THE MARINI FAMILY

WELCOME TO THE CRAZINESS OF OUR LIFE WITH TWO BOYS!

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Four Days- Fun Days

On Saturday morning we had another double booking.  Soccer 8:30, baseball 8:30, and Rich had to work.  When I say I needed another  me, I wasn't actually joking.  Luckily we have grandparents who live in town and are ready to help.  My dad picked up Matt to take him to his game and the rest of us headed to Ryan's game. 

For the last couple of weeks Ryan has refused to play soccer.  Like, kicking and screaming and leaving the field...just refused to play soccer period.  We thought this soccer season was going to be fantastic because his buddy Camden (Lynn's son) plays on the same team and we thought for sure after how he was last season that he was just going to have a blast this year.  That could not be farther from what has actually taken place.  The first game of the year we played a team who had a boy with green socks (he's referred to in our house as just, "green-socks") who was fast, good, and competitive...he was pretty much Ryan last soccer season.  So, green-socks got into Ryan's head and never left.  The last couple of weekends have been stressful because we are trying to get Ryan to get back out there and play.  We have done everything from take all of his fun stuff away to promise him anything just short of a new car.  Because quitting and not showing up for the rest of the season was never an option. 

Today...with the threat of Easter tomorrow (that's right....parents of the year), Ryan got out on the field and played...and played...and played.  I kept thinking every time he came off the field he was never going back out.  Last weekend, because we told him he had to play to go to a birthday party, he refused to go unless I went out with him.  I was "that parent" who was walking out on the field following him so he at least stayed somewhat in the game.  I had stopped taking my camera with me because I refused to post pictures of him sitting on the sideline with his mad face on.  Today he played and he looked like the old Ryan.  Aggressive, quick, and happy.  I took a tiny video of it so I could show Rich....he wanted proof!



After Ryan's game we headed over to catch the end of Matt's baseball game.  I have no pictures of that :(, but he is doing really well and loves catching.  Just watching him makes my knees hurt.  He also plays short-stop, I promise to take pics Wednesday night. 

And because our day was only a third over, we rushed home from the game to change and then headed to Stockton for lunch with Emilie and Andersen. Emilie sent me a message a couple of weeks ago and said let's get together and catch up! I turned to Rich and said, "Should I wait for lunch for her to tell me she's pregnant or just wish her congrats now?" He said...Wait!!!! So I did, and at lunch she TOLD ME SHE IS PREGNANT!!!!!!! Lunch was so great. Andersen really couldn't be cuter and the boys just adore him! And he was SO LOVING!!! I love a boy who grabs your face and pulls you in for a big kiss and I got several!! I really could have kidnapped him and brought him home!


Andersen!!!!




I have a feeling these boys might be trouble together when they get a little older!!!

Then Saturday night we headed up to Cache Creek Casino....which is officially in the middle of nowhere.  Kelly and Anthony pick up Lynn, Rich and myself to head up to see the Comedians of Chelsea Lately.  Poor Jason couldn't join us because he was sick...we missed him dearly.  All of us (except Rich ) watch Chelsea Lately every night and were super excited to see them.  Chris Franjola, Josh Wolf, and Loni Love were the three comedians.  They were all funny, but Chris and Josh by far were the best.  After the show they were available for pictures and stuff, but the line was so long that we skipped it.  Later when we were walking through the casino we say Josh playing slots and Kelly went up and asked to take a picture.  He was super nice and very cool.  Here is Lynn, Josh, and me.  So much fun!!!


And as you may have guessed...we got home LATE!!!!  The boys were at my mom's and so we started Easter there.  It was stop one of three for the day.  The boys had fun hiding the eggs they had colored the night before and look smashing in their new Easter outfits!  Even the dogs had fun hunting. :)

The note the Easter Bunny left in the morning!!!

Baskets at Nana's house.

Open, open, open!

Two very patient puppies waiting for their baskets too.

Look how hungry the Easter Bunny was.  So glad he stopped in for a snack. 

Just look at this boy with his game face on!

He's scanning the yard while he is picking up...he's no rookie!

He knows Ryan's on his tail.

Yes, if you count you will see Ryan had more, which lead to breakdown number one of the day.

Happy Easter!

Looking nice in their Easter best.

Getting back home and finding the note from "The Bunny", as Ryan refers to him.

Hoping his luck with a few eggs will pick up at this house...no such luck.

At Nana and Papa's for hunt number 2.

This time Matt did a little better.  However breakdown number two did occur.

Fun Summer tubs with goodies.

On Monday we went over to Debi's house to see Christie, Brad and baby Lauren.  Chris's sister Dena was there with her kids Jason and Mikayla so the boys were thrilled to go a play and that gave me plenty of time to catch up!!! 

Just look at little miss Lauren!!!  Doesn't she have the dreamiest eyes!!!! 

The boys with Lauren.

And one last snuggle for the road.  Matthew loves babies...he's in heaven right now.

Monday afternoon...playing around with new water stuff!


I THINK WE ARE READY FOR SUMMER!!!!!!!

WE HOPE EVERYONE HAD A FANTASTIC EASTER!!!!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Friends, Friends and more Friends!

What is the best way to spend a couple of furlough days???  With friends of course!!!  A four day weekend gives ways to lots of free time and visits from friends.  Tomorrow I am meeting Emilie and Andersen for lunch and I can't wait to catch up!  Tomorrow night Lynn, Kelly and I (hubbies too) are heading to Cache Creek to see the comedians of Chelsea Lately...so excited!  And then my girlfriend Christie is coming in from Chicago for a visit with her darling daughter!!

Fun post to come!!!!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Time to breathe

I need time to breathe.  Catch my breath.  Time to do nothing at all and everything at once.  I need a wife.  I need a whole other me to do the things that I can't keep up with. 

I had an "ah-ha!!" moment a couple months.  I'm not sure it was quite an "ah-ha" moment so much as it was a "holy $&it" moment.  It has taken me sixteen LONG years to really be able appreciate what my parents did for me when I played softball.  The amount of time and money spent was mind boggling and a little  overwhelming.  I totally took for granted that weekend games meant no other plans could be made.  Driving out of town was an extra gas expense not to mention all the meals that were bought out on the road.  Shirts at each tournament that I had to have.  Admission costs to games and tournaments.  Cleats, gloves, warm-ups, jackets....you name it, I had it.  And I really never remember my parents saying no.  This "sports" thing is time consuming and expensive and we are still signing up for sports that have the word "TOT" in front of it.   We haven't even begun to scratch the surface with regards to time and money.

Lately, time is not my friend.  Every time I look up I feel I have lost an hour I am going to need later on.  This week there was only one day that we didn't have something going on where one of the boys had to be somewhere.  Baseball practice Monday night, basketball practice Tuesday night, gym on Thursday, and another baseball practice Friday night.  My dad has been a life saver because he has taken Matt to a couple of his practices for me. 

During the "ah-ha" moment I had, I remember I was standing at the washing machine making sure all uniforms were in the washer because I needed to make sure they were clean by Saturday when we had double games, and I thought of my mom and how no matter what my uniform was always clean on ready on game day and that she must have never slept to keep up with the constant necessity of things needing to be done for me and everyone else. 

It's Friday night and I just finished four loads of laundry.  Tomorrow we have three games.  Ryan's soccer at 9:30, Matt's basketball at 12:10, and then Matt's baseball at 1:00.  No need to re-read that....that's right, we're double booked.  We'll be changing in the car during the two block drive from the basketball court to the baseball field.  I just finished making sandwiches for tomorrow, packed snacks for the "just in case", filled water bottles for each game, and put all sports bags in the car.  I feel so proud of myself that tonight I am on top of things, organized, well planned out.  However, that peaceful thought only lasts so long because on Monday it will start all over again.

Ready....set....drink!!!---wait, I mean GO!!!!!!

Monday, April 4, 2011

One last cheer.

On Sunday we went to what is probably to be our very last Kings game. It's really the end of an era and a mourning for all who loved this little engine that almost could.

I came late to this game. My in-laws have been season ticket holders for ever and I just came in at the tail end of things. I came in when things were just getting started. When sold out nights were a common thing and demand for season tickets put you on a waiting list. When 50 before 20 was the teams motto at the beginning of the season and then had the nerve to go and accomplished it. Where guys like Doug Christie, Peja Stojakovic, Vlade Deviac, Jason Williams, Chris Webber, Mike Bibby, Bobby Jackson put Sacramento on the map as a legitimate threat. Where the "shot heard round the world" was no longer the infamous beginning of the American Revolution, it was Robert (BLEEPING) Horry hitting the game winning bucket at the end of regulation sending things back to Sac all square in the Western Conference Finals. When things were exciting, fun, hopeful.


Our memories have been shared. The grandchildren of Section 110 have not gone unnoticed. Sweatsuits, dresses, jerseys, pom-poms...you name it, they had it. Back when they didn't have opinions and went along with the cheering and celebrating...times were fun and darn cute! Maybe it is time to move on. All the kids have gone and traded up for teams that are what we used to be...a winning team. Matthew sold out to the Lakers years ago. And for the last three years Ryan has followed everything Matthew has done, so he too is a Laker fan.  I have tried everything to have their idol NOT be Kobe Bryant.

Here are a few pictures that are fun to go back and look at.


This picture started it all.  These two little sweethearts are almost TEN!!!


Soon Matthew joined in the fun.  Could these two have cuter faces???  I love this picture!

This might be the last time Matthew and Mason both liked the Kings at the same time. 

Here is the season ticket that Matt and Ryan were featured on.

Here's Mommy and Ryan trying to score some tickets for souvenirs.  Look at Ryan's face for crying out loud!!!  So cute!!!

Daddy and Ryan at the same game.

Nana and Ryan walking up from sitting with Papa and Matthew.

Matthew seems to always come away with stuff.  He kept telling everyone he was on the ticket...they were generous.

This picture was taken at the beginning of this season by the Sacramento Bee newspaper at a fan appreciation night. 

These were taken last night.  Both boys came down to try and score some pizza!  No luck.

Looking on...enjoying their last time of rooting for the home team.

My seat buddy for the second half.

Thank you Nana and Papa for letting us come along and share this with you.  We've had a blast!!!