My Saturday Warriors

We finally had a beautiful sunny Saturday for soccer games. It's actually the first really sunny day we have had since the season started. Also, as a huge plus, everyone (including me!) was healthy!! I was able to get a few shots of the kids playing.

I was only able to see about 10 minutes of Josh's game (Megan and I had to leave for her game), and I didn't get any really great pictures of him in action. Here is one, though:


His team tied, 2-2 against a Monrovia team.

Megan has been playing in the goal, and loving it. I HATE it! It just makes me way too nervous. I did get a great shot of her saving a goal, though:


Unfortunately, she got scored on right after this. Her game ended in a 2-2 tie as well.

Kyle had the last game of the day. He has been playing midfielder this year, which is a switch from the past 2 years. Here is fun shot of him:


This game didn't turn out so well for his team; they lost 3-1, even though they had so many more shots on goal than the other team. They just kept kicking it straight to the goalie.

It was a long day... we were out on the fields for about 5 hours. We didn't even think of sunscreen (dummies!) and we are all paying for it today. This picture was taken at Kyle's game. Barry never sits during the games. He helps out Josh's team, so he stands on the sideline with the coaches, then during the other games, he paces back and forth. I guess the day was wearing on him, because I got a rare shot of him sitting!


We have a deal with Kayti. She has been drug to the fields with us every Saturday in the fall for the past 8 or 9 years (I've lost count!), and has had to sit and watch everyone play. She played for 2 of those years, but hated it. This year, her Daddy told her that she could stay home from the games if she would clean the house while we were gone. She was all for it, so now, thankfully, we return home from games to a clean house!

Special thanks to Grannie and Grandpa for coming to watch all of the games yesterday! The kids sure did appreciate having you there!

Happy

I needed to post something this morning that makes me happy. I LOVE this old barn door. I want to make a headboard out of it for my bed. Now, if I can just convince Dad to let me take it off the barn! :)

Tough Couple of Weeks

Wow... it hasn't been the best couple of weeks around here. Everyone knows that we have had a major stomach bug this week, but last week was a tough one emotionally.

First of all, I should say that in 17 years of marriage, Barry and I have never had a fight. We have disagreed over things, and we might even raise our voices on occassion, but we don't fight. We don't call each other names and let the heat of the moment carry us away. That being said, we had a big disagreement last week! I still won't call it a fight, because it wasn't, but things were a bit tense for a few days. I hate that feeling more than anything, too. The timing of this incident was incredibly bad, too... right before I had to leave for YW (and I was responsible for part of the actvity that night, as well). I am an emotional person, and so whether I am happy, sad, hurt or angry, I tend to cry! I am sure that I was pretty scary looking by the time I showed up at the church... I had cried half the way there, and was fighting hard to pull myself together. I managed, we had a fun time with the girls, and by the end of the activity, I was actually laughing with them. I love my Laurels!

If the night had ended there, it wouldn't have been so bad, but it only got worse. One of the bishopric members pulled me aside just as I was about to leave, and released me from YW (and then called me to teach RS... what???). I was so devastated, all I could do was leave quickly before anyone saw me crying my eyes out... again! I'm still not "over" it, but I'm coming to terms with it. I know that sounds silly, but I love my girls, and I will miss working with them so much. They inspire me, and make me want to be a better person. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching them become all that they are. Some of these girls I have been blessed to work with for over 3 years now, and I have seen them grow from little girls to beautiful young women. But, more importantly, I've seen their testimonies grow, and their love of the Savior grow.

Well, to make a long story short, Barry and I both had the day off the following Friday, and we were able to spend time together, and that was nice. Our leisurely afternoon was cut short, though, when he got called to come into work that night. He grabbed a couple hours of sleep, then headed out the door shortly after the kids got home. He worked again on Saturday night, and then on Labor Day as well. He and the boys did go over to watch the Auburn game on Saturday night with the Mayfield gang... and in hindsight, that probably wasn't the best idea! Hee hee!! The result of that was the major yuckiness that has plagued us this week.

On Sunday evening, between work and yuckiness, we had an opportunity to go on a family walk. Megan cracks me up... she is such a tom-boy, and the child HATES to have shoes on. I got this fun shot of her, walking down the road:

Yippee!!!

It looks like this household is now over the "Yucka"!!!!!!! Barry and I are both headed back to work today, and all the kids are back in school. (They actually all went back yesterday.)

I'm still afraid of food. I'm starving... but I'm afraid to eat. I made these amazing Brownie Peanut Butter Cups (I found the recipe on Carly's blog: http://mcadams3.blogspot.com/) before I got sick... and now they just sit, staring at me. The thought of eating one now... well, I won't go there! It's too early in the morning!

I know that there is a ton of work facing me this morning as I head into work. I checked my work email from  home yesterday, and I had over 85 emails in my inbox! But, I'm kind of glad for life to return to normal today.

I hope everyone else is doing well!

Almost like kissin' your sister (or brother as the case may be...)

We had a very long day on the soccer field(s) today. Our day started early, as Megan's game was at 8:30. She had a very exciting game. They were down 2-0 at the end of the first quarter, but managed to come back and tie it up 2-2. Megan played 2 quarters in the goal, and while I HATE having my kid in goal, she did a great job. She had an amazing save, and she is anxious to write all about it on her blog, so you will have to check that out in a day or so. In the end the game ended in a 2-2 tie, although the girls played their hearts out. Megan played the whole game, and didn't need her inhaler once.

We had a bit of time to kill before Josh's game at 11:00, so we ran over to Wal-Mart and grabbed a few munchies. Josh's game was very exciting to watch. He is now in the U16 division... and those boys (and girls) know how to play. They no longer take quarter breaks at this age. They sub players in and out, and play 40 minute halves. Josh played defender this game, and was up against some tough competition. He did a great job, and I was so impressed watching him play. You would never know that he took 2 years off from playing. In the end, his team tied, 2-2, as well.

Kyle had the last game of the day... a 2:45 game, which was 30 minutes late getting started. He played all over the field today, and did a great job. He was able to breathe just fine during the game, and we were very grateful for that. To be honest, it was a pretty boring game... Kyle's team went up 6-0 by half-time. That turned out to be the final score... his coach pulled all his forewards to the back of the field, and the defenders moved up. While no one else scored, we had several great shots on the goal, and Kyle almost scored one. We had laughed that if his game ended in a 2-2 tie as well, that it would be just a bit creepy!

Kayti was a great blessing today, and chose to stay home from the early games to clean house for us. I don't think it was that great of a sacrifice for her, as she is not much of a sports lover.

The day has been cloudy and threatening rain, so I didn't take my camera with me. I didn't want to run the chance of it getting wet, although it never did actually rain. While I hated that I didn't get any great shots of the kids, I was thankful for the cloudy, breezy weather. I don't think that I could have taken a day of sweltering sun. I've still got 1 1/2 more months of games to get plenty of pictures!

Soccer... startin' with a bang

Ok, so I totally forgot to grab the camera before we headed out to soccer games on Saturday morning. I could have kicked myself! I told the kids that they were not allowed to change out of their uniforms before I got some pics... but of course one of them didn't listen, and he was in the shower before I even got a foot it the door. Hopefully I will remember it this week.

Just to recap the games...

Josh did outstanding on his first game back in 2 years. He has really missed playing, and he looked like an old pro out on the field. He won, 4-3... yea!!! Thanks, Dave and Jess for coming to watch him play.

Megan started out in a new position for her... midfield. She has been playing defender for the past 2 years. She did a great job the first quarter, but by the second I could tell she was having some difficulty breathing. She made it through the quarter, and for the first time ever had to use her rescue inhaler. It was a bit scary for her and me, but she was fine once she used it. She sat out the 3rd quarter, then played defender the 4th quarter. Her team won, 4-0. This year she decided to go back to an all girl team, after playing co-ed for the past 2, and she is really enjoying it.

Kyle has kept a low profile to his coach about playing goalie. He told him, but he hasn't made a big deal of it. He would like the chance to do some other things this year. He certainly got all of our attention when he had to be taken off the field during the 3rd quarter. He had been playing midfielder all game, and then suddenly he had a very hard time breathing. He took a knee, the ref stopped the game, and he was subbed out. He came back in the 4th quarter, and finished the game as a midfielder. His team won, 5-2!  As a side note, I took him to the doctor yesterday, and as it turns out, he also has asthma. His doctor is hopeful that he will grow out of it, but as of now he takes meds in the morning, and evening, as well as carrying a rescue inhaler with him.

We have games spread out all day on Saturday... Megan plays at 8:30, Josh at 10:00, then Kyle at 2:45. Hopefully I will remember to bring my camera!!!

Beautiful

I downloaded some pictures from my camera this morning, and just had to share a few.

As Kayti and Josh were headed out to seminary this morning, Josh ran back in and grabbed the camera. He and Kyle captured some awesome pictures. Here is one of them... and I promise, this has not been touched up at all.


Kayti and her friend, Cat, grabbed the camera while we were at the temple last weekend, and they got this great shot:


And last, but not least, Kayti's YW President took her to get her eyebrows waxed on Saturday morning. Then her daughter played with Kayti's hair and make-up. Sis. K altered a shirt for Kayti, and by the time the stake dance rolled around that night, Kayti was a new girl! Isn't it funny how teen-age girls don't want to hear a thing their moms tell them, but if someone else they love and respect says the same thing to them, they are all ears?! I have been trying to get Kayti to have her eyebrows waxed, take time to actually fix her hair (something more than a ponytail, PLEASE!), and wear just a little make-up, for so long, but she would have NONE of it. Someone else suggests it, and she is all for it. Go figure! Kayti got lots of compliments on her new look, and has tried harder to keep it up this week. The make-up has not lasted... she doesn't give herself enough time to do that in the mornings before seminary... but she has tried harder with her hair. Here is a picture of my beauty (taken after she got home from the dance).


Thanks, Sis. K, for making her feel beautiful and important!