Sunday, July 29, 2007

Cleats of fate

Soccer season starts in just a few days--well, practices anyway. Abby is going to be playing on a 4 year old girls' team. Her friends Audrey and Carol Grace are on her team, as is Mandy's daughter Katie. There are 9 girls total. Their coach is my dear husband, with Audrey's dad Chad serving as assistant coach.

Really, this is more soccer lite than true competitive soccer. The playing field is tiny, they don't keep score, the coaches are the refs, and the parents are encouraged to spread out around the perimeter of the field to help keep the ball inside the bounds. It's mainly to get the girls to have fun, learn the basic rules of soccer (and by basic I mean REALLY basic, like don't touch the ball with your hands and don't sit down on the grass while the game is going on), and get some exercise.

The unfortunate fact is that while Abby may be playing soccer lite, the pre-season purchases were anything but cost lite. Abby has unluckily inherited my wide feet, bless her. We went on Saturday to buy soccer shoes. There is, it turns out, only one brand of soccer shoes that makes models even remotely wide enough to get her feet into, and even that company had only one shoe that would work for her. They're cute, and she loved them. Then she turned around, and I got a glimpse of the price tag. FIFTY FIVE DOLLARS. Before I could stop myself, I said, "You have got to be KIDDING me! I am not paying fifty five dollars for a four year old to run around and kick at a ball for two months!" The owner of the store, who was incredibly cute but waaay too into soccer, smiled kindly at me and said, "I completely understand. But I mean, this pair IS hers, they are meant for her." Seriously? I am a spiritual person, but I do not believe in the pre-destiny of soccer shoes. I could tell that he was dead serious too--this was not an attempt to get me to buy expensive shoes. In fact, there were more expensive pairs than that. At any rate, he figured out that Matt was the coach and that we were also buying soccer balls and cones and shin guards, so he knocked the price down to $30--still a lot of money, but he discounted everything else too, so I was okay with it. Besides, now Abby and her soul shoes can be together forever. Hey, those whom God has brought together, let no turf break asunder, right?

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

101 and counting

I just realized that my last post was my 100th blog entry! That's a big milestone! I started writing this blog at the end of August 2006, so I've hit a hundred in under a year. I feel quite accomplished.

To celebrate, let's take a little trip down memory lane. Tell me what your favorite post of mine was--if you have one. It will help me know what the people want more of. Also, tell me if there are any topics you think I should discuss. I'm open to suggestions.

No gifts, please--we'll save that for the 500th post party.

Monday, July 23, 2007

There's no excuse

Oh, the shame, the shame. I feel so bad--even my precious great aunt Joyce wants to know why I haven't blogged in so long! I shall disappoint my fans no longer.

I would like to tell you that I have a good reason for not blogging much lately, but the truth of it is--I have just been lazy. I took two and a half weeks off of work to "get things done at home." Not much got done--doesn't it always work out like that? The break was welcome, nonetheless, but I am glad to be back in the groove of things now. So that you don't feel excluded, I will give you a brief glimpse into what AMEN has been up to:

- The kids are doing well. Abby is ready to begin her first attempt at an organized sport with soccer in just a few weeks. Her team's coach is, coincidentally, her father, so this should be a most interesting endeavor. It shall no doubt be the source of some fantastic blog posts. Ethan is learning new words daily, as well as how to take off his shoes, dive headfirst off the couch, and pin poor Annie (our dog) to the floor.

- Our friends Mandy and David have sold their Little Rock house and are finally heading for the hills. We've lived in different towns for so long, I can't imagine what it will be like getting to hang out whenever. Plus now, I can actually go WITH her to Gymboree to watch her do her magic.

- I have read the final Harry Potter book, and seen the fifth movie. Both were immensly satisfying. I know that some of you don't read HP, and to each his own, but I think the books make one of the best thought-out fiction stories I've ever read. That is one clever lady.

There is a pile of clothes that has conquered the laundry room and is threatening a hostile takeover of the kitchen, so I must go defend my home. Check back soon--I'm feeling inspired!

Thursday, July 5, 2007

She's alive!

There's no excuse--I'm a slacker. My apologies, now let's move on with things.

Today officially began my 2 1/2 week vacation. Sort of. Well, it did, except that I worked for about 3 hours from home and am not done yet. What can I say? They can't live without me up there.

We had a very nice, very low key holiday. We went to our firends' Kori and Billy's house for the afternoon. They have a huge pool, and we were there with several other families we know. We had a great time, though Ethan is not a fan of a swimming pool. Abby is a regular water baby, though. After swimming a while and then eating ourselves sick we came home and got E in bed, then did some minor fireworks in the front yard. We're very lucky--from our driveway, we can see several fireworks displays around town, including that of the fearless teenage boys up the street, and the crazy fools down the street. It's like I say every year, why pay to blow yourself up when you can watch others do it, then go inside and go to bed instead of to the ER?