My Baby Starts High School

Tomorrow is the day I officially have to accept the fact that my baby boy is all grown up...he starts High School. Where has the time gone? It was just yesterday that we were going on bike rides. My chubby lil' Lijey sitting in his bike seat, big blue helmet, high on his head, barely able to fit his big noggin'. Laughing, pointing at all the "burdie's" flying around his chubby hand as he ate his sandwich.

In junior high I still felt a sense of connection with him during our every Thursday lunch days. He would get out of school early and it was our time together. We would take turns picking the lunch spot. Then spend time catching up on all the important things going on in his life. Not that he'd really tell me...but anything you can drag out of a teenager is special.
Elijah's 8th Grade Graduation

Natascha, Adam, Elijah, Josh, Me, Anthony & Dillon (Jullien was in NY)
Last week was my first experience not having anyone to go to "Lunch Day" with. Elijah was at freshman football practice, Jullien was in New York and Josh was working. I felt so alone, I guess I'm getting the beginning feelings of "empty nest" syndrome.

We spent tonight going school clothes shopping and then out to dinner. My stepson Dillon was going to pick him up for me tomorrow, but as we ate Elijah kept saying, "Well if he can't you can take me for my first day of High School." He said it a few more times throughout the night...so I took it as a hint that he really wanted me to drop him off. I had Anthony call Dillon and tell him I'd take Lijey tomorrow.

So I will drop my baby off at 6:30 a.m. (0 period starts at 7:00 a.m.) Saying goodbye to my baby...and our special lunch days. Wow, I never thought I'd take it so hard...I guess it's time to learn to embrace the fact that I will have more time for me again. This will be a new concept because I haven't thought about me since I had my first baby at 21~

Lazy Weekend Ramblings

Why does it always seem like you need a vacation from your vacation? I spent most of the weekend sleeping. I felt guilty on Saturday because I did absolutely nothing...I didn't even unpack my suitcase. Finally about 7:30 p.m. we went out for sushi and a movie for our date night. The 10:00 o'clock movie was the best because there was no one in the theater at all. We saw, "A Perfect Getaway," which wasn't the best movie, but it did have a twist. If you are looking for a super funny rental you have to see, "I LOVE YOU MAN". We saw this in the theater a while back and I was laughing out loud the entire time (which I never usually do). It is a crack up...MUST SEE!

Sunday we went to church, went downtown had some pizza with the kids, checked out the surf to see if anyone wanted to go out (it was small and mushy) so we came home and slept again. I think I'm sub-consciously gearing up for school to start. Not to mention Hell Week starting tomorrow for Adam & Elijah. Which means tons of running around and early mornings for two a day practices. I also decided to seriously try to get in bed by midnight instead of 2 or 3 a.m. every day. Even if I have to lay there for an hour awake, I'm just going to make sure I'm off the computer by then (if any of you notice my posts are after midnight, PLEASE feel free to call me out!)

One more thing...I'm tired of feeling gross. I've been pretty lucky most of my life and never really had to work out or watch my weight. I've noticed lately that I'm really putting on the lbs. I think that my late nights (along with my 1:00 a.m. bowl of cereal) is packing it on me. I got on my mini stair stepper tonight with arm weights and did some floor exercises. I'm going to be more consistent...I don't feel good about myself at this weight so I'm making an honest effort to drop some lbs.

Well that's it for my lazy weekend ramblings....thanks for listening, I feel much better already!

Can Women Learn To Like Football?

It's football season and I wanted to re-post an article I wrote...remember ladies, if you can't beat them, join them!

Women enjoying a football game....is this possible? If they understood the point of the game would it make a difference? This is a topic very close to my heart. I am a woman who LOVES football! I know, it's pretty unusual to find a girl who not only likes football, but knows all the positions, and can critique the players with the most expert male fan!

After several years of explaining the game to the supportive, but confused, "Pop Warner" mothers, I found that the problem does not lie within the "gender" factor, it is about knowledge. Men do not seem to have the patience or desire to take the time to teach their wives, daughters or girlfriends about this great American sport.

I first begin with the most simplistic and basic point of football.....the concept. I point out the orange markers, and tell them that the players have four plays to move the ball from the first marker, past the second marker. If they succeed, they get four more tries to hopefully score a touchdown. I explain what a down marker is and tell them that the number on the marker tells what "down" it is, (and remind them that they only have four attempts to pass the orange marker). If they do not succeed the other team takes over the ball and tries to score against our team by going through the same process.

Okay, I know it is VERY basic information, but I can't tell you how excited they become once they are aware of the general idea behind game that they spend two hours watching every Saturday.

After they start to understand the basics, we eventually get into positions and the purpose behind each position. As the season progresses, I am amazed at the excitement and enthusiasm that the women have developed. They become united; they scream, cheer and run up and down the field with each other. The bond has now been created, as the men look at their wives with a new found sense of pride. Can women learn to love football? My answer is an emphatic, YES!

My Son Turned 20...WHAT?

BIRTHDAY BOY

With all the drama going on (Elijah getting hit by a car, Dr's appts., football practices...etc.) I haven't had time to blog about my oldest son Josh's 20th birthday on Aug. 1st. Yep, 20, I can't believe it!! Where have the years gone? It's so weird, the older you get, the faster time flies by. Since Josh moved out when he was 18 to go live with his dad (whole separation anxiety for me) we haven't been as close as we used to be.

I decided to take the day off and spend it with my three boys. I took them all surfing, we came home and ate some grilled cheese sandwiches, then we went miniature golfing, we actually planned on going go-cart racing but it was alot of money for 5 min. so he said, "Let's just golf." We had SOOOOO much fun. We are all very competitive, it was a battle at first...I was kicking their butts the first 9 holes, then I fell apart. They were all trying to distract me, not fair. In the end Josh won, Jullien took second, me third and Elijah last. That night we had tacos for dinner (it's his fav) and carrot cake. It was the most awesome day! It was just like when they were little...I miss those days! Enjoy every minute...they will be moving out before you know it and you will long for "the good old days!"

Joshy & Elijah

Joshy & Jullien