Yikes! They are growing up!

Today I was subbing for middle school sixth grade math. I enjoy subbing. I honestly feel comfortable with this. I have a sixth grader. She is eleven. She's beautiful, tall, long legs and hi-lights in her fabulous brown hair. This whole package scares me to death. I know that everyone thinks that their daughter is the "most beautiful in the world". Let's face it, she is!

During her passing period today, she took a few seconds to not only acknowledge my presence, but to tell me that a boy had asked her out. YIKES

Now, it's both a good thing, and a bad thing to know the kids. I know the 6th graders fairly well, I spend a lot of time there. This BOY is a cute kid who talks incessantly, and never turns in work. His future occupation eludes me.

Here is the part where I skirt around the fact that I had many a boyfriend by her age. It's different when it's your daughter!

I didn't get any details until later. Apparently, her Science teacher had moved the kids and she now shares a table with this boy. Yes, that makes this the teacher's fault. ha ha
I guess the conversation went like this:
Him- "what would you say if I asked you out?"
Her- "no, because I'm not allowed to go out with anyone"
So, she let him down easy. She was not insulting or rude, she didn't embarrass herself.

Now, I would like to thank the girls that have influenced her over the years. Her cousins, babysitters, family friends, and such. She is somehow convinced that she may NOT date until she is 18. This isn't a rule that her father or I have imposed on her. She just assumes that since it was that way for some very important people in her life, this is the case for her.
PLEASE, don't tell her otherwise! :)

Teeth Rant

I'm stressed. Really stressed. I have three children, enough said, right? Well, it seems as though the shock of braces for one has begun to wear off. Today, we went to get them tightened, as they do to my wallet. I took along my thirteen year old son for a consult. We had recently been to the routine dentist appointment and his X-ray was funky.

Now, the Orthodontist we have is wonderful. He is what some would call affordable, by comparison, I suppose. He does free consults! Can you believe that? ha ha. When making the appointment, I was utterly terrified by the dentist's report. The kind woman I spoke to on the phone assured me that it often isn't as bad as it first seems. So, consulting we go.

He got his X-rays done and the kind lady (same one that calmed me down previously) comes back and says "I feel so bad for trying to make you feel better on the phone". There is irony in that statement. She said "it's not often we see patients and go 'OH CRAP!' ". Nice.

I am sitting her trying to tell myself that in about 5 years we will have a family picture done and everyone will say "your children have such beautiful smiles". I will hopefully look back on today and say with a sigh, that it was all worth it.

Long time no blog

Wow, I miss this. I have so many things to write about that my head is spinning. Spinning....we will go with that.

I joined the gym. YUCK. I'm not a fan. I am in a wedding soon, remember? I have no choice. I can't be the bridesmaid with batwings. I probably will be, but at least I can say I tried.

Last week, I went with my sister and the maid of honor. Now, they have been going for months, together. I had one night on my own a little and then met them there another night. This is not a good thing. I find that, whenever I am with them, I have way too much fun. We decided to try out all of the equipment. This is cracking me up already.

They ran their thirty minutes on the eliptical. I do believe it was manufactured by the makers of asthma medication. I tried it my first night there, alone. I couldn't figure out that you just start going to turn it on. Once I did, I didn't know you could adjust the tension. I wasn't sure if I would fly off or if my dinner would fly out. *Note to self, don't eat lasagna before using excercise equipment.

We then ventured on to various contraptions that work different parts of the body that I haven't felt for years. One even had a seatbelt! This is just wrong. If you have to wear a seatbelt to workout, I firmly believe the method has some sort of design flaw or maybe your body just shouldn't be on there.

While we were there some young guys came in. My sister couldn't figure out why I didn't want to go over near them to use the weights. She told me that I was old enough to be their mother. So, I told her I would after she did 60 crunches on the ab lounger. She did it. I still didn't go. Will she EVER learn ;)

whoa

Time to slow down and blog again. The 4H season is winding down. I can breathe, sort of. I miss blogging. I have a few funny snippets to share.

1 My daughter Abby thinks that if everything were free AND you got change back, life would be really cool. Economists?

2 When involved with community-minded youth activities, it is never ok to cheat for your kid to get ahead (you know who you are).

3 Smiling and chatting with a crush can create awkward moments where there are none. (sorry xxxxxx, I had to share ;)

4 Dogs in heat and dog shows don't mix.


5 If you don't know what is on the other end of a wired remote, think the worst!

6 My favorite quote in recent weeks..."I'm afraid of marriage. It brings about obligatory sex that can lead to pregnancy. I don't want kids yet!"-source uncited on purpose.

Funny Relationship Comments

Life has been so much fun lately. I have friends in various stages of relationships. From long married, to newly free, newly in love, and single and lovin' it! I enjoy talking to these friends. It's so neat to hear their stories. Here are a few I think need sharing...

*Alison, you are not allowed to read this one, so stop here, sweetie ;)


One friend was describing how her recently divorced bff has had a boyfriend for sometime. Not many people know, apparently. Her comment was that she thinks it's time they "bring it out of the bedroom".

A very dear friend that is "newly free" from a horrible marriage is checking out the dating world. She has a guy that she dated, probably first, that won't leave her alone. For that situation girls, we have decided on a phrase. Keeping it "sports minded" so the men will understand...."thanks for the rebound, now bounce!" HAHA, cracks me up.


?????????.....went from being "single" to "in a relationship."
A teen acquaintance recently posted on facebook that she is "in a relationship". Well, we all know that brings about like 20 comments in an instant. Everything from "WHO?" to "is it me?" tee hee. Well, after about three days now, she still hasn't answered. I'm wondering if she's either messing with people, or she really doesn't like the guy but the idea of a boyfriend was appealing? Time to grow up sweetheart, people will think he lost a bet.

One of my newly in love friends, (you know who you are), has been warned. She received the warning from friends that "the ring" is forthcoming...DUN DUN DUN. She is scared to death. The very best part, (I love you, remember), is when she said "this isn't how I pictured my life going!" I hope that brought all readers, over the age of 30 or so, a very good laugh.

Too Funny

Recently, we were given the opportunity to meet a cousin's new boyfriend. It was a surprise meeting. We were at Sonic, which rocks, by the way. The boyfriend had come to pick up the cousin with her mom, and grandma. She was shocked to see him, she hadn't even primped. She's 18, so we know that can be devastating!
While feasting at Sonic, we put the "kids" at one table and the adults at the other. My daughters were with us, as was my mom, and the male cousin who was brother to the girl. They had spent the week with us.
Apparently, the new boyfriend was REALLY missing this sweet young lady. He was affectionately keeping her very close. After about 45 minutes or so, my girls had migrated to the adult table. I wondered why. My darling Ali told me that her beloved cousin and her boyfriend were "making out". I don't believe they ever even kissed. It was enough that they were arm in arm.
When we were driving home, Abby (my youngest), who is aware of my lack of ability to process dairy products, announced that she is from that point on, "lactose inboyfriend". LOL
I gently informed her it would be "boyfriend intolerant".

WHERE ARE YOUR CHILDREN AND CALL THEM BY NAME!

It's been a few days since I've written. That, of course, doesn't mean that nothing is going on. I've just been busy with summer projects.

My beloved screen porch is now clean! Last year's rummage items have finally found new homes, ok, so it was the trashcan. I can sit there sipping my Diet Coke and playing games on my laptop or reading and listening to my new MP3 player (my birthday gift to myself). Ah, so relaxing...until. Until those neighbor kids come outside.

Now, mind you, my parents live across the street on the opposite corner of our block. They have a fenced yard with plenty to keep the grandkids busy. They have a fire pit that we love to use for smores. The fence is a privacy type that is about four feet tall. Yes, that is significant, just be patient.

Next door to them, is a yellow house. That's were those kids live. On the side of the yellow house, opposite my parents, are some really great people. They have dogs, like us, and had a three foot tall picket fence. Their daughter graduated from high school this year and they did the "crazy graduation parent" thing and spruced up their already beautiful home. They replaced their fence in the process. It always amazed me that their dogs had no desire to jump that short fence. Unlike those kids. They now have a SIX foot tall privacy fence.

Behind my parent's home and these other houses is an alley. A bumpy and rutty alley, but well used, nonetheless. We take that route often to come home after dropping Grandma off.

The property behind the yellow house with those kids is owned by a sweet young couple with two small children. They have ample play equipment, as we did when the kids were little. They haven't been in the neighborhood long, but longer than those kids. About two months ago, when it was time for them to put up their quick set, huge pool, I noticed some holes. They now have a beautiful privacy fence. It's about six feet tall.

We have a fence, as do our next door neighbors. Our fenced areas are in the back of our properties. They aren't the privacy variety, but they do well keeping our dogs corralled.

So, if you have been paying attention, the yellow house has about five neighbors. All have fences. Three are privacy and two have been installed since those kids descended on our neighborhood. Aren't you curious as to why?

The oldest child is about nine and a boy. Next, is another boy that is about six, followed by a girl that is probably four or five. They can be cute. Not when they are standing on a chair by my parents fence observing our cookouts. Not really cute when they sneak into Mom and Dad's back yard and leave the gate open so the puppy gets out. Reaching through a picket fence to torment dogs isn't especially cute either. Playing in the alley neighbors sandbox when no one is home isn't exactly cute.

Now, here's the kicker. Obviously, it's really hard to blame the kids. It's also kind of hard to enjoy my screen porch. When the parents are watching those kids. They get called everything but their names. We have screeches of "You dumb@##, get out of the road!" and the like. Now, I know that God wants us to love others, and I do my very best. At this point, I have decided to love them because they have brought many new decorative fences to our neighborhood. Can you blame me?