THE LOUDMOUTH

When I go to my daughter's softball or soccer games I go to relax. Even though I'm with all the kids (and usually my husband is there to help)...it's relaxing. We're not home...the house isn't being destroyed. The kids can eat snacks and have a drink...and there are no rugs to spill it on. Yes, for me, going to games is a day in paradise. That was until this weekend's game and I came face to face with the LOUDMOUTH. Anyone who goes to any sporting event has surely encountered the LOUDMOUTH before so you know what I'm talking about....screaming, yelling...and not just for their team but against their team too....in other words against my daughter. And if you think Hell has no fury like a woman scorned...try scorning a mother who's daughter is playing a softball game.
I tried not to let it bother me at first. Even though he sat right next to me and shout so loud I thought my eardrum ruptured. It started with "let's go Allie" (she pitched for the other team)...but then it broadened to "this hitter can't hit...strike her out". If allie pitched a wild pitch and it went too high or too low--he'd scream GREAT PITCH! I surprised myself by just keeping it quiet and trying not to let it bother me...but as he got louder and louder...I knew I wasn't going to be able to take a whole game of this. It didn't help matters that the inning started poorly for my daughter's team and they were down 4-0.
When Graceann was up at bat she got a great hit. He screamed it was a lucky hit. (I'm thinking he's lucky I'm not hitting him about now). Well that was the turning point for me. I reached for my alliance--my other daughters. If anyone can make noise--believe me--they can do it. My husband often says they should tape their screams and whining and send it to prisoner camps as a form of torture when they try to make you confess whatever it is you don't want to confess. I told Caroline...isn't this man next to us annoying? She said yes. I said, let's cheer really hard for Grace's team". Then I got Pauline rounded up and she was on board. And as the captain of the ship I started screaming wildly for Graceann's team. Next thing I knew the man got up and walked away....YES, VICTORY. Suddenly peace and quiet....until 15 minutes later he returned with a coffee....ugh....and back to his loudmouth ways! So we started our yelling too. I am sure the people around all of us were a bit annoyed. Soon enough the game was over, we won...I had a sore throat and a headache...and was hardly relaxed. My husband told me I had to learn to let it go....when people act crazy like that...just let it go...don't let it bother you. So then I felt guilty that I played into the loudmouth's game. Shouldn't we just let actions speak louder than words....they did...the girls won the game! No more yelling for me! I am now declaring the games scream free zones. And if someone starts up...I will bite my lip...and not say a word. I will cheer for my own daughter...but that's it. Maybe just maybe if it gets unbearable...I'll call in my troups (Caroline and Pauline)...but I won't yell....I'm old enough to know better (the kids still have a few years).

EVERY SECOND COUNTS

In a second I got the girls to all look at the camera at the same time!

In a second we all shared some Easter joy!

Discovering seconds of exploration together!

Becca with my chicken purse....a second, a smile!

Not sure why I was thinking that every second in our lives count. But I was sitting on the train yesterday pondering that very thought. Every second has a purpose....maybe one second is to wake up the sun, another second is to offer a smile to someone having a bad day, another second is to meet a new friend. I actually met my husband in a second. We were playing vollyball and in a second he saved the ball from hitting me. In a second my life changed. These seconds are so precious. Most of us, including me take them for granted. When you think about it...we never get them back. Each second lasts...only about....a second. Wouldn't it be great to make every second count...every second mean something? One day I was coming home on the train. I couldn't find a place to sit. All of a sudden, in a second as a matter of fact, this man came out of no where and pushed me so hard down the aisle that I practically fell into this woman's lap. She wasn't to happy about that, but I did discover that there was a seat next to her that I didn't initially see. I sat next to her and this woman happened to be knitting. I love knitting especially on the train. So to save face with this woman who I just nearly crushed--I said, "oh you're knitting...I always bring my knitting too"...suddenly the kinship of yarn but a smile on her face and she acted like we had been long lost friends just reunited. We discussed projects and what kinds of yarn we like to use. Then I noticed that she was doing a cable stitch. It's a stitch I have trouble with and always wanted to learn. I asked her about it. She put everything down and the remainder of the ride home taught me that stitch that I just couldn't comprehend. Imagine that! Some very valuable seconds strung together as a knitting class--unexpected, appreciated seconds.

Now unfortunately not everything is seen through rose colored glasses...there are some seconds we wish we could take back...saying unkind words in a second, glances of disappointment, and as in the case this am--a thrown stuffed animal--and in a second our favorite statue was broken.

So what does it all mean? good seconds, bad seconds, to me it means to appreciate each and every moment...as a wise woman once said (that would be Mrs. Garrett from the Facts of Life TV show)...you take the good, you take the bad and there you have the facts of life, the facts of life, the facts of life. Yes..it's all part of life...live it to the fullest!

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

Pauline enjoying her older sister Graceann's softball game....brrrr....it's freezing and doesn't quite feel like Spring!

When she's not enjoying her sister's games....she's playing soccer--and having a great time.

Caroline warming up --getting ready to pitch for her town's softball team. In 3 innings she has struck out 8 and hasn't given up any runs....really great for a lefty!

So we're officially into Spring Sports. I can remember bringing Graceann to her first few Softball games and she didn't even know which way to run after she hit the ball. Imagine the laughs when she hit the ball and ran directly to third! I carted all of her younger sisters to watch the game. They knew if they behaved they might get treated to the ice cream truck. I insured their behavior by packing barbie dolls, stuffed animals, coloring books...or anything to keep them busy. The other moms couldn't believe I had 5 children. I kept wondering it's easy now....Graceann plays softball and the others sit with me....this is the high life....just what's going to happen when they're all involved in sports and I'm running from game to game? That's when life will be crazy. That time has come. Friday Caroline had a game in town while Graceann had a game an hour away. That situation easily solved...my husband took Graceann while I took Caroline. Saturday Graceann had a game away and Pauline had a Spring Soccer game--again we split duties. The problems will begin when all three have something the same day....there isn't a light at the end of the tunnel because before too long Rebecca and Gemma will be in the equation. For a millisecond my husband said, "maybe spring soccer was too much for us to handle". But then we remind ourselves...we need to be fair to all the girls...and this was the sport Pauline really wanted to do. It helps to pool all of their schedules together and make a master calender to keep us in track. It's not easy to juggle...but I thank God I have children to juggle. (Always trying to find the positive)! They say when the going gets tough....the tough get going....we just may need a ride and helping hand in the process.

PROJECT HOMEWORK

Graceann's biome project--a Monarch butterfly (whipped together with 2 pairs of white pantyhose, three hangers, one black knee high stocking, 3 plastic bags and paint.)

I love my daughters....I really, really do....but why is it that after being off for one week of school--they decided to tell me they have homework at 8:00 pm on a Sunday night? And not just 4+4=8 math homework....no--project homework. Project homework is when you're creating a poster, something messy, or researching at all hours to get a paper done. In this case Caroline had 2 projects due. One was a poster on what makes NJ great, and the other was designing a bookmark for the Library. My oldest daughter Graceann said she had a book report--but this was the creative kind....instead of writing about the main story plot--you had to bake a cake in the shape of the main character. (When did these type of book reports start? they didn't have them when I was a kid). Her second project involved a biome...and creating a stuffed animal biome. I didn't even know what a biome was...ugh! Needless to say I'm tired, and cranky after helping with a night of last minute project homework.