Freezing Cold Baseball

Some things just don't go together. For me, freezing cold weather and baseball don't belong together. Yet, it is going to be in the 30s tonight, and we are heading off to a baseball game. I've accepted that baseball in my house is about a 4 season sport. I get that I'm not really ever going to be a glamorus baseball mom. I just don't look good in 100 degree weather on the baseball field. But, that seems at least normal. Baseball when it is freezing and dark just seems wrong. And, to top it off, Bryant has the late game tonight (7:30 start for a 1½ hour game). I'm hoping to leave early since Bryant has a test in the morning. But, they are playing the Tarheels, and my boys hate losing to ANY team called the tarheels. Hopefully they'll be winning by a lot and we can slip away. I'm cold just thinking about it!

Out of the mouths of babes

For some reason Bryant and I were talking yesterday about how old Mary was when she became pregnant with Jesus. I have no idea how these things come up, but I go where the conversation takes us. Anyway, I was telling him she was somewhere around 13, maybe 15. His mouth dropped open, appropriately I might add. Then, he said, she, or was is they, broke the law. "What law is that", I ask? "It's agains the law to have sex until you're 20!", he declared. It threw me a bit, and I'm all about him believing sex is not legal until as late as possible! So, I just said things were different then. People didn't live as long and had babies earlier. Then, he said, but didn't Abraham live until like 500? Boy, learning this Bible of ours sure has its complications through the eyes of a 9 year old! I never even got to the immaculate conception part of Mary's pregnancy. I can't wait to see how that goes. Now that he understands how babies get here, that fact might blow his socks off.

And, since I'm terrible about writing things down, we went to the doctor Monday because Bryant had pink eye. While we were there, I asked if we should schedule a check up sometime soon. He has not really had one since kindergarten. The cool think about a family practitioner is, he said why don't we just do it now! So, with his glasses, his eyes are OK. He weighed 82.6 pounds, and he was 55½ inches (4' 7.5"). His height was at the 90th percentile, and his weight was at the 95th. However, that might have been using the 83.6 he weighed when we walked in the door -- with shoes and before he "peed in a cup." Let me tell you, Bryant thought the whole idea of peeing in a cup was hilarious, disgusting, ridiculous, embarassing, and he waw REALLY happy his sister was not there to know about it. All seems well. Good to know.

I'm off to chaperone a field trip to Poplar Grove with Ann Bennett's 1st grade class.

Diet Coke and Other Ramblings

Well, last week I decided to go cold turkey on the dc. I decided on Tuesday, and I made it until dinner. The kids' school had Zaxby's night, and can I really be expected to miss out on a dc with rabbit pellet ice? Really? The first day? So, I had one. But, since then I've been dc and caffeine free. It has about killed me, but I'm making it. To get through I've been drinking a ton of crystal light, which I know still has artificial sweeteners, but I had to have something to get through the physical withdrawal. I think I'm about through the headaches, but boy am I crashing at night! The upside to this is I have more energy in the morning.

This weekend it turned cold and rainy here. But, my 6 year old's RECREATION soccer league still played. I mean, really! It would have been fine to miss a game. I promise. We froze, but fortunately for us, the rain had stopped while we played. Ann Bennett actually kicked the ball a couple of times this game, so I guess there was something good about us making it to the game.

And, because it was rainy AND Bryant was restricted from all things electronic, we were creative with keeping ourselves entertained in the rain. Which means, the four of us played Pretty Pretty Princess. Ann Bennett got this game years ago. I think she was like 3, and we have mangaed to keep up with all of the pieces! We have 2 versions - original and Cinderella version. It has always amazed me that Bryant can be convinced to play this game. He doesn't like the Cindy version, but the original is fine. I think it might be the fact that you can end up with the black ring if you aren't lucky in the original. If you're not familiar with the game, you spin a spinner to move around the board and collect jewelry - 2 earrings, bracelet, necklace, ring (all in your assigned color) and 1 crown to share. If you land on the crown, you get it until someone else lands on the crown and takes it from you. The object is to get all of your pieces first. But, beware of the black ring. You can't win with it, and it's hard to get rid of it. It's really a simple game, but it is funny to see Carey or Bryant with earrings, etc.! So, this weekend, Carey and I each won a game, and neither of the kids got upset about not winning. I think that shows we are growing up. The kids can enjoy the games and time together even when they don't win. I wish I had a picture for you, but I thought it might destroy the guys' willingness to play if I started snapping pictures. Bryant is all concerned about "blackmail" these days. I think it's a 4th grade boy thing, but who knows?

Slipping Through My Fingers

OK, a little while ago, Ann Bennett and I went to see Mama Mia. Since then, all I can think about is the following song. I wrote the words for ya, but I tried to include a link to the music as well if you'd rather listen. Since I'm not too savvy with this stuff yet, I don't know if it will work. Anyway, it is all about watching your little girl grow up. Ann Bennett is learning so much and growing up so fast, I guess this song just hit me. Bryant too is growing at an alarming rate, but the song's about a girl, so . . .

I don't want to let time slip through our fingers without paying attention. But, even more than that, I don't want to be the Mommy that yells all the time, is too stressed or is just plain mean. It's hard to find the balance sometimes. I am not a parent who doesn't parent because she wants to be a friend. I know children need parents. Our kids have responsibilities. In general, I think they have very little they have to do, but in comparison to some peers, our kids do more. And, let me tell you, it can be a battle. As I write this, I realize that the things that have become daily tasks, like making beds, are no longer battles. So, maybe that is my motivation. If we keep on, it will just be part of life and not worth fighting about. But, boy does the battle feel long! Our afternoons can be tumultuous between homework, reading requirements, putting away clean clothes, and heaven forbid picking up the things flung on the floor. Many times I think it would just be easier to do it, but I know there is value in learning to care for yourself. So, I persevere, but I'm not happy about the amount of yelling that I've done over the years. Kids should not be equipped to know which buttons to push! When I hear a song like this, I'm not only taken aback by how quickly they will be gone but by how I am using the time I have with them. I hope they know just how loved they are -- ALWAYS!

Schoolbag in hand
She leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye
With an absent-minded smile
I watch her go
With a surge of that well-known sadness
And I have to sit down for a while
The feeling that I'm loosing her forever
And without really entering her world
I'm glad whenever I can share her laughter
That funny little girl

Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see what's in her mind
Each time I think I'm close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time

Sleep in our eyes
Her and me at the breakfast table
Barely awake
I let precious time go by
Then when she's gone
There's that odd melancholy feeling
And a sense of guilt
I can't deny
What happened to the wonderful adventures
The places I had planned for us to go
Well some of that we did
But most we didn't
And why I just don't know

Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see what's in her mind
Each time I think I'm close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time

Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture
And save it from the funny tricks of time
Slipping through my fingers -

Schoolbag in hand
She leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile

Siobhan McCarthy - Slipping Through My Fingers lyrics


Proof that Ann Bennett is growing at an alarming rate -- she just lost here 8th tooth, and she's still 6! Sorry about the picture. It's not the greatest, and I didn't realize it was quite so graphic!

Look What I Can Do!

We live less than a mile from our kids' school, so when we are up early enough the kids can ride their bikes to school. Bryant often accomplishes this as he is an early riser. However, Ann Bennett does not like to get up early, and she has been slow on her bike. So, she rarely was able to ride to school. Plus, Bryant was horrified that she was riding to school with her training wheels! Lots of her friends ride without training wheels, but Ann Bennett has been content to ride around taking it all in with her training wheels. However, the desire to ride to school motivated her. Last Tuesday, (9-30) Carey took Ann Bennett's training wheels off. He ran along beside her a couple of times, but then she was off. This video is of the next day, 10-1.

For Carey and I, the most amazing thing is that now, a week later, it's like she's been riding this way for months. She figured out the starting thing, and she's geting better at stopping. It is amazing to watch a child learn a new skill. Once they get it, there is no stopping them. Of course, it helps that she has done it over and over and over and over since she learned! She seems to understand that practice makes perfect. I guess it might also feel like a bit of independence. We still ride with her to school, and I go meet her at the school to ride home. But, soon she will be able to ride home with Bryant. Way to go AB!

Football Anyone?

Saturday afternoon, our family skipped Ann Bennett's soccer game to go up to the NC State football game. It was a 7:30 game, so since Carey never leaves a game early, we knew it would be a late night (especially because it was a TV game). Over the years we have had some HORRIBLE weather at games -- 152 degrees one time with sleepy children, -30 another year. We figured this would be a good one -- cool, but not cold. So, off to Raleigh we go. As is tradition, we started out tailgating.

Ann Bennett and "friends"

I don't know if you can see it or not, but the guys in the convertible had an interesting "tail gate" strategy. They ate in their car with the top down. Never seen that one before.

Next, we went to the "fan zone" where they have fun stuff for the kids. You know you are really getting old when you go to get a new free ring tone at the Alltel booth, and the guy gives directions to your son and says something like, "I'm gonna tell him how to go get the one you want since he probably does more with the phone than you do." Seriously! I mean, I know some 9yo have phones, and maybe Bryant looks older. Who knows, but really!

This is actually the first pic I have of them in front of the stadium.

So, we go into the stadum. In like the first 3 minutes, South Florida scores. It's not looking too good. Then, something makes a guy behind us boo the officials or some play. A guy in the next section starts yelling at the guy behind us not to "boo the field in this house." A bunch of explicatives, security and even the real police later, they calm down and we get back to the game. Don't you love it when you take your family to an event that should be safe, and they get exposed to stuff you'd like to avoid? Meanwhile, Ann Bennett is talking a mile a minute -- important stuff like if the Cubs played NCSU, who would we cheer for? If Furman played NCSU who would I cheer for? There's Mrs. Wolf. Are those our cheerleaders? We managed to avoid the food questions. NCSU scored a field goal.

At the end of the 1st quarter, it started to rain. We had an umbrella -- in the car, and I had on a white t-shirt. We really did not think we were going to need rain gear. As the rain got harder, I decided it was not going to be pretty if I stayed in the rain, so Ann Bennett and I go get ponchos and hide out under the bleachers. A bit later, I call Carey to find out he and Bryant have also vacated to under the stands. It takes us a while to find each other - bad reception under stands in rain! We found each other and Carey says we are leaving. The score was already 31-3 or something like that. We left before half time, and he has never left a game early. As we walked out of the stadium, State scored the only touchdown of the evening. It was not pretty. I think the final score was 41-10.

So, the next picture is really what we drove to Raleigh for last Saturday. At least we were home a little earlier than expected. I am shepherding Ann Bennett's Sunday school class, and she was singing in church.

I hope your team won this week. Furman won 35-10, but neither of my children are Paladin fans. Maybe they'll convert yet!

First Soccer Game - AB

Ann Bennett has somehow made it to 6 without ever playing soccer. Shocking, I know! She never ASKED to play, and we have so many blooming games to go to with Bryant that I didn't push it. She tried t-ball last fall, but once she'd tried it, she was done. Well, now that she's in U7 for soccer, it's all girls. She's on a team with lots of her friends. They have an Ann Bennett, Anne Catherine and Anna Dudly on her team. Those poor coaches have a hard time knowing which Ann name to use! Anyway, it's been a great experience. Her coaches are great. Both are fathers of girls in AB's school. One's daughter broke her arm in August, so she's not even getting to play. We're so lucky to still have him helping with the team, and we hope Grayson makes it back before the season ends!

AB throwing in the ball.

AB is #8. I wasn't sure she'd stay with the ball when it was so hot, but she did.

Her favorite part - chatting with friends. Notice Grayson's cast.

Anne Catherine, Ann Bennett, Mary Archer, Lydia, Grayson, Coach Stuart watching. My favorite picture of the day!

We actually had 2 games this weekend. The previous weekend we were rained out by Hanna. We lost on Saturday, but I guess Sunday counts as a win. Only 2 kids from the other team showed up. Their coach wasn't even there. The girls didn't care. They still scrimmaged and got in some extra practice. I think this is going to be a great experience for AB. She has a lot to learn, but she seems really interested in going. We'll keep you posted.