Tryouts

This week is soccer tryouts. Yes, you have to "tryout" to be on a soccer team in elementary school. When I was little I played in a league, which wasn't affiliated with my elementary school, so this is new to me.
I talked to some of the other Mom's about the soccer teams and found out just how competitive this years soccer is going to be. I mean last year was okay, but you could tell who was really trying and who wasn't much for the aggressive sports, meaning Gavin.
So on Wednesday, Gavin, and a lot of other kids, are going to be competing to be in specific levels (IE: A team, B team and so on). Last year Gavin played on the D team and it was perfect. Not too competitive, but enough to get him out there running around and enjoying the experience with his friends. Last year his team consisted of all his kindergarten friends. I knew all the parents and it was something to look forward to each Saturday morning. This year, most of the kids that were on his team will be moving up to the B team and Gavin's age may hinder his going into the under 10 team. Can't complain on that though, because he may be able to be on a team with Quinten. That saves me time and energy.
I took the boys out to practice on Monday and found that Gavin isn't much for soccer at all, but that kid can run all day long. He was having races with Quinten and I was amazed at what a good runner he is. He had me race him doing sprints and I was shocked at how fast that little guy is. I can tell that he will excel at cross country or track and field. Man, I can't wait for those sign ups!

Thor

On nice evenings like this, I would love to shower and take a bowl of ice cream to bed with me to eat while I watch a grown up movie. Tonight I am sitting on the couch, with my bowl of ice cream watching the cartoon version of Thor. My husband assures me that this is a great thing to do with the boys. I wonder why we can't agree on a non-superhero type movie. I would love to watch the Incredibles, Cars or anything cute and fun. Instead......Thor. Enough said.

New habits

I am so proud of myself! This isn't a normal occurrence so I have to tell you all about it.
If you haven't noticed I have gained a little weight in the last couple years. Why you ask? Because I have an obsession with food. None in particular...just all of it. I don't even know exactly when all this weight started to settle on my waistline and thighs. I just woke up one day and it was there! Amazing how that all happens.
So it is time for me to get back into shape. I have been jealous of people I know doing marathons. Even half marathons. I used to be an avid runner. I would run between four and six miles everyday. Now, my knees have paid for all these miles, but I think when you truly like doing something, especially of the exercise variety, you better stick with it.
So to David's dismay, I started running once again. Now I am not fast and someone observing this may think I am having an asthma attack or heart attack for that matter, but I push thru and keep going. One way to curb the concerned looks is to hit the road early. I have been getting up around 5:45 (before my alarm goes off) and start my run before anyone is driving around. I tend to like the fact that there is less embarrassment for me since there is a lot of shake going on when I am running.
I haven't hit the constant run of two miles either. I run/walk, but I do work up a sweat and get my heart rate working. I can already feel that my stamina is building. I almost want to keep running instead of walking in between, but my legs just stop and do their own thing. One of these days, my mind will win.
One thing that I have noticed and that irritates me is my stinking I-pod. My husband is in charge of the music and loading it, however he thinks that work out music should be slow. My running shall not be compared to the Tortouise and the Hare, even though it bares a striking resemblance. I feel like all I do is fast forward that thing. Then I find a good song that gets me going and I have to replay it about four times so I can get in the right frame of mind. To fix this problem I may have to actually find the instruction book and do it myself. One more thing to add to my to-do list.
So hopefully I can stick with this workout regiment in order to feel better about myself and ultimately loose some weight. I hope also to be able to join a gym and take a Rumba class, which I will do from the very back corner of the class. I am happy that my body and mind are finally on the same page and want to work together in order to achieve a goal. Thank goodness!

Get STAR testing over with!!

I am so excited about summer vacation. Once it starts I probably won't show the same enthusiasm, but for the time being the thought of sleeping in and being a vegetable just sounds amazing. I guess Easter break makes you realize how much you need a break from school and the pressures that go along with it.
This coming week Gavin has STAR testing. If you don't know about STAR testing don't ask me because I don't have a clue. Apparently it is very important. I am dreading picking up Gavin from school because he is not a good test taker and his personality doesn't let things go easily. That means his negativity will carry over to the house and rub off on the rest of us...yay!! If any of you know about the boys school, Fugman, it is over the top. They are rated #1 in Clovis Unified. To me, that means stress and lots of homework. So much homework in fact, that sometimes Gavin sits at the table for 3 hours doing it. My poor Gavin is the youngest kid in his class. His birthday was right at the cut off so I put him in because he was so advanced with his speech. To bad his math skills don't match. And I am not going to lie, I may have been ready for a break earlier than some other parents.
So after the dreaded STAR testing, there will be a couple weeks left of school and I can't wait to do fun stuff with the boys. I would love to take them camping a couple times and maybe have a small trip with my husband somewhere. I would also like to go to the Las Vegas hair show.
So many things to do....will summer be enough time?

Funky Salsa

I made this really good funky salsa tonight. I am not one that gets to funky with salsa but since i am on a diet, I have to do something a little different or I get bored....real quick.

1/3 of a fresh pineapple (chopped in tiny pieces)
1 mango (skinned and chopped into little pieces)
1 bunch cilantro (tops only)
1 jalapeno
half an onion (finely chopped)
1 tomato (chopped)
salt to taste
lime or lemon juice

I used this salsa on my white-girl ground beef tacos and it was delicious!

Something yummy for Breakfast

French toast Concoction

5-6 stale Croissants (I used the ones from Costco)
Chopped into 1 inch pieces
1 cup milk (I used 2%)
1/3 cup butter (melted)
1/2 tsp salt
4 eggs
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup sugar

I chopped the croissants up and put them into a greased corningware dish with a lid. After blending the rest of the ingredients, I poured them over top. To make it easier, throw all the items in the blender. I put the whole dish in the oven on 350 for an hour. When it came out I put some honey (or you can use maple syrup) on it and ate. Delicious!!

Whitest Girl in the World

I am the whitest person in the universe. I am so white in fact, that I think I may even be a little purple.
There is a picture from when I was little that shows my whiteness the best. My parents, both German and my sister, Native American and me, Italian (but white as a cloud) sitting on the couch in the middle of summer. Everyone sporting a beautiful tan, but me. I am a white spot, hair included, with red cheeks.
So I have lived with my "graveyard tan" for so many years, I don't even notice it anymore, unless it is summer. Then I really notice. Especially since my husband is Mexican and my kids have inherited that nice olive skin from David. All summer they run around without sunscreen, becoming more and more tanned. I turn red and peel within a day.
For many years I visited the wonderful place known as a tanning bed. I would lay there for 15-20 minutes a day for about 6 months a year. I loved the warmth of the lights beating on my body, while a cool fan blew the horrible smell away from my nose. The loud fans interfering with my headphones, but not enough to stop going. I would turn from purple to orange, which matched better with my highly lightened (bleached) hair and summer clothing.
David has put a stop to these visits, pointing out the dangers. You know what I say to the dangers....WHATEVER. I am glowing here!! I live in California. No one who lives in California should be this color!
My best friend is white also. She has natural platinum hair and blue eyes. During the summer I was feeling a little cocky and told her that I was darker than she was, making a big deal about it. She calmly walked over to me, put her arm next to mine and guess what. She was darker than me. Really?
Since I have been banned from the booth, I have since adopted the idea of spray tanning. Although the orange is something from Jersey Shore and looks a little ridiculous for the first day, it works fairly well. I hate the fact that it only lasts a week or so, but that is the options are few and I am desperate.
So I have to choose carefully.....or is there really a choice at all?