Team Trials

You know, I have a huge soft spot for kids. It probably stems from being an oldest child and having a big part in raising some of the younger siblings. And of course this all stems into my love for my hockey team.

Every week something happens at ball hockey, either one of the kids acts out, they tell us something that's just out of the blue, or I get a chance to really level with them and have a good conversation. Last Monday was no exception.

Us coaches always meet after the games to chat, brainstorm on what to do for our teams, talk about the games and see where we can help each other out. This past Monday was a jaw-dropper.

One of my fave players, Joe, had been looking sad all evening and I asked his coaches about it. He was usually not like that, usually he was playing hard, a bit cheeky and had a smile. The coaches didn't know anything, but the manager told us this story:

Joe's birthday had been the week before and at the last minute his mom had invited a couple friends to come and play at the Youth Center. It turned out that only one friend showed up. The dad brought the friend in, gave Joe his gift, left him there to play and came back half an hour later. When he came back he saw that his son was the only friend there, he snatched Joe's gift from him (already unwrapped), grabbed his son and left. Joe sat in his chair, obviously stunned, and cried.

Joe comes from a pretty good family, considering the other families we deal with at the Youth Center, but it's obvious he doesn't get the attention he needs. We're not exactly sure what it is, but there's something lacking there. So to see something like this happen to him is super hard. It's got to be so traumatizing!

As soon as we heard this, we all turned to each other "You free next Monday night?", "Yep.", "Good, I'll bring the cake, you bring the balloons. Invite the team, we're having a party for Joe". We're going to surprise him, it's going to be so awesome! We're going to set up a game of blacklight ball hockey, watch a movie and enjoy some cake! I seriously can't wait to see his face, he's such a sweet kid with a really great heart.

Kiddies

My sister in law is pregnant. Again. This will be their second child and unfortunately, it leads everyone to believe that her brother and I will be getting in the baby mood too. We won't. They can stop asking now. Her stomach churns, they tilt their head and say "Oh, mmm, because you're pregnant" and then turn to me "Katie, when will you guys start having kids?" Yeah. Because seeing a sick pregnant woman really makes me want to pop a kid out.

I love kids. I'm almost forced into loving them, really. I'm the oldest of eight kids, the youngest are 20 years younger than me and just turned 4. My parents have the cutest babies! I can't help but love them to pieces. And my first niece, she's soooo cute! Kids are all around me and I love them! But that certainly doesn't mean I'm ready to have children myself.

Like I said, I'm the oldest of eight, so I think that has a large part in why I'm not ready to have my own. Not only because I had to half-raise the younger ones, but also because I've seen the reality of having kids. I have a "too-realistic view" of child raising. At least that's what I call it. All my friends oooo and aaaaah over having babies. For me, instead of seeing cute perfect babies (although I do see that too, that's just not ALL I see) I see the crying all night (all my mom's kids woke up every two hours until they were at least two, no matter what she tried), the constant attention, the thrush, the emotions etc.

I know I'm going to have moments where my kids are perfect and googoo'ing and smiling and so adorable I just want to bite their chubby little hands, but I also know it's hard work.

So no, we're not going to start having kids anytime soon...maybe in a few years...but not now. Like my mom in law said in the family Christmas card "Katie and Brett are busy having puppies" (: And I'm happy with that for now!

Ooo, more later! I received some items in the mail on Friday so I have pictures to post!! YAY!

Taking It a Step Further

Just a short one for now. I'm pooped. But I'll try to write again this afternoon.

I was just reading through the J Caroline blog which lead me to How About Orange which lead me to decor8. I officially have no life. But beyond that bleak and miserable fact (not really, I just felt like being melodramatic), decor8 has inspired me...like every single blog I look at daily (which just happens to be the majority of my Blog roll). Take a look at the entry I linked to and the comments below it to learn more on how to take your items a step further and begin to hit the big-times. Have you ever wanted to turn your art work into fabric?? Take a look at the link!

How was everyones Easter? Mine was great, filled with family and two feasts (the joys of living in the same town as both our families): one of chicken, one of ham. Y.U.M! Do you have any Easter traditions? I'd love to hear them!

Poor Brian...I know how he feels (: Stewie! You jerk with the football for a head! Leave him alone!