Soccer Weekend

My oldest had her first soccer tournaments this weekend. Her team played three half hour games on Saturday, along with the other eight teams in the league. It was played in the round robin fashion. The weather was great. Our girls won two of three, and after an undefeated season, they were quite saddened to lose. Also, in the last game, my daughter got hit in the face by the ball and bent her glasses, which added to her bruised ego. In the first game, however, she played her toughest game ever. Other players' families came over and said that was the best they'd seen her play. They were impressed and so we were proud!
Then, on Sunday afternoon, we headed to the semifinal game. Here we played the regular hour long game against my daughter's old coach and several schoolmates. It was a very exciting game which my daughter's team won 1-0. So, onto the finals which were last night. It was a hard fought game, but my daughter's team lost to a team that they beat two times earlier in the season. They were devastated...it wasn't the world cup, but it meant a lot to them. Tonight we have a party for our team, desserts and trophies included. At this age, they don't get trophies unless they are one of the two top teams. It should be a nice evening.
I subbed yesterday again, but for second grade this time, for a teacher who runs a tight ship. Eveyrthing was thoroughly organized and the kids were pretty good. I had a nice day.
My younger daughter is pretty excited because it's "spirit week" at their school, which means:
Monday is dress like a friend day (my daughter's dressed like each other!)
Tuesday was mix and match
Today is pajama day
Tomorrow is wacky hair day
and I think Friday is wear a sports emblum day.
My youngest loves it! She went in a nightgown and shorts today, taking her slippers, too. :)
I ran today, started the official training program for the marathon. I ran four miles today and was pretty tired out at the end, but it felt good to cross it off the schedule. I'm going for finishing and reducing my time this year-last year's time was slow, although I am proud I finished. :)
Hopefully I do this year, too!! :)
So I am still informing, which is what blogs are for, as my husband says, here are my fav running sites! Enjoy! :)
http://www.runnersworld.com/home/0,,s6-0-0-0-0,00.html
http://www.asicsamerica.com/
http://www.runningtimes.com/rt/index.asp
http://www.deenakastor.com/
http://www.marathontraining.com/marathon/m_mile.html
http://info.citruscollege.com/continuing-education/Marathon/pacingchart.htm

Two latest books I've read

I had time on my lunches to read. I have read two books lately.
1."Ella Minnow Pea" which was very good. I loved the concept.
The note from the publisher is this (from barnesandnoble.com):

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Ella Minnow Pea is an epistolary novel set in the fictional island
of Nollop situated off the coast of South Carolina and home to the
inventor the pangram The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over The
Lazy Dog. Now deceased, the islanders have erected a monument
to honor their hero, but one day a tile with the letter "z" falls
from the statue. The leaders interpret the falling tile as a message
from beyond the grave and the letter is banned from use. On an
island where the residents pride themselves on their love of
language, this is seen as a tragedy. They are still reeling from
the shock, when another tile falls and then another....
Mark Dunn takes us on a journey against time through the eyes
of Ella Minnow Pea and her family as they race to find another
phrase containing all the letters of the alphabet to save them
from being unable to communicate. Eventually, the only letters
remaining are LMNOP, when Ella finally discovers the phrase
that will save their language.

2.I also read "Love, Rosie", which was previously published as
"Rosie Dunne". It was a nice book, but not my favorite. I liked
the concept of this, too. (barnesandnoble.com, again):

FROM THE PUBLISHER Sometimes you have to look at life in a whole new way . . . From the bestselling author of PS, I Love You comes a delightfully enchanting novel about what happens when two people who are meant to be together just can't seem to get it right. Rosie and Alex are destined for one another, and everyone seems to know it but them. Best friends since childhood, their relationship gets closer by the day, until Alex gets the news that his family is leaving Dublin and moving to Boston. At 17, Rosie and Alex have just started to see each other in a more romantic light. Devastated, the two make plans for Rosie to apply to colleges in the U.S. She gets into Boston University, Alex gets into Harvard, and everything is falling into place, when on the eve of her departure, Rosie gets news that will change their lives forever: She's pregnant by a boy she'd gone out with while on the rebound from Alex. Her dreams for college, Alex, and a glamorous career dashed, Rosie stays in Dublin to become a single mother, while Alex pursues a medical career and a new love in Boston. But destiny is a funny thing, and in this novel, structured as a series of clever e-mails, letters, notes, and a trail of missed opportunities, Alex and Rosie find out that fate isn't done with them yet.

Both were fast reads. Both were written in the forms of letters
back and forth from the characters.
Oddly enough, the character in one
has the last name of Dunn and author's name of the other is Dunn...

Rain Rain Go Away

Well, it's been raining for the last week, and chilly! I was all ready for warmth and working in my garden. Then the rains began and the temp dropped.
I haven't subbed since Friday, which has been nice. I had time to get a haircut, get groceries, catch up on laundry, prepare for our Bible Study, and tidy up around here. I feel like the things at home get dropped when I work outside the home. The girls keep me busy, as does volunteering in their school, but teaching takes up more time. I have subbed for the last sixteen school days. It has been fun, but I needed a couple days to catch up around here! :)
The girls only have about fifteen days of school left in the year. So, time has flown by again this year. We have soccer tournaments for our oldest daughter on Saturday and then soccer is over until next fall! Some weeknights will be free! :) I saw this article on bhg.com (better homes and gardens magazine online) about happy families and it was interesting, so I educate here: :)
I have only run a few times per week, so that hasn't improved, but hopefully it will. A marathon is a big goal. Hopefully I will someday be in shape again!!
I have now become like the people I know from high school who blog...too long in between updates! And not enough time to type up an update when I do sit down here...
One thing I do enjoy and that makes more time is organizing around here... I saw this site and thought it was good, too.
http://www.organize-everything.com/

Substitute

I have been working like crazy these last few weeks. I have been a kindergarten sub, a fourth grade sub and a music teacher (the teacher is on bedrest through the rest of the year, but they have to find a long term sub with a music degree and mine is only in elementary ed.) I have subbed at least three days in the last three weeks.

I have also been to bad weather soccer games, piano lessons, tumbling, school functions, and a Women of Faith Conference since I wrote last. It is always so uplifting and I appreciate going. Their theme this year is Contagious Joy-what a thing to share with others!

I can't believe the end of the schoolyear is so fast approaching. I'm not ready for my oldest to go off to middle school! With all my subbing, my volunteering in their classes and school library has dwindled to almost nothing! I feel bad about this. I have thoroughly enjoyed subbing and being around the kids, though.

I have been squeezing in some exercise, though. My birthday has passed since I wrote last and my husband and I got new bikes so the four of us can ride as a family, which we have done about five times since getting the bikes. I also have picked up running again. It stinks that I'm so winded, when last year I ran a marathon and didn't have to slow to a walk until mile 23. I took too much time off and now I feel so out of shape.

Well, to inform as my hubby thinks all blogs should do ;) here is some information on women runners and heart disease. http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,5033,s6-78-185-0-7552,00.html
With my family history, I could be at a higher risk for heart disease, so I need to exercise!! We've been trying
to eat more organicly, and healthily, with less meat, more veggies.

That's all for today, just thought I'd better update! Hope you are well, reader.