Start Your Engines!

Soccer has officially started and the craziness that goes with it. The girls have practices at the exact same time and day, but on opposite sides of the city. Luckily we will each be able to take one girl to their practice. The only problem we will run into is when Tommy has a meeting after school. Hopefully that won't be that often.

Cute Story Alert!!!

The other day the girls were playing Rock, Paper, Scissors. After a few rounds Melodye told Brooke that she had a glue gun and it beat everything else. Brooke told Melodye "No I Barack Obama'd you." And the game ended at that point because evidently at my house Barack Obama beats everything else.

What is With My Girls?

For some reason both girls have decided that they want to be goalie this season. I about fell over when Melodye said this considering she is afraid of the ball and that it might give her a bloody nose. Brooke says that she wants to be goalie so that she doesn't have to run.

Brooke is really enjoying her new coach this season. She has really taken to him as evidenced in this picture. I have a much better picture of the two of them, but I do not know if he wants his face broadcast all over the internet.


Brooke did pretty good as goalie. She was not afraid of the ball, but she did make me stand near her the whole time she was goalie.
The only problem we had was when a goal did get in she became quite angry. To quote her "The next time they git a ball in I am going to hit them." When I let her know that was not going to happen, this was the look I received.
Melodye did quite well for her first time as goalie. She wasn't as afraid as I thought she would be. But I do have to say that it is more stressful as a parent having your child be goalie than any other position.
Mel took this position quite seriously, blocked some shots, and missed some. At one point one of her teammates yelled that she needs to start blocking the ball. Melodye yelled back that she's doing the best that she can. I was proud that she stood up for herself, but did not go overboard with it. She was angry about it afterwards. Melodye said " Your teammates are supposed to help you and support you, not be mean to you." And I completely agree with her.
At practice tonight, her coach had her and two other girls practice as goalie. This was needed since none of the girls have had experience as goalie. We will see what will happen this weekend. Tomorrow Melodye goes to the doctor to find out about her sprained ankle and whether the brace can come off or not.

Sidenot: Please if you are the praying type, send my dad some prayers. Five months ago my dad had angioplasty and 3 stents put in his heart. He has been having pains so the doctor completed an angiogram today. The three stents had a 50% blockage and just below those there was a blockage of 99%. So they were cleaned out and a new stent put in besides the three already there. He is recovering now, but this was a scary moment to find the blockages like that. Thank you for your prayers.

Computers

Computers drive me crazy. I don't know what happened, but the laptop would not print. The firewall on the desktop was blocking it. Ok easy enough to fix, but due to an identified problem we could not open the firewall. And that is a direct quote. So tried a restore point, but we could not go back any further than Sept. 1. Finally ended up trying to restore back to factory settings, except some of the stuff is still on there but only part way. Which means that I have to go through each thing, see if it works, and uninstall and then reinstall it. Frustrating and time consuming, especially since I can't do more than one program at a time.

Earlier today while I was backing up Itunes, I read this:

Duke Most Wanted by Celeste Bradley

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the third book in the Heiress Bride series. I really enjoyed this one. I was cheering both characters on expecially since I had become attached to them from reading the other two books. This was a light but extremely enjoyable read.


View all my reviews.

Both girls had soccer games this weekend, but they were cancelled. The only way they could play is if they switched to water polo o had their boats out there. Which was nice because it did free up some time.

Went to Walgreens today and got some great deals. I forgot to take a picture before I put it away. But the lowdown is that the total came to $91.81 before coupons. After coupons I paid $38, recieved $5 register rewards and will receive $16 in rebates. Go me. Now this was a learning trip also concerning the register rewards. If you pay with register rewards, then the new register rewards will not print out. Which means that you should do multiple transactions. I asked so the manager said he would give them to me this time, but only this time which was nice of him. The only problem was that I did remember the one for $5, but not the one for $4.50. But as I said, I am using this as a learning experience.

Weekend Wows

This weekend Melodye had a soccer game. This was her first game playing with her brace for her sprained ankle. You definitely could tell that she was not able to play like usual, but she gave it her all. I am so proud that she kept going. The girls never gave up even when they were down by 5 in the first half. They ended losing 5 -2, but they tried their hardest and that is what matters.

After the game we dropped the girls off at my parents and went to Schaumburg with Jeff and Kelly. We went to Weber Grill for dinner. It was delightful and the garlic mashed potatoes were heavenly. I ordered my own side and they came in a freaking cauldron. We could not finish them at all. Tommy and Jeff kept saying they have never been that full from Prime Rib before. So it must have been the potatoes filling them up.

After leaving Weber Grill, we went to the Improv to see Lynne Koplitz. We were quite surprised at how much of an intimate setting it was. We were close. There ended up being three comics for our $17 a person. Well worth the money. Lynne was hilarious. We would definitely go see her again.

I was so tired afterwards, I went to sleep about 9:15. So much for a late night without the kids. I think it was my thyroid still causing problems.

The next morning I was up at 6:30. So I read the paper and knitted on the Moderne Baby Blanket for my brother. I really need to put some more time in on it. Then we went to breakfast at The Corner Bakery. I had the Cinnamon Raison French Toast. This was awesome. It wasn't toast; it was a mini loaf. Moist and yummy. I would definitely go there again.

After The Corner Bakery we went to Ikea. I cannot go to Schaumburg without going to Ikea. We ended up buying something to use for storing the winter hats, gloves, scarves, mittens, and soccer shinguards.

After Ikea, we ate at California Pizza Kitchen. I never get tired of that place. Of course I had my usual a Tostada Pizza without the dressing and with Chicken. Delicious as always. I am eating the leftovers for lunch this week.

It really was nice to take time for the two of us and do somehting as a couple. We definitely will need to do this again.

What Happened?!?

I don't know how time flies away from me so fast. I have been thinking about posting, but other things keep getting in the way. Things like soccer has started and the girls have different practice days, which means that we are going to practices four days a week. School has started and I just feel like I am constantly behind, but it is getting better. Melodye sprained her ankle last weekend, but for a while we didn't know if it was broken. So we have been to the ER, regular doctor, and the specialist in the last week.

So I am making a goal for myself that I will try to post at least three times a week even if it is a short post.

The Beginning

Today was the beginning. The beginning of back to work for me and the beginning of back to daycare for Brooke. Brooke was not ready to go back today. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. I had meetings all day today. Tomorrow I will be working on my classroom and getting ready for the kids. I hope I can get everything done tomorrow that I need, but I don't know. At least I hope I get all of the kids things finished and make it look like everything else is finished, which is more probable. The kids start Wednesday. I really hope . . . no I know I will have a really good class this year.

I am still taking Cake Decorating classes. I am in the middle of Course 2. I haven't much of a chance to practice, but I will be making Brooke's birthday cake for her party on Sunday. Which reminds me, I need to make the cake and figure out how I am decorating it.

Soccer has started for Melodye. Three days of practice this week and the first game is Sunday right after Brooke's party. Soccer doesn't start for Brooke for a few weeks. We still need to find time to sell the raffle tickets. I keep forgetting about them.

Melodye goes back to school for third grade on Monday. Brooke goes back to preschool on Tuesday. At least then we can come up with a routine and stick with it.

Last night we took Mel to the store to get gym shoes for school. The girl is wearing a size 5. She just turned 8, how can she be wearing a 5. When we found that out, she was excited but I apologized in advance to her that she got her big feet from me ( size 12).

***I tried to add a picture to this post but I kept getting an internal error message. Oh well, some other day.

Finale

Brooke played her last soccer game. She actually got the ball two different times!!! Although she did kick it the wrong way both times. LOL No more soccer until the fall. Hopefully there will be a U4 team so that Brooke will be playing with kids her age instead of older kids.

Semi-Finals

Melodye played her first championship game Saturday in the Quarter Finals. Hobart played against Crown Point who we had tied and lost to previously. The girls were awesome. They finally came together as a team and THEY WON!! It was amazing watching them as they gained their confidence during that game. Today was the semi-finals against Highland. Hobart started off winning, but after the half Highland went on to win the game. The girls never did give up. They were amazing and gave it their all. At one point, I asked what had gotten into Mel because she ran all the way across the field and beat every other player to the ball. She had never done that before. It was heartbreaking afterwards when the girls started crying.

Brooke has two games left. Monday evening and Saturday. Then we are done with soccer until fall. By then we will be ready to do all of this again.

I did not take any pictures today because I was a bad mom and forgot the camera. Along with being a bad mom, I have not taken any pictures off of the camera in quite awhile. Hence, no pictures on the blog.

I think I am going to try to post something every day this week. We'll see how it goes.

Latest Update

I don't know what is with me, but I just haven't had the energy to post anything. I have had ideas, but not the energy. I am going to try to do better now that school is winding down.

Brooke had her last day of preschool today. Wednesday will be Brooke's last day at daycare and Mel's last day of school. My SIL is keeping them for Thursday and Friday since I will still be working. They are going to have a blast with their cousins.

I am almost finished at school and I am ready for it to be done. I have things that need to be done and things I want to finish before the school year is over, but I am not sure how much will get done since I am so tired lately. (Not taking my thyroid medicine is really hitting me this week)

Memorial Day Weekend was a busy weekend of working, but nice to be together. Brooke has three soccer games left. Saturday, Monday, and Saturday. Melodye has at least one game left. She is in the tournament, but we don't know how many games are left, because you play until you lose. We are hoping for some wins.

I knit the front of Melodye's dress, then checked the gauge, and it was off by one stitch per inch. But I am not going to knit it over. I am going to knit the back to match and she can just grow into it. I am not a perfectionist when it comes to knitting at all.

This summer Melodye is signed up for drawing classes and swimming lessons. Brooklyn will be signed up for storytime at the library (need to do that this weekend when I am there). We will be busy enough doing that. Plus I have started my annual list of things I want to get done this summer.

Melodye has an appointment with the nose doctor for tomorrow because she has started getting them again (three times all on the left side). We'll see what he wants to do since she has had her nose cauterized once on one side and twice on the other side. But we will get this matter taken care of eventually.

A New Favorite

I have a new favorite song. It is called Summertime by New Kids On The Block. Go there, even if you don't like NKOTB, it is still a great song. Brooke is loving it when I play it in the van. She can't stop dancing. (A girl after my own heart.)

I picked up my lens from the camera store since it couldn't be replaced. While I was there, I purchased the same lens. Now I am ready to take soccer pictures. I am really looking forward to taking the pictures. I enjoy being at the games, but I feel I am more into the games when I am taking the pictures. And of course I love reliving the game when I look at the pictures.

A Truly Blessed Day

Wednesday my dad saw the heart doctor and found out that there was an abnormality in his stress test. His heart was not getting enough oxygen. The doctor wanted to do an angiogram sometime in the next two weeks.

Thursday I get a call that my dad was going to the emergency room for chest pains and just not feeling right. Mind you this all started about 5:30 in the morning but he didn't get to the hospital until about noon. They gave him Nitro and he started feeling better. He was admitted to the hospital.

Friday I took a half day so I could be there for the angiogram, but it did not get schedule, So we just hung out.

Today, Saturday, they did the angiogram. When the doctor went in he found a massive blockage in the artery that works for 70% of the heart. They had to go in and put multiple stents(?) in his artery. While they were going to do that my dad almost crashed. The doctor said that he really scared him. The doctor also said that if my dad had not gone to the hospital when he did, he would have had a massive heart attack and probably not made it to the hospital and if he did he ould have had to have had open heart surgery.

I am so glad that everything worked out time wise and that the procedure had worked.

A really odd and weird thing happened after I left the hospital today. I started folding laundry (no, that's not the weird thing) and I put the next episode of Gilmore Girls on the TV. It was the episode when Richard had a heart attack and had an angioplasty done. It was like a weird sense of deja vu but not with myself. Crazy kind of weird.

Also, I have the best husband in the world. During the time I was at the hospital, he took the girls to the soccer games and mowed the lawn with only a couple hours of sleep. He really is an amazing guy.

And if I don't get a chance tomorrow . . . . Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! I hope you have a lovely day.,

Bad Blogger

I have been a bad blogger. It's been one of those things where I waited because of things that were happening in my life and then it just extended even longer. So on to the update.

1. My lens is officially dead. The two weeks to hear from the technician became three weeks and a response only after I called multiple times. A repair would cost $189 while a new one would cost about $199. Hmmmmm! I wonder which way I should go. (Sarcasm at its best)

2. Thyroid Update - I had my ultrasound. I was told there might be nodule - go in for a thyroid scan. I went in for the scan, found out the doctor order said "multi-nodular goiter", couldn't get the test because I was not off my medicine for 6-8 weeks. I have now rescheduled the scan for June and I am off the medicine and I can feel the difference. I really cannot wait until this whole thyroid situation has been figured out. I have gained 7 pounds since I stopped the medicine. Not a god thing.

3. Soccer - Melodye scored two goals at her game yesterday. We are thinking that she is a pretty god player considering she is the youngest player on the team and able to keep up with the others. Brooke actually played in her game this weekend. Of course it was more fun to play in the mud than chase after the ball. But Brooke should do pretty good in the fall when she goes back to playing U-4 instead of U-6.

4. Work - Less than five weeks of school. I am so excited. I am really looking forward to spending time with the girls this summer. I am hoping the thyroid situation will be figured out so I won't take 5-6 hour naps each day like last year.

5. NKOTB - I got New Kids tickets today. I can't wait to go in October. Yes, I am a freak. I paid more than I normally would, but I couldn't help. I just love the New Kids and who knows if there will be another chance to see them after this.

6. Knitting - I finished my second pair of socks, but first for me. I put them on and couldn't stop admiring them. I will have to take a picture of them. They are just too cute. I am trying to figure out what to cast on for next.

7. Birthday - I had a wonderful birthday. My dear husband surprised me with a gazebo, so I can be outside with the girls and not in the sun. I also got three crafting books, a robe, pajama bottoms, tank tops, some clothes, perfume, etc. I was a little spoiled. And now Mother's Day is just around the corner.

That's it for now. Hopefully I will get back on the blogging bandwagon.

My Poor, Poor Lens

Sunday, Melodye had a soccer game. So of course I pulled out the trusty old Tamrom 75-300mm lens. But it would not work. You could hear it trying to focus, but it would not move at all. So no pictures of her game.

I took the lens in today. $25 just to get it examined. It will probably take two weeks to even hear what is wrong with the lens because there are 40 items ahead of mine. At that time, the technician will call and tell us what is wrong and the cost. I am hoping it is cheaper than a new lens, but I am not sure since it is six years old.

I don't think I will be getting many close up soccer pictures this year, since we are waiting on the lens. I am kicking myself for not taking it in earlier. It has been temperamental for the last year, but I found a way to get it to work and I have used it.

I really miss having the option to use my lens.

Relief!!!

Melodye and Brooke have started soccer again. Melodye started off as in-house. About a week into practices, we get a call from the first coach that she had (who we loved and stayed with four three years). He (Call him Coach1, don't know if he wants his name on the internet) called because a coach had backed out of coaching a travel team (one week before the first game). Since they probably wouldn't get a coach last minute, Coach1 decided to coach the team. He was short players, so he called to invite Mel to the team. We jumped at the chance to be on his team again. Now we love the in-house coach that she had, but once you travel that is the tem that you stay with for the whole time. So we had to jump at the opportunity to stay with this team and Coach1.

Now for the relief part, now that the background information is out of the way. I was worried about telling Coach2 that Mel wasn't going to be on the team. We have stayed with them for three seasons or 1 1/2 years. I was worried that Coach2 would be angry that we were just up and leaving the team, but I wanted to be the one to tell them. Monday practice was cancelled due to the weather. So tonight was my opportunity. I arrived there and was told "I already know." Somehow the word was spread, but they were happy for us and couldn't stop telling us that. It was such a relief to find out that I was worring for nothing (typical).

St. Patrick's Day

Forgot it was St. Patrick's Day - Bad mom! Luckily Melodye had a shirt that had a tiny bit of green on. Brooke and I did not have green on at all. I did give the kids at school stickers so that everyone had green on and didn't have to worry about the older kids pinching them. And of course, I made the rule that pinching was not allowed in my classroom.

I did not take a picture of the blanket. It was raining all afternon and evening. I will definitely take a picture tomorrow even if the weather is bad. No really . . . I do mean it.

Tomorrow is the start of the soccer season. Brooke has practice tomorrow and she can't wait. She tried to dress for soccer practice on Saturday and was mad when I wouldn't take her to practice.

The craziness is starting because Melodye has practice on Mondays and Wednesdays and Brooke has practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Which works out so we have time to eat dinner and do homework unlike last year, but on the other hand we have something everyday. But it is worth it considering how much they enjoy their soccer. I am so glad that they enjoy soccer. I never really played any sports, other than volleyball in 8th grade (and I sucked at it). I want them to be active, healthy, and enjoy their time playing soccer, and so far they do.

Found

I looked in my purse four different times for my camera. Could not find it, but this morning when I got to work I went in purse to get something out and lo and behold there is the camera. I do not know how I missed four other times. Maybe the elves were finished with it and returned it.

Melodye brought a paper home about sign ups for soccer. While we were talking about it Brooke ran to her room. She came out wearing her soccer shirt, shorts, and socks ready to go to soccer. She was quite disappointed when I explained to her that she souldn't be playing for a few months still.

My class is driving me crazy with their talking. It seems to be nonstop lately. I am tired of repeating myself. I am tired of writing notes home and nothing happens. I am just tired of the talking. So I changed their desks. They are in three groups. I am giving out group points. The group with the highest points will get play-doh on Friday. Hopefully this will motivate some to be quiet and the peer pressure will help with the others.

Photo Test

2007 Oct 20 001
Originally uploaded by jlniksich

Hopefully this will work. I want to see if I can post a photo with a post. This is B at her soccer game in October.