A Visit From Grandma Judy

Rick's mom left this afternoon after a week long visit. I had to work during half the visit, but the time I got to spend with her was really nice.

While I was working my long term sub job, Judy, Rick and the kids did crafts and played games at the house.

Friday day, Judy and Katie made mini pumpkin pudding pies for Katie to take to her Girl Scout Feast. It was a special time for Katie and her Grandma to just be together.

Friday evening the kids went to their friends house (and Girl Scouts) and the three of us grown ups went Christmas shopping. It was a successful trip and now Judy doesn't have to ship gifts to us and the kids will be getting things they put on their wish lists.

Saturday I got out my jewelry making supplies and made more lanyards and fixed a few broken ones. Judy helped me while Katie worked on her scrapbook. Kenny played Wii games and Rick worked on his truck bumper.

Oh - did I forget to mention Rick backed into a pole? Yup. His truck is only two years old and he whacked it good! With the help of a neighbor he was able to pound out the bumper to Rick's satisfaction (yeah we don't have to buy a $300 new bumper). Now all he needs to do is get color matched paint to touch up some places where the paint cracked.

Later on Saturday Judy got to see Katie NOT play in another soccer game. Katie was freaking out about her breathing problems and didn't play (more on that later). She also got to see how Rick turned into Dumbhead Coach who forgets how to be dear ol dad. We're all human, but it's aggrivating for me being in the middle of the stress.

Sunday night Katie, Judy and I went to see a local production of Annie. Katie and Judy had never seen it before. Of course, I had to refrain from standing up and singing all the songs. It brought back great memories for me. My parents took me to see Annie in Hollywood/L.A. when I was around Katie's age. I bought the song book and memorized all the songs. It was a fun evening for all three of us.

We all enjoyed her visit, but Kenny was the most emotional about having to say goodbye. He cried when she left and moped around the rest of the day. He is excited about being able to email with her using our Wii email system (Katie is too).

Spinning Heads

Sorry my blog is so not-up-to-date. I started a long term sub job (early cause the lady had her baby 5 weeks early) and my head is spinning with the adjustment. Katie's been sick for a month solid now. 1st with pneumonia, and then bronchitis -both with airway constriction. The infection is finally gone, but the trouble breathing is not - we are seeing a specialist this month. Combine that with Rick coaching both kids' soccer teams, soccer games every Sat., Kenny and Katie adjusting to having a working-mom, figuring out who is doing the household chores now and general day to day stuff and it leaves little time to update the blog. I am hoping to be more "normal" with updates after Christmas (hey at least I am realistic).

Soccer Saturday (again)

It was another EARLY Saturday morning for the Carter family this weekend. All of Ken's games start either at 8am or 9am. This Sat. it was 8 (blech).

The morning was really cool and damp. Ken loved playing in the cooler weather. He said it helped him run harder and longer. His team, The Bears, won by a large margin (something like 11 t0 2). Ken scored two of the goals. Here are some pictures of him working hard and having fun.


Ken's shoots his first goal. Picture above & Video (shot by Katie) below.


Katie's game was late in the afternoon. Her field is HUGE. Her team, The Cardinals, is not the most talented bunch of girls, and a good number of them are just not very eager to play hard.

Katie did her best however and said she had fun despite the 0 to 6 score. For the first 40 minutes (1st half) she played back and helped protect the goal. She has a natural ability to know where to put herself in relation to the ball and the goal. Most girls her age don't have this skill. After a 10 minute half time break, Katie played the rest of the game in the goalie position. She let a few balls get by (heck I would too, that goal zone is HUGE), but stopped quite a few too.


Her drop-kicks are getting really good. I am glad she is enjoying herself, despite the score. Her teams has only scored one goal in three games.

Rick is beside-himself in frustration about how to coach these girls and get them to improve. He literally has been mulling it over in his head all weekend.

Recently Rick hurt his knee playing soccer (you know, the same knee he had surgery on after he had severely dislocated his toes. The same knee he injured prior to having two surgeries on his hand - all from soccer). Needless to say he went back on my "Bad Soccer-Playing Husband" list. It freaks me out when he hurts himself playing soccer. Beside the fact that I love him and hate him to be hurt/broken in any way... he's our major breadwinner. Surgeries are risky, lead to too many missed days of work and will lead to extra aches and pains as he ages (not to mention a b*&chy wife).

He went to a specialist, had an MRI on it, has paused his soccer playing, has been babying the knee with a ace-brace, and got the results yesterday.

He did not damage the meniscus, as he had suspected. It turns out he sprained the MCL and BADLY bruised the end of his femur at the knee joint. The MCL will heal soon but the bone bruise will take a few months. The doctor is concerned that he might have damaged the cartilage at the bruise locations and says it takes 6 to 12 months to fully heal. Rick was told to avoid soccer, etc., until January to give it time to properly heal.

Boy he sure is lucky he doesn't need surgery (for many reasons). Most of all, he is off my "Bad Soccer-Playing Husband" list and he is happy 'cause I'm not demanding he quit playing all together.

1st Game & a Goal

Kenny played his first game of the soccer season. He played goalie and stopped a few goals (even taking a hit to his privates). Then in the second half he scored a goal! - a great start to a fun season.

Katie didn't play because she has an upper respiratory virus that's kicking her energy in to super low gear.

Ken's team, The Bears, won the game by a large margin. We'll keep you updated on both kids (and Coach Rick's) game play by plays as each week in the season progresses.

Welcome Soccer Season

The kids started their soccer practices today. Since Rick is coaching both teams their practice times are back to back on the same field. It sure was hot and miserable for them (and I didn't even stay at the field the whole time) - but before we know it we'll be complaining about how cold it is -- lovely Sacramento weather.