School's out

The girls were very casual the last day of school. Ruth is now going into 9th and High School. Sara is going into 10th. They will be in the same school now and both on the bus....good bye to car pooling for now.

We have had another sucessful year. Both girls ended with 7 A's and 1 B. NOW, I have 2 high school girls, and at my tender young age hehehe. Sara will be a sophmore and Ruth a fish. It is unbelivable how fast this year went by.

my family

My oldest sister Kathy and husband Mike.  Next to them niece Jennifer, an optomatrist, and very tall husband Marc who is a Materials Engineer working on his masters.  Sitting is Ashley, who lives in LA and works on movies, and Megan who lives in Houston and has a masters in accounting.



 Next oldest sister Chris who teaches 2nd grade and husband Jimmy who does outside sales in metal buildings.  Next to Jimmy, and taller hehehe is Jason who has his masters in church music.  Then daughter Julie who just got her masters in social work this past weekend.
Of course my dad, Dave, and my mom Edie (short for Edith)

Finally my little sister Lisa, and her husband Rick.  They live by us in N. TX.  Lisa is a Paralegal and Rich is a contract manager of a large construction company.

more beautiful Ruth

Ruth National Honor Society again

This evening Ruth was inducted into Jr. National Honor Society for the second year....no suprise here says the proud parents!  In planing for this  we picked out her dress a few months ago.  It is form fitting and show that yes, this child had a fugure and we are not totally sure when that happened.

Sara took time with her, great big sister, and did Ruth's hair and makeup.  I understand the eyeliner was a big to-do and everytime Sara went at her with it, she would blink, and then giggles all around.....I stayed out of the way for the final reveal.....and it was amazing.

Check out our beauty!

Color me....black?

Sara is planning out the upcoming soccer banquet with school.  Next she wanted to color her hair with a deep auburn like a friend of hers did. RULE #1----only temporary color!!  So we get something that we think will work and hit it and it came out......black.  There is a little bit of color in the sun if you are looking for it, but her hair is too dark to do, at least as a temporary color and that is all I am going for now.

Ruth the Artist

Today Ruth went to an art competition through school.  She took a bus and it was an all day event.  She took a first place (1) ribbon for her drawning.  It is really good and will for a while hang in the school on display.  There were maybe 15 other kids from the class that took a 1.

Model is born

Man, I need to invest in a better camera!!!

Tonight Sara had her first modeling job. She did fantastic. This is the first outfit she had. It included her cowboy boots. She was a natural, much better than she did yesterday at practice. I think I will look into some modeling for her.

EASTER

We had a good Easter. We went to my parent's house for the extended family get together. This of course included wonderful food. I loved the fact that for the first time, my kids helped w/ the dishes and I did not have to do any....love them!

We had of course the traditional egg hunt for the "kids" which incluse 14-29, so we use the term sparingly. This year there was cash in all eggs, of course when Ruth and I helped my mom with the last 38, we included monopoly money, a rock, pine needles, key chains, some mulch, and any other strange thing we would think of.....we are heading to the "let's get silly with this and have a few laughs" phase of life.

We had some great games of washer, a game of croquet, lots of card games, and lots of love.

What a day! Tornadoes, hail, wind, rain

They are saying that there were 15 tornadoes in 4 hours...one city got hit by 3!

Look at the twin tornado storms we had today. Can you say duck and cover! We are so very blessed that these two massive and destructive storms went up with us in between. We did get some very impressive winds & rain, but no circulation or hail. I am almost finished w/ my tornado hideout under the stairs and today I added helmets. I think this will be one of the normal springs when we get the usual tornadoes so I want to be prepared.

It hit the towns on both sides of us, but not us. My sister and her husband n of FTw are OK too.....

Model Sara

These are a few of very many photo that were shot today. I know moms are prejudice for their kids, but I think mine is beautiful!

Sara is getting ready for her first modeling job. She is excited and it is a learning experience in what is involved. Following is the newspaper article on what she will be in.



Alexander Portrait Designers will showcase some of top teen models at the Project Revolution fashion event, planned for April 10 at Aristide Event Center.Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for adults. All proceeds from the event will be donated to Young Minds, Inc.

After seeing the potential in the young leaders that created Young Minds, Inc., Glenda Beckwith, owner and photographer at Alexander Portrait Designers, asked area businesses to join her in this worthwhile cause.Area partners include Aristide Event Center, Classy Concepts, Aspirations, Mary Kay-Kim McClure, Rue 21 and Industrial.Young Minds, Inc. is a student-run non-profit organization providing support for real-life issues facing Mansfield students.Their current campaigns include "Put Your Foot Down Against Bullying," a bullying prevention and awareness campaign, and "Dress Smart", a school-based clothes closet providing professional dress clothing for students preparing for interviews, presentations or events.For more information about Young Minds, visit facebook.com/pyfdab.
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/04/02/3853939/fund-raising-fashion-show-planned.html#storylink=cpy

TEENAGERS!!!!!!!

What to do? I have a 15 yo who thinks it is OK to tell her mom what's what, to tell her mom "you are wrong again", to yell at her mom, to not even speak to her father unless she wants something, which is also the time that she is sweet to me.....it is always about material things w/ her. I know people tell me that this is just being a teenager, but I KNOW that I would not even consider doing this to my parents.

It has gotten to the point that I so not speak to her because too many times she misinterprets what I mean and then gets mad/pouty for DAYS!

So today is Friday and we just did a round of hormonal discharge....so now the rest of the weekend will be walking on eggshells to keep her somewhat appease, well, actually I do not expect to see her all weekend because she will be pouting in her room the entire time.

Sometimes I feel like I should just pretend that she is not here to help keep the peace. AFTER ALL, there is another child here who is mellow and should not have to be in the middle of this melodrama constantly.......


Oh, to be a mom of a type A personality 15 yo girl.......I need a break!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Happy Birthday Ruth-14

Today my baby Ruth turned 14! It is hard to believe all the joy and fun this child has brought into our lives and how scary it is that she is growing up so fast, but into such a wonderful person. Some days I wish she was still small enough to hold in my arms, then I realize that she still is and I cherish the times she likes to crawl into bed with me in the evenings and just talk. Or the times she still lets me sing her to sleep after prayers and a kiss. I love this child so very much


HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUTH

Spring Break 2012

WE began the week off with shuttling Sara to her MANY social events. Maybe I will be glad when she drives, of course she will not have a car to drive hehehe. We did take a few days to go to San Antonio. We did on day downtown at the river walk and shops. Then we took another day at Sea World. It was great weather and we did spend the evenings recuperating (and the girls texting back to the real world). I am not sure how much longer I can drag the girls with us. I think Ruth will always be willing, but Sara is another story!!!!!!

Oh yea, and happy St. Patrick's day....yes, I am Irish

out of surgery-doing good

My dad had his surgery about 1 this afternoon and he was a super hero pulling through well. This one was to remove his gall bladder. It was done orthoscopically which is such an easier recovery. He is hoping to go home tomorrow. You would have to know my dad, but her had reluctantly decided not to go home and finish cutting the yard. My mom insisted that they hire it out for a few weeks....wonder where I get my stubborn streak from.....ya think?

surgery #2

My dad had his first surgery on Friday evening. They removed a gall stone that was blocking his pancreas-thus turning him yellow. Some time today he is having his second surgery to remove the gull bladder that is full of additional gull stones. I am waiting to hear from my family to see how it went. I had a long phone visit with him last night. It appears that he likes that his room is across the hall from the patient snack area and he had just finished a cherry cobbler---his weakness is cherry pie so this is no suprise.

I am sending us all calmness as we wait.......

My dad's in the Hospital

Prayers needed please....

I got a call this evening that my dad was admitted to the hospital. He got sick yesterday, and turned yellow. He was running a low grade fever and could not stop shaking. My one sister is with my mom there and another sister will be there with them tomorrow. They will take more tests and then let my third sister and I know to see if we need to get home. We may very well go anyways.

Tonight I am trying to make arrangements for the girls while I am gone and until Jeff gets home.....aka passing on the mom juggle act.

The Golden Ticket aka medical release fianally

Yesterday Sara had her last appt w/ the orthopedic surgeon and we walked out with the golden ticket--the medical release. So, after 10 wks in splinting, major surgery, horrible scar, 2 months of PT, along with "the claw", she is now cleared to play soccer again. Am I nervous....you bet. I think I will make sure we take a splint in her bag in case she falls wrong on it. I will look for a soft splint to wear during the game. The Soccer director suggested one made for skateboarding, like her daughter had to do.

So, 10 minutes after the soccer office opened, Sara was signed up for a team. The first practice is today and at least one girl from her last team is on it.

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's day to everyone. Remember today is a day about showing care for others, not just your family, but also your friends, and those who you interact with. Wouldn't the world be a better place if everyone just said hello to each other, and maybe a thankyou.....I think this is called manners.

SO-Hug your family and hold them close, then go out and spread the love to others.