It's intervention time...

Ok friends, I am asking for your help;  keep me out of Target's clearance aisles after each holiday season, please!  I cleaned the pantry because I was tired of dodging falling objects each and every time I went in there.  As I was stacking the napkins and paper plates, I realized I have enough Christmas napkins to use for 3 meals a day, for all 5 of us, for each day of December, and I will still not run out.  I also counted 2 packages (48) of Valentine's cupcake papers, 3 packages (72) of Easter cupcake papers, and 3 packages (72) of Halloween cupcake papers.  Do you know how many Easter cupcakes I made this past Easter??  ZERO.  Help!!!

Continuing to find ways to humiliate my daughter

I went out to water my flowers this morning, and saw the neighbors were having a yard sale (which I had known but forgotten about). I came in and this was the conversation between Gabrielle and I.
"I'm gonna run to the Byrnes to see what they're selling."
"Put some clothes on first."
"I'm in a t-shirt and shorts!"
"They look like pajamas."
"It's a t-shirt and shorts!"
"It looks like you just rolled out of bed."

Seriously??

That darn early-onset-Alzheimers...

Gabrielle happened to be in the car with me (yesterday) when I remembered that Evie has been bugging me to call the dentist, as she has two adult teeth coming in behind her baby teeth, and the baby teeth don't seem to be getting ANY looser. So at a red light, I called and made an appointment to have them looked at. (Did I mention that I just called yesterday?)

Fast forward to this morning, as I am making toast for Evie, dressed to go to yoga, hair uncombed and teeth unbrushed, and Gabrielle is making her lunch, when she (Gabrielle) suddenly says: "Doesn't Evie have a dentist appointment this morning?"

The appointment was for 7:30; I glance at the clock which says 7:17, and think "sh*&". Evie and I both throw on flip flops, and I shove the toast in Evie's hand as I am rushing her out the door. Luckily, we hit no traffic, and got there by 7:35, and the dentist's office didn't comment on our disheveled appearance! Thank goodness for young minds UNaffected by that forgetfulness disease...Thanks G!! But seriously, how do you forget an appointment that you made less than 24 hours ago?? Grrrr.

Whose decision is it anyway?!

During a discussion about her career choices, Gabrielle asked me what the best schools for architecture and astronomy were. When I told her I didn't know, she asked me to Google it. The top 5 for architecture were Virginia Polytech, Cornell, Syracuse, California Polytech (San Luis Obispo) and University of Cincinnati. The top 3 for astronomy were University of Arizona, California Institute of Technology, and UC Berkeley.

Is it wrong that I have a definite opinion about where she should go, based on where I want to visit?? And that I told her I might have to disown her if she goes to a Big East Rival school (Syracuse)?

Too much Harry Potter!

We are sitting at dinner a few nights ago, and I don't even know how the subject came up about types of governments, but Tyler said, "And there's that government like Cuba has, with the leader who's a Dementor."

Ummm, I think you mean "dictator" son!!! No more Harry Potter marathons during spring break!!

I just keep finding ways to lose that Mother-of-the-year award

Yup, so today's story involves my 3 kids AND a friend's son. Great, huh? I brought the kids to "Jump Street" which is an indoor trampoline park. They had a great time and we were heading home to get something to eat when I realized I needed gas. I pulled over just before getting on the highway, got gas, and decided I didn't want to deal with making a big square to avoid the "no left turn", so I just turned south and decided I would see if that road would lead me to Thunderbird so I could get on the highway there.

I'm driving, not really paying attention to the speedometer, trying to figure out if this road would lead me where I wanted to go. The kids are laughing and I'm half listening to that as well. We drive by 4 motorcycle cops pulled off the road on the left, and I glance at my speedometer and think "oh sh*#%", but just say "aarrrgggghhh".

Almost immediately I see one pull out behind me, and I hear Tyler's friend say, "One just pulled out. Are you getting a ticket?" And then the lights come on and I say, "Yup."

I pull over and grab my license, and am trying to direct Gabrielle to where the insurance and registration are when the officer reaches the window. I don't really glance at him when I hold out my license, as I am still trying to get the insurance card when I hear, "Do you know Dennis Arseneault?" and IMMEDIATELY realize I recognize that voice. Yeah, that's not embarrassing at all to be pulled over by someone who knows your husband , but who you have only met a couple of times. Ugghh! And then to have to confess to the parents of Tyler's friend that I was pulled over with their son in the car... Another lesson learned.

Not sure this soccer stuff is for me...

We are now two tournaments into our 8 tournament schedule. This past weekend we played in Tucson. While I will admit to enjoying my weekends spent on the fields more than I thought I ever would (and this is for a multitude of reasons, one being the great group of families we play with, and the other being that our other two kids are still enjoying it and are not bored out of their minds, or resentful of having their time taken up by their sister's soccer schedule), I must say I'm not sure I am cut out for this.

The Bandits made it to the championship game. They played an AMAZING game that was still scoreless with approximately 3 minutes left. Coach had pulled everyone but Gabrielle back to defense to make sure the other team could not score. He yelled out across the field, "You're by yourself up top. Create havoc up there and score me a goal!" (Prior to this, I'm not sure she even realized she was alone at forward.)

Her team made a couple of amazing passes, and sure enough, there she was, sprinting to the ball with the opponent, beating her to it, leaving her in the dust, and approaching the goal with nothing between her and the keeper. She took her shot and...it was wide by about 18 inches. When the game ended a minute later, there she was sobbing, shoulders shaking, head in the coach's chest. (I'm tearing up again typing this). It was HEARTBREAKING.

He calmed her down. The game goes to penalty kicks if it ends in a tie and he told her he needed her to be ready. We lost on penalty kicks. And there was our keeper, crying because she had let in 3 PKs. And there were our shooters crying because their PKs had not gone in on the opponent's keeper. I wanted to sit down and cry with all of them. I was so proud of all of their effort and heart, and all they were was disappointed. I just don't think I'm cut out for this.