Indecisive

I dislike that I am so indecisive.

I have no less than 5 patterns picked out for the Birds and the Bees block.  I bought a couple more tonight.  Ugh!  The only thing I decided on, I think...., is using a couple of charm bees for the Bees.

C's team lost their game badly and ended up in 2nd Place to finish the tournament.  They got beat up, literally, by a Nebraska team of questionable....integrity?  The tournament was only supposed to be a Rec-based tournament and Competitive teams weren't supposed to be able to play.  The rumor is that this team, who has attended for years, is a Competitive team.  Apparently they have different rules in Nebraska for how their teams and leagues are classified.  This same team is traveling to Montana next weekend--sounds competitive to me.

It also didn't help that the 16-year old ref sucked.  Our girls got beat-up physically.  At one point, he told a couple of parents from our team that they would be watching the game from their cars if they didn't shut up.  The one goal the girls scored was disallowed because supposedly the scorer was offsides.  Huh?  She had a fast break and ran around the defender by herself and she was still called offsides.

It was a crap day.  I forgot my sunscreen and didn't ask to use anyone else's, thinking that I would be okay since it was so early.  Wrong!  My arms are bright red and my face got more sunburned.  The Colorado sun is fierce!!!!

Always With the Drama

You lose there is drama.

S lost all of her soccer tourney games this weekend.  They were shut out all three games.  I thought they might have a chance the third game as the score was 0-0 at half and the girls looked like they were playing well before I headed over to C's game.  They ended up losing 0-5.  After a week of soccer drama and a head coach-less team, I'm not surprised.

C's team ended up in 1st place in their draw after this morning's game.  They won 3-0.  (They lost their first game yesterday on a flukey play.  An opposing player went down hard and C's team stopped in their tracks, but the ref didn't blow his whistle.  The other team scored.  The girls learned a valuable lesson.)

The day wasn't without drama for C's team, though.  C's coach ended up crying and some heated words were exchanged at the end of their last game.

The 2nd game, in the semi-final round, was hard fought.  C's team scored first quickly.  Scoring was back and forth until the game ended up tied at 4-4 late.  C's team scored a goal in the last seconds of the game--seriously--to win the game.  They should play the championship game tomorrow unless something really strange happens with the points system.  However......

Because the game was so hardly fought and was so close in skill with the other team being pretty beastly in SIZE and skill, not all the girls got to play and some girls didn't play many minutes.  A couple of these girls AND their parents took offense.  (C played almost every single minute of all four games.)

To be fair, the team had many meetings at their practices for this tournament where they discussed as a team certain potential issues such as this and how they would handle them if they came up.  I guess it's different when they come up and how you feel about them then.  The team voted at the half that they were going to play the players that Katrina thought would give them the best chance of winning.

They won, but the win ended up being very bittersweet.

It Gets Better

Yesterday I wrote about the soccer tournament that my girls are participating in this weekend, specifically that S's coach insisted that the team participate and then told us this week that he wasn't going to be able to coach because he was going out of town.

Let me tell you where I sit before I stand:  nothing less than a death in the family would be a good enough excuse for him to not coach this tournament.  I don't particularly care for the coach's personality, but S doesn't seem to mind.  I feel like he coaches with only his daughter's interests in mind.  I also don't like the guy he brought in as assistant coach this year.  (More than one parent had suggested that he needed help and that they would be willing to help coach, but he rebuffed them all.  This new guy is goofy and immature.  Most of the girls do not like him!)

He insisted that the girls participate because even though they would probably get killed by all the competitive teams, it would be good experience for them.  He didn't come out and say these other things, but this is the impression I got.  1) He really wanted to do a tournament and we should reward him for coaching by doing the tournament.  2) It would be a good opportunity for his daughter, the soccer goddess, to play.  3) He wanted to extend the soccer season as long as he could.

We felt guilted into the tournament.  I was less than thrilled about it being on the holiday weekend.  I gave in because S wanted to play with her team--INCLUDING her coach.

When I found out on Monday night by EMAIL that he wasn't going to coach, I had a fit.  I did wonder if I was the only one, but then I talked to some of the other parents and they were as upset as I was.  A group of us talked about it more yesterday at practice.  Everyone was pissed....  We all were in agreement that we wouldn't pull the girls because it wouldn't be fair to the team or the other teams in the tournament.  The coach knew we were talking and came over and confronted us.

What a dickhead!!!!

He didn't understand what our problem was with him not coaching.  He refused to acknowledge a reason why anyone would be annoyed or disappointed in him for him not coaching.  He suggested we were being selfish.  It made no difference if he coached or not.  He went on and on.  ....He said he didn't care if the girls played.

My point is that he shouldn't have insisted we do this tournament if he wasn't going to coach it.  Team is Team, including the coach.  If there was any chance he wasn't going to be there, barring emergency, he should have at least let us know.  He was very cavalier about the whole thing, refused to apologize, and refused to understand why we had issues.

As it turns out, one of the other moms not involved in this discussion and not understanding why we chose to have the discussion with Scott then, told us she's known for over two weeks that he wasn't going to coach.  She was surprised to learn many of us didn't know until this week.  He knew from the very beginning that he wasn't going to coach. 
I don't want S to play on this team anymore if he's going to coach!

Summer Vacation

Today is the kids first day of summer vacation.  So far, so good on Day #1.

Our weekend plans include a soccer tournament for both girls.  This is not what I had in mind for a holiday weekend, but I was trying to make the best of it.  I was positive about the whole thing until S's soccer coach emailed this week to say that he won't be coaching for the tournament.  What?!!!!!  He forced us to sign up for this damn thing and then makes other plans for the weekend.  There are some pretty annoyed parents besides me.  I haven't replied back to his email, but you know I'd like to.  I need to get my emotions in check first.  Fortunately for him, we have to be up there anyway for C.  If we were just going because of S, I may have pulled her out.

On that note, I'm itching for a fight......

I think I'm going to do a "I Just Punched a Werewolf in the Face" block as one of the next quilt blocks.

I Got Sunburned!

Ouch!

I can't believe it, but I got sunburned today....  It must have happened today at S's soccer game.  Her game started at 11:30 and finished about about 12:45.  I got just enough sun to turn my chest and the side of my neck a nice bright pink!  I didn't realize it until I looked in the mirror this evening when we got home from the soccer awards ceremony.  Now that I saw it and realized it, it hurts.  LOL  I didn't think I'd have to break out the aloe this early.  Here am I always warning the kids to get their sunscreen on.

The days are slipping away so I have no time to be lazy.  I've been searching online and in my memory to find a penguin block.  I had a bevy of choices, but from juvenile to realistic.  We wanted realistic and not too whimsical.  I finally remembered that I had purchased a penguin pattern from one of my favorite designers, Silver Linings Originals.  Linda is the best for her realistic animal and flower paper piecing patterns.  (I've used her patterns before.)

I've printed the pattern and now I just need to pick out my fabrics.

I haven't abandoned New Moon.  My next step is to piece the letters together.  I didn't consider the space I would have to place into between New and Moon so I have to figure out how that changes my design.  Always something with me.....

Rainy Days and Headaches

Rainy days and headaches always get me down.  It's a good thing it's not raining because I have a headache.  I woke up this morning with one and nothing I've done has gotten rid of it.  I'm trying to not let it slow me down today, but I so far not so good....

It's another soccer Saturday.  S has one more make up game next week, but today was her last game of the schedule.  A's last game was today, too.  The games overlapped so M went to A's game.  S's team lost.  The BBQ and awards ceremony is afternoon.  If not for the tournament on Memorial Day Weekend we'd be done.  I'm ready for a break and I think the kids are, too.  Getting them to go to practices has been difficult and everyone knows how I hate to argue.

I hope everyone is having as productive of a day as they want!  I'm rarely too sick to quilt so I am sure I'll be working on something or another today.  I'm trying to figure out more New Moon stuff to do.  I printed Jacob's note onto fabric so I need to finish that and move onto the next block.  I've got a pattern on order that should arrive next week for Rosalie's Story.

Winding Down and Heating Up

I am so glad that soccer season is almost over.  I think we have one more week of games and maybe a couple of make-up games and we will be done except for......S and C are both going to play in a tournament on  %^&@ Memorial Day weekend %$#@ maybe all three days.  Practices for that when I thought I was done.  I love my kids and their activities, I love my kids and their activities....I love my kids and not their activities.  It's really the practices that I don't like.  I'm at soccer practice every night of the week until 7ish.  I do like watching C's team play, though, even when they are losing.  I didn't think I'd ever say that I like soccer, but I like to watch my kids play!

We are in the homestretch for school.  I think their last day is 5/26.  C has her graduation ceremony around that time.  We've been trying to find her a dress.  She is as tall or taller than me, but she is a stick.  Size 0.  We looked at Marshalls together, but couldn't find anything.  I'm not much help, because I don't know what she wants.....and she hasn't been able to tell me what she's looking for.  She wants a summer-style dress, but she is limited to what she is allowed to wear.  If we buy anything with spaghetti straps, she will also have to get a garment to cover her shoulders--the name for it escapes me.  Help!

We're still trying to figure out what to do with the kids this summer for daycare.  They can't go to my parents.....  They can't be home by themselves....  I can't stick them in camp all summer.....

The Girls vs. The Boys

My girls will probably grow up not wanting to get married or have any kids as much as they listen to me rant about the difficulties associated with marriage and motherhood. It's not all my fault, though. It's hard for them to miss how their dad and brothers behave on a regular basis without any help from me. C has just about had with her dad's refusal to help her with her room.

S is such a sweetie! She asked me tonight if she could clean at the closet. Of course!!!! She doesn't look too happy in this picture, but she really did volunteer.



C helped me with laundry today by doing her own. She's at a b'day party for one of her friends. I hope she is having fun!!

I refuse to talk about the boys, but you can guess.....

S's team won their soccer game. Yay!! The team played well, was aggressive, and S almost scored. I almost didn't mind the rain storm in the second half that made got me wet and off to Starbucks for a warm drink to warm up after the game. Yeah, any excuse! C's game was on the other side of town and conflicted with S's so M took her. They lost. Boo...

I finally took Brenda's suggestion and got a flannel backed table cloth to make a design wall. How's this for a nice invitiation to quilt something? It only cost me $3 at Walmart.



Oh, my? Is she actually working on something?! A couple of somethings....



I was bad and bought more fabric when I should have just used my stash. I had to have some Fairy Frost for my bubbles, though! Really!! The blue jumped off the shelf, but I decided to use a blue out of my stash instead. More soon....

Staycations, Soccer, and Car Shows

I've decided I need a Staycation sans husband and children. I want to take some time off to putter around the house and sew. If wishing were hopin'.... It's difficult for me to take time off because I don't have vacation benefits with this job. If I don't work, I don't get paid.

We were up bright and early for C's make-up soccer game. She had to be at the field at 8:30. I didn't get up early enough so M took her to the field and then came back for me. He bought me breakfast at McD's, but no coffee since I'd made my latte at home. If I'd of only known, I would have held out for an iced coffee. C's team lost and one of her teammates broke her wrist when she fell by trying to brace herself in the fall. I get ill just thinking about it because I think about C getting hurt. She' been pretty lucky so far--the only injury she's really had was when she broke her toe years ago on the playground kicking a soccer ball around with the boys wearing inappropriate shoes. She's got a nagging foot injury right now that we're not sure about the cause--the ball of her foot hurts after exercise. She's been icing it, but she's in discomfort after playing. I'm probably going to have to take her to the doctor. He'll probably just tell her to rest it.

It was also picture day today so M spent an hour or so this afternoon hanging out at the park with the kids so they could get their individual and team pictures taken. M reminded me to take their pics together before they left.



Soccer, Soccer, Soccer..... This after the three games yesterday!

M headed off to the Automobile Show when they got back. He loves to go and I'm happy to stay home. It would probably be like me dragging him to a quilt show. At this stage of our marriage, we don't even pretend to be interested in going together to events like this.

I tried an experiment last night and I'm not sure about the results. S spent the night at her friend's house. I slept in her bed. I didn't sleep all that well. I think I woke up just as much in that bed as I do usually in mine. I wish I had used my earplugs to make the experiment even. I'll have to wait until one of the girls spends the night to try again. It's 9 and I'm exhausted! I did work hard this weekend so may be that's why?

I took some more pictures of some of the uglies in my house....

From a couple of years ago. M thought this brown would be nice.

We used to have stained glass in the window of the door. It fell out and we now have plexiglass. So....Attractive and safe.

Thank you dogs for the tear and the snotty glass. One of the many screens that needs to be replaced.

The fireplace. The previous owner thought it was a good idea to paint the brick black and speckle it with white. The brass front doesn't fit right and the heat from the gas fireplace has discolored the paint. The chainlink screen is filthy.

Thanks, again, dogs! No we don't have rabid termites... The dogs chewed the wood posts when we used to keep them back there during the day.


M started patching the wall a couple of weeks ago. He hasn't done anything else. He left the container and spatula on the floor. It's still there as we speak.

Let the Games Begin

Three of four kids are playing soccer this season. Today was the first weekend for games since they got snowed out two weeks ago and there weren't any games scheduled last weekend because of Spring Break. I like watching the kids play, but I could do without all the practice time as a parent. I know the kids need the practice. I'm always running somewhere, though. I'm glad that C is old enough to be dropped off since her practices conflict with S's, but she still practices three times a week for two hours plus a night and we've not been getting home until after 7:00. I know that they love to play so I guess it makes it easy when all is said and done for me to do my part. We've stocked up on quick foods for dinner. I really should do some crockpot dinners so we're not eating microwaved stuff all the time.

I also need to get together a project I can do by hand to fill the hours. I've been reading so far to fill the time, but I've had some difficulty finding books that are worth my time lately. I usually zip right through a book so I need to stockpile some more, too. I just finished The Help--totally amazing book due it's own separate entry soon.

S's team got trounced. This is S's second year playing and she has fun even though they don't win much. She got to start this game so she was even happier. A's team won big. This is A's first year playing and you can tell. He got turned around a lot. He's not afraid of playing, though, so hopefully he'll catch on.




I was supposed to get a better picture, but I kept forgetting and then he had his uniform off before I knew when we got home.

Some other things for the day, but I'm too tired to write. I did start the Keep the Faith Quilt today and there's some drama about that related to church. I'm loving my fabrics a lot and I can't wait to share the blocks! (Oh, and the fabric I thought I would have to order online? With careful planning and cutting, I think I can get away with the 2 FQs I purchased for the quilt and NOT have to order more. Phew!)

Happy Easter early if I don't post tomorrow. My little church manages to have two Easter services. C and Z are acolyting separately at each so M and I will probably split up to attend or attend both. We hadn't really decided.... I guess we'll see how we feel tomorrow. There's a breakfast in between that I was supposed to make something for, but I didn't decide on that either. So wishy washy am I! I did manage to get the kids' baskets done and I ended up with an extra bunny that I never returned. Oh, well....