The Verge of Shady

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We visited "the verge of shady" last night. Actually I would say this place was well into the realm of shady. Putting that aside,the concert was great. I'd love to see both Matt White and Five Times August again, just not at this particular venue. Enough said.

Kickin Little Cuties

I have become "that soccer mom." That soccer mom minus the mini van that is. You know the one that matches the ball with the bag and the shoes and the shingaurd/sock combo thing. Not too matchy but at least coordinating. Aaron may not have been the fastest runner on the field but he was the best dressed. Andy may not have been the most interested in scoring but he was the cutest. By a mile.

Actually, both boys did very well. Aaron described his coach as "aggressive." He had them running laps and up this glorified bump that Aaron refers to as "the mountain." He may be a bit sore tomorrow... Andy listened to "Coach Dad" very well and had no problem making some new friends.

Brad quickly realized Andy's team is a little younger than he coached last time. As he stood there giving them 2 and 3 part directions I admitedly had an evil little grin. Four year olds and 2 part directions don't mix. There was a fleeting thought of "welcome to my world." However, Brad is quite good with the kids and he will tweak the games before Wednesday.

No soccer tomorrow. Tomorrow is all about Maci and gymnastics.

First Love

It's way too late at night to be starting a blog of this magnitude. But I gotta try... Andy asked for his first little girlfriend tonight. His exact words were, "it would be good if you were my girlfriend." I was listening from the front seat...anxiously awaiting the answer of his beloved.

Without much hesitation, she said yes! So now my little Andy has his first official girlfriend- Miss Osborn. I couldn't have picked anyone better. :)

Weekend Ramblings

*It gets harder every year to pick out Easter outfits for the kids. 3 kids. 2 sexes. Have to coordinate. Maybe one year I will give up the coordinating part. But not this year.

*When I asked the kids to sign the behavior policy from the afterschool program, Maci signed without hesitation. Aaron said, "um...can I read it over first?" To which Maci replied, "ooohhh that would've been good." That pretty well sums up the differences between those two.

*Freshly Brewed in Indian Trail has the closest thing to QT's frozen cappuccinos that I have found...too bad they are 3 times the price.

*I looked up the lyrics to this song- it is 'hearts all over the world' not 'hurts all over the world.' Mystery solved.

*Target has Tshirt sheets on sale for $9.99 this week. All sizes.

*Last weeks Lost episode was the best in the series so far. Loved it. Gotta watch it again. Need a PhD to really comprehend it. I have a feeling it's only going to get deeper...anyone have cliff notes for me?

*Daffodils are blooming. Ferns are already hanging. I love Carolina in the spring and we are getting close.

*My birthday month has officially started. Let the festivities begin. ;)

Been Tagged

Anna May "tagged me" So I am supposed to now write a blog of 10 weird/random facts/habits/goals about myself- at the end choosing 10 more people to tag. Here we go.

1. I don't carry a purse. I traded in a purse for a diaper bag 10 years ago. By the time I stopped needing the diaper bag I had figured out how to carry all I need in a little keychain thingy...and in the console of my vehicle.

2. Speaking of that vehicle...it is a pit inside. Jackets, random papers, brushes, lipsticks, CDs, toys, etc. etc. are in there. Brad gets very frustrated with me about it.

3. I don't know how I stand the car being a mess because in the house I need everything to have its own spot. Baskets organize everything here from toys to shoes to plastic forks to papers. Everything has a basket.

4. I am the worst about watering my plants. More than 254 (ballpark figure) plants have met their demise around here because I just don't water worth a flip.

5. I still don't know I know what I want to be when I grow up.

6. I do not have the patience for voicemails. I'd much rather just see your missed call than have to dial it up and listen to a voicemail. Let me just call you back to see what you wanted. I'm probably going to be calling you back anyway. Why not eliminate the extra step?

7. Having said that, I do have an ongoing 'voicemail thing' with a friend. I am not sure how it started (due to random fact #10) but we leave looooonnngg rambling voicemails for eachother every day. I do enjoy listening to those. Maybe because they are often funny. Maybe because I expect them. I've also learned that leaving those voice mails is much like therapy. I can often vent on the voicemail and not have to talk about that particular subject again.

8. I worry more about what other people think than I should. I also worry about it more than you think I do. My "whatthecrapever" attitude is something I have to work at. You know what I mean....

9. There are many days I still miss Church on the Move so much I ache. The podcasts are good but not as good as hearing Pastor in person. I miss the entire atmosphere.

10. For the most part, my memory sucks. Sucks with a capital "S." Ihave to write down everything I need to remember. Reruns don't bother me because I have no idea how they ended. I rely on people with good memories. This is precisely why Kendra and I are in major trouble when we get together. She is the only person I know that has a memory as bad as mine!

11. I'd much rather do something if I am not required to. I like to go the extra mile. I like to overachieve. But if you are forcing me to...I will buck the system.

12. This little bit of rebellion is exactly why I have to post 12 facts instead of 10 and not tag anyone. ;)

Disturbing

Last Saturday we took the kids to see Spiderwick. Maci and I were sharing a pop. After taking a few sips Maci leaned over and asked, "what kind of soda is this?"

I'm not certain if I am more disturbed by the discovery she doesn't recognize the taste of our family favorite Dr. Pepper or the fact that she called it "SODA!"

Decisions. Decisions.

Thanks to a birthday party and a very generous offer from Erin, we are childless this afternoon. So many ideas...get some cleaning done? Nah. Take a nap? Nah. Catch a movie? Possibly. Go out to dinner? Possibly. Just having the options is soooo nice. Brad and I are good about watching the kids for eachother so that we can do things with our friends but we aren't so good about getting a sitter to have time for ourselves as a couple. Yes, I know how important that is. Totally agree. However, logistics can be difficult. So...that makes this surprise even better. Friends like Erin that jump in unexpectedly and give you things like time- those are the best friends. I'm blessed. THANK YOU Erin! Now if only Brad would get home from tear down at Elevation!!! ;)

How She Rolls

I interupt this previously recorded blog to give Ashley a slight pep talk to carry with her all the way to Connecticut.

You've worked like a dog. You've studied like a college kid. You've learned like the knowledge hungry girl you are. You're ready. You will go into that presentation and take over because you are ready to rock. The test? Not a problem. Consider it aced.

And when it is over and you come home we will celebrate with a big night out on the town with our men....or maybe with a big night in playing cards and eating junk food. Doesn't matter. We will laugh, get a little crazy, and get a little loud because that's how we roll. (like the song?!)

What Have I Done??

A few days ago I thought I was going to be techno savy and get my email to work on both my computer and Brad's laptop. Apparently I am not so savy after all. I'm currently having email issues. Issues that my darling husband will have to sort out for me. (He truly IS techno savy!) Anyway, if I am not replying to your email...try again or go the old fashioned way and just call me. Because at this point, I don't know what I am getting or not getting or where what I am getting is going!

Here we are- 2 year anniversary on the "big move to NC." I still have that sense that we just got here and that we've been here forever at the same time. I don't know how that works but it is very similar to how I felt the last time I went back to OK. I felt home yet so far away from home all at the same time. Looking back over the last 2 years here are a few memories that stand out-

*Closing on the house on a Monday morning. Working at the house all day and almost all night to get the painting done before the movers came Tuesday morning. All five of us slept on the floor in the boys bedroom- the excitement was so strong we didn't even notice the absence of beds!

*Getting lost coming home from Concord Mills and ending up in Uptown at 5:00 traffic. We'd only lived here a month, Connie was with me, and being in Uptown was as foreign as being in another country. Due to my nerves, my IBS set in...not good. (I never said these were all cheery memories!)

*Watching the weather and seeing the COAST LINE on the map! Seems surreal. (we only watched the weather for a few weeks until we figured out there is no need)

*Our first day trip to the beach. I think it was late March- the water was still freezing but we were giddy and didn't even care.

*Crying on multiple Sunday afternoons because we'd been to yet another church that was "not it" and missing COTM so much I couldn't breathe.

*That first Sunday at Elevation where we knew we were home. Finally.

*Meeting our NC family in that small group at the Lookers. We had no idea how impactful that group would be on our lives here.

*The feeling of certainty that we had and still have about this move. There have been many uncertainties but moving here was never one of them. And anyone that has spent any time with us has heard us say that we firmly believe there is a greater reason we are here- a reason we still haven't seen unfold.

*Moments too numerous to name that we've spent with friends thinking how fortunate we are to have them in our lives. Friendships are deeper when you are far from family. Friends become family. Let me tell you we have an AWESOME family here!

It's good to be home.