Daybook: Updating

I'm not going to apologize for the silence. I've learned in the past that silence can be golden. Especially internet silence.  Especially when you can revisit your original reasons for blogging and re-prioritize a bit. But most especially for a reason like this one:

Little Dude has been keeping me busy, of course.  But more on him throughout the course of this Daybook.....


Outside my window~
Sun.  Blue skies and sun.  We went to the park today, and I got 2 hours of in-your-face sun time.  It felt glorious, and even Little Dude's cheeks are a tad bit pink.

I am listening to~
My girls play nintendo and my boys play poker with a friend.  The hours of outside fun this morning has made them content to sit and relax this afternoon.  It's Spring Break. We all feel content.

I am wearing~
My comfy (and very well-loved) jeans, t-shirt and crocs.  Hair in a messy bun.  I've promised myself that I will actually style my hair tomorrow.  I think.  :P

I am so grateful for~
Friends who organize park outings.  I never would have gone, never would have organized it... just would have feebly attempted laundry or writing while refereeing fights and putting off endless requests for playdates.  It was a lovely, refreshing change.

I'm pondering~
Schedules.  More on that in a bit.

I'm reading~
The Roots of Obama's Rage by Dinesh D'Souza.  My pick for bookclub next week.Very interesting.

I am thinking~
That Little Dude needs to get in some semblance of a groove any day now.  He is the king of the castle, and I never can plan anything!  Lol.


I am creating~
A new Nut House normal.  Our sports schedule this season requires that we be away from home at dinnertime 4 out of the 5 weeknights. So, we'll be eating dinner at 4:30 on those nights.  DH and I have it coordinated so we know who needs to be where, and when.  On the nights he works late, I'll be flying solo, but it's doable.  Texting one evening with a long-distance kindred spirit while waiting at Sports Fan's practice, I decided.... no complaining.  We chose this. 3 kids on 4 teams. 2 girls in dance. It's crazy, but we homeschool after all.  We are together all day, every day.  We can eat earlier.  We can regroup after practice and showers and pray the rosary.  If there is any time in our lives this can work, it's now.

On my iPod~
Nothing new, except maybe more old radio shows for Action Man.  Tales of the Texas Rangers, anyone?

Towards a real education~
Oh dear. 'Tis that discerning time of year again.  We've always said that we take homeschooling one year at s time.  We mean that literally.  Oy, this time of year is always hard.  :)

Towards rhythm and beauty~
Trying out the new schedule this week.  Still recuperating from my solo weekend... still grateful for energetic sisters who swoop in and whisk children off to games in the freezing windy conditions.  Still trying to re-vamp chore charts....  Still a work in progress.

To live the liturgy~
Lent snuck up on me this year, I admit.  I found our good deeds jar, got some dried beans, chatted with the kids about our sacrifices and hauled them off to mass on Wednesday.  But more needs to be done.  The boys had a friend over yesterday who told them that he was giving up TV for Lent.  The boys' jaw hit the floor as Action Man said, "Dude, that's hard!"  And the friend looked at them and said, "Yeah.  Isn't that the point?"

I am hoping and praying~
For our schooling decisions, and for many many other intentions that have come to my attention this week.  So much heartbreak and sadness out there.  Keeps my worries in perspective.

In the garden~
Tomato plants go in this weekend.  My red pansies out front look glorious... and looks like spring is here for good!

Around the house~
Chaos.  We emptied out the girls' rooms thinking that we would be hosting our friends from Wisconsin for the week.  They got the flu, however, and turned around before they even got to us.  Very sad. And the toys are everywhere.  This weekend will necessitate a huge clean up.

From the kitchen~
Lenten meals, coupled with soccer practice means quesadillas on the go.  :P  The kids have homeschool gym class at a park this afternoon, minutes away from Sports Fan's practice. So tempting to pack a picnic and stay... we'll see.

One of my favorite things~
Little Dude's ears.

:P

Beth These Days

Beth (Elizabeth) is our Little Boo. And what a Little Boo she is.

She is the source of most of the hilarity around here, both good and bad.  She will mercilessly tease all of her siblings... yes, even the 13 year old, and then turn around and do something totally precious like, make Little Love some lunch, or change the baby's diaper.  She is so fickle that way.

Not to mention the gems that issue forth from her mouth.  When she learned of my Grandma's passing, she turned to mom and asked; "Is she the lady who lost her marbles?"
My Grandmother had alzheimers.
Nothing like a little humor to lighten the moment. 

:P

At the tender age of 8, Beth really is an old soul.  She has decided, all on her own, to keep her room neat.  So, when visiting my parents, she took it upon herself to clean the kids' room every morning.  She picked up the clothes and toys and made all the beds.  My mother was thrilled that at least one grandchild had inherited her gene of cleanliness and order!

Beth also has undertaken the task of acquiring a love of reading.  She sees her siblings with a book going every day.  She is determined to do the same.  And so there is a stack by her bedside, from which she reads incessantly, and keeps me apprised of her accomplishments. 

My Bethie Boo is becoming quite the soccer player.  She has been asked to play select in the spring. My little spitfire, the captain of her team, is now in the big leagues.  Well, sort of.  When bringing her to her first practice, she asked me if this was a "Spanish" team.  Indeed, she is the only caucasian on the team!  This only bothers her, she told me, when the girls speak Spanish to each other.  So, she says, she just needs to learn Spanish.  Simple, huh?

This girl has taught me so much about the overwhelming ferocity of love and determination.  She works with such concentration and will.  Her spirit is alive and infectious.  I am so happy to report that despite my lack of parenting skills, she thrives.  And how she thrives!

What a privilege it is to be her mom.

And how I look forward to witnessing all God has in store for this little girl.

:)

Fatherly Advice: Good Sportsmanship Edition

Sports Fan plays goalie for his 12 and under soccer team.  Since he just turned 11, he's not exactly the largest kid on the team.  Yet, he shows a spunkiness in goal that can only be admired....


(during a break in quarters)  
DH(dear husband): Sports Fan, remember that goal you saved?  The one where the kid slide-tackled you just as you got the ball?

SF: Yeah!  That was cool, huh?

DH:  Definitely!  But that was kind of a dirty play on his part.

SF: Oh.... (eyes lighting up) So, should I have punched him or something?

DH: No!  No, no.  But.... if when you're getting up with the ball... and your elbow happens to dig into his ribs there? ....  I'm pretty sure that would be an accident.



:P

With Great Honor....

... comes great responsibility.

(Or something like that)

Little Boo (after soccer practice last night):  Coach said I am the captain of the team!

Me:  Really?  All-time captain?

Little Boo: Yup!

(recalling Little Boo's tendencies to be a bit...erm... vocal to her teammates on the field) 
Sports Fan:  Yeah, but it doesn't mean you can boss people around!

Little Boo:  I won't.  I'll just tell them what to do.


Lovely.

Dictatorship at the hands of an 8 year old.  Should be an interesting season...

:P

Little-Soccer-Boo

Because I didn't have enough craziness in my life, I let myself be talked into going to an ALL DAY tournament two days after our massive road trip home from California.


Here's how it all went down:

Little Boo has started playing soccer on a great team in a local all-girls' league.  Her coach was a bit of a stickler at first, causing DH and I to wonder what exactly we had gotten ourselves into. They practiced twice a week for an hour and a half... they had to arrive at games 30min before... we had to pay fees exactly on this date at this time.... the uniform cost a pretty penny...  All this for an under 7 team!

I was a bit apprehensive.  This guy and this team seemed a bit... intense... for our family.

Then came the first game.

Little Boo, in her super-cute and sassy pink uniform, headed out to the field to play defense.  I was highly skeptical, but bit my tongue.  And I was in for quite a surprise.

Of all of my soccer-playing children, Little Boo was good.

Not only could she steal the ball from the fast moving forwards and kick it back down the field, but she also seemed to intuitively know and understand where she needed to be at all times. I was so used to eating my own fist when it came to watching the kids play, (what with me feeling helpless as my soccer-clueless children gallivanted all over the field, always in the wrong position, always misjudging the play... I had a heart-attack at every game....I was quite the sideshow for my friends :P ) that I didn't quite know what to do with myself when it came to Little Boo's games. 

I could... sit back?  Enjoy? Simply cheer her on?

What a concept!
:)

During our vacation on the west coast, Little Boo kept bringing up this tournament.  It was an all day affair, the Saturday after we returned. It was over an hour away, and the girls would be expected to play 4 games total.  DH and I said NO. WAY.  But Little Boo was determined.  We'd be enjoying our hamburgers at In-n-Out, and she would ask about the tournament.  We'd be playing in the sand at the beach, and the tournament would be on her mind.  We'd be waiting in line at Disneyland, for heaven's sakes, and she would ask if she could play in the tournament with her team.

And so, at our hotel in Gallup, NM I got an e-mail from her coach.  He had a few last-minute cancellations for the tournament, and could really use Little Boo, he said.  After discussing it with DH the next day, somewhere between Albuquerque, NM and Amarillo, TX, I texted the coach  and said that she could play.  A few phone calls back and forth... and we were set.

Little Boo was ecstatic.

And the rest?

Is a picture-post...

She took most of the goal kicks...

She did a great job of shielding the ball from the other team....

She had awesome positioning on corner-kicks...

She had a great time with her teammates....

And she came out a winner...

Of course.

:)

The Definition of "Appropriate"

And yes.  The name of her team really is SPICE.


:P

What Our Holy Week Looks Like

We've been honored to play surrogate family to this amazing young athlete this week.
















Soccer runs in our blood, and my kids are used to the long games, the hours of sunlit afternoons perched on bleachers. They come prepared.





















We are always watching family. My boys, my sister, my girls...

This time we are the stand-in family. To help a Mama who has become a dear friend. To ease her worry and provide close support... and cookies.

:P





















We cheered on this corner kick goal. And on the penalty kick goal. And the very first goal. With a hat-trick, Paddy was the man of the day!






This is, by far, my favorite shot...

















Sports and family. Like rhythmic heartbeats, they go hand in hand.

Even 2000 miles away.


:)


*for more, better quality photos, and a lovely narrative, visit Charlotte.

Because Olympians Deserve Better...

When told that in curling Switzerland won bronze...

Little Love: Braums? Yum!















:P

Wednesdays

We have a heavily scheduled week.

As my kids get older, and their school work becomes more challenging, I find that the need for activities outside the home increases. Not only does the strain on their minds need to be resolved through rigorous bodily activity, but their social natures yearn for freedom and friendship when the books are finally stacked away and the papers handed in.

The 3 older kids have Religion co-op on Monday mornings.

The boys are in Scouts, which meet every Tuesday evening.

They are also in hockey and basketball. (different teams...) Practices for hockey are on Saturdays for now, until the games start. Sports Fan's basketball season is drawing to a close, but for now he has practice on Mondays and Thursdays, with games Saturday mornings. Shuttling him between hockey practice and his basketball games have been challenging. Do I even have to say how much I'm looking forward to the end of the basketball season?

The girls are starting soccer next week with practices on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Because of their ages, they are on two different teams. It's an all-girls league, the first time we have ventured from the security of the local "Y", and I am bit nervous. Little Dear hasn't ever played, and since she is older, I am worried that she will get frustrated with her own lack of skill. I'm hoping some genes will "kick" in...
:P

As if that is not enough, during the afternoon, (on Tuesdays and Thursdays) the 4 older ones are enrolled in (free!) homeschool gym classes at the rec center down the street. They go and run around, playing dodge ball, kick ball, hockey, or whiffle ball with other kids in the area who are homeschooled. Coach Tyrone loves our family, and the kids have a blast.

All this to say... our little sheltered homeschool life is very busy.

Except!!

On Wednesdays.

Wednesday is the day we regroup.

We have nothing. Nothing planned, nowhere to be, no-one to answer to.

All that needs doing is right here. Our simple duties... of school, hearth and home.

With Little Boo and Little Love joining our crazy homeschooling days, the break from playing bus driver is a welcomed one. They are doing very well, but of course it is so relaxing to know that our time is our own. That for today, we can relax the rigor and hyper-focus on the quality. We have this respite before the madness of our end-of-the-week activities kick in. A sense of calm before we storm into the weekend.

It's a lovely day.

:)

Advice From the Peanut Gallery

Little Boo (watching Sports Fan's basketball team get cremated this morning):

Hey, Sports Fan.... HULK- SMASH!!

No, I have no idea where she gets it from.

:P

What Happens When.....

Both of your older brothers play hockey?



















Yeah.




















You have the *privilege* of being the goalie.


:)


This post part of the April Shower of Photos being hosted here.

Tribute To My Dad

Written by my brother...


Another Gaff in the Record Books; And It's Not a Bad Thing

Ask him about what he did as an athlete in college, and he’ll casually respond with,“I played soccer, football, baseball and ran track at HofstraUniversity.” What he won’t mention is the fact that in 1968 he was named the first All American soccer player at the school, and the only other soccer athlete to receive the honor since then was in 2006. He also won’t tell you he still holds the single season record for most goals scored (19). Those facts are usually eagerly disclosed by his wife, without a hint of question. His humility deserves canonization, and it’s taught me the greatest lessons not only in sports, but in life’s journey. He’s my Dad, Ed Gaffney; and he will be inducted into Hofstra University’s 2009 Hall of Fame class on Saturday, February 7th in Hempstead, NY.

“Tim, you won’t believe this! Guess how much they’re charging per person to attend this dinner and ceremony. It’s ridiculous!” I responded with a quizzical look, and an internal answer of—a mortgage payment?—“150 bucks just to get in!” he snapped. “I can’t believe people have to pay that just to attend!”

Well, I certainly would.

This is for my Dad, a man who will finally be honored by the university for all of his accomplishments on the field in the late 1960s. Along with being an All American in soccer, he also played football, baseball, and ran track. Can you say “breather”?! I can’t even think of an extended family having 4 sports in their blood, let alone one person playing that many. Take that, MJ!

“I don’t know why people are making such a big deal,” he told me during the conversation in the living room. “I’m just gonna have fun with it.” This is a guy that’s so humble he probably wouldn’t even take credit for his own signature!

The athlete known as “The Man” these days by the current athletic director and soccer coach at Hofstra continues his humility in the spotlight; but what he has is what every other professional superstar should have—and that’s a sense of class, humility, and integrity. He displays these everyday to us as family, and the people with which he interacts everyday at work. Intimidating with kindness, and charming with frown-busting smiles, he exemplifies humane greatness. And now he deserves the recognition and notoriety, if just for one night, for all the dedication he has shown to the sport he loves. He’s the only person I know besides my mother who has walked the walk for thousands of miles more than he’s talked it. He owns the cliché of leading by example. 19 goals in ’68? You kidding me? Tell me he trash-talked those balls past the goalkeeper’s ear.

Saturday night will be a time my Mom and Dad will go back in time to those years that made him a star. Wish I could have a front row seat to his mind and all the pictures that will go through it as the host reads off his accomplishments. I’ve heard stories from him, seen pictures, viewed old super-8 films, and looked in awe at the All-American badge he has mounted on the wall. But nothing will compare to the night my dad will be inducted into the Hofstra University Athletics Hall of Fame. I’ll be here in Colorado, glass in hand, with a toast to greatness.

Dad, 150 bucks isn’t nearly enough if they get to hear your story. Did you notice it’s been sold out for weeks now? Congratulations, Dad! You’re Hall of Fame in every aspect of life, and your son’s hero.

I'm bursting with pride at my Dad's accomplishments... both on the field and in our family. we all love him and our Mom dearly. To quote Portia... "My Dad? Yeah, he's a rock star."

:)

Since I Haven't Seen Her in Awhile...

... I'll play along with Matilda long distance!

What Your Height Says About You

You are a true adventurer, and you live for the thrill. You have a lot of charisma, and you're good at convincing people to join you in your schemes. You are open to the world, and you make connections easily. You have lots of friends. You are likely to have many life paths to choose from. There are many possibilities open to you. You are about as tall as the average British man.

What Does Your Height Say About You?

Just the pick-me-up I need this weekend after our disappointing cancellation and sickness. Luckily, we have lots of family sports stuff going on. Not as hectic as you might be imagining, though, since we'll be watching a hockey game here at home at 1pm. Which, btw, has my peanuts torn asunder, given their new-found love of the Penguins thanks to the Stanley Cup Finals last year. Should be an interesting afternoon of rivalry between them and DH.

After that rousing game, I'll take a few of my peanuts over to the college to watch my sister's basketball game. And then, hopefully, I'll get to take her out for a nice sisterly dinner.

:)

Have a great weekend, y'all!

Overheard...

...at the second soccer game of the day:

Little Love (wailing as her eyes squint up at me through the glare of the late Texas afternoon sun):

Not another soccer game!

Ah, my Little Love, you were born into the wrong family. With a sports-crazed Mama who plays on her own soccer team and incessantly, from the sidelines, cheers on her children in their games, to a Dad who coaches every season, no matter what the sport. To an Auntie who is undoubtedly the best mid-fielder on her college team, known only b/c Mama makes you go to every. single. home game.To a Grandfather who tried out for the US Olympic soccer team back in the day and whose name is displayed proudly next to his still unbeaten records from 1968 at his alma mater. (That is my Dad in the picture)

Yes, my dearest Little Love, this is one aspect of your family that will just have to grow on you.

Game, on! (and lots of snacks for you, promise)

:)

Little Boo, Soccer Player

:)

What The Season Brings...

~Sweaty kids, drinking Sprite from the college vending machine.

~Suntanned backs and red cheeks.

~Scrambles for long socks and black shoes and balls.

~Sips of ice cold water on the playing field.

~Swings and slides for the younger set.

~Sideline voices, out of practice and hoarse.

~Subway sandwiches for dinner.

~Sleepy kids, freshly bathed and tucked into bed early.

~Sounds of Narnia on cd, the TV neglected for days.

Guess what beloved season we are experiencing at the Nut House?


Hint: Starts with the same first letter as each of my sentences...

:)

My Olympic Broadcasters

Little Dear:

I know what Water Polo is! One team says "water!" and the other team answers: "Polo!"

:)

Tears

We are hockey fans. Rabid, know-it-all hockey fans. My DH is Canadian and grew up with the theme of "Hockey Night in Canada" echoing through his home every Saturday. Our Team is the Vancouver Canucks.

We are not above bandwagon jumping, however, and when the Canucks failed to make the Playoffs, we quickly chose a team in each conference to cheer for.

For the Western Conference it was the Dallas Stars. (you see, we can be loyalists sometimes!) And for the Eastern Conference, we became enamored* with Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

And so, it was with great sorrow that we watched our beloved Penguins battle their hearts out that last minute of game 6, desperately trying to tie the score and send the game into overtime. Just like they had done in game 4, when they ended up playing 3 periods of overtime before scoring the winning goal.

The guys played with such passion. And when the final horn sounded and the Red Wings began their celebration, the Penguins wore their hearts on their sleeves and stared... stunned in disbelief. My oldest started crying.

The Pittsburgh crowd was awesome. They cheered their team, chanting their goalie's name over and over. On their feet, they celebrated an amazing season with an amazing team. My son was comforted by the fact that these guys are young. Much younger than the veteran-peppered Red Wings.

And next year? They will be virtually unstoppable.


*Ok, so maybe it was only Little Dear and I that were truly enamored. Little's Love and Boo were obsessed with pronouncing his name Sid-ney rather than Cin-dy. And the boys were committing his hockey moves to memory.

:)

Because I am well loved...

We are celebrating my birthday today by:

~Having the bug exterminator come over. Nothing drastic, thank heavens, just making sure we don't see too many of these running around the floors. BTW: Little Boo does an awesome impression of a dying cockroach... flailing legs and everything. Need to get a picture up sometime....

~Inviting the stomach flu in for a quick visit. Sunday it was Little Love, yesterday it was Little Dear. Wonder who's up for today?

~Hoping to get to the Rangers game tonight. Yes, all of us. Aren't I so generous to share? It will be fun to watch my peanuts gorge themselves on hot dogs, cotton candy and sprite enjoy the game in the Texas sunshine.

~Also received many thoughtful cards from various family members and a lovely gift from an even lovelier sister. Thanks, everyone! Much love to you!


Have a great day, y'all!

:)

Canada Wins It!

The Women's Curling Championship, that is.

Interesting sport, curling. It requires a whole set of skill and strategy that I can only begin to imagine. And, apparently, I have little to no imagination.

After watching for a few days, I could really appreciate that it would be difficult to balance on the "starter blocks" (or so they looked, like the ones you use when starting a race in track) with "rock" in hand, pushing off while steering the "rock" in just the right direction, at the right speed, with the right amount of spin, or "curl".... Yes, I could see that it would be difficult.


But the strategy I could never understand.


I watched and watched, and just when I thought I had it, I demonstrated most definitively that I had no idea what was going on.


Canada throws a rock, it spins and curls, smashing into the opponents rock, narrowly missing another. It lands just outside the circle. DH and I groan. Too bad! We say, Almost!


DH's brother-in-law looks at us in amazement... But that was a great shot! Just as the tv pans the crowd and shows two Canadians with red maple leaves painted on their faces, cheering their heads off.


Alllrighty, then.


Canada wins it.


We're not quite sure how or why. But we'll leave it to the experts, like those red-face-painted hosers in the third row.









:)