Whew!

If yesterday was any indication of the days ahead, I better stack up on my Wheaties. Although a tad tired at the end of the day, yesterday was a day full of activities and all I could think was, "and this is only the beginning."

This is kind of how our day went:

We left at 9:30 for Jacob's basketball game at school. That, unfortunately, didn't go over so well. The final score was 44-0. Granted, our poor boys had to play against monsters who were probably a foot, foot & a half taller than them, but it would of been nice to at least put 2 points on the board. It was kind of funny listening to the crowd as the boys would run down the court, shoot for a basket and then just watch the ball slllooowwwlllyyy roll or BoUnCe off the rim....again and again! After every basket the team missed, you could hear "ahhhhhhhh" echo around the gym. Oh well, we'll get them next time, Hawks!

From there, we ran to the bank, pharmacy, barber, McD's and home for a quick wardrobe change.

Then it was off to Ellie's baseball scrimmage game from 1:00-3:00. Although I didn't get to see the entire game, I was so proud of Ellie. She is such a hustler out there on the field and put the bat on the ball EVERY time she got up to bat. Good job, Ellie! It's pretty clear this might be a challenging season for us when it comes to Ellie. It has become quite a chore trying to get her psyched up and ready to go to baseball practice, but on the flip side, once she gets out there, she seems to have fun and enjoy herself.

I had to leave Ellie with MawMaw and then run Jacob down to Stuart for his first scrimmage travel ball game with the TC Drillers.

Here's a picture of Jacob in his new Driller uniform:

I took a few shots of Jacob yesterday with the new fabulous camera I got for Christmas from PawPaw. Although there are too many to post, here is one of the pitching squences I got with my camera in sport mode.

And a picture of the boys just being supportive and cheering Jacob up after a kid just hit a homer over the fence.

We lost, yet again, but it's going to take some time for the kids to get to know each other and learn to play ball together as a team. I have high hopes that it will come around. I did really like the camaraderie amongst all the players. They just seemed to be supportive and had the togetherness and fellowship that I like to see. Crossing fingers....this is going to be a good change for Jacob.

After the game, we went and had some wings with PawPaw and MawMaw and then came home to relax. The evening ended with me falling asleep in my bed with my two favorite people beside me. It was a tight squeeze and probably not the most comfortable evening of sleep, but we were together and so tired that I don't think any of us cared.

Todd came home from work this morning with a Sunday plan already in mind...a little family time at the Italian Festival today. I guess we'll go embark on a cultural journey filled with Italian food, music, art and tradition.

Happy Sunday!

xoxo

Kindness, generosity, compassion...

and thoughtfulness...simple words, but with HUGE meaning.

It brings happiness to my heart to learn of someone that is not affected by diabetes in any way, shape or form, but yet they take the time to join a JDRF team and volunteer their time simply out of the goodness in their heart. I just got an email at work that brought tears to my eyes and touched my heart.

The company Angie works for, FIS, has decided to join the nationwide effort, form several teams and take part in the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes in Orlando, FL. Their walk takes place on March 5, 2011 and they have a goal of raising $10,000 for juvenile diabetes.

Angie sent an email to her team thanking them for taking part in this cause and briefly telling why she, too, finds it special to her heart. She challenged all of her co-workers to make a donation, and for every donation they made to their team, she would donate an additional $5.00.

This is the email she got back from one of her co-workers:

Angela,

I'm so happy that my participating in this walk is actually helping a family member of someone I know! I wanted to volunteer because I knew it was a worthy cause, but having the personal touch makes it all the more important. I hope the money my team raises will help toward a cure someday.

This may sound hokey, but do you think we could get Ellie to write her name on a piece of ribbon, which I can pin to my shirt when I do the walk? I'd like to do it in her honor.

Marni C.
FIS KMS Administrator

Her gift of time is so priceless and her small act of kindness is worth more to us than she will probably ever know. Thank you, Marni! We would be honored to have you walk on behalf of our daughter. Although I'm always touched by every family member or every friend that we are fortunate enough to have that supports our family, my daughter or our team, your act of kindness really touched my heart today. It's people like you, untouched by the disease, yet still supporting and donating to the cause, who make an unspoken difference in my daughter's life.

"Volunteers don't necessarily have the time, but they have the heart."

xoxo

Our Hunt for a Cure!

Mommy and Daddy love you, sweet girl!

Funny things kids say~

As the kids and I are sitting at the dinner table eating a little pasta, the reality TV show "Keeping up with the Kardashians" was on TV in the background. The show was about the dad, Bruce Jenner, dealing with his younger daughter having boys in her room, and he simply wasn't having it. This is the conversation that ensued between my two:

E: "There is going to be no dating in this house."

J: " I agree, Ellie."

Me: "Yeah, ok...I'll remember this conversation in a few years when you guys are getting mad at me because I won't allow you to have boys or girls in your bedroom."

J: " Not me. I'll have other things to worry about, like college."

Me: "That's right, buddy, you keep thinking that way."

If only their minds would stay that innocent and pure for the many pre-teen and teen years ahead. That's what is great about this blog. In a few short years, it will be my pleasure to refer Jacob back to this blog post so he can remember what he was thinking when he was an innocent 12.

Wacky Hair Day!

Ellie paid 5 Crane Bucks in order to participate in Wacky Hair Day at school. I really wished I had more time in the morning to get a little wackier, but we were a little rushed and didn't have much time to mess around.

We had 3 colors...pink, blue and sparkle gold. Unfortunately, the gold wasn't quite as wacky as the other two colors. All it did was add sparkles to Ellie's already golden hair.

Next year we are going to go a little more wacky and do something a little more outrageous...maybe a few more wild colors with spikes and mohawks and side-ways ponytails!

On a side note, we went out to another travel ball practice this morning....3 hours worth!! It was different and interesting, but I'm starting to think that maybe a fresh new experience with new coaches (not including Dad) might be a good thing for my son. This new coach is somewhat vocal, an ex-Marine and a personal trainer, if that tells you anything. He was a little tough, yet fun, but I liked him. And more importantly, Jacob said he likes him. I was quite impressed with Jacob today and he proved to me that when he puts forth the effort, he is quite a talented baseball player. The coach pulled me and Jacob to the side after practice and extended a formal invitation to join their team, the Treasure Coast Drillers. He also gave us some info to read about their team, including their mission, which Jacob, Todd and I all have to sign. Afterwards, I told the coach that I appreciated the invitation and for allowing Jacob to come out, but that we would go home and talk it over as a family (since Dad was at work today) and we would let him know our intentions later this week. We weren't home 30 minutes and the coach was calling Todd.

Todd told the coach that Jacob is playing basketball, too....not to mention this is his last year in Little League so he wants to be able to enjoy that final experience. The coach seemed to fully understand and said none of this would be a problem.

Lastly, I sat Jacob down and had a serious talk about this new commitment, his goals and to confirm this is something that he really wants to do. Jacob assures me he is in and ready to move forward with the TC Drillers.

So....strap me in, folks, as it appears we are about to set off for another crazy ride.

Sunny skies and sandy beach with fruity drink in hand~

That's what I'm thinking about right now. I'm feeling it's time to find a little solace and serenity and escape to some private beach island for a little pampering and to simply get away from some of life's daily chaos. Okay, go ahead and nudge me...wake me up from this dream.

It was yet another busy and crazy holiday season and I have yet to get my house back in order. I can't seem to find the motivation to do that right now, but here we are about to dive back in for another crazy baseball season.

I'm very sad to report that Team Worth has officially dissolved and, yes, it's for good this time. I know I complain about the rigamarole of Jacob's crazy schedule, but I also think it's important for him to continue playing against higher caliber players as it is only going to benefit his own skills. I think Jacob needs that competition to keep him at the top of his game. There are certainly downfalls, too...busy schedules, burn-out factor, costs, etc.. So, the question is, what to do? I just have to make sure that Jacob is in it 100% before we commit to another team. Todd has already met and talked to another travel coach. Jacob went out to one of their practices this week and met some of the players, hit a few balls, etc... and he seemed to enjoy it. Todd said Jacob told him that he wants to do it, but I think I still need to have a little chat just to make sure Jacob does indeed wish to continue playing travel ball and that he's doing it for himself and nobody else....period! Where will the travel ball path lead us? I guess that is yet to be known...

I'm still finding it a little hard to motivate little E, but Todd and I keep pressing how important she be involved in some form of extra-curricular activity. She went to her first practice with her new cleats and new glove in hand, but I can't say she was too excited about it. She is now playing on a Rookie's team with several other girls, so I'm hoping once she gets a little more comfortable and gets to know some of the other girls, she'll be ready to go.

Todd and I both feel it's so important for our children to be involved in some form of activity, whether it is to excel in a specific talent, build confidence, form friendships, or most of all, to stay out of trouble. I hope that this upcoming season is simply a fun and rewarding season for both my kids.

Although that private island sounds very enticing, I guess it will remain a dream for now.

So....off we go.

Are we ready for that talk yet?

Nope...not just yet.

So last night Todd, Jacob and I were sitting on the couch just chit-chatting and having some one on one time with our son. Although I forget exactly how the conversation started, this is how some of it went:

Me: "So, Jacob...do you feel that you could come to me or Daddy if you ever wanted to talk about...umm...."

Todd: "the birds and the bees."

Jacob: "I'm not interested in that."

Me: "I know you aren't, but I want you to know that you can come and talk to me and Daddy about anything."

Jacob: "I'm just not interested in that yet."

Me: "Yes, Son, we understand that, but we just want you to know that we are open and ready to discuss anything when you are ready...don't ever be too scared or to nervous to ask ANY question. Okay?"

Jacob: "Okay, but I'm just not interested in that yet."

Well then...I guess he's not quite ready for that discussion, so I won't push it. I understand it may take a few times, so until then....

It certainly wasn't long before the conversation skipped right back to basketball, baseball and anything else sports related.

On a different note, he did tell us that he got the highest grade in the class on his Science semester exam...so super proud of that kid!

Rumble in the jungle...

or maybe that should be rumble at the ballpark.

I'll tell you the beginning part of this story and then let your imagination run with it.

So imagine this...

We are hanging out at the ballfield on Sat. watching the rest of try-outs. Todd and Dooner (one of Todd's friends) are sitting on one bleacher, Ellie and I are sitting one behind them and then Jacob and his friend, Ryan, are sitting on the bleacher behind us. There is a somewhat large fellow sitting about 2 bleachers down from Todd and Dooner, and when I say "large fellow," I'm putting it kindly. The fellow slowly leans forward to get the momentum he needs to stand up and as he is half-way bent over and a few inches off the bleacher he sneaks out a VERY loud rumble, or as my kids would call it....a toot, or a fart, depending on which kid you are talking to.

Now, keep in mind how most kids find farts to be quite amusing and ridiculously funny. Now picture the faces of two pre-teen boys as they hear this rumble in the jungle. I swear that is the hardest I've laughed in a while. The look and reaction of said pre-teen boys was just PRICELESS!

Although the fellow never looked back, he did say sorry and continued on his way.

"Baby you're a firework..."

"come on, show 'em what your worth."

As most of you know, Jacob decided to give it a shot and try-out for his middle school basketball team. He was excited, yet scared and nervous, since he has never really played "organized" basketball before. As I've always told my kids, I had to remind him again...just go out and give it your all - that's all I can ask for and the best you can do.

As I picked him up after the first night of practice, he hopped in the car and said, "that coach is mean." Almost immediately his eyes started welling up with tears and my initial thought was, "oh boy...is he ready for this let down?" Jacob went on to tell me how the coach told the boys after practice that this is the first time since 1993 that he's ever seen a group of boys that can't play basketball. And, as we all would expect from Jacob, he took this right to heart. I asked Jacob how he thought he did and he said, "I thought I did pretty good." Me: "Well, son, that's all that matters." You could tell that he was still pretty disappointed, but I just continued to encourage him, besides....this is, afterall, the first time he's ever tried out for basketball. I told him to give his self a chance, let the coach give him some pointers and teach him a few things and I'll sure it won't be long before he shines....kind of a like a firework.

The next day he came home from school with a grin from ear to ear. I guess he passed the coach in the hallway and the coach said, "boy, you've got game." That's all it took...those few, simple words from the big man and Jacob had a completely different outlook and attitude on the start of his basketball pastime. He was now ready to move forward full speed with his mind focused on the work ahead.

The next morning he went to practice from 7:30-8:45 and again immediately after school from 4:15-5:30. And guess what?? On Friday afternoon he learned that he made the "A" team. They have an "A", "B" and "C" team, but the "A" team is I guess what they would consider the "varsity" team that consists of the top 12 kids. He's super excited and I'm super excited for him.

No, he may not be a starter...initially...but he is prepared for that. I told him to continue to go out there and give it his all, practice with all his heart and I bet it won't be long before he's at the top of his game and fighting for that starter position with the rest of the boys.

Katy Perry's "Firework" song is one of my new favorites and now everytime I hear it it makes me think of Jacob and his newfound journey...

"You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July."

"Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show'em what your worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y"

"Baby you're a firework
Come on let your colors burst.
Make 'em go "oh, oh, oh!"
You're gunna leave 'em fallin' down-own-own."

"Boom, boom, boom
even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you
And now it's time to let it through."

For those who may not know what song I'm referring to, take a listen...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw

Jacob...go out and show them what you got, big guy! I know you can do it!

I guess I officially have yet a new team to cheer for...Go Hawks!

Happy New Year!

xoxo