Travel Soccer

Maura tried out for travel soccer this  year.  She made the A team.  She was pretty proud of her self, but was a little sad that her two best friends did not make the team.  She has done great though.  She is playing with a nice group of girls and loves them all.  She had a rough outdoor season, losing almost all her games, they only played two teams over and over again.  The one time they played a different team, they won.  They did improve a lot through the season and definitely narrowed the scoring gap each game.  She kept her spirits high and still tried hard each game.  Her footwork really improved and she was a great defender.  This winter indoor season they seem to be playing younger girls each week, and crushing each team, like they play down a player and still win 15-0.  I thought losing all the time was bad, but winning by this much   each week is not that fun either.  Hopefully next year we will figure out the right place to play.  And hopefully we will still play with this great group of girls.

Gymnastics

LLast year when Mags got sick she stopped gymnastics.  Really, she couldn't even walk, let alone do gymnastics!  She said she was not going to go back.  I think she was just scared she would not be able to do it anymore.  After much thought and time, she decided to go back.  It was not easy.  She cried; I mean really cried, like yelled and screamed and threw fits, every time I would try to drive her (she did do a demo class she loved, but then changed her mind).  I have to say, I did not really blame her.  She knew no one.  At one point I even asked to get my money back, I mean it was that bad.

Well, it is the end of December and she is loving it.  She had a little Christmas party and show before Christmas.  I thought she might not want to go, but she did.  She was so excited and happy and running around with her friends.  She loved it.  She even gave her coaches their gifts, which is not like her.  She does not like to draw any attention to herself ever.  We were more proud of her for that than her performance on the mat.

Christmas 2013 recap

I can honestly say I loved every minute.  Well, except those minutes when I thought my head might explode, literally, after a trip to NYC to American Girl Cafe... so fun!  For Kerri's birthday.  The trip up was interesting when we got on Amtrak with NJ transit tickets!  The conductor let us stay.  Walking around was fun, minus the whine.  And Kerri loved picking out her doll.  Lunch was delicious.  Although, at that point anything would have been delicious, we were so hungry.  The ride back the train broke down on the trucks, underground, in the tunnel.  You see, I worry about running out of air a lot on public transportation, not sure why, just do.  A man started yelling about trains hitting us from behind and bombs and such, we're all thinking it dude, just know to keep it to ourselves!  I had to give him a few pieces of my mind.

We eventually, after a lot of chaos and riding between train cars, made it home.  My head felt ready to explode, but it is a great, and funny, memory.

We had lots of fun with Arlington cousins.  Fun gift exchange.  I feel like girls are getting less "jink" which helps my piece of mind.  We trained (surprised girls would get back on a train) into Philly for light shows and lunch at Reading Street terminal.  Had a fun Christmas Eve Eve at the Gallaghers.  Got home after midnight, which made the girls year.

Christmas Eve we continued the tradition of meeting with the Smiths.  We went to their house for lunch then to church.  A quiet night home with girls in bed by 7:30 (their own doing... thank you Santa tracker).  Christmas morning was great.  Maura got the hamster she wanted, Maggie got horizontal bars.  Bridget asked what her "big surprise gift" was so we said a trip to Florida.. that worked.  Kerri got a leap pad she loves.  Lots of presents from Santa too.  Visits from all the grandparents happened that day.  How cool is that?  And how lucky are these girls to have all their grandparents!?!?

We saw Frozen the next day, visited daddy at work, did a big clean up of basement...getting rid of "baby" toys.  This I am not sad about.

Ryan and Chris came over on Saturday with my parents for a visit.  Fun catching up with them.  Maggie already spent her Justice gift card plus some!

Looking forward to NYE at the SMiths tomorrow.  Sure am not ready for early monring wake up calls any time soon!

Chained to the wall

The girls and I met Mimi the other day to see a new Disney movie, Frozen  It was right near Sean's office, so afterward we stopped by to see him.  They love going through the circular door the most.  After meeting a few people along the way (and asking lots of questions), we got to daddy's office.  Maggie immediately go in daddy's spinning chair and started to pretend she was on the phone.  At one point she went to hand the phone to her sister.  As she handed it across the room, the cord did not quite reach.  Totally baffled, she said, I would give it to you, but Daddy has his phone chained to his desk.  I guess she has never seen a phone cord before!

Peace

We recently redid our family room.  I absolutely love it.  Today when I walked in the room, Sean said. "I love being in this room; it is just so cozy, isn't it?"

I think he was making fun of me, because I say that at least once a day.  And it is true.  I love being in it.  I love being in the room, in the house, cozy and comfy.

Today I was driving Maggie and Eva to the store to spend a gift certificate Chris gave her to Justice.  We were talking about our favorite stores.  Then Maggie said, "My favorite place is my house."  I smiled and agreed.  I mean, I love vacation.  I love the beach.  I love the mountains.  I love visiting places, but I really love being home.  Call me boring, a homebody, call me whatever, but I love it here. Tonight, as I type Sean is on the couch across from me.  All four girls are piled on chairs. Maggie, of course, is flipping around.  We are watching the Eagles.  Hopefully win to get into the playoffs.  Fire is going.  I just love it.  Even with Kerri whining in my ear, that she is hungry, there is no place I would rather be.

Fumble!  Everyone's cheering.  Life is good!

Happy Birthday Kerri Jean

So I know I am so far behind in this.  I never finished the story about Maggie in the hospital.  I tired, but it was just so emotionally draining... I'll get back there, I promise.  Then Maura turned 9 and Maggie turned 8 and school started, and soccer started, and gymnastics started.... oh so many things.  But if I tried to catch up, I could never do it.  So I am starting fresh, from now, today.

Kerri turned five today.  Holy Moly Guacamole... how in the world did this happen?  I am officially a mom.  I know I have four kids, but for some reason, I always just feel like I am playing house, or will some day be a grown up, just not yet.  Well, I am 38 and my youngest is 5.  I guess I need to face the facts, I am a grown up.  Life has been sending some curve balls lately and that is making me realize I really need to start to cherish the days, the nights, the moments.  We are so lucky to have great friends and family, I can't even express it.  I hope that my kids are growing up feeling loved and cared for by so many people.  I hope they are learning lessons on what it means to be a friend.  I hope some day they have friends that would literally drop everything to help you.

 But somehow I digress on this Thanksgiving weekend.  Kerri turned five.  And oh boy is she a great kid.  She is so funny.  Always has been.  She is smart too.  Like, I am not just saying that.  She is.  She spells all kinds of words, can remember such details, and even does some simple math.  And man can she draw.  She is a great little artist.  She spends hours in the classroom drawing, coloring, cutting, painting.  She loves it so much.  Her teachers constantly comment on her artwork.  She knows all her letter sounds and loves to ask you how to spell everything or ask, "what does this spell?"

She loves pickles.  Today for her birthday we gave her a huge jar of pickles.  She was thrilled.  She loves fruit too (not as much as pickles).  She is a great eater.  Loves her some meat.  Still eats a lot.  She wears tutus and leggings still.  She has a very unique and definite sense of style.  Please do not tell her what to wear.

She says her best friends are Kate Gallagher and Megan Moroz.  Her teacher says she is quite popular in class.  To the point where one mother had to call the school because her daughter was upset she did not get to sit next to Kerri.  She kind of knows it, but really does not care about it.

She loves being the baby still.  Likes to be help, carried up to bed, snuggled, and often uses baby talk.  She will still find play objects and pretend they are pacifiers, but not as much now.  Now she is looking for things to pretend they are cell phones.  She is great at gymnastics.  Does a mean cartwheel.  I promised her classes when she was five.  Guess I need to follow through!

I am loving being the parent of a 5, 6, 8 and 9 year old.  Life is good.  And I know life can be short.  So thank you Jesus, for all my blessings!