Boredom + Technology

This is what happens when my 15 year-old is out of school, bored, and has a smart phone with a host of apps.

Earlier this year my 16 and 15 year-old daughters both left notes in my phone that they'd like iPhone's before the year was over. The 15 year-old join team iPhone a couple of months ago, and the 16 year-old finally joined this weekend.

They now feel like they've joined the rest of the digital world. I'm looking for them to make a video next!

What do your kids (or you), do with smart phones when bored and nothing else to do?

Random Friday

Things have finally started to... for lack of a better phrase, taper off. I feel like I can breath again. Although our summers are usually pretty busy, the end of the school year can be crazy! Last week my daughter's high school softball team played in the first round of the State's 6A tournament, which ended their season. Baby girl made cheerleader for next school year. That's not an ending, more like the beginning of her summer.

Tuesday, I turned in ALL of my grades, thus ending my semester. Each year I tell myself I'll do better, and not get so stressed out. It still hasn't happened, maybe next time. Wednesday, I celebrated my 29th birthday. I know, I know... for a while now I've said I'm 26. My oldest daughter will be 23 this summer, I figure I have to move up a little. Soon she'll just have to go around!

I had the BEST birthday ever! I walked five miles, and Mr. Husband treated me to a birthday lunch of my favorite... shrimp! Oldest daughter gave me a gift set of my favorite perfume, Daisy, and I rested the rest of the day. Great day!

Lets back up to last week. I didn't want to say anything, but now I absolutely must! I started walking, and cutting back. No, not a diet, just cutting back! I started walking four miles, and on my birthday this week, added a mile! Keeping track of my food intake at livestrong.com has really helped. I made a commitment to lose two pounds a week.

With Live Strong's My Plate, keeping up with my calories it was easier than I thought. I've never been a calorie counter, but this works. After entering information, and how much weight I want to lose per week, it gave me just how many calories to consume each day to achieve my goal. Monday morning, I stepped on the scale two pounds lighter. You would have thought I had won the lottery.

This summer... I'm losing that 10 pounds I gained last summer!

Catching up

Lately I've been missing in action! I've been so busy, that I've had no time to blog, but it has been on my mind! So let's play catch up.

My 16 year old plays AAU basketball, and we've been burning up the highway going to practice and games. Two weeks ago we traveled to Frisco, TX, to the Heart of Texas Showcase. I had never seen anything like it in my life! The facility at Field House USA was amazing! There were hundreds of 10th, and 11th girls. I've never seen that many tall girls, with tall parents in one place... EVER. I felt so very short!

Recently my girls saw shirt that sums up my role as a mom of athletes...

I'm a Gatorade getting, uniform washing, glove finding softball mom.

It's the end of the semester, and I'm totally overwhelmed! Although I'm always excited about the end of the year, it stresses me out! Yesterday, I had to get seniors work graded, scores averaged, and grades turned in, in preparation for graduation. Next week is finals for everyone else, and I have to do it all over again. Pray for me!

The end of the school year for my children is always busy. There are banquets, concerts, and trips, along with cheer leading tryouts, and the softball state tournament. And of course most of these things cost money! The beginning, and the end of school drains my pocket. But the life of a teenager is complicated, and can be some of the best years of their lives.

I hope my kids are taking note of all the opportunities they have been afforded. It's going to be my mission as a grandmother, to make sure they do the same for their children!

Fighting A Nasty Bug

There is a nasty bug crawling through my house, infecting one person after the other.

Early last week, my 14 yo started coughing, snotting, and sneezing. Friday, baby girl called from school crying, she was experiencing all of her sister's symptoms, plus a headache. Sunday morning my 16 yo woke up feeling a little off, by early afternoon she had all of baby girl's symptoms, plus a burning sore throat. Monday morning, Mr. Husband took her to a walk in clinic, where she was diagnosed with a highly contagious virus. 

As this bug passes along it's picking up momentum. It's kicking butts, and taking names!

Yesterday, my oldest daughter started feeling bad, with all of the 16 yo's symptoms, and body aches. Mr. Husband also fell prey, and this morning he's running a fever.

When baby girl started feeling bad, I started taking the cold and flu medicine I was giving everyone else. So far I've had a throat tickle, and light cough. Warm tea with fresh ginger, as well as eating lemons have been my home remedy. 

I'm trying my best to stay well, and fight that bug that has invaded my household.  The 16 yo promised she'd take care of me, if I get sick. Can I get a raincheck please?!    

 

Happy Sweet 16

Today my middle daughter is Sweet 16!

Last night I couldn't wait... I had to show her a little something I bought for her to wear on this momentus occassion. A crown that said "Happy Birthday." Thinking it was a really good idea... I was the only one who though so. She, along with her sisters DID NOT! Mr. Husband said, "She's no longer three."

Fine! I'll save it for a three year old I know will appreciate it... one of the Suga Babies.

Today, not only does she turn 16, her status as a driver changes. She can now drive WITHOUT adult supervision. Excited... my child who is no longer three, and needs me less every day, hopped in her car, and drove for the first time by-her-self. *Deep sigh*

Happy Birthday Girly.

Going To Work

Last week my 9th grader #2, joined my 10th grade daughter #4, on the high school girls basketball team, after the Jr. High's seasoned ended.

Like the mother, blogger, and daughter of my dad that I am, I had my still camera, and a video camera with me. I was snapping, and recording away. This picture is my favorite. I don't know why I love pictures of people walking away so much. I used Picnik to work a little magic, and wa-la!

This was a great game, and we won! The older of the two, #4 led the team in scoring, with 15 points. Her game high is actually 21 points, and she plays shooting guard. Number two plays point guard. They both  have had sights on attending University of Tennessee, since they played at the "Y."

If you can't tell... I'm a very proud Mama. Go Fillies!!!

Steal... Shoot... Score

All five of my children are multisport athletes, and they didn't get it from Mama! My baby girl's basketball team recently won their very first game, and they were so very excited.

Of course I was recording it with my Flip camera, but caught this clip with my Blackberry! That's my baby #21!

Like Mother, Like Daughter

With five children, all athletes only two have been cheerleaders. Babygirl is so my mini-me!

New School Year, New Teachers, Same Old Papers To Sign

Today marks the end of the first week of school. Like last year, I wasn't excited to see it come so fast. For some reason, I feel like summer kind of passed me by. Anywhooo...

The girls have had a really good first week and I'm thankful for that. They came home with funny stories, and tons of papers for Mr. Husband and me to sign.

The paper signing is nothing new, but I realized this year... I hate it! It's the same information from last year. If the last teachers would just pass that information on to the new teachers, we'd be good!

I decided this is THE.LAST.YEAR I will sign all of that crap!

Next year, I will prepare, in advance, an information sheet for each of my girls, with all the pertinent information teachers need. I will then copy it seven times for each child, attach it, and return!

There... problem solved.

Summer Vacation Is Finally Here

Today was the first day of summer break for my kids, #Summer11. And I am so very excited!

No more 6 a.m. wake-ups, and constant yelling for the girls to hurry up. The every 10 minute time announcements have ceased. They'll get a break from their big yellow chariot, and having to run with shoes, belts, or other clothing in hand to catch it... on time.

Breakfast-to-go is put on hold, and I can sleep in an extra hour. I won't be getting calls from school to inform me they've left something behind, or need a thousand dollars in the next two minutes.

For a while, I won't have to remember to get change for lunch money before Monday, or dig in my purse like there is no bottom, for what's NOT there.

What we'll do exactly, I don't know yet... and right now I really don't care. I'm just glad it's finally #Summer11! And there are 67 more days to go.

XFactor Auditions

Last week, my daughters and I traveled to Dallas, five hours away for two of them to audition for Simon Cowell's new show, XFactor.

Tuesday, we left home a head of storms, heading straight into tornados. A crisis was averted by stopping an hour outside of Dallas, and bedding down.

Wednesday, we continued our journey into Dallas. We stood in line to get braclets and tickets that would grant us admission into auditions the next day. That was a two hour wait. I was grateful the rain and storms were gone!

Thursday, we were in line by 6:30 in.the.am! Traffic was okay getting downtown, but trying to park was a mess. We stood outside in what looked like holding pens, while dancing and singing for the camera. After three hours, we were finally ushered inside, only to sit and wait some more. But we were entertained by some fierce singers, and some singers that should have stayed at home!

People came from all over to audition for XFactor. We met a couple from Los Angelas, another young lady form Maryland, and I could go on and on. They were all there for their opportunity at fame, and $5 million.

After hours, and hours of waiting, it was finally my daughters turn to sing. My middle daughter sang two songs, and was told she was "really, really good, but no." The oldest daughter was given a golden ticket to come back the next day, for round two auditions.

We left the Dallas Convention Center at 7 p.m.

Friday, a nervous oldest daughter set out to wow the judges. "The people ahead of me were really great singers," she said. "And they were told no." After singing two songs, she was also told "no."

We were glad to have had the experience, we'll get 'em next time!

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

We kind of surprised my daughter with a new car, and... of course I had my video camera!

Elephants & Ivy

Today I'm hanging out on My Blogalicious, check out my post, Elephants & Ivy.

Girls And Sharks

My 11 year-old, Baby-girl, plays basketball with a local youth league. She's played basketball since she was kindergarten, but was on hiatus for the past two years. Although she may not be the best offensive player, she can hold some "D!"

Both teams have practiced regularly for a month or so, but when these girls hit the court all that goes out the door. My friends and I sat in the stands this weekend, and laughed the whole while! These girls are rough! Each quater someone was crying.

Instead of basketball, it looked more like kill the man football. It was a free for all, just get the man (girl) with the ball. The more I watched, the more it looked like a school of sharks, attaching lunch. The person with the ball was the target, and everyone else crowded around picking at it. Just like the sharks in that picture.

This week, our team will practice a few more times, and then play. I'll be front and center, cheering and laughing.

How funny are your kids in sports?

5 Degrees - In The Jungle Video

So this is the video of my kids singing In the Jungle.

Wordless Wednesday - Through Her Eyes

This summer my 13 and 14 year old daughters, along with about 30 other teens, took an educational trip to New York and Washington D.C. The following are a few pictures, from a teens perspective. And yes, they had a blast!



Driving Lessons - A Third Time

Having 5 children, I learned very early, they're all very different. No two of them have the same personality, likes. dislikes, or thought process. 

Now that, I'm teaching child number three to drive, the same holds true. Driving lessons has proven to be a different experience with each! This summer 14-year-old middle daughter declared she was ready to start learning to drive. This was music to my ears. With our son being a senior in high school, and planning to be away at college next year, she could really help me out.  

Middle daughter is my "thinking child." She over analyzes EVERYTHING! I tell her to put her foot on the brake, and she has to think about what I meant. Did she mean just put my foot on the brake, or does she want me to mash it. All while we're barreling toward the rear end of the vehicle in front of us.

I try really hard to be calm, when I'm giving her instructions.

Returning home after a driving lesson, a couple days ago, there was a bag of fertilizer laying in the driveway. Calmly I said, "Go around it, to the left." It lead to... "Go around it.to.the.left. GO AROUND IT!"  And I grabbed the wheel.

My husband who was outside in the yard, and the two younger girls in the back seat, along with Middle daughter, thought I had lost my mind!

I got out of the car, walked into the house and poured myself a cup of Coca-Cola! Coke is the answer to everything.

Do you have crazy experiences learning to drive, or teaching someone else?

Marathon Dishwashing

My 13-year-old middle daughter (13YOMD) HATES washing dishes! She will do ANYTHING to keep from doing them. And because of her disdain (I must use this word in Scrabble) for dish washing, she's very slow.

Mr. Husband and I put our heads together, and believe the longest time she's washed dishes is 3 hours. 13YOMD has this ritual, or process she goes through. First, she removes EVERY dish from the sink, stacking them in groups, cups, silverware, plates...

While taking the dishes out of the sink, and stacking them accordingly, 13YOMD is also rinsing every one that has ANY partical of food on it. She hates for food to be in the water. "That's gross!"

Step one and two can take at least an hour. That means NOT ONE DISH IS CLEAN YET!

After cleaning out the sink, actual soap, water and towel cleaning (occassionally using SOS), she finally runs dishwater, and washes by groups. Silverware does not hangout with cups in the water, they all wait their turn.

Add in the radio13YOMD is listening to, stopping to check out the TV, and her sister's conversation, it takes her even longer! At times it has gotten so bad, Mr. Husband has given her a time limit, with the threat of punishment. That has helped, but when there's no motivation, she right back to working at a snails pace!You'd think she'd wash dishes quick-fast and in a hurry because she hates it so much.

Yes, we have a dishwasher, but we don't use it every night. When 13YOMD loads the dishwasher, it still takes at least an hour. She still takes each dish out of the sink stacking them in groups, and rinsing them before putting them in the dishwasher.

She's the slowest child in the house, maybe our city. Banned from taking showers, her time in the bathtub is another post all together!

First Day of School 2010

Today, I'm trying my version of live blogging the first day of school. I will update through out the day as developments occur. For you, that means come back again, and again! I will also Tweet with the hastag #1stdayoschool

6:32 a.m.

Yesterday in the realization, I had less than 24 hours before the first day of school, I became sick. Just like last year, I am NOT ready for summer to be over. It just started! One more month, that's all I need one more month!

The following were my Tweets of desperation:

Can we extend summer break one month? #notreadyforthefirstday

Is it too late to petition a summer break extension? Who should I call, text, Facebook or Tweet? The Governor perhaps for a #stayofsummer.

911 - IT'S AN EMERGENCY!!! I'M NOT READY FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. CAN WE DO THIS IN A FEW WEEKS. #notready 

The Governor has not called about my #stayofsummerbreak. It's drawing near the 11th hour.


The Governor never did call about my stay of summer. The first day of school is happening TODAY, without my blessing. The kids are up singing, happy, and getting ready. While, I'm blogging, frustrated, and sad.

8:38 a.m.

I took the usual "first day of school" pictures of each child. The middle girls, caught the bus, my son drove off into his senior year, and I drove Baby girl, who will be riding the bus from now on, to her new school. Walking away from my baby at a brand new school, I teared up. Not because I was happy. But I no longer have babies that need me. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they're older, but every now and then, I feel a little longing for the babies they once were.

@IamTarynClarke says I'm having back to school blues.

Years ago, when my best friend and I still lived in the same city, we'd meet and have a Coca-Cola to celebrate the first day, once all the kids were in school. After she moved away, we continued our tradition by having our Coke and conversation over the phone.

Her baby is a few months shy of 21, and we haven't observed our ritual in a while. Today, I'm having my Coke, while sharing with you. Have a great day.

See you after school.

After school - Recap of the Day

Baby girl was first to make it home. She walked in the back door, and all I remember hearing is, "Mama... blah, blah, blah, blah, blah... I got lost... blah, blah, blah, blah, blah... I ate lunch at the wrong time... blah, blah, blah, blah, blah... and then something about, I almost missed the bus.

It's safe to say she had a great day.

Nearly an hour, and a half after school was over, my middle daughters burst through the door. It was raining cats and dogs. They ran home from the bus stop (just past three other houses), and were soaking wet.

It was all old friends, new kids, and "I really like that teacher." There was laughter, complaining about the schedules, and more laughter. Having two children very close in age, and attending the same school is a great thing. They always have each other.

Finally my son made it home after football practice. He's a senior, leading and starting running back... Big Man On Campus! He volunteered NO information. I had to almost had to pull information out of him! I finally learned he had a good day, and looking forward to great grades.

I'm praying the school year goes as smooth as the first day of school.

Wordless Wednesday

Baby girl made Mr. Husband's birthday cake last week. It says "Happy Birth, 43." Don't laugh, I see potential.