EAT. SLEEP. BASKETBALL.

Or simply "BASKETBALL" if you're Phil.  The man who can't eat or sleep for most of the basketball season because his body can only focus on the game itself.  (Both you and I know that the "eat" and "sleep" part are important when it comes to focusing, however my husband is THE BEST at NOT caring what we have to say about that.  So we drop it.  And will every season, forever and ever!)

This past weekend Phil and his boys played against teams from Kuwait, Dubai, Riyadh, Amman and Doha in their final tournament of the year.  They worked hard against all the bad luck thrown their way (injuries, suspensions, BAD REFFING - ha!) to finish in third place overall.  WAY TO WORK, BOYS!!!!!!!  You played your best games of the season in this tournament and we can't wait to see what you bring to the court next year ;)  

Now, because y'all couldn't be there to live and die with the team as we did, allow me to play TSN spokesperson here and give you a run-down of the key moments.  A TOP TEN, if you will....

10)  Juliet sleeping through every game of the tournament.  Because, you know, it's not like it was noisy in there or anything. 

9)  Nory SQUEALING like you wouldn't believe when she saw her best friend, Seton, arrive on the other side of the gymnasium.  Sometimes play-dates trump sports ;)

8)  Phil coaching so hard that his suit jacket came off and his dress shirt came un-tucked.  I also believe he got a technical that game.......   

7)  Phil writing up a play that required him to act OVERLY dramatic from the sidelines, totally distracting the other team from the open man under the net.  He'd like to thank the academy....

6)  The high school math teacher who brought a big, yellow sign that required players to solve a polynomial.  He held it up to "distract" the other team during free throws.  PRICELESS.  Worked like a charm ;) 

5)  Clapping injuries.  Because they're legit.   

4)  The crowd.  So many fans came out to support Phil and his team!!!!!!!!!!! 

3)  Phil's captain (who was injured during game one and out all tournament), being subbed in for 20 seconds to shoot his final three point shot ever.  And he made it!!!!!!!!!  Because he's AWESOME. 

2)  Phil's only grade 9 player being selected for the tournament ALL-STAR team.  After being selected as MVP at two other tournaments this year!  WHOOP, WHOOP! 

1)  Learning that we love these kids as much as the Bulldogs, a feat we never, ever thought was possible.  When does next season start?       

Thank goodness basketball is never REALLY over.  Until the Saturday practices start up again, our family will be immersed in the hype of March Madness and filling in the Mascot bracket we found online (just like last year!).  Although I suppose some people in the Parkinson clan (ah-hem, PHIL?) might want to participate in the tournament using criteria other than the awesomeness of team representatives.  To each their own ;)

EAT. SLEEP. BASKETBALL.  During NCAA, we should be able to bump Phil up to AT LEAST 2/3!

Do you think she'll be an athlete?

(I suppose she already is one!)

***** Track Star! *****

Biker Girl!

Basketball Player!

Soccer Player!

Strong-woman type stuff?  She must get this from God Daddy Dain :)

That day I dressed her in a throwback jersey because I just couldn't help myself....

I remember seeing this Gretzky jersey (circa 1980's!) last summer - a jersey that I believe my older brother wore when he was little.  I wanted it to fit Nory SO BADLY at that time, but I knew we'd have to wait until this summer before we even tried to make it work.  Well, this summer came and I somehow forgot about it altogether.  Until the other day.....when I opened the wooden chest at the end of our bed to find it right on top and READY to be TRIED!!!!!

Albeit a bit small (or EXTRA TIGHT in the midsection!), Nory managed to hold off all tears for a few pictures - WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!  I think the look was adorable :)

 

Thanks for the two minutes of GREAT TIMES, Gretzky Jersey From the 80's.  I will have to remember about you sooner for Baby #2!!!!!!

Just Like Christmas?

The World Cup is FINALLY here and you wouldn't believe how excited our students are about the whole tournament.  It's the thing that kept them from focusing on their exams (and the last few weeks of classes!).  It's the thing that had me confiscating iPads and laptops like a crazy person (are you SERIOUSLY on the FIFA website AGAIN?!).  It's the thing that had me "tied up" at recess with TOO MANY 11 and 12 year old's who fought - day after day - over who had the pleasure (task?) of explaining the tournament bracket to me.  It's the thing that had us rushing to "Soccer Scene" at the mall for official team jerseys (because "WALLAH, MISS!  YOU NEED AT LEAST ONE!").  It's the thing that.............IS A REALLY, REALLY BIG DEAL!  It's LIFE!  It's EVERYWHERE!  And it is totally freaking awesome to be in a place that loves the game of football THIS MUCH.   

In our Brazil jerseys - the only team jersey that had a size for each of us!!!  I guess we are cheering for the host country ;)

This afternoon we went for ice cream at the mall and Nory and I were both wearing our jerseys.  It was exciting to pass people supporting the same nation and equally as exciting to pass people supporting other nations.  The cupcake store was cheering on all of the teams, with window decals to represent each country.  Several restaurants and shops followed suit, with fan-crazy mannequins or garlands of flags.  And the information booths were giving out free World Cup booklets to keep track of the scores, with all scheduled matches listed in KUWAIT TIME!  It's crazy isn't it?  And this country didn't even qualify for the tournament! 

The whole hype gives me memories of hockey playoffs in Canada (which we have missed for several years), Olympic hockey (which just isn't the same with only three Canadians in the room), and the World Junior Hockey Tournament (which made up for every single ounce of feeling "left out", as a whole crew of Canadians relocated themselves to Malmo).  Hockey is our game and football is theirs.  I'm hopeful that SOMEBODY in Lakefield - perhaps at The Loon! - recognizes a soccer jersey when they see one this summer ;)

8 more days until we are HOME.  Oh - and Nory is 16 months old today!!!  And, finally, GO BRAZIL!!!!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS!!!

Last night we attended high school graduation to support all eleven basketball family members of the graduating class.  We were lucky to receive invitations from one player in particular, who happens to be heading to Stanford in the fall.  His entrance speech was basketball related and I'm not surprised it resulted in UNIVERSITY ACCEPTANCE at all!  (Refer back to ANY basketball team related post I've written....EVER.....and you will feel similarly.)

The ceremony was long (we didn't get home until 11 p.m.!!!), but worth attending indeed!  Phil and I gave eleven standing ovations (obviously) and several more as the boys were called up for individual awards.  Six of the boys won best male athlete (I wouldn't have been able to pick just one either!), two of the boys won awards for positive contributions to the school community, two of the boys graduated with high honour roll with distinction (4.0+), and one of the boys was VALEDICTORIAN!  Seems to me like this group of men are also all-stars OFF the court.  Ah-hem, if you ever doubted the correlation between athletics, academic performance, and character - THINK AGAIN!  These boys are a shining example of that.

WAY TO GO BULLDOGS!  Thank you for inviting us to your big night.  We are SO, SO proud of you!

The End of This Chapter.

Tonight we celebrated the last four years of BULLDOGS Basketball at Phil's annual basketball banquet.  You already know how much this program means to our family, so you can imagine the emotions that were involved in such an evening.  

Phil's speech was three pages long and it's the first one he's ever actually typed up.  He usually just flies by the seat of his pants (which he really excels at!), but this time he wanted to make sure everything was said perfectly.  He wanted to mention every player on both the JV and Varsity teams and he wanted to reflect on their progress since day one.  It was an EXCELLENT speech.  He could be a writer, you know.  He COULD do some guest posts on the Pearl Curriculum if he was interested (ah-hem, HONEY?!).

Anyways, before we left for the banquet, Phil asked if he could practice his speech with me.  Obviously I said yes, although I really didn't anticipate the number of tears that followed (or the fact that I would have to go out in public afterwards).  We'd had our tears at the Qatar tournament and it really felt like we were 'over' the whole no-longer-a-bulldog thing.  Ready to move on.  Ready to become OFFICIAL FALCONS.  Alas, hearing the story of his program (and his kids!) from start to finish was so emotional for the both of us.  It took about 40 minutes to get though the entire speech, with many pauses and Nory-do-something-hilarious-please breaks to bring back the composure we'd lost.  I joked that I could no longer make it to the real deal, simply because I didn't think there was any way in HECK that I could hold it together for a round two....

I won't get into all of the details, but Phil did a wonderful job and you could FEEL the love pouring out of all 34 hearts in attendance.  Should you ever question how great you are, Phil Parkinson, please inquire about the small mountain of Kleenex accumulated at our table.  You've transformed the face of BBS basketball from UNDERDOGS to BULLDOGS and we're all cheering you on as you embrace your next coaching assignment (which does indeed begin on Saturday)!

It's time to open our hearts and our family to the Falcons.  The Bulldogs will be missed, but a new beginning is here!  Let's do this!

XOXO

These TWO.

"That's what love feels like, Honey!"

At the start of their final basketball game together, I saw one of the starters start to cry on the court.  Naturally, this made me start to cry.  Naturally, this made Phil start to cry.  And then somebody said those very words to me, leading me to sob-cheer like YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW for the remainder of the game.  It really is LOVE.  How did four years go by so quickly?

The basketball "FAMILY".

It's been an emotional few days (weeks, actually!) for this household.  When so much of your time is occupied with these people, it's difficult to figure out what to do once it's all over.  Today we got home from school at 3 p.m.  There was no rushing home to pick up Nory, no rushing back to school to cheer on the boys, no rushing back home to get Nory to bed.  No discussions of strategy at dinner time.  No debates over who to play where or which players should start the next game.  No figuring out which day to get groceries, run to the bank, or FaceTime with home.  Our schedule is wide open and it's weird and we can't believe it's only 7:30 p.m.....

The team won third place in the tournament this weekend.  But, more importantly (or so I think!), is the fact that they won the sportsmanship trophy.  Yep, every other team in the tournament voted THE BULLDOGS as the team with the best character.  I think this speaks volumes about the coach, don't you?  (Phil's team also won our school's VERY FIRST SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD EVER two years ago).  I am so, so proud of my husband.  And his boys.  If only you had been here to enjoy this amazing Bulldogs journey with us.

Perhaps you could hop on board for the next big coaching adventure.  Phil's been assigned to coach the Varsity basketball team at the new school next year.  He actually received a text message from one of the players this afternoon - asking when practice for next year can begin!  How big do you think Phil smiled when he shared this little tidbit with me after work?

Congratulations on an incredible FOUR YEARS of basketball at BBS, my love.  After this weekend, it's obvious how influential you've been to the basketball program at our school.  Those boys love the heck out of you!

We do too.
XOXO  

March 20th

Wowee!!! I know it doesn't feel like "spring" for many of you back home, but today we found GRASS to play on and this traveling trio couldn't be more pleased.  It really does feel like the first day of spring on this beautiful campus in sunny, sunny Doha.  Nory is soaking it all in :)  (While the rest of us are soaking wet.....with sweat.....from chasing her...)  Sounds romantic, eh?

We flew out of Kuwait yesterday evening, after a whirlwind day of 65 sheep heart dissections, some VERY LAST-MINUTE PACKING (I threw hair clips and socks into my backpack as we headed out the door), and a one hour flight delay.  Nory rocked the flight (I keep holding my breath until the day she doesn't) and, despite having a live Falcon on board, the rest of us rocked it too!  We made it to our hotel by 9 and Nory crashed at 9:15.  She slept like a log until 5:58 this morning, too!  Phewf.

We have been at the tournament all day today - making friends, storming the court during half-time's, and playing with anything we can get our hands on.  The team definitely enjoys having Nory here and I think the other schools see her as some sort of a "team mascot".  I suppose that's a fitting description ;) Phil's team has been working hard but has yet to secure a "W".  They play again at 5:30, so please send all your warm wishes this way!

In other basketball news, with March Madness coming up, we are busy making our selections.  We found THE BEST thing online for kids/people-like-me.  You can find it HERE if you too would like to take this "March Madness" approach :)  I think the lady who invented it is a genius!

Wishing you all a happy first day of spring and an even happier "WORLD HAPPINESS DAY"!!!

XOXO

You've ALREADY WON!

Today was a full-blown BASKETBALL DAY.  Both of Phil's teams were competing in the playoffs, with the JV team losing the semi-final game and the V team winning the semi-final game.  Tomorrow the Varsity boys will compete against another strong team for the first place title.

Anyways, the placing of the teams isn't really what I intended this post to be about.  This post is about how much the boys (and Phil!) have won already.

I look at the boys.  The way they high five each other during substitutions.  The way they help other players off the court.  The way they cheer for each other from the bench.  The way they play their hearts out until the final buzzer goes.  The way the "scrubs" play like it's a gold medal game.....even when they are down by 20.....even when they are down by 20 and there are only 30 seconds left.  The way they shake hands with every single Bulldogs fan following the game.  The way they take care of each other off the court.  The way they represent our school ALWAYS.  The way they act with "Baby Nory".............Did I tell you that, after Nory was born, they showed up at the hospital with roses?  Did I tell you that two of them had first birthday cakes made for Nory?  Did I tell you that one of them made a beautiful collage of photos for her birthday?  Did I tell you that one of them gave her their most favourite childhood toy for her birthday?  Did I tell you that they treat me like I'm the most important woman on Earth?  Did I tell you any of this?  I mean......you couldn't find a more kind, hard-working, dedicated, thoughtful or CLASSY group of young men.

Now, let's talk about Coach.

I look at Phil.  The way he spends every waking moment thinking about basketball - how can we improve this, how can we improve that?  The way he takes late night calls because one of the boys just needs to "chat".  The way he coaches until the final buzzer.  The way he treats his "scrubs" like his starters.  They way he turned a group of students who knew nothing about the game into an incredible squad of basketball players.  The way he made the incredible squad of basketball players become a closer "family" than you could ever dream possible.  They way he loves the heck out of this tight-knit group of men.  The way he HELPED THEM BECOME MEN. 

Tomorrow is the Varsity Boys Final.  I know my husband won't sleep tonight.  I know he'll skip breakfast, lunch and dinner tomorrow because his stomach will just feel "off".  I know he'll be in class, but not actually.  I know that I will talk to him very little between now and then and I get it because the game is an important one.  But, PHILLIP, the truth is this:  no matter what happens tomorrow, please remember that you have already won!  And that your boys have too.

When those boys of yours walk onto that court tomorrow, make sure you take a moment to REALLY LOOK at this program you've established.  Take a good, long look.  You'll see "special" written all over it and know exactly what I'm talking about.

You're one-of-a-kind, Phil.  I love you so, so much!

Linds xo

CONGRATULATIONS TEAM JACOBS!!!!!!

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALISTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who Knew?!

Had I known that curling involved skipping, Ferbey's, and blank-it's, I would have gained interest LONG, LONG ago!  Perfect timing, I suppose.  Phil's friends just advanced to the finals!!!!!!

Congratulations TEAM JACOBS!  You can bet there's lots of skipping, blank-it-wearing, and Ferbey-lovin' in this house ;)

Tonight we had a FAMILY OLYMPIC PARTY!

Complete with official Team Canada gear (imported by Mom P!).

And a super-biased flower and medal ceremony!

What nationality are we?!  Haha.  

GO CANADA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eleanor Goes to Practice.

Yesterday afternoon, Nory and I walked to school to surprise Phil at practice.  He was so excited!  And so were the boys!  She did some assistant coaching while we were there and even started to mimic the hand-pointing pose her Daddy is showing in the picture above.  

We practiced our walking on the free side of the gym, played a passing game with one of the lady bulldogs, and made sure that all of the basketballs got back onto the rack.  She also had a blast acting silly with her Uncle Steve, who she hadn't seen in a couple of weeks.  Wait.  Who are we kidding?!  She hadn't seen ANYONE/ANYTHING in about two weeks because her parents put her in get-better-confinement at home.  Poor thing.  Sometimes, you just gotta GET OUT and EXPLORE!  So that's what we did.  And Girlie was a much happier camper because of it!

NYE 2013

We spent it in one of the best ways I can think of:  together AND cheering on Team Canada as they played Team USA!  Canadians were MORE PRESENT THAN EVER at this game and it felt as though everyone we met was somehow related under this random roof in Malmo, Sweden.  AWESOME is a serious understatement. 

Emily brought with her tattoos to last for DAYS!!!

In the previous two games, the noise hasn't been much of an issue in terms of Nory.  She has enjoyed all of the music and game sounds without so much as a flinch.  You could spot her moving and grooving and smiling and clapping and LOVING IT.  But, for this game in particular - versus our all-time rivals, on New Year's Eve - the crowd was on the wilder side of the spectrum and so we did our best to keep a hat on her head to muffle the sound.  We had little success with this (ha!) and instead, opted to leave the arena on the three occasions where Canada scored (as you can imagine, the fans went CRAZY!).  Turns out the two other babies in our section were caught in a similar situation and a mini baby convention was formed following each goal.  It was really neat to see a two month old, a nine month old and a ten month old all together - decked out in national gear, wide-eyed and taking in all the action.  I wish I had a picture to show you! 

Chilling by the exit with her Dad.  These two did some hanging out up here where it was a TINY BIT quieter :)

Way to go TEAM CANADA!!!!!!!!

We were lucky to catch another OUTSTANDING game!  Canada won 3-2 and we were on the edge of our seats for most of the time.  What more can you ask for?  The boys finished first in their group and will begin the medal round tomorrow.  We won't be here to see it but are hopeful for some live streaming once we're back in Kuwait!

The plan when we got home from the game was to have a good sleep and wake up refreshed to the Year 2014.  Turns out the Swedes take their fireworks SERIOUSLY and we heard explosions from BEFORE THE GAME until at least one in the morning (ah-hem, this is NOT conducive to sleeping).  Following this, the fireworks were less frequent but still happening until five or six this morning.  I couldn't believe it.  In fact, I don't even believe that Dubai was the city featured on CNN today.  I swear there's NO WAY they could have surpassed the firework show put on here in Malmo!  It lasted for HOURS!!!!!

Thank you Auntie Em for the special onesie!

Needless to say, we woke up exhausted this morning and feeling like we should have just partied to begin with!  Haha.  Thank goodness we had an agenda with NOTHING ON IT and we spent the day drinking tea, eating gingerbread cookies, watching tv, and doing nails.  It was lazy and PERFECT.

We hope all of you welcomed the New Year with the ones that you love!  Wishing you a joyful 2014 filled with much love and laughter!

Love,
The Parkinson's
XOXO

A Bonus Game: CANADA vs. SLOVAKIA!

After watching Canada play the Czech Republic, we decided that we couldn't wait until the 31st to see the team play again.  So - yesterday morning - we went online and purchased FRONT ROW SEATS to the Slovakia game!  It was AWESOME!  And the trip-mates decided that my fox sign was actually a little bit funny....

So we went with it!  Are you laughing?  Because I still can't stop ;)

Before the game.  This time we put our tattoos on opposite sides for this very photo opp!

Being in the front row sure does have its perks (with the only disadvantage being a lack of visibility in the far corner).  The TSN guy was sitting only a few meters away and he remembered talking with us briefly at the previous game.  He told us that he is always away from his family on Christmas (filming at the WJHC) and that he knows how much it would mean to our family members back home to see us on TV.  Then he said that when Canada scored a goal, he would put the "fan reaction camera" on us and make that idea happen.  And guess what?!  Canada DID SCORE and that DID HAPPEN!!!!!!  TWO TIMES!

Just one of the shots that was captured by family members back home.  THANK YOU FAMILY!!!!

Home from a CANADA WIN!  Still AWE-STRUCK over the fact that we were LEGITIMATELY on TSN!!!

You can watch us celebrate HERE and HERE!!!!  (Thanks Mom!)

Now for the CANADA vs. USA game.  GO CANADA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These pictures make "Nory's 1st Hockey Game" seem like WAY MORE OF A DEAL than "Baby's 1st Christmas".....

Consider it further proof that she's a LEGIT CANADIAN despite being a resident of the Middle East ;)  Haha.

Last night we went to see Canada play the Czech Republic at the Malmo Isstadion.  It was a great first game for the wee one (besides the fact that Team Canada lost), but the energy in the crowd was UNREAL.  The arena was bumpin' with CAN Fans and that instant sense of camaraderie that exists between our citizens abroad was in FULL FORCE.  Thank goodness they didn't play the national anthem because I'm sure I would have broke down INCONSOLABLY right THEN and THERE! 

Also.

I have never ever in my life wished SO MUCH SO for my Dad to be somewhere with me.  Well......maybe the day that I named his granddaughter after him.  But second to that moment would have to be THIS GAME!  He would have LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT.  So a BIG SHOUT-OUT to you, Dad.  I missed ya ;) xo

Here are some pictures.....

Waiting for the taxi to arrive with her God Mama.  I love this picture of these two!

Remember the time that I purchased and imported "infant ear protection" and my daughter only wore them for about two entire minutes?  That time, WAS THIS TIME.  HA!

The ladies of the Cope/Malmo trip worked on this sign throughout the afternoon of Game Day.  The TSN guy caught us during the warm-up and Phil's Grandma says that she saw us on tv!!!! 

Crazy Canucks were EVERYWHERE!  This guy lent us a flag for Nory to have during the game :)  He thought it was a great idea to introduce her to the best game of life ASAP.

The IIHF mascot - or shall we call him another "Nory" fan that came to play with her some more during the second period?

The game was INTENSE, I tell ya!  So intense, that Nory had to bite into our cardboard sign to relieve the tension ;)

Turns out if you have the youngest fan in attendance, you get special treatment.  We're talking expedited beer lines and private play areas at intermission.

We must have been down a goal here.....

A great shot captured by Gem with her SUPER PRO CAMERA!  This was after a Canada goal, OBVS ;)

Let's hope the boys can pull out a W at the next game!  We have tickets for NYE, but JUST MIGHT end up at the Slovakia game tomorrow night......

GOODBYE COPE!!!!!!!!!

After spending a week at our cozy little hotel in Copenhagen, it was tough to say farewell.  The hotel staff were clearly smitten by Nory's daily appearances and Nory was equally as happy to see them every morning and afternoon.  She became especially bonded to Marina The Breakfast Gal and we picked up a wee teddy bear for Marina as a token of our appreciation.  Marina took Nory from us each breakfast so that we could have a slow and easy start to the morning (TALK ABOUT AMAZING!).  While we enjoyed a relaxing breakfast, Nory was busy "working" the kitchen and bringing out smiles in other hotel guests.  It was the sweetest thing. 

Nory and Marina.  This was departure day.  Nory definitely knew something was up....

Once we checked out of the hotel, we were en route to Malmo, Sweden.  We had the full intention of doing this by train, but once we reassessed the luggage/10 month old situation, we opted for a taxi from one hotel to the next.  I am so glad we did, too.  Within 30 minutes, we were at the new hotel (an old chocolate factory, I must add!) and ready to embrace the CANADA SPIRIT that has flooded the streets here. We went for a walk after check-in and were pleased to see tournament signage everywhere, as well as hockey fans of all sorts.  We saw lots of Canada fans and some Leafs fans too (which are basically the same thing, right?).  Ah - you could just FEEL the hockey excitement!

Walking down a main pedestrian avenue.  Christmas lights are still up, as well as mini-markets and activities!

The sun sets here at the same time it did in Denmark (3:30ish) which has been making us feel tired earlier than usual (and we are early-to-bed people under normal circumstances!).  So - after our late lunch, we returned to the hotel to relax and enjoy the play space that this apartment-style accommodation provides.  For some reason, none of the hockey games were being televised and we had to watch How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days instead.  Shoot!  (Notice I am trying to make up for the lack of tournament coverage by sarcastically using hockey-related terms...)

We love this place!  There may not be a Marina, but there is so much space for Nory to crawl around!!!  Also, we have a kitchenette!  And heated bathroom floors!  And heated towel rods!

Now is also a good time to point out how much I love the two people in the final picture.  I love them SO, SO very much.  And the two of them together - just KILLS me :)

We hope you are enjoying these last few days of 2013!  A new year is just around the corner! xo

Remember that guy who ruined our one year wedding anniversary? ;)

Well, THAT GUY (second from right), is representing Team Canada at the Winter Olympics!

Does this make up for him stealing our anniversary and making us SOO-BOUND on our very first one?  MAYBE.....

Haha. CONGRATULATIONS BOYS!!!!!

Putting THE FAMILY Numero UNO.

Lately, I've been finding it really difficult to balance teaching, parenting, wife-ing, friend-ing and time for myself.  I mean, I can DO all of those things, but I am definitely not doing them each as well as I would like to.  I feel like if I am being a really good teacher, then I am working late and not being a really good mom.  If I am being a really good family gal, I am not being a really good friend.  I started to feel really overwhelmed and down and that no matter what I did, I was always letting SOMEBODY down.  And being a guilty person to begin with, this was seriously stressful for me.

For a while, I thought I was handling my obligations really well.  Perhaps I was on some sort of a "working mom" high that just motivated me to keep on going.  People were impressed that I went back to work so early and I think I was too.  It helps that I like my job and I think it helps that I was forced to go back to work after 70 straight calendar days.  I kept thinking, "I can do this" and I would continue to grind it out every day.

But then the first paragraph stuff happened.  It wasn't pretty, folks.  Nory is like a little person now - showing us how much she wants us around by screaming with excitement when we walk in from work.  And seeing her wave goodbye when I leave the house is crushing (times 50)!  I hate it.  She handles it far better than I do and I usually require our brief trip down the elevator as a time to re-group and suck it up for the school day.  The truth is.....I need more time with her.  She is growing up SOOOO quickly and I want as many moments with her as possible.

Over the weekend, Phil and I both had some sort of revelation.  The next day at work, he rescheduled Saturday basketball practices to Sunday nights (freeing up family time on the weekend) and he made sure to end all practices in the future in time to be home for bath time with Nory.  I cancelled tutoring that same day and then had to deliver the difficult news to one of my favourite parents that I just could not continue working with her boys anymore.  Voila - FAMILY FIRST.

It's really hard to get wrapped up in outside-of-the-home stuff, especially when you are the type of people that we are.  I love to teach and I love to work one-on-one with kids to help them improve.  Phil ADORES basketball and would do it all the time if it were feasible.  We are passionate people.  Passionate people who also have financial responsibilities and traveling dreams.  Perhaps this is why we so easily got tangled up in the extra work that we do.

We will see how this restructuring of commitments works out.  When you wake up to things like this (even when the clock says "4:45"), somehow it feels like everything is going to be A-OKAY......