Oh yeah...THAT mom

Well...I have officially become THAT mom.

Oh, I know.

I've been THAT mom before...but now...there is just no going back.

As you may (or may not) know, I have strong opinions.

seriously. it's true.

And one such strong opinion is the idea that children do not need cell phones.

I mean really...where is your eight year old going that you can't totally reach them in any given situation?

So...as more and more of Mikayla's friends have gotten cell phones (some from a very young age)...we have resisted the onslaught.

She is just too young.

And then something happened to change my mind.

That's right she turned 13.



Really...it wasn't the turning 13...rather it was the seventh grade and track and play practice and her busy social life...I can hardly keep up.

With coaches that cancel practices or have meets that end two hours early, surprise play practice, etc...I could not keep up with whether she was coming or going and more imporantly whether I was supposed to be there.

So...we decided it was time...and we got her a cell phone for her birthday.

And...she is thrilled. (I know...you're shocked.)

The best part about it was when we finally decided to do it...we thought we would do it right.

So...as Mikayla was opening her birthday presents...one of the items in her box started to ring.

And of course...Mikayla did not hear it at all.

But everyone else in the room could hear the noise and they were wondering where it was coming from.

Mikayla's friends quickly realized what was happening and were screaming at her to open her present.

It was awesome to so completely surprise her.

So...not only does my daughter have a cell phone...but apparently I am now committed to buying all my other children cell phones when they turn 13.

**big sigh**

What was I thinking?

Mad Dash

Well...I like to think I perform well under pressure...and I do usually manage to pull things out, but at what price?

We have a Halloween Party tonight...which means I needed to get the Halloween costumes done. After taking a break last year from the family theme...we have come back to it.

We are all going as characters from Harry Potter.

But...as of yesterday I did not have any costumes made.

I've now got six costumes done...two more to go.

Phew...hope I'm not too grouchy at the party tonight. lol!

Say Goodbye To My Youth

Cause....today my daughter turns 13.

HOW did this happen?

WHERE did the time go?

WHY, oh why, do I have a 13 year old child?

Seriously...I guess today isn't all about me.

**big sigh**

Actually, Mikayla is the MOST amazing person...and I am so grateful that she is my child.

She is strong and secure in who she is.

She knows where she is going.

And I trust her to make good decisions...even in tough situations.

What more could I ask for.

So...Happy Birthday kiddo.

I love you.

PS. She is a faithful blog reader...so be sure to leave her LOTS of love. Think we can get 13 comments?

Moments of Truth

Do you ever have those moments...when something happens...that you KNOW with absolute certainty that something has to change.

Yeah.

I had one of those moments today.

I was driving home from preschool today and Becky was riding in the back with Evan and AJ.

She says, "Hey. Guys. Listen to this. I can burp my ABC's."

"Burp - A"

"Burp - B"

"Burp - C"

Seriously.

How classy is that?

My realization?

Um. Isn't it obvious?

Becky needs some friends who are girls.

And soon!

Seriously?

Today Becky's teacher stopped me as I was picking up the kids.

"I just wanted to let you know how happy I am that Becky spoke up in class today."

"Oh? About what?"

"Well, I mean, I am just so happy to see that she is finally starting to overcome her extreme shyness."

No response...just stunned silence.

"Um. Becky? Shy?"

"Yes. She never says anything in class...but I think we are starting to break through."

Seriously?

Becky?

Shy?

Quiet?

I think you have my child mixed up with someone else. Seriously.

Shark Alert

Josh and I were driving in the car and talking about his day.

The was being sweet and I said, "Joshua Boshua Bop...you're so cute."

He said, in a very frustrated voice, "Mom....you said when I turned six you would NEVER call me Joshua Boshua Bop again."

"Yes Josh. But, you said when you turned six you would be the perfect child."

"No Mom. I said the DAY I turned I would be the perfect child."

oh.

crap.

I think this kid has a future as lawyer.

And really...if he's figuring out the loopholes at this age...I don't think that bodes well for the future.

Look out world.

Life of Leisure

Lest you think I've been sitting around watching tv and eating bon bons...THIS is what I've been doing in Troy's absence.

It Had to Happen

I love General Conference! It always feels like a chance to be reminded of what is most important...and I need that every now and then!

So...Troy is once again out of town...you know what that means...at least one or two calamities.

So, we had the first today when a gasket blew under the sink and we had a little mini flood. I swear...how does the house know that no one is here that is even remotely qualified to handle this kind of thing?

Sheesh.

Thank goodness for Lyndon and his plumbing know how. That man has saved my bacon more than once and I am deeply grateful!!!!

So...pray that we have gotten the worst of it out of the way...but I won't count on it.

Run, Mikayla, Run

Mikayla made the track team and had her first meet this week. She did great! and her team totally won!!!



Yay Mikayla!!!

cough. cough.

cough.

Fighting ickie sickes.

Losing.

cough.




ETA: totally whining.

we're fine.

Duh, Mom!

Miss Becky and I stayed home from church today. She wasn't feeling well, and since I didn't have to teach (and Troy did) it was easily decided that I would stay home

Well, Becky was regulated to the couch to sip ginger ale and watch cartoons, and she is quiet adept at the remote.

At one point, when I went in to check on her, she was watching Sesame Street. Bert and Ernie (mostly Ernie) were singing a song, and many of the words that I could hear were in Spanish.

"Hummm." I thought. I know Sesame Street likes to be diverse so I didn't think much of it...at least until I went back in to check on Becky and she was now watching a documentary about desert life, which was also in Spanish.

Only then did I realize that she was actually watching the Spanish Language channel.

I asked her why she was watching this channel, she said, "Well...Elmo was on."

Oh. Of course. Duh, Mom!

ps. Becky is much improved. Must have been a fluke.

Magic Hours

It took me a while to adjust to the time when we got back from Greece.

It actually took long enough that I am on an entirely new schedule...and it has taken some adjusting.

I have always had people ask...how do you get so much done in the day?

Not that I get a lot done, but others seems to think so. LOL!

Well, I used to get up around 7:30 am. Then I would see the kids off to school and go about my day. Then...after putting the kids to bed, I would stay up until midnight or one.

I can get more done between 9 pm and midnight than I can in the entire rest of the day. There is no one following me around, no one saying "mommy" every 3 seconds, and just a lot of blissful quiet in my house -- something that is in short supply around here.

Well...I have been trying to get up between 5 am and 6 am. And holy cow...by like 9:30 pm it's all I can do to keep my eyes open.

I have found that this new schedule actually works really well for the family. We are a lot let stressed in the morning...and it gives me time to organize the rest of my day.

We are also trying not to eat out...so home cooked meals every night.

Troy is wondering where his wife went...and who I really am. LOL!

But...with my magic hours gone...I am getting less done...and it has been hard to get used to.

But...it's working for the family, and right now, that's what is really most important.

big sigh. :)

Cause It Looked Inviting

So...i've been able to go from way too many photos (Greece) to not even one photo (today).

I was getting in the shower this morning. I turned it on to let it warm up a little...and the phone rang.

I went to answer the phone and when I got back...Katie was enjoying my nice warm shower...fully clothed right down to her socks.

Ack.

And me with no camera!

Oh well...picture it in your mind...um...you know...the part where KATIE is in the shower.

Photo Overload, Final Installment (Phew)

Okay...last set of photos.

These are from our tour of Delphi.