Sports season!

Man, life has a way of getting so crazy that it's hard to take the time to relax and reflect on everything that's happening and what's already past. First off, this has been the coldest winter since I've moved to Texas. The boys school has been closed 2 days due to bad weather, and numerous days where school was delayed 2 hours. I wish I could say these closings and delays were due to actual snow, but it was due to ice. I've learned very quickly that here in Central Texas, ice shuts everything down. No one can handle driving on the ice. My commute during these icy days were a nightmare. Now that we are in March, I am hoping this crap weather is over, and I can get back to complaining about the heat.

So now that spring is upon us, that can only mean one thing! Sports season! This year both boys decided they wanted to play sports. I love sports, so I signed them up. The catch? They both wanted to play different sports. Clearly both of them playing the same sport would be WAY too easy on mom and dad, and we can't have that. So Joey is playing baseball, and Mikey is playing soccer. Mikey did two years of baseball back in California and it's really not his sport. He needs something fast paced, and soccer seems to fit the bill. I don't know really anything about soccer except that I had an uncle and cousin play professional soccer in Europe. That's it. That's all I have to offer. Baseball on the other hand, I love baseball. I love going to baseball games, I love playing softball, and I enjoy watching my kids play baseball. Great American Past Time right??!! 

So we have two kids, two different sports leagues, so when I got the practice and game schedules, I was expecting a bit of overlap. It seems like about 80% of their games and practices overlap. Again, can't let things be too easy for mom and dad. Looking at the calendar at home and work (where I've written down ALL the practices) is overwhelming. In order to save time I've taken up slow cooker freezer dinners. It has been a life saver! The thought of having to handle two practices/games then run home and start cooking dinner is nauseating. Ain't nobody got time for that. So I take about 15-20 minutes and plan out a menu and make a shopping list for the week. I make sure all dinners can be cooked in the slow cooker. I hit the grocery store and when I get home and I begin prepping the dinners (chop the vegetables, precook any red meat) then combine the ingredients for each dinner in a gallon size freezer bag. So when I'm done it looks something like this:

Since they are in bags, they are very easy to lay flat and store in the freezer. The night before we plan on cooking the meal, we remove from the freezer and put in the fridge. Since Mike takes the kids to school and leaves after I do, it's his job to empty the bag contents into the slow cooker and start it before he leaves. Once I get home after work and practices/games, dinner is done! Slaving away after a long day is a thing of the past, especially when you have two hungry and tired boys wanting a hot meal.   

So the thing that I'm most excited about is spring break. I took that week off like I did last year, but instead of having a stay-cation with the kids, we are going to be traveling to South Carolina to see my grandparents. I am thrilled for the boys to finally get to know them. Some of my fondest memories growing up are those that involve them. When they lived in the San Fransisco area, I used to spend every summer with them. We are going to drive, but are giving ourselves some time. No rush to get there. No rush to get back. Keep it nice and relaxing because before I know it, vacation will be over and it'll be back to our normal everyday grind.

Mommy Guilt

I think at one point in every working moms life, you've been over come with mommy guilt. The guilty feeling you get when your at work knowing that your child has a school event/program going on that your not able to make. How do you explain to a 7 year old that mommy had to submit contract modifications and time sensitive offers so she couldn't make it? How also do you explain to them that we have bills that need to paid so mommy has to be at her desk? 

Today Mikey had a Veterans Day program where he was going to sing. I knew a program was coming up but a reminder note was never sent home and sometimes Mikey struggles with communication. He was able to tell me about this morning (you know, the day of) and I had to let him know that I couldn't make it. The look on his face crushed me. If I had known maybe a day or two in advance, I could have tried to get an hour of two off so I can attend but the day of just isn't enough time. Mike was able to swoop in and tell him that he was going to try to be there so Mikey did come back to life before school.  It still didn't help my disappointment. 

Mike was able to make it to the program which brightened Mikey's day. I'm glad one of us were able to make it but I'm still racked with guilt. I would love nothing more then to be available all the time to attend every program, event and even volunteer in the classroom. Unfortunately we live in a time where having a two income household is necessary to thrive in this world. Sure I can quit my job and live off Mike's income, but then that means we'll never have enough money to buy a house, never buy a new car, won't go to fun events or take vacations, and we'll have to eat ramen and hot dogs every day. Not exactly the life I want for my children. 

So I'm going to work and have days like this. Days where I wish I didn't work. Days I wish I can run and be at the school in less then 5 minutes for anything. Days I'm going to have to shake off the mommy guilt.