I’m not sure I’ve ever mentioned this or not…

But at our house…we’re ALL about soccer! 

We have about 43 soccer balls of different sizes and quality. We have soccer uniforms from other countries…in several different sizes. We play soccer daily…if not in a field, then in the living room…or in the upstairs hallway…or somewhere in between math and history…

We love soccer.

Now me? I never even saw a soccer game until I was 18 years old and went to college. Once I got there, I would watch our college team play…and it was fun.

Then…I started dating one of the soccer players. 

The tall, cute, blond one.

And when the team played in the National Finals…that tall, cute blond guy I was dating scored the winning goal from like 25 yards out….an amazing shot! And people came up to me and said, “Was that your boyfriend that scored that goal?” And I would smile and proudly say, “Yeah!” 

I STILL remember the excitement of that day!

(And the excitement of the day that the tall, cute, blond soccer player asked me to marry him!)

I LOVE soccer right along with the rest of the tall…and short, cute blond soccer players in my house. 

Um, but I love it in a “Oh, I’ll just stand over here and watch and cheer for you…” sort of way. I’ve kicked a few soccer balls here and there…but I’m not really very athletic…and I have no doubt that my six year old would bust a move and score on me…while I would be left panting and gasping for air at about midfield. (uh, asthma, of course…)

So, during the spring and the fall…and sometimes in the winter (indoor soccer) we eat, drink and sleep soccer…between my husband’s coaching and playing…and with our three older boys all on different teams…it’s all I can do to keep up with washing uniforms and locating shin guards and filling water bottles and FEEDING PEOPLE WHO RUN ALL THE TIME AND WORK UP BIG APPETITES…

Well today…we enter a new era in which my husband experiences soccer from a different angle. One he said he would never do. But one he’s kind of a little bit excited to try.

Yes, today…Matt is picking up a whistle and a flag and putting on a brightly colored shirt and heading out to the field to referee his first soccer game.

Today he will be the one who decides when the player is “off sides” and when the ball is out of bounds…

And today…he gets to be the one who might be yelled at by a coach or a fan… (argh)

And today…he might be the one who whips out a yellow card…

So here we go…soccer in a new light. 

Might be fun! 

Now I’ll have me an eye on the tall, cute, blond referee…

[tags]family, fun, soccer[/tags]

I am thankful to tell you that all of the snow that has fallen over the past many months…the snow that I was just sure wouldn’t melt and all go away until the year 2012…is finally almost gone. Almost.

And that, of course, is a result of some very beautiful days we’ve been having around here. (Hey, when you’re used to -3 degrees…40 degrees can feel like a heat wave…)

It even got up to 60 something yesterday.

Thank you God!!!

So now, what do you think we’ve alllll wanted to do lately since the sun is shining down some warmth on us for the first time in many days?

Go outside and play of course!!

The boys have been LOVING it.

I even let them dig a hole or two and create a golf course in the yard. Four Tiger Woodses out there…hollering things like, “Triple Birdie!” and “Double Bogie!” (It’s really cute coming out of the three year old Tiger.)

But, with months of accumulated snow…and all the meltage…what do you think their shoes are like when they come in the house?

Yep. Caked on mud messes.

I spent a LOT of time yesterday sweeping up mud clods off the hard wood, scrubbing out mud smears in the rugs, and freaking out when yet another boy would come running into the house to get a drink with his muddy shoes still on his feet.

So, after all the boys were un-shoed and cleaned up and in their jammies last night and I had swept and vacuumed one more time….

We were sitting down for prayer time in the living room.

And I looked down on the rug…and there was dirt and mud again!!!

My hands went to my hips and my eyebrows rose and my voice got high pitched and I said, “WHO got MORE mud all over the rug AGAIN?!?!?”

And everyone looked at each other and at each other’s feet…

And the only one still wearing shoes for the night was…

Me.

Ah, man. You’ve gotta be kidding me.

Yep, it was me alright.

What are you gonna do…but laugh with the family…

And go get out the vacuum.

Here are 13 spam messages I’ve received the last few weeks:

1. Stop snoring tonight  *I never knew I started snoring.*

2.  Chat with singles in your area  *Sure…I’d love to tell them all about my super husband.*

3. You qualify for a free power wheelchair  *I’m curious…what might be the qualifications?*

4. Meet wealthy York men  *I’m pretty sure I’ve met all the wealthy York men…both of them.*

5. Laura, want to win at slots?  *Hm, is that a trick quesion?*

6. York singles want to meet Laura this weekend  *To do what? Help me catch up on laundry?*

7. Casting for movies in the York area  *So, someone is finally recognizing my acting talent, huh?*

8. Get rid of the buzz in your ears  *I’m sorry, did you say something?*

9. Losing your hair?  *I suppose if I were, you wouldn’t want me for that movie after all?*

10. What SHOULD  Laura weigh?  *None of your business.*

11. Are you a big beautiful woman?  *Okay, now this is getting personal.*

12. A years supply of free diapers for your baby  *We’ve done potty trained ’em all, thanks…but I would take a years supply of groceries…if you’re offering.*

13. Laura, back from the brink of death?  *It sure feels like it somedays…and apparently I’m also losing my hair, snore and have a constant buzz in my ears. It’s okay though…the wheelchair I qualified for should be here any day…some single men are coming over to help me do some laundry…then, I get to be in a movie.*

More Thursday Thirteen

Before I got married and had kids…

1. My kids would never throw a fit in a store.

2. I would never have cobwebs in my house.

3. My drawers and closets would always be organized.

4. I would never wear sweats to bed (and certainly not ones that don’t match!)

5. I would always be organized and have a to do list so that I can get everything done that I need to each day.

6. I would fix my hair every day and put on make-up. (make-up?)

7. I would never put my spit on my thumb to get food off of my child’s face.

8. I would always remember the birthdays of our extended family. (I’m lucky to remember the names of my immediate family.)

9. I would never yell at my kids.

10. I would never leave dirty dishes on the counter over night.

11. My kids would never wear clothes that don’t match.

12. I would not have picky eaters.

13. My kids would never have crusty noses.

(Um, before you go check out other Thursday Thirteen lists, can you hand me a kleenex so I can spit on it and wipe my little guy’s nose?)