Ancestry...

Have you checked out Ancestry.com?  Feel free to give me a giant "duh", I know it's been around for along time and I've used it in the past but all of a sudden I have some steam and it's so fun.  I always knew that I came from Irish and Polish immigrants of the early 20th century and haven't made much leeway there, but I'm having a blast researching my husband's family who mostly immigrated in the 1700s and have so much information already recorded.  I absolutely thrilled my children when I told them that they are descendants of Powhatan Indians.  They both study the Powhatan in school and think they are the bees knees now that they know they are related to an Indian Chief.

Who are you related to?
 

The Kind of Fun that Requires Recovery...

We had so much fun this weekend that 1 of us was hung over (not it) and 2 of us couldn't go to school on Tuesday, that's a shit-ton of fun.  Also, we are not the only family in our soccer group that had this problem.  We clearly know what we're doing when it comes to celebrating the end of the soccer season (it so isn't the end yet).

Did you know that Zack could walk on water?

Skyler gets a taste of her own medicine.

The very best thing about a pool party (other than the pool and the food and the drinks and the friends) is that if you hold the camera, you aren't in the pictures ;)

 

Chopped...

Have you seen the show Chopped? The kids and I are kind of obsessed with it. It's hosted by Ted Allen of Queer Eye and is totally enjoyable. The show brings in four chefs from various backgrounds and pits them against each other in lightning rounds of preparing dishes with really weird ingredients like cow tongue, emu egg or pork rinds. There's always a cantankerous old guy who has been "in the business" for several decades who spouts off about who he knows and where he's worked. There's usually a new person who either just went through school or can't find a job or works in a lowly diner. Then there's usually a chef who has one specific specialty such as pastry or that one guy who was into chemical cooking. They ALL sweat like fiends and can chop like maniacs. My favorite episodes are when the experienced chefs lose and are super cranky about it. Hehehe. The kids and I always pick our favorite chef and argue over who should get chopped.  It's almost as much fun as we had watching Face Off in 2011.  I guess I do love me some reality tv.

Thanks for all the fantastic comments (here and on Facebook) regarding yesterday's post.  Gosh darn I love my readers. You guys mean the world to me!

 Lurve you,
 

As Well as Expected...

Well that went about as well as I expected and by "well" I mean the shit totally hit the fan.  And when I say the shit hit the fan, I mean that all my friends and close family still love me, my children are still awesome, my husband is still amusing, but that a few particular people had a major major problem with my beliefs, or lack of beliefs really.

At first I was furious and then I was determined to ignore and now I'm mostly amused.  I am exactly the same person I was two weeks ago, 3 months ago, 5 years ago.  It's just that now my "secret" is out.  The funny thing is that had anyone asked me what my beliefs were at any time in the past I would have happily told them.  But they didn't, there were just assumptions based on I'm not sure what.  No big deal.  Actions are the most important thing aren't they?  I stand by all of my actions.  I want the best for everyone I know.  If there are people out there who don't approve, well, that's their problem isn't it?  Just as my approval of their actions is my problem.

Let's move on shall we?  We're well into May and I haven't yet found my bloggy mojo.  I'm thinking it may be broken for 2012.  Or maybe I just spend entirely too much time on the side of a soccer field or inside my car driving to the soccer field?  THAT is entirely possible.  It makes for good knitting time though - I'm teaching myself to knit.

The kids had a soccer tournament this weekend and rocked it.  This is always a challenging tournament as historically it is either hot-as-balls or hot-as-balls AND raining.  I played soccer hookey on Saturday and spent some time with some wonderful friends in North Carolina so I didn't get to see the four games the kids played that day.  Matt preempted my return home by telling me he was sorry that he forgot to sunblock the kiddos.  The three of them looked like cooked lobsters when I got home.  Apparently it doesn't matter that you put sunblock in both kids soccer bags and in the cooler, if you don't apply it yourself you will have a crispy family when you get home.  This was the hot-as-balls day.  Sunday they were all happy to have sunburned faces to keep them warm because it was cold and rainy and we were at the soccer complex for 9, NINE, hours.  It rained sideways for much of the day.  Skyler's championship game was last and it was raining so hard and was so muddy that I didn't even take out my camera.  Zack's team came in third place in their division which was about right for them.  Skyler's team came in second place and there were lots of tears.  That last game was the only game they lost all season and happened to be the last game they would play together as a team.  I felt both sad for them and slightly amused that they had had so much victory that one loss would disappoint them so.  The fun fact of that tournament was that Sky's team and the winning team were the only two teams that had girls on them.  GOoooo girls!

We're spending the next two weeks recovering and practicing for....sand soccer.  I hope I'm wrong, but I'm really not looking forward to this tournament.  I think we've gone off the deep end of soccer.


Smooches,
 

Things I'm Afraid to Tell You...

I've noticed a new meme/movement floating around the internet and being published on blogs far and wide this past week called "Things I'm Afraid to Tell You".  I've read some interesting posts and figured I'd give it a whirl.

1.  This is the big "in the closet" type of secret that probably all of you know, but I don't think I've ever come out and said on the blog.  I'm an atheist.  There it is, my big confession.  I don't think it's a big deal, but whoooo daddy you wouldn't believe what a big deal others think it is.  I don't believe in gods (or satan).  I believe in science and free thought and kindness and doing the right thing and helping others.  I believe in teaching my children those things and I believe we're doing a pretty damn good job at it.  I was raised Catholic and no I never had a particularly bad experience, I just never (ever) believed any of it.  I respected the way I was raised and for a while tried to go along with the idea of organized religion but as soon as I had my own children, I knew I couldn't pretend anymore.  First I told my husband, who was raised a non-denominational Christian but was non-practicing, and then we decided to just raise our children the best we could and take things as they came.  His beliefs have changed over time, but I promised myself I would never try to influence him.  We've had some wonderful discussions.   Our children have been mocked by others in their classes and have been told that our beliefs are wrong but have had every one of their questions answered as best as we could and have never, as far as I know, ever mocked another child for what they believe.  We've taught and explained other religious beliefs and purchased books and just tried to be understanding. I think our kids will grow up to be open-minded wonderful children.  I hope you see that too.

2.  I see a therapist once per week.  I worry about a lot of things and I have anxiety and get overwhelmed easily.  I think I manage it pretty well and Matt is super supportive but sometimes you can find me curled in bed with no plans of getting out.  Life is just easier there. 

3.  My house is a pit.  For realz.  I used to be able to rock small kids and activities and school and cooking meals and keeping the house clean(ish) but I've lost the mo-jo and haven't found it again.  Someday...

4.  I weigh more than I ever have.  I know I should eat better and exercise but seriously, the last time I exercised for weeks straight, I got pneumonia and had to go all the way back to Go without collecting my $200. It's hard to overcome.

5.  I want to go back to school but I have no idea what to major in.  I absolutely love to learn but I'm a procrastinator and tend to self-sabotage.  That isn't a good combination.

6.  I judge when I see what I think is bad parenting.  I'm no one to be doing any judging but it's one topic that I'm sensitive about.  If you take your child to a tanning booth or let your sick child play in the rain while under-dressed while you huddle down in a warm sweatshirt or smoke in a closed up car, I will judge you.  I won't necessarily be right, but I'll be worrying about your child.

7.  I would have a terrible potty mouth if it weren't for the little ears in my house.  They keep me honest.

I'm sure there's plenty more but these little gems popped to mind.  None of it is important in the grand scheme of things but sometimes I'm afraid to tell you...