Spring Break is over.

So we are back into the swing of things like it or not. I like it not. I liked it at home. But the weather was pretty crappy all week. So not much happened. And of course it was sunny today but very chilly with the wind. We had a rather nasty storm blow in Saturday night and the wind howled all day Sunday. My mom's patio umbrella blew away to who knows where. I was afraid my gazebo would blow into into my family room window but it didn't.

We had company last night. Thomas and Randa came over. My kids were somewhat obnoxious-aftermath of being home all week together.

Since Janika asked-I read a book called "The Help" It takes place in Mississippi in the 60s it was a pretty Ok book. It was well written. But the books I love to read are by Maeve Binchy. She is from Ireland and I read and love anything by her. The latest book I read called Heart and Soul linked a bunch of characters together from her other books and I loved that. Now I want to go back and read her other books again So I can remember all the other stories. One of her books Tara Road was and Oprah book club pick but I was reading her books long before that. Some of her other books are Quentins, Scarlet Feather, Circle of Friends-that was a movie with Minnie Driver and Chris O'Donnell. There is so much by her I can't remember them all. I can't think of one I didn't like.

I haven't posted pictures here yet but I did put some on Facebook. I will try to get this updated soon. I have been a little out of it even though I was home for a week. I didn't get much accomplished. My back had issues for 3 days. I did visit a friend with all the kids and they all played. That was nice. I invited Amber's boyfriends family to the zoo with us and she(the mom) invited someone else and her kids along and I came home wishing we went on our own instead. Long story I don't care to revisit right here now. Little of my social phobia showing itself. I found out my brother has been in jail for a month and my mom isn't doing that great health wise. She is OK just not great. It was an interesting week and I still have a moutain of clean laundry in my downstairs bathroom and a broken handle on the toilet upstairs. I guess I should go to Home Depot tonight so we can flush the toilet like a normal family with indoor plumbing. Ahh the little things. It is time for me to write my own book :)

Happy and other...

The best news came today!! We knew a week or 2 ago that Amber got into to Boise State University. But we kind of figured that would happen. I was waiting for scholarship and grant news. We got that today. She got $500.00 scholarship for the school year-a $3000 scholarship for the school year and $2010 scholarship for the school year from the engineering school. And she got over $5300.00 in pell grant money. They look like they can be renewable for each year she is there. We will have to find out about that. There could be more still. Those were just from BSU. I need to talk to my sister and see how much that might cover for the year since she just graduated from BSU last year.

I went back to my sinus doctor today and he has referred me to a neurologist for my headaches. The bad news there is that I will have to wait until May before I can get in but that might help me not have to wait until Dec like the sinus doctor is trying to do so my insurance will cover it. So it could be helpful. I just want to do something now and not go through another month of this headache crap while trying to work.

I am miserable. I have been so stressed that my left shoulder blade is in a serious spasm. I can barely move and it hurts to breathe but I got to read a book yesterday but it is killing my get busy time during spring break. But that is a typical issue I have been having with time off. Oh well. I have actually read 2 books in a week. That is amazing for me. That is some good down time for myself. I guess I will take it. I am ready for that hot pad again.

Funny little secret

I have a funny little secret. The copier machine was jammed the other day. I was helping someone else because I have been able to fix it when I spend enough time working on it. I happen to forget about a convenient little door for pulling out the paper when it is stuck. Instead I reached behind the drawer where the paper is stored. I have really big hands my hand barely fit in to reach the paper. I got the paper but my hand would not come out. I was stuck and my hand would not pull through the largest gap. All of a sudden I started imagining how silly it would be to have to tell people in the faculty room that I was stuck there. And further imagined people trying to find ways to get the drawer released to let go of my hand. All of that was too much to imagine so I pulled my hand out and ignored the pain as best I could to spare myself a ton of embarrassment. So a scratch up my palm and bruised up the back side of my hand I have spared my pride and am able to go on about my business :) It took me until a week later to admit to anyone how I got myself stuck in that predicament.

Happy Birthday Autumn!

We are having a birthday weekend as we try to relax and catch-up on long neglected chores this weekend. That is kind of impossible to do together kind of thing isn't it? Laundry Laundry Laundry.

I will post loads of pics -I hope- this week and give a proper tribute to my two March girls.

Time change...Blech....

Who's having a hard time with the time change? Raise your hand if you are. Can you see my hand waving frantically? Week 2 and I am still a sleepy, tired, mess. I have not blogged. I did have a daughter turn sweet 16 this weekend.

Kelsea is a 16 year old now. She will be able to get her license next month. It is all so very scary! I would love to do a nice Kelsea tribute but I need to have thoughts in order to say something. And I need to stop being so dyslexic with my typing.

Both girls were gone until late Saturday evening at Lewiston. They both won the first day they scrimmaged. I told everyone about that. Day 2 Amber won, lost, lost Day 3 was win win. Kelsea was loss loss win and Day 3 was win win.

We had a family thing for Kelsea on Sunday. She got a new dress and jacket. She got a car--I love this one-It is the Matchbox brand. She got an itunes card, an orange purse, some scrapbook paper and a striped sweater and a triple barrel curling iron. She might be having a friend party this weekend. Autumn's birthday is Saturday. We get to party some more but no friend party for her this year.

The BEST part about this weekend is my car passed the emissions test and were able to get my car registered. It didn't cost us anything to fix the car.

In general though things have calmed down but we have not caught up on anything. Maybe we will during spring break next week but I may be enjoying down time too much to care but I hope not. Everyone and I mean EVERYONE at the school is ready for next week. I am sure it will go by too fast.

So I continue to be exhausted... without much more to say... Yep....Taking a little snooze soon sounds good to me......

Life so far...

So this week has been loooong. I don't like this time change and this early. It has been so cold. I have been cold all week long. But it is sunny the past 2 days and that is nice.

Amber and the boyfriend have worked things out I guess and things have been fine. Amber finished her Young Womens stuff On Tuesday. She was recognized for that on Weds at the stake standards night. But the bummer part on that was she was stuck in Caldwell playing in her first tennis match of the season. She won her match but didn't make it back until the end of the meeting so she was mentioned but not there for that part. She got there in time to play the piano for the closing song. She looked like she just got done playing tennis with a skirt on.

Kelsea lost her singles match on weds but won her doubles. Amber and Kelsea left for Lewiston this morning for tennis. They scrimmaged today. They both won. I guess Kelsea played this really good girl. And she was behind like 2-5 and came back and got all the way up to 8-8 and then she had to win by two so it was a crazy long match. I really don't know that much about tennis and how it scores. They will be back late on Saturday night. Kelsea will be the BIG !!16!!! on Sunday! We are in so much trouble, man. Ugh.

For me--my house is a complete nightmare but we made a dent in it tonight. I have been so tired from the time change. And here I am. But I took a nap today when I got home. We did Kindergarten registration today so I worked late. Yep, things are dull ---finally! Dull is good sometimes. I look forward to a reduction in teenagers this weekend. AND a Saturday without anything on it!! Can you see my happy dance?

Happy!

Guess where I have to be tonight? Nowhere!!! Happy day. I think I will take a nap since the time change is kicking my fanny.

Toughest call

Saturday was a long drawn out day. Dress rehearsal for honor choir first thing, Taxes were to done-we don't so them ourselves but the paperwork trail is enormous, a basketball game that required a clothing change in the car on the way there because it was close timing, then a basketball party that became a 2 hour thing but it was cute. The kids got to make their own pizzas. Then I had a couple hours before we got ready for the concert and went to it. Lee Joe was late like he always is but he was visiting with his Uncle Jared at a basketball game in Nampa. After the concert Amber and her friend wanted to do something nice for the boyfriend since his birthday was Monday. But he was in a mood and didn't want them to do anything. Everyone was encouraging him and then his family and ours left the concert. Then things went sour. I knew he was in a mood and called Amber to see what was up. And then I got mad because I knew he was hurting Amber's feelings which she does not express and told him he needed to treat her better. Little did I know she got hurt before that. It was dumb teenager stuff with a volkswagon bug-his bad mood and persistent friends. But Amber came home in tears and in pain. He saw her get hurt and didn't respond right away. I was angry. I was hormonal too so I always 2nd guess myself and I knew his parents would be angrier. I wanted to call them but didn't. Lee Joe was a little more casual than I was. In the morning though I was still very upset. Then Lee Joe agreed with me in how I viewed things. Amber couldn't get up. She was in pain. I am sure depressed. She did come to church eventually. She came home and went back to bed. I debated on calling, then going to his ward to talk to his dad/bishop. I didn't. I came home and talked to my sister and my mother-in-law before I was able to make the call. It was hard to tell parents I respect of an otherwise usually very good young man, what their son did to my daughter. She was in disbelief, but so upset at her son as I knew she would be. I was near tears by the end of the call. He did get in a heap of trouble but it opened more doors of communication for him with his parents and an awareness that he needs some help. I know he is not prepared for graduating and then being sent off to BYU immediately after he graduates for the summer. I remember my senior year with my mom moving away the minute I graduated looming over my shoulders and I was very unstable during that time and I understand that. But I want my daughter to come home in the same condition that she left my house, while under his care. So he came over and was very apologetic to me and to Amber. I told him it is time for him to get some counseling and some help and he says he will. Where did Amber get her tender heart I wonder?

I get into this uncharted territory of being a parent, you hope to never find yourself there. I am trying to teach my daughter how to put herself above those she cares for. I am not the best example. To see your daughter hurt physically and emotionally that way is heart breaking. For my strong steadfast oldest daughter, to see her weakness in her caring for someone at her expense yet knowing this boy can come around- but should she hang on...... OK it is late and I am hormonal I will admit yet again but some of these parts of parenthood you will never be totally prepared for. You are never quite sure if you are doing the right thing. And sometimes you have to let your child follow the path they choose and they will have to learn things their way in their time.

Ummm

There isn't much to report except for the same things you already have heard. Yes, my daughter did hijack my blog and my facebook page. Yes, she did dress like cat woman at the dance. What a nut. That is what I get for being busy and catching brief moments here and there on the computer. This week was another ugh fest. Tonight is the only night I have had to do whatever and I need to be finding tax stuff. Taxes are getting done tomorrow. Guess what I am doing instead. PROCRASTINATOR!!!

What's new---Basketball will be over tomorrow-Hooray!! I wasn't sure I would make it and am still not sure about tomorrow. There is an Honor Choir concert and a game and a party. Last Saturday was nuts with stuff too. Amber and Kelsea tried out for Tennis and they both made Varsity even though Amber is in the process of loosing her toenails and couldn't really play. I am glad they are on the same team though. It saves me. Amber just got the letter saying that she is accepted to attend BSU in the fall. That is almost an anxiety causer--money money money. But I will get really excited for the scholarship letters. Amber had to go to the doctor again because her toes were looking like they were getting infected. From personal experience I put loosing your toenails on the pain scale right up there with kidney stones and childbirth.

Lee Joe is out of town and on his way home now. Oh!! The funniest thing ever. I was mad because Lee Joe wanted to take an ipod and he took mine. But he was tortured by my ipod. He said if he was stuck on a desert island by himself and my ipod, he would chuck it in the ocean. I don't think he will take that again. hahaha.

I was so nicely recuited to help maintain kids at the choir concert on Tuesday and then did a table of flashcards to kids at the math and science night at the school on Thursday. Needless to say I am a little tired of managing little people. I went to the miniature golf and arcade place last Saturday to pick up Autumn from a party. I was shocked at my surprise at not having kids run up to me "Mrs. Lay!! Mrs. Lay!!!" I am so ready for Spring break but everyone at the school is. And we get the time change on Sunday that will make Monday more of a challenge. 2 more weeks before spring break for us.

My quote of the week. A little girl told me after her long drawn out story about going to the doctor visit, that the doctor thinks she has The Walking Asthma. For sure he thinks she has The Walking Asthma. I asked her if she meant Walking Pneumonia. Yeah, that's it. Oh and sick people are EVERYWHERE!!! Pneumonia is everywhere. My kids have made it to school though for 2 full weeks. But it seems like some sort of cold is about to make it's 2nd visit. Someday I will post pictures again but right now I need to unbury my desk. Do I HAVE to?