It is official- I am a Soccer Mom

The evidence: 1 brand new soccer ball, 1 set of shin guards, 1 pair of soccer socks, and 1 black bag to put them all in. And, of course, the check for registration and the above "optional" items that are really a requirement.

Bug is officially registered for soccer- 6 weeks of practice and games on Thursday evenings. Yep- I am a soccer mom.

For Popi and Family- "soccer mom" is a term used in the US media to describe a particular demographic of women- it describes how the vote, what their priorities are and how they react to situations. As usual, though, the media placed a label that actually does not fit most of the people they lump into the category.

But in any case- Bug got to go out on the field - it is an indoor soccer field. he was fine running around with me, kicking the ball but when we stopped to stay hi to his coach - Miss Rose, he completely clammed up. he informed me on the way home that he was not playing soccer. We'll see how it goes next week when Y joins us for our first practice/game.

Love and hugs,
Deb

Hanging out as a family

We had a family filled day today. from church in the morning to time with grandpa Joe- we were together and loving it.

Pictures are in reverse order- evening to just after church.

Bug found the spaceship- and feeling confident in his climbing abilities, he climbed up into this and then found out that he was stuck. there is no level point in the spaceship- so I pulled him out thru the window, but he was fine and he really wanted to go back up the ladder. Taking Cyber for a walk. cyber wanted no part of this walk- it was almost 90 degrees outside. yes, last week we had freezing temps and now we have 90 degree weather. We had to turn the AC on today because the house got above 80 degrees before we left for church. Thankfully, the weather will go back to normal on Tuesday and the AC can be turned off and the windows opened again.

" Please mom, I want one"- face. Bug was angling for a dog again until cyber pooped and I explained to Bug that it will be his job to clean up the dog poop. He gave me the look of "EWWWWWW'. I think I have a at least another month before he asks again.

Soccer (futbol) boy. Soccer starts in 2 weeks for Bug. I had him practicing this evening.

Of course, we did some swinging. Bug loves to go HIGH

The cheesy grin. I stood in front today and got to see the absolute joy on his face while he swung. Just joy- pure joy.

Another cheesy grin. He was busily showing me his new talent for climbing up this ladder. The place to get out is behind his head, but the way the ladder is set up, you have to go up backward to the opening. So Bug had to think about how to solve the way to get to the opening and still remain safe. I was actually sitting 10 feet away when he figured it out (I assume he would not get up the ladder and he would call for me- boy was I wrong). Bug thought it through and figured it out on his own. I am so proud of him for figuring it out and then he figured out a better way to do it. One smart little boy.

See, this is how you have to go up to be the safest. His butt will actually be facing the opening to the top bridge when he gets up the ladder.

Scaling the rock wall

BIG STEP up

Blueberries and cream for dessert. Bug was in heaven with the whipped cream and blueberries.

Little Man ate 3 big ears of corn. He was hungry and he loves corn on the cob

Busy buttering the corn

Loving his corn- the evidence is all over his mouth.

He ate one small, tiny bite of the hamburger. I was actually shocked he asked me to make him a hamburger.

One piece of the tomato before the corn fest.

The table set. The flowers are sunflowers. they make me happy, so I bought some. We will be planting some sunflower seeds this week, so maybe by summer's end I will have some sunflowers from my garden

The table cloth was a gift from Popi and Family. I love the color and it goes with my dinning room so well. Putting it on the table brought back wonderful memories of being in Guatemala.

Momma teaching Bug how to put hamburgers on the grill- stand back, reach in with the spatula and put the burger on the grill.

A watermelon icee to enjoy

I cut grass right after church. I had finished and taken a shower, when I heard the ice cream truck (helado bus?????) coming up the street. We raced outside to get a ice cream. What fun, cut the grass and get a reward.

Making a choice

The ice cream man!!! He is our friend now. During the week, he comes through the neighborhood around 2 pm- way too early with the kids in school, but it will be perfect during the summer for him. I was just excited that he came by on a Sunday.

Well, that was our day. Bug had no nap today and he is fast asleep in the bed. I shoudl head to bed too.

Love and hugs,

Deb

Catching up and seeing Elmo

Some quick answers:

1. Bug is getting the play set. it is out of stock, but I have the rain check slip and will be calling this week. Now to find a truck to rent with an 8 foot bed and hire some nice handy men to put it together for Bug.


2. Guatemalan shoes- these are the closest pictures I can find. First- no straps- but lots of sparkles, and then the higher the heel the better. Not sure why Bug thinks these are the perfect shoes for me or the perfect shoes for walking around Disney, but apparently they are. Unfortunately, he is going to be very disappointed because after having 4 pins and 2 screws in my foot and being in a cast and on crutches for 26 weeks, there is no way I am wearing anything remotely like these shoes.

On to our day- We had breakfast with Elmo at Donald's. Elmo was really into checking out Bug's chocolate milk and making sure Bug was drinking it all gone.

This is attempt one to get Bug to love on Elmo. Personally, I think Elmo is screaming for help. I was, of course, too busy laughing to help Elmo.

Finally, some love for the red, furry monster.

Watch me NOW

N and D, checking out Elmo's moving truck.

Momma and Bug checking it out too.

Inside, ready for the show

J and N- ready for the show to start.

The boys are waiting- D cried for the first part of show- a little too intense to start off, N was OK with it, Bug loved it.

Big Bird and Elmo starting the show

All our friends- dancing and singing

Cookie monster came out into the audience - actually, all the characters did. Bug was so disappointed that Elmo did not come near us. He kept holding up his Elmo doll and by the end was waving at Elmo

Cookie Monster raised his rating at our house by dressing as a fireman.

Looking at the Elmo balloon on the ceiling and then back at the ones the kids all around us got at intermission. The balloon's were $8.00 each, i was bound a determined not to buy one for Bug. I offered up a balloon from Kroger's and he initially took that bribe.

N and D- enjoying the show

Rosita teaching us all Spanish.

the finale

Yes, Bug got a balloon. He was so happy. Unfortunately Momma put it in the trunk and it got loose when we got to Mam and Pap's house. bug now has a Dora and Diego balloon to replace the Elmo balloon.

We planted some more veggies today- this is what happens when the temperature goes up to the 80 something degrees. Since we use raised beds, the ground should be nice and warm. We fertilized and watered in 6 tomatoes, 3 peppers, 2 cucumbers, 1 zucchini. Tomorrow we will plant the radishes, the carrots, the peas, the watermelon and the sunflowers. Our garden is looking great.

Love and hugs,

Deb

Which one????

Which one to buy???

This is a link to a computer hutch. Since we may have an exchange student in the fall, I will have to move my work computer back out to the living room. But, I realize from past experience, that I need to physically shut my work computer away at night- this gives me separation from work and prevents me from focusing on work during the time that I need to be focused on Bug

http://www.computerdesks.com/computer-armoires/white/hamptonwhitecomputerarmoire.cfm

But, I could also buy this:

I think Bug would enjoy this one more.

They are the same price- I would have to put both together. The question is really, which do I think is more "needful"- a place to hide my work computer and keep my living room tidy or a place for Bug to wear himself out each night.

I am leaning toward the second one.

Love and hugs,

UPDATED to add pictures of our garden-

Strawberries on the vine- still green and they need a netting put over them to keep the birds from eating our berries first.

strawberries, onions and very tiny potatoes coming up. Still no broccoli or lettuce peeping up- but maybe soon.Blueberries- there are some white berries right now. Another sign that I need netting on these too.The garden we worked on night- a flat of snap dragons, 3 dianthus, 2 black eyes susans (I had one already in the garden) and one moved daylilly. The rugosa rose brush is the big green thing at the back, a lilac Bloom is the white/purple in the front.

You can also see the front bed that I need to expand - that is the task for mother's day weekend.A close up of the work. I need to get mulch this weekend and get the bed covered, but it should be great this summer.