The Mighty Papercuts

The Doodlebug got bored with gymnastics and decided to try something new. Ok, that's not 100% true. I got bored with gymnastics and encouraged him to try something new. Or I made him try something new. Details, details. Anyway, he decided to try soccer. He played on a team through the YMCA. His team name was the Papercuts. Here is a picture of him before his first game.


Now, he missed his first practice because he had to go to the doctor because he was sick. Then his second practice was rained out. So for the first game, where do they put the kid that has never played soccer EVER and who has never attended a practice? They made him the goalie......

He did so good the first game that they made him the goalie at the second game.

And he was goalie at every game this season. (Not the only goalie. They did switch out. But he was the best goalie.) Seriously, he rarely let anything past him. You know why he is such a good goalie? Because the goalie doesn't have to run!!!! That's right. My kid who runs like the wind through the house and through Target and through anywhere else doesn't like to run on the soccer field. Doesn't care for it at all. He even invented his "super fast runner" button and would push it mid-way through the game and that didn't help so much.

But he had a great time playing. He had a cheering section every week. Here is daddy, granny and granddaddy, along with the Ladybug cheering him on. Nonnie made it out to a lot of games too.

The soccer season has come to an end and now he's ready to play baseball. I was pushing for basketball because it is played inside rather than out - during the winter - but he wanted baseball. I'm sad that we will miss his first baseball game - we'll be in Las Vegas - but I know he'll do great. We'll see how this sporting adventure pans out......

We proudly present....

The Doodlebug as Spiderman....

The Ladybug as, well, a ladybug.....

I suck at blogging.

I have lots to cover so I'm going to do it quick and without pictures. Sorry.

It's been a month since I last posted. I know this because my last post was about the Ladybug's 9 month birthday and today is her 10 month birthday. She is such a fun baby. She's so happy. I know I say it every month but she really is. And you know what? She loves men. She is such a daddy's girl. She loves her granddaddy, her Cee Cee and especially her brother. Don't get me wrong - she loves me too - but she is really a fan of the boys. Already. Great.

The Doodlebug has started playing soccer at the YMCA. He missed his first practice because he was sick. Then his second practice got rained out. So the kid had never played soccer and never practiced soccer and what does the coach do? He puts him at goalie. First game - he's the goalie. He did great though. He's played goalie at every game and I must say he is a pretty good goalie. He's back a school and having a great time. But he is counting down the days until he gets to go to school with me.

Ok, that covers the bugs. Now onto Chad. He started a new job and he's really enjoying it. He's going to start back at school working on a couple of degrees for the new job. He's doing it online though so he's not going to have to spend a lot of time away from us. He went on his annual trip to the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival with my dad and they had a blast - as usual. Carrie came in from Kansas to visit me while her husband and her dad were there too. We chilled with the kiddos, did some shopping, drank just a little - we had a great time. I'm hoping we actually get to make the trip to the festival next year.

Now me. Remember back it June when I had the privilege of wearing "the boot?" I graduated from the boot and have been in tennis shoes with some sort of orthodic insert to help with the tendonitis - even did physical therapy this summer. Well, I'm at my parents house and they have these new floor mats at various places around the kitchen. Now, I'm not going to say they are platform mats but there is a definite step off - and I stepped off wrong. On my bad ankle. All the way to the floor. The fall, I think, fixed my other problem (not really, but it is better) and now I've got a new problem. I've aggravated a tendon that goes from the front of my ankle all the way to my knee - it runs along the right side of my shin - and it hurts with every step I take. SO, I'm back in the boot. My doctor did x-rays to make sure there was nothing fractured and there is not. But 3 days in the boot and my pain is much better. And in September I had the flu and bronchitis. Good times.

What else?

• Jason - Happy Birthday! The Clue party was a fantastic hit. Why the long faayyycccee?
• We got to hit the Greek Fest this year! Yay! We usually miss it because of the blues fest but this year there was no interference. Opa! Greek wine is good. And the margs we had afterward were a hit too.
• Chuck and Melissa have joined the homeowners club. They bought a phat townhouse in Midtown. The townhouse has a tad bit of history in it's short 4 year existence but we won't go into that.
• One month till we leave for Las Vegas. Vegas baby!!!

9 months!!! Seriously...

The Ladybug is now 9 months old. And for her 9 month old birthday present she gets...a double ear infection!!! She looks real sick, huh? Go ahead...feel sorry for her. She still only has 2 teeth - 2 teeth that she has worked very hard on. She is still incredibly happy and still loves her veggies, her brother and Maxx (much to his dismay). She's fast too!! She has started standing on her own without holding onto anything so I know it is just a matter of time before she is off and running. I could go on and on about her special talents and her cuteness but I don't want to bore my audience. We are all having so much fun with our Ladybug.

Now, let's talk about this one. Below is the Doodlebug on his first day of preschool this year. Cute, huh? Let me tell you something about this cuteness. I'm done trying to force him to eat things he doesn't want to eat. Here's why. There is this Chinese restaurant that we go to and he will eat the mess out of the chicken the the fried rice. So, we went to PF Chang's today for lunch. I got him some chicken fried rice off of the kids menu - yes, PFC's has a kids menu now. So the first bite of the chicken he says, rather quickly, "Hey, that's pretty good." Well, the second piece I forced upon him must have been poisoned or something because he started gagging on it and then proceeded to puke on me and himself and the floor. WTF???? It's chicken!!!! By the time I finished cleaning ourselves up my food was cold so I didn't get to finish it. Like I said, I'm done forcing the issue. He'll eat when he is hungry.

Anyone else watching the Arkansas game? Could there be any more penalties? Jeez. Put the flag in your pocket, ref. Let the boys play!

4 year old words???

Doodlebug: Mommy, a herbivore is a dinosaur that eats grass.

Me: (puzzled) Yes baby, you're right.

Doodlebug: A carnivore is a dinosaur that eats meat.

Me: (even more puzzled) Right again.

And then he asks me if I know what a paleontologist is. Yes. Yes I do. Because I'm 35 and I'm an adult and I'm a mother and I'm a teacher and I'm supposed to know what a paleontologist is. But YOU. You're friggin' four years old. Paleontologist is not a four year old word!!!!

(Sigh) He's going to be sent to the office every day when he starts kindergarten. Lord help me.

AND, tonight we ran into the grocery store and when we went to check out he told me to put my groceries on the conveyer belt. Jeez....

Babysitting Update

We left around 8:00 and were home by midnight. Throughout those 4 hours we got no phone calls. We got no text messages. We walked into a very quiet house. The dinosaur hot wheels tracks were all across the living room - so a good time must have been had. The Doodlebug was asleep in his bed. The Ladybug was asleep on Cee Cee - she apparently wasn't a fan of her bed that night. The babysitters were not comatose. Everything went great. I think they'll be back. I'm sure it would be easy for me to find a trustworthy teenager to babysit but I sure do like it when I can leave my bugs with family.

The Babysitting Chronicles

Tonight, Chad and I, along with Sarah and Jason, are going to see Chuck's band. My brother (Cee Cee) and sister-in-law (Lee Lee) are coming over to babysit. Everything will be fine. The bugs love them and they all have a lot of fun together.

Now, let's rewind to December of 2005 and I'll tell you about the first time Cee Cee and Lee Lee tried to babysit the Doodlebug. The Doodlebug was 9 months old and we were going to dinner for Chuck's birthday. We were going to a restaurant far, far away. About halfway there we got a phone call from Cee Cee telling us that the Doodlebug had not stopped crying since we left. He had called my mom and she gave him suggestions - none of which worked. So then I gave him some suggestions and told him I'd call him when we got to the restaurant to see if he was any better. Well, we pulled into the parking lot at the restaurant when my phone rang again. The Doodlebug was at the crying stage where you are pretty sure he is no longer breathing. Without a doubt, Cee Cee and Lee Lee are freaking out at this point. So we went into the restaurant. "Happy Birthday, Chuck. We can't stay." We rushed home to rescue the babysitters. When we walked in, the house was silent. The Doodlebug had cried himself to sleep. Cee Cee was sitting in the rocking chair in his room staring at the floor, semi-comatose. Lee Lee was on the floor, back against the wall, knees to her chest staring at the floor, also semi-comatose. Chad and I had to giggle at them. They were so traumatized. It was a VERY LONG time before the ever agreed to babysit again. Hopefully tonight will not scar them like the first time did.