Soccer Mom

So, its official. I am now technically a soccer mom. My hubby has been playing soccer, both indoor and outdoor, for the last couple of years. He bought Annabelle her first soccer ball when she could just barely walk, and has always had dreams of her loving the game as much as he does. Since his outdoor season has started, we have attended a couple of his games, and the girls have really enjoyed watching their Daddy on the field. So it was only a matter of time before Annabelle was old enough to begin her own soccer adventures. Tonight was her first "Mommy or Daddy & Me" soccer class at Cool Sports, an indoor soccer facility right up the street, where Hubby currently plays as well. Since I was not blessed with athletic inclinations of my own, it was only natural that Hubby would accompany Annabelle to this class. We loaded up the gas-guzzling SUV, armed with the Inglesina stroller, a bottle of formula, my cool-pix camera, and the sippy-cup we are trying to transition Sabrina to, and off we went.

Hubby gave me a run-down of what to expect when we got there. Yes, there is a place to sit, it only lasts 30 minutes, and there is a bar there. A bar? On a soccer field with air-conditioning? Hold up!...maybe this is something I could get into after all!

I spent the 30 minutes of class snapping photos of my little (female) Pele, as well as Sabrina , who sat in her stroller calling out for "Daaaa, Daaaa" and giggling as she watched all the little toddlers kick their soccer balls around the field. If I do say so myself, Annabelle appeared to be the most saavy gal on the field.

It was simply adorable and I couldn't have been prouder of my little soccer player.

After the class, we mingled with some fellow parents and despite sticking the proverbial foot-in-my-mouth and, according to hubby, or possibly because of, unintentially flashing my what-nots when I bent down to take some pictures, we actually scored some digits! Then it was time to get home for dinner, so Hubby could drop us off and get back to Cool Sports in time for his 7:15 game.

Back home, a pot of simmering sausage, peppers, and ditalini soup wafting from the kitchen, greeted us as we waltzed in the door. Because Annabelle is basically a vegetarian (yea...thanks Nana & Grandad), despite the occasional hotdog and meatball, I prepared her a dinner of cherry tomatoes, organic hotdog with ketchup, and Heinz baked beans (vegetarian of course). Sabrina reluctantly took down 3/4ths of a Yo-Baby before deciding it was way more fun to throw it at me while trying to grab the spoon out of my hand. Bedtime for the girls shortly followed, just in time for Hubby to get home and for us to have some much needed time together.

It was another great day today, but I'm not going to run out and buy that soccer-ball sticker for the back of the SUV just yet...and don't even get me started on those stickers people put on the back of their cars with the silhouettes of each member of the family, complete with dog, cat, or hamster...one of my pet peeves!

I want my girls to know that whether they be a princess, basketcase, criminal, brain, or an athlete, I will love them just the same. And I will be forever grateful they chose me to be their Mom.

Monday, Monday

So, I think I am residually exhausted from a busy and amazing weekend. I have a great appreciation for Saturdays and Sundays. I think I have an even greater appreciation for them than your average Jo, or Josephine. See, up until a couple of months ago, my hubby has ALWAYS worked on the weekends. In October, we will have been together for ten years, and he has worked almost every weekend during that time. I grew to loathe Saturdays and Sundays, as I watched longingly as families went out to parks, restaurants, movies, festivals, etc. I wished I could get back that "Sunday-night feeling" I had as a kid, eating dinner with my family, or my best friend's family and getting mentally prepared for the week ahead. It just isn't right to begin your week on a Saturday. It used to feel, I don't know, just unnatural.

Well a couple of months ago, Hubby finally began a new work schedule, allotting Saturdays and Sundays to be spent together as a family, like normal human beings. Who knew it would make such a difference? These are now my absolute favorite days of the week, and I begin looking forward to them on Monday morning, just like everybody else.
This weekend found us:
Friday night: dinner at brand-spanking new Red Robin that just opened up down the street, a little shopping at Marshall's, back home to spend some quality time with the DVR and my friends on "My Name is Earl" and "The Office". Got to bed early for an early rise.






























Saturday: morning walk in March for Babies on UT campus with my girls; met rest of Knoxville Team Maddie, walked the 2.5 miles, released balloons in remembrance of Maddie Spohr, John Kyle Vreeland, and prayers for healing for little Miss Faith Russell, another preemie. Home for lunch and met Daddy outside mowing lawn. Naptimes. Regroup for birthday party at Tatarus. Jumping on trampolines, swinging on rope swings, eating too much pizza and birthday cake and then back home for bathtime and another night on the couch. This time, we spent time with Tru TV's "World's Dumbest Daredevils". Ooed, ahhed, laughed, drank chardonnay, and munched until bedtime.

Sunday: attempted to recreate one of my favorite breakfast indulgences, Denny's "Moons Over My Hammy" (always ordered without the hammy). Scrambled eggs, swiss & american cheese (this combo is the secret) on marble rye bread. Found marble rye bread was edged in spun-cotton mold, so had to improvise. Made sandwiches with whole wheat Lender's mini-bagels instead. Totally lost the integrity of the original sandwich, but ate it anyway with side of bacon and homemade cafe-con-leche. Uploaded photos from Saturday's adventures and then outside with Hubby and Annabelle to watch them garden, while I lounged in a garden chair finishing Isabel Gillies' heartbreaking novel, "Happens Every Day". Back inside for lunch, more uploading, and bathtime for a filthy little Annabelle. Naptime. Back up at 3;30 to get ready for another birthday party. This one, at the indoor soccer field where Hubby happens to play. Annabelle and Daddy left for party, while I stayed at home, browsing blogs, facebook, the usual while Sabrina dozed. Sabrina up, me downstairs fixing dinner. Made one of my new favorites, Rachael Ray's Oven-Baked Buffalo Blue Cheese Chicken Nuggets. I first discovered this recipe a few months ago, when trying to find something to feed the kids for a playdate. They were a total hit with the kids, sans the blue cheese and buffalo sauce, of course. I have since made them a couple of times with the blue cheese and served hot sauce on the side for the adults, ie. me & hubby. We love them! Served the chicken nuggets with roasted asparagus (Annabelle's favorite vegetable), and caesar salad. Bathtime once again, (I know, twice in one day? but seriously, girls were ridin' d-rrty). Bedtime, followed by me falling asleep on the couch at crazy early hour. I blame the margarita hubby made that, I swear he must have laced with Ambien.

So, if you are still reading this and not completely bored, dozing, or open-mouthed snoozing, that was my weekend. This is my life and this is the proof...