Soccer Star

After seven summers of running back and forth to the soccer field, this is going to be my last summer as a soccer mom. Connor decided last year that he didn't want to play anymore, and we were supportive of his decision. We figured after 5 years he knew whether or not he loved the game. This year is clearly Janelle's last year.

She had a tournament on the weekend. While she loves to "be part of it", she doesn't actually want to "be part of it". She is happy to run onto the field when it is her turn and become an "on-field spectator", but she doesn't want to get anywhere near the action. My favourite is when she starts chatting with her invisible friends while she is standing out in the middle of the field. You can watch her hold long conversations with "someone" while her team is at the other end of the field battling for a goal. At one point on Saturday, after she came off for a shift, I had a chat with her about it. I said "Nellie, you know that your imaginary friends really aren't supposed to be on the field with you during the game". She replied "But Mom, they're in my head, so they have to go wherever I go. I can't just leave them behind!" Well, how can I argue with logic like that?

My girl is clearly not an athlete, much like her Mama, but she has a rich imagination and a definite flair for the dramatic. So soccer isn't her thing. I'm happy that she spent four summers "giving it a try". I'm proud of the fact that she will try pretty much anything. Yesterday we went to a brand new (to us) church, and when they called all the children to the front to sing a song for the congregation, Janelle headed right down to the front to join them. She didn't know the words or the actions, but she wanted to be there! Then she followed all the other kids, not knowing a single one, downstairs for children's church. I am amazed at her bravery. Maybe next year we'll find out what her "thing" is, whether it be dance or singing or drama or whatever. It's definitely something, and she's not going to shy away from finding it!

And here is a picture of the soccer star, taken this morning, after losing her second front tooth in the night. Cute or what?

Quiet Evening

It isn't often quiet this time of night at my house. The boys have gone flying (yes, actually flying with a friend of Chris's from work who is a pilot, and his 10-year-old son — an awesome tour of London from the air), and Janelle and I got back from her soccer game about an hour ago. She got an award tonight! Guess the coaches have figured out that the fact that she actually touched the ball three or four times and did some running is a big deal for my little dreamer. Now she is sleeping peacefully in the spare room (her just-painted room is still off limits), and her Kenny Loggins lullabyes (our favourite) are playing, very nearly putting me to sleep.

I've had a very busy day, painting the one last wall in Nellie's room. It was such a dark colour it took three coats, and I couldn't tape the corners on the other new paint, so cutting in there was misery! I am exhausted, but it's done! Both kids rooms painted, so Papa doesn't even have to touch a paintbrush while he's here. But he does need to put up a clothesline! If I know my dad, he won't be happy unless he has some kind of a "to do" list. Only one more week until Grandma and Papa are here. I can't wait!

The peaceful strains of "Inchworm" are floating out to me, along with Janelle's precious snores, and I'm feeling an irresistible calling to my book and to the couch. I think I'll go enjoy the last few minutes of my quiet house. The boys should be home any minute, and I'm sure they'll bring plenty of excitement with them!

Missed Post #2

Reasons I missed yesterday's post:

1. Went on a field trip with Connor's class to the "Children's Water Festival", a very cool, educational water expo, featuring 45 different hands-on stations illustrating various water issues like conservation, watersheds, water safety, pollution, storm drains, ecosystems, ph levels, protecting the water supply, water treatment facilities, etc.
2. Got home an hour before school ended, but Chris was still here (he had worked late the night before), so I hung out with him until I had to go get the kids.
3. Picked up the kids at school. Connor had a headache. I assumed that he had sunstroke, which he gets fairly often if he is in full sun and doesn't have enough water. It had been 28C at the water festival, and I'm sure he didn't drink enough. So he and I stayed in the air conditioned house for a while, until he felt like going out to play.
4. Got supper and hurried off to Janelle's first soccer game. We had the talk beforehand about how it isn't appropriate to pick flowers on the field in the middle of the game. I have to admit, she gave it a good try, running with all her might for about 5 minutes, but then she ran out of steam. She's not used to the full sized field they use at this level. I didn't catch her picking any flowers, but there was some wandering around the field singing happening!
5. Came home to find that Connor had been sick to his stomach (yep, sunstroke), and I had developed a pretty wicked headache myself. Chris and I put the kids to bed and then I spent the rest of the evening on the couch in front of the TV. I shamelessly watched the season finale of Grey's Anatomy, but, for the first time, I almost couldn't handle the blood. I happily fell into bed, still hoping for relief from the headache, at 11:00 p.m.

Today I'm finishing "my project". Then I'm starting another project: painting the kids' rooms. Connor's first: Bamboo Shoot Green. Just thinking about it makes me tired, but it has to get done! Maybe I'll get a chance to write another post today. Maybe...