Saturday Snapshot!

My baby is growing up.  I just can't believe how grown up she is.  It happened overnight!

Friday Night Leftovers (The I Don't Feel Good Edition)

I don't feel good.  My throat hurts and I'm congested.  Unfortunately for me, the May issue goes to print on Sunday so I will be working through the weekend.  Enjoy tonight's leftovers!

• I emailed Hannah's principal today.  I am 100% convinced that Hannah's teacher doesn't like her and grades her unfairly.  Too much to go into details (definitely a blog by itself), but I'll update when I hear back.
• We now have Hannah on an allowance program.  Mostly, this is our way of teaching her the value of a dollar.  We felt like after she spent $800 online buying coins and upgrades for her online games that she needed a lesson in saving and seeing how much a buck will actually get you.  So far, o good - she is doing her chores each week and saving her money!
• Abigale took two STARR tests this week (math & language arts), which are basically state-wide tests given to 3rd graders all the way through your Senior year, that determine if you have learned the material covered during that year.  If you don't pass the STARR test, you don't promote to the next grade. Talk about pressure!
• We got AT&T Uverse!  It is sooooo much better than Comcast.  My laptop no longer randomly drops its Internet connection and our HD Channels work!  Hannah got cable in her room for the first time and she is thrilled to say the least.  Up until now all she could watch in her room was videos.  It was time for her to get real TV and most importantly, it didn't cost us any extra on our bill.
• I think my perception of relationships has been warped after 25 years of watching Soap Operas.  Do people ever really love each other like that?

Friday Night Leftovers (The Week After Edition)

• Not too bad for our first week back to school after Spring Break.  I would say by Wednesday, we had Hannah back on track with bedtime and her sleep schedule, and by today Abby was back on track.  10 more weeks until SUMMER VACATION! (Not that we're counting or anything.)
• Interim reports came home today.  I am soooo proud of both of them.  Especially, Abigale.  She is working so hard in math and she is likely going to get the grade she needs this 6 weeks to not have summer school 2 semesters.  She is proud of herself too and was so excited when she got her test back this week and had earned a B! 
• I have decided that Hannah's teacher just doesn't like her.  I think he expects bad things from her and treats her unfairly because of it.  I'm not sure how to handle it.  I fear that if I complain about him to the administration it will only make things worse on her, but I also want to defend her and tell him that I see what he is doing.  I think I will wait until the school year is up and then report my feelings to admin.  I'll post more about this later.
• Abigale and I have a new agreement regarding facebook.  She HATES it when I comment on her status or if I 'Like' something, so now I tell her in person what I think.  I know it is ridiculous, but she has to have some breathing room and if I push too hard I know she will push back, harder.  This parenting a teenager business is complex, rewarding, scary, frustrating, and weird. 
• Jay went to the eye doctor a couple of weeks ago after saying he needed to have his eyes checked for 7 years. After having the check-up and then selecting, ordering, and picking up his new glasses, he wore them for maybe 2 1/2 days.  Now they are put up in a case and he is back to not being able to see and wearing his $10 reading glasses from Wal-Mart.  I'm mad because 1) he was told by the doctor that it would take several days to get used to them, 2) he was told by the doctor that his eyes are pretty bad and he needs the glasses all the time, and 3) he paid $300 for glasses that are sitting in a case collecting dust.  Take them back and get the prescription right!...
• Abigale is getting excited about playing soccer in High School.  She has been taking Hannah outside every afternoon and punting the soccer ball around.  She told me she can't wait to get back on the field and she is also wondering what position she will play and what her number will be (you know, the important stuff). 
• Hannah is in a major back-talking phase.  All three of us are way over it.  She argues or defends every time we interact with her and she always has to have the last word.  We now have a no tolerance approach and will break this nasty habit of hers if it kills all of us.

Proud Mama!

Tonight, Hannah and the rest of the second graders in her school put on a concert for the parents.  It was AWESOME.  The kids got to pick the kinds of songs they wanted to sing about in the beginning of the year and some of the topics they picked were: video games, cowboys, puppies, kittens, and bullying.  So, their music teacher set out to find songs on those topics and managed to find a great song for each category.  The bullying song was actually started by a couple of 2nd graders out on the playground when someone was bullied.  They took their line to the music teacher and with her help and the rest of the 2nd graders they all wrote a song called, "I've Got Your Back". 

Hannah was so excited and very nervous.  We managed to get seats in the second row which made video recording and picture taking a little bit easier.  They worked all year long on these songs and you could tell how much pride they had and how happy their music teacher was.  Hannah said yesterday when they were practicing, everyone was excited and talking and not doing what they were told and the music teacher actually broke down and cried.  The pressure finally got to her.  So, I'm sure after the performance they gave tonight, she is still beaming (and relieved).

My favorite song was the one that Hannah sang with three other kids called, "Naughty Kitty Cat."  I also liked Zippity-Do-Da and Jingle Jangle.  I think we were the most proud when we walked down the Second Grade hallway and saw that it has been named Hannah Trent Hall.  She earned the 2nd highest amount of donations for Jump Rope for Heart and so they named the hallway after her. And, that is what this parenting gig is all about.  Stay tuned!

Wordless Wednesday

I'm working on a project and needed a good baby photo of myself, so I emailed my dad and asked if he had any.  This is what he sent.  Enjoy!

Family Photo - July 1976

Me, 3 months old, July 1976

Handing out money

Well, today I did something that I have never done before.  I gave money to a panhandler.  I'm not sure why I did it, it just "felt" right.  I am someone that believes strongly in hard work and determination.  I, for the most part, feel that people are in control of their own destiny and should not depend on others to provide for them.  I also know how hard I work for my money and the government already steals such a large portion of it that I am not in any big hurry to just give it away.  The problem is that I tend to forget that sometimes life has a way of changing things in our lives that we really have no control over and that everyone needs a helping hand at some point in their life.  I mean, who am I to judge the person on the street asking for money?  Sure, maybe they are lazy and instead of spending the time they spend on panhandling to find a job, they take the easy way out and mooch off the rest of society.  Or, maybe they lost their spouse unexpectedly and were left in financial ruin with no one to help and nowhere to turn.  Or maybe they are a veteran that served our country, got injured, and were promptly discharged once they could no longer fight on the battlefield.

I'm not likely to give money to all the panhandlers I come across (Houston has A LOT), but I will have more sympathy and a kinder heart when I see them.  And, if the mood strikes me like it did today, they may get a buck or two to spend however they may choose.

Back to the grind...again

Today was the first day back to school after Spring Break.  I took last Monday and Friday off to spend some time with the girls, but getting up early this morning wasn't anywhere near as shocking to my system as it was to theirs.  Now that the temperature is staying in the 80's on a consistent basis, we can all feel that summer is right around the corner.  Only 10 more weeks of school and then summer vacation, here we come!  I can only imagine how hard it must be on teachers this time of year, I don't know how they get the kids to focus and stay engaged, kudos to all of them. 

When we moved here, I really thought my allergies would improve, but that has not been the case.  They are actually worse here and unfortunately, so is Abigale's eczema.  It has spread to parts of her body that were never affected before the move.  How horrible it is for a 14 year old to have this visible skin rash - I feel so bad for her.  Although, my sympathy only goes so far because if she would use her eczema cream several times a day like she is supposed to, she could greatly reduce the rash... But, what do I know?

We are determined to have a family beach week this summer for the first time in over 5 years.  I have a plan for how to make it possible, so wish us luck.  Stay tuned!

Dog Days

Today, I slammed my dog's tail in car door.  How awful is that?  When she screamed, she pooped at the same time, making the whole experience even more awful.  I feel so bad and I am just sure I have ruined her on ever wanting to go in the car again.  We think the tail is OK.  She is walking around normally and doesn't seem to be in any pain anymore, but I still feel awful.  I'm just thankful she doesn't realize it is me that hurt her.

Cleo

Just hanging out!

Cleo & Hannah panting together

Friday Night Leftovers

• This week was Spring Break.  Only 10 more weeks until school is out and summer vacation is here!  Still can't believe I will have a high schooler...
• Speaking of  Abigale, she turned 14 on Monday.  Don't even ask me how that happened or where the time went.  I can say that so far 14 is much better than 13!
• We went to Kemah boardwalk today.  We didn't really know what to expect since it was our first time, but I guess in my head I was hoping it would be like Ocean City.  It wasn't.  It was MUCH smaller and there is no beach.  The boardwalk is right over the water.  No beach.  It was also HOT and so crowded.  And, everytime you wanted to ride a ride, you have to wait at least an hour.  The kids had fun and now we can say we have been to Kemah.  But, we won't be going back...
• I did horrible on my diet this week.  I am not going to dwell, just going to refocus and get back on track.  Dreading my weigh-in on Sunday...
• I miss my Atkins diet.  I wish I could go back to it, but it is just too hard on my family.  They got soooooo sick of it and since I'm not the cook I can't control a lot of the food that is served.  Weight Watchers is definitely more family friendly.
• Hannah is just so cute right now.  2nd and 3rd grade are my favorite ages.  She says the cutest things and she still has that little girl innocence.  I need to figure out a way to keep this girl this age forever!
• We are now in the 80's on a regular basis.  I guess spring is over and summer is here.  My allergies are horrible and I am just dreading the summer heat that is right around the corner.  We are going to the beach as soon as school gets out to avoid the oppressive heat that August and September bring.  But, trust me, early June will still be hot by all standards.
• I have had headaches all week.  I have one right now, but it could be attributed to spending the day out in the sun.  Anyways, I dislike these frequent headaches and wish they would leave me.

First prizes of the day! -Kemah Boardwalk