Ward Ward Weblog

The schedule for the Liberty Soccerfest is out.  The U-11 Lady Freedom will be playing on Saturday and Sunday.  Come join us if you can.  Here’s the details:
Saturday, August 30 11:30 am field 12A

Saturday, August 30 4:00pm field 12A

Sunday, August 31 11:30am field 12A

Take I-65 to I-459 North to Liberty Parkway exit. At end of exit ramp turn right,and a few yards further turn right again. Proceed to stop sign at bottom of hill.  Go straight through intersection into Liberty Park (Do not turn right and go back under the interstate)  Proceed along Liberty Parkway for approximately 4 miles and you will see the entrance to the Vestavia Sports Complex on the right.  Enter through the gate and drive past the baseball fields until you come to the soccer fields.  Fields are numbered.

As with every tournament, things could possibly change. Check this page for updates.

We’re the “Talk of Alabama”!!!  One lazy summer day last month I woke up and took Lizzie off to piano lessons.  After that we had to drop something off at Annie’s house.  Driving down the interstate, my phone rings…

“Hello”

“What are you doing,” Terri say.  No “hello”.

“Stopping by a friends house,” I reply.

“Oh, we need a girl for a commercial,” frustration in Terri’s voice.

“No prob, we’ll be there”, I say.  Is this how Lynne Spears began?  I’ll be a much better stage mom thean she could ever be.  I mean, how hard can it be… she totally screwed up I think to myself.

I begin to imagine the book deal I’ll have.  Every mom out there will want to be just like me.  I’ll be the total opposite of Lynne.

Thank the Lord Lizzie is dressed cute and I brushed her hair. I mean we were just going to piano lesson and stopping by a friends house, for crying out loud.  I’ll have to remember to always do this…I mean we could be called for a commercial anytime now. 

Note to self:  find entertainment lawyer.

We get there and they need me too.  Once again, thank the good Lord I happened to brush my hair and put some make up on (this never happens during the summer).

Leigh, over in Boggeritaville, found one of the commercials on You Tube.  Take a look….

Talk of Alabama on You Tube

We have moved into a whole new way of soccer life.  Tournaments and traveling will be our business during the next couple of months.  Thank goodness the gas prices are coming down!!  Here’s a copy of the schedule:

Saturday, September 6 vs. Capital City Streaks at 12:00noon at Montgomery

Saturday, September 13 vs. Lady Bucs at 10:00am at Homewood

Sunday, September 21 vs. Tornado at 2:30pm at Homewood

Sunday, October 5 vs. Lady Phantoms-Blue at 2:00pm at Homewood

Saturday, October 11 vs. Lady Phantoms-White at 2:00pm at Riverchase

Sunday, October 12 vs. BUSA North-Red at 5:45pm at Brookwood Forest

Saturday, October 18 vs. RCSC Rangers at 2:30pm at Homewood

Sunday, October 19 vs. HSC-Blue at 1:00pm at Huntsville, Merrimack

We have two tournaments scheduled.  One will be in Vestavia during Labor Day weekend.  The second is in Montgomery the weekend of September 26-28.  We don’t have those schedules, yet.  We’ll post them when available.  There has, also, been talk of a tournament in Destin, FL.  We would have to rearrange some games to make that so, the schedule could change.  We’ll let you all know if there are any changes through this website so, keep checking back.

Leaving the house.

I remember a commercial a couple of years ago.  It was for Office Depot, I think.  A dad was dancing up and down the aisles collecting school supplies to “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year”.  I’ve always disliked that commercial.  Most moms I know look forward to the first day of school.  They begin counting down the days the minute school gets out.  I look forward to summer, I love everything about summer.  I dread the first day of school.  It means the end of staying up late and sleeping in.  It’s the end of not having a schedule.  It’s the beginning of homework, yelling at my kid to get it done and the end of eating dinner at 8:00 because we spent the day at the pool and stayed until it closed. 

Perhaps it’s because these moms and I have different perspectives.  To them, it IS the most wonderful time of the year.  They get rid of their kids and can relax.  Get their house in order.  Believe me, I understand.  I, also, only have one child- not a house filled with kids and their friends all the time.  With one child, it tends to be quiet in the house.  Even when she has friends over, it’s pretty quiet.  I get to sit and read or do what I need to do in the house. 

If I didn’t have to work I wouldn’t but, I work to send my child to the school of our choice.  We live in a community that has wonderful schools.  We’ve heard great things about them but, we want her to have more.  We want her to get a Catholic education.  But, I digress.  Back to the first day of school.  To me it’s the beginning of work.  Not only do I have to get my child to school, I have to get myself ready and be at work.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  I love my job.   I work with an incredible office staff, wonderful teachers and a fabulous principal that loves our school.  And I love them all very much.  The thing I like most about it is that I’m there with my girl.  We’re on the same schedule- I work when she’s at school.  If I have to work, then that’s the schedule I want.  Please, don’t think I’m complaining, I just wasn’t ready for summer to end.  Another week would have been perfect!!

So, here we are- the first day of school.  Elizabeth has started 5th grade.  I’m not sad about it, I loved 5th grade.  That was my favorite grade.  It was my last year in Miami, I went to Westminster Christian School and Mrs. Unkle was my teacher.  My best friends were Wendy, Barbie and Jenny.  I split my chin open on the see-saw and had to get stitches.  It was the year before I was interested it boys (some girls were interested but, I still considered them my friends).  I remember 5th grade fondly and hope Elizabeth does, too.  Both 5th grade teachers are new this year (new to the school, not new to teaching) and Elizabeth has already fallen in love with them.  She helped them set their rooms up and didn’t help me.  Someone has raised a brown-noser!!!  I hope and pray they have a good year.  I will be in the health room enjoying my job and helping all the kids who come to visit me.  It’s going to be a fabulous year.  Don’t worry, I won’t be counting down the days until summer yet, that would mean another year is gone and I’m NOT looking forward to that.  So, here’s to another great year at OLS!!!  By the time I get BUSY in the health room, I won’t have time to think about summer!!!

Here’s a picture of Elizabeth and her two friends from her class.  She’s glad they’re with her this year!!!

Cecilia, Maddie and Lizzie

We have been pondering the move to an HDTV for some time now, and finally bought a 42″ LCD.  We now can’t stop watching TV, as long as it is in HD.  We spent an hour watching water polo!  Yes, water polo.  The Olympics have been very exciting to watch on our new TV.

Here is a quick shot:

So, registration went well.  The paperwork has been filed.  The fundraising packets have been sent home.  I’m ready for some sleep. Mary Beth did a great job with the back to school luncheon for the teachers.   I’m so glad to be almost back to normal.  I am NOT going to the school tomorrow.  I’ll have to get my room together next week.  I just can’t do it.  I want to enjoy the last couple of days of summer with my girl.  I’m so tired but, it feels good to be doing something to make others lives easier.  The paperwork has been all over the dining room table and I’m happy to say it’s all alphabetized and back at school.  Steve has been a tremendous help this week.  I thank God everyday for this good man.  He’s cooked, clean up and even mopped the kitchen floor.  I know he thinks I don’t notice everything he does but, I do.

A few months ago, I joined facebook to see some photos of a friends family.  I didn’t do much with it.  I just looked at her page and never wrote anything.  To be honest, I couldn’t see what the big deal was.  Well, this week…all of a sudden…all these people started contacting me.  So, I put a picture up, updated my profile and started writing to people.  Catching up with old friends.  One is one of the first friends I had when I moved to Birmngham in 6th grade.  Amazing how it all works.  So, I’ve contacted some people, added them to my friends list and look forward to hearing from people.  It’s like a little class reunion with out the diet and wearing the spanx that I end up taking off after a couple of hours because I’m laughing so hard I just hurt and don’t care anymore.  I’ve even found some of Steve’s friends through my friends.  What a small world it really is, after all.

My summer is over.  Well, almost.  Let me tell you about it.  Last Spring I got talked into taking a position on the PTO Board as Third Vice-President.  I must have been in a good mood that morning.  Maybe it was the endorphins from my morning run with Steve, maybe it was Spring fever.  What ever it was, I’m now paying for it. The main job of the 3rd VP is to organize and implement school registration.  Registration is this Tuesday and I have to spend the afternoon on Monday setting up.  Somewhere in there I have to get my gray hair covered Tuesday afternoon between sessions of registration.  You know, I have my priorities.  Thursday I have to help with a luncheon for the teachers and staff.  Help and attend.  How do I do two jobs at once?  Oh well, I’ll manage.  Friday afternoon I get to sit in a Child Protection Class so I can keep my job.  Oh, and somewhere in there I’ve got to get supplies for my room, first aid kits and set it all up ready to go for the first day of school on Wednesday, August 13th.  At least Elizabeth has a new backpack and new shoes to start school with.  It was a good summer.  Not long enough, though.  Maybe Wednesday we’ll hit the pool and enjoy the last days of summer vacation.

P.S. If you need kids shoes for school, check out Kicks Shoes For Kids in Patton Creek.  Tell John I sent you!!

Last Wednesday I left for my girls weekend on Kiawah Island.  Six of us piled in a van and made the 8 hour trek to the island.  Four had left on Monday and got everything set up.  Those four were lucky and spent some time at the spa before the six of us got there.  I guess they needed it for all the “work” they did.  We spent two days on the beach and one day in Charleston.  The setting was lovely, the company couldn’t be beat and the food was delicious.  We stayed up late, acted like kids and laughed the whole time.  I don’t think I have laughed that much in…well, I don’t know when.  We all came home stuffed, happy and rested.  Thanks to all the men, babysitters, family and friends who made it possible for us to go.  Oh, and thank you so much to the hostess for planning a great weekend.  I think I just came down from my high, so it’s back to reality for now.  Oh, and next time you’re in South Carolina stop by a liquor store and grab a bottle of Firefly Sweet Tea vodka.  It’s made right outside Charleston and it’s yummy!!!

Every year Terri and I say it.  We always want to but never get around to it.  This year we finally made it!  We drove over to Lincoln, AL and picked bluberries at the Malones.  Wayne and Marie were so nice to invite us out.  Beth and I have been friends since college and she grew up on a lovely patch of land.  They have all kinds of fruit trees and bushes and a vegetable garden.  They even have chickens.  We arrived in Lincoln around 8:30 this morning and we left around 1:00.  Terri and I picked most of the time with a little help from Elizabeth, Beth and Marie.  We can’t believe how many blueberries we came home with and we didn’t make much a dent in the crop.  Marie even took Elizabeth over to see the chickens and they picked a few apples in the process.  Beth’s nephews were visiting so Elizabeth got lucky and had some kids to play with.  We can’t thank the Malones enough for allowing us to come over and spend the morning.  It was so fun and very threrapeutic.  And thanks to Parker and James (the nephews) for letting us have Aunt Beth for a while.  We’re sorry we barged in on your time with her.  Take a look at what we came home with!

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Today is our anniversary.  It’s been 16 lovely and fun years of a roller coaster ride we like to call marriage.  We’ve had our ups and downs, we’ve been through some crazy turns and our lives have been turned upside down at a time or two.  But most of all it’s been fun!!!  And like many a thrill ride, I’d do it all over again!! 

After our run this morning, I went to the coffee maker to pour us a cup o’ joe as I usually do (Steve’s with a bunch of sugar, mine black).  Steve had put my card by the maker last night so I’d see it.  I opened it and read it.  It’s a sweet card not a funny one as he usually gets, but I couldn’t help but laugh.  I quickly told Steve to open his card that was sitting next to his chair.  He laughed as well.  We had bought the same card!  Take a look at the pictures if you don’t believe me.  I’m sure it means something on some psychological level, I’ll have to ask Terri.  I’m sure she will have something to say on the topic.  She will probably even leave a comment, go read it if she has.  I’m sure it will be amusing.  I’m just thinking we made the right choice!!!!  That and we’ll be dressing alike when we’re old.

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