Somewhere Inbetween

When you have a 13 year old, you're never quite sure what to expect when it comes to how they act. One day they can act like a child, then next like a mature teen (that can also be one minute, then the next). I saw that this weekend with Morgan.
Mature Morgan did this: Joked with the opposing basketball team, never lost her temper when she was knocked down (twice), smiled after losing a heartbreaking game and congratulated the other team. She also made the mature decision not to play softball this summer (first time since she was 4), because she didn't feel accepted into this team and that the other players weren't as serious about the game as she is. She did this before I paid her fees...for this I'm eternally greatful!
Child Morgan did this: tried putting off cleaning her room and bathroom. She also had a great time at a Colorado Chills basketball game by goofing around with a bunch of mascots that were there from all the CO sports teams, did the "kid tunnel" for the players before the game started, danced at timeouts with all the mascots and generally had a blast, not caring what others would think.

I'm not sure which Morgan I prefer....probably the best of both of those.

Conversations with a teen

I went to a parent/teacher conference yesterday for my 7th grader. Her teacher asked me if I had any concerns....I just told him that I am wondering if she's working at her potential, at which point he told me no and handed me her report card. At the beginning of the year, she started out with all A's and one C (in band, she "forgot" to turn in her practice sheets!). Now she's got 2 C's, 3 B's and 2 A's, (one of those A's is in drama, which she's very good at). Maybe this doesn't sound like a bad report card to some, but to me, it's not what Morgan can do. So her dad and I tried to have an "adult" conversation with her about this.....

Me: Did you see your report card?
M: Yea....
Me: I think you can do better.
M: Gosh! You always compare me to Ashley...I'm NOT Ashley. I've never gotten straight A's....why are you always in my face about my grades?!?
Me: I don't think I compared you to Ashley.
M: C's are average.
Me: You're not average, you're above average.
M: Why do you always yell at me?? Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!
Me: Where are you going?
M: To get my homework, what do you think?

You get the picture....see, I told you she was good in drama!

Sleeping Teens

I think I've mentioned before I have teenagers. Thanks to Presidents Day, they don't have school. They are still sleeping. I am hoping that they don't grow in their sleep (is that an old wives tale?), because by now, they'd be 6 feet tall! I seriously don't remember sleeping that much when I was there age. Maybe my parents didn't let me. I don't mind them sleeping in.....I just can't believe they can sleep so long!

Oh, Bother!

I am a procrastinator....I'm also forgetful. I needed to take 2 pair of pants and a dress to the dry cleaners forever. I finally took them in.....3 weeks ago. Kept forgetting to pick them up. I picked them up yesterday. Morgan needed the dress for her school play (which is tonight), I'm sure it'll be needing another cleaning when I get it back. I wore one paid of the pants to work today. My friend went to hand me a blue marker, hit her full 32 oz bottle of Diet Pepsi while doing so, and it spilled all down the front of my pants. Guess I'm going to have to go back to the dry cleaners.....when I remember.

I love it!

Today was a perfect morning! I didn't have to yell at either child to get up for school. I didn't have to yell at anyone to hurry up, lest they be late. I didn't even have to listen to anyone argue on the way to school (well, except trying to figure out who was prettier @@). I worked out.....perfect!

My Sweethearts Day

I actually didn't even see my "sweetheart" until about 7:00 at night! I was asleep when he left for work, and then I was at Morgan's basketball game. But it was all good. He'd given me a little charm bracelet he'd ordered from Morgan's band fundraiser, which Morgan gave me because she was sure her dad had forgotten he'd ordered it. But when Morgan and I got home from her basketball game, there sat a gift on the table. It wasn't anything extravagant, but it was so sweet that he actually stopped and bought something. It was a set of liquid soap and lotion, in a neat little basket. It wasn't food or chocolate, which altho I love those things, I don't need them, but this is something I will use A LOT! So thanks to my "sweetheart"!

Not what I'd have wanted to do....

Here are a list of things I like doing on Saturdays......
Sleep in
Lounge in PJ's
Read the paper
Go shopping
Take a nap
Go out to eat

Here's what I had to do this past Saturday.....
Read the newspaper
Take daughter to Urgent Care
Listen to some guy hyperventilate
See some other guy TU from the flu
Get daughter X-rays
See doctor
No broken bones
Go to lunch
Home to baby daughter

This is what happens when you have a daughter who thinks nothing of punting a football with a bare foot at school. When it turned black and blue, and red by her toes, which she claimed not to be able to feel, I figured I'd better have it check out. Lucky for her (and her basketball team), she only bruised the tendons in her foot. After a day of propping the foot up, ibuprofen and ice, she's almost back to normal. Maybe next Saturday will be better!

World's Greatest Mom?

Quick! Give me an award! I'm the best! Okay, so neither one of my kids said that, but I'll tell myself that anyway! Today is Friday, so of course, being Catholic, we're not suppose to eat meat. I looked at the school lunch menu, which Morgan always buys...."rib-b-que and hot dogs". Now I know this is school cafeteria food, but I'm pretty sure it has some type of meat in it. So after getting groceries this morning, I, being the bestest Mom ever, went to Subway and got her a 6" seafood on Italian....complete with her favorites, lettuce, tomato, pickles, green pepper, mayo and sweet onion sauce. Doesn't that sound yummy? Of course when I got to school and dropped it off, she looked a little puzzled. I reminded her it was Friday and what was on the menu, she said "oh, they changed it to pancakes". Oh well.....at least she got some vegies in with the lunch *I* bought her!

A Total Quickie

Well, did I get your attention? We had a quick snow storm this morning, making a mess of the roads and sending those who don't realize that snow makes the roads hazardous into ditches and other cars. It snowed maybe 2 hours, we got about 2 - 3" and then the sun came out. The snow is gone. What a great way to get moisture without having to hang around!

My ME Day

Yesterday was a me day. With the hubby and youngest daughter off on a weekend to visit his family in S.D. and my oldest daughter off to wrestling regionals, it was just me. Well not if you count the 3 dogs and cat, but since they can't talk, it doesn't really count. After taking the oldest to breakfast, her eyebrow appt. and Petsmart, I dropped her off at the high school and came home to a house void of anyone who could potentially ruin my day (other than myself, as I was having a small pity party). I played on my computer, I read some magazines I haven't touched in awhile, I played on the computer some more. I ate chocolate and drank Diet Mt. Dew (they cancel each other out, right?), I watched what *I* wanted on TV. The only thing I did that required any effort was a couple of loads of laundry, which was totally self serving, since they were my jeans and towels (I was out!).
Today it's going to be a different story. No pity party (altho I can't promise there will be no chocolate). When I am finished here, I'm going to do more laundry, clean up the house and then go to those wrestling regionals my daughter is at (she's not a wrestler people, she's a manager). Can life get any better? Okay, if I could fit a maid in the budget, it could, but otherwise, probably not!

Hidden Treasures

I've been cleaning. Today I actually took the cushions off the couch, loveseat and chair and vaccumed them. I found something that I knew I had (besides pens and pencils and some rubber bands).....a pair of nail clippers! Now I know Bluegrass Mama had mentioned this earlier, how they disappear, so next time mine are missing, I'll search under the couch cushions first!

Dueling Howlers

For the first time today, I actually smiled, even laughed a little. Two of my dogs are standing at the front door, barking at the TrueGreen lawn guy at my neighbors house. Picture this....a 70 pound lab/dobe mix and a 7 pound Maltese, standing next too each other, taking turns barking. Then the "big dog", Libbie, starts howling. She's done this in the past...bark, bark, hooowwwl! Chester, however, has never done anything but bark. He tried his hand at howling today, didn't want Libbie showing him up. I have to say, he's not very good at it!

On the Sports Front....

A while back, I had written about Morgan's softball team folding and on the fact that she decided she was no longer going to play. She changed her mind ("women' do that, you know). After talking with a girl whom she played ball with last year (on the 14U team), we called the team she is playing for now. Morgan thought about it and when I mentioned she needed to make up her mind so we could order her uniform if she was playing, she looked at me and said "I'm playing".....like I already knew. So off we went to fill out paperwork, get fundraising stuff and order her new uniform. Weird, she's going to be playing on a team for a rival town. I hope she likes it. She's now a "Windsor Storm". Guess we'll be busy this summer.

Someone's Cranky

Yesterday morning Morgan got up, showered and decided to wear her hair down (something that doesn't happen often). But she came out with it pulled up in a "half" pony tail. Why? It looked greasy (happens with girls who have lots of hair and still haven't learned how to wash their hair correctly, or rinse it completely!). She decided to pull out a couple pieces to hang down by her face. Then she asked me if it looked stupid (her words). I just simply replied that one side had more hair, then when she tried to pull out more hair, it looked bad and she ripped her ponytail holder out altogether. She then proceeded to throw it on the table and demand that I do her hair. So while I tried, I caught a rat, she yelled, I said to do it herself. Long story short, she wore her hair in a full pony tail, and was grumpy on the way to school. When I picked her up that afternoon, she apologised. Okay, I can deal with that. That evening, she went to the basketball game at the HS. She calls me later.....
Morgan: Can you bring me money?
Me: I thought you had money.
Morgan: I couldn't find it.
Me: Why didn't you say so when I dropped you off?
Morgan: You told me you wouldn't give me any.
Me: I don't think so.
Morgan: I'm thirsty.
Me: Borrow a dollar from someone.
Morgan: No! Bring me a dollar.
Me: If I come to the HS, you will come home.
Click.......
Guess she found some money.

Will It Snow?

The other day it snowed in Denver, some towns north of of Denver, Ft. Collins, and even Greeley....but I got up yesterday morning and did we have snow? Nope! I took the kids to school and the sky was as blue as could be, but we could see the snow in the foothills of Ft. Collins. I got the paper this morning and it showed a picture of a tree in Greeley that was weighed down from ice and snow. We got nothing. We live 6 miles north of Greeley! Looking west this afternoon, you can tell it's snowing in the mountains, and probably even in Ft. Collins. Will we get any??? I suppose I'll let you know tomorrow!