For the Love of the Game!

In the spirit of the World Cup (and despite the poor showing by FIFA and the disappointing exit by USA), Alex is once again a soccer fan. He woke up early on vacation to watch whatever game was playing and he had us DVR all US matches that occurred while he was at school. Our excitement over Landon Donavan’s goal in the 91st minute was nothing compared to Alex’s pure look of surprise and overwhelming happiness when he saw the ball hit the back of the net when watching it later that night – I like how a five year old gives hugs, not high fives, when the home team scores!

But this has once again led to the question of will he or won’t he plan Loveland SAY soccer this upcoming fall? And to our surprise, he will still respond with a quick, “no,” and site all the usual reasons about sun, wind, grass, etc. We thought for sure seeing (and loving) the game on the world stage might be the tipping point, but he is still too much a man of routine and wants to return to Lil’ Kickers (aka. indoor soccer). We aren’t complaining and by no means trying to force him in one direction or one sport (he has actually mentioned playing the other football on several occasions and I am very open to that), but just still perplexed (and amused) by the little guy’s quirks and how they shape his life.

Until then, go Ghana (we are supporting the only remaining African team) and Germany (in honor of Kathy and Lilly)! And here is a sneak peek at our budding Ronaldo ...

I Am Not Going to Be Your Brother Anymore

These words are said in our house on a daily basis – ironically by Avery and directed at anyone (including me) who crosses her path, tells her no or makes a decision not in her favor (i.e. baseball highlights over Dora). We are guessing that at some point in time (during their typical sibling squabbling) Alex must have spoken these words to his younger sister, yet now Avery assumes it is the universal catch phrase for … I don’t like your choice and I am not going to speak to you anymore.

Unfortunately, Avery usually lets out a “I am not going to be your brother” while on her way to the time out couch for throwing apple sauce across the kitchen or while sitting in her room after hitting Alex in the head with a fire truck. So correcting her mindset (that she thinks she is being punished for no reason) is usually more important than correcting the actual meaning in her verbal response. She first needs to know that you don’t use a toy as a weapon, and if you do, you are going to be in trouble. Once she has learned that (and has turned 18), I will then willingly teach her how to properly say, “you pissed me off and I don’t want to a part of the family,” and in which context to use it.

The Amazing Race

I don’t watch the show. But I run. I bike. I live in Loveland. And I don’t mind a new challenge. And despite the event warnings that boldly state “you will get muddy” and “you must know how to swim,” I still agreed to be a substitute participant for TEAM CINDAY in the 2010 Loveland’s Amazing Race since Monica was still injured. We came in 121 out of 500 teams. Not bad, and to my surprise, I really (I mean really) liked the race and have been begging Andy since Saturday night to do it with me next year (note the 2011 registration is already live).

Overall, the event involved three methods of transportation (bike, foot and river raft) and twenty quirky challenges that tested our brains, brawn and tolerance for water and mud. Click here to see the 2010 course, but the highlights for me included:

• Dancing on the Loveland Stage Company's main stage, complete with top hats, high kicks and no rhythm
• Watching Ana master the Rubik's Cube at Cindy’s in less than two minutes
• Hitting my target with a Chinese throwing star
• Keeping up with Don Stock for the first seven challenges
• Losing my sun glasses, dignity and only three ounces of Dawn dish soap after spilling down the muddy slip-n-slide
• Lasting 15 seconds on a mechanical bull
• Riding about 5 miles and running less than 2
• Drinking a tall, cold and free Sam Adams Summer Brew at the finish line

Rocky Top Tennessee

We might not have been deep in the heart of the Smokey Mountains last weekend, but when in Rome (or at least close to it) …

Short Drive, Long Weekend in the Mountains

First, I want to confirm that you can get to Maryland from Cincinnati in less than six hours. This seemed to be the big myth to either prove or de-bunk before departing as anyone who took a seventh grade geography class knows that Maryland is on the east coast (think Atlantic Ocean) and both West Virginia and Pennsylvania (and West Virginia again) are in the way. It just doesn’t seem possible. But it was.

Second, I want to clarify that Deep Creek is not quite the Tahoe of the East as I had been describing, but pretty close. This was my favorite analogy before the trip (and based off a few brochure photos and three common elements: a lake, mountains and a civilized town minus the gambling), but in reality, you just can’t compare the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada peaks to the Great Smokies. We were definitely spoiled by our time out west, so once I accepted that, I enjoyed what nature had to offer – panoramic mountain views from our deck and cool summer evenings (requiring both jackets and a glass of red, just like our Evergreen days).

Lastly, I want to declare that there is nothing relaxing about a lake vacation with a three and five year old. Maybe it is any vacation at this age, but water (in all its many forms, from hot tubs to waterfalls to rivers to the lake itself) offered a few more reasons to sit on the edge of my seat and hyperventilate at least once an hour. Apologies again to all my fellow travelers for my brief, but frequent moments of hysteria. However, by the last day I started to settle in and trust both my kids (Alex was confidently jumping off the dock and swimming to shore) and all the vast safety devices that were put on them (Jen kept reminding me that the pink and orange Barbie life jacket is not just a fashion statement).

But overall we were very impressed with the area and, as always, enjoyed all the laughter with our family. And in our ongoing quest to find the perfect non-commercialized, outdoorsy, yet close to home, get-away-spot in the mountains, Deep Creek Lake is ranking toward the top.

Click here for more pictures from Deep Creek.

Deep Creek 2010

Five days. Four nights. Six hours on the road (both ways). One Lake. Countless mountains. Four waterfalls. Only three fish. One pair of Dora pink sunglasses. One gold jacket. One hundred bags of chips. Two boat tows. Two sprints down Garrett Highway. Twelve Yuengling Lights for Twenty Dollars. Two kids already asleep (at 6:30 pm) from a fun-filled family trip to the Deep Creek Lake in Maryland.

More to come after I get organized, stop rocking, detox, lose the ten pounds I gained and get back to reality …

The Nanny Ad

Although I write for a living, which most of my family members still don’t believe given the third grade spelling errors they find in my greeting cards and e-mails (but when I am off duty, then I am off duty!), putting down on paper the ideal babysitting candidate in an eloquent fashion was more challenging than I thought. I didn’t want to look to needy, but didn’t want to seem too complacent.

So I spent the morning researching all the tips and tricks for putting together the perfect nanny ad. But despite all the suggestions – from make your family look interesting to be clear in your requirements (like just say you want a college educated, non-smoker) – I realized I was trying to find the best way to state that I am searching for my clone without sounding too pompous. And to continue to not sound too pompous, I know I that I am not great, but I don’t want anyone better so I stay great in my children’s eyes. At the same time, I don’t want anyone worse, because then I would feel like I am selling them short (like offering them a Kia when they deserve a Volvo). So if I was going to be completely truthful in my ad, I think it would have gone something like this.

Stressed Working Mom Seeking Part-time Nanny
I am a full-time working mom once again questioning the best child care scenario for my children. I thought things were going to be easier once we hit school age (my son is five and my daughter is three), but I feel like we are just faced with a new set challenges. After five years of having my kids in either in-home care, daycare, pre-school, with me or with grandparents, I figured it was time to try a another option (Starting August 10) that provides the following (Monday – Thursday, from 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm):

- More time at the home for the kids (I want my son to jump off the kindergarten bus and be able to play Star Wars or baseball in the neighborhood)
- More time with the kids for me (I love getting a hug from my daughter in between meetings)

Although I am fortunate to work out of a home office and telecommute to my corporate headquarters in Arizona, I need to approach my working hours as if I am "out of the house." Therefore, we are looking for someone experienced, confident, persistent and energetic, as well as flexible and with their own transportation, to care for our children and keep them from screaming while I am on the phone, watching too much NickJR and writing on the living room walls with a black Sharpie. If you can add a bit of fun, creativity and structure, then you make the short list. If you can also meet the specific job requirements below, then you are hired:

- Must be willing to sing songs, play patty cake or go to a music and me class (I just can’t do it)
- Must be willing to French braid hair (I really can’t do it)
- Must be willing to do arts and crafts (the thought of making and cleaning up the mess currently keeps all Crayola products locked up in my basement)
- Must be able to cook meals other than hot dogs and mac-n- cheese (Ok, they can be better than me at some things)
- Must be able to say no to Alex, yet do so in the right way that considers his sensitive side and obsessive compulsive tendencies
- Must not throw any dirty diapers away in the kitchen trash can (I don’t consider this a house cleaning item, just common sense)
- Must not ignore Casey (too many people in our house already do)
- Must not be a smoker or drinker (while on the clock)
- Must not be judgmental when I go on my morning bike rides
- Must not be judgmental when the Friday afternoon happy hour starts
- Must be super cool, like Reality TV and eventually feel like part of the family

Feel free to forward this version to anyone in the business, but I am pretty sure it will not be generating too many leads.

Starting the Summer Season Right

No life lessons. No parental challenges. No witty observations. No downtime for Andy. Just a lot of calendar management, as well as laughter (I mean a lot of laughter) and good times spent with family and friends this past Memorial Day Weekend. And surprisingly a lot of sleep. Guess the kids are finally at the age where they will run wild with neighborhood friends and cousins late into the evening AND no longer need to wake up for a 6:00 am feeding (of Lucky Charms) or showing of Handy Manny. However, it is pretty clear that my dad is at the age where you should put down your Oberon and sign a waiver before entering a bounce house and Aunt Laura is at the age where you can perfectly balance a Mojito and a baby bottle (for the Cafeo twins of course).

Click here more pictures from Memorial Day Weekend.