Soccer friends

Apollo is playing soccer this fall. He's not quite as aggressive as Paris--he likes to spend his time on the field gabbing with the other players. Once, when he was playing defense, his goalie had to come break up his little tete-a-tete and tell him to help him out. Another time he ran off the field, had a drink, talked with us a while, then ran back to play. But today he played goalie and made a good save, ensuring his team the win at 1-0. He was pretty proud of himself. He and a neighbor boy are on the same team and have become fast friends. His friend pronounced that Apollo "was not his brother. But almost."

The great book race

This weekend, Brian and I were strolling around Target picking up miscellaneous things we needed. We were walking past the book section when we saw this:

This is the latest book in the Percy Jackson series. Or I should say the first book of a new series Riordan is writing about the next generation of Olympians. Whatever, we knew the kids would love it. "It's always a good idea to buy a book," Brian said and put it in the cart. "Maybe we should save it for Christmas," I mused, trying to be one of those people who are organized enough to have their Christmas shopping done by Thanksgiving. Brian gave me a confused look (we normally don't think about Christmas until December 1).

The kids promptly found the book as they were bringing in the bags from the car. (Why carry in bags when you have kids for that?) Paris and Athena both pounced on it, Paris diving to grab it, Athena chasing him upstairs. We could hear them yelling, spouting rushed logic as to who should get it first--"I saw it first!" "You got the last book first!" "I need a book for my reading log!" etc. There were quite a few grunts, too--so I took a moment to yell up the stairs "You better not rip that book!" before I rolled my eyes at Brian and sighed. Brian grinned at me. "Our kids are fighting over a book. We must have done something right." Well, it may have more to do with Rick Riordan than our great parenting, but I had to admit that if my kids are going to fight, it might as well be over a book.

Paris and Athena worked it out anyway. They each have a day to read the book--although they are not above sneaking a peek when it's not their day, or keeping it in secret places when it is their day. They compare how much they've read and have a competition to see who will finish it first. Athena even let Paris read it while she was at dance one day, because, she said with a wicked gleam in her eye, if he finishes it first than she will have the book all to herself. Tritan's not so competitive; he's quietly waiting til the flurry of book passing and obsessive reading is over. But I've caught him skimming through it during the odd moment of it being temporarily abandoned. Meanwhile there is a lot of reading with flashlights, reading on car drives, reading while trying to set the table. It's great.

A glass of apple juice

This weekend I flew down to Charlotte with Brian to look for houses. Mom offered to stay with the kids, but I know how hard it is to fly from Idaho to NJ and back in a weekend, and Alyssa, who lives in VA, was kind enough to put her plans on hold for the weekend and fly up to take care of the kids. She did such a great job! It can't be easy to be plopped down in someone else's house, and drive their kids around strange streets to get them to all their dance classes and soccer games. But of course, she did a great job, and the kids loved having her here.

Meanwhile, we were on our way to the airport at 3:30 in the morning to start a marathon 2 days of looking at design centers and existing homes. I was not in a good place as we zoomed around the nearly empty freeways--I was stressed with showing the house; felt overwhelmed with all the kids needed that I knew I couldn't get done; felt bad about all the times I yelled at them, mainly because I'm stressed; despaired that this trip would prove as fruitless as the last; worried that I had neglected to tell Alyssa something important. I was exhausted and I hadn't even showered in 3 days.

Brian led me through his carefully choreographed waltz through the airport. He's flown to Charlotte so many times, he has the timing down perfect. Print out boarding pass. Walk down to this security station that never has a line, pick up a bagel at Au Bon Pain, and then walk down to the gate just as they're boarding. Still, I was not impressed as he smoothly flew through security, pulling out his laptop while peeling off his shoes, while I struggled to pull out my zip-loc of liquids, and take off my jacket. I accused him of leaving me behind, when I finally stumbled my way through, several minutes later. I was irritated and resentful as I pulled out my book as the plane taxied off--we wouldn't even be moving AGAIN if it weren't for his stupid job. He offered me his neck pillow, which I acrimoniously declined, opened my book, and promptly fell asleep.

I woke up an hour later as we landed. I blinked, trying to sort out where I was, licking my dry lips and stretching. Brian, fully awake, handed me a full cup of apple juice. As I drank, I noticed he had put away my book and tucked the pillow up around me. I imagined him watching over me as I slept, anticipating my every need--perhaps he did. But somehow a glass of apple juice suddenly changed everything. We were going to be all right. We were going to find a house we loved and move to Charlotte where we could be together all the time and take care of each other.

And so the rest of the trip was wonderful. I watched with bemused awe as Brian navigated this life of rental cars, hotels, restaurants with finesse and ease. He made me feel like a princess all weekend--he even booked a suite at the hotel, which I made him change because I wanted a shower so badly after we flew in and the suite wasn't ready yet.

As for the house, well, we're still working on that. I imagine we'll have a choice made soon, though. Believe me when I say there are a lot of spread sheets, digital pics, and prayers made in behalf of this search.

And, Audra, I didn't forget about the pics you wanted to see of the house. If you know of any one looking for a deal in South Jersey, send them our way! .