Juggling Teens

The Mage's Daughter, A Review

2012-01-29T08:23:00.000-08:00

The Mage's Daughter is book two of Lynn Kurland's wonder full Nine Kingdoms Series. Staying true to the trilogy format this second book is a bit darker and more desperate. Kurland sweeps her brush across this wonderful canvas and the vision her words create helps us to continue on her epic journey.

Morgan, left for dead in book one has to deal with her healing her weakened body and accepting that only does magic exist but it exists everywhere. Even in the least likely places. No one is who she thought they were least of all herself. This book is full of choices for Morgan, should she stay safe and secure in a magic sink hole, where no magic exists? Should she follow Miach? Should she remain Morgan, the shield maiden? Should she embrace her heritage and become Morghaine of Ceangail? Each cross road takes her further into danger and yet closer to becoming a truly strong mage..

Miach, having paid the ultimate price for withholding his true identity, fears for Morgan's very life and leaves his pratt of a brother, the kings wedding to chase after her. Missing her by a mere day he is forced to enter the assassins keep to find her. Every one can enter and everyone leaves... just not by the front gate. The only way to make it out the front gate is by earning his mark. Training to become a swordsman.. amazing Morgan he advances fast in the ranks. Learning how to fight without magic, a skill that unknown to him, he will need in the future.

Typical to the trilogy format, it seems that evil has a secure footing and while despair has not fallen over the land.. The situation is dire! An ancient spell is leaking into the lands and the Lothar, the ultimate evil has corrupted even that evil to do his bidding. He insidiously, weaves his magic to creep forth and search for all members that are left of Morgan's blood.

As they travel this journey they face Morgan's past.. We touch base with some of the characters from the first book and are introduced to some wonderful new ones. Morgan a girl who believed she was alone in the world is suddenly over run with protective relatives who want what is “best” for her. This takes patience and love on Morgan's part as she tries to explain that Miach is what is best. Although a mage, he is an honorable man.

Leaving us at the point where hope and doom collide we are left on the edge our seats waiting for Lynn Kurland's next installment. Fortunately Princess of the Sword is out and I can rush to read it..

Shauni

Saturday Silly

2012-01-27T23:11:00.000-08:00

Just goes to show you... anyone can be a good parent if they just put forth the effort...

The Law and Order Chime and Conditioning

2012-01-19T18:23:00.000-08:00

PITA Boy works a very odd schedule.. never quite sure from week to week if he will be working am or pm, early morning or late at night. Consequently, he sleeps odd hours of course he is 22 (almost 22) so he sleeps odd hours anyway..

Anyway... the other day he laid down to take a nap.. with the typical wake me at .... comment, something I refuse to do.. (back to the 22 comment).. he is also a complete jerk when I wake him.. saying not to bother him.. he knows what time it is. Of course when he oversleeps he tries to blame me.. ok, back on topic..

The other day, he lay down to take a nap.. fell into a total and complete sleep.. really deep.. then all of a sudden the Law and Order Chime went of on the tv (you know the cha cha chunk sound they do?) The kid sat straight up, bounced out of bed and was fully awake! I am so getting that sound on his alarm clock

Word Girl's Return

2012-01-18T20:59:00.000-08:00

Oh Joy of Joys.. Word Girl came home from California to bless us with her presence for three whole days.. sadly those days were marred.. yes fans, our days of bliss were not bliss free.. *grins*

It seems, while borrowing her computer I sorta kinda gave it a virus.. and of course it happened right before she came home so we weren't able to get it fixed BEFORE she got home.. So instead we sat around plotting out ways to tell her.. what would cause the smallest explosion.. Sadly, I ignored all our plotting and didn't tell her in public.. or in the car with a friend as witness.. NO, Silly me.. I had to tell her in private.. Oh yeah.. that was fun.. NOT

So our conversation went something like this...

Word Girl: When were you going to tell me?

Me: Hello? Isn't it obvious? I am telling you now.. I obviously waited as LONG as POSSIBLE to tell you.. *shakes head* Sheesh

Word Girl: You break everything.. I am texting Hair Boy!!

Me: *rolling eyes and mock quivering*

The next day she was ok.. and on Saturday we checked w/Best Buy to see how long it was going to take.. which btw, it was forever... which lead to another wonderful conversation...

Word Girl: I knew you would break it..

Me: *just letting her rant*

Word Girl: You break everything...

Me: Finally fed up... You know.. I have had my laptop for THREE YEARS.. and this is the first virus.. you have had yours for less than two and this is your THIRD.. I know I didn't give it the first two.. But I am pretty sure I PAID for it to be repaired..

Word Girl: *Silence*

Finally I got the last word.. doesn't happen all that often with our Word Girl

Star of Morning, A Review

2012-01-07T01:12:00.001-08:00

The first in book in Lynn Kurland's Nine Kingdoms series casts a delightful spell upon the reader. Kurland weaves a sensual spell as she slowly crafts her story. Introducing characters in full detail that leaves one feeling like she is standing right there with them. Her landscaping reminded me of fields and streams set to canvas with the paint of her words. In general a rich fulfillment of promise.

Morgan, the shield maiden was as unassuming as a girl could be, trained first by mercenaries, then educated in secret amongst orphaned young men and finally trained by the master of assassins. The one thing she was sure of was that magic was bad. At best the user depended too much upon it and not practicing more mundane things, like skill... At worst, it was corrupt and evil used by those who chose to destroy the kingdoms. So what's a girl to do when her mentor, her father figure asks her to deliver this one little dagger to the King of a different land? This one little dagger that glows and sings to her. That constantly pulls at her sense? This little dagger that is causing her to dream, dark dangerous dreams..

Miach, the Archmage, brother to the king, loyal to the kingdom. Miach upon realizing that the king's magic has failed him sends the king off to find the one person who can wield the Sword of Angesand. Long hanging in the king's hall. Bespelled years before by a powerful queen. Sending his pompous brother and king off to do his duty and find the person who can wield the sword is his only hope but as time passes and he has not heard from the king he sees no recourse but to follow him.

Upon meeting the brothers she things King Adhemar at best a pompous twit of a landowner full of himself and Miach, his sweet but rather hapless farmer of a brother. While finding both men attractive, well Adhemar until he awoke and opened his mouth (made me giggle) she was drawn to Miach. A man she could trust, turn to and rely on. Together along with her traveling companions, fellow mercenaries and friends, they set off to Neroche to deliver the dagger to the king.

Along the way Morgan, the girl who hates magic finds that she can remember the odd spell, that she indeed has magic within her. Which terrifies her, she wants nothing more than to be the shield maiden that she thinks she is. As they travel towards the kingdom of Neroche, darkness follows and evil stalks them. Each step closer to Neroche more dangerous than the last. And yet each step they take into darkness draws Miach and Morgan ever closer together..

A wonderful beginning to this trilogy, I am completely looking forward to reading The Mage's Daughter and Princess of the Sword the next two books in this trilogy. From what I understand Ms Kurland is going to write three complete trilogies about the Nine Kingdoms. Which given my pension for things to match makes me very happy. There are Nine Kingdoms so there should be Nine books. I know I am looking forward to reading each and every one of them.

Shauni

We are in the Six Weeks

2012-01-04T13:06:00.000-08:00

When PITA Boy was a child, he was very very very excited for Christmas almost to the point of making himself sick. I was worried that he would be disappointed when or if he didn't get what he asked for so I told him.. "If you don't get what you want don't be disappointed remember it's only six weeks until your birthday"

After saying that he took to it like well a duck to water.. now almost 20 years later it is part of our family ritual.. and he has what he calls his six weeks list.. It's pretty small, he wants a dress coat, like a pea coat and a Bible. Of course he made me giggle today...

PITA Boy: Mom, I want a coat like this *pulls out Blond Girl's red coat* only black and for men.. oh and a Bible..

Me: Ok, you would look good in a coat like that (he dresses rather well when given his preference)

PITA Boy: I think the coat would look good w/my black gloves.. but first I want the Bible.. well maybe just the old testament stuff...

Mom: Honey you do know you get both Old and New Testaments in the Bible...

Hair Boy: *blushes and grins* Oh yeah.. forgot that.. *then he turned to me and flashed his crooked grin* you know mom, It's only six more weeks till my birthday...

Yeah he makes me smile, this pain in the .... of mine..

Hair Boy Cracks me Up

2012-01-03T10:14:00.000-08:00

I was speaking with Hair Boy today, we do that occasionally.. I must say I am infinitely blessed by having been giving this amazing young man. He is a constant joy to me and I am ever so proud of him! *grins* Service announcement over.

I was speaking with him and told him I was going through one of my purging of diet soda.. Had been soda free for a few days and I was through the caffeine withdrawals, migraines, excessive sleep and leg cramps.. (every time I go through this I think and this is a legal drug). I told him I was finally going to switch to tea.. Per Doctors orders I really am not supposed to completely give up caffeine as I am prone to massive migraines and the caffeine does have medicinal effects.. BUT I don't need to gulp soda.. which is bad for you on so many levels and DIET soda is worse.. He was pleased to hear it but then it just got silly.

Hair Boy: So you are going to give up soda?

Me: Well, I am going to TRY (heavy voice emphasis on try)

Hair Boy: don't try, do it.. don't you watch Star Wars? Yoda says....

Me:OGL...

Don't you just love generations raised with Star Wars as a cultural reference?

I made the Mistake!!

2012-01-02T06:52:00.000-08:00

I made the mistake of showing this to my kids.. who cares that they are all almost adults, seems I am now the worst mom ever, cuz they never got a staircase like this!

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T18:33:00.000-08:00

So I did an image search for a New Year's Picture and I guess the filter was off.. let's just say if any of my kids are doing that for New Year's I don't want to know about it!!

For the rest of you... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

From Me and Mine..

When Art Becomes Reality

2011-12-28T13:09:00.000-08:00

I got a call from Word Girl today, she is in California Visiting my mom. They were on their way to my mom's estate sale.. (her company will come in and work your estate sale for you) and my mom told Word Girl to look for Shadowfax Dr.. Being properly raised by me.. the ultimate Tolkien Fan Word Girl commented.. Seems the entire town has street names from Lord of the Rings.. while we were on the phone Word Girl said.. "Hey we just passed Gondor" seems whoever named the streets didn't get the importance of Gondor as it's just a little side street..

It was a fun conversation.. as my mom was pretending to have a clue.. she has steadfastly refused to read Tolkien for the 40 yrs he has been my favorite. But she did call my uncle to tell him and HE at least had a clue!! Not only had he read the books.. he had seen all the movies or visa versa....

All I know for sure is I wanna live in Gondor.. or the shire.. or shoot even on Shadowfax drive

From Our House to Yours

2011-12-25T02:12:00.001-08:00

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas

And Peace on Earth this Christmas Day, and hopefully for all the days following

Shauni and the Kids..

She Just Cracks Me Up

2011-12-24T09:36:00.000-08:00

Further proof that I raised a nerd..

Blond Girl was doing some chores today and singing/humming while she worked.. sorta this da da da kind of thing.. but to the tune of It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.. which was pleasant to listen to.. then all of a sudden it morphed into Star Wars..

Yeah, she is that dorky!!

But at least she was on key!

This is Just Proof that they are Always Up to Something

2011-12-23T18:52:00.000-08:00

As a mother of daughters.. and sons... I can just imagine having this very conversation.. which is why it made me laugh so hard..

Oh come on, you know you are giggling too!!

A Question Borrowed from

2011-12-23T16:57:00.000-08:00

As many of you know I have another blog called Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy.. we participate in a Friday Follow and Feature blog hop hosted by The Para Junkie Blog and Alisoncanread. I love blog hops because they take you to some interesting places and bring some interesting people to your blog. This particular blog hop is pretty basic.. if you go to who co hosts this blog hop. You will see a feature post as well as a list of other blogs that have some fun and exciting reading available.

Today's Feature question was

Q: If you had to spend eternity inside the pages of a book which book would you choose and why?

Harry Potter sans the Death Eaters. I think that would be a pretty interesting world and I would love to travel my port key. I’ve always wanted to have a little bit of magic and I’ve always dressed a little oddly.

I really liked Ce Ce's answer.. what is yours?

Q: If you had to spend eternity inside the pages of a book which book would you choose and why? hint, I am still considering this question*

After much consideration, I have to say.. I am going to stick with my first choice. For those of you who really know me this will come as no surprise. If I had to spend eternity inside the pages of a book.. it would have to be JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.. I can not imagine spending anything better than living in Middle Earth..

What book would you choose?

McKenzie's List of Must Read Books!!

2011-12-21T09:40:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we went to Barnes and Noble.. always a grand adventure.. while there my 5th child (who isn't really mine and will henceforth be referred to as 5th child).. made her list of must read books.. ones she didn't already have.. I thought maybe others might be interested...

City of Fallen Angels

Clockwork Prince

Fallout

The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

The Gray Wolf Throne

Perchance to Dream

So Silver Bright

Inheritance

Perfect.. but I don't know what Perfect.. so I can't show a cover

Wednesday With Words

2011-12-21T00:10:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you.. but I have never met a Teenager who had a wordless anything.. so for this page... no Wordless Wednesday but rather Wednesdays with words!!

Heroes of Olympus: The Son of Neptune, A Review

2011-12-20T00:11:00.000-08:00

Let me start this review with one declarative sentence. Percy’s Back!!

The Son of Neptune is the second book in Rick Riordan's Heroes of Olympus Series. Which is a spin off from his Percy Jackson Series... In the first book, The Lost Hero we are introduced to Jason and the entire Roman encampment. We discover that yes, the gods evolved with Roman times and they have created Heroes from Rome as well as from Greece. Jason had been the leader of the Roman Camp and had been abducted, his memory erased and told he was a Greek. The entire lesson was for the Greek and the Roman heroes to learn to work together.

In the Son of Neptune, we find Percy.. EIGHT MONTHS LATER.. I capitalize that cuz well, Percy was most irked. Anyway, we find Percy, alone and with no memories of his past attempting to enter the Roman Camp. A son of Neptune is rare in the Roman Camp, Romans don’t value the sea like the Greeks do. Upon arriving in camp, in his usual I bring trouble on my heels manner. Percy is allowed to join the camp and placed in the 5th cohort, which is the least of all.. The joke of the camp and yet it is from this group that the heroes chosen to go on the quest are chosen.

Frank, a big bumbling, stumbling boy..unsure of anything and as yet to be claimed by his father even though he is 16 and Hazel a beautiful daughter of Pluto, who has actually been returned to life by her brother Nico immediately befriend Percy. Together, even in camp they begin to turn the fortune of the 5th.. by becoming the first to enter the enemies fortress (in wargames) and capturing their flags. A team bonding experience that is only the beginning of their travels.

A quest is called for by Mars, the god of war, who conveniently claims Frank as his son.. much to Frank’s dismay, disgust.. Frank is called to lead the quest and he chooses Percy and Hazel to go with him. A quest only allows for three members.. Politics at the camp leave them with limited resources and only four days to accomplish their quest. Which involves getting from California to Alaska, killing Gaea's oldest son, saving Thanatos, the lieutenant to Hades and the god of death and retrieving the legion’s eagle (their most sacred banner) which had been lost to them 30 years earlier.
Along the way, they must deal with crazed grain babies, a goddess gone hippy, a blind seer returned from the dead, harpies (and they are the good guys), Amazons in the midst of pending civil war, Ogres and Gryphons. All the while, learning their skills, Percy beginning to remember his past, Frank finding out he is much more than he thought he was and Hazel letting go of her past.

Rick Riordan does it again! This is just a wonderfully fun book. A complete joy to read and yes it ended way too soon! Already, I am wondering what happens next? and how the two camps will unite. Will the power struggles continue, will they be able to work together? All of these questions make for a promising third book.

Inheritance, A Review

2011-12-20T00:08:00.000-08:00

Inheritance is the fourth book in in Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Cycle Series. The first of the series was Eragon a book written by this amazing young man at the age of 16 who is now at the tender age of 28 he has completed what many only dream of.. he has completed an award winning, best selling series.. which has already had a movie made based on the book. A brief synopsis for those who have not read the series up to date..

On the brink of manhood, 15yr old Eragon son of none, orphan raised by his Aunt and Uncle, finds a pretty rock which he tries to sell.. Of course who in his small community can afford such a pretty bauble? Unable to sell it he returns home only to find late in the night that it isn’t a stone at all but a Dragon Egg and it has just hatched...naming Eragon his rider. The last rider or the first.. the only one called from the history books of legends and lore, Eragon accepts Saphira as his dragon and they grow together.. All of the earlier Dragons and Riders have been killed or seduced to evil.. and all except Galbatroix, the self proclaimed emperor remain and he has created an empire of tyranny that has lasted a hundred years.. Eragon and Saphira must flee their small community and are forced to hide from the emperor.. Upon the way growing in strength and meeting teachers and friends of the Riders as they go...

Eldest... Eragon and Syphira must leave the Varden, although their need is great.. They are needed to fight the Emperor but their skill and knowledge are minimal.. They leave to study with the elves. To be taught what a Rider is and what his responsibilities are. Among the elves Eragon matures and accepts that even though he loves.. his love is not returned.. even though to humanity he is a man.. to the elves he is barely a child.. In a few short months Eragon is forced to learn years of training.. His teachers must choose what is most important and what must wait.. A fine line of knowledge passed and knowledge retained.. Upon completely his training as best he can Eragon is sent back to the Varden to help continue the fight..

Brisingr.. To me the least of the books, Eragon continues his battle against Galbratroix constantly searching for ways to improve his knowledge and how to destroy Galbratoix.. for while he has allies of elves, men, dwarves and even Urgals.. he is still out manuevered and out magiced by Galbratoix.. This book tends to be pentatic and plodding but there are some very important scenes here.. I had read it when it came out and completely forgot some of the most tearjerking moments..

Finally... Inheritance

Eragon and Saphira have all the tools to take down Galbratroix and yet still they can’t. They have the power of an ancient dragon for support but Galbratoix has managed to accumulate hundreds... They have powerful elves and spellcasters but Galbratoix has spent a century reading and exploring the darkest arts of magic.. He has also accumulated some dangerous allies that must be beaten..

This book takes place in the final months and days of the battle of good vs evil.. I like that honestly you love Eragon but you really are never quite sure if he will succeed.. and if he does whether or not his triumph will come at the cost of his life.. Yes, Eragon is the hero and yes he has family he loves and his heart has been given to one unattainable.. he still stands alone.. the last Rider.. and throughout this book Mr Paolini, teases us with the option of Eragon dying to save his race.. You are never promised happily ever after.. this after all is an epic Fantasy not a romance novel..

As the battle dawns, The leader of the Varden is missing, Eragon must answer a riddle that no one can remember after they have heard it.. but herein lies the clue as to how possibly the world can be saved.. and the Emperor defeated.

I like that this book wrapped up the storyline and yet still left strings dangling... making one wonder what will come next from this young man’s amazing mind. Will there be more Dragon Riders, will we see Murtagh again? Will a new evil arise from the darkness? All of these are wonderful threads and yet do not take away from the battle that explodes from the pages of Inheritance.. Do I recommend this book? Most definitely. I would like to tell all who have read the series and have decided against reading Inheritance since because they were disappointed with Brisingr.. RUN to your nearest bookstore and get it!! You will be most pleased with the way this story wraps up and Mr Paolini teases us with hope for more.

Shauni

Conversation with the Girls

2011-12-19T20:20:00.000-08:00

Tonight I was having a conversation with my girls..

I was telling them about the changes in their blog... (I mean this one) and it went something like this..

Word Girl: I have a blog?

Me: no the blog I write about you guys...

Blond Girl: I hope you don't use my real name (she is just now figuring this out)

Me: No I use the name I gave you (pretty nifty that as it could be her "real" name.. I did after all give her that as well)

Blond Girl: What name did you use?

Me: Hair Boy, PITA Boy, Word Girl and Blond Girl... Word girl cuz she always has to have the last word and you are Blond Girl.

Blond Girl: Really? You couldn't use, Smart Girl or Physics Girl or Music Girl or Tuba Girl???

Word Girl: Or girl who has to spend every other weekend in the hospital girl?

at this point giggling has ensued...

Blond Girl: Does it have to be so superficial? I want a new name....

Word Girl: Did you notice how she said she used the name she gave us? glad all that college education is not waisted!

So I am on a quest to come up with a new name.. Yes, although she does indeed prove the fact that Blond is not a hair color... rather a state of mind... she wants a new name!! It is under consideration...

A Conversation with Word Girl

2011-12-16T10:22:00.000-08:00

Word Girl was bored and decided to read the Percy Jackson books, which we had on sitting around at home. Of course, when my kids read books that I have already read they assume that I will answer questions or give spoilers. I don't know why they think this as they have know me their ENTIRE lives and I have never done so... Anyway.. Word girl got me on this one...

Word Girl: "So, is his dad Zeus?"

Me: "I am not answering that."

Word Girl: "So, is his dad Zeus?"

Me: "I am not answering that."

Word Girl: "So, is his dad Zeus?"

Me: "I am not answering that."

Word Girl: "You just did, three times..."

And you wonder how she got the nickname Word Girl?

Rember, At Thanksgiving?

2011-12-14T18:57:00.000-08:00

Word Girl comes home tomorrow.. oh yeah.. yippy skippy... remember how excited I got when she was coming home for Thanksgiving? How much I was looking forward to it? Well, I am so over that...

When she came home, there was so much bickering and negative comments that I completely tensed up. Migraines were back in abundance.. and finally, the day before she left.. we were walking in Union Station from the Amtrak train to the Metra.. and I literally popped a muscle.. I was in pain for THREE weeks... and it has just now finally gotten so it doesn't hurt..

The amazing thing was.. I hadn't understood how seriously negative the dynamics were when she is home.. I was a nag pure and simple.. and when I would ask her not to do something she would respond with you always.... the thing is.. I don't always.. This past year I have realized, that I rarely...

It bothers me that this child, whom I adore makes me that tense and angry... it's like dealing w/my mother.. except because it's my mother she gets to win... The part that sucks.. is Word Girl doesn't follow the same rules.. I should get to win.. I am the mother.. it doesn't matter if she agrees with me, she should still go along with my rules and my thinking with a smile on her face darn it.. It's not like she is going to LIVE in this household anymore.. She is a guest!!

Ok, rant over.. The good news is.. she is off to visit Grandma on Christmas day.. so I only have a week or so and then things are back to normal!! AND she will be in heaven because the two of them get along like gangbusters.. *grins* of course I get a benefit out of it as well, cuz if she mouths off about me.. My MOM will totally kick her a$$.. hey, hierarchy works somewhere...

Univ of MT Ups the Ante

2011-12-09T20:24:00.000-08:00

Blond Girl was reading her email and she got so excited she started stuttering.. Mom... Mom.... Mom... guess they are so impressed w/her that they are offering her a prestigious scholarship.. Of course they didn't bother telling us how much it's for.. No for that they are sending a letter.. grrrrrrrrrrrr

As many of you know, often your decision as to where you attend college depends on how much money you get from the school.. MT is about 7500 a year more than WY.. and that makes a HUGE difference. She has always leaned towards WY due to well location, cost and their actual Astronomy program... BUT MT was always a close second..

Hopefully we will get the chance to go out there this spring during Spring break and really check out both schools. It is a trip we seriously need to make so she can make an informed decision.. I will say this though if MT offers a substantial scholarship that is going to do some major scale tipping..

Question for the Day

2011-12-05T18:59:00.000-08:00

Blond Girl: Are all of your fingerprints the same or are they different for each finger?

Me: I don't know

Blond Girl: Check it out!!

Me: *sigh*

So guess what the answer is?

I go through these questions on a regular basis.. She is always asking all sorts of fun and interesting things.. I am certainly going to miss her when she is off playing with the cowboys next year.. I mean studying Astronomy

TurnBack Tuesday

2011-11-29T14:34:00.000-08:00

All of my pictures have been lost due to some really stupid things I have done.. yes that's right unless someone saved it to FB or has it on file elsewhere.. all I have are current pictures of my kids... A recent call to the family for some baby pictures of Blond Girl got me these...

Isn't she just too cute?

yeah.. she certainly has something on her mind.. or in her diaper.. *grins* I am liking my arms in the background though.. I want those arms again..

I love Hospital baby pics.. you can't fancy em up..

Blond Girl's first Easter.. I have had problems getting her into a hat since..

What a ragamuffin...

Not that you can tell but she really was a happy baby

This is my fav.. too bad it is out of focus

Thanksgiving

2011-11-27T14:25:00.000-08:00

I have so very much to be thankful for.. Truly I have been blessed.. I know life is hard.. that I have made some really bad choices but in the end.. I got these four amazing individuals..

I try to get OUT of pictures cuz I hate the way I look... and the sad part is I take good pictures.. you know you either look better in pictures or worse.. well I look better.. anyway.. I tried.. I really tried but they wanted their entire family in it.. and Word Girl even made it a Christmas card.. It's great to be loved in spite of my flaws..

Hair Boy hosted Thanksgiving at his house and the kids worked together to make the dinner. Fortunately for me... the ex did all the Thanksgiving meals in our home so my boys have been taught that yes, it is the Man's job to cook Thanksgiving dinner.. *grins* who am I to correct them?

We had a lovely day together in between cooking we played LotR Trivial Pursuit.. I didn't win... I KNOW... can you believe that? PITA BOY won.. the rat..

Getting Excited!

2011-11-19T16:10:00.000-08:00

I know it is hard to believe but I am getting really excited to see my girl! Word Girl is coming home tomorrow! There were many many times when I counted the days before I saw the door hitting her backside on the way out.. She tested me, drove me insane and often made me want to throttle her. Fortunately, while away at college she is realizing how good she had it!

Things she has learned so far

She had a family who loved her UNCONDITIONALLY.. not something many people have...
She doesn't KNOW everything
Mom isn't always wrong and *gasp* sometimes she knows what she is talking about
Money really doesn't grow on trees
You have to make choices, sometimes hard ones
Sometimes just hearing mom's voice makes it better
Little sister really wasn't all that bad
While you can't go home again.. it sure is nice to visit occasionally
Having one parent who will cut off her right arm to see you happy is better than having two disinterested ones
Life really is good.....

Ok, so I made the list up.. but she is changing her attitude towards her family, well the women in her family... she always had a good relationship with her brothers.. and her Grandma.. and her Aunts.. ok she is chaning her attitude towards her sister and I.. and yes I would miss this bundle of joy even if she wasn't.

A Note From Word Girl

2011-11-16T10:58:00.000-08:00

Heard from Word Girl last night...

She has had a busy few days.. went to register for next semester classes and every single class that was suggested to her by her adviser was full. What are the odds of that.. every single class? Now she needs to fumble around and see what she can do to get the right classes to work for her major.. oh what a joy that will be!

She is working towards studying abroad for her fall semester. Of course she plans on studying in Australia so the fall Semester starts in July.. so she will be home for about a month before she is off again. The entire program sounds so exciting! It doesn't matter which school she ends up attending the orientation begins on the great barrier reef. How cool is that? She is looking at schools in Sydney, Melbourne and Tazmania.. I am thinking she is leaning towards the Univ of Tazmania because for a while she was trying to convince me to let her attend Univ of Tazmania as her initial school.. sheesh I would never see her then!

Just Heard!!

2011-11-12T16:42:00.000-08:00

Blond Girl just got a nice white, fat envelope from the Univ of MT.. As I have been informed.. MT has an Astronomy program and Cowboys too!! Decision time begins!!

Go Grizzlies

Just Cuz

2011-11-12T10:35:00.000-08:00

Hair Boy and Pita Boy..

The Beasties.. almost two years ago.. *sigh* where does time go?

Guess She is Gonna Be Studying Astronomy and Cowboys!

2011-11-08T14:34:00.000-08:00

Blond Girl got her letter today.. that one she has been dreaming of for a couple of years.. that one that says yep.. you are worth something, you did good and we want you!. That's right she received her acceptance letter to the University of Wyoming.. She is quite understandably excited. You have to laugh at those tricky schools though.. remember when the big fat package was the one that meant you got in? Well now you get that same little letter sized envelope that you get when you don't get in.. She had a moment's doubt.. but once she opened it!! YAY

GO COWBOYS!!

A Conversation with Blond Girl

2011-11-07T15:52:00.000-08:00

Earlier while I was working, I overheard a blurp on tv about an upcoming news section, on techno tots.. without thinking I responded, oh come on admit it you talk to the tv too...

News: "They walk, the read and now today's toddlers are technology savvy"

Me: "of course they are"

Blond Girl: "What?"

Me: "Techno Tots"

Blond Girl: "What?"

Me: "On the news.. techno tots"

Blond Girl: "What?"

Me: "on the news.. They walk, the read and now today's toddlers are technology savvy"

Blond Girl: "Of Course they are.."

Now why didn't I think of that..

I Didn't Do It!!

2011-11-02T18:06:00.002-07:00

Oh my gosh this was so funny.. Pita boy was crashed out this morning and I was taking care of some business.. Trying to handle various personnel and personality issues..

I was going through my emails and noticed that someone had done something I had specifically asked her not to. I was livid and in my angriest tone, said oh my gosh I am gonna kill her..

Pita Boy popped up from a sound sleep and said... "I didn't do it" then fell back asleep. I just started laughing.. talked about being programed.. my poor kid is so used to hearing that tone of voice from me, even in his sleep he was taking the time to deny it..

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

2011-10-31T06:24:00.000-07:00

The girls seem to be having a great time celebrating Halloween together! I miss having them home.. No CANDY!! *grins* but seriously it is so cool that they have become such good friends.

Happy BIrthday Word Girl!!

2011-10-30T06:02:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning and realized that I have to change the name of my blog.. Word Girl turns 20 today.. Why does that mean I have to change my blog's name? Well the name is juggling teens... Hair Boy is 23, PITA Boy is 21 and Word Girl is 20.. only Blond Girl is a teen.. Calling the blog Juggling Teens is kind of like false advertising!

Anyway.. my beautiful wonderful girl turns 20 today. It is just so hard to believe that my sweet girl, my cuddler, my dearheart turns 20. No longer a precocious teen rather a complicated coed, who is coming into her own. Finding herself and discovering who and what she wants to be. I am so proud of her! She has always been a beacon for what is right in my life.. even when I failed to tell her this..

Blond Girl, went down to Western to share this day with her so I am hoping my girls are behaving themselves and still managing to have a wonderful time together..

Thought I would share a couple of pictures of my girl.. The first was taken in late winter early spring.. A beautiful girl, with wait..yeah.. HAIR.. the second was taken late spring/summer. AFTER she shaved her head for St Baldric's.. What is it about my kids? They go to college and have to shave their heads. I will admit I was much less upset when Hair Boyd did it..Don't tell I said so but it does highlight her magnificent cheek bones and eyes.. AND she looks my better bald than Hair Boy...

I love you Word Girl...

When You Impress Your Children

2011-10-26T11:52:00.000-07:00

I was speaking with Hair Boy today.. just a general Hi how's it going conversation and we started discussing my new blog... Bodice Rippers.. He went and looked it up. I was almost brought to tears when he told me how excellent it was.

My children's opinion means something to me.. Yes I am mom and there are times when I have to be the meanie, to make the decision, to be the bad guy. But to hear from your child that he is proud of what you are accomplishing? That is just so awesome!

What a moment! Poor Blond Girl has had to suffer through all the growing pains of the new site so she just rolls her eyes when I show her something. That and the fact she is 17 and it is a romance book site.. yeah, mom talking about all those sex things and having pictures of smexy men on her website.. um, embarrassing... But Hair Boy is gonna show it to his Girlfriend.. who doesn't read that sort of stuff but is into all things feminist and she will really like this site! So, I have more free advertising, maybe even get the college market.

I know all of you parents know exactly of what I speak.. to hear your child say that is awesome mom!! I am proud of you!! Wow what amazing words.. oh yeah, he also pointed out that I was a good mom while he was growing up.. I almost had him repeat it into a recording.. just for posterity.. but nah, that he said it meant the world.

I am blessed!

Blond Girl's Diagnosis

2011-10-25T02:45:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!! I have not forgotten you my friends... just have had a really hard time getting back into the swing of things since Blond Girls's incident. She has an official diagnoses of Syncopy.. which means she has a fainting disorder and there are some drawbacks. Most notably, she can never swim in an unsupervized manner again. Just think, no going into the ocean for a fun day of swimming, now diving in the lake with friends (unless one of them has the ability to care for her) and even a hotel pool... where there is no lifeguard on duty.. I can not imagine not being able to go in the water this way. We are a water based family.. It has been a central part of our entire life!! With that being said.. she is alive and well with a healthy heart and joyous spirit. All the thanks and praise to God for this!!

Blond Girl Sings!!

2011-10-23T22:09:00.000-07:00

Today was the first of three choir performances for the school year where they allow a Senior Solo. There are only seven solos for the entire year and 12 or 13 kids auditioned. Blond Girl was one who got a solo and hers was today!!

I was quite nervous because she was singing the song awfully high and no way was she ever gonna hit those notes!! I tried to be encouraging but I will admit I was really really nervous!! Hope you all enjoy the song!! Sorry about the shaky video, I wasn't too stable as the photographer!! I would suggest that you listen and not watch!!

The Power of the Written Word

2011-10-21T03:45:00.000-07:00

Blond Girl and I were talking the other day and she had me cracking up. She was having a conversation with her math teacher and I imagine it went something like this.

Math Teacher: "I am not only a Math Teacher I am a Mathematician."

Blond Girl looked at her and said: "Mathematician?"

Math Teacher: "yes, I am also a mathematician, you know a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change."

Blond Girl: "Oh, I know the definition, I just thought the word was always Mathemagician."

Math Teacher: Mathemagician? Where did you get that term?"

Blond Girl smiles and holds up the book The Phantom Tollbooth and says "From here, see right here in the land of Digitopolis, they have a MATHEMAGICIAN!"

Amazing isn't it? the power of the written word? She has told me it doesn't matter what the word really is, she is going to continue to call it a mathemagician. Considering the fact that she gives that book credit for making her question things... I guess I will let her call it a mathemagician. I figure any of my grand kids will have to read the book and will think the same thing anyway.

Flowers

2011-10-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

This morning about an hour ago, I got a phone call from downstairs.. Asking if Blond Girl was home. Since it is a Thursday you would think that she would be in school.. of course she wasn't school is out, again! Anyway, the phone call came.. when I said yes.. I was told that she had a package. Now we get packages all the time and we never get told that just one person got one. It's more like, hey you gota package send someone down. So the phone call was a bit odd.

I woke Blond Girl up and sent her on down... she came back with a box from 1-800-flowers and was all excited.. I won't go into the comedy of watching her open the box and cut the zip tie *insert rolled eyes here* but I will say she was beaming. The flowers, a gorgeous rose arrangement, were from her youth pastors.. wanting to let her know that they were thinking about her and hoped she was getting better.

I will admit, I was a bit irked that she hadn't heard from the church after or during her hospitalization. But I had reconciled to the fact that I had been spoiled as a child and not all large churches took care of the details.. Glad to know I was wrong. Especially since this was the only thing I have found irksome about our church up to this point...

I mean I would understand if they ignored me... but my baby? But they didn't and she feels even more special.. now if we can just figure out what is wrong with her!

Getting Ready for her Senior Solo

2011-10-19T06:25:00.000-07:00

So Blond Girl doesn't know it yet but I actually heard her practicing for her Senior Solo! She sounded beautiful, I seriously wish I had her range. What I don't understand though is why she is singing it so high. She has a beautiful Alto voice and she is singing Then Sings My Soul.. why isn't someone at her school working with her so she can sing it in her key?

Then Sings my Soul is a wonderful Torch Singer Song.. you know the ones belted out by altos? Such as Ethel Merman, Lena Horne and others? This is not the first time she has sung a song in too high of a key. She sang Martina McBride's Concrete Angel and tanked it because it was too high.. Hello, Martina has a wonderful alto voice and sings it perfectly. Isn't anyone paying attention? Do they not understand that some people have low voices?

I miss my choir directors.. Both James Armstrong from Granada Jr High AND Richard Crain from First Family Church. They both understood the power of a good alto!

Turn Back Tuesdays

2011-10-18T04:25:00.000-07:00

Word Girl 2008. Ok not that long ago but I LOVE this pic!

Pretty as a Picture Monday

2011-10-17T09:21:00.000-07:00

Just a couple of pictures of Blond Girl from her stay in ICU.. on the left.. Makeover day.. yep they came in and gave her a makeover.. and on the Right.. Yep! You guessed it Dog Therapy!

A Trip to the Symphony

2011-10-16T16:17:00.000-07:00

Remember when we worried about out children running wild at night? We worried that they would be out partying late, drinking, whatever?

Well kids today have come a long way... This weekend Blond Girl and a group of her friends went on a wild trip to the city.. Taking the train downtown for a trip to the Symphony. She was in awe!!

Of course there were some kids who went along to be cool, yes hard as that is to believe some of the kids felt the need to go just so they would fit in. That cracked me up.. this is what kids are doing to feel cool? My daughter and her close friends asked only that the group of kids who sat behind them be silent.. of course they got offended accused my daughter of being mean and having a superior attitude.. and of course talked through the entire performance. And of course they did not see the irony of this.

It was sad that some people have such a need to belong that they ruin the true enjoyment of those who do something because they truly enjoy it. Blond Girl said it was one of the most amazing experiences of her life. While she was explaining it her eyes shown, she practically glowed just while describing the cellos.. I am so happy that she found a connection at this event. I think so many children do not get the opportunity to experience opportunities like this and then mock it as adults. Never knowing the true beauty of what they are missing.

I can not wait until she escapes the confines of HS and is able to find her niche in college like her sister has. Where she can attend an event like the symphony and not have to deal with the drama of teenage posturing. These kids who have such a love of music that they give up their Saturday night just to view the symphony deserve those moments of peace that comes when one hears beauty.

Next, the Opera

Saturdays...

2011-10-15T07:02:00.000-07:00

With only two at home you would think that Saturdays would slow down. Especially with one allegedly ill... Nope..

PITA Boy is off to work! What I respect about PITA Boy is the fact that he works.. and works and works. An employer that hires him is just plain lucky. This morning he is working for four hours at the local park district where he runs the soccer league (park district not league play) but there he is running the games.. and having a blast. Then he is home for a couple hours and off to the other job.. yep both jobs today.. This happens quite regularly he probably works about 40 to 50 hours a week between the two jobs. They all love him.. I just hope he starts socializing a bit more..

Now, Blond Girl.. you know the one who got out of ICU on Thursday night? Yeah her.. she is off to a swim meet.. no she can't swim but she is still part of the team and needs to support it. After the meet is team bonding then home to shower and change. Before off with friends to the see the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.. She is excited because a group of them are taking the train downtown to see the performance with no adult supervision. They are 17 afterall.. some just a month or two away from 18. Yeah it's scary to let go but as a good parent I have to..

It is rather nice to know that my kid is rushing off to the city to see the symphony not hit the bars.. I am truly blessed with my kids.. both the ones at home and the two off living their lives..

The Resilancy of Youth

2011-10-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

As we were pulling out of the hospital parking lot last night, I found myself in a rather odd situation. Phone in hand and making a call to Blond Girl's Band Director asking him if she could come to practice. After the words left my mouth, I could hear nothing but silence. He had to be thinking are you freaking kidding me?

This poor girl had been in Pediatric ICU for two and a half days and she wanted to go to Marching Band Practice? Yeah sounds pretty goofy to me too. The thing is she felt fine.. she felt fine within an hour of her incident... so why curtail her? Yes, the doctors are curtailing her.. The doctors have limited her exercise and while she can PLAY she can not march. But she needed to go. Tonight is Senior Night and as she put it, she is not going to have gone through 4 years of marching band.. not to mention the 6 years before that where she had to go support her siblings.. and NOT get her Senior Night!

Wednesday is Senior Night for swim team.. she can't swim either but she is going to enjoy those moments as well.. She earned them afterall.

A Parent's Nightmare

2011-10-13T10:53:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday while Blond Girl was at a swim meet, she laid down to rest, fell asleep and stopped breathing. When her friends attempted to wake her up she was unresponsive and CPR was administered. Fortunately, she came to and was rushed to the emergency room.

Once there all tests were negative she was "fine" and "nothing" was wrong. The Doctors realizing that this was just wrong.. sent her to a children's pediatric ICU at another hospital for observation. Two days later and we are still not sure what is causing the problem but we are pretty secure in knowing that her heart is fine. WHEW.

Let me tell you, I had plenty of falling apart moments in the quiet of the night while she was sleeping. Fortunately, each morning she would wake and smile... everything was fine.

I do have to giggles just a bit though, this ICU unit has what I call a cruise director who comes in to make sure the kids have everything they need to make their stays as good as possible, computer...check...movies...check...glamor day, complete with hair styling, nails and makeup...check..and now today.. she had dog therapy!!

I am glad that there is plenty to keep her smiling.

Turn Back Tuesday

2011-10-11T07:57:00.000-07:00

Since I am feeling a bit nostalgic I decided to turn things back about 10 years.. wow.. 10 years a mere decade.. How things have changed.. 10 years ago Hair Boy had just entered high school. He was a tall, thin boy with short (yes that's right) short hair. He had just spent the summer with it smurf blue and he had cut the remains out before school had begun. I really liked that particular picture of him, although he says he always hated it. He was just learning about marching band and at the time there were 6 that is right 6 tubists. He had so much to learn.. All his spare time had been spent in the sound room at the play or on the Marching Band field. Swim Team hadn't started yet and he was just a squirly freshman.

That would put PITA boy in the 7th grade. Middle School was not good to PITA Boy, he stuttered, was a bit immature and had a learning disorder. All combined with a strong desire to be like his brother.. popular and self confident (except he never understood what a crock that was). PITA Boy was often bullied and even in a school with a no bullying policy, not much was done about it. Oh he had his supporters but there was a large contingency of teachers that would have been just as happy as to shove him back in some corner and ignore him. Blame everything on him. They tried... good thing they failed.. PITA Boy wouldn't let them..

Word Girl was in 5th grade.. not even remotely sure of who she was. Stuck in the midst of mean girl hell. She was so rock solid when it came to right and wrong for other people, she would defend against injustice no matter who she had to fight.. and yet she allowed so many to get away with so much when it came to herself. She was a few years away from realizing that she mattered. That she had a voice.. she never really realized just what a leader she was. I think now, finally in college she is beginning to discover who she has always been.

Blond Girl, wow she was just a cute little 3rd grader. With a ready smile and a seemingly empty mind. Yeah that's right she had the dumb blond thing down pat.. except.. she wasn't she was just soaking up her environment.. soaking up all that was around her.. learning everything.. waiting for her moment in the sun. Waiting to step out from the strong shadows her siblings threw... She was still poised.. hadn't made her leap yet.. but she was ready.

Four Kids and No One's Doin Nuthin?

2011-10-10T09:57:00.000-07:00

I sat down to write today and realized that I was drawing a complete blank. How can that possibly be? I mean I have FOUR, count em, Hair Boy (1), PITA Boy (2), Word Girl (3) and Blond Girl (4), yep that is FOUR.. One of them has to be doing something..

To be fair, Word Girl is off leading an exciting life at college.. So who knows what trouble she has gotten herself into. I have already received the phone calls.. Mom I got my lip pierced and even better.. Mom, I shaved my head (not as bad as it sounds as this was for charity) and of course the lovely FB pic of her SECOND tattoo.. Fortunately, she only plans on wearing the lip ring until she graduates and her hair is already growing back, to the point where it needs to be shaped and styled. And even the tats are discreet.. I still say she has had her quota of wild moments.. no more phone calls from her..

And Hair boy.. well he is working hard to pay off some student loans.. so he can get more student loans.. so he can go back to school.. I guess I should be grateful he is too busy to call. Although, he does manage to talk to his grandma at least once a week. I had to lay down the law!! He has to tell me any exciting news BEFORE he tells grandma.. Hey being mom has to have some percs..

All PITA Boy does is work, well work and drive me nuts.. life is good...

Blond girls is just dealing with being a teenage girl.. oh the joys of teenage girl hormone trauma...

So while they are all about not sharing what is going on in their lives.. I am grateful.. They are having great lives!!

PITA Boy not so PITA anymore

2011-10-09T03:29:00.000-07:00

I find it amazing that PITA Boy is 21 years old. It seems like just yesterday he was that pesky little.. oh yeah it was. I know that was awful, PITA Boy yanks my chain as much as he does because he really does have so very many of my flaws.. Sometimes it's like banging my head against a mirror and others well...

All that being said he is growing into such an amazing man. He is what I refer to as my worker bee.. Give that boy a job and he will see it through to the bitter end and then some. He is the kind of employee that employers should be salivating to get. He is considering the military and he would most definitely thrive there.. Although he is more than a little intimidated by the ASVAB.. as his ADHD seriously interferes with his ability to test.

After spending 6 summers as a Lifeguard I know it isn't the actual knowledge but rather the reading that gets him. He would never have passed the original Lifeguard test had not the woman in charge.. taken charge. She knew PITA Boy and she knew he knew his stuff.. so she did a verbal test.. of course he passed with flying colors. I am not saying he doesn't read.. just he doesn't read well on tests..

I have to think that the military is loosing a huge group of young men and women who would be amazing soldiers/sailors/marines/airmen.. by not realizing this. Not everyone tests well.. OK.. my mini rant is over..

Hopefully by this time next year PITA Boy will be off on his new career.. when that happens I will change his name.. to maybe soldier boy... *grins*. No matter what this child does me proud..

Absolutely Amazing!!

2011-10-08T04:59:00.000-07:00

As a senior there are many perks, benefits and last things that occur in High School, I am sure you all remember. For Blond Girl one of the "perks" is the Senior Solo. This is an audition only, event where a certain amount of Seniors are chosen to sing at one of the three concerts through out the year. Usually around 6 are chosen. This year there were 7 of 11.

Last week was the audition and Blond Girl came home rather despondent, she had completely tanked her audition. To the extent that one of her best friends.. when asked was brutally honest and said she sucked.. ok, yeah a little tactless maybe but my daughter pretty much agreed with her. So we had pretty much accepted that she was not going to get a solo.

Yesterday, Blond Girl came bouncing through the door.. an almost musical lilt to her voice.. Guess what! She got a solo!! The list went up on Thursday and she was so sure she hadn't made it, she didn't even bother looking.. On Friday, she just glanced at it and saw her name!! YAY!

Of course she is singing at the first concert and has only 2 weeks to prepare.. A bit nerve wracking but she will at least get it over with. Anyway on October 23, 2011 somewhere between 3 and 4pm she will be singing How Great Thou Art... to all and Sundry.. Needless to say I am a worried, nervous, excited and proud Mama...

Word Girl on a Quest for Australia

2011-10-07T03:21:00.000-07:00

Word Girl has wanted to go to Australia since she was in the 6th grade. Ok, maybe before that but in the 6th grade she was nominated by someone to be an athletic ambassador for people to people. Since she was a swimmer Australia was the best program and oh how she wanted to go.. I tried, I really tried but I just couldn't fund it. So every year when she got her letter I would watch her eyes light up, then slowly dim as she realized it just wasn't gonna happen. She never blamed me and she really did understand that it was a privilege not an promise. It didn't help that every child I knew that went on this program improved their times immensely, changed their perspective about swimming and how they trained.

Now, she has that opportunity again.. Not as a people to people rep.. but as a student. Finally, she is seeing the fruition of her dream. She is oh so very close to studying abroad in Australia... I am so excited for her. Yes, we still need funds and I know it will take time and effort on her part to come up with them. Her student grants and loans will apply so that is cool but she will need airfare and information funds.. They have programs where she goes to see the country on the weekends when not studying.. and seriously? why go all the way to Australia if you are just going to study and never see what is around you?

She will do it!! I know she will... and I am so proud of her because she just pushes on... dreaming big!! but better yet.. working to fulfill the dream!

Hair Boy Sings the Blues

2011-10-06T10:28:00.000-07:00

Last Summer was an exciting one for Hair Boy.. He has always been extremely talented and played an abundance of musical instruments but somewhere along the way he stopped. Well stopped all his orchestrational instruments. It made me sad because he was a rather gifted tubist. Over the past couple of years he had started teaching himself the guitar.. Musician that he is, he of course mastered it.. Well at least I think so but I am sure he has far to go before he become a "great" guitarist but hey I'm his mom.. I get to be biased.

He gave me a call one day last summer and said, hey mom.. my band is gonna be doing a show in Chicago (didn't know he was in a band) and do you want to come? Now there was a DUH question if ever I heard one. It was all very exciting being the mother of a member of the band! I had a great time and of course took many pictures.. For some reason he seems to think there were actually other members in the band.. I don't know where he got that idea, as they aren't in any of my pictures..

Along with the band, he released a solo CD, I know wow!! and was a guest on a radio station. Now that was great fun since it was also broadcast on over the net and I was able to listen to it. As long as any friends or family that I could catch up with.

I hope he continues in this vein, he is so very talented.. and face it.. he already has the hair!!

Oddly Quiet

2011-10-05T06:44:00.000-07:00

It has begun.. those hours of silence.. when all the children are gone, the nest is empty... Oh not yet.. baby bird is still here but her wings are spreading and she is well on her way..

Fall is the fun time, the time of the year when seniors set their dreams.. where they focus on tomorrow and they think they can have and do anything.. In so many ways in this moment in time they are immortal..

Blond Girl is beginning her quest, she has applied at Univ of WY, Marquette, Univ of MT, and my dream school USC.. she still needs to send out aps to Carthage, Univ of Sand Diego, San Diego State and Western Illinois.. Part of me wants to sneak in one to Tulane as well. My girl would love to live in New Orleans..

It is exciting to watch and see.. to wonder what she will get, who will accept her and where she is headed. Yesterday we got yet another brochure from Univ of CO.. and now she is thinking of applying there as well..

I am thinking.. MT, WY or CO will get her if they want her.. why? Cuz she wants to major in Astronomy, which all three have excellent programs for, and her second major is COWBOYS! and face it there aren't too many Cowboys in San Diego

We shall see where the wind blows

Teenage Angst

2011-10-04T05:44:00.000-07:00

I seriously hate teenage drama.. Remember? There is nothing worse and I mean NOTHING worse than being a teenage girl. There is just too much angst..

Oh don't get me wrong, the boys had their issues but they were dealt with.. I never had to see them.. but the girls.. yeah totally different story.

Word Girl had a couple of years of stab you in the back fun filled friends.. Well basically one, she would build up a group of friends and this little girl would come along, weasel her way in and then suddenly word girl was odd man out.. it was devastating.. She handled it eventually, me not so much. I freely admit that I will never allow this girl in my sphere again.. Not in my car, Not in my home, preferably not in my site. After the second cataclysmic melt down that she caused.. I put my foot down. Of course Word Girl got past it and "forgave" her. Yeah... like that is gonna happen.. she hurt my baby.

For Blond Girl, it's different.. I seriously never saw it coming.. even when she had a huge disagreement with her best friend.. I chalked it down to growing pains.. I mean seriously, we grow apart, especially in High School. Sadly it has.. her heart is breaking.. and I wanna just scream... It's worse this time, I became friends with the parents.. Now me, I am all for sweeping the battles of my children under the rug and not bringing it into my grown up relationships... but I don't know if others feel the same. And would I have felt that way if I were friends with Word Girls, Nemisis' mother? I doubt it.. Of course I may have been able to see it from her perspective... nah, my baby got seriously hurt..

So my dilema... How do I go on? I am thinking of sticking to the "I don't get involved with my children's battles" Standby and hope that works.. I really don't want to quibble about things that in the end really won't change the world.. Blond Girl has to tread this treacherous path all on her own. She will do fine, I am sure she will loose some friends and gain new ones.. Really, it's only a few short months until graduation.. and most of these friends will be nothing more than a "friend" on facebook...

A New Day

2011-10-03T02:40:00.000-07:00

I can not believe it has been almost two years since I seriously blogged. I feel like I have missed so much in my blogging life.. It is pretty darn amazing what has passed.

Just to get you up to date...

Hair Boy has moved out, moved to the college town of Champagne/Urbana.. meandering through his college life. Trying to figure out what he wants to do. Of course because he putzed around a little too much he now is working two jobs to pay off his old student loans so he can get new assistance and continue. He needed this time to figure out what he wanted and where he was headed. I think he has finally found a compass point. He has been playing his guitar, writing music he recorded a CD, has been in several "gigs" both with the band he is in and alone.. AND he has had a rather fantastic on air experience with the local radio station. It was fun because I was able to listen to it on the radio.. While he sounded giddy.. he did good and had fun. And fortunately was knowledgeable about if not the local indy scene at least music in general... Finally!! A good use for all that time he and his father spent rocking to Clapton when Hair Boy was a baby... As for his hair.. yep it's still there.. right now it's in dreads.. sheesh...

PITA Boy... I am thinking this one is gonna need a new name soon.. Finally at 21 he is outgrowing that need to drive me insane. He is still trying to figure out what he is gonna do with his life.. He is working full time and eying either school or the military. Me, I am leaning towards the military!! I think out of all my kids he would excel in such an environment. We just have to get past those pesky ASVAB's.. which suck.. as a kid with ADHD and a learning disorder passing those tests are hard.. It's not that he doesn't get it, it's that once they put it in test format he tanks.. We need to get him passed those tests because this kid would be such an asset to anything he does..

Work Girl... what can I say? She is enjoying her second year of college and has come into her own. No more trying to deal with the day to day hierarchy of life in the small community we live in. No more having to be known as my daughter, her brother's sister, her grandparent's child.. no longer a living legacy of a family that no longer exists.. Nope... she has become herself and what a joy it is to watch.. She is a leader at school.. having been elected to the inner hall residence board.. As VP she gets her room for free YAY!! Of course she still has tuition, board, books and the rest but... every little bit helps.. and 6,000 this year in free room is nothing to sneeze at. She is working towards a semester abroad next year so we are really excited.. She is gonna get to Australia if it kills her.. She has wanted to go since she was contacted by People to People to go as an athlete ambassador when she was 11. Cross your fingers she will be there next year.

Blond Girl... WOW!! She is a SENIOR... I am not quite sure how that has happened but she is blossoming into an amazing young woman. Of course, she is dealing with the day to day growing pains of being a teenage female.. as well as feeling the restrictions of day to day living in a community that has known you since before your oldest brother was born.. yeah.. it's hard for her.. I know she is looking forward to escaping... One of her dream schools is the Univ of Wyoming.. her ACT scores rock and her GPA is right on the cusp so we are keeping our fingers crossed. Of course Marquette and Univ of Montana are also up there.. She is looking to join her sister at Western if she goes to a state school.. and today just as a well why the heck not.. she applied at USC.. yeah.. no coaching there....

As you can see they are all on their way to becoming amazing individuals... I only have one problem.. This October 30, I will only have one teenager.. I may just have to rename the blog..

Doppleganger??

2011-02-27T22:45:00.000-08:00

One of these is Hair Boy and one of these gentlemen is a young man I have never met before. Honestly it took me few minutes to tell them apart.

Christmas

2010-12-27T03:36:00.001-08:00

Another Christmas has come and gone and each one just a little more poignant than the one before. Gone are the years when they dash down the stairs looking for presents. Gone is the Christmas where Word Girl woke up early and sat at her beauty shop and played quietly for hours not knowing that I was watching. Gone are the years spent looking for that "it" toy. Can we say Power Rangers? Now they want both expensive things and practical things.

Hair Boy asked for socks.. yes that is right socks. I understand he got more socks than he knows what do with. Of course Blond Girl made sure he stayed young she bought him a machine nerf gun. So his girl friend wouldn't feel left out, Blond Girl bought her one too. When Hair Boy's best friend stopped by (a lifelong childhood friend) he was just as excited about that nerf gun as a 6 year old.

Pita Boy really wanted music. He asked for CD's lots and lots of CD's and an Harmonica. I must say I no longer like my favorite sister in law, guess what she bought him? Of course it is better than when Hair Boy went through his accordion stage.

Word Girl wanted and received movies, body spray and a straightener (see practical). Well she wants a Mac as well but guess what she got and what she didn't? She is home for just a few weeks and is already missing school life. I figure she will be spending time with friends as much as possible then be gone before we know it. I know I will miss her, of course I always miss her when she is gone and constantly ask when she is leaving while she is here. She is so much like my mom sometimes I have to scream.. but she has a pure heart and beneath all her bluster is a person worth knowing.

Blond Girl was the funniest of all, she wanted a Snuggie, Teenage mutant ninja turtle slippers and knitting stuff. Oh yeah and glasses. It is rather pathetic when your 16 year old daughter asks for glasses for a Christmas present. Needless to say she is getting all of them. Well we have the eye appt this week the rest she got. She is hysterical with that snuggie.. sitting there knitting and saying.. "see I can knit and my arms are still warm" Didn't we have a solution for that as well? Wasn't it called a wait.. yeah I remember,... A ROBE? oh well.

One of the greatest things about having older kids is the fun things they give you. You don't have to get excited about getting a rock (of course I still have some of those rocks cuz they were really neat) but instead you get pretty cool stuff. This year my four children, two and a half college students and one HS student came together and bought me a Kindle. I was so excited, I really really really wanted one!

With this Christmas behind us I have to make sure and keep these memories very clear, who knows if all of them will be home next year. Each year we are together is a gift. Their lives are opening up and life is getting so exciting for them. I can only be grateful for what I have this year and treasure every moment I am not trying to kill them (yes they still drive me nuts some things one doesn't outgrow)

One Semester Down

2010-12-22T01:24:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to say that WordGirl has managed to complete her first semester at Western. I had to wait to say this until we received her grades because no matter how smart, gifted, talented your child may be that first semester of college is a rude awakening.

Well WordGirl soared!! She did well in all her classes and has become a shining leader amongst her peers. She makes me so very proud. I know she gets all hissy when I write about her but too bad, so sad, I am mom and I get to brag.

I know she is struggling not at school but with the boredom of NOT being at school. She has found her place and has set her sites on what she wants to become and not let her past, her disadvantages or our financial situation bring her down. Her smile, always her most powerful weapon, is almost always in place. She all but beams when speaking of school and what she is doing there. I know many people attend college to better their job options but my girl is there for what I truly believe is the right reason. She is there for an education!! She is there to grow as an individual both mentally and physically. She is learning what quality of life truly means.

I can not wait to continue this journey with her.. well to read about it on her facebook since she never actually tells me anything.

Wow December, I should Blog

2010-12-20T23:05:00.000-08:00

It has been too long since I committed the antics of the crazed teens in my life to this blog. Of course, two are no longer teens and are living the lives of young adults but calling this blog juggling teens and two young adults just looses something.

Since it has been too long I am going to do a review and then plan on actually occasionally writing to keep things posted.

Hair Boy.. Hair Boy has long hair again and it just keeps growing.. He has decided to let it go, hmmmm women hate him. He is going to school in the Champagne area and enjoying it. Living with a couple of friends and his girlfriend. Yes that one was hard for me to swallow but there it is. She is a lovely young women with a fantastic brain. She graduated in four years with two degrees and is taking one year off before going for her Masters. I am just hoping some of that drive and direction rub off on Hair Boy. He has the brains and talent to do anything he wants. I just hope he finds his direction soon. Yes, I know this is incredibly annoying coming from a forty something mom who has yet to find hers.

Pita Boy.. well Pita Boy is a man in all ways that matter.. He stands well over 6'3" and is growing a nice beard. He is finally maturing to where he can make life decisions and will be able to take care of himself. I think school will soon be in store for him again. Honestly I was hoping for the military, he would thrive there. A place that has direction and focus and rewards hard work. Do, this this and this and you will get this this and this. I had him almost convinced that he would enjoy a stint in the military and that it was his idea but his father talked him out of it. Honestly, he doesn't raise them but then has to put in his two cents where it least matters. I am still working on the military aspect.

Word Girl is in heaven. She was accepted to Western Illinois University and my girl has found her wings. As a child she was this happy thriving child who literally glowed but she hit pear pressure and the sometimes ridiculously competitive life of small town America and part of her disappeared. I grieved for that part of her but one semester away from here and on her own and that glow is back. She is a leader, respected and admired. She rocked her classes this semester, even managing to hold fast in Chemistry a class she was sure she was not going to pass. I am just so proud of her. I treasure each and every one of her smiles.. the rat.

Blond Girl is blond again.. I am glad, I never really liked the red but it took cutting it all off before we say here beautiful hair again. Right now we are calling it winter blond, that dishwater blond that doesn't quite go brown. She has had some trying times this year with friends and school. In some ways she has been deeply hurt but in others she has soared in the making of new friends. She has started attending church with me and one Sunday when we had a spontaneous baptism, she made that choice. I was thrilled for her and even happier that I was on hand to see it.

As you can see life goes on with the insane teens.. I am not making resolutions, which is why I started back to my blog now instead of after the new year.. I do plan on being a more permanent resident here in blog land from now on. It seems I have missed it.

A Fall Fundraiser

2010-08-24T19:11:00.000-07:00

Our local High School Band will be going on a trip this fall.. we are throwing a fall fundraiser.. while I know most of you can not come, I thought that maybe you might want to consider donating to our fund raiser. Any person or company that donates will be mentioned in our advertising as well as thanked prominently at the actual event

To Whom It May Concern:

The Fenton High School Music Department will be traveling to San Antonio, Texas in the spring of 2011 on a trip of music education, responsibility, camaraderie, and fun. The experience of travel is one of a lifetime for most and can be a reality with your help.

The promotion of professionalism in music and the reward for countless efforts and hard work can create a lifetime of memories for the students in our community. Our community’s music students will have the opportunity of performing at the famed Alamo while on this trip, they will also be visiting such locations as Sea World, a Dude Ranch and enjoying a stroll along the famous San Antonio Riverwalk. There’s not too much time for sleep, but what a unique opportunity.

In the past, several students were not able to attend because of financial burden. Many Children have never had the opportunity to travel and this trip will provide a new and exciting experience for them. Due to the educational value of this experience, we, the Fenton Band Boosters, are making every effort to decrease that number. Every member of the band and choir has and will continue to raise funds through numerous fundraising opportunities to raise money for their trip expenses. With their efforts and yours, maybe we can avoid leaving anyone at home.

The Fenton Band Boosters will be hosting a Cocktail Dance on Friday November 5, 2010 as a formal fund raiser. At the dance we will have a Band, which is lead by a former Fenton Band Member. There will be raffles and door prizes. We ask that you, as extended members of the Fenton Community, reach into your hearts to help support these wonderful kids. We would appreciate any items that you would like to donate to help these raffles. They could be movie tickets, pool passes, dinner at your restaurant, a night at your establishment, tickets to the ball game or the Opera. We would appreciate anything you have to offer. If you feel you are unable to donate a product for the raffle but would still like to help out we would gladly accept any cash donations. All profits will go to the kids in order to make this trip the best that Fenton has ever had. Our goal is to raise $200.00 per student to offset costs. We would appreciate any donation possible.

We are aiming to have all donations received by October 15th so that we may incorporate your tremendous generosity into our program. For more information, please contact me at Shaunispeaks@yahoo.com and I will provide you with a mailing address to better expedite your donation. Also all donations will be tax deductible.

Thank you in advance for your support! With your help and generosity for our music program, we will continue to contribute to the growth and development of our future leaders!

Sincerely,

Shauni
Chairperson Fall Fundraiser
Fenton High School
Band Booster Liaison

BlondGirl Turns 16!!

2010-07-16T07:52:00.000-07:00

Today reality catches up with Blond Girl, her entire life she has thought she was 16 so finally it has happened. I was instructed last night to please wake her up at 7:22 so she could wake up 16, only she would think of that.

I firmly believe we each have what I call a soul age, it is why some people are old at 10 and others never really grow up. Mine is 25 I have felt 25 since I was 15, even now when I see myself (in my minds eye not in the mirror) I see a 25 year old me. Anyway Blond Girl was born 16.

As a small child, when her brothers and sisters were on a swim team and she was too young, I could always find her hanging out with the teenagers. One specific memory was of her running to me to tell me that she and her friends were all going to the movies and could she go? I tried to let her down gently that they hadn't meant her but before I could get my point across along came a group of them asking if she could go with them. I wondered if I was the only one who realized she was only 4!

At her 5th Birthday she invited several teens and some of them actually attended! Even stayed late and took her for ice cream after the party. Honestly! I can just see her at 80 running around in hot pants with blue hair.. You all know what type I am talking about, those crazy ladies who think they are sexpots.. and in a way they are!!

Today she is off wearing her tiara and celebrating the only Birthday I think she will ever truly recognize and yes I am recognizing the fact that it is the 16th of July. Since we tried to induce her on the 5th, then planned a c-section on the 18th and she still managed to be born on the 16th I have to wonder if someone was trying to tell me something!!

Happy Birthday Blond Girl, Mom loves you

Orientation

2010-06-12T20:31:00.000-07:00

Word Girl and I were off to orientation at Western this week. What an exhausting experience!!

We traveled down on Amtrak.. let me tell you if you live in the Chicagoland area and need to get to Western this is the most cost effective way to go.. even two people were less than the two tanks of gas it would have cost us to get there. Once there we walked to campus (next time I take the bus!) the walk to campus wasn't bad the walk ACROSS campus was a killer.. Isn't Illinois supposed to be flat?

Many, Many, Many sessions on basic life at Western, School ideals and goals, academics, athletics and everything else they could try and give us some information on. So much info crammed into my brain but they were lovely people and the experience was a lot less painful than it could be.

Thursday evening was a nice social where the kids just had a chance to hang out and have fun.. they sang, they played beanbag toss, they played cards and finally a lot of them headed off to the 2nd floor to play cards throughout the night.. They had a lot of fun. Some of the kids were lucky enough to meet their room mate at orientation.. Word Girl wasnt so lucky but she still had fun.

Friday more sessions, Word Girl met with her adviser, she took a placement test for spanish and found out if she took (and passed) one class she would have enough requirements for her Spanish Minor.. She only has to take 1 math class for her degree and it is an easy one for her.. well she thinks it is. Since we were at the first Orientation she was able to get into all of the classes she requested Most of them are in the same three buildings within extremely easy walking distance of each other (like right next door) so that will be very nice for her too.

She is thinking about swimming there but one class kept getting in the way of practice.. if she managed to move that class another would pop up.. so she is going to have to work with the coach to see if she can do this. Otherwise she is not gonna swim (listen to mom crying from here). She has decided not to do band.. another sad moment for me but since this is about her I will survive. I made sure to get as much information about any and everything so she would have it when she asked (because she will).

I know she is going to have fun at Western and if she tries she will do well.. From what I can tell this school was designed so that a student pretty much had to work at not succeeding.

When Did He Grow to be so Tall?

2010-05-31T00:33:00.000-07:00

As I have mentioned many times I have two sons.. Hair Boy and Pita Boy.. they are both great!! Really I promise.. Hair Boy has always been this tall thin young man.. seeing him grow to his height I say 6'8 he says 6'5.. He won't measure to find out... anyway.. Pita Boy while only 20 months younger has always been, well young.

Hair Boy had presence his entire life, he was mature at 3. When at home he has always been the man of the house. I know both of his sisters look at him as more than just a big brother.. but Pita Boy has always been the little brother, while he is fully capable of being more he has relaxed into his place in the family hierarchy.. His only complaint ever was his height..

When he was 10 or so a Doctor said he should be about 5'10.. believe me for years that was his personal mantra.. 5'10, 5'10, 5'10, 5'10,.. he was ofter heard muttering. When Hair Boy graduated middle school he was 5'7 when Pita Boy did so he was 5'3.. over the next two years he inched his way to 5'6 then from January to May his Junior Year he made a nice 5'9.. I figured ok he has had his major growth spurt now an inch or two and he is done..

He did grow that additional inch in HS.. then after he graduated he just kept going.. This last year from 19-20 he has rocketed right up there and is now 6'2 or 6'3.. I knew he had grown, I knew he was taller but it never sank in until Word Girl's graduation when I took these pics..

the gang.. Hair Boy on the left and Pita Boy on the right

and then this one.. where they are together.. they are so close in height it just about blew my mind..

As I said in the beginning when did he grow to be so tall.. my boys they do make me proud

Graduation Day

2010-05-28T01:03:00.000-07:00

So she did it!! Word Girl Crossed the stage. no take backs.. 3 down 1 to go.. whew..

I love their High School, graduations are great.. in and out in an hour.. oh pictures with the buds take a little time but the actual ceremony an hour.. and they have contests every year to see who can make it shorter. It was actually a cute ceremony the young lady who gave one of the student speeches was hysterical, she wrote a light hearted speech that kept everyone giggling. It was an incredibly hot day and I must admit I was worried about being miserable in the field house fortunately for all of us they got brand new air conditioner..

After we suffered through the gym pictures (now that was hot) and believe me I had to make her meander around take some pics with her friends she wanted to leave.. I kept saying you will want them later, she got a few so she was happy. Then we went to a nice park and took some family pics.. As the most recent pic I had of the four of them was like 4 years ago it was nice to have this. They grumbled and moaned but it seems that all of them now have these pics as their facebook pics.. I love it when I am right.

The best part of the day was our graduation lunch.. my girl is a goof, she could have gone anywhere but she wanted Wendy's they have frostys.. We all had a good laugh at that but you know what? There was no crowds, no hassle and plenty of stretch out room.. oh yeah and the Frostys were great!!

One Last Day

2010-05-18T22:35:00.000-07:00

While Sunday is Graduation with all the pomp and circumstance.. tomorrow is Word Girl's last day of High School. How did that happen?

My Word Girl has been such a joy to me, her sense of self is a light shining through. Her sense of justice shines through a beacon to those whoneed a safe haven. She isn't perfect but she is a defender of those who can not defend herself. She will stand by those who need a friend.. she will fight for those who can not fight for themselves...

Sometimes she forgets that she is special. I don't think she will ever know what a true Gift from God she has been to me. My girl can see through so much of the malarkey.. she sees what is not what we want it to be. Sometimes the mirror she holds up is a hard one to look into because we have to accept that we are failing ourselves.. but to know that my child has this gift the knowledge that there is good and there is bad, there is left and there is right, there is right and there is wrong, there is black and there is white.. There are enough people in this world who live in the gray areas.. we need those who demand that fair exists.. that all receive the respect and care of those around them..

My Word Girl is off to study biology, she dreams of working with whales, or on the Great Barrier Reef (not sure how she is gonna incorporate the two). I know with her sense of compassion her sense of right and wrong she will be an advocate for these creatures that can not stand for themselves..

As she gets ready for college already I am missing parts of her.. of course once she leaves I will occasionally have the last word.. I wonder what that is like?

Revenge is Sweet if not a bit annoying

2010-05-11T07:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my mom sent Word Girl her "jar money". This was a fun thing my mom started when Hair Boy was younger. She would save all of her change from her estate sales and then give him half and my sister half whenever he came to visit. He could spend it all, take home whatever was left or give the extra to her and she would match it in a savings account. Over the years the parameters had changed. It stopped being for just the grandchild visiting but became divided up between all the grandkids every summer, then finally it was she just deposited that money in their accounts and they would receive it upon graduation from HS.

Well Word Girl needed a few things for graduation and she argued, since she had already turned 18 could grandma send it now. They discussed it and grandma agreed. Yesterday the money came and off Word Girl and I went to Best Buy.. to purchase a laptop and a new camera.

Since we do not have a car and her friends were working we took a cab.. at her expense of course. I basically took myself and my id.. We arrived and everything was fine. She purchased a beautiful computer just a bit more expensive than her original idea but that was ok. Then we were off to the cameras.. she leans towards Canons and since I have never used a Canon I didn't love I tend to agree. Well Canon had this wonderful orange camera (orange is her favorite color) right at the edge of her price range. Of course she wanted to purchase it... Now here comes the problem. Because this was an unusual purchase the fraud dept at her bank froze her account and she could not buy the camera.. We called the bank (did I mention we also both left our cell phones at home?) from the store phone. They were gracious enough to allow us to use it. I was told the problem and put on hold for the fraud dept, initially I was told it would be 5-7 minutes.

At about 15 minutes she started begging me to hang up... she gets embarrassed easily and she was sure everyone was starting to stare. I managed to drag it out for another 10 but finally I gave in to her pleas and hung up. BAD CHOICE.. I called the cab and we waited for our pick up... OOOPS.. did I mention they froze her account and I had run out without my wallet? So now we are stranded at Best Buy and the girl was too embarrassed to go back in and use their phone so we walked to WalMart.. well they let us use the phone but only local area code land lines.. that meant we could not get a hold of anyone. I mean who remembers phone numbers anymore? Especially home ones... Finally we got through to a friend and he came and picked us up.

While she was all disgruntled about what the bank did and kept calling it stupid even though I explained why they did it as soon as we got in the car and I told the entire story our friend said.. oh exactly what thieves would go for.. so she shut up about that. I am proud to say I have only mentioned half a dozen times that had she let me stay on the phone, she would have had her camera and we would have had a ride home. I love being right.. even if it is an inconvenience

Wind Down to Graduation

2010-04-30T19:35:00.000-07:00

Time is growing short and Word Girl is gearing up for graduation. It is hard to believe that this child of mine will be graduating from High School in three weeks. Yes three weeks. May 23, 2010. Sometimes I just feel old.

But all the exciting things are starting to happen, awards banquets, prom, senior breakfast and of course the all important graduation party. Word Girl will be having an afternoon party over labor day weekend. Since we don't have a lot of room we will be having the party at a local park. I am just hoping for a cool weekend. Here in the Chicago land area Memorial Day can be cool, muggy, hot, rainy... we never know.

Word Girl is the original I can do it all by myself girl. Coming as she did after two older brothers and yet being very close in age, the three of them are barely 3 years apart.. 20 months each, she tended to tomboyish behaviour. While we did have the request tea parties and such it was just as likely that she could be found climbing on the top of the RV (at 2) with her older brothers.

My favorite story about Word Girl is when she was learning to ride a bike. She was just three and she wanted those training wheels off. Both of her brothers could ride without so she should be able to as well. I agreed to let her try and took of the training wheels. All prepared to hold the bike and run behind her as I did for her brothers but no.. she looked up at me all earnest blue eyes (she claims they are green) and said "no mommy I can do it all by myself". Sure enough she learned. That was on Friday, on Saturday we all rode our bikes into town, I had her sister sitting in the baby seat (so believe me I was glad she was riding on her own since before that I had Blond Girl in the baby snugly and Word Girl in the child seat.. it was work), and the three of them rode along side me. It was a couple of miles. We went to a pool party and had a blast I was soooo proud. The problem came on the way home..This poor baby was so exhausted there was no way she was going to be able to ride her bike home. We had to have a friend throw our bikes in the back of the truck and drive us home. Where I carried this poor exhausted child up the stairs and put her to bed.

It was a long day but she definitely did it all by herself. I am going to miss that determined little girl, I already do.

PS.. just in case there was any doubt she's the crazy one on the left Hair Boy is the crazy one on the right.. Since he was her first influence I decided to include him in this blog.

Doing It Right

2010-04-18T20:52:00.000-07:00

As half of my teenagers no longer qualify to be called such, I have to take the time and really think. Did I do ok? Are they going to be able to follow their dreams? And if those dreams don't pan out do they have the perseverance to find a new one?

An interesting thought. I know Hair Boy in his own meandering way has slowly circled back to what he wanted and is back on path to becoming what he wanted to be. I was worried for a bit because I knew his choices were wrong, I saw him making my same mistakes and I just grimaced. But, I offered him time and space to get it together and now he is off, soaring working on his education and confident in what he is doing.

Pita Boy, right now he is the one I worry about. He has such big dreams but no push to go for them. He keeps wanting me to do them for him. I can't He needs to step up and do something instead of just dreaming all the time. I am on the verge of pushing him out the door and that scares me because that was done to me and it was the wrong time to do so. I am looking at one more way to help him get going but I think it may be the last time. He may need to be pushed out of the nest so he can fly. I know he CAN fly, he is just so afraid to try.

Word Girl, well she just knows what is best about everything... She knows where she wants to go, she knows how she is going to get there and she thinks she is so far beyond us. She seems to forget all the little things that the family provides for her and how little is asked of her. But she will learn that lesson as she gets out on her own. I mean if she does it all herself and falls flat on her face because she relies on support that is no longer there, she will either learn to do things or not. Either way she will have her choices to make.

Blond Girl, she is just getting there, just starting those last few years of high school, where social is way more important than

Of course she will, as will Hair Boy they have the benefit of what society says are good looks, charm and charisma.. Pita Boy is one of the hardest workers I know all he needs is to find the right direction and he will fly and Word Girl, well she has it in her to convince the world to do it her way. Honestly I think the girl should be in fundraising rather than marine biology but what do I know.

Oh well, just a few more weeks until Word Girl Graduates..

An Interesting Conversation

2010-04-16T10:12:00.000-07:00

Word Girl is getting closer and closer to graduation. She is the one who will fly the nest and I may not see her for a while. Hair Boy has that oldest son complex he is gonna feel the need to take care of me whether I need it or not. Pita Boy, well... seriously though he has a strong need for family connections and I may end up hanging up on him way before he hangs up on me. Blond Girl, she and I have a good relationship and do a lot of the mom/daughter things. We enjoy a lot of the same things and have a pretty good bond. But Word Girl right now she wants to get as far away from me as fast as she can. She sees all of my faults very very clearly, oh eventually that will fade but for now she holds a pretty big mirror to my faults constantly pointing them out.

Consequently having a conversation where I didn't do something wrong is amazing. The other day we were talking about her graduation. I told her that I would mail her father's graduation ticket and announcement to him as I had no desire to speak to him at this time. Please understand I have spent many many years not only not badmouthing him but protecting him. Oh not in the physical way rather protecting his relationship with his children. Making it so they accept him and are not angry at him. That they don't hate him and can have some sort of a relationship with him. He on the other hand.... Recently I have stopped doing that, I have been telling my children three of which are now officially adults some of the realities of our "relationship". Hence the reason I pointed out that I had no desire to speak to him.

Word Girl was ok with that but I then said that I wasn't inviting him to her party and was not going to mention the after graduation lunch we were having. She was a little bothered by that. She wanted him to come to the lunch... If the man actually comes to graduation and then asks what we are doing after he will of course be welcome, I am just not going to tell him about it. I explained that to Word Girl, I also pointed out that I have not and will not ever embarrass her like that. I will never put her in a spot where she feels she has to exclude her father. I will also never bring a battle out into public that could escalate and cause a scene. I never have and face it I have spent way to many years making sure they have a relationship to have any desire to ruin it now. After I told her this she looked up from the computer, kind of stared at me quizzically and said.. "Thanks" then went about her business.

Now that may not seem like much to you but this was monumental, she was thanking me for any number of reasons but she was also acknowledging what I have spent her entire lifetime doing. In one word she validated all of my choices at least regarding him. And believe me that is just what she intended. At that moment I was so proud of my contrary girl

It is Really Fun

2010-03-05T12:06:00.000-08:00

My youngest daughter (blond girl - featured prominantly in the picture on the left) has a really neat group of friends. The core group is about 7 then of course each of them has individual friends that they drag kicking and screaming into the middle of things. These kids find a reason to celebrate on a regular basis. They are in band and choir and honors programs. They go to church together, they do musicals and recitals together and often they include the parents. Now I was raised that a mom should be a mom not a friend and that is pretty much how I set the tone with the other three. With blond girl that has just not been allowed consequently I have made some really really good friends along the way.

Anyway Blond girl and her group has decided that one of the things that they need to celebrate are birthdays, they are coming up on their sweet 16's and many have actually hit this mark, but each party is a celebration. Blond Girl's best friend commonly referred to as my 3rd daughter had a party last month and it was semi formal.. no jeans. It was great to see all these kids dressed to the 9's for a party. Dancing and goofing around, socializing and just looking great.. I hope they continue with this trend it teaches them so much. and face it today there is rarely an excuse to dress up and look good, I mean they wear jeans to church and the theatre, both places where I was taught to dress appropriately for.

The reason it is so great to see them dress up, besides the fact that they all just look great, is because it teaches them that they matter. That dressing nice can be just as fun as looking dowdy. I am so glad these kids are doing this and I hope they continue.

I Don't Know is at it Again

2010-02-12T15:16:00.000-08:00

One would think as they age, I don't know and No One would grow up and leave the house... sadly they seem to be lingering in my household. The beasties are 21, 20, 18 and 15 now surely old enough for accountability.

Blond Girl got this really cute dress for a winter dance that was cancelled, so she placed it on the hanger and left it for another day. The dress itself only cost me 32.50 so it was a deal to say the least. The other day she noticed it was missing and she was a bit worried, she had a semi formal party to attend this weekend and she figured that the dress would be perfect. She tore the place apart finally finding it on a shelf ABOVE the closet and under some unused items, while still on it's hanger. Clearly someone had hidden it there. Now she wasn't worried cuz she found it but decided to go try it on. That is when the crises began.

The dress has one of those wonderful hidden side zippers, unfortunately the zipper had been opened from the bottom up and we were unable to fix it. Later that evening in a very nice and non judgemental manner I asked Word Girl and Pita Boy if they had touched it (Hair Boy has moved out) of course neither of them knew a darned thing. I know I didn't touch it and Blond Girl was in tears over it so we knew she didn't touch it either. Chalk it down to I Don't Know.. BUT Word Girl and Pita Boy are splitting the 30.00 cost of fixing the zipper since neither will cop to breaking it.

It does irk me though that the darned zipper is gonna cost me almost as much as the dress did originally and she has never worn it!!!

Word Girl is Going to Western!!

2010-02-05T07:59:00.000-08:00

YAY!!! it is official.. well so she says but Word Girl is going to Western Illinois University..

GO LEATHERNECKS

Just a Few Pics of the Beasties

2010-01-14T17:29:00.000-08:00

PITA Boy off to work... ok it is an old pic but I don't have any of him on the Zamboni

Blond Girl AKA, Tuba Girl is she sexy or what??

Homecoming for Blond Girl... are they Barbie and Ken or what??

and last but not least, Hair Boy and Word Girl... can we say attractive

A New Direction

2010-01-12T16:56:00.000-08:00

Just taking a moment to stop in and say hey.. Life has been trudgin along full of potholes and teenage angst. Right now we are trying to figure out what college word girl is going to and whether or not pita boy is going to join the navy but it is Hair Boy who is offering me the most change.

This weekend, yes just four days away my baby (21 1/2 years old, 6'8") is moving to his own place. I will surely miss him. He is moving down state to go to school and get an apt with his friends. I am sure he will be checking in on me constantly because he is sure I can't breathe on my own and need constant surveillance but still, I will miss him.

I am still computerless so I am only on sporadically I am trying to be online once a week or so but if you look at the past few blogs you will see how that has worked out for me so far....

be well all.. enjoy those beasties in your life.. I mean if we didn't have them what would we have to write about?

A moment in Time

2009-11-02T11:48:00.000-08:00

I didnt have the chance to get here last friday but I wanted to take the time to say Happy Birthday to Word Girl...

On Friday October 30, my gorgeous, insane, pain in the rear turned 18. I am ever so proud of her. Can you imagine what joy it is to be able to say that came from me... of course I admit I often say it in an extremely different tone of voice.

Word Girl is my complete and total do it yourself girl. At 3 she taught herself how to ride a bike, there I stood all read to hold the bike up so she could get her balance and wobble along but no.. "no mommy, I can do it myself" and sure enough she did. That was really the first time I heard those words from her but I promise not the last. She has made a career of doing it herself. I am so proud of the woman she is becoming (of course if she would just once let me have the last word life would be so much better....

anyway Happy Birthday precious girl

Senior Year

2009-10-14T14:27:00.000-07:00

Word girl is going through her senior year. This is such an incredibly fun time filled with so many promises of things to come yet saying goodbye to what has always been. She is anxiously awaiting responses to her applications (ok, mailing them out then anxiously waiting). Currently she is hoping for UC San Diego or Hawaii Pacific. Me, I want, UC Santa Barbara or University or Oregon. The girl wants to study Marine Biology and she wants to escape the midwest so her choices stand to reason... (OK she wants to escape mom, I won't tell her that is how I ended up in the Midwest and yet mom is still there, leaning over my shoulder telling me how to breathe.. it is just life).

For each new adventure there is a bittersweet goodbye, I know she doesnt get it yet.. and since she has lived in a small town all of her life, everyone knows everyone else's business.. she isn't aware of the fact that sometimes you are alone, you actually WANT your family around. Of course if she attends Hawaii Pacific I can pretty much gaurantee monthly visits from some member of my family or other.. anyway, Friday night is Senior night for Marching band. It is when we get to stand up there and be acknowledged both the parent and the student. It is really the only time it happens. Most of the time the senior is acknowledged but not the parent so this is fun. After band night it will be senior night for swim team.. one more child to say goodbye to competitive swimming. This will be a tear jerker for me, it always is.. Of course Blond Girl will continue but she has always swam because well the rest of them did it and she looks great in a bathing suit.

Soon, there will be college ads and senior announcements, we already went through Homecoming, Prom is next.. what's a mom to do when all of her babies are suddenly all grown up.. Word Girl will be 18 this month... OGL.. world look out!!

It is HOMECOMING so Insanity Reigns!!

2009-10-02T15:20:00.000-07:00

Thiss week is homecoming here in our little slice of the world so the girls are doing all they can to fit it all in.. lets see.. Monday was pajama day... so of course the new jammies came out (I insisted Word Girl actually wear jammies but that is an argument for another time).. Tuesday was red carpet day (the Homecoming theme.. ) honestly how does one dress up for teh red carpet when one is in HS? Wednesday is Twin day... grins... blond girl gets a call from a friend telling her to wear a white tee.. the friend had a shirt for her. Any way since she was sleeping, lovely mom that I am I answered her phone.. BIG MISTAKE..

ME: Blond Girl N called and said to wear a white tee

Blond Girl: when? why didnt you wake me (the girl sleeps like the living dead sometimes I check just to make sure she is breathing).

Me: last night... and believe me I tried to wake you...

Blond Girl: oh... well ok, what pants? jeans, sweats? light jeans dark jeans, skinny jeans?

Me: um I didnt ask, I am just relaying the message she sent

Blond Girl: SIGH... ok, shoes? heels, boots, gym shoes?

Me: again I dont know, I just am passing on the message..

Blond Girl: well next time ask...

Are any of you the proud parents of teens girls? she wanted me to insert my opinion, think for myself.. even GASP ask questions of one of her friends???

oh well that was resolved..

Thursday was sports day.. and powederpuff night.. the JR/SR game was called due to rain Word Girl is saying no one won due to the rain ( they called it after half time and the Seniors were getting creamed)

Today... tailgaiting party at 5:oo am for the seniors, pep rally, parade, game....

Tomorrow the Dance...

Now I am not sure exactly what Word Girl will be doing cuz well I dont really need to know (so she says...) but Blond Girl will be meeting with her friends at 4... taking a 20 person limo to dinner then off to the dance... then back to a friends house for after dance party.. poor thing...

talk to you all soon.. I promise

As If They Dont Do Enough!!

2009-09-02T13:31:00.000-07:00

So the little darlings (Word Girl and Blond Girl) came home at the end of last year telling me that the Spanish program was going to Puerto Rico this year. It was an exciting concept and we all looked forward to teh details.

Fast forward to this year and we find out the estimated cost for 8 students. It is ridiculously astronmical! Both girls came home saying that they didnt need to go. Other things were more important and that we could take a family vacation for the amount of money that they were being charged.

This was a wonderful that they felt that way but I went to the meeting anyway. I mean would the price go down if more children were involved? Was the price set in stone or was that just the high end estimate? Turns out that the price can go down as much as 1000.00 if enough kids register. This is a wonderful turn of events. And the family vacation thing, yeah.. hasnt happened yet.. oh and the price, I can guarantee that many of their individual trips to CA to visit grandma came close in cost.

So they are going to give it a try. They are going to fundraise. They are going to work hard at their jobs (ok Word Girl is, Blond Girl is 15 and currently jobless) and they are going to see if they can do it.

With all that being said.. if anyone feels teh deep seeded need to make a donation, feel free.. my paypal button is alive and well (hey if I dont ask, I wont get). Seriously though, I appreciate just having the format to write about the beasties, to share what is going on and to work things through.

For those that Doubted

2009-08-18T15:22:00.000-07:00

In my last blog during my catch up I mentioned how blond girl once knocked herself unconcious with her trumpet.. I was nice.. I didnt mention her tuba injury.. but this week she managed to do it again.

She was at swim practice on Friday and for some reason the pool was not open, I am not sure why. So instead of swimming they decided to run around on the ice (our pool is connected to a skating rink.. our own personal form of sea and ski). Anyway, blond girl took a tumble. Not just oh bump that hurts.. no way.. not our girl.. Nope she went sailing across the ice and smashed into it HARD.. came home with a black eye and a bruise on her shoulder. It has been four days now and the bruise is still a pretty black and blue, the size of an orea cookie and her eye while not swollen looks like she is wearing some very interesting makeup..

Hey I cant a make this stuff up..

Surviving the Summer

2009-08-13T14:35:00.000-07:00

I am sorry all for the incredibly long absence from my page.. I know I committed to writing these blogs then suddenlylife happens and I crash and burn. I also know that in the grand scheme of things me not writing this blog does not really make a difference to anyone but me but.... I am back, I think... well at least 2 to 3 days a week.

How has your summer been? Mine has been filled with drama, trauma and triage... well the beasties have at least had an exciting time..

Lets see...

Blond Girl, had an exciting time in California, Vegas and Utah this summer. Visiting relatives, sightseeing and hanging out at Knotts.. only one trip to the emergency room for her. Poor thing, she has stress induced asthma and is known to have dibilitating attacks that seem to come from nowhere. So this summer she was at Knotts with her cousin have a grand old time and after the 6th time in a row on one of the roller coasters she went into a full blown attack. Lauren, my cousin who is 13 handeled it like a pro, got help, contacted family and took care of business.. Knotts being that they were obviously concerned and in are litigious society needed to watch their backs... sent her to the emergency room. Now she has made something of a career of going to the ER, getting hit in the head with a 2x4, knocking herself unconcious with her trumpet and of course the odd asthma attacks. It is to the point where I, sympathetic mother that I am usually am laughing when I get the call (hello, she knocked herself unconcious with a trumpet). So here she is in CA, at the ER.. and what does her grandma do? She comes into the ER yelling at her because she left her inhaler at the house. What good does it do at the house?? Poor girl everyone else goes to the ER and gets sympathy.. She came home and has been gallivanting around the Chicago area being blond and 15. band camp was last week and yes she has been known to say "and one time at band camp". Swim team started yesterday and school starts on tuesday. Remember when summer lasted until September?

Word Girl... she too was off to sunny California this summer. She managed to fit a trip in, between summer swim team and two jobs.. She cracks me up because she honestly was worried about what she was going to do for 12 entire days in California. She was going to playland and thought she would be bored. The girl honestly took her summer homework with her to work on while she was there. Now while visiting she managed to be in California for 4 of the 12 days of her vacation. On those days, she went to Knotts, twice, the beach, shopping, the dentist and visiting. The days she wasnt there she was in Utah and Colorado. She went to Mesa Verde, the continetal divide, horseback riding in the Rockies, a family reunion in Denver and back to CA.. good thing she took her homework.

Pita Boy... Pita Boy was home for the summer, no grand adventures for him.. well he was on one of the teams for guard games, worked his buns off (has developed a four pack - still working on the 6er) and oh yeah, fell of a guard chair, cracked his head on the concrete and fell into the pool. yes he is fine.. so now we can all laugh. The boy has been a lifeguard for FIVE years and he FELL of the chair?? All I can say is I hope she was smokin............. He starts working with Hair Boy at the skating rink next wink. Yes I will have two children that drive the Zamboni... a mother's dream..

Hair Boy... is currently in CA visiting grandma. This is the first time He who walks on water has gone to CA since he was 13. I am sure the red carpet was rolled, the trumpets were glaring... Have I mentioned he can do no wrong where his grandma is concerned? Oh he is going to have a blast.. one of his best summer friends is going to be dragging him from pillar to post, showing him her world.. they are 21 so it should be interesting..

other than that life is slowly moving back into place.. I hope to be able to write again on Sunday but if not I will be back at this public computer on Tuesday.. Have a great summer all

Yes the Kids are still up to no good

2009-07-29T14:37:00.000-07:00

Sorry I havent been around lately things have gone rather insane.. but I am back, sorta ( as my computer completely crashed and I am working from the library until I get a new one) the kids are up to their usual shenanigans and I will be telling you all their stories in the very near future. I just wanted to stop in today and say hey!!

I AM BACK!!!

Word Girl in a Snit

2009-06-27T12:36:00.000-07:00

So Word Girl is in a bit of a snit these days. As you know she is currently employed with two jobs in her second job the first pay period came on friday. After being warned by just about all of her friends that none of them received a check that first period that for some reason it just took longer she went to pick up her check.

I warned her do not be upset if you don't get it.

Mom : Find out the reasons why and be proactive but do not be upset.

Word Girl: Oh don't worry mom I understand I wont be upset...

several hours later....

Word Girl: I didn't get my check... (stomp, stomp, stomp, throw throw throw)

Me: honey you said you were prepared for this and you weren't going to get upset...

Word Girl: I lied (stomp stomp, yell at Pita Boy)

Me: well this isn't our fault and you need to change your attitude...

Word Girl: grumble grumble grumble, attitude attitude attitude... oh and mom stay away from my facebook or I will defriend you....

and the next day....

I dared to comment on her SISTER's facebook... and you guessed I have been defriended... she is soooooo busted.... because of her attitude and behavior and the fact she made a public deal out of it.. guess it is time for mom to get even.. I mean she doesnt need to go online at all does she?

I will be getting an apology from her and I will be considering making her close the damn page down.... I am that angry, not at the defriending but at the attitude and the behavior and the way she did it.. That was rude and unforgivable.

So Blond Girl Called

2009-06-26T09:55:00.000-07:00

So last night I got a call from Blond Girl, remember her? I wasn't sure exactly what her voice sounded like it had been a whole week... Seriously she has been having the time of her life.

So the first words out of her mouth was "guess where I am calling from?" now there is a question. The child went to Southern California the veritable playground of playgrounds and she wants me to guess where she is calling from.

Seems she has been having a rolicking good time. In the last week alone she has been to knotts (not the boring trip with the grownups) Seems my mom got her a pass and now she and my cousin (who is a year and a half younger) have been hanging out. Just going being teenage girls.. oh what great fun. But back to the phone call.. I send the child to wonderland and she calls me from UTAH... seriously my sister took my neices and my daughter to visit my dad in Utah. Now due to some odd life occurances I have been estranged from my dad for years. Don't get me wrong I adore Him.. He was the best of dads and I am not sure exactly how we lost contact..

Anyway this was the very first time my Dad had ever met blond girl and she was being cosseted and doted on. Seems they even have her birthday marked on their calender. I guess once you step let things slip away both sides have a hard time moving back together. Anyway, my Dad it seems has critters... lives on property that allows for roosters and chickens and the like so she city girl that she is is having a ball.

The day before Utah she was in Vegas... so from the eternal playground to fantasyland... My sister's best friend from childhood lives there with her husband and two daughters so once again Word Girl was able to have a blast.

You know ya gotta feel sorry for the poory thing (not) off having the time of her life with family and friends in the land of make believe..Sometimes it is just nice to be 14..

If I Could Blog Back Thursdays - #1 First Pet

2009-06-25T03:32:00.000-07:00

So I have been following Lola over at Lola's Diner and I decided to play along.. If you want to join in on the fun make sure and go see Lola's Diner and sign up..

This is my first time blogging back thursdays under jugglingteens I usually write it over at Shaunispeaks but this time I decided to include the blog over here.

Today's Topic First Pet

We weren't allowed pets when we were younger as my mom just was not a dog person. My ex on the other hand grew up with them and had this rather large dog when we met(Peaches and she gets the honor over at Shaunispeaks but right here I am going to write about the first pet my children owned and that was Kato

Kato was a keeshound and a better family dog you could never imagine. We got Kato when Hair Boy was 6 mo old that very first Christmas. We were supposed to not spend a lot of money as we were moving into our first house on New Years but the ex came home with this adorable expensive furball that he fell in love with in the pet store. Honestly he was the absolute cutest thing I have ever seen.

We later found out that keeshond's were actually recommended for families with small children and I would have to agree, Kato's tolerance for abuse (term used figuratively) was relative to how high you were from the floor when you stood up. He would let Hair Boy all but manhandle him as a baby.

Kato was a perpetual puppy, he never really grew up and it still amazes me that when he died he was 16 years old. He loved to run and jump, we had this running leash set up in our yard, he would run the entire length of our yard in moments and everyone could tell that he loved every minute of it. The best thing would be when I would call him in, he would be at the back fence and race towards the house reaching the perfect spot he would leap and fly through the air landing on the porch at my feet (we had a Chicago Bungalow style house and the first floor was about 5 feet of the ground). It was pure poetry in motion.

Kato loved to growl, I swear he had this version of ADHD (whenever you speak sharply to ADHD kids they get defensive so you need to always use a calm tone of voice.. yeah right but that is a subject for a different blog) so when Kato would growl, if you snapped at him he got all snarly but if you spoke softly and lovingly he came running. Of course the ex would growl back. One time I was shaking my head and calling Kato a dumb dog, my dad looked at me and with a totally straight face said "I don't know seems pretty smart to me, he taught Ron how to growl"...

When we moved Kato became an outside dog and I know that was very hard on him.. in a way the divorce was the best thing that ever happened to him because we had to give him to a friend. Kato was 10 at the time and still thinking he was a puppy. I gave him to a friend of my son's and that family adored that dog until the day he died.But I was still mom.. whenever I would show up he was all over me and Hair Boy said it was the same for him..

He was a great dog, the kind that my children will hold deep in their hearts and probably become dog owners themselves because Kato was so wonderful. I still miss him and I know the beasties do as well.

Summer Fun

2009-06-23T16:02:00.000-07:00

I do so love summer, those times when we just run out and enjoy the moment. When we put aside the year long drudgery and enjoy time with our families, in picnics and at lakes.. just having fun

Most summers you would find me poolside cheering on numerous children as they compete. This year is an odd one as only Word Girl is competing and she is well sorta competing. She will not be in the state for conference so she more or less decided to swim to get back in shape (not that she needs to spend any more time at the pool). It is really odd for me to not be pool side every Saturday and Wednesday night from mid June to the end of July.

Word Girl is a fiend this year, she has worked the past 12 days consecutively at one job and 7 of them she worked her other one. Which means I think I may remember what she looks like.. She is working hard to help with expenses, pay her school fees, buy concert tickets and an ipod. She really really wants that ipod. The way she is going she will most certainly get it

Pita Boy is working his 35 - 40 hours at the pool or leisure center and enjoying his time. He opened his first checking account and religiously guards that balance. I must admit I am rather proud of him

Poor Hair Boy works for a skating rink, summer by nature is their down time and his boss went and hired a bunch of college kids.. so not only are the hours cut he gets less of what there is. He is a bit frustrated as his checks have been cut in half..welcome to reality Hair Boy...

Blond Girl??? I think she is out there somewhere... I think I still have a 4th child.. Not sure as I haven't heard from her since the last time I blogged. Well unless CA finally dropped into the sea and it hasn't made the news yet.. She is fine and having the time of her life..

well thanks for stopping by and being so patient...

Blond Girl Called, Sorta

2009-06-18T14:42:00.000-07:00

Well she has been gone a week and I have heard from her once..

Seems yesterday they went to a weird park (LaMirada Regional which is a very cool park) with the cousins, all of whom are 7 and under. So they all scampered off and had fun and I am sure blond girl did as well. Last night they were off to Knott's Berry Farm, which is my favorite place in the world. I really really love Knott's even more than Disneyland we had some great adventures there when I was a kid. So anyway blond girl went to Knott's I hope she had the sense to ride the stagecoach cuz every girl knows that, that is where all the good looking guys work. rom generation to generation.. Ask my mom, my aunt, me, colleen (rememer black hat)... of coure I don't think they ever quit just occasionally hire a new hawtie to bring in the young girls

I guess she isn't all that interested in working with Grandma and wants to go have fun. Now Pita Boy would work, he is a worker but blond girl is a 15 year old girl let loose in CA work? Are you kidding me? I find I don't enjoy calling my mom when my kids are visiting cuz she points out all their "flaws" or rather what she perseves as flaws. Drives me nuts.. I mean she sees them like once a year if she is lucky and all she can do is tell me what is wrong with them? Not major things just little nit picks.. It drives me bonkers so I prefer to hear from my kids about what is going on. Then I don't get all offended on their behalf half the time they aren't even aware of it or the situation was this teeny little thing and nt worht mentioning at all.

So Blond Girl is having a blast.. too bust to chat with mom.. I hope they get to the beach soon. I don't understand how my family can have my children that close to the beach and not have that be one of the first places they go.. oh well some mysteries remain unsolved..

updates soon on her fabulous adventure ok next week or the week after that...

Hair Boy on a Temper Tantrum

2009-06-17T14:02:00.001-07:00

Sure enough spend a few minutes with his father and he turns into a jerk. Lately I have been talking to him about moving out and getting his own place getting on with his life and just getting out. I know he has been a doll he has helped out immensly he steps up whenever the need arises but it is time to move on.

Well after time with his father he has decided that he has the right to criticize and insult the way I do things. He is under the impression that it is ok to throw fits and rant and rave. Wrong!! I am still the parent, I am still the one who makes sure he has whatever he needs. I am the one who filled out his fafsfa, I am the one who does his taxes... I am the one who makes the phone calls to pave the way to make things easier.. in short I am the one who takes care and nurtures him. And frankly I am the one who makes sure he has a roof over his head. It may not be much, it may not be the best but it is there.

I am just tired of the attitude coming off of the men in my life. One insults my parenting after he maybe shows up 10 times a year (he lives 20 minutes away), one insults my parenting as he has yet to do one grown up thing for himself and one is just a pain in my rear...

Ok, the rant on the boys is over.. tomorrow the girls (giggles not really...)

So Dad is a Superhero now

2009-06-16T16:19:00.000-07:00

I know this should not bother me, I know all things considered it is the least of worries but honestly the way the man zooms in and plays superdad totally pisses me off.

As you may be aware, Hair Boy turned 21 last week (just in case you missed the blog), well his father took him downtown to the Blues Fest, this is something they do most every year as his birthday does fall close to the festival.. as a matter of fact I had to miss the fest the year he was born because... well he was born.. anyway they went to Blues Fest.. and since he was 21 they went drinking. Yes my child is now an adult, yes he is gonna drink on occasion but it is just me? Is the need to go drinking with your son just not right? Are we ever not the parent? I guess I am just mad that he did this.

Next issue, Hair Boy has a car, it has been sitting in the parking lot kinda sad and all by it's lonesome lately as it had issues. Well superdad came and together they fixed the car... He looks so good but honestly the car has been down for over a month where was superdad then. The worst part about it was the fact that Pita Boy kept looking out the window watching.. I could tell he wanted to go join them in the worst way.. but since he wasn't invited he stayed up and watched. Just thinking about it makes me wanna scream and cry at the same time. Then superdad left without even saying hi to Pita Boy...

Now Blond Girl has a birthday coming up which superdad blew off last year.. She and her father usually go to lollapalooza for her day.. this year he is gonna take Pita Boy.. she is already mad at him for blowing her off last year (which btw, he didnt even contact the kids for months after her b-day so she has a point). If I try to explain to him that his choices are ruining his relationship with his kids he will just get all huffy and pissy...

As it is Word Girl pretty much blows him off and Blond Girl is well on her way to feeling the same thing.. I mean take what you can get and dont expect anything else. I worked damn hard so they would not resent their father.. When they wanted to be angry and hate him when they were children I spent hours making sure the could accept him for who he is not who he isn't but his behaviour is ruining all my hard work. I guess I knew it would happen but I want my kids to have a healthy relationship with their father..

Guess that isn't gonna happen...

Oh yeah.. and the number one thing they do when they are with him is bash mom (ok kids need to vent but come on) idiotfaceratbastard...i mean superdad should be kissing my feet praising me to the moon and singing my accolades cuz his children are such great individuals.. and they dont hate him.. but nope he just bashes me right along with them. Will this man ever grow up?

Sorry I am a bit irked..

One Having Fun in the Sun, One With a Brand New License

2009-06-13T10:32:00.000-07:00

Well blond girl made it.. was picked up by grandma and last I hear (Thursday night) she had already gotten two new pairs of shoes (a pair of flip flops and a replacement for her smelly hightops), a haircut and her eyebrows waxed! That was the first day!! Poor baby.. I am sure she is having the time of her life but am equally sure I won't hear from her for a while. Having raised incredibly independent children even when they were little they wouldn't call. They just are having too much fun and since they are with grandma I don't even get the mom i need money calls (oh darn).

Word Girl got her license this week, now this is not as big of a crises as most would think as we don't have a car but having that license was important to her. She wheedled and cajoled her father until finally she was able to get it. Now she has two jobs and a license.. Somehow I think I will see more of Blond Girl (who is in CA) over the next month than I will of Word Girl. may I repeat myself.. OH DARN!!

Pita Boy is working like crazy at the pool, getting him out from under my hair. He already has two saves under his belt and received the coveted mini tube... something you get for a good save (like there is a bad one)

Hair Boy is off being an adult.. He too had license issues, he needed to renew as he is now 21 and his had expired. The nut rode his bike to the DMV.. wouldnt be too bad except he went to the one about 30 min away by car.. needless to say it was a day trip. Seems the DMV had all sorts of misinformation on him, like his birthday was Sept. 9 instead of June, he no longer looked like his pic (well yeah he was 17 last time) as he had cut his hair and didnt have the curly locks.. guess no one ever does that.. sheesh I am lucky if my hair is the same COLOR each time I go..

So all is well in the land of teenagers.. man oh man I do love summer...

Off to California

2009-06-11T14:37:00.000-07:00

Packing well into the night, deciding last minute wardrobe.. picking out what to carry on and what to just ignore.. searching for her id (which we never found) and finally crashing about 2am only to rise again at 4 since we were leaving at 4:30...

A drive to the airport and a kiss at the security gate (hey, I am depending on other people for transportation she is gonna have to wait by herself). Then 5 1/2 hours later a 30 second phone call... I am here!!

Probably won't hear from blond girl for at least another week...

have fun sweetie.. be good for grandma cuz she will clobber you if you aren't

21 TODAY

2009-06-09T07:40:00.000-07:00

Well it happened.. my baby turned 21 today. I don't quite know how it happened. How this angel who thought his birthday was June night (but we celebrated during the day so his friends could come) turned into this amazing young man but he did. Oh he isn't perfect, he has helped my hair turn grey, but he is funny and witty and creative, unique and fun.

My son Mr. tall, dark and handsome, the musician, the friend, the comic wit.. If I could define him I would say he is loyal, caring, charismatic, bright, witty, talented, moody, broody and arrogant. The women love him and the men like him. He is the single most laid back person I have ever met. At one point a teacher said he was so calm that a pulse would be nice.. He is what he is and makes no bones about it. He doesn't have to prove to the world that he more than he is, he just doesn't care.

He has always been brite and observant one of those kids who asked the difficult questions..

Mommy where does God live?

Well He lives in our hearts...

How can He live in your heart and my heart?

I am not sure honey some things we just have to accept on faith...

(silence)

Oh I get it! A piece of God lives in all of us...

He was four.. yes he is a rocket scientist... have i mentioned he is a physics major? yeppers good looking all that hair, talented and smart...

happy birthday baby

Day 5 - Countdown to 21

2009-06-08T07:06:00.000-07:00

Well tomorrow is it.. Tomorrow my first born is hitting that all important mile stone and I will be the mother of a 21 year old. I am way to young to be the mother of a 21 year old. (am so not going to explain this picture.. but He is the tall one on the left)

It is a bittersweet moment when you realize that you have done your job as a mother. I mean face it we know we have done our jobs correctly when they walk away.. become independent and don't need us anymore. This young man was born independent, he has always listened to his own council and is remarkably self assured. I know I did something right because he honestly doesn't care what others think of him. I must admit I am more than a bit envious of this trait as I personally need constant validation from just about everyone.

I am contemplating waking him up tomorrow at 6:44am just to say happy birthday, I mean face it he woke me up... grins..

Day 4 - Countdown to 21

2009-06-07T12:42:00.000-07:00

With the best friend in Disneyworld.. they have had a storied friendship from the age of 6 months..

From Disneyland to Disneyworld, Chicago to Spain... and many places in between...

That we all could have as good of a friend or as wonderful of a life..

Day 3 - Countdown to 21

2009-06-06T06:46:00.001-07:00

Just thought I would share a few pics that Hair Boy sent me from college one year... first I got this one

then I got this one

then I got this one

and finally I got this one

fortunately it is just hair and grows back.. which it has and he has cut it again (not shaved thankfully) and it is growing again.. who knows what comes next. One year it was smurf blue, another it was fire engine red and one time for swim conference he had me braid it into over 50 braids (looked like he had snakes slithering all over his head). There is a reason I call him Hair Boy..

Day 2 in Countdown to 21

2009-06-05T04:58:00.001-07:00

Do you know how much he will kill me when he realizes that I am going through his pics?

He is/was a fantastic tuba player one of the best in the state...

Count Down to 21

2009-06-04T15:26:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, June 9 at 6:44 am Hair Boy turns 21.. wow!! when did that happen? How did that happen? so I decided to really embarrass him and for the next few days post pics of him I can find on this laptop.. All the rest are somewhere lost for now...

School's Out

2009-06-01T05:32:00.000-07:00

It is official, school is out!! The girls have their final few minutes of school today... It should have been on friday but they are having to go one last day as they had a snow day over the winter. Now because this is about federal dollars not education they will be there until about 9 then school is out.

And it is off to the pool!! Word girl is working as a lifeguard and blond girl is going to hang out with her friends and look appropriately sexy. oh to be young again!!

This is the first year in 12 years that I will not be standing poolside watching children swim back and forth on Wed nights and Sat mornings. As both girls are spending time in CA this summer it is going to interfere with the meet schedule.It will be an odd summer (for me)

Relay for life on Friday (please feel free to donate if you want to support this fine cause). Hair Boy turns 21 on Tues and Blond girl leaves for CA on thursday. And summer begins...

I Keep Missing This - Entrecard Top Droppers

2009-05-31T06:52:00.000-07:00

Every month I want to remember, I plan on remembering and then I get an interesting thought or 100 and blog on something else. I didn't want to do that this month, you entrecard peoples have been a delight.. I have met so many wonderful new friends with such great words of wisdom, humor and compassion. I wanted to say thanks for stopping by

Dropper	# of drops
Computer Aid	30
The Way I See It	30
Simple Forex	29
PJ's Prose	27
Scandinavian Ways - Winesworlds blog	26
Lola's Diner	25
comatised	24
Connect with your Teens through Pop Culture and Technology	24
Random Detoxification	24
More Than Sew So	24

So while you are off gallivanting through the internet, visiting your daily blogs, take the time to stop and check out these lovely blogs..

Thank you all so very much

Shauni

Pita Boy and Hormones

2009-05-28T06:11:00.000-07:00

Pita Boy is what we call a late developer, it may be because of his DD's or he may have DD's cuz he is a late developer or then again it may just be because it is what it is.. Any way you put it he just does everything on his own time.

While most of his friends went through the first Hormone change in late 4th and 5th grade he went through his at the end of 6th. When most boys have that HORRID sophomore year, Pita Boy had his, late in his Junior Year and into his Senior year.. and of course the growth spurts and voice changes.. well those came even later.

We always thought he would be short at 14 he was 5'3 then mid sophomore year he finally made 5'6, his junior year he finally made 5'9 and late into his senior year he made 5'10. We were grateful because he really worried about being short. Then one night last fall he went out with his friends and realized he was taller than many of them and one was 6' wow!! how did that happen.. The total clincher though was when we went to dinner with his father and he was taller than Dad's 6'2... whoo hoo!!

What we are dealing with these days though is the empty fridge cycle. If there is food in there it is his.. or will be soon. Honestly I want to constantly throttle him.. of course yesterday we got even!!! We had ice cream and for some reason he left it alone for an entire day... guess what was gone the next day when he went to get some??? He was mightily irked but the rest of us felt like hey we won a prize or something.

It is hard dealing with teenage hormones when he is now 19, I forget that he is actually just a little less mature than others (the good news is, he will eventually grow out of it). I get angry because he has different needs than the others and sometimes I just want to throttle him. and then he does something wonderful and good and kind and I remember... this kids really is pretty darn good.

Poor Jon and Kate

2009-05-26T13:14:00.000-07:00

yes that is sarcasm... sorry but our actions have consequnces..when we decide to put our lives on public display we can't complain when the public intervenes. There is a difference between say being an actor or singer and demanding that our children received the privacy they deserve but when they put their children on display and make money from being a family then complain cuz now you are being exploited... grow up!!

Of course poor jon and kate reminds me of a story from when my children were little...

I diligently did mom and me with each of my kids making sure they had that time with me. When Blond Girl was a baby (still in the infant seat) I attended said classes with Word Girl. Of course I dragged blond girl to classes with us. Hair Boy was in kindergarten and Pita Boy was in preschool so my time had to be very scheduled. There was this family of triplets that came to the meetings and along with mom came grandma, grandpa, uncle louie, aunt marie, etc, etc.. I swear they brought every single extended family member they could.

One day Word Girl had picked her spot she wanted to sit (no one was there as of yet) she placed her craft there and went to get the rest of her stuff.. Sure enough along came this family and MOVED my child.. she was in tears when I confronted the mother and yes I confronted her.. Her answer was well I have triplets and it is so hard... whine whine whine.. and we need to stay together... I need all the help.. I just about came apart.. Here I was alone, with an infant, an 2 yr old, a 4 year old in preschool who had to be picked up and gotten home fed and ready for his afternoon bus pick up and a 6 year old who would be coming home from school. My mornings were scheduled to the minute.. I must admit I raised my voice..

Sorry Lady, yes you have three kids but every friggin member of your family is here to help.. I have to be in three places at the exact same time, have FOUR kids and no one I repeat no one is helping me.. so granny can get off her fat ass and let my daughter have her spot..

For some reason they never came back...

giggles really I am a reasonable and patient person....

Juggling Teens

The Mage's Daughter, A Review

Saturday Silly

The Law and Order Chime and Conditioning

Word Girl's Return

Star of Morning, A Review

We are in the Six Weeks

Hair Boy Cracks me Up

I made the Mistake!!

Happy New Year

When Art Becomes Reality

From Our House to Yours

She Just Cracks Me Up

This is Just Proof that they are Always Up to Something

A Question Borrowed from

Q: If you had to spend eternity inside the pages of a book which book would you choose and why?

Q: If you had to spend eternity inside the pages of a book which book would you choose and why? *hint, I am still considering this question

McKenzie's List of Must Read Books!!

Wednesday With Words

Heroes of Olympus: The Son of Neptune, A Review

Inheritance, A Review

Conversation with the Girls

A Conversation with Word Girl

Rember, At Thanksgiving?

Univ of MT Ups the Ante

Question for the Day

TurnBack Tuesday

Thanksgiving

Getting Excited!

A Note From Word Girl

Just Heard!!

Just Cuz

Guess She is Gonna Be Studying Astronomy and Cowboys!

A Conversation with Blond Girl

I Didn't Do It!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Happy BIrthday Word Girl!!

When You Impress Your Children

Blond Girl's Diagnosis

Blond Girl Sings!!

The Power of the Written Word

Flowers

Getting Ready for her Senior Solo

Turn Back Tuesdays

Pretty as a Picture Monday

A Trip to the Symphony

Saturdays...

The Resilancy of Youth

A Parent's Nightmare

Turn Back Tuesday

Four Kids and No One's Doin Nuthin?

PITA Boy not so PITA anymore

Absolutely Amazing!!

Word Girl on a Quest for Australia

Hair Boy Sings the Blues

Oddly Quiet

Teenage Angst

A New Day

Doppleganger??

Christmas

One Semester Down

Wow December, I should Blog

A Fall Fundraiser

BlondGirl Turns 16!!

Orientation

When Did He Grow to be so Tall?

Graduation Day

One Last Day

Revenge is Sweet if not a bit annoying

Wind Down to Graduation

Doing It Right

An Interesting Conversation

It is Really Fun

I Don't Know is at it Again

Word Girl is Going to Western!!

Just a Few Pics of the Beasties

A New Direction

A moment in Time

Senior Year

It is HOMECOMING so Insanity Reigns!!

Q: If you had to spend eternity inside the pages of a book which book would you choose and why? hint, I am still considering this question*