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

Wordless Wednesday

Today Hannah played in the dirt.  She looked so cute from inside where I was watching her that I just had to take a few photos.  Enjoy!

Santa has Cancer

I have always known that my youngest child is a bit on the strange side.  She has always left us guessing and I have had more than one teacher say to me that "she is a tough nut to crack".  Well, today she did not disappoint.  Picture it.  I'm in the kitchen getting our lunch ready and as she often does, Hannah hopped up on the counter to keep me company.  She was sitting near the sink and inside the sink was last nights' pot we cooked the corn beef in and it was soaking and was full of soap suds.  Hannah dipped her finger in the soap suds giving the appearance of white hair on her finger (if you really used your imagination) and said, "Hi, I'm Mrs. Santa.  How are you today?"  I played along and said that I was good.  After me and "Mrs. Santa" chatted for a while, I asked how Santa was doing.  Mrs. Santa answered in a low, sad voice, "Santa is sick.  He has cancer."  Then Hannah dipped her other finger in the suds and made is so the suds ran down her finger and said, "See this is Santa.  He has cancer so he is melting away."  I said in a horrified voice, "So you mean Santa is dying and won't ever deliver any more Christmas presents?"  And Hannah, very matter-of-factly said, "That's right!" I just shook my head and told her to smile for a picture.  Gotta love this kid and her twisted imagination.  Stay tuned!

Hannah and Mrs. Santa

Happy birthday, Abigale

Today, my girl turned 14.  On so many levels, this is hard for me to comprehend.  I still remember being 14 like it wasn't so long ago (obviously I am a bit delusional). And I can certainly remember the day she was born like it was yesterday.  The overwhelming fear that I had about being 21 years old and now being completely responsible for this precious child, the love that I felt that I had never know I could feel was so powerful and again, overwhelming.  In a matter of moments everything I had known or cared about no longer mattered, all of my hopes and fears now rested on this tiny little baby that had lived inside me for 10ish months.

Today, as a 14 year old, Abigale is still my pride and joy.  I would like to think that my parenting has something to do with who she is, but it doesn't.  She was born an old soul, always wise beyond her years and she, simply put, has a good, kind heart.  She has always cared less about doing what was cool and instead cared more about how people felt.  Even with her 14 year old mood swings she is still fun to be around, for the most part, and is a great big sister to Hannah.  Hannah knows she can count  on her big sister and that confiding in her Abby is safe. 

As Abigale embarks on another new year and all the things that being a teenager will bring, I will love watching her blossom into a young woman as she sets out to make her mark on the world.  I know we will weather many storms and that there will be fear and anger along the way, but our love and friendship will always prevail.  Happy birthday, Abigale.

Love,
Mom

Abigale 4 months old

Caught red handed!

Halloween 1999

First day of Preschool!

First day of Kindergarten!

Birthday girl 3-12-12

Showing off her money!

Happy Lazy Saturday

Abby - notice the socks



Abby with a sleepy Sammy



Abby hugging Cody



Abby smiling



Enough pictures, mom.

Hannah close-up



Hannah playing dress-up

Friday Night Leftovers (The Lamest Week Ever Edition)

• Lamest week in history. 
• I only sold one new ad and had one renewal.
• Hannah wracked up $758 in coins for her apps on the iPad.  She did it in 5 days, which is how long it took me to open up the iTune notifications that piled up in my inbox.  I assumed they were notifications that Abigale bought songs for her iPod with the iTunes gift card she got for her birthday.  Nope, instead my precious 8 year old went buck wild on an iTunes spending spree.  No more iPad or computer for her for 60 days.  She owes me $758 and the only way to pay it back is through not using the iPad/computer. Each day is worth $12.63 and it will take her 60 days to repay the full amount.
• Abigale wasn't able to participate in her Choir competition due to her F in math.  They got a 1 in the competition, which is the highest score, and brought home a trophy.  I feel bad for her that she wasn't a part of their success.  She hated being left behind and having a substitute with 5 other kids that also got left behind.  She is doing much better and may actually get away with just 1 semester of summer school. I hope she is able to go on the SplashTown field trip at the end of the year.
• I attended a funeral this week.  Technically, he was my 2nd cousin (if you look at the relation between he and my mother). But he is also my step-uncle, since he was married to my stepmom's sister. Anyways, it was a beautiful service, but very sad. He was so loved by his family and I know the torment they are going through. RIP Uncle Fred.
• I was going to purchase our hotel for our beach week next week.  Now that Hannah has spent the money on coins for her games on the iPad, beach week is looking like a dream instead of a reality.
• I started Weight Watchers on Sunday. After losing 60 pounds with Atkins I needed a switch. I was really getting tired of the limited menu on the Atkins plan. Weight Watchers is going good so far. I'll blog about it after I have been using it for a while.
• It is raining...again.  I am so sick of the mud from the dogs.  I know they can't help it, but I am just sick of it.  After last year's severe drought I never thought I would get sick of the rain, but I am done.  Bring on the sunshine!
• Still loving my new Dyson.  It picks up sooooo much dirt and dog hair.  I also have noticed that is stays cleaner longer (because it is actually cleaning everything) and the air is fresher (which I attribute to the HEPA filter). The kids like it too which is awesome.  Abigale actually volunteers to vacuum!
• I downloaded a program as an upgrade instead of the full version. So, now I can't use it and it is $200 down the drain.  I have been holding for their tech support for about an hour now. Hope they can refund me the money because I can't afford the whole version.  Hannah spent all my reserves!
• Hannah is coughing.  She also has a fever.  Great!

Wordless Wednesday

Hannah showing off her new feather earrings

Posing with Quackers

Weird, random, open door

I had some appointments this morning. When I got home I was greeted in the garage by my next door neighbor's dog, Friday. She was excited and kept running to see me and then running back to her front door. I walked over to her front door and it was open. Curios because my neighbor is a teacher and is generally not home during the day. So, Jay called inside the house and we rang the doorbell and nothing. Friday continued to run in and out of the house. At this point I became concerned because obviously no one was home (or able to come to the door) but I still wasn't comfortable walking in and checking things out for myself. So, we called the police. They came and went inside. They checked things out and didn't find anything unusual. It is still a mystery how her front door got open leaving Friday to come and go as she pleased, but I was just relieved they hadn't been robbed or that something hadn't happened to my neighbor. She was grateful when the police contacted her and told her what had happened. I was relieved because you never know how someone is going to react, I mean I was all up in her business... But, everything ended well and that is really all that matters.

Friday Night Leftovers

• This has been one of the longest weeks on record. Ever. I am so tired and can't believe I just sent my April magazine to print and am now working on the May issue. Where is the time going???
• I took the girls for frozen yogurt at Tutti Frutti today.  We ate outside because it was gorgeous outside and Hannah noticed a nail salon right next door and suggested a man-pedi.  Gotta say, I love my french manicure and hot pink toes!
• We are celebrating Abby's 14th birthday tomorrow.  One of her good friends from school is joining us for some jump time as SkyHigh trampoline park.  We are also serving up Abby's favorite, cherry cheesecake! I can't believe my baby is almost 14.  Again, where is the time going???
• Hannah had "field day" today.  I use that term loosely because only two of the games were outside.  But perhaps the lamest part of field day in Texas is that it doesn't start until 2:10 in the afternoon! In VA it was an all-day affair and the entire thing was outside.  Hannah said she was ripped off!
• I LOVE my new Dyson.  I have already vacuumed 3 times this week!
• I joined Weight Watchers Online today.  So far, it rocks! 
• Abby doesn't want to attend her end of the year, Eighth grade party.  I really want her too, but if I push she will say no just to spite me.  Gotta play this one very carefully...
• It is spring here in Texas.  The grass needs to be mowed on a regular basis, everything is blooming, and we are consistently in the 70's and 80's.
• I am now planning our summer beach trip to Corpus Christi.  We are going to have such a great time. So far on the agenda, the USS Lexington, Texas State Aquarium, and, FunZone!
• I started a Facebook page for my magazine, Sweetwater Style, this week.  I am excited about how this is already positively impacting my business.

Are We Every Truly Safe

I think the honest answer to that question is no. But, I really don't need reminders of it, life is scary enough as it is. This week, Abigale's former Middle School in VA has a student that has threatened to do a school shooting today. News traveled fast around the school and by Wednesday it was all over the local news and the students and parents were swirling in information, some true and some not. Apparently, an 8th grader left several death threats in student's lockers and made it well know that he intended to do a school shooting on Friday (today). The police were called and the county and school officials immediately lept into action. The kid's residence was searched and he was interviewed by the police. No weapons were found and we are unclear on what his punishment will be, but I can tell you that this situation has left an entire community rocked with fear. Many of Abigale's friends are at home today because they and their parents are too frightened to send their kids to school. This world of ours has gotten too crazy and I do fear what type of world my children and grandchildren will live in. Stay tuned!

Wordless Wednesday

Hannah said, "Now I'm triple safe!"

Tutti, Dyson, Twilight

We went to Tutti Frutti today (which is becoming a regular occurence) for a delicious frozen yogurt treat.  The cherries are massive and my favorite part!  I love that you can see the ingredients of each type of yogurt and pick the one that fits best with your diet.  After yogurt we went and bought my Dyson!  So far it is AMAZING.  The amount of dirt and dog hair it picked up was gross.  I can't remember when my area rug has looked so clean!  Next, we headed over to Bath & Body Works and loaded up on nice smelling lotions & potions.  Abby and I both got body spray that has glitter in it.  My absolute favorite scent is Twilight Woods and after I took my shower I used the glittery body spray, so I am loving the way my shimmering body smells right now.

Hannah enjoying her Tutti Frutti

My yummy yogurt with HUGE cherries!

Friday Night Leftovers

• Abigale has lost 20 pounds. We had to go buy her some new clothes today because her shorts were literally falling off of her. I just can't believe the clothing selections she made. She has always been a tomboy and until today her wardrobe consisted of gray, brown and black t-shirts. Today, she got a bright orange shirt, a really cute, form-fitting white t-shirt, a black pair of jeans, and several tank tops to layer under stuff. My girl is really growing up. Sniff, sniff.  
• Report cards came home this week.  Overall, they both did good.  Abby is still struggling in math, but she is trying much harder and doing better. :)
• I am sick of the rain. Our backyard stays a gigantic mud pit and the three dogs bring in the dirt everytime they go outside. We literally scrape dirt off the floors. Thank goodness we mainly have non-carpeted floors.
• The rain has saturated the ground so much that the little wind gusts we had this morning blew a pine tree over onto my parent's house. It completely destroyed my dad's workshop and damaged their roof and gutters. Thank God, no one was hurt.
• I had my second biggest sale this week. A full page ad for 12 months at my new, increased rate!
• I am ready to launch my second magazine. Since Abby has to go to summer school I may as well work those weeks and vacation around her schedule. I can't decide if I want to launch close to my current publication or do one in Katy where I live. I am leaning towards Katy, I just need to get approval. Wish me luck.
• We still haven't lived in Texas a full year so we are still experiencing the "seasons" as we go along. Who knew spring would be in February?
• We have discovered that we have an orange tree in our backyard. It already has 3 oranges.
• I yelled at Jay today because I am tired of him smoking in my car.
• I used the word literally twice in this posting, now three times.

My Budding Artist!

Abigale went to a birthday party for her friend, Abbey, tonight.  The party was at this cool place called Painting With A Twist.  The person throwing the party gets to choose a painting and during the party they have an artist that sits in front of everyone and step by step teaches them to paint that image.  So, when everyone is done, the paintings should all look similar but have an individual creativity as well.  Abby has always been the most artistic in our family and her painting tonight turned out so good.  The best part was Abby really liked it and said she wants our whole family to come back and do a painting together.  :)

Abby's Painting

 

Abby & Hannah posing with the birthday girl



Abby's Running Man Sculpture she just completed in art class



It's OK to be good...

I feel like my whole life I have been ridiculed for being good. Most of the time the person ridiculing me is someone that makes less than desirable choices for their own life, so me doing the right thing really irks them. And, trust me those same people are the FIRST ones to point out when I do make a mistake. Its like my mistakes validate all their miserable choices. Obviously, I'm not perfect and trust me when I tell you that I have my fair share of regrets. But most of the time, I strive to do the right thing. I am honest, almost to a fault, I work hard, and I invest a lot of time and effort in things that I find important, like parenting. I'm sorry, but I simply cannot feel bad about being successful in my marriage (always a work in progress), as a mom, and in my career.

Anyways, I love my new haircut. It is so easy to style and all that gray just blends right in. I can't believe how cheap it was too! In Virginia it would have been twice the price. I have also noticed lately that a lot of my friends that are the same age as me are starting to get crows feet. Thank goodness I don't have any yet, not even a sign of them! Hopefully I can make it through my 30's without having to battle crows feet - gray hair is bad enough...

Oh, our new favorite treat is frozen yogurt. We have visited two different self-serve frozen yogurt shops this week. Our favorite is Tuitti Fruitti. I like it because they list the ingredients for you and also tell you which ones are low-fat, have specific vitamins, etc. Abigale likes it because it is apparently the cool yogurt shop, and Hannah just likes trying them all out. So far, Cake Batter is my favorite and I am still trying out all the wonderful toppings. The cherries at Tuitti Fruitti are AWESOME. I will try to post a pic the next time we go.

Stay tuned!

Punishment is served!

Well, to follow up on yesterday’s post, Abby got her punishment today for looking at pictures on her iPod in class when she clearly wasn’t supposed to be using it. They went easy on her since this is her first offense, ever. She got after-school detention for one hour on Thursday. The funniest part is that when she found out in school today, she texted me to tell me the verdict. A clear violation…I suspect she may not have learned her lesson…

Stay tuned!

PS
I still can’t type in Blogger, there is like a 20 second lag time. This is unacceptable.

Abby & Sammy

Maybe this week will be better!

Last week was a rough week. I was busy with work, volunteered at Hannah's Valentine's Day class party, got my hair cut/colored, went out to dinner with my parents, and dealt with the evil shenanigans of my two little darlings.


Abby got her iPod taken away in gym for looking at pictures. She then proceeded to text me on her phone to tell me about it. So, when daddy went into the office to get her iPod back, the secretary wanted to know how he knew about it. He said that Abby had texted me and they said that was another violation and that they would be disciplining her in school. Before she left, her grade Principal told her she would see her in her office on Tuesday morning (Monday is President’s Day) and Abby is petrified that she will get ISS (In School Suspension). I’m just glad this is one punishment I don’t have to dish out at home.

Hannah is a different story. Her bad deeds were done at home so they must be dealt with at home. The short version is she stole a dollar from her sister and then lied about it when she got caught. So, she had to miss Parent’s Night Out at her gym and Abigale and I kept our date and went to dinner and the movies without her. Yes, I almost gave in and let Hannah come, but I didn’t. I am hoping that next time she is tempted to lie or steal that she will realize there are consequences for her actions. At the very least she needs to know that once she is caught, she is caught. Don’t lie, don’t try to worm your way out of it. Admit what you did and take your punishment…We’ll see.

And, the real annoying thing is that entire blog had to be written in Word and then copied and pasted into Blogger. I couldn’t get Blogger to work. There was like 20 seconds lag time in what I was writing. If blogging becomes too much of an effort, I won’t do it…

New Hairdos

Will You Marry Me?

Hannah came home today and told me that a boy at school told her a secret and that she promised not to tell anyone.  I asked her what it was and she said she couldn't tell me.  I dropped it because I know my girl and I knew she wouldn't be able to hold it in for too long. 

About an hour later, she muted the TV and said we needed to talk.  I closed my laptop and gave her my full attention.  She said, "How do you ask someone out?"  I said, "You mean, like out as in boyfriend/girlfriend?" And she said yes.  I asked her who the lucky boy was and she revealed that it was the boy who had told her the secret.  I asked if his secret had anything to do with her question and she said yes.  Then she said, "I guess I can tell you because you are my mom.  He whispered to me that he is going to marry me when he grows up and then he ran away.  I didn't have a chance to tell him that we should date first."  Wow.  2nd grade and she is already talking dating and marriage.  I asked her if she liked him or if she was just responding to his secret.  She admitted then that she really just likes him as a friend for now but that after he told her he wanted to marry her she wasn't sure.  So, I told her that if she didn't really like him in that way it would be best to just remain friends.  I also passed along some advice that my dad told me when I was a kid.  I told her that if anyone ever confesses that they like her or ask her out and she doesn't want to be their girlfriend to never ever make fun of them or make them feel silly about revealing their feelings.  I explained that getting up the nerve to ask someone out is hard and that it is OK to not feel the same way but to never make them feel like an idiot for having those feelings.

Will they wind up boyfriend and girlfriend?  Who knows?  I think the best part is that she talked to me about it and really values my opinion.  It made me so happy that she trusted me enough to talk about something that she was confused and nervous about.  But, I will admit when she revealed that a boy that liked her last year pulled down his pants on the bus to show her his underwear and that they were Star Wars and the light sabers covered his private part, I was left wishing she had kept that tid-bit to herself.  Lord only knows what else she hasn't told!

Hard Day

Lately, Abigale and I have been arguing...a lot.  I am disappointed in her grades and her overall bad attitude.  I have always only expected her best and I don't feel like she is giving her best at school.  I could tolerate the bad attitude if she was giving her school work the attention it deserves, but she isn't.  So, that makes the bad attitude even harder to tolerate.  Sure, I have a good reason to be upset with her and she needs to know that the grades she has are not acceptable. And I am her mother, so it is my job to discipline her and guide her through these tumultuous years.

The problem is, I forgot something that is even more important than discipline and guidance.  Love.  Tonight Abby and I were watching TV and she looked at me and said, "Mom, do you hate me?"  I said, "Of course, not. I love you.  You know that."  She said, "No mom, I don't.  All you have done is yell at me all week and I don't think you like me anymore."  My heart sank.  She was right.  All I had done was tell her how disappointed I was and how she had 2 weeks to bring up her grades or she would lose all her privileges and how she didn't care about anything but herself and her friends.  Never once did I tell her that I loved her.  Never once did I show her any compassion.  Never once did I think about what it is like to be 13 living in a new city and going to a new school. 

And, on top of all that, she has a cute, little sister that is 8 years old and very easy to love and be around (at this moment) and all she sees is that we have fun with Hannah and shower her with love.  In her mind, all we feel for her is disappointment and all we feel for her sister is pride and love.  I tried to explain that they are just different ages and that we don't have the challenges with Hannah that we have with her because Hannah is only 8, but I'm not sure I convinced her.  We talked for a while and she is now happily chatting with her friend on the phone, but I am still smothered in guilt and absolutely determined to make things right again.

You can bet that a lot of Mommy-Abby time is in our future.  I will continue to get on her case when necessary, but I will also make sure to point out all of the positive as well.  And, there are A LOT of positives.

Abby & Me

Lessons Learned

When Hannah was little (really up until she was about 7) she had a record of lying and so we worked on teaching her to always tell the truth.  Over the past year or two I have seen a significant improvement and she now understands why lying is wrong and that it usually is best to just go ahead and tell the truth up front or pay much worse consequences later.

So, the other night Jay drove her to gymnastics classes and then afterwards got her some tacos from Taco Bell for her dinner.  Abby got bummed that I made her a frozen pizza for dinner instead of taking her out for fast food and since Jay knows his daughter so well he asked Hannah not to mention it to Abby that he had gotten her tacos or she would throw a fit.  Well, after they got home, Hannah asked me what Abby and I had for dinner and I told her.  Then, I asked her if she had eaten anything and she said, "No.  Why are you asking me that?"  I said I was just wondering and asked if she wanted me to fix her something and she declined.

About an hour later Hannah asked me if I could get her a bowl of cereal, but she whispered it to me so Jay wouldn't hear.  I said sure and got up to get it.  She told me not to let daddy know and I said that Daddy wasn't going to be mad that I was getting her a bowl of cereal for dinner, especially since it was 8:00 and she hadn't eaten anything for dinner.  After she eats her cereal, she comes over with worry all over her face and says, "Mom, I need to tell you something but you can't tell daddy. I did eat dinner earlier because he got me tacos and that is why I didn't want him to see me eating again."  I said, "Why didn't you tell me the truth in the first place?" And she said, "Well, daddy told me not to tell Abby because he didn't want Abby to get mad and when you asked me if I had eaten she was in the room."  I told her thank you for telling me the truth and that I understood why she did it and that it was important to keep a secret like that and that Daddy was right, Abby would have gotten so mad. 

What a pickle my little lady found herself in and I am so glad she worked it out in her head and told me the truth.  Sometimes doing the right thing is hard.

Hannah & Sammy

Love her angelic face :)

60 Pounds...

Most people don't know that I have been working at losing weight since June.  I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease in May of 2009, which basically means my body attacks my thyroid.  I knew something was wrong from the time I was pregnant with Hannah in 2003 when I kept gaining large amounts of weight each month even though I was eating healthy and keeping a food journal.  Everyone blew me off and just assumed I was lying about the food I was eating, even though I had maintained a healthy weight for years before the pregnancy.  From the time Hannah was born in December of 2003 until May of 2009 I tried on and off to lose weight.  No matter what I did, I could not lose weight.  I did tell my doctor about it a few times and she just told me to go to a dietitian or nutritionist and never took my complaints seriously.  Over those 5 years I gained 85 unexplained pounds. 

Then, in April of 2009 I went on Slim Fast and followed it to a tee for three weeks.  The whole family was supportive with eating a healthy meal each night for my one meal of the day and Abigale was my "coach" for exercising.  I didn't weigh the whole three weeks and when I finally did weigh I had the whole family around me for the big moment.  I gained 3 pounds.  Devastated doesn't even begin to explain how I felt.  Embarrassed, angry, confused, and defeated also topped the list of my emotions in that moment.  I made an appointment with my doctor and went to see her the next day.  I absolutely insisted that she run tests to find out what was wrong with me.  I was emotional and angry and she told me that she was very sorry she hadn't listened to me earlier and that she could see now that there really was an underlying problem.

A few days later we had the answer, Hashimoto's Disease.  This meant that I had NO metabolism and that in order to maintain my weight I would need to be on a vigorous diet plan and exercise a minimum of an hour, 4 days a week, and losing weight was basically impossible.  The good news was that although there is no cure, there is effective treatment and that now that we knew the problem, I would one day be able to lose weight.  The bad news was that they had to start me out on a very low dosage of the medicine and check my blood every three months.  If my blood work showed that my thyroid was still off then they would increase the dosage and retest in another 3 months.  This process went on for 22 months and during that time period I gained another 60 pounds. Until March of 2011 when I stepped on the scale and had actually lost 3 pounds.  We were sure that the medication was finally at the right levels and the blood test results confirmed it.  From the time I had suspected a problem and the diagnosis I had gained 145 pounds.

It took me a few months (we moved to Houston and I began the launch of my new magazine) but I finally started dieting and exercising in June of 2011.  Atkins is my diet of choice just because it is easy and allows me to eat until I am full.  During the summer months I swam laps every day at our neighborhood pool and then when the pool closed in the fall I began working out on the Wii.  At first I thought it would be lame, but I was so wrong.  It tracks my progress, gives me an awesome work-out and I have lost 60 pounds as a result.  I still have a long way to go and haven't even told most folks that I am dieting, but if you read this blog then now you know.  Someday I will post pictures, but I have a little more to lose before that happens.  Stay tuned!

I hate going through school again!

My second grader is not thriving in school right now.  She has horrendous handwriting, and I mean absolutely atrocious.  She can spell when she applies herself, but often she rushes and makes silly mistakes.  And, for some reason, I cannot get this child to learn her math facts.  We do math drills every night, I make up problems for her, I have printed worksheets from online and time her on those. I have drawn pictures, showed her how to count on her fingers (as a last resort) efficiently and quickly, and no matter what I try she doesn't memorize her math facts.  She gets how to regroup and how to borrow, but she gets the wrong answer because she doesn't know her basic math facts.  We wind up fighting every night and it brings back memories of me and my dad fighting at the kitchen table over fractions, but that's a whole other tangent. This kid is bright, she has always excelled academically, and so I just don't know how to break it down for her any further. 

But let's not forget Abigale.  She is a very solid A-B student, except in math.  She has always hated math, even though she eventually winds up getting it enough to at least squeak out a C on her report card. Well, now that she is in middle school I can no longer help her with her homework and even if I could there is absolutely no way that would ever happen.  We only see her for brief minutes at a time and usually there is a meal involved.  Anyways, she has always gotten a C, until this year. We have six, six week grading periods here and so far she has gotten an F for the first 3 grading periods.  We are now half way through the 4th grading period and she currently has an F. She does test retakes, attends tutoring sessions after school, has gone for various amounts of time grounded, and no matter what we/she tries, she winds up with another F.  If she doesn't somehow miraculously pass the last two quarters with high grades AND pass the overall math exam at the end of the year, then she is going to fail 8th grade math .  I guess that means summer school is in her future and I have no clue how she is going to get through Algebra next year. Goodbye summer vacation plans, hello summer school.

I hate going through school again. :(  Stay tuned...

What do you mean, high school?

That's right, Abigale starts high school next year!  Don't ask me where the time went or how she made it through middle school in lightening speed.  Some how, some way, she is going to high school next year.  Reality hit hard when she came home this week and told me we had to pick all of her classes by next Thursday!  This isn't something to be taken lightly, I mean what she takes as a Freshman will dictate her whole high school career.

So, we spent the week talking about foreign languages, science vs. math, which sport to play, and when to use up the two Study Hall credits she can use during her four year journey.  Monday night she and I will head over to the high school for an orientation and then all she has to do is finish up the 8th grade.  Then, in 6 months she starts high school, 2 years she will be driving, and in 4 years off to college she will go.  My baby is growing up.

Finally Friday!

This has been a rough week.  I knew it was going to be hard because it was my first week back to work after Christmas break and I have to wrap up my February deadline which is always a pain.  But I never could have anticipated the other random bad things that were going to happen. Here's the list:

• One of my good friends lost her husband this week to suicide.
• Abigale dislocated her shoulder playing dodge ball and is now in a sling for a few days and then off to the Orthopedic Surgeon she goes.
• Hannah woke up this morning with a terrible stomach bug.  Poor baby puked 5 times before she was even supposed to leave for school.
• Out of the 8 appointments I had set for this week, 5 were no shows, 1 had me give the presentation standing in their lobby and the other two weren't the true decision makers so I got no decision. Lovely.

Today is the day my friend will bury her husband.  This will be a hard day for her.  When my mom died my dad called the funeral "the show".  I'm sure she will feel the same way, everyone whispering about how he killed himself and some of them there just to gawk and "get the scoop".  I hope they remember that funerals are for the living, not the dead.  Be there for my friend, help her, support her, show her that you care.

This weekend I will hug my girls and my husband a little tighter and count my blessings.  Next week can only get better, right?

And, Once Again I Am Reminded of How Short Life Truly Is

I got the worst news today.  One of my very best friend's lost her husband this week.  That is terrible enough on its own, but the worst part is he hung himself.  He called her and told her he was going to do it and by the time the police got there, he was gone.  My friend is still in shock, but she is already feeling the anger and guilt that comes along with such an enormous tragedy. 

To compound this tragedy, her baby sister has cancer.  She has been battling cancer for years and days before her husband took his own life they found out her sister's cancer has spread to her brain.  So, this 30 year old woman who is full of life and fighting for her every breath has just been given a much higher mountain to climb, while another person thought so little of his life that he ended it himself.

We just take so much for granted.  I mean if my friend's sister can get cancer in her 20's then none of us are in the clear, yet we take so much for granted.  We take people, time, and love for granted.  As much as we like to think we are in control, at a moment's notice it can all be gone.

Texas Snowman

This week was one of my company's National Conferences so I traveled to Dallas and was away from my family for two nights.  Well, that definitely qualified as an out-of-town business trip, so just like my daddy always did for my sister and me, I always like to bring back a little souvenir for my girls.  So, now it is a tradition and an expectation that mommy has a little something for them when I get home and this trip was no different.  Luckily the hotel I stayed in had a gift shop, so I didn't disappoint.

We all like a lot of things about Texas.  But the single biggest thing my girls miss (besides their friends) is the snow.  They loved sledding, building snowmen, and of course snow days off from school.  Here in Houston, we just don't have snow, so that has been a little sad for them this winter.  Well, I found the perfect gift.  A Texas Snowman snow globe.  It is basically a snowman without the snow (see picture below).  Both girls love snow globes, so I knew it would be a big hit.  And, I was right - they both loved it, especially Hannah.  Once she finally got the joke, she thought it was such a clever idea and spent the whole evening whirling it around.  She even carried it with her into the bathroom when she brushed her teeth before bed.

Well, I went to tuck her in and tell her good night and she hid under her covers.  I thought she was being silly at first and started tickling her and teasing her, until I realized her little red eyes had been crying.  I asked her what was wrong and she said that when she had taken the snow globe into the bathroom and set it on the counter it slid into the sink and broke.  She was obviously devastated.  I hugged her and told her how sorry I was that she didn't have the gift anymore and she said, "Mommy, I do miss the snowman but I was just so afraid to tell you I broke your gift, so that is why I cried."  I asked her why she would be afraid to tell me and she said, "Because you picked out the perfect gift and it came from your heart and I felt like when I broke the snow man I broke your heart."  Talk about a tear-jerker.  My heart swelled with love and pride for my little girl's sweet-natured soul and I told her that instead of breaking my heart she had made my it even happier and that I was so proud of her for being brave and telling me what happened.  These are the precious moments that life are all about.