Extreme Soccer Mom

I honestly am not getting tired of soccer.  Which is amazing since I'm averaging about 3 games a week...as a spectator that is.  More specifically as a soccer mom.  But this week, today that is, we head to Walla Walla for Fall Classic. 

Fall Classic is a soccer/volleyball tournament hosted by WWU.  Its the big time for our small school.  Roughly 15ish teams play in the soccer tournament.  Schools from the NW as well as CA, FL, and Canada travel to WW to compete.

Last year was my first year as a Mom at Fall Classic and to put it simply, I loved it!  The games were intense, our guys did so well and as I've written before it is a joy to be part of this group of soccer parents.

This is a picture of my very favorite nephew and my least favorite brother-in-law (just kidding ;) They, along with Jeff, are demonstrating the proper attire  for Sat nights game.   Last year it was super cold!  I'm packing my long undies this year!

 I love this picture of Josh!

I love this picture of Jake and Josh...They just look so committed to the cause..so committed to being there for each other..I love it!

Last year the Kodiaks finished 4th overall. 

 I haven't forgotten about Ty..or my other team the Mustangs..

 Last night I was on the sidelines cheering him on.  He had a game at OES last night.  They have a fancy turf field

The weather was perfect.  I'm looking forward to having my guys on the same soccer team next year!

So we head to Walla Walla today.  First game is at 4 the next game is at 7:30.  Then Friday morning we play at 10am.  There will be more games on Friday depending on how we do in our first three games...then we will finish up with a game on Sat night! 

If your counting that will make at least 7 if not more games we will have cheered at this week!  If that doesn't make an extreme soccer mom I don't know what does!

Go Kodiaks!

Frychik

PS - I'm not sure if I'll be able to blog tomorrow...if not I'll catch you up on Monday...

Community Service

Yesterday was Community Service day at CAA.  Which means the entire school packs up and ships off to various parts to help people.
I was assigned 10 beautiful teenagers and given 4 hours to help others.
We first set of to Options 360 which is christian pregnancy clinic.  They provide free pregnancy testing and counseling.  We cleaned their clinic and then headed into downtown Portland.

We purchased 50 bean and cheese burritos and walked through some of the "needier" areas of the city handing them out.

It was amazing to see how grateful people were for this 79 cent burrito.  Almost everyone gave us a huge smile and many words of appreciation.  One hesitated, asking with a sneer "what church?"  I said pardon me? and she repeated "what church is this from?" I had the very strong impression that this woman would not accept our offering if I named a church.  So I said "its just from people who care..." Did I do the right thing? 

We had another guy who yelled when handed the burrito "YEA, ALRIGHT!!"  I smiled and said glad we could help.  He stated "I'm high and I'm hungry!"  Ok....anyway, keep walking kids...

It was interesting walking around downtown looking for people that would appreciate a free burrito.  What do those people look like?  Some are obvious, some not so much.  Two people turned us down.  I imagine they went home and told their families that some people mistook them for homeless people today...

Everyone was friendly and appreciative.  It was a very different perspective.

When I was a teenager I would often go downtown by myself or with friends to shop.
One time I was heading back to my car with a shopping bag and I was approached by what I assume was a homeless teenager.  He asked me for some money.  I ignored him and kept walking...He screamed very rude things at me for the next two blocks...It left me shaking and upset.  I have always wondered am I required to handover money every time I'm asked if I have it?

Now we have people on every corner in some parts of town with their cardboard signs asking for money.  When I was working in Portland I would pass a minimum of four of these people every day.  It is so uncomfortable to be sitting in my car while just on the other side of my door an individual stands begging for money.

If I handed them a $5 every day would their lives get better? What if I handed them a $20?
I've heard countless stories about how these "corner people" make tons of money.  Why would they leave their corner when they can stand there and people will hand them money all day?
I'm cynical... I'm untrusting...

But yesterday was a different experience.  Several years ago I used to get up really early on Sunday mornings and take a group of kids down to the city to work at a mission that offered a hot breakfast on Sunday mornings.  We would work in the kitchen serving  food for those who came by.  That was a rewarding experience.  Yesterday was a rewarding experience...

It was an important reminder to me that these people are people.  Yesterday I looked for them, I didn't avoid them.  Yesterday I spoke with them, I didn't ignore them.  I hope I'm growing...

Frychik

16????????????

 Josh's birth was rather dramatic...

 He was due on Nov. 20th and after an attempt on Sept 5th and 4 weeks of hospital beds, ambulance rides, and crossing of the legs...he arrived on October 5th

 He was so tiny.  So very tiny.  Newborn sizes looked this big on him...

 He was amazingly healthy but was jaundice so he got to hang out under the lights with a cool pair of "shades"

It was terrifying to see my baby with all those wires.  But he really was amazingly healthy. A miracle from God

 Today that tiny premature baby turns 16!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How did that happen?

 He no longer snuggles into my chest and sleeps

 But on the other hand, he no longer spits up all over me either :)

 I'm so proud of him.  I realize this is the same son I vented about a few weeks ago...

Time really does fly by...I remember thinking I would never survive those baby/toddler days.  I would grit my teeth and smile tersely when people would give my that annoying "knowing" look and say "it goes by so fast, before you know it they will be gone"  I didn't believe them then...now I do...In fact, in an odd twist of fate, just yesterday I ran into a dear friend who has two small ones.  It's a difficult time.  I remember it well.  My heart went out to her but then I remembered all those smug parents who went before me an bit my tongue and tried not to repeat what had been said to me...

but it really does go by fast...

Frychik

Starbursts

So my boy and a couple of his friends began a "starbursts chain" in 7th grade.  That was not quiet 4 years ago...

That began a ritual of bringing your friend a large bag of starburst to every party they attend and adding to this chain.  As you can see it has grown and grown.

 I'm very impressed with the commitment they have made to this chain.  The fact that it has stayed with them all these years....I'm not impressed with the remnants of starbursts wrappers I find EVERYWHERE after each party

This bag Is full of starbursts and probably weighs 6 or 7 lbs!

 This past weekend we celebrated Josh's 16th birthday, which doesn't officially happen until tomorrow.  I will talk more about that on tomorrows blog.  Right now I'm intrigued by this "starbursts chain". I have never seen so many starbursts in one place! It will take a life time to fold all of these wrappers! Well, maybe not a life time...Its amazing what they can accomplish when they have the right motivation...

  Josh said years ago that he wanted to enter his chain into the Guinness World Book of Records...I wonder how long it would have to be?  I should research that...And I should invest in more dental floss...

Frychik

Shhh, don't tell....

I have a secret...
It's only a secret from my boys...
You have to promise not to tell my boys...

I absolutely love calling their cell phones and getting their voice mail.
You wanna know why?
Because when you hear their greeting it is in their little boy voice. 
Since recording their voicemail both of them have gone through "the change"

It just melts my heart to hear those sweet little boy voices...
I really hope they don't find out.
I would be devastated if they erased it...

So now you know my secret...

On a different note...Happy October!  I love, love, October!  Fall is awesome!  I think I'm the only one around here that thinks its actually been on the warm side...looking forward to those "crisp" days.

The last few years I have gone to Swan Island Dahlia farm and ordered some "tubers".  This one is huge!

I love the color contrast here!

These are also Dahlias.  Look at how those petals are curling!

Love those fall colors!

I pat and talk to my two pumpkins every day

I was shocked to see this guy.  He's getting an awful late start.  But I'm still rooting for it!

I love the color in this shot!

Enjoying some fall in my yard :)

Frychik

Glasses

These are my new glasses

I'm getting older
I'm getting older and older


I used to just need my glasses when I read a lot and got a headache
Now I NEED my glasses to read a pill bottle or anything closer than 12 inches from my face.


Not only have I NEEDED glasses for several years.  Last week I had to strengthen my perscription.  My old glasses just weren't doing the job.


The good news is that my eye sight for distance is just fine.  So, with my old glasses, I would look up notice a slight difference, and then take them off. 
With my new "stronger" perscription, I look up and I'm nauseous and everything is blurry.  It's awful! I can't take them off fast enough.  When you're upfront teaching and constantly reading and then looking around the room to make sure no one has fallen asleep or has run screaming from the room, its a hazard!


The very friendly eye glasses people had offered "bifocals" to me but it just screamed "OLD" to me and I smiled a smug smile and said "no thank you".
Now I realize I'm going to have to go in with my tail between my legs and ask for bifocals.


I hate getting older...

Walfart...

Yes, I meant to call it Walfart...
I have a need/hate relationship with this stupid store.
I need it because I can afford it
I hate it because I always leave grouchy


One or more of the following things happen EVERY time I go

1.  I arrive and have to pee so bad I race right to the bathroom...it is closed for cleaning every time!
2.  When I do get to use the bathroom it is never clean???
3.  My cart pulls to the right, shocks me or squeaks at a pitch that I'm certain causes hearing loss
4.  The check out person stuffs the bags full of every jar I bought and is the slowest moving human on       the planet!
5.  They are out of morning star sausage links...
6.  The produce guy is WAY to helpful...
7.  The check out guy is WAY to talkative
8.  The parking lot is a scary dangerous place
9.  I always leave feeling like I have been abused
10.  There is a person in a motorized cart trying to run me over!


So why do I keep going?  Because I can't afford Fred Meyer and Winco is even scarier!

So some day I dream of being rich enough to grocery shop every week at Fred Meyers...

Frychik