The Countdown Begins!

OBX is just a few days away! YAY!!

My friends and I went to see 'Nights in Rodanthe' this weekend. It was a good movie but I came home ready to leave RIGHT NOW!! We stay in Rodanthe, literally  just a few houses away from the one in the movie. I can almost hear the waves crashing, taste the salt water in the air, feel the wind in my hair, and see the incredible sunsets .

Just days away...

I have been slacking a bit on blogging this past week. Things have been really busy. Fortunately I have had a lot of clients come my way in the past few weeks. I have been on the computer but it's been time completely devoted to getting photos done and delivered to them.

Unfortunately this week will be the same. I am working to get as many clients finished before I leave.  Trying to get the house in order. Trying to pack, still make breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Trying to still volunteer at both schools this week. Trying to see my friends. Trying to keep up on the chore that I loathe... LAUNDRY! So, since Brian doesn't do any of the entries... (he's busy with work, hunting, and fantasy football) ... it'll be a skinny week in the world of blogging.

BUT next week....

watch out!!! 

I'll have lots of entries, very picture heavy I'm sure. 

You'll be able to imagine yourself sitting next to me on the beach. :)

See you soon....

worldle.net

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Lacrosse

Sam has been playing lacrosse this fall. He LOVES it! Big surprise, uh?

Brian and I definitely have some concerns about this league but we just wanted to see if he liked it. It's a bunch of 4 and 5 year olds, no helmets, mouth guards, pads, ect. running around swinging sticks in the air. We would prefer "clinic style" learning to this. But he loves it. 

I may look into indoor lacrosse for the winter, something that has a great deal of instruction and skill building before sending them into a "game". 

This brings me to our other issue. 

Competitive Parents.

As I was talking to other parents on the teams I realized that Brian and I are definitely the minority. (What else is new! :) Parents looking at me as if I had 2 heads when I suggested more skill building, practicing, and learning basic concepts. They were there for the GAME! They were actually keeping score. We have even talked to the director of sports about having "clinic style" seasons but the response we get is that most parents want games. 

While their sons were running all over the field, Sam patiently waited in the defense zone. Brian trying to explain to him that certain positions only play on certain parts of the field. So he listened to Brian and maintained his position. The "lacrosse dad" sitting behind me was egging on is son to keep scoring even though he was supposed to be back with Sam in defense.

Let's just get something straight. Four and five year olds don't know what they are doing. 

Why not teach them the right way to play?

They don't know what a "game" is. They don't care if they practice running, scooping, passing or playing a game. All they care about is that they are out there. So we as parents need to curb the competitive urge and give them the skills to understand. Something appropriate for their ages. They have their whole life to compete... in every aspect of life.

But I guess it is easier for parents like "lacrosse dad" to sit in his chair and shout orders from the sidelines, rather than teach. Brian at least had enough guts to get out there and help. Oh- by the way, 2 kids did get hurt from our team. They had to sit out the rest of the time with ice.

I think this will be our last sports sign up at this facility. 

I know that we need to pace our selves.... it's only the beginning of the "sports years" with Sam and Beth. 

Oh yeah,  there a kid on the other team that we found out is 6 1/2. He was almost twice the size of Sam. The big kid was a "one man show" on the field. I love that Sam wasn't intimidated by his size and still tried to defend his goal.

Mommy Redemption

I get the "bad mommy of the day award" today. Let me paint the picture for you....

It was calm, peaceful and quiet this morning. Brian and I were relaxing and talking on the back porch. Sam was playing by himself so nicely. It's been a long time since Brian has been home in the morning so we were catching up on some things on the computer.

That's when I saw it...

the clock.

Beth's preschool had finished 5 minutes earlier. 

Panicked, I grabbed my keys and flew out the door.

I ended up being 10 minutes late.

No huge deal I'm sure except for the fact that this is only the 2nd week of school!

When I got there she wasn't in the traumatic state I had been imagining.

I was totally envisioning my life 20 years from now in a therapist's office with her listing the all my "bad mommy" incidents with this one being at the top of the list.

"Remember Mom, remember the day you forgot to get me from school??"

As I walked into the preschool room she was not traumatized at all. In fact she was LOVING the one on one attention she was receiving from the teachers. She told me I had to wait until she finished her puzzle. 

So, no psychological harm done, unless she is banking this information for future use.

I am hoping the act of chocolate chip cookie making will combat her abandonment issues! :)

P.S. Brian wanted to drive her to school this morning. So they were headed out to the car and he was telling her to hurry up because he didn't want to be late. 

She simply replied, "Don't worry Dad, it doesn't start until I get there."

(Got to love her self esteem! ;)

More of the same nonsense...

SU vs. Penn State

It started out well...

Another weekend. Another game. Another loss.

Oh well. We had fun just the same. Well I did at least.

I will admit that I am a fair weather fan. All day long leading up to the game I was thinking of all the other things I could have been doing. (Cleaning the house, proofing pictures, reading a book, watch a movie, prepare for the next day's photo session... :) I will be the first to say that if SU ever starts winning I will be riding the band wagon. But right now I am just not into it. I go to the games because it's some family time for us. Something for all of us to do together. Brian's perspective is a little different. He would say that I have to go because we invested in season tickets. It was fun though. Luke and Danielle came up for the weekend. Rachel made an amazing jalepeno popper dip for the tailgate. My dad had a field pass and got to stand down with the media and players. Sam and Beth made it on ESPN for about 5 seconds. Danielle and I sat together so we had about a 3 hour window of time to catch up. Brian was the DD for all his friends and my brothers. Dennis Quaid was there. (There is a movie coming out called "The Express". It's about legendary football player Ernie Davis. He attended SU. His number was 44. Dennis Quaid was here because the premier of the movie was right here in Syracuse.)

I do have to say that the beginning of the game was electrifying. For a brief moment I actually thought maybe they would be able to channel Ernie Davis' spirit and we would be witness to a sporting miracle. But 1 and 1/2 minutes into the game when Penn State scored I realized it would be just more of the same nonsense. 

~

Dad and his cousin Joe withe their VIP tickets.

Coming over for a quick hello and high five.

Brian and Sam 

The ESPN camera man getting the kids on national TV.

Danielle, Luke, Beth, Patrick, and Rachel

Section 129.

Pat and Brian

Grandpa Dave and Beth

Sam focused on the game.

The next day I did a mini session with Luke, Danielle, and Zeke. But of corse my kids had to crash the session and get in with them. Don't they make the perfect little family??? :)

Well at least the perfect babysitters for when Brian and I go to Hawaii for a long vacation!!

(Just kidding!)

The kids miss having a dog. Don't worry kids... I'm working on it! :)

Beth and her "weekend" mommy.

Goodbye kisses and high fives!

Had a great weekend. This week it's SU vs. NorthEastern. I won't be doing anymore football posts unless there is something amazing to write about. Just know that we will be at the rest of the home games this year if only to get Rachel's jalepeno dip again! :)

September 11th

Remembering all those who lost their lives on that awful day.

Wishing peace for the victim's families, our country, and across the world.

Our Girl is in Preschool!!!

We have been waiting for this moment for a long time! She is SOOOO ready!

Beth is at the same preschool Sam went to last year. She is familiar with the teachers and the classroom. Last night at bedtime she kept getting out of bed to "remind" me to make her pink cupcakes with her name on them and sprinkles. It was her back to school food request. She wanted me to make them at night so she would be surprised in the morning! :)

It was raining pretty good this morning so we had to bring her new umbrella with us. Everything was special this morning. She got a few calls this morning wishing her luck. After kindergarten madness last week, she finally got to have her time in the spotlight. Preschool is the perfect place for her, she is very smart and creative so this will be a great outlet. 

Big brother showing her the ropes.

Making her placemat for snack time. If you look very closely she spelled her name,(very lightly), in crayon at the top of her paper. She has been practicing all summer. She did it all on her own! GOOD JOB BETH!!! :)

Snack time!!

Sitting in the teacher's chair after story time.

Gotta go frost some cupcakes!!

~Tara

Tailgating Season

It's that time again... another football season is upon us. 

The team isn't very good, but at least the tailgates are fun!

I hope that by the time Sam is 10 years old he'll actually have something to cheer for.

Beth loves her new jersey. She was marching around the front lawn this afternoon waving the foam finger and shouting... "go yankees!" She's trying. :)

I didn't go with them today, I opted to stay home and clean the house.

Next weekend Luke and Danielle will be home. I like to give the illusion that I am organized.

GO SU!!!

Tailgating Season

The Mayor of Allen Road...

.... that's what the bus driver called him. As Sam's entourage we were camped out in the front lawn waiting for the bus to take him to his first day of kindergarten. I can't believe it. When the kids were first born we would make plans for the future that would almost include..."someday when the kids get in school..." I can't believe that "someday" is today! 

Sam was SOOO excited and happy. The bus was about 25 minutes late picking him up. The anticipation was growing and growing. The sweetest thing was that a few of our neighbors came out to watch him too. There was a lot of excitement yesterday on Chesapeake. 

He was fully dressed and ready 2 hours before hand. Helped me pack his snack, drink and back pack. We made calls to all our fellow kindergartener friends wishing them luck and a happy day. Everything was adorable.

After the bus came and whisked him away, Brian, Beth and I drove over to the school to watch him get off and go into school. He was so cute, so focused, so happy.

The afternoon flew by and the day was over. The only problem that we had was that the bus bringing him home was very, VERY, VERY late.  But he was still happy and excited. I made him a special "first day of school" dinner. He requested BLT's, macaroni salad with tuna, and chocolate cupcakes. Grandpa Dave, Ellen, and Patrick celebrated with us.

Thanks to all the family and friends that couldn't be there, but still called to wish him luck or to see how his day went. It really makes all the difference. We feel the love! :)

Sam and Beth

Sam and Dad

Me and my boy.

Sam and Grandpa Dave

With Grammy.

Sam, Dad, Uncle Patrick, Angela, Grandpa, Beth, Grammy, and Amanda

With Uncle Patrick. Please note that Pat wore his CCE (CC Elementary) shirt today. I can't believe I'm even typing this but he got that shirt when he was in 6th grade and it still fits him today. Only Patrick!! But thanks Pat, for being so supportive of him. :)

Killing time until the bus arrived.

YAY!!! It's finally here!

Last minute hugs and high fives were flying all over the place.

Taking that big step on the bus.

This is the only time I got choked up. Look carefully. Beth is on the right of the mailboxes. She was running with the bus, waving and yelling goodbye to Sam. They typically do this every time someone leaves our house. She was doing it all on her own and Sam was waving back at her. That's when it really "hit" me.

We drove over to the school to watch him walk in.

Getting off at school.

No Sam, not to us.... over there is your class! :)

A last wave before going in.

Our boy is officially in school.

Beth's turn is next week.... preschool here we come!! :)