I am hopeful that the start of high school soccer practice will give me some time to catch up with my own life (while the 14 yr old is sweating his 2% body fat off in the heat).

Good news, I should have some pictures of the family room progress soon.

Yes, this is the longest room remodel in the history of the world.

Isn’t he the cutest little thing!

This summer is really flying by. I got my first cucumber from the csa (community supported agriculture) today. I would take a picture of MY cucumber plant that I started from seed, but it is dead. Maybe that is why I am so happy with a live one from the farm.

Can I just tell you that these carrots are the best I have ever eaten. Seriously makes me want to grow my own but, I don’t know if there would be room for the dogs to run if I planted enough to suit me in the backyard.

This is what all my veggies look like cleaned up.

Yup. Garlic, basil AND blackeyed susan’s (one of my favorite flowers).
Looks like pasta and pesto tonight folks!

Isn’t this an awesome “island oasis”…it it actually part of the drive thru window at Louisville’s newest Chick-fil-A.

It is so nice to wait for your turn to pick up food listening to a serene waterfall.

Now THAT is customer care.

I suppose most of my southern friends think that I am a heathen and blasphemer for prefering UN-sweet tea.  I am my happiest when I cross the Ohio or Mississippi Rivers into normal tea land (where sweet isn’t the default).  Very few things make me more angry than getting sweet tea from a drive thru.

For the past several years I my most favorite tea came from the local Sonic, Route 44, extra ice, unsweet, no lemon please.  Brown water with a straw!  Before 10 am it only set me back $1.16.  or during happy hour they were half price, from 2-4…any other time of day $2.20 or some crazy number.

And yes, I paid it, often.

Part of the Sonic attraction is the ice- I MUST HAVE the ice!  If you don’t know the ice you are totally missing out on a world of chilly goodness.  I have always called it “rabbit turd” and I am not the only one becaus a google search will bring up hundreds of results.  The more cultured refer to it as shaved or crushed ice, but that really isn’t the best descriptor because they are little pellets.  Whatever term you prefer, it is hands down the best way to super chill a beverage when you are on the run.

For several years, I could tell you the exact location of several establishements that carry this type of ice.  If pressed, I could also tell you the exact date that some of them stopped (oh yes Speedway, in LaGrange, I am referring to you).  I understand it is a sickness and one that for years I was willing to ignore.

That is, until customer service, or lack there of, got in the way.  About 6 months ago my local sonic went through a change-and not for the better.  The drive thru window was taking an average (yes average people) of 5 minutes-when I WAS the only person in line.  I switched to McDonald’s-it just wasn’t the same .  Every few weeks I would give the Sonic another try and they would always get something wrong, a Route 44 came out as a 32 oz-and/or it was sweet.  Some days no one ever came to the window at all.

Honestly, in these tough economic times, if there is someone wanting to give you business, take it people, take it!

I moved on.
I turned to plan b.
Introducing the Tervis 24 oz. Big T Clear Tumbler

This puppy has solved all my problems.

• It is thoroughly insulated so drinks stay super cool or super warm.
• You can buy two types of lids, one that takes straws (like above) or one that works for coffee-and travel with a snappy shut lid.
• AND it is dishwasher safe!
• oh and there is something about a life time guarantee..which can’t be beat!

The amount of tea I was drinking and buying at fastfood restaurants paid for this glass in 3 days.  I will be buying a few more for the rest of the family.

This experiment is a success!

The prompt for days 10-15 were to create “your house” and “your family”
It was SO much fun!

My house on the two page spread.

The left side of the two page spread, and I have to admit-my house is nothing like this, but there was no easy way to create a tri-level home with a pocket (for the dolls).

And this is my neighborhood, if I didn’t live in suburbia…but, I like it. Who wouldn’t want to live in a ‘hood with newsprint buildings?

My family.
Aren’t we cute.
Confession time, I have an issue with legs..the 14 yr old and spouselet have really short legs.
Oh and I forgot my hands-Art therapists can have a field day with this project!

I am the smallest one in the family, which actually IS now the case.  The 14 yr old is taller than me by almost 2 inches, so there isn’t an issue there

The family all tucked into the house for storage.

This was my favorite page to do so far, but NOW for day 16!

Sarah Whitmire has created this incredible site with tons of prompts for creating a Soul Journal.

Summer officially begins, for about 3 hours and then real life crashes back in!

I am working the Friday night youth event at our church from 8-11.

I think I might take a nap until then to celebrate the beginning of summer.
After I finish this Island Way Lemon Sorbet to celebrate the end of school.

Exhale.
Relax.
Yes’am.

Yesterday at about 11:00AM our soccer season ended.  If you asked my son how he felt about it, the title of this post would have been his reply.  It was a hard season.  

With a record of 0-1-6 (not counting the 6 games we lost in tournament play) it was not pretty. 

It was however an opportunity for extreme growth for the team, their parents and the players.  I know I learned alot about myself and my son.  

I learned that:

Here is my project for days 5, 6 and 9.
Left side:

And the Right:

I have gotten busy with a house project-which is so ironic since my next Soul Journal prompt IS creating a house.
I hope to post those soon!

1. It is expected.  Part of being a parent of a player for any team is working for the team.  Some clubs and sports require more time and energy than others.  Do your part.  And seriously, if your club has a “pay to not volunteer” option, only be that parent if you are the President of the United States or Superman.  They need the man hours MORE than the money.
2. Your kid secretly likes it.  They may never tell you that, but I see the look on their faces with their mom is in the concession stand or their dad is helping direct traffic.  Your kid knows you helping out means you care about their sport AND them!
3. Fresh Perspective.  You gain a better understanding of the game when you are around the fields and your child is not playing.  There is something about having your kid on the field that makes parents (or maybe just mom’s) hyper focus on their child.
4. Teaches a Spirit of Service. I hope I am teaching my child that this is not only one of the responsibilities of parenting, but one of the joys as well.  Helping and serving others is something we take very seriously in our household.
5. Keeping up.  I do love volunteering, but even if I didn’t I would do it for this reason alone.  You can find out a lot about your child and their friends working the games.  You see things that they don’t know you see or are aware of (especially if they are teenagers, and they forget anyone else exists!)
6. Relationships are Formed. I have met some of the coolest people volunteering for various jobs and not all of them are adults-children can enrich or life experience as well you know.
7. Networking. I know I am reaching for the bottom of the barrel here, but sometimes parents don’t do what is best for their kid and their development, they are all about the career, if (I pray not) this is you and your situation, think of the contacts you can make!  Keep a stash of business cards in your pants pocket and market the fire out of yourself.*
8. Looks good on a Resume’. Again for the me-me generation, you can put it under “community service” in case you are looking for a job and someone in the company actually sees value in this sort of thing.*