Soccering

It's come time for our little Squirt to engage in her first athletic oriented activity.  Based on our only experience with "soccer," we've positioned the bar quite low.  As you can see below, our little man set the stage for soccer in our family.  He DID enjoy himself, but not for any reasons have to do with the actual sport. After two seasons of signing him up merely for the entertainment value, we called it quits.  With no hesitation.

Squirt's turn.  Last week our family pathetically made our way across the field to the masses of little soccer playing people.  Dude was whining that we weren't going to the park, Tim and I were arguing about what field we were supposed to be walking toward, Enzo was pooping as we walked, and Squirt just wanted to have a snack.  Which we hadn't thought to bring.  We didn't even bring her water bottle.  Parents of the year right?  We did find the field, we did send Dude to a playground alone and we convinced Squirt that if she played soccer, we would give her as many treats as her stomach could hold when we got home.  That half worked.  She kicked her ball around during practice and held firmly to Tim's pant leg the entire game, only one pretty blue eye visible to onlookers. When Tim managed to pry her off, she would simply sit down and bury her face in her hands.  There were two significant episodes of over dramatic tears.  Valiant effort for week #1.   

Lucky for me, Tim has been out of town for a guy's racing weekend, so I was on my own for today, week #2.  This Mama refused to run on the field with her while she pulled my pants down for all to see, so we had a long hard talk about expectations for soccer.  And I might have purchased a sugary Starbucks pumpkin cookie as a continual bribe for the hour long adventure.  It worked like a frickin' charm.  My daughter ran up and down that field, she SCORED a goal from the mid line, she only clung to the coaches hand for 4 minutes, and all of that only required half of the pumpkin cookie as bribery.  She was a new woman out there.  All the kids were.  It helps that we have a great coach who makes them giggle.  I was very proud of our little soccer lady and will no longer dread the remainder of the season.  Below are reminders of week #1's antics.

 Started out with a bang.  I believe we're playing Peek-a-boo with our friend Brinley, who is also on our team.  Anders, the son of our new babysitter, is also soccering with us.  

 The ball made for a rather convenient seat when we felt the stubborn bug come upon us. 

 I caught her playing soccer!  It wasn't a consistent theme that week, but today was FULL of soccer playing.  

 We hadn't quite yet mastered the "no hands" rule.  It's a tough one.

 The two highlights of week #1.  Post game snack and playground time.  

 
We'll do an end of season recap when our amateur turns Mia Hamm.      

Until Next Year, Kings Point

Joining a local pool near Dude's school this summer definitely made our "highlights" list.  The goal was to have a low stress place to go as a family that didn't involve crowded locker rooms, impersonal sharing of chlorinated water with a ton of strangers and long walks to pee. We hoped to meet new friends for the kids and gain hang out time for adults.  Check, check and double check.  The kids had a blast, upped their swimming abilities, Tim and I met a slew of rad adult friends and grew closer with existing friends and Tim got some quality volleyball time in.  Not to mention we found a home for Miss Squirt for Mondays moving forward.  It was a choice well made.  On Labor Day we spent five hours shutting down the summer season:(  Sad, but we can't wait for next summer.  I was convinced (didn't take much) to become Vice President of the pool for the next year.  Margarita meetings with 3 cool chicks through the year added to the appeal.

 

Gettin' Dirty

Those who know me wouldn't peg me for one who would get her thrills from rolling around in mud.  They would be wrong.  For two years, I've partaken (is that a word?) in a mud run in the Denver area and I plan to keep the tradition rolling.  New group this year (it's shockingly difficult to convince people to follow my lead and get dirty) but just as fun.  However, I did miss the Lubbers and my hubbies comrade re this year. This was a women's only event and was out in Broomfield.  My Frenchy friend, Rachel and her sister-in-law joined me and walked away a disgusting, stinky, muddy mess.  It was awesome.

Yet Another New Path

I've been home "writing" for 8 months now. I planned these past 8 months to be a magical time of completing a quarter of my memoir by now, a few drafts of my children's book series and gaining a steady following on my new blog.  Life would be easy and dreamy.  I would drink a whole bunch of coffee with Enzo at my feet, I would visit people in my district at church, I would gain contacts in the editing and publishing world, I would retrieve Dude from the bus every day....it was my new path.  Well, I HAVE blogged a portion of what I hoped to and gained followers.  I've reached people and helped them through struggles we've walked through.  That's been good.  I've become a coffee drinker, provided I have fake sweetener included, all with Enzo under my feat.  I've definitely met with people from my district and struggled with helping them through their struggles.  I've met Dude off the bus and spent time working with him.  These things have rung true. However, I have NOT written what I thought I would write and it hasn't been dreamy or magical.  I don't have connections or chunks of books to show for my efforts.  And I had a hard time tackling my own sense of self and what my purpose was.  That, I did NOT expect.

I felt this "urging/calling" to quit my job when I did.  It came out of nowhere really.  What I know now is that the writing was a part of that, but the deeper calling was centered around being present for my family.  Life was about to dish up some junk that needed attention and care and love and time.  I had those things to offer since my daily life was centered around sitting at my shabby chic desk.  I had time and I had focus.  Without those two key pieces, I'm not sure what life would have looked like.  It wouldn't have been pretty.  I wrote through the junk and that was therapy for me.  I found myself and doubted myself.  I reached in deep when I wasn't quite sure what I would find.  Writing was a key element to all of that discovery.

8 months later, life has smoothed out.  We've overcome obstacles, made decisions for our kids, and done some healing and restoration in many regards.  With those months behind us, I've just been gifted with a new challenge and path.  I wasn't searching (yet), but Tim and I were in discussions about me looking for something part time to get me back in the professional world and to bring in more income.  Out of the beautiful blue came an email from Tim's boss.  A friend of hers was looking for a Marketing Director for a Christian organization he directs, Healing Waters International.  Would I be interested?  She thought I was a perfect fit and he only wanted to talk to people who came recommended.

I looked at the job description and chuckled a bit.  This position was the equivalent of 2.5 people at food bank and I wasn't even looking for full time.  I just wanted to get out of my home office from time to time. The more I read about the organization and the essential work they do to provide safe water for people in third world countries, the more intrigued I got.  This was something I could feel.  It wasn't just a job.  And I fit their need to a capital T.  I had to inquire.  Three days later I met Ed for coffee and was offered a job with the opportunity to choose how many hours I'm able to work and split hours between office and home.  Ed values family and time and offered the opportunity to find the balance that worked for me.  All this, right in my lap.  Random?  I think not.  Ed and I both agree this was sent directly from above, for both of us.

As I sat in the interview and sipped on my Starbucks Skinny Vanilla Latte with one pump raspberry, I devoured the info this brilliant and passionate man shared with me about the history of the org, the staff, the family they've created at the office, the overseas travel I would be able to do, the emphasis on empowering women overseas to see their full potential, the interviews I would conduct and the writing I would do.  It was like one big hallelujah for my heart and my mind.  It gave me a sense of purpose again - I would be doing something IN the world FOR the world and I'd get paid for it.  How sweet is that?  Not that my writing is void of being IN and FOR.  It is, but I need more.  I need to be able to check things off a list and put on a bra for someone other than myself.  I need to meet with people and share inspiration and creativity.  I need to get my hands dirty and put some miles on my car.  The best part of all this is that I'll still be present for my littles and for my husband.  Granted, our schedule will need to be followed verbatim (no room for deviance), but Tim and I decided, over a delectable Bonefish dinner, that we are willing to make this work.  When God drops a blessing like this from the clear blue, you act.  We're acting. Childcare is in place, my schedule is lined up, meal plans are laid out, Tai Kwondo classes won't be missed, preschool drop off and pick up will remain mine....it's all working out, miraculously I might add.  Job start D Day is September 12th.   I'll let you know how it goes.

 Due to the extreme love of dogs in the office, this guy will remain under my feet. I LOVE that.

Visit Healing Waters International to learn about the cause I'll now be advocating, marketing, fighting and praying for.  Water and hygiene.  They certainly do a body good.  No matter where you live.

 

          

She's Off

If there is anything in this world that my darling daughter has been pining for, it's the beginning of Preschool. She gets this little smirk on her face every time we bring it up and informs all those around her about the upcoming excitement with Miss Claire.  She's ready baby.  So ready.

Today was the day.  We sent brother off on the bus and tried to keep busy for the 1.25 hours before it was her time to depart.  We took pictures, in Vogel driveway style, put on her favorite sparkly pink shoes, crafted a side braid (my personal favorite) and headed out the door, gray and pink butterfly backpack in place.  I firmly believe a portion of the preschool excitement is due to the backpack.  We hung out with the masses of parents doing and feeling the exact same thing as us, snapped some shots with our new kindred spirit (like that Anne of Green Gables reference?), Molly, and entered her new world.  She insisted on putting her lunch, snack, water bottle, and backpack in their designated places herself, walked right over to wash her hands herself and allowed me to sit with her for 4 minutes while she painted her paper.  I was happy to see a bit of resignation and fear in her eyes as I walked toward the door, but she resigned to sending a boat load of kisses my way as I hesitantly walked out the classroom door.  I might have peeked around the corner for one more, but she was already busy with preschool business.  She's good and that feels good.

Molly and Squirt have become attached at the hip through our pool community this summer.  There couldn't possibly be a more darling or spirited duo than these two monkeys.  They happen to be going to the same preschool on the same days.  Squirt will also be spending one day per week at Molly's house for babysitting. Could life be any better?

 They opened the doors.....

 Delicious.

 I chose Squirt's schedule based on making sure she was placed in one of these sun shiny rooms.  It's so happy and that makes this Mama feel happy.  

My littlest love is in school.  Sigh.  I vow to eat her up every moment I can while I can still hold her in the crook of my arm.