Nike Challenge Cup, Dublin

This past weekend we were at the NCC in Dublin, Ohio. The forecast was for rain, rain, and more rain. Unfortunately for us, they were right.

Leaving on Friday was a breeze...Evan had a half day of school and we pulled Em out a few hours early. We started out just fine, but something always goes wrong! This time it was the GPS, which took us off the expressway and diverted us through backwoods Ohio. Naturally, the fuel light came on. There were some tense moments, but we made it through mostly unscathed.

The boys won the first game. We only got a little wet; but it was windy and I quickly got chilled tot he bone.

The boys won the second game by a huge margin (12 - 3, I think) and were excited to go back to the hotel and swim. I was excited to see the Kettle corn guy, and visit with my friend Heather. She was passing thru the state with the cutest puppy in the world and dropped by. I love her.

Saturday night we went to a Columbus Crew game. It was really cool, sort of the same atmosphere as a college football game. It started to pour as soon as we got there. We brought in umbrellas and raincoats, but they weren't enough to keep us very dry. I thought we were going to be in the middle of a brawl...a group of people in front of us were standing with their large umbrellas, therefore blocking everyone's view. The people behind us starting throwing stuff at them after they wouldn't sit, and they started swearing and screaming. It was not cool.

We left after 70 minutes. The Crew won, everyone was soaked but had fun.
Our last game on Sunday was a heartbreaker. After 2 rain delays, they shortened the game to 15 minutes. We were playing our closest rivals It was a rough, fast game, and we came out one goal behind them, cementing their place in the finals. They went on to win. I can only guess what would have happened had we played a full game. It was an epic battle!

I'm so glad to be home, sleeping in my own bed. Thankfully the next tournament (this weekend!) is here at home.

Is it May yet?

Today is going to be one of those days where it's best to just keep your head down and plow on.

Here's the short list of things I have to do today:

• parent teacher conference with Evan's teachers.
• instrument fit night for incoming 6th graders.
• leadership training for Emma, to meet summer camp requirement
• soccer practice
• return the extra outfit I bought for the shower- 2 stores
• go to Macy's and see about a watch band

Technically, I could get most of this done, but I would be a crabby, raving lunatic by 7:00 pm. One who still needs to come up with dinner. Grrrr. It's the hours between 4-8 that are killing me.

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The baby shower for Greg & Tracey was this past Sunday. It was a huge success! I am floored by how generous people are, and dumbfounded by how inconsiderate some other people are. We had one guest who won the centerpiece, the first game, and tied another game. She took all of the prizes, in addition to a West Elm vase provided by the parents to be. Since I was busy with other things, I didn't realize she had won 2 of the main prizes, or I would have shut it down. Seriously, she made money by going to the shower. I'm still mad about it.

T & G got tons of great things for Baby J. Emma was a fantastic helper and a joy to have around. We rent her out for parties!

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Time for me to shift gears and get ready for traveling this weekend to Dublin, Ohio for Evan's tournament. After stressing out for many days about how we were going to make this work for all of us, and coming up with a suitable plan, Emma's Friday night game was cancelled so plans change again. I swear, next time I am going to wait until the day before to actually worry about any of this crap! That's 2 days of my life I can't get back.

Looks like we may pull her out of school early on Friday and leave around 1:00, so as to get there before 9pm and not have to thrash through traffic. And then she & Bart won't have to leave at 5:30am to get down there for the first game.

I hope the weather is nice, and not like this past weekend.

Time to get busy!

FO-Susie's sunshine socks

Another pair of socks finished!

I don't remember when I started these, but it was a long time ago. I finished one sock and half of the second and put them down until this weekend. Time to start finishing up some of the dozen or so projects I have unfinished!

pattern: Sunshine sock by Cookie A.

Rav link

yarn: Knit Picks bare hand dyed by me, colorway Granny Smith

needles: US size 2

no mods

well written pattern, easy enough to do when you actually do it! I love the way the color looks with this sock. Just fuels my fire and makes me want to dye some more yarn!

another outdoor season begins

What a difference 48 hours makes.

Thursday was our first outdoor game. Sunny and 85 degrees, and lots of "It's too hot to play soccer". Saturday was a different story. Overcast with occasional flurries, high of 43 and extremely windy. Welcome to spring soccer in Michigan!

Evan had a game in Brownstown; Emma in Wixom. I went with Evan. Sometimes I'm not so bright. I should have opted for her indoor game, much closer to home. I did not thaw out until Sunday.

The game was a rough one start to finish. Evan played in goal first half and made a dozen awesome saves. He didn't let any past him. In the second half the other team took the lead 3-1 and didn't give up another goal until right before the end. Unfortunately, we were one goal short.

On Sunday while we girls were at the baby shower, Evan had another game. The weather was not any better, and they played down a man and with no subs. (7 v 8 boys). And because I wasn't there, he scored 2 goals, one of them his first header goal!! Nice, huh? The team held tough and the game was a 6-6 tie.

He owes me another header goal!

happy birthday to me!

Shoe shopping is just about the greatest aphrodisiac known to woman :)

Found these little cuties today. They make my heart go pitter pat.

Enjoying my second (!) free iced coffee from Starbux today

Knitting up one last baby gift in the coziest yarn ever

Evan made me breakfast

Got the car washed

It's sunny and 82 degrees. A gorgeous spring day.

First outdoor soccer game of the season in 2 hours

Go Rush boys!

and lots of birthday wishes on Facebook

make it almost painless to grow one year older.

Thanks, friends!

the 42nd anniversary of my birth day is upon us!

Tomorrow is my birthday. Yeah, big whoop.

When you're older, birthdays are a lot less fun (unless it's a big one)

It's not. whew.

It's supposed to be a gorgeous day, near or at 80 degrees.

I can remember birthdays with 2 feet of snow on the ground.

I like warm & sunny much better.

My only plans for the day include a soccer game

and getting a cone at my favorite ice cream joint.

And shoe shopping.

I mean, what else is there in life that is better than that?

Happy Wednesday!

back to reality

I've returned from nowhere land!

Didn't go anywhere or do much of anything

but I didn't have anything good to talk about

and you know the old saying..."If you don't have anything good to say..."

don't say anything at all.

So I didn't.

Spring break was nice, but I'm not one of those people who finds it easy to be in the same space as the rest of my family all at the same time. Unless we are someplace other than home, I tend to feel claustrophobic.

We did manage to sneak out and get to the movies a few times. Evan had 3 sleepovers, including one in a tent in our backyard. April in a tent. Only in Michigan. We stayed up late, slept in, did plenty of reading and vegging out.

Now it's time to get back to business.

Lots and lots to do this week...