Vegas, Baby!

Luckily while in Vegas, I didn't do anything that would have to stay in Vegas! It was fun though. We went for my cousin's wedding. She's 38 and got married for the first time. I cried. I told the kids I would, so they'd better not make fun of me. Morgan did glance at me to see if I had started yet! Although I do have to say, the flower girls and ring bearer were a hoot and probably kept me from doing more than just tearing up! Here's some things I learned while in Vegas....

1. The Stratosphere is really far off the strip...taking the monorail or a cab is the only way to go!

2. Kids *can* have fun there, especially at the arcade where you can win a game, get over 1200 tickets and come home with more crap than you need.

3. You're never too old to hold your cousin's hand, especially when you're walking back to your hotel at 2:00 in the morning and you've drank too much!

4. Prom dresses are fairly cheap if you're at the right place....we came home with one of those too and only paid $60.

5. People really do drink first thing in the morning, unless of course they haven't gone to bed yet, so they think it's still night time!

6. When you want to actually lose the rest of your voucher because you want to go to bed (I had $4.20 on my voucher the last night), you'll win money. But if you then give it to your husband because you want to go to bed, he'll lose it for you.

7. Starbucks in popular in Vegas too.....with a line you can wait in for up to a 1/2 hour!

8. You're never too old to get excited to see a Elvis impersonator.

9. You are also never too old to do the chicken dance at a reception.

10. Driving to Vegas isn't all that bad, driving home from Vegas sucks.

Been Busy

We have company. My parents got here Friday afternoon. I had a staff meeting Saturday afternoon. We golfed 18 holes yesterday. We're getting ready to go to Vegas on Tuesday afternoon. I have laundry and packing to do, and I suppose I should go buy a wedding gift! So sorry that my posts are going to be few until next week!

A New Attitude

Yesterday's post was kind of a downer. After pouting all day and being down, I discovered that although Ashley doesn't share everything with me, she still loves me. And I also took a step back and realized that no matter how close a person is with their teen, they won't tell them *everything*. That's why they have friends. Thanks to BGM, who helped me see the light!

Rose Colored Glasses

Apparently I've been wearing them. All these years I figured Ashley and I were very close and she'd confide in me about anything. But lately, she's totally shut down. She stays in her room, she won't talk about anything. I know she thinks her dad and I are stupid. Evidently, neither one of us has ever lived a "real life" and we know nothing. But at least she used to talk to me.....but not anymore. Should I be worried? Should I leave her alone? Should I go through her things? I mean, she could not understand why I would call her when she wasn't home by curfew....and just didn't get it when I was really ticked off that she wouldn't answer her phone. When I tried to reason with her that a parent worries (and generally our imagination runs wild), again....I'm stupid. I'm trying really hard to remember how I felt about my parents when I was her age, so that I can some what understand her, but it's hard. I thought we were close, but right now, I guess we aren't.

Seriously, What Season Is It??

Woke up to winter today....I thought we'd finally gotten past that and were well on our way into spring. But it is Colorado and the weather changes with the hour! After a pretty nice weekend, we woke up to blowing snow this morning. They originally said we'd get 6 to 12 inches, then narrowed it down to 4 to 7. Actually none of it has really stuck, but it's just cold and miserable! In fact, I took a nice long nap this afternoon.....what better thing to do on a cold, gray, snowing Sunday afternoon?

Now THAT was fun!

Today I had to drive Eric's truck down to Wheat Ridge (suburb of Denver) to leave it at the place where we're getting our new 5th wheel. They are going to put a 5th wheel hitch on it. I needed someone to follow me down and bring me home, and all my dfs were working or already had plans, so Ashley and her friend Rachel followed me down there. Thank goodness for Mapquest, which took me right there! Anyway, I sensed that Rachel didn't really want to drive home, so I offered to drive back. Didn't realize that the VW Bug she was driving was a stick shift. No problem, I had 2 of those in my younger years. Ashley was sure I was going to kill them. Guess what.....it's like riding a bike! It all came back very quickly and I only ground the gears once! And I miss a stick!! I seriously think every girl should learn to drive a stick shift!

Male Bonding

Friday afternoon, Eric's brother Dave and his cousin Brian came from S.D. to visit. The first thing they did was hit the golf course. We had dinner that night at the country club, then back to the house for a game of golf and a few drinks. Saturday basically more of the same, golf for the guys, then dinner and drinks at our house. Oh and they played some darts too. Sunday, they played MORE golf, then we had steak at the house with friends Dave & Alex. Eric had a blast, Dave & Brian probably drank more than they've drank in a long time and I enjoyed listening to them rib each other. I learned Eric's nickname in high school was PeeWee.....wonder how they came up with that one! It was a fun weekend and I was really glad they were able to come. Not only did they get to golf every day, they got gorgeous weather to go with it! What luck! Thanks guys for coming!

Onto me.....I got this from my friend Annie's blog....and if I were more computer literate, I'd link you to it, but I'm not....Ashley promised me one day she'd sit down with me and show me some stuff! Anyway, here's just a little about me.

Accent - I'm pretty sure I don't have one, but when I lived in TX, they thought I did! And by time we moved from TX, I was good at saying "ya'll".
Bra Size - 34 B....just right, not too big and they don't sag!
Chore I hate - pretty much cleaning in general....I"ve got better things to do!
Dad's Name - Kernon....but he goes by Butch.
Essential Makeup - I'm vain, give me the whole works!
Favorite Perfume - I like Ralph Lauren's Blue
Gold or Silver - Most of my jewlery is gold, but I sure like the platinum stuff!
Hometown - Port Byron, IL
Interesting Fact - I rarely make my bed, still seems useless to me when I'm going to get in it again at night! Strange thing, I straigthen it all out before I get in bed tho!
Job Title - Taxi driver....no wait, sorry, I'm a mom and a part time Weight Watchers leader.
Kids - I have 2 beautiful daughters, Ashley and Morgan. I also have 3 dogs who think I'm their mom and follow me around everywhere!
Living Arrangements - two story house with a full finished basement. Too many bathrooms to clean tho!
Mom's Birthplace - Moline, IL
Number of Apples Eaten Last Week - Unfortunately none, I'd ate them all the week before and haven't gone to the grocery store yet.
Overnight Hospital Stays - Only twice, to have my girls.
Phobia - Cleaning house! Ha!
Question You Ask Yourself a Lot - "What the hell was I doing?"
Religious Affiliation - Catholic, born and raised
Siblings - One older sister, Terri
Time I Wake Up - Usually 6:15, but that doesn't mean I get up then!
Unnatural Hair Color - Dark brown, auburn and blonde highlights
Vegetable I Refuse to Eat - cooked carrots....yuck!
Worst Habit - procrastinating
X-Rays - Twice I think, broke my right arm in '75 and left arm in '77.
Yummy Food I Make - Everyone we spend holidays with request our families Cheesey Scalloped Corn.....but I think my pumpkin bread is the best!
Zodiac Sign - Taurus

Reality of the Times

Saturday morning my oldest comes home and she looks like she's hung over. Truth be told, she and 3 friends stayed up until 4:00 in the morning talking, and crying. One of her best friends opened up to them about the problems in her life, things none of the girls ever guessed were happening. Of course she wasn't supposed to tell me, but Ashley confides in me a lot. I would love to help the friend, but of course, no one is supposed to know. Ashley is going to try to get her to come talk to me (guess her mom has been drinking a lot and she says she can't take things her mom says seriously), and I hope she does, she need a stable adult to guide her in the right direction.

That same night, Ashley and her friends were driving to get something to eat, when they pass a group of kids on the street. Ashley sees what appears to be her sister, helping someone walk. They back up and low and behold, it is Morgan and two of her friends trying to help 2 very drunk 8th graders walk home. In fact, one of Morgan's friends had one of the drunk girls flung over her shoulders (good things she's a big, strong girl). Ashley made them get in the car and they took the girls to one of the girls' house. Seems they got a bottle of liquor from some older guy. Evidently, both girls had to be taken to the hospital and one of them had to spend then night. They weren't even supposed to be at Morgan's friends house, but they showed up there, liquor in hand, to see her friends older brother. The brother wouldn't take them home, because he's already been in trouble and didn't want to get caught with them. So he leaves 3 13 year old girls to walk drunk girls home. I am thankful that both of my daughters have level heads on them and that they were responsible enough to help these girls out.....but really, should kids this age be already exposed to stuff like this?? Does anyone else find this scary???

Friday!

I shouldn't even be on the computer, but I had to check an address, so I thought, why not get a quick post in? I have found a new way to embarrass my kids...even Morgan, who rarely gets embarrassed. You put a futon (or any piece of furniture I assume) in the back of your pickup, tailgate down of course, with bungee cords holding the futon in, and take them to school in it. I'm not sure any of their friends even saw this, but they sure thought they looked like the Beverly Hillbillies! Bad thing is, I took it to the Weld Furniture Bank (where they give the stuff to people instead of reselling it) and the darn place only excepts donations on Wednesdays....from noon to 4. Oops....guess Eric and I'll either have to take it out, or drive around with it in the back of his pickup for a few more days!