It's Coming to an End

Hard to believe, but our summer is coming to an end. Sure the girls have about a month before they start school, but as is, it'll be here before I know it! This week will be a "slow" one. Morgan only has volleyball tonight for 2 hours. Ashley has work every day but Thursday, but she has a voice recital that night. I of course, have work, nothing unusual. But then we go to IL for our annual week of family stuff, then when we get back, Morgan has a 4 day camp, then the next week she'll start mandatory vball practice with 2-a-days. Next thing you know, they'll be back in school. Every year I think we'll get to slow down and enjoy ourselves during the summer, every year I am just kidding myself. We never slow down, although I do have to admit, we usually enjoy ourselves!

Happy Birthday Ashley!

Today is Teen #1's 17th birthday. Since it is also the 17th, this means it's her "golden" birthday. Unfortunately it didn't start our so great. She was supposed to leave this morning at 7:00 a.m. for a retreat. She was going to be a LINK leader for H.S. (sort of a mentor for freshman) and the retreat was mandatory. She woke up to bad cramps. She felt sick. I made her breakfast, since it was her birthday (chocolate chip pancakes), she ate about 3 bites, then threw up about 3 times afterwards. She contemplated, and decided not to go to the retreat, which also means she can no longer be a LINK leader. :( After laying around awhile, she started to feel better (except for the cramps) and was mad at herself for not trying to stick it out and go. So to make her feel better (it is, afterall, her birthday), Morgan and I took her to lunch (which she was able to keep down), went shopping at Victoria's Secret, got pedicures and went to Bed, Bath & Beyond to get her a computer chair. Oh, don't let me forget to mention she got a laptop before we left for camping. So I know it wasn't the most exciting birthday in her life, but it wasn't the worst either!
So Happy Birthday Ashley.....you're terrific and I love you!

Back from the Mountains

We're back from our long weekend in Estes Park. We picked a good time to be up in a high altitude, as it was extremely hot. It was about 10 degrees cooler up where we were, and it was still about 90! The KOA we stayed at was not the greatest (okay, their cabins were *very* nice, but their RV parking had a lot to be desired), but even though we griped about it, we enjoyed ourselves. Maybe it was because we were out of our normal lives and hanging with some of Eric's family. Maybe it was because we got to go shopping in Estes, where they have specialty shops and lots of ice cream, fudge, carmel corn and carmel apples! Maybe it was because we spent time being "kids" again, going go cart racing, playing in the arcardes, doing the "extreme trampoline" (maybe I am a bit to old for that!), the batting cages, putt-putt golf, water wars, etc. And even though I still had to cook and clean up, maybe it wasn't so bad because I wasn't doing all of it by myself. So, all in all, it was a great time. Can't wait to do it again next year!

The Need For Rest

After another busy weekend of fundraising, I woke up Sunday morning with the worst headache ever. Actually my whole body hurt. My head felt like it could explode, so I figured since it was cool and actually raining here (something we haven't seen in quite awhile), it was my sinuses. I took some sinus meds and waited. The pressure in my face went away, but the headache and body aches stayed all day. Today I woke up and could barely move my head. I took more advil and went to work out anyway (since I hadn't been for 2 weeks) and then called my chiro. He was shocked when he felt my neck/shoulders. Used some medical terminology, but basically said I was just about ready to spasm and it was likely I could have a hard time moving my head any direction soon! After a little adjustment, he put some patches around my neck and shoulders and hooked me up to an electrode thingy. Sent some little fuzzes into my muscles. He told me NOT to sleep with the windows open tonight or a fan blowing on me. Darn! That's how we always sleep! I may have to sleep on the couch, since the hubby will probably be too hot if we can't have either of the above mentioned going. I have to go back tomorrow for more electric stuff. I'm still hurting. My body is rejecting me!

Once again....

It's fundraising time again. Tonight we are making cotton candy for our town's "Eaton Days" celebration. I've made cotton candy before. I seem to remember wearing a lot of it. I am most certain I will need a shower when I get home. So come on over and buy a bag..a meer $3 will load you up with sugar!

Woo-Hoo!

YESSSSSSSS! We are done working gates at the Stampede! Eric and I worked today from 1 - 6:00 p.m. We were thrilled that it was done and over with! We came home, had a drink, fixed our first real dinner in weeks and all of us sat down to eat together (including an extra, Morgan's friend). We did, however, realize that in the hours that we worked, we spent some quality time together and actually talked to each other, no arguing or ignoring each other! Now we get a couple of days break before we are at it again, this time at Eaton Days! Never will our kids be able to say we didn't get involved. If they do, I'm sure I'll get permission to bop them on the head!

Reminder: $2000

Okay, so the $2000 won't be mine, but I'll just reminding myself that it *could* be coming out of my pocket!
Teen #1, Ashley, is in an "honors" choir at school called the Troubadors. They are heading to Washington D.C. next June for the "National Anthem Project". It's going to cost roughly $1000 per student to go. There are 15 of them. The choir director has decided we are going to earn this money as a group, not individually. That's all fine and dandy, as long as everyone participates in all the fundraising. And not just the fun stuff. So far we have had a yard sale/car wash, in which they raised almost $800. This past week we have been working at the Stampede. It's a big, 2 week, carnival in Greeley, in which they also have rodeos, concerts, a demolition derby, a petting zoo, a bengal tiger show, tons of food booths, vendor booths and of course, a beer garden. What we've been doing is manning gates (we're doing it 6 of the 12 days it is going on), checking any bags, purses, backpacks, etc for glass containers or alcohol. The choir is getting paid....$2000. Our first night we worked, Ashley had to work at Target. So Eric and I worked from 6:00 p.m. until 12:30. Well, I worked until almost midnight, then took Morgan and 3 friends home. Ashley had shown up the last hour, so she stayed to work with her dad. The next day, AShley & I worked from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. It was hot and sunny. She claims she is heat intolerant....she wasn't much fun to work with. Today, Eric went at 8:00 a.m. I went to church with Morgan (she had to serve) and Ashley had to go to another fundraiser, where they sang at a church, then had a bake sale. I met up with Eric at our gate around 10:30. I worked until 1:30 (we were supposed to get off at 1:00, but the next group showed up late). We then went to the rodeo and strolled thru the vendors and finally made it home around 5:00. Tomorrow, we have a very long day. We start at 3:00 p.m. (me and Ashley), then Eric will come around 6:30, Ashley will leave for awhile, when she gets back (about 11:00 I think), I'll leave and she and ERic will finish up. Our last day is the 4th of July. We work 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. I will be SO glad when this is over. Keep in mind, we are only one of the 15 working, there are 5 gates and we work shifts all day. My problem is, there is one member who is only working one time (and he's trying to get out of it!), and a few others who are only working a couple of times. I'd really rather raise money indivdually, but the choir director thinks it'll be better this way. I think she's living a pipe dream, but who am I to say? All I know is I am looking forward to Tuesday being done and over with!