He's Back!

My boy got off the bus an hour ago looking, if possible, even bigger than when he left. He's EXHAUSTED! They really push these kids hard. He's so tired that he asked Mark to drive him to pick up something at the store. He didn't want to get behind the wheel. In good news though, he's talking about practice tomorrow and even talking about the season, so I have a little hope in my heart!

Teehee!

Yesterday the football camp participants went to Knott's Berry Farm. I haven't been there since I was very young and we lived in California for a while. I didn't get to talk to the teenager last night, but I did get a text message from him about 7:00, just as we were ending Mass. He was at the Snoopy on Ice show. The mental image of not only my son, but how many other football players sitting through Snoopy on Ice had me cracking up for the rest of the night. I texted him later to see how it was. His quote? "spectacular!"lol!

I try

Do you have any people in your life that, no matter how hard you try, whatever you do isn't right or good enough? I'm feeling ultra sensitive right now, but I'm so freaking sick of banging my head against the wall. Unfortunately, my personality is such that it really bugs me when I think someone is upset with me, whether I actually did anything to deserve their upset or not! Walking on eggshells gets to be rather annoying. I wish I could stop and just let them be their miserable selves instead of always trying to make things better! Think there's a support group?????

Baby, Baby

My new charge starts tomorrow. She's almost 3 months old. I'm tired already! No, I'm actually looking forward to it except the three carseat thing again. I haven't done that in a couple of years.

We went school supply shopping today to avoid the last minute crowds the next two weekends. Ha! I'll just say this, we need more education funding so that parents are not having to spend so much on supplies. We spent over $150 today, and the Princess and the Teenager didn't need much. I worry about parents who might struggle financially more than we do. This was with nothing extra, just the required stuff on the list. Outrageous!

See Ya Later, Alligator!

VBS is over. It's a little over two weeks until school starts again and my newest charge starts on Monday. She's almost 3 months old, so I'm going to have my hands even more full than they already are at the moment. In light of all this, my darling husband has taken the day off tomorrow to give ME the day off. I'll be going to get the gray in my hair hidden and then doing some shopping. Window and otherwise!

Tomorrow evening, my eldest daughter and I are headed off for a mommy-daughter weekend involving a night at a fancy hotel, getting her ears pierced a second time, and some other fun things. We'll be back after dinner on Saturday. I'm really excited to get to spend so much time with her one-on-one!

Football camp!

The teenager left at 10 PM last night. The bus was due to arrive at the camp (it's at a college in California) at 4:30 AM. And then the boys had a 5:20 call for practice! Yikes! Hope they slept on the bus...
There was a message from the teenager when I got home from VBS saying that they had practiced and it was hell, but they were packing up to go to the beach and I could call him. I called, but he was, you know, on the beach, and, as usual, hunting for food, so he wasn't able to talk!lol! I'm just praying this goes well. That he gives it his all and gets really into it. We shall see!

On a super fun note, back in March I got a notification from a promotions company that I had won a prize in one of their sweepstakes. I wasn't ready to announce it until I was certain the prize was on it's way, but on Monday morning there will be 60 brand new pairs of New Balance cleats arriving at my door for donation to the football team my son plays on! I entered and won, but the school is accepting the prize in their name so I have no tax liability! Woohoo! New cleats for the whole team and then some!!

So Sad...

File this under the joy of having a teenager...

The teenager has pretty much decided that he doesn't want to play football. Even though he's been working out with the team since November. Even though he's leaving for camp in a few hours. Even though he's got a starting position.

He really wants to get a job. He spent most of his money on his car and doesn't have much money left, which is cramping his social life I guess. It's impossible to work and be on the football team, at least at his school. They have practice every morning and evening until 7:30 and practice on Saturdays as well.

I am pretty devastated and hoping that he changes his mind after camp, but I don't know...

I know I need to let him do what he needs to do, but this really breaks my heart. I mean really. I guess it's a lesson for me somewhere, but I'm so not enjoying it...

Priceless

Insurance increase for teen aged driver: $1200
Driver's license fee: $25
12 year old used car: $1500
Having someone else who can run to the store to get milk at 9:30 PM: PRICELESS!

I finished

I finished Harry Potter at 4:00.Good thing or I would not have gone to Mass!

Well done, J.K. Rowling. Well done.

I Can't Do It...

I'm having a very hard time settling down to read Harry Potter... I think I so do not want the series to end that I'm just postponing it for myself... If I don't read it, it can never be over!

Too Much Teen Angst...

The teenager's girlfriend has been here since Monday and I am so ready for her to go home already! It's not that I dislike HER, but I don't like any of the games that teenagers play with one another's emotions. The teenager is just as guilty as she is, but he's my kids, so I blame HER!lol! He's just in a much better place emotionally when she's far away. I *think* she's leaving this weekend, but who really knows since her family is basically the most unorganized bunch of people I've ever encountered. Even if she doesn't leave soon, the teenager goes to camp on Wednesday so that'll be the end of that! Hopefully I can last that long!lol!

Worn Out!!

What a busy week! We've had VBS all week and swim and water aerobics every evening. I took the day off of VBS today simply because SB had an appointment with the Dr. that I had mistakenly scheduled for this morning, and also, Mark is off to Salt Lake City for a business conference until Tuesday. In all honesty, I was not at all looking forward to VBS. I was really enjoying my summer and this just felt like an intrusion. For whatever reason though, this year has been awesome. I am having so much fun with the kids, and even though I'm exhausted, I find myself really looking forward to going every morning.

On another note, SB and I went to the American Idol concert last night and it was awesome! Her first concert and I think she was at a perfect age for it. I vividly remember my first concert, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts!lol!, when I was 13. So much fun!

Tomorrow involves singing at a funeral and tomorrow night SB and my friends are going to a Harry Potter book release party while Karin's LG has her very first sleepover at my house! I have a lunch date on Saturday, but other than that I may not leave the house until I finish because, for some reason, there are a whole bunch of mean-spirited people around who seem to think it will be funny to ruin the book for those of us who want to enjoy it! What's up with that??!!

Awesome!!

This story rocks! Why??? Well, I KNOW Mary Sue! She lived in Tucson at the same time I did. We worked in neighboring restaurants waiting tables. She was my friend when I was pregnant with the teenager. She gave me one of my baby showers for the teenager. Her oldest daughter is two years older than the teenager so she was my experienced mom friend when I had my first baby. There are not two nicer people in the world than Mary Sue and her husband Mark. I am soooo happy for them!!!

Only My Kids...

Can get ear infections AND strep throat during the summer! SB has been officially diagnosed with strep this afternoon to the great surprise of her doctor. I've got two kids on antibiotics, wanna bet it's 3 or 4 by the beginning of NEXT week???

Pray

for my best friend as she undergoes a procedure on her heart tomorrow. I'm sure she'll be fine, but it never hurts to pray!

Why I Love summer (and am considering homeschooling!)

I filled up my gas tank today. For the first time in two weeks. TWO WEEKS! During the school year, I have to fill up every 4-5 days depending on what activities are going on that week. At over $50 a pop to fill my van it gets pricey! So I'm thinking the kids are going to have to start walking the 8 miles one way to school! Teehee!

Take Another Little Piece of My Heart Now, Baby

The absolute hardest thing I've had to do so far as a mom? Watch my teenager drive off in a car by himself. Seriously? My heart was in my throat all day yesterday waiting for him to call (because you know I make him call me when he leaves one place and gets to another!lol!). And you know he wants to drive all over the place because he's a teenager with a new license and a car! But? Interestingly enough? Last night, his first real night of freedom? He was home before 9:00. He's still our boy!

Stay off the streets!

You all may want to stay in your homes today as the teenager is fully licensed and out driving his own car...

The Boys

It's all about the boys today!
The teenager is back safe and sound, if not a little tired. They drove all night Friday night so he arrived at 7:15 AM yesterday. He seems taller than when he left. Because, you know, being 6'4" wasn't enough... He also is buying a car today! Woohoo!! I am excited for him, but more than a little nervous about him off driving on his own. It's becoming much more of a necessity for him to have his own car now though because his football schedule does not exactly mesh with everyone else's schedules. AND? His girlfriend is coming to visit for a couple of weeks and staying in Tempe. Too far for me to drive in the middle of the hot summer days!

My other boy? Has swimmer's ear AND a middle ear infection. Argh! Thank Heaven for Sunday office hours at the pediatrician. I called them at 9:05 and was OUT of their office, prescriptions in hand at 9:35! Hopefully the meds will work quickly and my boy will be back to his ornery self.

Back to work tomorrow. Yuck! I very much enjoyed this week off.

Y I love the Y!

We're really loving our new membership to the YMCA. We've been every day except for yesterday as they were closed for the holiday. Mark and SB and I work out while the two littler ones stay in the awesome childcare center (free with membership!). They can rock climb in there and also play in a bounce house. The staff is attentive and engaged with the children. The kids LOVE it! After we work out, we hit the swimming pool for an hour with all three of the kiddos. The pool is virtually empty and they have tons of toys that they let the kids play with while we swim. I think both the Princess and FE have learned how to swim better during this week of swimming at the Y than they have in years of summer swim lessons! We still have swim lessons in the evening through the city (and water aerobics for SB and me!) so we're pretty exhausted by the end of the day!

Fun 4th!

We had a great time at the 4th of July celebration last night. I don't know if it was the heat warning or what, but there was about half of the normal crowd there. And honestly? It really was not that hot! We were in complete shade by the time we got all of our stuff situated on the grass, and the kiddos brought chilled squirt bottles, so it didn't feel any different than any other year. It was relaxing, fun and lovely.

The 4th is one of my very favorite holidays. It's just lovely to sit and enjoy family and friends and have there be no expectations.It's just about fun! I was mentioning to my FIL how much I loved this holiday and he said it was his favorite as well. He just loves being able to hang out with family and enjoy the beauty! We both had been looking forward to it for months!

Bizarre Fun Coincidence...

My teenager is playing Varsity football this year. I was looking at his football schedule and noted with much delight that one of his games is at the high school Mark and I graduated from. FUN! I haven't been back there in many years. Then, in yesterday's mail? I got the schedule for my 20th high school reunion. The Friday night activity? That same football game! How odd, but fun, is that?

Happy Independence Day!

We're in the midst of enjoying our exhausting vacation! There's been swimming every day, bowling, movies, trips to the gym, and a date with my hubby!

Tonight marks our 12th trip to the same venue for fireworks and picnic! We've gone every year since SB was born without fail. It's one of my favorite traditions!

Hope you all have a safe and lovely day with family and friends. I know we will!