Every Day Goddess Mom

Girls like boys

2011-03-15T12:52:00.000-07:00

It is official, my baby girl is no longer a baby girl. Wahhhhhhhh! I could cry and laugh all at the same time. She has discovered that she likes boys, AND that boys like her. She will be 12 years old in just about a month.

Wow, 12 years ago seems like yesterday. I can still hear my Uncle Don as he came through the hospital door singing "They call the wind Mariah" in his beautiful voice. I tell this story all the time, but it was also bring your daughter to work day. The delivery nurse brought her 12 year old daughter to work to view Mariah's birth that day. What do you say when your legs are in stirrups and that pushing feeling is coming over you and the nurse nonchalantly says "You don't mind if my daughter watches you give birth do you?" Why yes I just might if I could concentrate on what you are saying while all my private parts hang out here for the viewing!!!!!

So a few of Mariah's friends have had a BOYFRIEND for whatever that word means at age 12. A boy that likes a girl I guess. I thought my tomboy would be the one who didn't like boys for a long time. She is the girl that wears all her brothers hand me downs like they are the best name brand clothing you can find. Teachers and her coaches have actually asked me if she ever removes the sweatshirt in the picture above. The only time you will catch this girl in a dress is for a very special occasion, Christmas, Easter, Father daughter dance. Other than that she is in clothing that she can run and jump faster and better than any boy, you just ask her.

Last week a boy she wasn't sure if she liked said the words to her. Mariah I like you! She was really surprised, she thought he might like her but she didn't know for sure. My little thinker didn't know what to say. She was speechless for that moment and then got all shy. She came home to tell me about it and that she thought she liked him to. I talked to her about how you should be nice to everyone even if you don't like the boy in the same way. You never know how you will feel about him later in life, and you never want anyone to feel badly about their feelings they have. It is a big compliment that a boy likes you and even bigger when a lot of the boys in your class like you. We had the discussion that she is 12 and cannot have a boyfriend. I have told her many times the same thing. He is a boy and your friend that you like a little more than the other boys. But that is it! No BOYFRIENDS for her for a long time. She sat and thought about it for a week on what she was going to say to this poor little boy who had poured his heart out to her.

Finally last night she got up the nerve at the skating party and told him she likes him too. It was so cute. She came right over to tell me that she had finally done it. All her friends at the party knew and the news spread like wild fire. I saw the boys mom whom I am on a friendly basis with and wondered if she knew the news flying around. I didn't say anything because of course this will pass on by as quickly as it has started. I remember this age and the quickness the likeness wears off.

Sad to see the last of the younger years leaving and the pre-teen years beginning. Lord give me strength to make it through this one. I think I am going to need it. I am afraid I might actually have to hide her away, the boys are chasing her already and we haven't made it to puberty yet. The idea of a convent is not such a bad thing some days. Or that all girls school.....

Best Dog Ever

2011-02-18T08:03:00.000-08:00

This love story started back in the year 2ooo. We decided to get a new puppy to replace our dog that had been put down. Foolishly we thought that two black lab puppies would be better than one. Let me tell you all, DON'T DO IT!! It ended badly for one of the puppies and was a very sad time.

The other puppy Storm grew to a great old age. He was the best dog I could ever ask for. He was a babysitter, friend, helper and true love of my kids lives. Mariah was one years old when we brought him home, Colton was 4 and Anthony 11. Storm was Anthony's dog in every way, but he shared him with all of us. They grew together and loved. He was the best friend two little boys, a little girl, and all their cousins and friends could ask for. There was never a ball, stick or body of water that he would not chase or jump into. Hours upon hours of chasing a ball, sitting next to the swimming pool waiting for his kids to splash him or throw the ball he dropped in for him. Always by their side when they were home, or sitting close to the window waiting for them to come back to him.

Storm considered it his job to make sure his kids were safe, and no stranger was ever allowed with in feet of them. This was Storm's personal mission. Storm would put his body between anyone he did not know and his kids. He was a great protector, I knew my kids were always safe outside when their dog was with them. He would herd the little ones if he felt they were to close to the edge of the grass, bark if the kids left the yard and he didn't want them to.

Hard to remember the trials of the puppy days, but there were all the usual, chewed up drywall, chewed up furniture. The nights being up all night. The chasing down of a rogue puppy running the neighborhood. The dog police showing up at our house, giving us our third and final notice, if our dog escaped again someone was going to spend some time in the pokey. They let us know there are no bad dogs, just bad dog owners which I guess is very true. We have laughed about that for many years now. Food snatched from the table or counter. Now these seem such a small price to pay for the unconditional love that was given for 11 years.

We have known that the time was coming close. I have tried to prepare my children for the sad part of life.....death. It is not easy and so hard to understand. How to explain it is best that we put our dog to sleep so he does not suffer anymore. We don't do that to humans so how can I expect my daughter to understand it is okay to do to her best friend? How do I answer the questions she has. She is worried that our other dog and cat are not going to understand where Storm has gone. Worried she will forget how Storm's fur feels, the sound of his bark when she gets home. That he will no longer be lying next to her bed during the night making her feel safe.

This has been a hard week at our house. Reality has come, and today our best friend is going to sleep forever. My kids hearts are breaking and I cannot stop the pain. My daughter has cried herself to sleep every night. My oldest is brooding and quiet, spending as much time here with his friend as he can. My middle child is silent and unhappy. We have had a parade of cousins and friends that grew up with Storm coming by to spend a few minutes with him. He is loved by so many and will be missed by all. He has been my constant companion, there when the kids have left me for school, keeping me company and always making me feel safe.

Goodbye to THE BEST DOG EVER. I can't stop crying. My life once again is changing, a constant in my life is leaving us and I am going to be sad for so long. I hate that I cannot fix the pain my children are feeling, but recognize this is an important part of life. Death sucks, but we all know that we have to face it and deal with it.

Thank you Storm for your unconditional love and beauty that you have given us for 11 of the best years. We will love you and think of you often.

HAPPY / SAD

2011-02-03T09:19:00.000-08:00

I don't really like change. I know, hard to believe! Today I am learning that change is okay. Everything has a time and the time has come now for my son to leave club soccer. It is hard to let go of that in some ways, but such a major relief in other ways.

I asked Colton if he was sad and will he miss his friends from soccer. He said not that sad and he will keep in contact through facebook with a lot of the boys. Then he said how much he will miss the weekly practice and his coach. Luckily he is starting his wrestling season and then the potential for so many other things. He will have open weekends, the first in a very long time.

I will miss seeing him practice and play competitive soccer. He is a good player, such potential that the coaches never tapped into. I will miss the friends I have made along this journey with him. The bond of our children being on the same team for multiple years. It is like letting go of a piece of me I didn't know defined me so much. I will still be a soccer mom, but now I will be a football/wrestling mom too. This is a good reminder that I am more than just the mom, I am me with so many outside interest that I have put on the back burner for this sport.

I will not miss the politics on his team, the drain on our income, or the doubts about Colton's abilities. This is really a racket someone has come up with, I tell ya. Money poured into a sport so your child can make the high school team, and then they tell you don't play high school soccer, only club if you want to be a real soccer snob. The money in this sport is crazy and crazier that we as parents fall into the trap. In the world of competitive soccer if you are not on the "A" team, then your abilities are never fully recognized, they just take your money and tell you to keep striving for the top team. I will not miss that one small bit, but will still have it while Mariah plays club soccer.

The good news is that he is very good at lots of sports and will go on to participate in them for high school. I will still be Colton's mom just not always on the soccer field. Now I will have one winter season of sitting in a gym instead of always on the soccer field.

I find it such different worlds for boys and girls and their team commitments. Boys can commit to a team and play with anybody if they are of the same ability as themselves. Girls, on the other hand, really need to bond on an emotional level with their teammates to really feel comfortable and compete together. I find it fascinating the way it works. Colton has loved his team, liked the players but never found it necessary to hang out with them after the game/practice time. The boys that attend the same school do hang out together, but the rest are just friends at practice. Mariah on the other hand, loves her team, is friends with all the girls and chooses to hang out with them outside of soccer.

Here is to a new season in life for Colton. May he find this path to be the best of choices. I know he will be happy and do well. He is looking forward to high school next year and all it has to offer. I am looking forward to one less sporting event every weekend. School sports are the best because they don't usually take up all your weekends of the year.

So that is the answer, happy to be on to a new chapter, sad to see this chapter close. It means it is one step closer to my children growing up, I am not always that prepared for this to happen.

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T07:38:00.000-08:00

Wow, so hard to believe a whole year has passed with out my writing anything here. Life is so busy, the older the kids get the less time I have.

This year has been a whirlwind of events it seems. Both of my younger two children played soccer year round and then decided to throw in a few other sports.

Colton discovered he has a love for wrestling and is very good at it. He went to districts his first year of wrestling. He also found out he is very good as a football kicker. He played for the 8th grade team and they already told him he is better than the high school kicker and has a good chance of making varsity as a freshman next year. He is doing well with his grades, 8th grade seems to be a hard year for school work, but he is persevering and keeping a good grade average. I am excited for him to enter high school next year, I think he will really like it.

Mariah discovered there are other sports out there she does like, well I guess just one, volleyball. My awesome sister Kim and our friend Leticia coached the girls volleyball team. It was a great season, Mariah loved it. During one of our games she mixed up her sports and headed the ball over the net, which I guess is totally legal! It was so awesome, she scored on that header. I am almost as happy as her Aunt Kim that she has found a love for volleyball. She is turning into such an amazing artist, I can't wait to see where life takes her.

Our oldest son Anthony and his girlfriend Melaina turned 21 this year! Wow seems so weird to say that out loud. I can't believe my first born love is 21. He is such a fantastic kid I can't even say enough, I hope I did as good a job with his younger siblings and they turn out to be just like him. We took a trip to Las Vegas to celebrate his birthday. We had a group of just under 30. We stayed out to all ours of the night and hung out by the pool to recover during the days. It was such a great trip. Fun to go with all my family and friends.

This summer was beautiful here, we spent a lot of time out by the pool. When we were not traveling to different soccer tournaments across the state. We made it to every corner of our state this summer/fall for either soccer or camping. Thanks to my parents who did a lot of the soccer trips with me. It is fun but exhausting being gone every weekend. Next year should be a little better, Colton is giving up club soccer to play high school sports. Not only a relief in our budget but in our time away from home. It will be a huge adjustment for him to give up daily soccer, but I think he will enjoy it after he settles in. The other sports should keep him busy but still allow him to have a social life in high school.

Our yearly camping trip was fantastic as usual. The weather was hot and the lake was beautiful. The kids have the best time with all their cousins and friends. I love my family, they are the best! Even if we do spend to much time together sometimes. I love that we can fight it out with a knock down drag out match and then be hugging each other when it is all over.

I am thankful for my awesome husband, fantastic children and the best family and friends a person can ask for. I am looking forward to the new year. I can't wait to see the adventures and trials and tribulations it will bring to us all. Goodbye 2010.............HELLO 2011!!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE, STAY SAFE AND JOYFUL!!!

Thankful

2009-11-18T09:37:00.000-08:00

I am reminded this month to recognize those things we are most thankful for.

I am forever thankful for my children, and everyday that I have to tell them how much I love them. Everyday that I get to hug them, speak with them, spend every moment of time I can with them. I am thankful for all those hours I spend at their practices being able to watch them move, and be, to see them live their lives.

This has been a rough week in our community. My oldest son had some friends that were killed in a car accident, two died and two were seriously hurt. It has been a huge reminder to me of what is truly important in life, the people you love. It is amazing how many lives are affected by this, it is like a spider web that spreads through out the community. It has touched so many different people.

Losing a child is tragic, heartbreaking. The hardest funerals I have ever attended involved those under 20 years old. It just is not natural. And so wrenching to the heart of every parent. My heart is crying for those parents that lost their sons. They were good boys, and the light of their parents lives. I can only imagine what I would feel if my son had been in that car. It is a horrible feeling to feel relief that your child is okay, when someone else has lost their precious child. I long for their children to be okay also.

It is painful to understand, let alone explain these deaths to my younger children. Hard to let your kids walk out the door out of your sight. I feel like I have to call Anthony everyday just to hear his voice and know that he is Okay. I am sad that his life will be forever changed by these events. This is the first death of a friend that he has experienced. It is always that first tragic event that changes your whole being. He will never be that young carefree kid that doesn't know this pain. It makes me cry for his group of friends that will feel this loss for so long.

It was a huge wake up call for me. I question the things I find myself focusing on. Does it really matter if Coltons soccer team sucks this year. Will it change things if they don't do the dishes the way I would like them done. Does it really matter that they forgot for TWO weeks to put out the garbage can (BUT MAN WAS I MAD BEFORE THIS!). Or when they ate the last jar of canned peaches that I really, really wanted. I realized that these are such minor things and really will be lost in the big picture of this thing we call life.

So here I sit praying that these families have the strength to make it through their tragedy. Hope that they will have the support they need. Hope that they find a way to make it through all of this with their sanity intact, because that is what I feel I would lose if it was me. And forever and ever thankful for every single minute (even the arguments where I want to duct tape their mouths shut) that I have with my children.

My moto this month is: Hug your children and tell them you love them every single day, you don't know how long you have them for.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, I know mine will be spent reflecting on the important things in my life. I hope yours is a happy one also!

SOCCER, SOCCER, SOCCER

2009-10-08T10:58:00.000-07:00

Mariah said she feels like she lives at the soccer field in this picture.

Colton wishes he lived on a soccer field!

So this soccer season has been a real challenge for me. First off, I have discovered that I am more competitive than I would like my siblings to know.... SHHHH! Both my younger kids are in a select soccer program. Colton has been obsessed with soccer since he was a baby. All those years of being on the sideline for his brothers soccer games gave him a true love of the game. There is rarely a time that boy does not have a ball at his feet. He would dribble the ball up and down the sideline while his brother was on the field. He kicks it through my house (even though the rule is no balls in the house!!) annoying his sister at every turn/kick. Mariah loves soccer, sometimes I think only because her brothers do, but still it is the only sport she wants to play.

In my house the kids are required to be involved in some sport or physical activity. Each of them has chosen soccer as their activity, after trying multiple other sports, and dancing for Mariah. For all of you with kids in sports or any activity you know about the politics involved. The higher the competition the more politics it seems to involve. It is horrible being the parent and trying to navigate through this mess we adults create, there should really be some guide to help us out. Colton is my first child involved in select so it has been a true learning experience these past few years. This is Mariah's first year in the program and she is loving it, especially her coach.

The only club Colton has wanted to play for since starting select is the one he is at. He is on the B team, but striving for the A team. We have had a lot of problems on his team this year. It is like the A team is the all important team and the B team is the forgotten kids. There was a high turn over rate, players not really meshing together and the other usual team problems. As in every club (I am discovering) promises were made at the beginning of the season and not followed through on. Promises that they would move players between teams, and practice both squads together to help the B team prepare to move up. The usual things these clubs promise, others are just better at following through on them.

Those of you who know me, know that I am a bit of an ostrich when it comes to confronting issues. I really don't like to complain, it makes me uneasy. I like to bury my head, and hope upon all hope, it will fix itself. That will last for only so long, and then it is like an explosion, and my head pops off and starts spinning around....I am sure that is what my family sees. Especially if you are messing with my kids. So after listening to all the Dads on the team bitch and moan about the issues, I couldn't take it any more. I did the last thing I really like to do. I confronted the issues with our coach and the Directors of our club.

Thanks to a little motivation from my husband, my Mom and my sister Kim. I forced myself to compose a letter. Kim helped me revise it and I got the courage (that was probably more the anger) up and emailed the letter off. I addressed the issues I saw happening and some specific ones that involved Colton, and the position he plays. I am always hesitant to do this just because I worry that it will be Colton that is punished in the end. I was very skeptical that it would even make a difference. My experience so far had been that they just blow you off and tell you they are the coaches and they make the decisions, even though I am the person paying their salary!

I would like to say I am very happy with the results, thus far. A few other parents spoke up (but not the most vocal complainers!) and voiced their opinions, and backed up what I had to say. Our coach actually answered back and said sorry that he was unapproachable. He told me that Colton is a real trouper and willing to play whatever position he is asked. He acknowledged that Colton has been asking to play a different position, which is huge. I tried to address him last year and got the response listed above. The players Director and the A team coach actually contacted me and the other parents. It actually looks like they will be following through on some of their promises to these boys. That is MY biggest complaint, don't make promises or suggestions and then not follow through with kids. They take this to heart and get so disappointed and less trusting when that happens.

I can't express enough how much happier I am now. For me it is a huge deal that I actually stood up and said my peace. The older I get the better I am getting at doing this. I am a people pleaser and I don't like to make waves. I want everyone to be happy, but I have discovered that if I am not happy than it really doesn't matter if the others are happy or not. I feel like now I can face this losing soccer season and be happy with the progress each of my children are making in their sport.

Ahhhh so much better than being angry every time I leave the soccer field. Especially seems that I am spending 5 out of the 7 days of my week at the fields. Makes everyone in my house a little happier too, just ask my husband!

CAMPING

2009-08-11T12:10:00.000-07:00

Well our annual family camping trip went great! Never mind the 5 hours we were stuck at Vantage rest area on the hottest day, it was over 100 degrees. Our old motor home does NOT like that kind of heat, who can blame it, we were not loving it ourselves! We kept getting vapor locking, but that was our only problem on the 6 hour drive that took 12 hours. It was great people watching time at the rest area, we played Yahtzee and watched a movie and all the other people overheating from the heat. There was a little Mexican couple selling watermelons for $5 a piece. The watermelon looked yummy, but way to hot and sticky for that. They sold quite a few while we were there. We got quite a laugh when they pulled out their umbrella. We thought they were finally going to need some shade to sit in, but instead they covered their watermelon to shield them from the sun. The important things in life you know.

A whole week spent with all of my immediate family, cousins and more than a few of our friends. No major arguments. Instead we all passed around the Norovirus (for all that don't know it is the stomach flu, it comes out both ends!). That was awesome.....NOT!!! Even that could not ruin our good times, we made it through. I have never spent so much time discussing our bodily functions as an adult....actually I don't remember discussing it that much as a kid either. It was rather funny, after I started feeling better. It is quite amazing how quickly and randomly it makes its way through a group of people.

It was very strange being at the lake this year without my oldest son. It is the first time in 20 years that he was not with me at Curlew. It was a different vacation all around for me. Both my younger two are old enough to do so much by themselves. Strange not to have a little one to hang on me or to chase after. It was nice but a little sad also.

The kids all had a great time as usual. The four boy cousins had a great time. Lots of fishing, wake boarding, surfing and of course inner-tubing! Mariah lucked out and one of our friends with twin girls her age were there. It was a nice surprise for her, usually she is the lone older girl.

Mariah learned to surf this year, she is amazing. She made wake boarding look so easy, up and out of the water like she has been doing it for years! She is going to keep up with those boys if it kills her. This year she loved inner-tubing, she even wanted to go fast and furious, so different from last year.

Colton was amazing as usual. He is so hard on himself, never thinking he is as good as the older boys. I remind him (and his Aunt Kim does also) that he is almost two years younger than the other boys. He did a butter slide on the wake board, he is very excited about that. He looked awesome when he surfed and had so much fun riding the tube. One of our friends Aaron brought his stand up jet ski for the boys to ride. I was leery about letting Colton ride it, but his Aunt Kim said go ahead. All the other boys were taking turns. Next year Colton and Joe and hopefully Austin and Alex will all have their boating permits so I won't have to worry as much about them riding the ski's or driving the boats.

The water was amazing, so warm. We swam almost every day. Darrel, Dad, Troy and the boys did awesome fishing. Spent lots time playing Yahtzee. Mom and Rob had a little water fight during our late night Yahtzee, it was hilarious and everyone ended up with either water or someones drink on them. Our poor neighbors, we laughed forever.

Thankfully the trip home was uneventful. I hate to say it but it was nice to come home to the cooler weather for a few days, I missed the rain this summer, happy to see some of it. My lawn and plants are especially happy too.

Vacation is awesome but it is amazing how nice it feels to be home. Our kitty Ms Olivia missed us and has been on her best behavior since we came back. Amazing for her.

Happy Birthday Mariah

2009-04-22T06:52:00.000-07:00

Today is my baby girls birthday, she is 10. She shares her birthday with her cousin Joe who is turning 15 today. Today my last child is leaving the single digit numbers, I feel very sad! I am not ready for her to grow up.....

I am thankful to have such a beautiful girl in my life. She brings such joy and love to us all. Funny how each day they can find every which way to drive you crazy, but in the end melt your heart with their smiles and laughter.

Mariah... so many things to be said about her. She is a very strong willed child (some days the battle of wills about does me in!!). She is so determined to do her best, a perfectionist in so many ways. She is loving, caring and thoughtful. So super smart it scares me. She is an artist beyond anything I ever imagined I could be. She is such a good reader, reading at above a 6th grade level in 3rd grade. She is a good daughter, sister, cousin and friend. She brings light into each day with her sense of humor, smile and hugs and kisses.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY my gorgeous 10 year old girl!!

Happy Birthday my nephew Joe!! He is Mariah's other brother in all senses of the word. He spent much of his growing up years at our house. Darrel and I consider ourselves his second parents. And believe me if you have ever been at my house they all fight just like siblings do!!

Joe has overcome a lot in life. He started school with a learning disability and taking medication. He has overcome that and no longer needs the medication or extra help. He is thriving in high school. You can see him becoming such a grown up young man. I can't believe he is 15 yrs old. His mom has done a great job with him. We are so proud of all of his accomplishments. He is very smart, and determined to do the very best. He made his high school soccer team, out of 70+ kids that tried out, no small feat!!

Happy Birthday Joe!!!

THE BIRTHDAY KIDS!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!!

Northwest Weather

2009-04-03T11:45:00.001-07:00

You just have to love the weather around here lately. You never know what you will get! A few Sundays ago we did our annual family snow picnic and sledding up on the pass. I myself could totally of passed on it this year with as much snow as we had at our house. But nooooooo, my cute cousin Matthew could not live without it, nor could my children, so up we went! As you can see by the pictures some of us felt like popsicles, while others of us were having a blast!

The nice thing was not allot of people at the hill because the forecast was for 2 feet of snow that weekend. Needless to say, we went, some sledded, some watched, we ate, and we left.

Colton had another soccer game, we are in state cup qualification time right now. And I just want to say Colton scored his first goal of the season at the our first qualification game. Against a team ranked 7th in state. He was so excited!

We left the mountain and went to Colton's next soccer game and here is what our weather looked like there. Needless to say we did not have on any sunscreen and Darrel got sunburned, oops!!

You have to love the Great Northwest Weather!!!! You can go from city to city and never know what to expect!!!

Government Bailout

2009-03-18T10:47:00.000-07:00

Here is my open letter I am sending off to as many Government emails as I can. I am so discouraged each day I turn on the news and hear of another mismangment of our TAXPAYER Money. That is my childrens childrens children that will be paying for this. How can we saddle future generations with this kind of debt and let it be mismanged so badly!!! I know I said that I was going to be positive for Lent, but this is eating away at me everyday that I have to hear about it, the latest being AIG. If I get any sort of response from anyone I will post it here for you all to read what they say. Sorry if you disagree with my opinion.

If you do disagree with me, please remember my favorite saying :
"An opinion is just an opinion, it is neither right nor wrong, but just my opinion."

I as a taxpayer would like to know what you in the (insert whichever government personel, this one happened to be to our Senator Patty Murray) are doing to protect my families interest! I am so disgusted by this whole bailout of these companies that are using OUR TAXPAYER MONEY to make themselves RICHER, while my family struggles from paycheck to paycheck.

This is ridiculous, these companies have no MORALS, and you in the Senate keep bailing them out. Please tell me how this is helping us? The banks are keeping our money, not lending to regular people, AND giving big bonuses to the people who have caused the issues to begin with. Where is this helping us the everyday American.

We the American people look like IDIOTS around the world. We give our money to companies that are poorly managed and let the same management stay in power.

Please tell me how the Government is going to fix this. I do not want to hear about bailing out any more poorly managed companies. The government does not bail me out if I miss manage my finances, so why are you doing this for the Multi Millionaires. Is the Government getting something more out of this than we the people can see? Is the Government going to manage my other money in the same way?

Please let us everyday Americans know why we should continue to trust in you and the Government. I am waiting for something that will strike me as honest and in my best interest. I am having a hard time teaching my children that the Government is there for us the People, and not just for the Multi Millionaire People. I am more and more discouraged by the whole fiasco we call The United States Government and those that are in charge of this never ending bailout of irresponsible companies.

I will be sending this letter out to as many emails in the Government that I can, and I am anxious to hear what you have to say. I will be posting your response on my blog for all to read your answers.

A Sincere US Citizen

Thankful

2009-03-04T12:38:00.000-08:00

From now until Easter I have decided to write things I am thankful for. I am done complaining about others and their actions. I am going to focus on the positive things in my life.

I was reminded when reading Texan Mama how much I have to be thankful for my husband. He really is a great guy. He is a huge redneck, and a big male chauvinist neither of which is charming on its own, but his personality more than makes up for those other traits. He is awesome in so many ways. This week he is researching a SLR Camera for me, just because I mentioned I want one and to take a photo class. That is one of the thoughtful things he will do just because.

We have been married for 21 years in June. It has been an up and down ride, but finally we have smoothed out to an even flow. Looking back on all those years, it is nice to be in such a great place now. Nice to see that we grew up together, we still share the same hopes and dreams (some of us more elaborate than others!). The best part is being able to say I still love him and I still like him most of the time.

One of the most important thing I have learned over these years of wedded bliss and not so bliss is this:

You cannot live with people 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year and like them all the time. At least I myself cannot. Just because you don't like them does not mean you do not love them. And yes it really can be days, weeks, months (shhh, maybe even a year).

I am so happy to be able to say I love my husband!! And to know that he still feels the same way about me.

No Manners!

2009-02-25T13:50:00.000-08:00

OK, I have expressed this before, but I am kind of socially awkward in some situations. I have found that I can fool allot of people into thinking I am super outgoing, I am not! That is my other siblings, I am the observer, sit on the side and not collect allot of attention. I grew up in a huuuuge extended Catholic family so I have learned to put myself outside of my comfort level in many different situations. I also am a super sensitive person. I totally recognize this about myself and try to always put things into somewhat more normal proportions. My sounding board to do this with is usually my sister Kim who is not on the over sensitive side. She will be the most honest and tell me to just let go of it. I love that about her!!

So being overly sensitive, and socially awkward I am not one to join a bunch of school groups (PTA) and so forth. Or I should say I join but do not participate in the meeting portions of the group . I do volunteer and will do any project that they need help on, but I just cannot force myself to go sit in a meeting with a Cliquey bunch of women. It makes me feel like a child again, sitting on the outside and never quite in there. The funny part is that I know a lot of these women and speak to them on a regular basis at school, but that Clique factor is still there no matter how many times they publish a letter saying THEY are not like that! HMMMMM

So it all comes down to making me uncomfortable enough that I am going to write this post. I am like an ostrich and would rather bury my head in the sand than deal with uncomfortable situations. I will actually let people make me feel bad rather than confront them, but only for so long. I see now where Colton gets his temper while playing soccer. You can push him a couple times, but just know when he has had enough, you are going to be the one who is on the ground when he is done. I am a little the same way, I will take things for quite awhile, but after so long I will not take it anymore.

Here is the issue. Apparently our school has a group of moms that meet for coffee on a regular basis. A lot of them are the PTA moms, it seems. I volunteer with two of the moms Monday through Wednesday for about a half hour each day. One of the moms brought up inviting me to the group while we were all working together (talk about uncomfortable, insert here!!) the other mom just did not reply at all (the exact conversations was "( So and so tell Tami about our coffee group!" and then dead silence, no acknowledgment at all) . Okay, if that isn't a crunchy feeling! The subject was quickly changed to something else.

If they knew me, they would know I don't really like to do those social things anyways, and I would not have taken them up on the offer. Just in case you think I am a total loser, I do have a large social group that I am friends with, so I am not totally socially incompetent, wink, wink!

So after that uncomfortable encounter about not being invited to the COFFEE GROUP, I let it go, no big deal. Then in three more situations, with the same ladies and another mom, the Coffee Group is brought up and discussed in front of me among these 2 or 3 ladies and just me, no one else is there. They talk about how much fun it is, are you going, lets meet up.........and yada yada yada, all while we are standing together. Now I am to the point I just think it is downright FLIPPING RUDE! (Notice Mom I did not use that word you hate, but I might be thinking it :)

Isn't one of the first things you learn as a kid that if you are not going to include someone in something than DON'T TALK ABOUT IT IN FRONT OF THEM! It is certainly one of the things I have taught MY children. Maybe some adults need to revisit this lesson... just saying!

The funny/not so funny part about this whole thing is, that our membership for PTA is dropping like a rock, at a school that used to have a very large membership. So at the beginning of the year the PTA president (who may or may not be one of these women) wrote a letter saying how they encourage others to join and participate in the PTA, and they are not a Clique. I think this is one of those exact moments if you could take a picture and send it to back to that group so they could see their REAL PICTURE, they might be surprised how they look to us on the outside looking in.

I know everybody has things they are good at, and things that they are not so great at. I totally embrace these things about myself, hence telling everyone in the world that I am socially awkward. BUT if you are in charge of a group, or really, even a member of the group, even if you also feel socially inadequate, it is YOUR DUTY!! to help others feel invited and comfortable when joining your group (especially if you are begging for people to be involved in said GROUP)!!

Sigh, I am brushing it off again. The dumb part about all of this is, that I let it hurt my feelings EVEN THOUGH I really (and I am honestly not just saying this) really don't want to, and never would go to this type of thing. I would just like people to have some common MANNERS!

How about THIS people, you EXERCISE your right to not say anything at all.

Okay, I feel much better now that I have gotten this off my chest. I can avoid being a Bitch to these ladies. I can chalk it up to either they are RUDE, INCONSIDERATE, or just plain..... so many things I could say, just insert your own thought here. In which case none of the above is a reflection on me.

Mexican Cruise 2009!!!!

2009-02-18T09:17:00.000-08:00

We finally made it on our cruise! I can now face writing about it without feeling the desire to sell all my belongings and cruise around the world, sigh. It was really such a great experience. Amazing to go with 46 family and friends on such a trip. My sister Kim is AWESOME!! She is the one who put this together. She contacted the travel agent and motivated us all to book our trip.

This is a trip that my children will remember for a lifetime. Our first visit to Mexico and they get to experience it with their Granparents, Aunts, Uncles, sibilings and cousins. I know I will not ever forget it. We are thinking that in 4+ years or so we are going to try and do it again.

Some of the highlights of our trip were:

In Puerta Vallarta Mariah and I got in the water and swam with the dolphins. WOW! about sums up how that felt. Weird and cool, the dolphin was amazing. So intense to be in the water and interact with this amazing creature. Mariah was so extremely happy about getting to do this. She was in heaven.

The boys and Melaina with about 20 others from our group did a zipline tour. They took a bus for about an hour ride out into the country side and had a blast. The video we got is amazing! On their way home they got to do a tour of a Tequila factory. All you ever wanted to know. Actually it sounded pretty interesting the facts they could tell us when they got back. You can tell I was not on the tour because someone (DAD!) let Colton try a shot of tequila. The good news is he was disgusted by it and sadly (not really sad at all!) he puked it back up. Hopefully that will deter him from trying alcohol until he is at least 30 (wink!). (Here is the zipline group.)

Mazatlan was fun, Darrel, Colton and Mariah decided to stay on the boat, they were having a good time! So Anthony, Melaina and I went shopping with a bunch of our group. It was interesting. I was really disturbed by the way the poor were just lined down their sidewalks by the market. It was so hard not to give everyone of them my money. Our driver was amazing and took us all over the city. I mentioned in an earlier post about seeing the poorer districts, and how it made me appreciate all that I have. Of course it would not be a George family vacation without somebody being injured and a hospital trip at least discussed! This time it was Steve, he stepped on something on the beach and sliced the callus off the front ball of his foot. It was just disgusting! On top of that there was talk of cutting the bleeding flap of skin off. GROSS, and STOP!!!! Luckily we didn't have to body tackle anyone and they all stepped back and decided to leave it and let it heal itself. The trip to the hospital in a foreign country was avoided. THANK YOU GOD!!!

Our last stop was Cabo and I am in loooooove with it!! It was beautiful the small amount of time we got to spend there. Kim, Jessica, Mrs Cho, Jackson, Mariah and I did a glass bottom boat tour. It was very cool. The beaches are gorgeous. I want to go back here!

The boat was amazing. The food outrageous! The formal dinner was very cool. The kids tried all kinds of foods they would never really get a chance at. They all tried the escargot. Colton actually liked it allot. Mariah, Darrel and Anthony not so much. The kids each got to have lobster for dinner and Mariah tried the veal (neither of us enjoyed it, but Aaron thought it was great! Our waiters were awesome! Here is Colton and Mariah dancing with them, so cute!!!

I have added my pictures to my digital picture frame in my office so I can look at them everyday. I loved the cruise, but a little disappointed not to spend more time in each city. I can't wait for 4 years to go by so we can all do it again!!!!!!!

Memorial to Uncle Steve

2009-02-10T08:50:00.000-08:00

Today my parents, siblings and I are having a small memorial service to place my Uncle into my Grandma's grave. He passed away over a year ago, but my parents had to pay to have the grave opened so it has taken awhile to place him with his mother. My hubby is working, and I decided not to take the kids out of school. The two younger ones don't ever remember meeting him, and my oldest only met him twice as a young child.

Kids are so funny, when I told them about the service (just in case they really!!! wanted to come), Mariah surprised me and said "I want to go!!" I asked her really, it is going to be outside and Father Rengilli is just going to say a few prayers and we will put him in the grave. She said "Well I have never seen a dead body before, I really want to see the dead body!" Sorry to disappoint you on this one child, but he has been cremated, no dead body only ashes. You see those every time you go to Grandma's in the box on the piano. She was severely disappointed about that.

My Uncle Steve was extremely smart (his IQ was very high), and a brilliantly talented artist that was from the Hippie age. He rolled his own cigarettes (not just tobacco ones either ;) drank Near Beer, and did all the drugs you could think of. The reason I know about the drugs is that we discovered allot of his paraphernalia when he moved one time. Also when I was a teenager he dropped Acid and then read the Book of Revelations. Wow! Let me just say from my second hand experience that this is NEVER!!! a good plan, just in case you were considering it! He spent a week or two in the Psych ward after that episode. Sadly as life went on he drowned himself in alcohol and never could recover from it.

Sad when someone that is so talented spirals out of control and can never be brought back. He swore to us later in life that he had lead poisoning from the soldering of the stained glass, which might be partially true. The rest was the alcohol that poisoned him.

He amazed me in his artistic talent. His stained glass work was beautiful as you can see by the picture I have enclosed of my lamp he made me. It is one of my most beloved possessions. It is sad to say goodbye to anyone. Easier for some than others. I am sorry to say that we did not get a chance to spend a lot of time with Uncle Steve, but the time spent left a deep impression on me and the things I love in life.

I have a deep love of anything glass related in the art world. I did glass painting for a while and am saving up and getting ready to take some stained glass classes in memory of Uncle Steve. I tend to gravitate towards beautiful colored glass in all shapes and believe this is from his influence on me. Being the oldest of us all, I am the one that probably remembers him most. He gave me many art books and taught me the value of the different colors of glass. Red in stained glass is super expensive. Blue glass is highly desirable by artist. I am thankful for the love that he passed on to me of glass art.

Goodbye Uncle Steve, I will hold on and pass down to my children the love of art. I will also teach the value of knowing what addiction is and that it truly runs in our family. Rest in peace with my beloved Grandma Louise. She will be happy to have her baby with her. We love you Uncle Steve!

GREEBLEPIX ENTRY - INSPIRED

2009-01-20T10:53:00.001-08:00

This month greeblepix contest is Inspired. I love this picture. This is from Mazatlan on our trip. Our driver Francisco took us on a tour of the city. We asked that he show the kids some of true Mexico. He took us to the poor area and showed us the places that many people live, with 10 or more people to a room with no power or running water. It was a learning experience for us all. Especially to see the children in this area. It made our children really look at their lives and apprectiate the things they had. It inspired many different questions and concerns from the kids.

Adventures Begin

2009-01-09T20:54:00.000-08:00

We leave for our cruise to Mexico tomorrow. We are so excited at our house that sleep has been hard to come by. Our total group will be 46 friends and family. This will be the first time out of the country (besides Canada) for our kids, wonderful husband and myself.

We are so excited for some sunshine and a trip of a lifetime. I am so happy that Anthony and his girlfriend Melaina are going with us so we can experience it all together. Hopefully sleep will come easier tonight! Off to new adventures!!

Socially Awkward

2008-12-02T09:10:00.000-08:00

Having children makes you reflect on your own childhood sometimes. Mine was fine as they go, nothing extremely bad happened, if you don't count the stop sign glasses I wore for the first 5 years of school life, and the bad haircuts, and big gap teeth (yes I do know why kids teased me but it was still mean)! I have come face to face with the fact that I am socially awkward. Weird to put it in writing and to face it head on (and no surprise after my above description I am sure). I always knew that I was lacking in the social graces somehow, but never had tried to put actual words to it. I had a couple friends which is all that is required but was always on the outside of the large social groups.

It was a revelation on Monday night. Skating party night for our school. I am uncomfortable in social situations! Especially when I have to go and make small talk with people I hardly know. I always get stuck talking to the weird people (I am weird also I am sure, just different weird than the ones I get stuck with). Monday night I did not feel good, Colton had youth group (and apparently 6th grade is WAY to cool for school skating parties anyways), and Mariah really wanted to go. Wonderful husband was (convieniently) working late, so guess who is stuck with the chore. So (being a bad mom) using my mom charms (aka bribery) I offered Mariah a choice, we can go to the skating party, or......we can spend the money for a new Webkinz animal. (OH Mean mommy!) Such a hard choice to have to make. Of course the chance at a new Webkinz was much more intriguing than the skating party, so we now have added Henry the Hippo to our collection. For those of you who don't know what Webkinz are (lucky you!) they are like beanie babies but have a whole web world set up to interact with them.

I feel like I let Mariah down, but it was just one of those days I could not face going and having to come up with small talk. I know a lot of the parents in a casual "Hi how are you" way, but I seem to freeze in social situations and be extremely awkward. I am so happy that so far I have not passed this down to the boys. They are both so outgoing and happy go lucky, every one likes them. I am working hard at not passing this onto Mariah. She is outgoing also, her teacher tells me she is loved by everyone in the class, but she tends to be a worrier. It comes with that perfectionist attitude she has. I am working with her on not worring about what others think of her (one of my biggest issues, from being teased horribly as a kid and my personallity apparently) and being happy with who she is. In todays society it is so hard to be happy with who you are. There is always someone prettier, skinnier, smarter, this is what I tell my kids, BUT there is nobody else that is you! I work on telling myself this each day also, I am hoping by the time I hit 80 I won't care either!

Goodbye Sunshine

2008-11-06T17:47:00.000-08:00

The last Saturday of the warm fall. Now the true NW weather has come back with a vengeance. So happy to have made it through almost the whole soccer season no rain!! Thank God for indoor soccer in winter.

Only 66 days till our Mexican Cruise. As you can see I am counting down, even more so now that the rain has come back! SUN, SUN, SUN, I am chanting all my way to the fake and bake to prepare my lilly white skin for the true sunshine. I know the sun in Mexico is going to be hotter than the luke warm sun we feel here, and I CAN'T WAIT!!

Teacher Conferences and THE FALL

2008-10-30T12:19:00.000-07:00

Tuesday was teacher conference day for Colton and Mariah. I have to say that I LOVE these conferences now. My oldest was a little hard on the teachers so I would spend most of that time listening to "How great a kid Anthony is BUT", a long list of: he doesn't sit still (he is a boy!), he is restless, doesn't like to read (not everyone does!), is very smart if he would put his effort towards it. I just wanted to SCREAM sometimes. It was always nice when one of the teachers would recognize what a great kid he is. Anthony has such great leadership abilities, so smart, and such a kind person.

I always feel in my heart that I should have waited to start Anthony when he was 6 rather than 5. Both Anthony and Colton are June babies. I feel like it made 100% difference in Colton's school life (so far, we are only half way there! fingers crossed) to start at 6 compared to Anthony's. If only the schools would help guide new parents with that. It always felt like Anthony got everything at the end of the year rather than the beginning. The best part is that he stuck through school all the way to the end and graduated on time. He had to work a little harder than others but he did it. Graduation is one of those moments when you feel such accomplishment as a parent. Hard to believe how proud and what love you feel in those moments.

Now the school conferences are as different as each of my children are. Colton's teachers absolutely adore him. More than one has wanted me to have him tested for the Challenge program in our school district. So strange how easy school comes for that kid, both his dad and I had to work hard to graduate. I have not had to help him with his homework since first grade really. It is weird that Anthony and Colton can look so alike, think so alike, enjoy the same things, but be so vastly different. Each year the teachers tell me what a hard worker Colton is, that he shows such great leadership abilities and he is the model student. (Some days I wonder where that kid is at home!) He is reading at a 9th grade level (if he could ever finish a book without getting bored half way through), but (shock of all shocks!!) he needs to work on his organization skills. If you have ever seen his bedroom it all becomes clear. I can't believe this is the last year of elementary school for him. I am not ready for him to be in Junior High next year, so much change. Selfishly I will miss those times when the teacher tells me how great he is. Of course I am completely biased and will always think this about each of my kids anyways.

Mariah, what do you say. I about fall off my chair each year when the teacher tells me what an easy going child she is. WHAT! Maybe they would like to be at my house each morning when Ms Grumpy Pants does not want to get up. Or when things are not perfect in her world and it is crumbling around us. Her teacher said that she is a great role model for her class. She is a hard worker, pays attention and follows directions like a dream. Her teacher said she wished of a class full of Mariahs (careful what we wish for). Funny the things each of the teachers would like them to work on are the same things we are working on at home. Mariah is (dare I say it out loud) a PERFECTIONIST, I am not really sure where this has come from. For sure not me her mom, I am both sad/happy to say. It is a long hard road for someone who believes everything in life must be perfect. Everyday we work on telling her that it is OK to make mistakes, that correcting the mistakes is what make us grow and learn. If you don't make the mistakes how can you be better at life. The funniest part is that she got the same speech from her soccer coach. He gets so frustrated with her when he can see that she is worrying about her every move rather than being involved in the game. I am so proud of how smart she is and how much of herself she pores into everything she does. The thing that concerns me the most with my little perfectionist, that she will worry herself to death and never fully engage in life. But that in itself is a lifetime project that we will work on everyday.

So after having such glowing moments in the conferences I am off to my car. Oops I forgot that I parked up the hill on the other side. So jiggling my purse looking for my keys, trying to call my kids back (of course they called me three times knowing that I am in the teacher conference, WHY!!! the house was not burning, and no stitches involved) and trying not to drop all the paperwork I switch directions. Never a good idea when tramping through the underbrush to not pay attention to your feet. Just FYI! Of course at the exact moment of my humiliation there has to be about 10 parents coming and going to witness my FALL. Yep, one of those frozen in moment times when you know you are going down but can't stop it. Out goes my right hand to stop all of me. Flying across the rocks and bushes goes my Glasses, my phone, my purse, my keys, all the paperwork. Rushing towards me are a couple concerned dads (very nice but even more embarrassing!) to help the klutz up.

If only at that exact moment the world would swallow me up. I reassure them that yes, I am fine, I can get myself up. Thanks so much for your concern. Gather my items, make mental note to self that I am now OLD apparently and more klutzy than I used to be, so don't be multitasking while trying to navigate the off road areas of school. On a light note there is apparently a bone in the pad of your hand under your thumb that breaks and does not heal easily. So now I may have to have an xray to rule out the break, when and if the swelling ever goes down! Funny little life. Always helping us out in those awkward moments.

Sk8tr

2008-10-21T19:40:00.000-07:00

If it is not soccer it is skateboarding at our house. You have to love all the skate parks that are around our area. He is so determined to master what ever it is he is participating in. I love the intensity he brings to life.

I decided to enter this in Aimee over at Greeblemonkeys monthly contest. I love all the pictures that are posted. So many different views from all around.

Washing Machines

2008-10-16T10:14:00.000-07:00

I am just going to start this post by saying I HATE LAUNDRY!!! Ok I feel somewhat better. My washer has been a good machine for almost 12 years now, but like all good things it is coming to an end. My washing machine has been acting a little strange lately. First let me say that it is located in the laundry room aka the garage/computer room, and once I have started the load I walk/run as fast away as I can. I try not to think about it till it is time for the next in a line of never ending loads.

For the past few weeks it has been doing some very weird things. When you start it on regular cycle it will end on the very last cycle which is delicate. At first I thought my husband (lol yeah right!) or (funnier yet!) my kids had been changing it. The spin cycle has been failing, so we have been moving the dial to get it to spin. Sigh, one more thing on the long needs list!!

To make a long and not so funny story short, my washer has been going through all three wash cycles for about a week. Can't wait for THAT water bill!! Now I have to wash all the clothes on delicate cycle or set a timer and run out to stop it before the next cycle begins. And let me just say the delicate cycle ain't much help if you have dirty stinky soccer clothes! It's either wash them twice on delicate or just let it go through all three cycles. I HATE LAUNDRY! My friend Carrie pointed out the this commercial on her blog with Kelly Ripa and the new Electrolux washer. It is now occuping my dreams THANK YOU VERY MUCH! That lovely aqua color, that was the color from our so 1988 wedding. Peach and Aqua all the way!

Hey, that is just the plan I can use. Dear Wonderful Hubby, if you please, please, please, with sugar on top! buy me the AQUA matching set of washer and dryer I will think of our wedding day each time I do our laundry. That is saying I can remember much from the wedding 2o years later!! Oh yes and please note the aqua colored flowers in the homemade (by me of course!) bouquet below. Gotta love the 80's!!

PUBERTY

2008-09-26T12:14:00.000-07:00

OK, so this is not my first ride on the puberty train. I have already graduated one out and through it onto his own. It has been a few years though since I went through the beginning of it with my first one, but just like a bike you start to remember as you get back on.

The other night while my 12 year old and I were lying in bed watching TV (big secret but we like John and Kate plus eight, shhhh don't tell) he puts his arms up behind his head. And low and behold if he did not have a big patch of arm pit hair! How did that get there with out me knowing! All summer long I have not noticed this, I have noticed the change in attitude though. So not without some laughter I asked him "Do you have hair in other places?" He said MOM!!!!!!! Well......just making sure.... boys never tell you anything. My husband let me know that that is NOT something to be shared with moms, and my time is coming with the daughter.

This middle child may be my downfall. The first day of school the head PTA mom tells me that my 6th grader had his name on the school reader board. I asked how can that be on the first day of school? Apparently over the summer the school reader board was vandalized and the letters were re-arranged to spell out I LOVE COLTON D****. When I asked Colton if he knew this, he said his teacher had told him, but he did not know who would do that! Great! It is funny and strange all at the same time.

So our latest trip down the puberty trail has led us to THE BIG TALK. Don't get me wrong we have had many little talks. Colton is the youngest of a long line of boys brothers/cousins in our family. This time curious boy, 12 yr old puberty victim, is hanging out at the local skate park with a bunch of his friends and a couple girls. He decides to ask one of the girls older sister (hmmm my face is red thinking of this) what she would do if the said girl lifted up her shirt. The older sister being the good sister she is, did what she should have. She told her MOM!

So begins the phone calls between parents. Not the best way to meet a fellow classmates mom I must say. Luckily this mom is very nice with a teenage daughter and 3 more girls behind her. Our conversation went something like this...me -I am so sorry, that was so inappropriate for my child to say or even suggest.....her saying-She understands, she is experiencing the girl puberty and just wants to make sure that nothing inappropriate is going on...me-Reassuring her that it will never happen again and that a talk will be had. Ending the conversation on a nice note. I am thankful this is a nice down to earth mom who is on top of things with her girls. I really appreciate her following through and being so kind to me during this embarrassing parent moment.

So the beginning of the BIG TALK, in a long list of talks has started. We discussed appropriate questions. Respect for girls, how every girl is someones daughter/sister/cousin. Curiosity, and who it is OK to talk about these things with. (I can bet I am not the first on the list, but luckily for him he has his Dad and older brother and cousins.) The best part is that I know that he will come to me in times of need for other things if not for this one.

BIG SIGH, I am getting old now. I have another one behind him to ride the puberty train with, and a girl no less. HELP!!!!! I am just hoping that I make it through with all my senses intact.

Wine Country

2008-09-15T17:51:00.001-07:00

I found this contest at Stop screaming I am Driving's sight last month and could not resist joining in this month. I am not the best of photog's but loved these pictures from our Wine Tasting weekend in Yakima. I could have stared at this view for hours, a glass of wine and a nice breezy day, RELAXATION.

Moving Out

2008-08-26T11:50:00.000-07:00

So the big day finally came this month. I thought I was prepared, I knew that my oldest was working up to moving out, but really I was not as ready as I thought I was. My heart hurt when he told me they had found an apartment. All those months of wavering between I can't wait for him to move, to I never want him to go, came down to that one single moment when he broke the news to me.

It was so sweet when they found the place. My self assured kid who has the world by its tail seemed so unsure and young for just a moment in time. It brought me back to all those sweet times when I could make him feel better with my reassurance. It is scary to move out of the child comfort zone into the adult world. For just a moment I got to be the person he needed. The approval he was looking for. I miss those days as the kids get older. He actually wanted me and his dad to see the apartment before they leased it. It was such a happy/sad day!

The apartment is beautiful. I love his girlfriend (not happy for them to move in together, but what can you tell the 19 year old, believe me when I say he knows how I feel about it) she is a beautiful person and they fit so very well together. She makes him a better person in so many ways.

I can honestly say that I am so very proud of the person he has become. When Darrel and I went to see the apartment we also met the landlord. The landlord told Darrel how impressed he was with both of them. He said he was nervous when they said they were 19, but after meeting them and speaking with them he was so impressed that he let them rent without a credit check or references. The landlord just thought they were so well spoken and put together for such a young couple. Let me just say that my heart about burst with pride for that compliment. I worked hard on that kid and so far he is fantastic!!

Now the excitement has begun at our house. The younger two are sad to see him go and actually miss him alot. But now the room shift begins. We are limited in our space and need the room so I can have an office now instead of my bedroom. Colton is moving up to Anthonys room (the big room), which is going to be a challenge because he is not very good about keeping his room clean. I let them each pick a color for one of their walls, Colton has chosen fluorescent green! After we have made his big move we will paint his room and Mariah will move on up. Anthony was a little upset that we were moving so quickly, like we were going to keep his room empty and waiting for him.

Sorry Charlie but the world keeps turning around here and the move is on!!!

Look of Determination

2008-08-20T09:39:00.000-07:00

Soccer Cleat Fiasco

2008-08-05T11:52:00.000-07:00

Life is funny the way it works sometimes. Our middle son Colton is playing on a select soccer team the NW Nationals Blue team. In celebration of making it on to this team (about 70 players tried out for the A and B team this year) we decided to splurge on

new cleats. In our house splurging for us is considered spending $90.00. I know that might not sound like splurging to some, but for us that is alot, we usually try to buy the $40 or less shoes.

So Colton and I go to the Soccer store and spend (not kidding!) almost an hour trying to pick out just the right pair. Decisions, Decisions!! Finally, the perfect pair. Not to flashy, black and white Umbro SX. Colton is walking on air, so excited to have his first really nice pair of cleats, and no hand me downs!

Fast forward a couple weeks into practice. I am on a clean the closet binge, all old shoes are out. In the living room is a go to the thrift store box. I have not taken it to the collection box as I am still sorting out some closets. In steps help full husband, out goes the box, and somehow in the box is the brand new cleats (you saw this coming right!?!)

So 10 phone calls later, 5 trips to the thrift store, 6 different employees (that all know nothing!) and no cleats. Let me just tell you that the pre teen, pre puberty tween can be a little dramatic. Even the most laid back, no drama boys. So yes, this was a very stressful time. So upsetting, I just want to fix it right now. At my house though I don't just have $90.00 to go purchase a new pair, it seems like not much money, but some weeks it is enormous!! We opt to use the cheap pair till we can purchase another nice pair.

So two weeks ago we are at a soccer tournament in Tumwater (we won our age group! Woohoo!). At the last game was a booth from the local Soccer store with sales galore on shoes. Colton and I looked through the sales and found a pair that was super nice and in his size (hard to do, he is a men's 6.5). Great price, I am so excited. We purchase the new cleats and all seems to be happy in Colton world again.

This week help full husband moves the new cleats into the house instead of on the front porch. He and Mariah decide to go run errands for a little bit. Max the naughty puppy is left unattended (again I am sure you can see where this is going). Max is a chewer, he had a little snack. Coltons brand new cleats!! Wow, what are the chances. I can understand why Max choose the new ones, the old ones are PHEW!!!!

So back to the drawing board, I should say the budget board. These soccer stores must love us!!

There are many lessons to be learned in this fiasco........I am going to ponder them now, I think a vodka drink of some kind will be help full!

Bad Tuesday

2008-07-07T12:11:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had one of those days when you woke up and knew you should not have gotten out of bed? That was the last two Tuesday mornings. I woke up and just wanted to stay in bed. Last tuesday work was calling me and so at 6:15am I hopped (well not really, more like dragged) my happy(un-happy) self out of my bed. Two steps across the room to my ball and chain ie: desk and computer. Plop myself down and turn on my can't live without technology. Only to have it refuse to log on! What! How can this be happening. It has turned on everyday for three years now with no problems what so ever.

I am not sure how within 7 years this thing called a computer has become a necessity instead of
a luxury, but it is at my house now. Especially seems I work from home and sign in on to this contraption everyday. Frustration does not even come close to describing the feelings I had at that exact moment. And I am sure the air around me was black with the words I had to say at that exact moment. So being the computer dummy I am I call my husband in a panic to see if he has any save the day ideas. He being the computer genuis he is says, nope sounds like your screwed!!

Screwed! That is how I am going to refer to Tuesdays from now on!

So to make this long story short, 2 days no work =2 days no pay = 1 soccer payment short this month. My genuis of a husband had to reload all my programs (bye bye 6 months of pictures and documents I did not back up!) Big THANK YOU to Carrie for saving the day with the cd of work
programs I needed. And finally thursday morning I was back in business to work again.

Whew! That was some major life drama and to top off the whole week my 2 youngest have come down with swimmers ear.

Life just keeps getting better! This tuesday the same feeling, pull the covers over head, do not get up. But nooooo! I do not listen to my self preserving instincts and up I go. Only to have one more great day!

Mid tuesday morning this week my middle child Colton, in a near panic waves to me to come quickly mom! Something has happened! (I love when they use those words in a panic!) So with the quickness of a mom starting to panic I rush to the front room to see the spider cracks going up the very large front plate glass window. SWEET!!! As the lines go further they look just like dollar signs......Next week I am skipping tuesdays all together!

Birthdays

2008-06-19T09:13:00.000-07:00

June is a busy month in our household. First we have the wedding anniversary, 20 years this year on June 4, then my middle child on the 17th, mine on the 20th and oldest child on the 25th. Whew, that is a lot of celebrating to cram into one month!! (It gives me less time to focus on my age number, it is creeping up far more than I am comfortable with.) Not to mention we have a few extended family with bdays this month also. For all that don't know me, I have a very large immediate family circle. With two brothers, a sister and Jessica my sister from a different mother, plus numerous cousins that we see on a daily basis, we can be a bit of an overwhelming group (so some say). I don't see that we are ;)

Now comes the tricky part of getting all these people plus the in-laws togethter to celebrate. For the most part it usually goes well, but sometimes, it can go OH SO BAD. Especially if one of your in-laws is.....let me see what would be a nice polite word to use.......hmmmm........all I can come up with is.. crazy.. nuts.. not all there.. selfish.. think only of themselves.......I guess those are not exactly nice, but you know what they say, The Truth Hurts! I know everyone has one, and I try not to be TO big a baby and complain, but Jeeze-Louise!! Can she ever think of someone besides herself, oh thats right, and her son and daughter. How about for once thinking of the grandkids, would that be too much trouble?

So each and every gathering we have there is some sort of excuse why she may not be able to attend...this time it is because it may rain, (last year for graduation of her oldest grandchild she couldn't be out that late (7pm) and FYI she is under 65 yrs old.) We live in the NORHTWEST people, it rains just about everyday! Like I mentioned before, CRAZY! Let me also mention that we are having the party at the park so I don't have to go on a super cleaning binge at my house, because someone likes to let us know how we could clean better! I told my wonderful great husband (who I appreciate very much) to just let it go, if she dosen't want to come, I for one am tired of trying to convince her. (This of course is pretending that I tried early on.) Being the great son and man that he is, he of course called her to see if she might change her mind. She has decided now that they can probably come, the weather man is not always right you know! .....So great, another good time at the June birthday event!!!!!!!

Parent to a teen, WHY!!

2008-06-12T12:11:00.000-07:00

Some days I wonder how my parents made it through 4 teenagers. I am only on my first of three and am questioning how I will make it to the next two. Teens bring you such a mix of feelings, from joy for the person they have become, to all out anger at that teen attitude. I feel everday that the saying - Teenagers are Gods way of preparing us for our children to leave home - is oh SO TRUE! Just an FYI God - I AM PREPARED (at least today at this very moment!)

For just a minute about a month ago my soon to be 19 year old son Anthony was talking about moving out with his girlfriend. Not the most ideal living situation, but it is so hard in this day and age to move out, and almost all of his friends are living with girls. So many feelings passed by, from that letting him go feeling, to feeling guilty for being a little happy, to that question of have we prepared him to experience real life. But then sadly/glady that balloon was burst, now he wants to save up money (a good thing) before he goes. As I watch all those many plans put to the back again, ie: move the other two kids up a room, to possibly having my own office/space... Oh well what is a few more months in the big scheme of things.

I just hope we can make it to the move out stage in one piece. I try not to make generalizations, so I will just say that my teenager is a know-it-all kind of guy. (Don't tell my husband but he come by it legitimately, wink, wink.) He would also like to be the boss/parent of his sibilings, even when we the parents are around. That is what happens when you are the oldest, there are 7 and 10 years between him and his brother and sister respectively, so he did alot of the babysitting. I find it amusing that even at these age gaps the arguments still happen.

Our latest argument (other than the everyday kind) is over our new puppy, who just happened to chew the seat off of the Anthony's jet ski.....Oops! Life sucks sometimes and things happen. While not the end of the world I am sure it seemed like it at the exact time for Anthony. Of course being mom I get the brunt of the anger, I do know why his Dad dosen't, but not fair!!! Sometimes I am an adult, and act accordingly,....but that inner child wanting to scream back pops out of me at other times. As I am sure you can guess, this is one of those times. I really dislike it when I let that happen, and always feel super guilty later (especially when I scream you can move out anytime!! and mean it at that exact moment!)

While this argument is still in the resolving itself stages, we have come to an agreement that neither of us will be speaking that way to each other again in that way (or at least try our very hardest). He will not make demands that we get rid of that dog right this minute! and will follow through with moving his jet ski out of the dogs yard. While I will come to some kind of arrangement to help pay for the new seat and keep my inner child inside where she belongs (at least for today).

Here is to another day in life, and teaching myself to celebrate making it through both the big and small things.