Christmas-with words

I downloaded a bunch of pics, I haven't quite got the concept of what order I am suppose to download them to get them in the order I want, but here we go......

Tate get jealous if he thinks anybody else might be hugging or cuddling, and he has to worm his way in........

and he's really jealous of Buster

Tate got a new toy for Christmas and he absolutely LOVES it!!! Plus he is the only one not to beg me to not post the "bad" morning pictures like some of the occupants who shall remain nameless of this house, umm right Tink!


Christmas Eve we went to Church. We were asked to light the Advent Candle. It was a very nice service, then we drove around looking at Christmas lights. I needed a few things from the grocery store for the meal to be made the next day. So we left home 30 minutes early before church and drove across town (yea, I know it's only a mile, but still it was all the way across town) and the grocery store was CLOSED!!! I couldn't believe it! Then we drove to the other grocery store and it was closed too! I knew they closed for Christmas day, but I don't remember them closing early for Christmas Eve. I really just needed 2 apples for the stuffing recipe, I could skip the salad. After we got to church I started scoping the congregation for whomever I thought might have some apples. Yes, okay I have no shame. I needed apples. My brain works one day at a time and I didn't get my grocery supply list done. Luckily our friends were there and she had apples. All was saved!

Christmas day, Boo actually didn't get us up till 8:15. (Good Girl) They quickly ripped through their presents. My mom & dad & hubby's sister came over for lunch. Mom & Dad just happened to have an extra turkey in their freezer, so we had that with all the fixins--mashed potatoes, stuffing, (mine-with applies & my moms) sweet potatoes, corn, rolls. It was a nice day. Only I thought they would all go home early enough that we could run to Kearney for a movie and that didn't happen, but I can live with that.

On Friday we had my whole family over. Mom & dad, my brother, his wife & two kids, my sister, her hubby and two kids and my brother's older daughter and her BF. Our tradition has always been lasagne. My sister made one and I made one. Hubby made sure to serve from my sister's pan first so he could have any of the leftovers. :) It was a nice night too!

Saturday was back to the real world, as I had to work at the hospital. :(

Tink really did beg me not to post her morning pics on my blog, and there really are more pics of the kids then the dog, but I DID post them to facebook...but I didn't "tag" her and she thanked me on my wall! LOL

Hopefully you can tell from this one picture that she had a really nice Christmas!

They both did!

Christmas schedule

We started our Christmas on Sunday with Hubby's family-dad, step-mom, sisters. This was at my house. We had soup. I made chicken noodle and step-mom brought chili, and we just had a lot of different finger foods in fill in around the soup. Hubby's niece had to be to work by 2 so it was all really early, which was nice. My MIL was so appreciative that I offered to host that she brought me a thank you gift and that was so sweet - a Santa figurine that I absolutely LOVE!

Monday, hubby & I went to Kearney and finished our shopping, well most of it. There were a few things that I got in town yesterday. School got out yesterday at noon and I think the girls spent the day doing nothing!

Tonight our family was asked to light the advent candles for church tonight, then, i'm hoping, we can go look at Christmas lights. We haven't done that at all yet this year! I'm hoping it can just be a nice quiet family night.

Christmas day will be at my house. My parents and hubby's sister & niece. Basically, any of our family members that don't have anywhere else to go. My mom has a turkey that we are going to fix. Hubby & I weren't planning on turkey, but mom already had it in her freezer. I've never cooked a turkey before. Hubby has fried one before, but we didn't want to mess with that. Hubby is kinda freaking out about it. He keeps saying why can't they cook it and just bring it over with them. and I'm like, cuz my mom's turkey is ALWAYS dry!! It will be fine. I looked up on the Internet some tips.

Friday, we will have my family, again at my house. Traditionally, my family celebrated on Christmas Eve and we always have lasagna. Well we've been able to keep the lasagna, but with all our different jobs -my brother works in law enforcement and my sis in a nursing home -neither of which close-we've had to jiggie around the date.

So there is my Holiday schedule. Just in case you were wondering! LOL

I work the weekend at the hospital. :(

I hope each of you have a glorious Holiday and may the spirit of Christmas be in your hearts!

Shower

My SIL has a history of expecting help (financial and otherwise) from others but she expects this help on her terms. I've always struggled with this. I'm not saying that i'm not willing to help her out, but I don't appreciate her expecting the help and on her terms.

So last night, at 10:30 she TEXT hubby to say that she didn't have any hot water and could she come for a shower. Tink & Hubby had not showered yet either. Hubby text her back, "NOW"

SIL "either 10:45 tonight or at 5:45 am tommorrow."

What kind of choices are those. I was already in bed, Tink brings the phone into me to read, why I don't know, it's not my sister! I just responded with "ugg" . AND if she REALLY was in a bind why in H E L L did she just not call on the phone vs. texting.

Whatever

I don't know why it bugs me, but I got to thinking about what I would have done in the same situation. I think I would have a) taken a very fast cold shower or b) heated some water up on the stove for a quick bath or c) gone without for a day.

I tend to try to take care of things myself instead of asking for help. I don't like to ask for help. Her first response is expect someone else to deal with it for her. And as my dear friend pointed out this morning, that is a difference is personalities. Okay yes it is, but it still bugs me!

Question?

What would you do if you had no hot water? And needed to take a shower? Would you call a relative or close friend to see if you could shower at their place? And then say you could only come at 10:45 pm or 5:45 am? I have a story, I just want to know what you think. - Sorry if that is vague. I am the supplier of the hot water. And i'm just really trying to decide if my SIL is that stupid of a user or if i'm maybe just overreacting to be irritated about it.

Anyway....in other Tracie news. I've come to work with yet another headache. I am not prone to headaches. Sometime during the monthly hormonal fluctuation I get a headache, but this one has been pretty constant for at least the last week & 1/2. Monday it was in the back and my neck and shoulder were so tight I was starting to question if I was getting the flu, yesterday it felt like sinus pressure, so I thought well maybe I'm getting a sinus infection and today my neck is stiff again but there is just a dull ache right in the middle.

Last night I made an angel food cake for a funeral at my church today. I was also working on some cookies while it baked and talking to my sister on the phone. I knew enough to put the phone down while I took the cake out of the oven and inverted it on the bottle. I grabbed the first hot pad out of the drawer which was a crocheted hot pad with holes in it (not holes like it needs to be replaces, but like holes between the stitches) and I didn't even think about it, reached in with that hot pad and my finger grabbed the oven rack. To which I said *@#$&%^! Then I tried to invert the cake on the bottle, thought I had it lined up but instead but the bottle through the cake! To which I said *&^%$#@! Finally got back on the phone and my sister said "what the hell is going on over there?" The rest of the night I kept hoping that the hole in the cake wouldn't be that noticeable. But......needless to say I sent hubby back to the store at 9:15 to get another cake mix. So you say, at least you have a cake you could do something with now. Well you'd think. But as soon as hubby & Tink realized the first cake was a flop they were like ravenous animals on fresh kill. This morning Boo says "Mom, why did you only make 1/2 a cake?"

Now, everybody sing ..."The weather outside is frightful..." okay that's enough. I think I made my point.

Christmas shopping was very frustrating on Monday. I don't know how my husband and I can have the same conversation and both have a completely different opinion on what we decided!

Well I think I have bored you enough, if you made it this far. Have a great day!

Good day

Well it's been a pretty good day!

1) My immediate supervisor was gone today - so good day in its self.
2) I was named June's BF!
3) I won an apron from Lucky wife & Mom of 2 girls!
4) I have a date with my hubby and get this other adults for grown up activities!!
5) I had my hair done! - with some new colors. I can't just go dark, like is the style, so she put some dark touches in

So I might go buy a lottery ticket.......

Have a great weekend!

Why

WHY
am I wide awake at 3:00 am

and

sound asleep at 6:00 am?

Where are my jeans?

This morning we are getting to ready to go. Boo is in a hither because she can’t find any jeans and just won’t take my word that there are NONE in the laundry. Because evidently she must think I hide her clothes. ?

I said “Did you check that pile of clean clothes in your room?”

Boo: all huffy “MOM, they are NOT it there.”

Me: Well maybe when you get home from school you should try putting away that PILE of clothes then you would be able to find what you needed”

Boo: “No mom they are not in there I already looked”

Me: See previous comment.

Boo: Glare

Me: (to the tune of “If you’re happy and you know it”) “ If you love your mommy put a smile on your face, if you love your mommy put a smile on your face.”

Boo: Glare

Me: If you love your mommy put a smile on your face, if you love your mommy put a smile on your face.”

Boo: cracked a laugh and stomped off wailing “that’s not fair!”

I think I won that one, but the clothes WILL NOT be put away either, ….so maybe it’s a draw.

LOL

YUCK

This is what we woke up to this morning. I wish I could add the sound of the wind.

YUCK!

Shopping

I did it! I'm still cringing too! I deleted my spaces account. I think, okay hope, that was the right thing to do. I started over there and met alot of great people, and even though I haven't met anyone over here yet, I think it is easier to use.


Anyway, shopping yesterday, was almost a complete waste of time. SO MANY PEOPLE! Drives me nuts! We did finish the 3 nieces, but everyone else is like ??? no clue what to get. So we did alot of walking around. And every time I turned around hubby had wondered off. He's worse than a kid! Seriously!

But we now have several options for the kids. But we can't decide. I've been wanting to get the girls TVs for their rooms with DVD players, I wouldn't let them have cable, but they like to watch movies in their rooms and are constantly fighting over the portable DVD player. These are kinda pricey.

Tink really wants a new cell phone and a slim digital camera.

Boo wants an IPOD, a cell phone. A cell phone for her would be cheap enough. She could have my old one (cuz i'd really like to get a blackberry-I think) or there are some on line for free or .99. But the IPOD is way more.

I keep asking hubby what he thinks, but, and he does what drives him crazy when people do this to him, doesn't ever answer the question directly. And kinda just keeps talking in circles. ??
What to do, what to do....we can't afford all of it.

But it sounds like we need to be thankful that we have such a problem, because that means all of our needs are met!

Finally, I made a great super tonight. Well okay I made super tonight. First time all week. But then Tink went to youth group - they were all going to go eat Chinese and hubby had a meeting. So it was just me & Boo. We liked it, Chicken Parmesan, but we could have just as easy had cereal. Oh well! At least that can't say I never cook! LOL

I am a loser!

I know, I know

I AM A GREAT BIG LOSER

for not posting more often!

We had a very nice Thanksgiving. At my sisters. She & her hubby did all the cooking. It was great. All I had to do was show up! So relaxing! And I didn't even end up having to work at the hospital because my co-worker (that I work with on the weekends) wanted the extra hours and offered to work it for me!! YEA!! (Thanks N!)

But there have been a few things going on.

Tink got into MAJOR trouble! I would not have blogged about the details here anyway because I don't wont the whole world to know, but it has been emotional for all of us.

My BIL, my above sister's hubby, got yet another DUI Friday night after he wrecked his vehicle. And he checked himself into a treatment center. And again he barely blew over the legal limit, but it's still over. He isn't a stumbling drunk nor is his consumption a lot, he just doesn't make wise decisions. He tries so hard to please people that sometimes in order to get the acceptance he puts himself at risk. But hopefully he will get the help he needs because this has been very difficult on my sister!

My community has lost yet another teenager this week. That makes 3 since April! One due to natural causes - he had had an heart condition his whole life, but during PE he wasn't feeling well and went to the restroom and that is where the students the teacher sent to go check on him found him. The next 2 from senseless car accidents. Neither had been drinking or screwing around just bad driving decisions. I just try to remember that as traumatic as it is to lose young people that for whatever reason it was God's plan.

I have the whole weekend off so I'm going to try to get a big push going on the holiday shopping & baking this weekend. And as you can see I am using my time wisely on the computer! LOL

But I do think I just heard the dryer buzz, so I probably better get busy!!

Wishing each & every one of you a very

HAPPY

THANKSGIVING!!

Hope your day is all you wished for!

Well it's been yet another busy week. I've been sitting here at work trying to remember......it's a tough job! (remembering)

Monday was escaping me completely, but I finally remembered that I had back to back meetings at church.

Tuesday my dad had knee replacement surgery. Which went very well, and now he is in the recovery/healing process.

Wednesday we had an employee meeting over the lunch hours. Half goes at 11:30 and the other half goes at 12:30. And well, I cooked. For 35 people. Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, all the fixings. The bank doesn't have a stove or anything so it all had to be in roasters & crockpots. Another co-worker brought a couple of salads and dessert and someone else brought corn. But it went really well, and I received a great amount of praise! (which, you know, is why I did it - haha)

I've been trying to get back into Yoga. Several years ago, I wouldn't miss, but then it just got harder & harder to juggle all the schedules and I gave it up. The Y offers classes twice a week and I aim for both, but usually just make one. This session of classes, there is also a 20/20 cardio/toning class that i've been trying to attend too. But it's at 4:10 and that makes it hard to get there. I've gone twice. (But I think there has only been 4) . On Tuesday I was actually seeing spots! I joked that I was going to start calling the instructor Jillian! (From the Biggest Loser) As she kept saying "DIG DEEP" And i wanted to tell her where she could dig! LOL

Anyway that life so far this week - not much, but an update!!!

Tate

Tate.

Looks pretty innocent doesn't he?

Well, don't let those handsome good looks fool ya!

He is

Naughty

Naughty

Naughty

Last night, while I was in Kearney, Boo was at a friends, Tink went out to eat with the dance team for a "bonding" night and hubby was out in the garage with my dad building steps for our new patio door this little twerp got the container (with a lid) of cookies off the counter and proceeded to eat himself sick. I'm guessing around 3 dozen cookies.

Now anybody with half a brain knows that you don't leave this little cookie monster alone in the house for ANY length of time. I can't even go downstairs to do the laundry that he doesn't start ripping the house apart.

So guess who was up half the night puking?

Guess who else was up cleaning it up?

(okay not just me, hubby helped, some)

Guess who had to go outside at 2:30 AM and again at 4:00 AM to coax the dog back in the house because he thought he was in trouble and wouldn't come back in by himself?

(Picture this: me in ONLY my bathrobe outside in the cold in the middle of the night trying to bribe a big poodle with a dog biscuit)

Guess who goes right back to sleep and starts snoring and guess who else tosses and turns and is almost back to sleep and hour later when the cookie monster start to hurl again?

Guess who now has 4 extra loads of laundry to do?

Guess who is perfectly fine this morning?

Ready for the weekend!

Who's ready for the weekend??

ME - that's who!!

I think I will run over to Kearney tonight. I want to stop at Hobby Lobby, have a return a JC Penney and need to hit Wally World for the next two weeks of grocerys.

I do have to work at the hospital on Saturday, but won't have to on Sunday since I worked last Sunday due a trade. Yea! I'm looking forward to only having to work one night of the weekend.

AND I am looking forward to sleeping in on Saturday!!!

Have a great weekend to all of you!

Dance

So this past weekend we traveled to the big city of Omaha for Boo and her dance class to attend Dance Olympus. On Saturday there was a competion. I found humor in the fact that they were assigned the "Green Room" for their dressing room vs. dressing room 1 or 2, etc.

Here they are in the green room, Boo is right behind this little girl that stepped in front on me right when the picture snapped. LOL

You couldn't take any flash photography in the the auditorium, and I didn't know how to shut my flash off, plus it was pretty dark so they probably wouldn't have turned out anyway - (atleast that's what I'm telling my self) . Here is Boo and her dance mate with their 2 third place trophies! The two teams that beat them in both their Tap and Jazz were VERY good!!

Arn't their costumes just adorable!

Here's a pic. of the hairdo that we had to do. One of the mom's actually gave a demonstration on how we were to do the hair! The hair tutuorial was a little overwhelming, and I told Boo that she was so screwed because she had me to do her hair. But we practiced and I think it turned out pretty cute! Although, she did get a couple of odd looks at the mall! LOL

Frustration 1

So this morning is a perfect example of my growing frustration at home. When I took the 2nd job, hubby said he would “pick up the slack” at home. And when I get home at 11:00 I am exhausted and go straight to bed, not because the work is grueling, many nights it is so boring you want to rip out your hair and count the strands, but just because it’s late, later than I usually go to bed and I know it’s going to be a long week.

As I am getting ready for work this morning, I put my laundry in the basket and notice that it is so full there is a tower going up the wall and I thought to myself it would have been nice if he could have taken this downstairs to the laundry room, but I didn’t say anything.

Move into the kitchen for breakfast. I usually make Tink’s lunch for her. Last night I specifically asked her to make her sandwich, and I got some lip back, but I was very clear that I wanted HER to make the sandwich LAST NIGHT. I open the refrigerator to pack it into her lunch bag – no sandwich. I said “didn’t she make her sandwich like I asked her to?” guess not. The dishes from last night’s supper are still out. The containers that they brought the food to the hospital in laying on the island now with caked dried cold cheese, hamburger still in the skillet, cups all over the counter.

I looked at hubby and said “What did you do last night” (obviously nothing) “Well I took the (new) clothes out of the bags (and put them in the laundry) and you said that you bought the wrong bras (sorry TMI) so I put those in the sack and put them on your dresser.” He’s now looking at me sheepishly and says “I guess, nothing” (no kidding)

I said trying not to cry “I think you need to find the 2nd job.”

“You want ME to get a second job?”

“Well this obviously isn’t working! We’re in worse financial shape now than when I started there 3 years ago.” And not to mention I am completely stressed out!

I grab my toast go sit down at the table, he makes pop tarts for himself & Boo. Tink finally come up and he starts ragging on her because she didn’t make her sandwich. ? I wasn’t going to say anything, just let her pay the consequences of not having done it. But no, he has to start ragging on her, she lips backs, he yells at her for lipping and says “mom doesn’t need this” and I sit there thinking WTH and just shake my head. Whatever buddy, don’t cover your own guilt by yelling at her.

And what really ticked me off last weekend was when he announced he was going hunting all day. WHAT, I’m going to go work all day, first Saturday morning at the bank and then my 2nd job and you’re going to go do what you want without any regard for anything else. Then on Monday when he finds out his boss worked all day I hear “well I screwed up, I should have stayed home and helped Boss” Ya think!

So after having just said (typed) all that, hubby is not a complete jerk, he’s just an oblivious man. This frustration is NOT the reason I so upset the other day, it’s just the easiest to talk about right now. Because we all rag on our hubby’s, it’s in the sisterhood doctrine.

TGIF

I will vent, cuz I got SO SO SO SO much to vent about, but first i'm off to Omaha to Boo's dance competion thing. Unless ofcourse I start drinking margaritas and am able to drink everything away. - Yea I don't think thats going to happen this is more of a church going do gooders crowd than a let's get drunk in the parking lot soccer people that we usually go places with.

Have a good weekend!

?

What do you do when your so frustrated it overwhelms you.

Frustrated at work
Frustrated at home
Frustrated socially.

Frustrated=bitter

As a sit here crying trying to understand why I just can't find the positives and thinking the best thing to do is just not let anyone in, build my wall, ?

I'm tired of my best not being good enough
I'm tired of being judged unfairly -especailly from people who have NO right to be judging.
I'm tired of working hard and getting no where.

It's okay I don't expect anyone to comment, I just needed to get it out.

Halloween

Happy Halloween!

Here's our Jacks

Do you see Tink standing in the door? No not the one just hanging around, the other door.

Boo's design

Hubby's design
Some lady even asked if we carved those and how great they were.
I don't know if she was on a sugar brain surge or what,

Some of our visitorsL

My niece's
a princess (I think) and Gabriella from High School Musical 2

My sista -
she won't shut up long enough to get a good pic.

Elaina -

our pastor's great-granddaughter

And finally the group!

Boo's friend is having a slumber party tonight for her b-day

so they all went trick or treating as a group. And the best part is that her mom

took them all! WooYoo!!

It's a gorgeous night out tonight High 60s, no wind - perfect

Not like the nights I did take kids, when it was cold, and windy and misting.

And the moment you have all been waiting for

drum roll please...........

The cheer costume!
(please notice that no foul language was used - thought but not actually used-

I get points for that)

It's not my best work, but I think it could have turned out way worse and she would have loved it. Because I made it, for her. Notice she only made out with one pom that I had to make her go back to the car to get.

Ew, i shoulda closed the doors to the desk before I took that pic.

Halloween Tradition

Every year at work, on Halloween day, we get a visit from Witchie Poo.

Witchie Poo is one of our employees alter egos.

The first year she did this, she got SO many employees caught off guard, especially the guys!

I meant to bring my real camera and I forgot, so I took these with my cell phone, so the quality is a little blurry.

It is so much fun! She just cackles and laughs! And asks if you've been naughty or not. The more naughty you admit to, the more candy or loot she gives. Some of the things she says -

Zingers, she can totally slam people (things you wouldn't really say to their face) then cackle, they laugh too and it's all okay

Her "new" socks

Here she is handing out the loot

I e-mailed these pictures to everyone at work too this morning, and she brought me out another piece of candy and a plastic frog because I had been extra naughty!

Not around

I haven't been around much this week. Boo decided last week that she wanted to be a cheerleader for halloween. So guess who has been sewing all week? I just have some finishing touches and it should be done. A real seamstress would fall down laughing if she could she my work, but for a halloween costume it will do. Right now I am the "best mommy ever". Atleast until the next time I ask her to clean her room or unload the dishwasher then we'll be back to "that's not fair".

Assuming the costume fits, i'll post pics.

Pray for me!

OH Pray for me!

Tink just passed her leaner's permit driver's test!

Just shoot me!

I swear to GOD I am surrounded by stupid people! (No not you guys)

Last night, I took Tink out to our local one stop store – like a Wal-mart only a whole lot smaller. I don’t got out there very often because every time I go out there I leave severely ticked off. But Tink needed some khaki pants for her vocal music concert tonight since the pair she has she can’t button and since the weather was so bad yesterday – rain turning to snow, high winds- we could not go to Kearney.

We pull into the parking lot and there is one spot near the building open, because the rest of parking lot is under water—seriously. But the car next to this one parking spot has their driver’s door open but they are loading something into their trunk. So I start pulling in slowly, thinking they would like you know SHUT their door. NO. They finished loading whatever they were doing then went into the building with the car door still hanging open. So I squeezed in anyway. IDIOTS!

We find some pants that she’s willing to wear, she grabs the size she thinks she needs. She didn’t want to try them on because she had just gotten out of v-ball practice and only had on her spandex (no undies). I looked at the priced. $27.99. To which I shrieked and said to Tink “I wouldn’t pay this much for pants if we were at name brand store.” Well, I might, but she better LOVE them!! But I was NOT expecting that prices at the discount store. But we had to have them. So now I’m irritated.

Then we proceed to the checkout. This boy she knows that use to be our neighbor was working out there and Tink didn’t want to go to his line, so we go to what APPEARS to be the next shortest. Get in line behind “Tom”. Now around here all you gotta say is “Tom” was there and everyone just goes “Ahh” and shakes their head. You don’t have to explain cuz everyone knows him.

Let’s just say, “Tom” believes he lives in the pioneer days. Dressed cowboy to the hilt during the day. Cross-dresser by night. People have spotted him out & about shopping dressed as an attractive woman – except for all that facial hair. “Tom” likes to get the reaction out of people. He’s also the, I guess you call it nice-rude. He’s very polite but he asks you do things for him that are so outlandish that you wouldn’t do for any other customer. And he pushes until you are so exasperated.. I could go on & on, but hopefully you get the point.

ANYWAY, so we’re in line behind Tom, he then leaves the line at the end of him being checked out and comes back with this big-A jug of whiskey. Of course the kid working the checkout line is not old enough to sell it so he has to ask for help. So the lady comes over deals with the alcohol tells Tom his total and he says “Well, I gotta go back out to the pickup and get my checkbook” I just rolled my eyes and shook my head!

In the meantime the lady that came to help with the alcohol opens another lane. So we move over there. But this other couple got in front of us. The couple from above with the car door. All she has is a Big-A jug of Vodka and a Nestle ice cream bar. (And I’m now thinking what’s up with all the big-A jugs of Alcohol) and she has ONES to pay for it. She’s shuffling through her money and says I know I have a ten in here somewhere and money is falling and it’s all crinkled up.

I looked at Tink and said “Just shoot me! Shoot me now!”

It says what?!

This past Sunday at Sunday School we were having the lesson on Abraham and Sarah and God giving them a baby and being patient for God's gifts. The kids were taking turns reading the lesson story and the scripture story from the Bible. I have 4th & 5th graders

First I must say that I do not care for the Bibles that are in the rooms for the kids to use. One of our previous lessons, the scripture did not match the papers that we were trying to do. Then I got out the one Adventure Bible and it matched word for word. There use to be Adventure Bibles for kids in all the Sunday School rooms. Those were easier reading and have little boxes that give an example of the scripture lesson to put it into perspective for the kids. I'm not sure what happened to them, but they have been replaces by these others. I'm not sure what the version of these are, but for kids, I don't like them.

Anyway, one the 4th grade boys in the class was reading the bible verse and it came to a part about Sarah being past the age of still having her monthly period. He blushed slightly, said the word period like it was grotesque, but he kept going and didn't have much of a reaction and none of the other kids did. So I thought, whew, got through that okay.

He kept reading then it said something, and I'm paraphrasing, it was Sarah talking "am I still young enough to enjoy sex?" He fumbled over those words turn 10 shades of red. And I said "Does it REALLY say that?" He started snickering, and the other teacher said "YES it really says that!" And the whole room burst into laughter. He was so embarrassed.

But it kinda was funny, mostly just his & my reactions I think.

I really need to ask the pastor what happened to those other Bibles.

Men at Work

This was the activity at my house last Saturday. I didn't get a "before" picture before they started but this is pretty close - just imagine the window surronded by "berry berry" sheet rock. Tate was in the middle of it!



I was trying to catch them just standing around!

My dad, hubby, & Kyle

I didn't get an "after" shot either. The door works, but hubby is going to add an outlet and a switch for some lights outside. Then the sheet rock will needto be replaced and then more dust, etc. etc. Maybe by this time NEXT year!

Cake

Although not June quality, here are pics of 2 of the cakes I made this past week for Tink's birthday. The third cake is not going to materialize. Please keep in mind that this was my first frosting experience. I was a frosting virgin. And though it was slightly messy there was a fair amount of enjoyment and I will probably try again.

The below cake is the one we ate for the family party the night of Tink's Birthday. Yes those are those cake candies that you buy at the store. They were Tinkerbell and that is what Tink wanted. I used purple frosting because that's what I had left over from the first cake. I was trying for a lime green for the edge. I had the neon food coloring & the decorations said green & pink, but the pink and purple lids BOTH had pink lids and I accidentally grabbed by purple and I just couldn't get past this baby poop green color. LOL

The next 3 pics. are the cake that we took to the volleyball team dinner on Wednesday. The "freshman" were in charge of the food so I thought since it was her actual birthday day that cake & ice cream would be fun. The girls were all so nice and the following adjectives were used: cute, fun, yummy.


I don't know what Hoorah means, other than it's printed on their t-shirts and they say it sometime after they score a point. I'm just the mom!

15 years

Happy 15th Birthday Tink!!!

I can't believe it's been 15 years. It just seems like yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital. Just the other day that she & I had some major toddler power struggles. Just the other day she started kindergarden. Just the other day....

(excuse me while I go dry my eyes)

Now she's a 5'7" freshman in high school! A super sweet girl and i'm SO proud of her!!!

Columbus Day

I have the day off! WooHoo!!! It's great! I love a day off!

I had MANY things to get done today. And I should have made a list. Cuz my brain had gone all ADD on me. It's seems I start something, move on to the next thing without finishing the first thing. Can't get organized. feel like I haven't gotten much done, because the house is kinda in disaray due to the ADD thing, but I have been busy most of the morning (well until I logged on to the computer) I have:

taken Tink to school
went to the grocery storey-before my shower even and my hair was ohhhohhh
baked a cake
exercised
showered
beat the dog-no not really, but we did have words-he is SO naughty
Cleaned out the front coat closet
changed the mouse on the computer.

And now I really should make a list for what I want to get done this afternoon. But.... I probably won't, I'll just keep pinballing around.

The repair shop came to get my car, they changed the water pump last week/2wks ago and my "Low Coolant" lite came on yesterday while the girls & I were in Kearney. SO hubby thinks my car must have a "slow" leak probably due to that they didn't get something tightened correctly. I called hubby when I noticed the light was one, so he says I will need to add some antifreeze and to watch the heat gauge thing closely, we were almost to Kearney so I told him I thought wal-mart would do that, he agreed. The girls & I went to the mall, did our damage then headed over to wal-mart. I stood in line back at the automotive department to be told "they are not trained for anitfreeze" WHAT!? I stood there and said " they just can't poor some in for me" and the lady was like "NO, they are not trained, yada yada" plus she had this not nice attitude. SO i replied " fine, i'll figure out how to do it myself" and I turned around and walked out. Oh did I mention that it was pouring rain! The girls and I started our shopping, I was almost in tears! Somewhere between complete anger and frustration. We finished up our shopping headed out to the car, in the rain, then I try to figure out how to get the hood open, and where the antifreeze goes. Several phone calls to hubby later, I am trying to the get the cap off the radiator thing and I can not get it off and I am now pissed at hubby for not being there. And please keep in mind that we are in the parking lot of wal-mart. Cars coming and going, cars that contain men, men that the watching this woman standing in the rain messing with the engine portion of her car. And the ONLY person that asked me if I needed any help WAS ANOTHER WOMAN!!! I couldn't ge the cap off to add the antifreeze and I was so mad and wet by this point I just called hubby and said "we are on our way, i'll call you when we overheat!" But, luckily, we made it home without overheating. I kept the vent on blowing cold air into the car just the get the air moving through the engine, hopefully helping to keep whatever cool, beside me & the girls, and I don't know if it helped or not. I hate dealing with that kind of stuff by myself.

When we got home, hubby was like all you should have needed to do was push down and turn, like a medicine cap and it should have came right off. To which I said "prove it" and I marched him right out the garage with my hands on my hips and made him take it off. And he struggled with it, but evently got it off. But he agreed, especailly in the rain when it & my hands were wet, that I probably would not have gotten it off. They just brought my car back........no bill, hopefully they won't charge for this.

Well I better get busy, my day's a wasting!

Free Night?

This week is suppose to be my calm before the storm as next week is just {shudder} overwhelming. This is supposed to be a semi-free week. Tink has a game on Thursday at home. That’s it. I can handle that. So I have all week to bake cookies. Off at 4 on Monday, should be able to get right home and get started.

But then, I promised (and forgotten) Boo a new pair of shoes (and she wasn’t about to forget that-unload the dishwasher yes, new shoes, no) after school, -she went up two shoe sizes, did she need those?-We had NO food, so a trip to the grocery store, and a meeting with a bridal couple for their upcoming wedding, plus the normal taxi driving around picking up & delivering of the children to their many activities. I didn’t get home until 6:30. So much for getting a good start before we had to go to Boo’s parent-teacher conferences at 7:55. Which, I might add, she would appear to be the perfect child. All A’s, the teachers all said that she participates in class, asks questions, can “see” the bigger picture and is just a delight to have in class. Really!? ….She must be different at school.

Anyhoo, I did still manage to get some of cookies baked up last night. But I was left wondering what happened to my "free" night. ?

BUT, tonight……..

Tonight, I again get off at 4 and there is nothing until Tink’s PTC. So I should be able to get started on more cookies right away.


HAHAHAHAHA

Slacker

Hi, my name is Tracie and I’m a slacker.

I haven’t, again, posted in awhile. Seems to be my M.O. I just can’t seem to find the time, energy, or the creativeness. All the blogs I read seem to reek from creative verbage, pictures, and a purpose. Then there are my posts – boring, uncreative. So anyway, that makes it easier to be a lurker vs a blogger.

Here are some of the highlights of the things I did not blog about:

The idiot checker at Wally World that gave my family the new catch phrase “Is this a cold item?”

Volleyball games/cheerleading/dance classes……ie. kids

I’m sure hubby did something pinheaded to blog about, but I don’t remember

Work/Supervisor—Let’s just say I really need to win the lottery!

Church-our youth pastor just up & quit with no notice-which is really a blessing, because there were issues and the kids didn’t like him, and, I am on the committee that deals with the staff AND I’m on the youth council.

October doesn’t look good for posts either. If I make it to the 18th, I’m home free, but until then..

28 dozen cookies
3 birthday cakes
5 volleyball games
2 meetings
1 team supper
1 cheer supper
1 wedding w/rehearsal
Plus working two jobs, and keeping up with the house & kids

I will be lurking, just don’t forget me in my absence!

Wakey Wakey

So Saturday morning when I got up, I woke Boo so she could start getting ready for Optimist volleyball practice, then I went downstairs to rotate the laundry and wake Tink, she had mentioned that maybe she wanted to help with Optimist Volleyball (some of the high school team usually helps out with this program).

When I got to the bottom of the stairs there was this dark purple addidas duffle bag on the floor. And I’m not remembering that Tink had a dark purple duffle bag although I couldn’t at the time recall just exactly what colors she did have.

I walked through the family room to the laundry room, did my thing, (you know the laundry) came back through, was almost through on my way to Tink’s bedroom when I notice Tink asleep on the couch.

I was like “Tink what are you doing there?” I leaned down and started rubbing her back saying wakey wakey Tink. The body moves, the head lifts and

IT”S NOT TINK.

My brain was working overtime trying to figure out why the face didn’t match the person. It was “L”, Tink’s friend who evidently came over after I had gone to bed.

I don’t know who was more freaked- her or me.

Tink had gotten up from the couch and moved to her bed sometime during the night and Tink decided that 9 am was too early to help with volleyball.

What else do I need

What else do I need?

I think i'm set for the afternoon!!

Homecoming

Tink & her date for the homecoming dance

Bless his heart

Yes, I’m referring to my hubby. I was busy/running late this morning making breakfast, so I asked him to make Tink’s lunch. (Otherwise he just sits there zoned out) Which he did willingly, but I should have known better. First of all, he was in the way. He’s just so, I don’t know, big. He just stands there in the way.

So he goes to the fridge to get the stuff to make a turkey sandwich. Tink takes a turkey sandwich every day, she doesn’t eat ham. He pulls out the bread. Stands there looking for the mayo. I say “it’s in the bottom of the door” where it’s always at. I then notice he has just regular bread, so I say “she likes her sandwich on the hoagie bun” and he is still standing in the open fridge. All the while I’m needing eggs, milk, cheese, bagels, etc out of the fridge he is standing dumbfounded in front of.

Then he takes the sandwich stuff over to the counter and then he says “does she have any more turkey?”

ME: “what” I just bought a family size package of shaved turkey; I look over “honey, that’s ham”

HIM: IT IS?! SHIT! Can I put it back?”

Me: roll my eyes

Him: “What else does she take?”

ME: Jello, pretzels, fruit snacks

He goes to the fridge, stands there; finally finds the jello by himself. Then he goes to the cupboard opens the top, looking around.

Boo Says: “Fruit snacks are on the bottom” She too now has this tone to her voice.

Bless his heart, but seriously,

I just want to say to him – Do you live here? How do you NOT know this stuff?

Yesterday, I picked Boo up from school. Well almost she was walking home and I pulled over and she got it. She had a dentist appointment. Which resulted in needing 2 teeth extracted, well 1 tooth and 1 root that didn't come out with the tooth.

Anyway,

She started telling me about this "game" this boy in her class showed some of them. Where you put your hand on your neck and sweeze until your face turns purple, then you stop.

We had JUST talked about this game as a 10 year old boy from another Nebraska town DIED as a result of playing this game.

I said "BOO, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THAT, YOU CAN DIE FROM DOING THAT! DON"T DO THAT!"

She started crying and said she didn't realize that it was the say thing because when I showed her that my hand action was different. THen I stated asking the "mom" questions. Which boy showed you this? Where did he show you? Who else did it? She caught on real quick and started pleading with me not to tell anyone. And I just said "honey I have to tell, what if someone gets hurt or killed because they were playing this game and I knew and didn't do anything?"

This morning I called the principal and spoke with him. I told him that I wasn't looking to get this boy in trouble, but this was a very serious thing they were doing. He said he would "investigate" and that yes it was serious. I think he was also wondering which adult was suppose to be in charge of the kids? I don't know. Boo did say after school today that this boy got called into the office. I hope, though, that the principal talks to the class as a whole as to about how dangerous this is and didn't just lecture this one boy. That was my intent.

Meltdown

August 22
Meltdown
Tink had a meltdown Thursday night.

When weightlifting started the Basketball coach was getting on Tink about going out for BB and not cheer & dance, which was already too late since we’d already paid a ton of $$ for the uniforms. She said she just smiled at him and said no. The other day Hubby’s dad & BB coach were somewhere together and again BB coach tells hubby’s dad that he thinks Tink should be going out for basketball, he can make her a ball player yada yada. Dad tells hubby, hubby tells Tink.

She has been at school everyday this week by 6:00 a.m. for volleyball practice, full day of school, and practice again from 4-7. This, by itself, is an exhausting schedule.

Wednesday she finds out there is cheer practice on Thursday right after school. (They are on early schedule due to heat-but it’s not hot right now) and something about popsicles. Which she didn’t quite get but thought W/E. Evidently the cheerleaders had out popsicles to all of the different sports participants. Her time was 4:00. I don’t know if this is the time she got stuck with, being the only freshman, or if this is what she volunteered for. Tink then calls VB coach to tell her she would be a few minutes late. This did not go over well with VB coach, who then proceeded to chew Tink’s hiney and that she needs to get her priorities straight.

Tink calls me at work to say how mad she is at VB coach and I didn’t quite jump on Tink’s band wagon. Eventually she hung up on me.

So Tink goes to VB practice on time, skips the cheer thing and then overhears VB coach bad mouthing Tink to the other coaches. Which I agree is not cool.

Anyway, she gets home, we all talk about it. Hubby & I try to explain to her – this is where the coach is coming from, this is the reality of high school, etc etc.

Hubby then leaves to take Boo to a play with a friend.

I make conversation with Tink. Asked her about her lunch, that I packed, that she didn’t eat much of. (She’s been eating like a horse) and finally she breaks out in tears about how – dad is pressuring her to play sports, how none of the girls will be her partner at practice (that’s another whole long blog), the upperclassmen pull the “I’m an upperclassman” bullcrap, she’s getting ribbing about being a cheerleader.

Hubby get home and I tell him what she said. He didn’t want her to feel that he was putting pressure on her to play sports that she needed to do whatever she really wanted. And how proud is of her for going out for cheer & dance. And that she needed to take the comment from the BB coach as a compliment that the BB Coach thought she was a good enough player, not that hubby wanted her to play BB.

Cheer & Dance is where she needs to be. She is CONSTANTLY doing cheers around the house. She has always twirled across the room, not walked. She has never done that with a ball. She’s a good athlete, but she has never practiced at home with a ball the way she does cheer.

I think next week will be better. I think she is just exhausted and overwhelmed and things just bother you more when you are exhausted.

First Day of School

August 21
G-Sale & School
I have been working on this post ALL WEEK! Seriously, I just can't seem to get it finished.

THe garage sale i had last Saturday went pretty well. I would have liked to have gotten rid of more clothes, but all of the big things sold. We made right around $300. The rest of the clothes, I packed up and we took to good will. Usually I continue to store them for the next garage sale, but this time I just wanted it all out!

And it didn't rain! I was just exhausted though!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Tink started high school Monday! My baby! She had to be at school and ready for volleyball practice by 6:15 am. every stinking morning. The NSAA has limited the practice time before school starts, they use to have 2 a-day practices for 2 weeks before school started, but for some reason this year they wern't allowed to do that, they are having their 2 a-days now while school is in session. Which makes for a very long day for those kids - I would think.

Boo stared her first year of middle school on Tuesday. Mom's not ready for that one either. I hate that they are growing up!

And so it has started, coming home every night to backpacks strung all over the couch, shoes kicked off at the door, homework strung out everywhere else. And Mom, I need lunch money, I need picture money, I need an activity pass, I need my assignment planner, I need new tennies, I need new knee pads, I need, I need, I need.! It's enough to put me over the edge! I swear the first month of school is financially draining!

PLUS,

The crosswalk lady totally irritated me! 2nd day of school! The lady is a moron! There was a car parked on the corner, so this mom pulls in behind the parked car to drop of kid (mom happens to be a co-worker). I pull up to the stop sign. I'm the only car. I start to go and catch the movement of the cross walk lady from the corner of my eye and I stop. She's moved to the middle of the street to stop traffic (me) so kid can safely cross the street. KID WAS STILL GETTING OUT OF THE CAR! He wasn't even ready to cross the street. She did this all last year too. Kids would still be 1/2 block away and she'd stop traffic and then yell at the kids to hurry up. Then the kids run to the corner and across the street. In my opinion, which I know doens't count for much-and i'm telling you cuz nobody else would listen, she is not teaching the kids the proper safety common sense when crossing a busy street. She's teaching them to hurry up and run across. Plus I was the only car, would it have killed her to let me go? Well, I showed her, I didn't wave! I did think about calling the school and complaining, but I thought it would be easier just to change my route.

Tink got her braces off yesterday. She was so excited.

She had a brace check on Monday, which I took the afternoon off to take her to (and I also slipped in a massage too) and the Dr. told her we could get those puppies removed! Woo Hoo!!!

Our appointment choices were: Wednesday or Thursday at 7 am & (not OR) 2pm
or Monday or Wednesday of next week at 7 or 7:30 am & 2

We, of course, had some scheduling re-coordination to do to make those time work.

She was scheduled for Wednesday @ 7 am

We left the house at 6:15 - Tink, Boo & me -
(And I meant to bring my camera for this prestigious event, but I forgot and used my cell phone instead)

We arrived in the parking lot of the lovely building below at 6:57 a.m. I guess I should have taken a picture of the parking lot because it was empty! But within 3 minutes, just enough time for me to panic and be pissed if nobody showed up till 7:30, the Dr. pulled up.

Here's the before shot. You can't really see the braces, but they are there.

It took him about 30 minutes to cut the braces off and grind the glue off her teeth. Then we went back to the waiting room to wait for the rest of the staff to show up at 8:00 to do her molds for the retainer. Which took about 10 minutes after the staff arrived and got settled in for their day. So then we had the rest of the day until 2:00 pm to mess around till we had to be back to get her temporary retainer. Below are the "after shots" She ran her tongue over her teeth all day and smiled with closed teeth at any reflective surface all day.

She was pretty excited! The retainer's going to take gettin some use to - with the extra saliva and the funny speech thing.
(I guess this sounds like i'm complaining about the orthodontist, and i'm really not. That's just the way the day rolled. I just don't have that creative writing skill to make it all sound funny-- and although I don't particularly care for this guy and Boo will be seeing someone else, Tink's teeth do look good)