The cult that is baseball

Ok, I consider myself a pretty competitive person (I am sure some of you can concur). So it is ironic that having my kids participate in organized sports is not my most favorite thing to do, especially baseball. Now don't get me wrong I understand the benefits of a team game and trying hard in something yada yada. And I will always encourage and support my children in anything they want to try. So hence my experience with the cult I call baseball begins and my inner thoughts that I do NOT say out loud:



So my youngest son signs up for coach pitch league this year after a fun year at t-ball last summer.



I go dutifully to the parent meeting to meet with other parents and the coach. As we sit and discuss important items she mentions practices before the season starts-probably two a week. Ummmmm practice-well yeah didn't have those in T-ball so why start now-it is all about fun right?



We move on to the important stuff-Uniforms-this is where the frothing parents show what it is all about-How about we get their names on the back of their hat? It is only 5 or 10 bucks. Oh yeah, great idea for a hat worn 9 times-at least at my house I don't even know where the hat from last year went. AND no shorts this year- we are in the big league-need baseball pants. AND some mom speaks up and asks "sneakers or cleets?" cleets?? Really-nine games?? I already know Q's big attaction with cleets will be the cool design they make in the sand.



I look around the room, parents are huddled-faces animated-visions of their kid being the big player on the mound. Ex Jock Dads (Carey tell Jaime I am truly sorry for using that word) walking around in jerseys and with their ex glory days swagger.



I am taking it all in....



And the nonconformist in me (which you all know is just as strong as the competitive side) is laughing and smirking and saying ok leave now before they brainwash you. Go back to t-ball where getting the treat tricket at the end of the game was the only goal. I go home pondering. I tell Q man that baseball is starting soon and the coach wants us to practice at home. I am waiting for the "oh man" or "no way" or "I don't think I want to play". He shrugs says ok. I am thinking he may just bow out. Nope

Fast forward to next evening it is spitting snow, cold, gray and windy and my youngest says "Hey mom, lets go practice, remember my coach said". So end of the story-I, being the good conformist get bundled up-stocking hat, winter gloves coat and so does said son who hates the cold. We go out, we practice, he loves it and YES I love it.



Welcome me to the cult of baseball!

Finally

FINALLY feeling better. Had the stamina to go and do a light workout and not gasp for breath at the end.

Fired up the grill for the first time this year. Nothing like a bratwurst and hot dogs and dropping the first one on the patio-gave it hubby. A definite sign that summer is on its way.

Which leads to my top 10 things about summer. Only 5 Mondays from now-but who is counting?

10. More sun, more sun, more sun
9. Planting flowers and endless days of looking for bugs and butterflies
8. Camping
7. Fishing
6. Finding new recipes and new meals for every day
5. Wine and margaritas outside
4. Exercising everyday before the day even starts
3. Taking photographs
2. Playing stay at home mom and tourist with the boys
1. The lake and the pool, the sun and getting toasty brown in the sun (yes I use sunscreen-a little-but just can't give it up.)

Really number 1 and 2 could be a tie.

sick, sick, sick

Ok, my sinus cold can not compare to Karen's nose but I am going to complain anyway. I have a pretty high pain tolerance but little patience for things like colds that drag on and on. The sinus drainage keeps me up all night. Q has been sick with his usual croup and allergy induced coughing up a lung cough. The steroids are great for the cough but not for his mood. I have two big projects for my master's class, IEP's to do at school and a few days behind after being gone from work on Th/Fri for a workshop. Having only went on two short walks in the last week have not helped either. I feel like a big slug when I can't make it to the Y and snack because I am crabby. I hope I am like Carey and some warm weather and sun will make it all better TOMORROW!

Ok one plus for the day, I got out capris from late last summer/fall and they are looser then I remember (or else I just didn't dry them all the way). Nahhh I will go with looser:)

Pictures from camping at Horse Thief Lake last summer-can't wait to go SOON!

Another birthday

I am sitting here with a miserable cold I have had for a week and not looking forward to a busy weekend. Today is Q's 6th birthday so to be fair I will share a story and pics about the momentous day.

As previously written A's birth was LONG and NOT easy. So Q's could only be better-it was.

That morning I wake up not knowing what a real natural contraction felt like so walked around with some pains most of the morning and when I started timing they were pretty close together, BUT relying on my previous PAIN level they were nothing so I ignored them.

Long story short I ignore them a pretty long time before we go to the hospital. We meet my ever faithful soul sister Suree and the nurse checks to see how far we are. I am anticipating a small number 2 or 3 when the nurse says 8. Lot of cheers and excitement-I have not even broken a sweat. Water breaks a few pushes and Q comes flying out-I was determined to not have my second one get "stuck" like the first one.

I look at him and the first thought was-He looks nothing like Alec and looks just like Shane!

When he was brought to me all nice and washed I took his hat off and his hair was black and stood straight up, the most beautiful soft hair I had ever touched.

He has evolved into my energetic child yet introverted and deep thinker-keeping his thoughts to himself and always logical. Loves the color blue and is a true child of the water. Running sometimes quietly and other times rushing, crashing into everything. Though not sensitive like me or A, he is my "mama's boy" and will tell me I am beautiful when I wear a new shirt. He will sit and color with me and even inherited my artistic side.

And so the differences continue between the two (out of 3) most cherished people in my life. They can make me laugh smile, cry, paralyze in fear, rant and most of all love and hope,and know that I brought something valuable to the world.

And you know what, I can still not get that kid's hair to lay down flat in the back:)

Highlights of the S.E.X talk

Another milestone in big A's life yesterday. Lately he has been asking more questions about marriage, girlfriends, and making babies. The first time he asked Q was in the car, so I said ask me another time in private......so last night in the car I reminded him of the conversation and if there was anything he wanted to ask. Here are a few highlights....

Me: So do you have any questions about the stuff you mentioned before?
A: Yeah, how do moms and dads make babies?
Me: Hmmmmm what have you heard?
A: answers (I won't repeat it all) and said he had heard it on the playground (they were HALF right)

Skip a few minutes later...
A: So did Jordan (his friend who just had a sister) watch his sister being born?
Me: No
A: But I bet he watched them make the baby
Me: Ummmm no, you don't watch someone
A:So where do you do this at?

After discussion of sex and marriage
A: What about women who get divorced?
Me: What about them?
A: They can aren't able to have a baby right-after they are divorced

After discussion of how do you get a girlfriend
Me: 3rd graders really don't have girlfriends and boyfriends
Alec: Aspen smiles at me alot when I see her
Me: Really
Alec: Yeah I think she likes me

After a little helpful advice (and constraint on not beating a dead horse in the issue of morality)
this is how the conversation ends:
A:So having kids is expensive-you have to pay for me right?
Me: Yes, groceries, clothes college etc but we don't mind
A: That's really not fair that you have to PAY for me, why would you have me then?
Me: Well because we wanted to show our love and create a family
A: Hmmm


Yes, hmmmmm that pretty much sums it up for me to.

Home sick

I am home sick today with a cold or the start of one. I have learned over the years if I catch it early and rest and stop going a gazillion miles an hour then I can save myself suffering later. Staying home sick is like a love/hate relationship for me. I secretly enjoy laying in bed or on the couch sleeping or watching mindless TV on TLC. This is my first time home sick with the new world of blogs so I am spending way too much of my time reading tons of past posts. The hate comes from my internal guilt-if I am well enough to be up on the computer I should work on my homework (I tried-got a whole two paragraphs written with more backspacing of words and sentences then actual writing), AND if I am well enough to do homework on the couch I should have gotten dressed this morning and went to work.

I also secretly enjoy having the WHOLE HOUSE TO MYSELF which today I actually don't. Youngest Son-The Mighty Q had the school nurse call HOME around 10:00 to say he had a stomach ache AND he wanted to keep me company. I could hear the nurse in the background laughing her a&* off. I on the other hand here was not lauging, but after talking to his little sweet voice went and picked him up. Call me soft or a bad mom but the second best thing to having a house to myself is having it alone with just one son so I will get over it.

I did make a fierce avocado, bacon and tomato wrap that was yummy, always good to know I am not to sick to eat:)

Now take a shower or nap on the couch with kids movie I have seen a million times on??

Conspiracy Theory

Sometimes in our household there are 3 types of days we have with the two ragamuffins:

First kind- The two boys in my house get along great-play together, share, nice words and somewhat quiet. This make makes a mom glow

Second kind-Hate each other, fight, want a new family or at least a new brother. This kind makes a mom and dad wonder why did we procreate and can we return them

Third kind-Boys get along but it is rowdy ALL day, roughhousing is the ONLY activity of choice and listening to mom and dad are out of the question, someone gets hurt or rude words are said. This day always seems to happen when we have tons of household stuff on our plate so I know they are begging for attention. THIS day leaves us between our last nerve snapping and laughing.

So when the last nerve snapped after TOO many chances boys are sent to bed with tantrums that would make Super Nanny Jo's camera crew drool when suddenly QUIET and WHISPERING. Next footsteps down the hall. Puffy eyes, blotchy faces, little boy bodies in super hero underwear come out to apologize-and we the evil parents send them back to bed with more crying. The consequence was painful for all involved but good for a laugh. The funniest part is the conspiring against us and coming out as a united front.

I think hubby and I are in trouble:)

9 years ago today...

We have just gotten back from dinner to celebrate "A"'s nine year old birthday. It was exactly at this time 9 years ago when I was pushing like crazy. The nurse had come in at 7 PM and said "Ok" you can push. I was elated and already exhausted after having been induced at midnight the night before. Naively I start pushing and she walks out the door. Hmmmm where are you going, I am sure he is going to pop out any minute-I had watched babies being born on tv I knew how it worked. Well ok was SUPPOSED to work.

2 hours lateer-yes 2! He finally arrives, of course not the way we had planned. After getting stuck "A "came out gray and floppy and none of the usual crying and the NICU nurses rushing in. Not how a first time mom ever imagines it, not getting to hold your baby and him being taken away to the NICU. So I go to the nicu seeing him with all his stuff on and cry back in my room by myself. THIS was the first time in my life I truly realized what FEAR was-the heart stopping kind where you can't get a breath. The jolting feeling in my heart, the thousand worries running through my head and the realization that I would give anything, ANYTHING for this baby to be safe, well happy and be able to hold him. At four AM the next morning I did, all by myself in the quiet and dark with no one but me and him. Now nine year later I still go in to his room each night when he is sleeping and pick him up or give him a kiss, in the dark and the quiet just him and me.