps from out the door when I remembered that one of Caeden's basketball team mates' mother is an ER doctor at a local hospital. I called her, gave her a brief rundown of the sitch, and she told us to head to the hospital and she'd call them and tell them we were coming. We got to the ER, and got back into the treatment area in a matter of seconds.

The doctor (who was AMAZING--I've never had an ER doctor who was actually nice and interested in helping! Kudos to the Northeast Georgia ER staff, and a special thanks to Dr. Sherry Brock!!) Caeden was going to need an IV to get some fluids going in her body, because she was dehydrated, and a chest xray, because the doctor was concerned she may have pneumonia. Well, the BIG GIRL took the IV needle stick like a CHAMPION, took her fluids, and did her chest xray with NO problems!!! The xray came back, and the doctor determined she had bronchitis--not pneumonia--and she would get to go home.

So, now here we are. At home. Being harrassed by the 2 year old who thinks she is the boss of EVERYONE, and trying to get Caeden to drink, drink, drink, drink, drink, drink, and eat a bit. Luckily we have Mimi, because although the husband has been really good with getting us whatever we need it gets to a point where I can tell his patience is running a little thin, and he needs his "him" time. So, Mimi is here to relieve him of his nursing responsibilities...and she's cooking...and she washed and folded all the laundry...and she holds Kai aka McBad aka B.A.A. aka Badness aka Little Miss Naughty.... It's a really interesting situation over here. It's one of those times where I wish the world could see the dynamic at our house, because it is crazy....but it works for us.

Mr. Price's #1 Fan!!!!

2009-01-29T14:26:00.000-08:00

My mom told me before that one of the biggest mistakes a person can make when it comes to me is giving me too much time to think....about anything. My mind works so OVER analytically that I can find myself in a philosophical debate (albeit with myself) about something as trivial as which brand of syrup is best, and why. Today I found myself with a little bit of time at--of all places--the dentist's office. (Shout out to our dentist, Dr. Randolph Moore--super gentle, super good!) The dentist's assistant, Kristy, had come in and done my evaluation and was making small talk. She asked me how Peerless was doing, and I answered her just like I answer most people, "He's doing really good--getting better everyday and is totally convinced that he is ok to play football like yesterday." Once she left I really started thinking--not so much on how my husband was doing--but about HOW my husband was doing. I started thinking about how for the past twenty-something years he has lived, breathed, and trained for a life of football. When he broke his leg in college he turned a near season ending injury into a four month injury and started the season opener. His first training camp at Buffalo he twisted his knee, and again rebounded back and was ready for the season. Every time he has been injured he bounced back and was ready to go. His neck has been leaps and bounds different. Although he FEELS like he's 100%, there's still a chance that his body could sustain a horrible hit and his neck could snap just so thereby ending his football career and his life of WALKING.

I realized that even when P PISSES ME OFF I am extremely proud of him. I'm proud of how he has dealt with his situation and still has a positive outlook on life. I just sat in the dentist's office and realized, yet again, that I truly am the President, cheerleading advisor, and CFO of the Peerless Price fan club. I just wanted to take a chance and share that fact with you...... Have a wonderful evening.

We're BAAAAACK!

2009-01-25T20:35:00.000-08:00

I know, I know: I have totally fallen off of the blogosphere, but I'm back. Kind of. I decided that in 2009 I was going to blog at least once a week. My dream is to get it done every night, but with Kai being Kai and Caeden showing her the way....yeah, you know. At any rate, I won't spend the next four hours trying to detail what's been going on in Caeden and Kai's world since September. No way. Instead I'll give you a brief synopsis:

Peerless has been recovering and CHILLING!!! He spends the majority of his days on the phone, working out, playing golf, or (when I'm lucky) taking me to lunch. Seriously, he's doing so much better than I thought he would be having not played this past season. I thought it would be a difficult transition, but it really hasn't been. As with any change it was different, but not so unbearably so that one of us is standing in line at the court house trying to file the BAAAAD papers. He also keeps himself busy coaching Caeden's basketball team. Yes, Peerless is the coach of 11 8-9 year old girls. They practice every Monday and Wednesday and play games on Saturday. As of now we are 3-3 with two more games to go. It's been a challenge, but one that he has welcomed and seemingly enjoyed. That's him above in action and then the other shot is a picture of the silliness that it our team!!!

Caeden has been BUSY. Mondays basketball, Tuesdays tutoring, Wednesdays basketball and dance, Thursdays she has a break, Fridays dance, Saturdays basketball games, and Sundays Church. The poor child is so busy. I ask her all the time if she's too busy, but she says no. She made all A's and one B on her report card (note: the B was in in Science, and the entire class got that grade!!!). Basketball season will end soon, and she'll begin soccer, so her busy-ness will just continue. Oh, and her schedule deeply influence our schedules, so we are equally as busy!! *sigh*.

Kai Baby...wow. Now, she's been doing a bit, too. She talks ALL. THE. TIME...and she is just growing up waaay too fast. She's not interested in potty training, which is NUTS to me, because at 18 months her big sister was FULLY potty trained. I keep telling myself that she's a different person than Caeden, but it's so hard. I'm just saying: She eats the same stuff I eat, and when it digests and I have to change that? WOAH! She's trying to decide whether sitting forward or backward on the toilet is more fun when she decides to get on there period. She's just a mess.

Me? I've still just been trying to be the Mommie in it all. My girlfriend Quiana and I are still trudging forward with ganachecouture.com... God has blessed us, and we've stayed afloat during these hard economic times. In the Spring we're going to carry tee-shirts as well as handbags and other accessories, so look out, world!!! I promise I will do better about keeping you all updated in the future. Until next time......

2008-09-08T17:20:00.000-07:00

Everyone has those fond memories of childhood. Many of us, too, have those "not so fond memories." I had a flash of both yesterday sitting in a hotel room in Miami. Peerless and I went down for the weekend with a couple of friend for a mini-mini-vacay. It was fantastic. I got to lay out a bit, dance a bit, just relax. Then I got "the text." My oldest brother, Ronnie, has an innate ability to text you with a message that leaves you needing, wanting, HAVING to know more. Yesterday's text simply said, "Mont is in the ER." For those of you who don't know, Mont is my brother, also. He's the youngest of the twins, the silliest, the wildest. He's the one who proudly declare after growing up in a military home part time and a suburban home the other part of the time that the "streets were in him"....OK.

Naturally after I got the message I went into panic mode. I immediately began calling every possible person who could either give me information, had information, or WHATEVER. It turns out that Mont had some sort of blunt trauma to his head, busting his ear drum, causing him to faint, bump his head, crack his skull, and turn my stomach inside out with nerves. I began to overthink the entire situation, wondering all types of what ifs and being thrown back to my childhood when Mont spent 85% of the time terrorizing me and the other 15% being nice to me so I would take the spinach off of his plate and eat it at dinner time. I found myself pissed off at the notion (call it what you want to) that had he just eaten the spinach ONCE or twice he would've found some Popeye strength, and broken his fall. Absurd, maybe, but for me it made perfect sense, and I decided to stick to it.

Well, needless to say, as my brother is in the hospital unconscious today his Popeye strength has still not kicked in. I'm fervently trying to figure out demographics to be able to have Caeden at her soccer game Saturday, while making it to Knoxville on Friday. I know I can't be in two places at the same time, but I'm trying to make it happen. Somewhere deep inside I just KNOW that spinach would've worked. Maybe when I see Mont I'll slip some into his I.V. tube.

Roll, Bounce....

2008-09-01T19:05:00.000-07:00

just realized I hadn't posted any photos of Caeden's birthday party. Did I mention how much fun we had? I won't overload you with all the nitty gritty details, but here are a few pictures to let you know how we got down....

A handful....literally

2008-09-01T18:56:00.000-07:00

I love my husband. God in heaven knows I do. God also knows that when he put Peerless and me together, he took oil and water and in his miraculous power made it mix. P and I are really opposites. What's CRAZY is that somewhere in our journey we've become so much alike it's scary. Peerless is the one person on Earth who can turn the most serious situation into a comedic experience. He can go from 31 years old to 8 years old in a matter of seconds--just put him and Caeden against one another and see. Then there are those times when he becomes the most romantic, loving, wonderful person going. Well, Saturday night was one of them. We went out with friends, and he was oh so attentive. He fawned over me from the moment we walked out of the door to the moment we walked back into the house. We took pictures, we laughed...sigh. So, needless to say, when I'm looking through the pictures from the other night and run across the CUTEST picture of us I was ELATED. I looked, I smiled, and then I became mortified. In the cuteness of the pose, my husband became the thug I love so much. He decided our G rated pose shouldn't be such. And then the picture was taken.......just notice the hands. My sweets.

The Real versus the Fake

2008-08-25T17:07:00.000-07:00

My aunt, Venessa, sent a message through my mom today that I wasn't a "real blogger", because I hadn't been able to post an entry in a while. So, even having spent and hour and a half in the doctor's office today to be told that I have a "virus", I am sitting down to catch you guys up on the happenings in my life.

This past weekend was a blast. We had my mom's housewarming party on Saturday afternoon (early) and then Caeden's 8th birthday party late afternoon. I don't know about you guys, but any time I have any kind of social gathering I am always a little nervous about the turnout. It's like one big, never ending ball of WHAT IF. What if I don't have enough food? What if I forget to get drinks? What if there isn't enough seating? What if there aren't enough people to sit in the seats I have? What if, what if, what if????? So, Saturday I had a double dose of the 'what ifs' worrying about people coming to my mom's housewarming party and then worrying about Caeden having a nice turnout for her birthday party. I am so happy to say that both events were huge successes. My mom was beaming from ear to ear showing her home to our friends and family who came over, and Caeden was happier than a pig in slop as she skated, sang, ate, and laughed her way through the evening.

As women, I think we have the tendency to overthink certain things. I'm pretty sure that that's why instead of basking in the glory of those wonderful occasions, I was uber worried about people enjoying themselves, eating enough, being comfortable. Things went off without a hitch, so I'm pleased. I have a zillion pictures of the skating rink (sorry, Mimi, none at the house), so I'll get some up as soon as possible.

I have soooooo much more to type, but for now I must go. There's a naked 8 year old in my bathtub screaming my name, followed by a naked 18 month old saying the same, so I have to go make them smell normal, again, and put them in bed....I'm planning to be in bed by 9:06 myself!!! No joke.

School's in....Almost

2008-08-11T18:21:00.001-07:00

Well, today marked the beginning of the chapter in Caeden's life we will call "Lakeview." There we went--Peerless, my mom, Kai Baby, Caeden, and me--to Lakeview's drop in day today to check out Caeden's classroom, teacher, find out bus information, all that. I was so nervous my stomach was a wreck. Caeden, on the other hand, was cool as a cucumber, and had made a new B.F.F. by the time we left school grounds.

From what I gathered today, her teacher is one of the school's favorites. Several kids who had her last year said what a wonderful teacher she was, and the parents seemed equally as thrilled to have had her. Caeden spent her time in the classroom running around with a little girl named Anna, laughing, smiling, and making new friends.

We also got the information for her bus route, which I still don't feel GREAT about!!! Her daddy is cool with it, though, so this is one battle I'm going to fight silently. I'm just hoping Caeden realizes that riding the bus means she has to get up at 6:40, so we can leave the house by 7:05; being taken by Mommie means she could sleep another 40 minutes...I guess I'm the only person sleep is important to around here.

Again, Kai is NOT going to school. I'm just not ready to put her in an organized program--one or two or three days a week-- so I'm going to continue her regular schedule. Maybe next year! LOL.

Peerless is doing great. He actually was approached at open house about the possibility of coming out and lending some of his football expertise to the school's program. They're a young group, but they show a great deal of potential. I think he's really interested, so we'll see what happens with that.

Mimi is settling into her place. Tonight was the first night she spent there alone, and she was kind of bummed about that, but I'm sure she won't miss being woken up at 2 am with "Mimi, Mimi...." sounds.

I'll take pictures of Caeden tomorrow so we can all se how cute she is in her uniform. Hopefully I won't revert back to kindergarten and leave her at school (yep, I'm taking her tomorrow) crying...not her, me.

School Supplies

2008-08-05T12:42:00.000-07:00

It is that time of year, again. The time of year when my tri-weekly Target runs become less and less enjoyable due to the constant, "Mom, we need three ring notebooks!" "Dad, I DO need a new lunchbox." "Mom, everyone has this eraser! I need it, too." It's school supply time.

Now, please don't get me wrong: the the oldest girl starts school next Tuesday. School supply shopping is a necessary evil in my house, as well. I just don't understand how it becomes a social event. Luckily this year Caeden is going to a private school. As such, the only school supply she is to bring on the first day is her backpack. YIPPPPEEEE. Peerless, however, does not share in my joy, as he sees the school's attempt at supply equalization as more of a ploy to overcharge us parents for the supplies they provide. I, personally, think not having to buy supplies is a bonus. In our house the school shopping goes like this: Mommie (me) buys all the necessities for school (clothes, books, paper, pens, lunch making materials, book bags, kleenex, folders, hand sanitizers, sandwich bags, copying paper, and any other number of "office type" supplies teachers send letters home saying kids need. Peerless' school supplies list consists of one item: tennis shoes. It is his sole mission in life to make sure his daughters wear the freshest, most crisp white sneakers available. During these times, I am reminded of one very important thing: Peerless went to a predominantly black school where fashion was as much of a necessity as the pen you wrote your assignments with. I, on the other hand, lived my life first as a military brat and then later in life as one of the, oh, 2% of black people who went to my high school. I was offered the luxury of dressing however I wanted and being so very accepted. Aaaaaah. The memories.

Adding to the stress of school supply shopping for Caeden is the reality that Kai Baby is starting preschool next week, as well. I think. Every time I ask her if she's going to school she says NO. I'm beginning to have second thoughts about taking her to school. She's been doing better and better at Gymboree, and I don't want to miss out on too much of her life. What to do!!!! I guess we'll have to wait and see what next week holds for us all. In the meantime, I'll be sure to let you know what sneakers Caeden winds up with.

Christmas in August

2008-08-01T12:14:00.001-07:00

Have you guys ever seen something in passing, noted how wonderfully fantastic it was, and then seemingly forgotten about it? I had one of these moments a month ago. I was in Louis Vuitton with Peerless, Kai, and my homegirl, Kortni (who also happens to be my hair stylist), and I saw the most fabulous shoes EVER. They happened to match a purse P got me for Mother's Day PERFECTLY. So, this morning I went to the gym, went to pick Caeden up from my mom's to take her to camp, came home and showered, and was headed to the bedroom to finish getting dressed when on the bed sat two cards and a bag from Louis Vuitton. I commenced to opening the cards, and then proceeding to the bag. Lo and behold, Peerless DOES listen to me!!! Santa brought his FAVORITE elf a special gift. Look below to see what I'll be delivering gifts in this season.

2008-07-31T18:03:00.000-07:00

People like to say absence makes the heart grow fonder. I've found this to be true....and false. While I find myself so often thinking about how Peerless feels about the possibility that football for him is over I had the chance to sit and think today of how I felt about it. It was during one of those VERY RARE moments when there's no one but me in the house, AND I get a chance to sit down and listen to silence. It was during that time that I realized, for myself, that this is the time of year when I'm usually packing myself and my kids up to go where ever our season would have us for that particular year. It's this time of year when I'm fitfully running back and forth to the airport to catch Peerless on those coveted days off from camp for a little, ahem, adult time. It's this time of year when I see all the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice my husband has made through the year come to fruition. It was during this time that I realized I hadn't had a chance to MISS Peerless this year. I didn't have to say goodbye as he went to mini camps or OTA's. I didn't have to go through what I've so fondly gotten used to calling "the July blues" as training camp nears. I didn't get a chance to let the absence let my heart grow fonder.

It was also during this time that I realized that Peerless' presence at home means so much more to me than it ever has. It means that I have a husband who can go to the gym with me; a husband who's able to pick two beautiful little girls up and twirl them around (not to mention picking up one BIG 31 year old and giving her a twirl of her own every now and then LOL); a husband who--as it stands right now--doesn't have to worry about taking a wrong hit or making a wrong move and ending up being carted off of a field, never to walk again. I realized that while we didn't separate this offseason, I separated what's real from what is fake; what's important from what's not; what makes everything alright from what messes things up. I realized that the absence I may feel in my heart when Peerless leaves for camp can never be underestimated. I can rest at ease that my husband is not living in a political world (football) where his 31 years is looked at as damn near senior citizen status.

Absence does make the heart grow fonder, but I promise you all that presence--of mind--makes the heart grow stronger.

Introducing the cast...

2008-07-30T13:06:00.001-07:00

Well....I'm now hip to the whole "blogging" world. I thought this would be a great way to keep everyone updated on Caeden and Kai as they grow up....not to mention the fact that my good friend, Dawn, has shown me how to ventCONSTRUCTIVELY and humorously. So, here goes my attempts at blogging.

I don' t know exactly how I plan on keeping this thing updated. Between the constant "Mommie, Mommie, Mommie" I hear, time really gets away. Luckily enough right now Caeden is at Sylvan getting her math tutoring on, and Kai is shopping at Wal-mart with Mimi for Mimi's new house. We are so excited Mimi moved down here, and while I'm SOOO sad she's no longer upstairs, I'm SOOOO happy she has her house and can let loose and enjoy her very own space. To say she is enjoying decorating is a gross understatement. She's giving Niecey Nash a true run for her money in her "DIY" projects!!!

Now, updates on the other members of the tribe. Peerless: aka "the Boy", "P", "the baby's daddy". We are having such an interesting dynamic in our house right now. Understand, for the past ten years, this time of year has been when P puts on his "football season face" and gears up for training camp. This year that didn't, and I believe isn't gong to, happen. His surgery last season was supposed to be "season ending." Thank GOD his surgery went well, and the area which was operated on is completely recovered. My Boo, however, stands a greater chance of injury if he plays football than the other 52 men on a team. While I know in my heart he still has football deep down inside of his heart, I want him to be able to walk, run, and play with those two Priceless Princesses of ours 10 years from now. As of yet, he's not gone to play anywhere, however he also hadn't turned in his retirement papers....I'll keep y'all posted.

Caeden (the drama queen) is enjoying the end of her summer. She enters into the 3rd (WOW) grade at Lakeview this fall. She's SUPER excited about that, and I'm sure she'll excel!! She has spent the last week in a dance workshop ALL day honing her dance skills (she gets it from her mama!) I'm sure as we get more into blogging I will have SOOOOOO many Caeden stories to tell.

Kai Baby (That little one) is just being Kai: mean mugging everyone and trying to say more and more words. We went to look at a school for her today. I think it would be a good idea to put Kai in school two or three mornings a week, so she can start playing with other kids and listening to directions better. Her daddy? Not so much. We really liked the school, but we have another appointment at another place on Monday, so until we go there we can't commit. Well, I'll attach a couple photos, in case I didn't send them to some of you. Enjoy, and check back for some updates. Lots of love.