Outdoor Season Has Begun

Today was the 'official' opening day of the outdoor soccer season. JADs team was supposed to have a game bright and early this morning at 8:00. However, no team showed up. Maybe that was due to the fact that the entire CYS schedule was completely altered at some point Friday. Ummm, ya. That poses a problem for teams that might have to travel. Which would encompass ALL teams in the division. But those are small details. I guess the team that was supposed to be down in the Springs this morning claimed that the game had now been moved up to Denver at 2:00. What? No, we do know how to read a schedule... and it certainly did not call for us being in Denver at 2:00! Though it also would've been nice to not be up at the crack of dawn o'thirty, either. Oh well. The game will be rescheduled and hopefully we'll have good weather for it.

CEDs team started out their Spring season fantastically. They won their game, sans subs, 2-0!!! It was a great game. The girls played their positions really well and they handily beat a team that went undefeated last season. It was great watching these girls use their passing skills as they've been taught and they started communicating with one another, as well. Overall, it was a great game. We're looking forward to a great Spring season for both teams. Go, Corinthians!

The Performances Continue

Yesterday, MEDs conservatory class put on a little performance for all the parents. We were treated to some rhythm with clapping and dancing (think Stomp), a few piano pieces, and a song the kids played with bells. It's always so fun watching these little ones just put their all into the music and dance.

I had to giggle at this next little guy. He is in MEDs classes as well, but he refused to come out of his 'hiding spot'. I guess stomp and rhythm just isn't his thing.

A Hodge Podge of Unrelated Information

JAD has adapted quite well to his new school... I think. He's embraced his homework duties with gusto, although most nights he's wallowing (somewhat happily) in the 3 hours that he has to complete. The nice thing is, every day that I talk to him after school he sounds HAPPY - something that wasn't happening in his last program. I'm glad we made the switch and I know he is too. Here's a pic of JAD with H - his best friend - at JADs locker. I laugh when I see this because JAD is actually a half year older than H, yet H just towers over him. My bff J (H's mom) took this picture of 'her two sons'...

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Today we have an indoor soccer game (I know - shocking!) that should be VERY interesting. JAD is playing on his team Barcelona and Barcelona is playing against the Vipers. What's interesting? JAD also plays for the Vipers... both indoor and outdoor. Yikes! One mom from the Vipers wanted to completely cancel this game thinking the boys would be hurt, upset, disappointed, etc because they'd be playing against their own teammates. The majority of the boys' reactions? They don't care. Just let them play soccer. As for the parents, that may be another story. Would you like a plate of anger with a side of bitterness? That's what will be served at 2:25 today. I'll keep you updated on the results.

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I have lost a total of 30 pounds so far. I am still following my Weight Watchers program with fidelity (99% of the time) and I am really pleased with my results. Monthly totals so far have been 19 and 10.5. I still want to lose 63 more pounds, but am on target for 50 pounds gone by the end of May.

We have a weight loss challenge going on at school right now. Many of us signed on to participate and we have been put into teams. It's fun watching and listening to people talk about what they are doing to lose weight and how much weight they have lost. It's about the only camaraderie we have in our building, which is sad, but true. The winners will get a free one hour massage at a local spa at the end of the year. My team is currently in the lead by .04%. I'm hoping we WIN!!! I did have a great compliment paid to me this week, though. Our night building engineer has lost 20 pounds herself since starting the weight loss challenge and she says that I am her inspiration (cue music here). Isn't that sweet? I love her dearly... I'm glad that my journey has helped her to begin her own journey to be healthier.

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A week ago K was offered a great deal and called me to discuss it. We decided to take it and paid the guy the asking price of $450. The deal, you ask? A 1992 Volkswagon Passat. For whom, you ask? JAD. Yes, I know he is only 13. But he now has a car that he has to put the time and money into and once he turns 16, he will have a car to drive. K has already lined up people to help him lower the car, tint the windows, fix hail damage... JAD will have a sweet little car in two years if he puts the work into it. I was never a big fan of my 16 year old having his/her OWN car to drive right away, but reality is, we have 5 kids and they are all active and involved with various activities. I NEED another driver to help me get people places! In a couple of years, we'll probably start looking for a car for CED, too. It's all about practicality, people.

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MED starts rehearsal for A Midsummer Night's Dream today. She's a fairy. The rehearsals only last for this week and next and then the performances begin. The original schedule that came out said that rehearsals were every night from 4:30 - 8:30. Ummm... what? For the five year olds, too? When I did contact the conservatory, they came up with a new schedule for the little ones that is much more palatable. It's an exciting opportunity, though, and I am glad our little MED gets to be a part of this!

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Spring Break is only two weeks away. Thank goodness! I have started looking in earnest for a new job. Where I am currently working keeps getting more and more infuriating to be at. We have had at least four people in the last few weeks turn in their resignations either effective almost immediately or for the end of the school year. I have yet to do this as I don't want to be completely out of a job, but I was also recently told that our principal will be cleaning house and removing most everyone from their positions. Great. Good luck to him, however. Expecting great things out of a brand new staff? Yep, he'll learn soon enough....

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Have a great week, everyone. I'll keep you posted on the soccer game later today. It'll be a doozy, I'm sure!

Tournament

This weekend JADs team played in a soccer tournament in Pueblo, which is about 35 miles south of the Springs. They played a great game yesterday morning, easily winning 3-0. We saw great passing and the boys were actually talking and communicating with one another. It was great! Yesterday afternoon, however, didn't go so well and the team lost 1-4. There were a lot of down faces and jawing on the field as the game continued to tank. It's very interesting observing the boys as they walk away from the field after losing to a team that they should've been pretty even with. Some boys are ready to drop everything and fight. You can just see it on their faces as they walk off the field. They aren't afraid to talk back to the kids on the other team and they are kicking anything within reach because they are so angry. And then other boys are walking off smiling and laughing like they haven't a care in the world. These differences alone can cause so many problems as the two attitudes mix together. The word of the day is 'volatile.' The third game, this morning, went much better than yesterday as we won the game. The boys were tied at the end of the first half, but they came out in the second half acting like they were there to play. They ended the game 2-1. Unfortunately, they didn't make the championship game - two other teams won all their games - but I think they gained some confidence in themselves and as a team.

Outdoor season is fully in swing again. Just look in the back window of my van - there are blankets, a team bench, and chairs all ready to go. Hopefully we don't get any more winter weather from this point forward.

The First Day

Today was JADs first day of school at CMCA. I was so nervous for him this morning, just praying that everything would go well and he wouldn't come home absolutely hating me for putting him in that school. When I talked to him after school, he sounded almost giddy! He knew even more boys than he thought he would and the teachers and students were all extremely kind to him. He seems to have already settled in fairly well (considering it was his first day) and I have not seen him this happy (in relation to school) since we moved from Wisconsin. I think, like I said in an earlier post, that this school in so many ways mirrors our old school and this has helped in leaps and bounds to put JAD at ease. He does have a good amount of homework - more than he would get in a week at the public middle school - but he's even rather jovial about that. Today, he cleared off his desk so that he would have a place to do homework. He is embracing this fully and that is very exciting for me! I just hope that he continues to fit in and make friends at this school. I am a very, very happy mama right now!

A New School

Today I completed the final steps today to enroll JAD at Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy here in the Springs. This school has a phenomenal educational program - and the highest CSAP and ACT scores in the state. I have been asking this school for well over 3 weeks now if I could enroll him this year. I had to put his application in as part of the lottery (he was drawn third - not bad!) and then beg and plead to just get him tested. The school finally (and grudgingly) agreed to allow him to take placement tests this past Monday. The administration also sent the message along that JAD would have to do extremely well in order to just be considered for enrollment. So on Monday, K took a 1/2 day off work and took JAD for his placement tests. We received the results on Wednesday... and JAD starts school on Tuesday! He had to take tests in writing, reading, grammar, and math. We were told that he missed only one question in grammar and only one question in reading. Why don't people listen to me when I say this kid is gifted? I'm extremely excited for him and I'm pretty sure he's happy, too. This school, in so many ways, reminds me of our dear CLS back in Wisconsin. I'm hoping that he adjusts quickly (at least 2 hours of homework every night) and makes some friends. The nice thing is, he has several friends that already attend the school. The bad thing is, he is the oldest of his friends and they are all in 7th grade. But, beggars can't be choosers and this is an incredible school to be accepted into. I will keep you updated with my progress and JADs as well.

Happy Valentine's Day

Today is the romantic holiday of Valentine's Day. For weeks, everywhere I've gone there have been flowers, balloons, cards, candy, stuffed animals, clothing - you name it! - for this holiday. Many people have spent the night cuddling with their sweetheart, going out to dinner, romantic candlelight, soft music... Reality is the name of the game in our house, however. K and I have spent the evening apart - I at soccer practice and K at home with the little ones. That's life when you have kids in competitive soccer and three other younger kids. Romantic evenings aren't the norm anymore! Regardless of how we spent the day, I know that I love K more and more everyday... the romantic evenings will come again. One day.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! May you enjoy your day with your special love or those friends that are closest to you.