Damn Rock Company!

The rock company has provided my father-in-law with excellent customer service and delivered replacement rock already! There goes my weekend!

Happy Weekend!

My weekend just got a million times better and it hasn't even started! Mark and the teenager were supposed to help Mark's dad move 11 tons of rock this weekend. All weekend, minus the Pinewood derby tomorrow morning. But? The rock was delivered this morning and it's the wrong color! And the company can't come and take it away and replace it until sometime next weekend! Woohoo! I get my hubby for the weekend. And next weekend is Easter so he can't help then and the following weekend Mark is out of town. So, no rock moving in our immediate future!

$4800

That's the approximate tuition only cost per year of the closest in-state university. I was having a conversation with a friend today about a scholarship program here in Arizona that rewards students who excel on our state mandated test AND never earn below a B in a core class in high school. I only recently discovered the second requirement and was dismayed because the teenager got a "c" in some class or other as a freshman so he's ineligible for this tuition waver. My friend indicated that it wasn't that great of a deal anyway since it's only tuition and you know "tuition is only about $5000 a year anyway".

ONLY??? ONLY???

I feel in some ways that I've done a disservice to my kids by having so many and having them so young and by choosing to stay at home and by choosing other things over college savings funds. We literally have NO money put away for any of our kids for college. None. Zero. And? we don't qualify for need based financial aid which only takes into account how much money you earn, not how many people you are supporting with those earnings. So, my kids will be either earning scholarships or working their way through or taking on loans, all of which Mark and I did. And I feel guilty and negligent for that in some ways and in others I feel like my kids will be earning their way through school and that's not a bad thing. I go back and forth. But to say to me that tuition is ONLY $5000 a year?

I wish the word only ever preceded $5000 in any of my conversations.

9 Weeks...

That's how much time is left until the kids are out of school for the summer. I can't wait.
We had a great spring break, particularly this past weekend and I was so sad to see them off to school this morning.

I had to go to the grocery store this morning since we were out of most things and I had been putting it off for too long. It costs a lot of money to feed a family of 6 plus the day care kiddos and I had other things I wanted to spend money on this weekend!lol! Anyway, I am doing a trial subscription to The Grocery Game to see if I can really save some money, but if today's trip was any indication, I'll be continuing my subscription!

I went to the store with my list and my coupons ready, estimating that I would be spending about $120 this week. I picked up a few things that were not on my list, but were on sale, so I thought I might have gone over a bit, but not much. Well, I get to the cashier, he rings ups the groceries and it's $172!!! I was stunned. I could not imagine that I had picked up that much extra stuff! I took my receipt and was glancing at it as I walked out and noticed that none of the meat or produce that was on sale had rung up at sale prices. And I bought A LOT of meat because of the sales! So my $1.88/lb chicken breasts rang up at $4.99 a pound. And my $4.99 a pound steaks rang up at $8.99 a pound!! And my $1.99 asparagus? $5.49 a pound! YIKES!! So, I go to the customer service desk to get it straightened out and hopefully get back some of the atrocious amount of money I spent! After the fixed the prices on the meat and gave me all the produce for free!, they refunded me $66 AND gave a me a $5 gift card for my trouble! So, essentially, I spent $101!! Less than I had planned and I got some stuff that wasn't on my list. Good customer service there! And a big sigh of relief here!

Busy week ahead. The Pinewood derby is next weekend so FE and his daddy will be getting ready for that, in between Generations, cub scouts and two late nights of work for Mark and a meeting at church for SB's confirmation. I also need to try a get some new cushions made for my patio swing. Hopefully that will go better than the quilt from hell that I can't seem to finish!

What I Love

Full length TV episodes online so when my stupid DVR scrambles my recording of a favorite show I don't miss it.

And? Friends who blog about results shows so when said DVR also scrambles that show I can still find out bottom 3 AND who went home!

They are coming to check the cable on Saturday. Which is a good thing since I record 3 shows on Sunday and if they get scrambled I may SCREAM!

What Do You Do?

If something is hurting your feelings, but you're not entirely sure that your feelings actually should be hurt because you may be missing a vital part of the equation? Do you ask the person who may have hurt your feelings or do you ignore it and hope that it was not something done to slight you? I'm looking for answers here people!

Boys with a Death Wish...

The last couple of times I've been out alone with SB, I've noticed that boys are starting to notice her. And the boys I've noticed? Are not 12... Now, granted, she's a beautiful girl, but she's 12!!! She doesn't wear makeup, she dresses modestly. It really drives me batty to watch these boys check her out. I actually want to hurt them. Badly. I am anxiously awaiting the day her big brother notices. And does hurt them. I've started an account for bail money, don't worry!

Sunday!

Usually Sundays leave me a little down because it's all about getting ready for Monday. But? It's Spring Break!! Woohoo!! So, although I'll still have my daycare kiddos 4 days this week, I don't have to drive nearly as much. We get to sleep a bit later as well! We do have a park date planned and Mark and I have a midweek double date. On Friday Mark and I are both off and we'll all be doing something fun! It's supposed to be cooler by then so hopefully we'll be doing something outdoors!

Mark's been working outside all weekend putting together our new sheds and also building an outdoor stage for the kiddos to perform on. They are very excited!

We're using Mark's new grill for the first time tonight after church. Hopefully it'll be cool enough by then to eat outside. Hope you're all enjoying your weekend!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

My family's roots are about as Irish as they come, with surnames on both sides containing the Mc Prefix! My main love for the holiday however, comes from a not so Irish tradition. Corned Beef and Cabbage! Yum!!! This is one day a year when I actually cook two meals because the notoriously picky eaters in my house will not touch the stuff. More for me!
I think they'll be eating dessert though! Mint-chocolate chip ice cream pie! with real homemade whipped cream on top! YUM!!!

Is it naptime yet???

Oh my gosh. Field trip to the zoo Wednesday. Field trip to the zoo Thursday. Field Day today. I am beyond exhausted. My whole body hurts...

But, hooray, the kids are home now until March 26th WOOHOO!!

Bragging mom ahead, don't read if you don't want to!

4-6th graders at our school win actual place ribbons for Field Day. SB won 5 ribbons. 1st place in the hula hoop event, 2nd place in the baseball throw and the limbo, and 3rd place in the sack race and the 75 yard dash. So cool!

And? The Princess had her Kindergarten screening today. It's a pretty detailed test, including recognition of all upper and lower case letters, some numbers, some prereading skills. Knowledge of full name address, phone number. Being able to SAY the alphabet instead of singing it. Some obscure body parts, shapes and colors, being able to trace and cut on a straight line, sequencing 4 pictures, using 4 full and complete sentences to tell what's happening in a picture, stuff like that. Well, the Princess? She scored a 98 on the screening test! Awesome! Another really smart kiddo!lol!

Oh, I know! In some really fun news, I think I mentioned a while back having some difficulty with a sweepstakes I had won? Well, the company has made it up to me! I received my guitar this week and it was not what I was expecting, so I gave them a call. They spent a day or two looking into it and then called me yesterday to offer me two options. One being another guitar in addition to the one I already had received plus some gift cards to the makeup company to get me to the amount listed in the rules of the sweepstakes. The second option was the cash difference. I immediately chose the cash! So, I have some money coming to help finish my back yard and replace my trees AND I have a decent acoustic guitar for the teenager! We all win! Woohoo!

Field Trip!

Today was FE's trip to the zoo! Lots of fun was had by all.Two of my best girlfriends and a dad and I were in one group with 7 kids and we had a blast. It was very hot today though. well into the 90's, so we were all worn out and tired when we got back. FE's teacher is the best though because she had ice cream for all the kids and parent chaperons once we got back to her classroom. Awesome way to end the day!

Tomorrow is SB's trip to the same place. Kind of a stupid field trip fro 6th grade, especially since we only get one a year. As much as I like SB's teacher, she was a little lazy planning this trip. BUT, she has come up with an awesome scavenger hunt to make it more age appropriate! One of my same friends who went today is also going on the trip tomorrow, so i know it'll be a great time again!

Friday is field day for SB as their regular one was cancelled due to bad weather. AND? It's a half day and the following week is Spring Break! Woohoo!!! We are soooo ready for that!

March Madness games start tomorrow as well! My favorite time of year! My beloved Wildcats play on Friday. They pretty much suck this year, but I'm rooting for them faithfully as always!

Teenagers!

Having a rough day with the teenager! How is it that one minute they can be the epitome of charming and the next you want to wring their necks? Argh! I'm glad he's off working today because I might have killed him otherwise! Thank God for Mike needing help this week and next. The teenager quit his other job yesterday. I don't blame him at all because it was an AWFUL job. I had one just like it and I only lasted 2 days. He made it 4! Anyway, I love him and he's mostly a great kid. But there are times...

In really sad to me news, we lost most of the greenery at the front of our home because of the really cold temps we had here in January. Some of it will grow back, but right now it looks horrid! I also lost my jacaranda tree which broke my heart. It had just started blooming last year. We've had it since May of 2002 and I clearly remember talking to my grandma on the phone will the guys were here planting it. The tree had special meaning to me and I'm so sad it's gone.

Exhausted!

I was up far later than normal last night and am paying for it today! I need a nap already.

A huge burden was lifted from my heart last night and I honestly feel like a different person today.

This weekend and next week are completely crazy already. On the calendar so far? 3 days of dance, 2 field trips, field day, early release, kindergarten screening, daddy day at preschool, cub scouts, Mark late at work at least one night plus in a class from 8-5 tomorrow!, Mass on Saturday AND Sunday, working on the yard, and a baseball game! I also have a date with my hubby tomorrow night and a special mommy/daughter day on Sunday with SB. Mostly fun stuff, but still. I'm tired.

Hope your weekend is lovely!

Banana Pancakes!

I met up with two of my really good mom friends this morning. We all have a love of
Banana Pancakes and a friendship that started when all of our now 12 year olds were in Kindergarten. I don't see them as much these days because one of them has moved on to a new school and the other is busy with 5 girls ranging in age from a freshman in college to a soon to be 4 year old! We do chat on the phone occasionally, but there's really nothing like honest to goodness face to face fellowship. We ate and talked and laughed for over 2 hours and it was much needed. One of these women in particular is a prayer warrior. She is my first call when I have something I really need prayer for. she has a way of speaking to me and of praying with me that just blows my mind and touches my heart every single time. I have something really important on my heart right now, something I'm feeling very nervous about and have been praying over for a few weeks now, but suddenly today when my friend talked to me and then afterwards when we talked about praying about it, my heart felt lighter and I knew that it was going to be alright even if it doesn't turn out exactly as I would like.

Stupid Bus Company

Today was to be the 2nd grade field trip to the Wildlife Zoo. FE was so excited as were all the kids. At our school, each grade gets one field trip a year, so the kids REALLY look forward to their trip. 2nd grade has been going to the Wildlife Zoo for years. The kids have been talking about this for WEEKS and planning for it in class. There were 12 parents (out of 24 kids in the class, pretty good ratio!) going on the trip just from our class and there are 3 other classes as well. The kids were ready, chaperon packets had been handed out, lunches were packed.

The buses were to be there at 8:30, so at 8:25 we led the kids out to the waiting area. At around 8:45, FE's teacher went to the office to see why the buses were not there yet. Our secretary called the bus company. They are on their way, just running a few minutes late. At 9:15 she went back in again. The secretary calls, the buses are at our DESTINATION! and it will be another 1/2 hour. So, we let the kids go have recess. 9:45 the buses finally arrive.

We get the kiddos all loaded, when one mom hears the driver of the second bus talking on her radio about overheating. The teacher's talk to the driver and figure out that they have arranged to swap out buses at the zoo, so all is okay at this point. Until a mom notices a HUGE slash in the tire of one of the buses. The driver's are stunned (idiots!) and we call the company and they say they will send a new bus. It's after 10:00 by this time. It takes 1/2 an hour to get to the zoo and we have to leave there by 1:30 to get back in time for dismissal. we're planning to ride three rides and have lunch at the zoo, so we're talking about not having any time to see animals by the time all is said and done. So, the teachers confer and decide that they will reschedule for next week.

The children are DEVASTATED! They are coming off the bus sobbing and so upset. I started crying when FE came off the bus because the look on his face was heartbreaking. Most of the parents who were there ended up taking their kids home for the day, including me. It's not like the teacher was really going to be so heartless as to make them do actual academic work today any way.

So I brought FE and his best friend home to play for the day and they are fine and having a great time now, but what a lousy way to start the day. And what a lousy bus company!

Trying Again

Come visit me over here as I try to take the pounds off once again!

Before and After!

The actual patio is finished, painting and all. We still have a lot of work to do to finish our plans for the rest of the yard, but we're planning to get most of it done this month. It's my turn to host the family Easter dinner and I would love to have everything finished by then. And Mark and I both work much better on a deadline!

Ding! Dong! The Witch is DEAD!!!!

An absolute answer to prayer! A certain individual at my children's school who 1) practically single handedly destroyed my eldest son's self esteem to the point where it took us about two years after he left the school to get him back 2) tried desperately to destroy my reputation but LOST that battle because she's an evil idiot and I've been at the school longer and been a far nicer person to a great deal more people!3) tried very hard to destroy my husband's (the Board President) reputation and again FAILED because he is the ultimate in fairness and hard work, 4) lost her biggest ally this year when the old principal "resigned" 5) just has been the most evil and cruel individual I have ever encountered ( and she professes wholeheartedly to be a devout Christian!) turned in her formal resignation for next year!!! This is the BEST news as it means the school doesn't have to not offer her a contract, as they were planning. She wasn't going to be back next year anyway, but this way it's her doing! AMEN!!!

Fun!

The State Cheer Competition was a blast! So much fun! The girls did not place, as expected, but they did great. We were a little out of our league I think, competing in the wrong division against bigger schools, but our girls really had fun and that's the point, right? We're all worn out, but SB has her friend over to spend the night and go to the festival with us tomorrow.

I completely forgot until late this afternoon that SB and I have a date tomorrow night. We're going to see this tomorrow night. She doesn't know yet. I think she'll LOVE it!

So Excited!

Today is the Arizona State Cheer Competition and SB's group is competing. Our school has never been to a competition of this magnitude, so everyone is really nervous and excited. I'm not expecting our girls to win simply because our girls are younger (we have to compete in the junior high division even though most of our girls are 5th and 6th graders) and we don't have this kind of competition experience, but I think it's an awesome opportunity for the girls. They are getting out of school early to go to competition. I've got two other girls and a mom riding with me. Both good friends of SB's. One mom can't go because of her work schedule and when I saw her this morning she was almost in tears. she's a single mom supporting four kids with little to no help from the sperm donor she was married to for 12 years. It just makes me feel extremely blessed that not only do I have a great husband, but that he's absolutely willing and able to be home from work today so I can go to the competition. I think my heart would break if I had to miss it!

Busy weekend otherwise as well. Tomorrow is the Spring Festival at the kids school. It's our biggest moneymaker of the year and lots of fun. I'll be working during some of it, but playing some of the time as well.

And it's the first of two Generations weekends this month (but none in April! Woohoo!). This whole month is just so crazy and busy. But fun! And I'm happy to be crazy and busy. The alternative is not where I want to be!

Have a great weekend!