Blastin Blue

Caroline is playing in the Mansfield girls softball Association this Spring season.  It is a modified version of
t-ball, called blastball.  Basically, the batter only runs to one base and the object of the game is to get to the base before one of the girls in the field gets to the ball, holds it up and yells out "blast".  There isn't a coach per say, so somehow I have become our girls "coach".  I say that very loosely, as I don't have an athletic bone in my body, but I have gained a lot of respect for Randy coaching the Astro's.  It is really hard to get and keep their attention.  That said, they are the cutest team!!

Our team is called blastin blue, hence the blue shirts.  Caroline had a MAJOR meltdown when they passed out the shirts and she was on the blue team and not the pink team.  Needless to say, we made a great first impression on our teammates and their parents!!! 

Growing up too fast

This story is going to require a little background information:  Caroline has been completely obsessed with a pre-kindergarten boy named Alex Martin for the entire school year.  Literally every pre-school and preK teacher knows about her little "boyfriend", and she chases this boy down on the playground everyday.  The biggest reason that this one sided "relationship" gets so much attention is because Alex is a bit of a dork, okay not a bit, majorly!!!  Caroline's little girlfriend, Nina even told her that Alex isn't cute, and Caroline was not dissuaded and just said, "yes he is".  Anyway, she is in hot pursuit of her "boyfriend" daily, hugging him, trying to hold his hand, talking his ear off, and he is not giving her the time of day!  I feel like I need to change her bedtime story to, He's just not that into you.

So, today out of the clear blue, she says, "I need a boyfriend that likes me, I'm just going to give up on Alex".  Now, I knew the day would come when she would have this little reality check with herself, but I didn't think it would be at 3!!  I'm so scared of 13!

Choices

Christian had to make a very important decision at school yesterday, ball or girl.   Seems that he and his friends were playing football, tackle football that is, and he threw the ball and it hit his "girlfriend" in the back.  She started to cry and I asked Christian, "did you go over to see if she was okay and tell her you were sorry"?  He replied, "no, I had to get the ball".  You should have seen his face, like the thought of checking on her had not even crossed his mind for a second.  He said, "it's okay, she's still my girlfriend".  I'm thinking this "relationship" will be short lived!!

Big compliment

Homework with our precious little kindergarten is a full on whippin!!!!  I don't want to, I can't do it, I want to play, I never get to do anything.  Just add those little comments to the very best whine you can muster while sliding out of your chair like a limp noodle and you have a picture of homework time.  Randy and I would assume that he performs a little bit better for his teacher, but probably does just the bare minimum to get by so that he can go to the gym or recess and play some sort of sport. 

So, I was in the pick up line yesterday and Mrs. Grant comes over for a chat.  I immediately think great, he's in trouble, but no.  She says, ya know he's so interesting and much more mature in his thinking than most of my kids.  I can't hide my amazement.  She goes on to tell me that they are working on their business unit and identifying types of jobs, like service for example.  She says that she could call on him to answer everytime and he would get it right.  I was so impressed, maybe one day he will do that for me at homework time..... nay, probably not!

Little Mouths, Loud Voices

  One of the reason's that I started the blog was to write down all the little cute, funny and sometimes horrifying things C & C have to say, but lately I've only really blogged about big events.  Well, let's get back to the basics, starting with Christian's big mouth.  We were in the dentist's office this morning and all of a sudden Christian blurts out in his loudest voice, Mommy that boy only has one leg!!!!  I will give him credit for knowing how to get my attention!!   From where I'm sitting, I can't tell if the boy is missing a leg or not, but I'm really not wanting to debate it right here either.  I call him over and am speaking very softly and very close to him, explaining that we shouldn't stare and we wouldn't want to hurt that boys's feelings by making a scene about it.  Then all of a sudden he gets this horrible look on his face and starts backing up waving his hand in front of his face, clearly not interested in what I have to say.  Then in his even louder voice says, "mom, did you brush your teeth this morning".  I just want to say for the record, I did brush my teeth but clearly I needed a little more freshening this morning, and now the entire waiting room at Dr. Sullivan's office knew it.

To add insult to injury, two cavities for Big C, and one forming for little C.

Happy birthday to me

I'm 40, holy crap, how did that happen?????  I don't feel 40, I don't think I look like I'm 40, although the guy at the grocery store who asked me if my kids were my GRANDCHILDREN obviously thinks I do.  I swear that actually happened!!  It really does seem like the last ten years have absolutely flown by and if my birthday party was any indication of how my 40's are going to be, then let's get started because my birthday weekend was nothing short of FABULOUS!!! 

My sweet husband planned an amazing girls weekend.  Here's the rundown....... It all started Friday morning when we were picked up by a car and whisked away to the airport to catch our flight to LA.  Roxanne, my niece Megan, and Christine were all in attendance.  When we arrived in LA, we had just enough time to throw our bags in our room and then we met with a celebrity stylist who took us to some boutiques in Beverly Hills.  One of the places we stopped was the Betsey Johnson boutique, Meg's favorite.

The girls found some fabulous new dresses.  I can't wait to take Caroline to this store when she's older.  It is so fun and so girly.  I found a great new handbag and some beauitful clothes, but I was so busy trying them on that I have no pictures.  Trust me the shopping trip was a success.  Friday night we just grabbed a quick bite to eat and headed for the hot tub, to soothe some tired feet.  Saturday we started our day in the spa.  Hot stone massages and facials for everyone.  I got a little extra special treatment with an aromatherapy bath.  It was like heaven on this earth, I didn't want to move!!  Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, a little tray appears with a card and a jewelry box.  You ask what could be in the box?????? 

 

A beautiful diamond tennis bracelet!!  It doesn't phograph that well, but trust me it is beautiful and it matches my ring perfectly.  The girls and I toasted with champagne and strawberries and were off for more shopping adventures.  Now first let me say, I would have preferred to wash the massage oil out of my hair before heading to the most famous street in California, but we had no time.  We did a very quick get ready and then headed out to Rodeo Drive.

 

Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Chanel, Dior, Tiffany's, you name it and we did it.  No time to waste, we had exactly one hour before our car picked us up for dinner and this time we had to wash our hair!!! 

 We spent a lot of this trip with bad hair because the whole trip was a sprint from start to finish, but we made up for it Saturday night.

Dinner at Maestro's, it was divine. Gorganzola mac n cheese, filet, creamed spinach and heavenly cosmopolitan's, yum!!!!  When we were leaving we heard the host say that two of the grammy nominees were coming for dinner, bummer that we had to leave, but the night was young.  Meg and Roxanne planned the rest of the evening, and all I can say is it ended at 4AM.  If you want pictures, you'll have to take a look at my birthday book!!  Don't ya wanna see?????

Randy, you planned the perfect birthday bash.  I was surrounded by great friends, I went shopping, was pampered and absolutely spoiled rotten.  Thank you honey, I couldn't have asked for more.  I love you.

Miss Muffett the Escapee

Caroline, you know the one with the cute curls that everybody just gushes over???  Saying that they would love to have one just like her.  Well, let me pull off your blinders to reveal the REAL Miss Muffett.  Last night she went across the street to our neighbors and played for a little while.  I explained, before I left them, that dinner would be ready in 15 minutes and they were to come home.  Next thing I know, the door bell rings.  I'm thinking wow, they really listened to my instructions.  NO, NO, NO, what was I thinking.  It's Caroline, and she darts upstairs saying that she needs something from her room.   I inquire, she explains that she needs to take her animals back to the neighbors.  Now you have to understand, this child thinks she needs to take her animals, oh sorry zoo, absolutely everywhere she goes.  Her teacher at school, finally told her that she could only bring two each day, but she conveniently forgot to tell me that for two weeks!!  Anyway, I explain to her that she cannot take the zoo to the neighbors and that dinner was almost ready so she needed to stay home.  Hell hath no fury like Carolines screams!!  She's ticked and is letting me know about it.  When she realizes that I'm not giving in she devises her plan.  I had the back door open to the patio while I was cooking.  She very quietly walks out the back door, and for about 30 seconds I think she's going to go play.  NO, NO,NO, the little chick has walked herself around to the side gate and is half way down the driveway headed across the street before I catch her.  She then realized hell hath no fury like her Mama!!  OMG, I couldn't believe it and this is coming from the well behaved child!! 

Happy Birthday Christian

Six years ago our lives changed forever when this once little guy, turned big guy, came out kicking and screaming.  Not much has changed, as far as the kicking and screaming goes, but he's sure not little anymore. 

He started his birthday week on Monday with grandma picking him up from school, playing games, eating pizza and receiving his most favorite gift of the week.

an ipod. 

Tuesday was his actual birthday and it went something like this.  Cake for breakfast, while little sister had a bit of an attitude problem, because of course, the birthday boy was getting way too much attention for the little princess's liking.

She had cake too, but not exactly the same, hence the tude!!  Tuesday's festivities continued with a little celebration at school. 

and presents at home.

quiver for his arrows and

a case to hold his bow and arrows

Have I mentioned lately that he is 200% boy?  The official birthday party was on Saturday at Lifetime fitness.  It was a soccer game party, green lighting vs. purple poodles.  Each child pulled either a green square or a purple square out of a hat, and that determined which team they would play on.  Green is Christian's favorite color, so of course he was on the green lighting team.  Purple is Caroline's favorite color, so that's how the colors and names were chosen. 

I have the MOST fabulous neices and nephews ever!!!  Justin was captain of the green lighting team and Megan was captain of the purple poodles team.  They ROCK, and I love them for making my boy feel so special.  Here's the highlights.

Next up was scooter races

last but not least, rock climbing

mission accomplished, 25 worn out kids!!!

What's not to love a whole week of birthday celebration.   Christian's favorite things at 6 years old:

sports, sports, oh, did I mention sports??  He also loves, rough housing with his dad, being tickled, learning how to spell, playing with his buddies, and protecting his sister (from everyone else, but she's fair game to him).

 Things I love and admire about him:  he's a good friend, he takes up for kids that are being picked on and befriends those that need one, he's sensitive, he is a good helper, he loves to be my sous-chef, he loves snuggling with me, he has a fantastic personality, and he's a great big brother.  Happy birthday, Christian.  I love you!!

Welcome to 2010

2010, did someone say it was 2010????  Remember the year 2000, when the whole world's computer systems were supposed to crash and basically the world as we knew it was going to be OVER??  Well, its been a decade since then, and I feel like it was yesterday.  Did I mention, that I turn the big 40 this year!!  What the ........I got married and had two kids in the last decade, let's see the next ten years top that.

We spent New Years Day at the ranch shooting bows & arrows and shooting clays.  I got a pink bow for Christmas and it was so fun. 

Christian

Will Graygor

Christian was so proud, they caught a raccoon in the traps

I got a couple of clays, girl power!!

Christine Graygor

Randy

New Years Eve

We rang in the New Year an hour early this year, because we couldn't quite make it to midnight.  We celebrated this year at the ranch with some of our friends. 

The Graygor's

Roxanne & Johnny

The Julius's, The Armstrong's and

a bunch of kids

We usually leave the kids at home for our New Year's Eve festivities, but this year was a family affair.  Here's to a fantastic 2010!!!