Mrs. T, when you coming home home?

As of late, I had been missing Mrs. T like crazy. I hadn't seen or talked to her since January. I called in Feb. to let her know I was thinking about her and said not to call me back because I had nothing really to say. I called her a few weeks later and let her know Mrs. Fishwick broke her foot and was out of school for some time. That time, I did hope to catch her on the phone. Last week, I dreamt about her and wanted so badly to call her, but was afraid I would catch her at a bad time. She's going through a transition right now and I just don't know if I would be more a pest than a confidante. I feel like she's the older wiser one and I am the younger more carefree one that has nothing to offer her in this time.

She's been heavily on my mind and I lift her up in prayer often. On the other hand, I can see her running all over the states w/ her sisters and cousin Polly, antiquing. She's a major antique collector and she knows her stuff. She spends big money on items and loves traveling to find them. So, I was hoping she was being a globetrotter and not having hard times.

I got a postcard from her this week and I just held it and was so happy! She was in Florida having fun w/ her friends. I think I held that postcard for a good long time all happy like it was from a long lost love. She IS thinking of me, too! was my first thought. In her postcard she talked about golfing where a 7 foot 'gator was sunning himself and going to see the King Tut museum. She also wrote we will go visit Mrs. Fishwick when she gets home. I'm so excited! I can't wait for her to get home and we can do some fun stuff. I want to tell her all about weaning Mr. Creaky pants and I know she will take the motherly road and be all supportive and want to know in detail HOW I did it. She'll want to know in the kind of detail that I forget I'm talking to a child-less woman and then she will ask even more questions and then I'll start to think, "is she really listening?" and then feel like I have gone on and on. That is why I love her so much - she knows how to talk and keep the conversation going and she listens like a lovely listener. I know mom wouldn't mind me talking about her in the maternal way. When mom came to visit we had plans to meet up w/ Mrs. T for lunch, but it was the end of the school year and she had a ton of stuff to get done, so we went to her classroom and visited w/ her real quick. Mom hugged her and thanked her for being so good to me and Mrs. T said it was her pleasure and how I am so good to her. It was a love fest indeed!

Oh - it makes me miss her more right now! Maybe I miss her so much because she's the next best thing when my mama isn't around. I MISS my mom soooo much, but somehow we plow through like two optimistic fools, holding out for the day we can spend our days together. I can't wait for her to live w/ us and what if Mrs. T needs a place to call home too when she's old and alone? Can you imagine that - having them BOTH with me?? I could do it - I could so do it. I'm assuming my grams will have been passed away by this time, but if not then bring her too! Hopefully, I will have a girl and she will help me take care of these awesome women. I hope it's not all bed sores and cranky asses - I hope there are some good times in there where we are running amok around town and shopping till our feet hurt!

We don't know what the future holds, but I do hope I get to be in a position where I can be there for my mom 24/7. Gra'ma is there for her right now and it should be the other way around, but gra'ma has always been a provider/nurturer and a lovely one at that, so this suits her well. Mom has always had to work hard and go go go. Most of what I have felt was intrinsic in me, was honed in by gra'ma, mom has come in later in life w/ sage wisdom that has helped but w/out the two- I would be lost.

Gosh, I miss those women, but hopefully when I see Mrs. T, it will be the balm on my soul till I get to see them again.

OSC and his motor mouth!

I had this big long post and my mouse froze up - just my luck! I've already said how I am NOT in the mood to deal w/ these computer glitches, but here I am again and this time I will write the quick gist of it all or nothing.

Our Mr. OSC seems to have some problems at school and unfortunately we were called in for a conference. I got a call last week from his teachers wanting to meet w/ us because OSC seems to be doing too much socializing and "getting into girls." My first reaction was "so! and have you tried talking to him?" They said he wasn't turning work in either. I couldn't make it but Clint made the conference w/ 2 of his teachers that OSC has for 4 of his classes. They said some really positive things about him and his attitude and that he was in general a very good boy. BUT he's having problems w/ talking in class and his grades are VERY poor! I mean POOR! That was shocking to me and that is the kind of thing that makes Clint see red. I could totally see past the socializing from the teacher point of view and talk more w/ OSC about WHY he feels the need to be such an attention monster. I could also see NOT making straight A's but where his grades are now, I can't see.

He needs to catch up on a few assignments before next wed. or else he is stuck w/ some pretty crappy grades for the semester. He went from being on the honor for 2 semesters in a row to being at the bottom of the barrel. I know he is just slap happy at how "cool" he thinks he is at middle school and how many friends he has, because at Angell, he was just osc and now he's OSC. The teachers also said he was a chick magnet - not in those words but they implied it w/ the stories they told Clint about girls from other teams asking the teachers who that kid is.

Hopefully after this he will try to keep the mantra "there's a time and place for everything." Clint cut him off of IM and asked him to come up w/ how long. OSC said till the end of the year, Clint said that was too long, I said it was perfect. I hated him on it all the time but was too sick to make a fuss about it. He's been cut off since the phone call last week and we have really seen a difference w/ him since. He needs to get his shit together - meaning he is just a loosey goosey when it comes to keeping track of all his assignments. We have tried to help him w/ a folder system but that just gets squished all up in his cluttered back pack and weighed down w/ all his books he's reading. He thinks he can remember his assignments w/ out writing them down and then he will come home and have forgotten most of his work!

I found out they are offering full scholarships to Nationals but the way it looks - he won't be going. Even if he does catch up, going to nationals and missing 2-3 days of school might put him behind again. He understands and is not at all whining about it. We will see what comes of all of this. He's pretty freaked out - that just might be the kick in the pants he needed.

I was very proud at how Clint and I handled it - I didn't want to go the route of my mother and I didn't want to go the route of angry beavers. We got our concerns out and he was able to get his out too - all very diplomatic. Kudos to us all!

Everything else is going well. I'm utterly and totally in love w/ everyone in the house. Clint is so awesome w/ all that he has going on and how he continues to seek all the goodness and love in everyone - including himself. So refreshing and I rejoice! OSC is still a very impressive kid w/ his appetite for reading and his knowledge despite his diarrea of the mouth! Since Jackie turned 9, I have been in love w/ him. He's so cute! I never liked the years 8 and 9, didn't like them growing up, didn't like them when OSC went through them, but w/ Jackie - he makes my heart melt every minute. Creaky - he's weaned and he could do no wrong! He has even let me stay w/ my moms' group, while he went and played in the nursery across the hall last week. That was a first and I hope not a last!

How much????

I just found out yesterday that they are estimating the cost for nationals at about $600 PER child! I looked at S and said, "You won't be going if that is the price!" He said he understood. That is SOOOO much money - what are they thinking? Oh the kicker is - it's at the end of April - next month! There's another school trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes the week before and there are some fundraisers planned for it, but if they don't make enough, it will be an out of pocket expense for the parents. I guess to some parents this is chump change, but not for us! I need to call today and find out if S was awarded any more of a scholarship to attend the music camp. I know it will all work out and if he's meant to go, he will go and if not then he won't. I'm holding out for my vacation in Mexico - someday!

REVISED Comment to leaner

I just read tif-do's comment regarding "cookie-cutter" I so did not mean that comment the way it came out. I wrote that comment on the fly and didn't get to re-read before I submitted it. Some of the most loving women in my life are women that still wear penny loafers or pegged pants - I wouldn't trade them for a funky dresser - ever. I love them and can have heart to heart conversations with them and that is what makes our friendships so special.

With that being said, I want to say what I couldn't say in a comment. All this being MY experience - key word MY.

After having S, I thought I could still go out and have fun w/ friends like a mother-less person and still dress as I had always had. (even though I knew I became a young mother for a reason) Clint was much more traditional and felt that we needed to become more responsible and NOT go out and leave S w/ people every weekend. It was a bit hard for me to grasp at first, but in my heart of hearts, I knew he was right. The times we did go out, it was all because I probably cried and said something like, "if I don't - I will die!" Typical 20 year old? Probably.

By the time I was ready to have another child, I felt this overwhelming desire to grow-up and dress a certain way so that I could be taken seriously as a mother. I felt like I was surrounded by people who looked down on us because we didn't have a pot to piss in or a certain type of vehicle. I knew at the time it was MY own insecurities, but it was easier to be pissed and bitter at these people than to just accept where we were in life. I remember I stopped wearing certain types of clothes and only wore certain types of clothes. It was weird because I clearly remember it, but maybe it was the fashion at the time - long dresses. After having Jack, I really thought I had to dress a certain way or else we would really be looked down on because *gasp* we had 2 children now and this one was planned! My neighbor at the time was this hard-core mormon and I always felt like she was judging us - she might have been but no matter we were always the first people we would contact if we needed anything. I still keep in touch w/ her and just spoke to her the other day and I told her about us having another baby and she said w/ much genuniness, "You and Clint are truly one of the greatest sets of parents I have ever met and this baby is so lucky to be part of your family." It was a heart-felt comment that was taken w/ much appreciation.

When we moved to MI our first year here was full of dissapointment, frustration and depression. S started school and I was this eager beaver to help out and was met w/ much up-turned noses by the other parents. Of course - I was a 25 year old woman w/ 2 kids of my own. NOT the nanny, like some had thought. I became bitter w/ these people and gave up trying to be anything more than just S's mom. I showed up at school at all the events and made sure that my face was associated w/ him and that I was an involved parent despite not having money flying out of our asses. By the second year, I was jaded and only volunteered to be a library helper every week. By this time, I was hanging out w/ a group of friends where we would meet every weekend at our house and eat dinner and drink till we fell off our chairs. The kids would all hang out upstairs and watch movies until we came to bed. I had this angst against these soccer moms and PTA moms that thought they were hot shit. I was a pissed off woman. In this time I met Mrs. T and she was like an angel sent from God. I do believe. She LOVED S and every week would come over to talk to me and tell all these great stories about him and how we must be awesome parents for him to know the things he knows and because he was articulate enough to share his knowledge with the class. She also took the time to hear all about us and I wear my heart on my sleeves - so she knew EVERYTHING. She knew how unhappy I was and how much I looked forward to the weekends to hang out and self-medicate. She knew every time our car broke down and we were down to our last penny, she knew our plans to find a place big enough for 6 people and 5 kids, so we could all live cooperatively together. All she would do was listen and then say sweet things like "I hope everything works out for you." She also was that voice of reason that I wasn't listening to. I knew what I was doing - going out or staying home and partying every weekend wasn't something the boys were used to and we needed to get back to that space of todo para la familia - everything for the family. We lived by that for so long but moving to MI made us lose touch w/ that because of stress. Mrs. T one day told me that she thought S wasn't being his "cool - self" and she wondered if there was anything that was going on that could have triggered that. At that moment I knew exactly what it was. They were not used to being put on the back burner on weekends and then being yelled at because I just got off the phone w/ the mechanic and was highly frazzled. OH - what a sucky time it was back then. It was like she spoke the truth that I was refusing to see.

Months before I became a mother and a wife, I knew I was meant to be something more than just a cranky person always looking over the fence at how beautiful the grass was over there. It was all a process and it didn't matter how I dressed or how much money we made, my priority was raising kids from the heart and always being true to myself and embracing what was meant to be embraced and coming against anything that wasn't meant to be a part of my thinking.

So yeah, clothes don't have anything to do w/ anything. I wear what feels comfortable not what I think will get a rise from people. I wear sensible shoes and underwear, shirts that don't ride up and show my tummy when I reach up, pants that don't squish my gut and ride up my butt. Clothes that I can swoop down and pick up a toddler and clothes that let me run and catch a frisbee w/ the older boys.

A boy is Weaned!

3 nights and 4 days of no te-ta! He doens't even ask for it. YAY! All the stars were aligned, perfect words chosen and perfect antics were used to get Creaky to sleep w/ out nursing. We bought a glider chair and that has made a difference for when he does wake up at night and we need to get him to sleep. Last night he woke up at about 12:30 and I got him back to sleep quickly and he slept till about 7 this morning. I had to be up because Alan was coming or else he probably would have been put to sleep again. Mom called and was so happy to hear he was on the road to being weaned w/ minimal resistance. She said she was worried about my health. She's funny sometimes. I guess I do paint a pretty desperate picture of how run down I feel. I wish I could say I feel better these days, but no - I still have moments of sickies. Last night, I don't know what triggered it but I got sick for no reason and up came my dinner and all the other food I had that day. You don't ever want chile colorado and rice coming back up but since is was the last thing I ate, it exited pretty quickly and didn't burn too bad. I was just about to eat a bowl of oatmeal, so I was at least grateful it happened when it did or else I would have been pretty upset if I had to think of something else to eat after just eating. I think I waited too long to eat again and my stomach was pretty upset from that. I had gone to Angie's house for Shelly's first b-day party and ate all sorts of yummy stuff and then didn't eat again till almost 8. Too long of a wait.

My Jackie celebrated his 9th b-day on Saturday. He's a sweetie pie and I hope he had a good day. We coerced him into picking A&W in Dexter for lunch, since it's a good place to eat w/ a little one - we eat in our car and he's all buckled in. HOw's that for having him contained? We also talked Jackie into eating PIzza house pizza instead of yucky Dominoes. I think I just need to stay away from ALL pizza because that was still pretty crappy pizza in my opinion and it was EXPENSIVE! Anyway, Jackie had a good day and we all enjoyed it w/ him.

That's it for now - would love to go back to sleep or at least lay down, but it's about that time in the day where you have to get moving. I guess it's more like that time for me to eat again. Nothing sounds good though and I just brushed my teeth. Blech!

broken things

our laptop is broken due to the power cord not fitting in properly to charge up the battery. Clint has tried everything to fix it, but he can't. don't know what we will do, but i'm too sick to care. same thing w/ our digital camera, something w/ the cord that downloads or maybe even the camera (it's fallen a couple of times lately) so that isn't working either. clint even went out today and got a picture of our van for me to post but he couldn't download it. again, i can't be bothered w/ these stupid things right now.

so i will see you all on the flip-side or on the phone! i'm too lazy to come down to the basement to get on the computer. to those who don't already have me on their email settings to send me their post, please do so I don't miss out on reading any of your entries. i will be checking email but only when i feel like it.

ta-ta

We are Mini-van owners!

I purchased our "new" van yesterday - sold our bucket of bolts all within the same hour! Wheelin' and dealin' at the Carters.

I have to admit - I am pretty scared about driving that big thing around. I'm already on hyper-vigilant mode when driving the volky and that is low and little. I promise Alex's human that I will not cut off any truckers and I will not put any Bush stickers on our van. I will not be THAT kind of mini-van driver. Also, I don't want to lose my standing in being a safe good driver in the eyes of G'ma! I will get photos when this weather decides to cooperate. Yesterday was a beautiful 70 degrees and today is a miserable yuckola windy cold day. I have to pick up S from practice later or else I wouldn't even venture out there.

Things are going well over here. I'm still feeling like crap and getting pretty tired of it. Gatorade - Fruit Punch has been my liquid savior. I thought I was feeling better, so I stopped drinking it and took a turn for the worse! I wish it was something better than gatorade that I was hooked on like fruit smoothies w/ added kelp or something. Gatorade? poo poo! I had such a great dinner last night that I went to bed feeling great, but woke up at about 3:30 starving. I hate that my whole life revolves around eating, especially because nothing sounds good. wah wah wah, i know but it's my blog and I can whine if I want to!

alright, need to see what creaky boy is up to. yesterday i let him hang out downstairs while I waited for him to come up and he tore almost every key off the laptop! I could hear it but I knew it was shut and didn't think he could open it. Everyday I am proved wrong by this kid!
Oh - last week we were out playing and he said "squirrels eat nuts" and held up an acorn. I understood him pretty well. We see squirrels all the time eating nuts, so it wasn't like he put the two together on his own or else I would be signing him up for MENSA!

NATIONALS! BABY!

S came home today and they made it nationals! He is soooo excited! He came home w/ two medals -- gold for equations and a bronze for propaganda. Way to go! He had so much fun. Sounds like they would - 4 boys in a hotel room w/ no parents! They had strict rules they had to abide by. He called every night and it sounded like they were having fun. He's become quite independent in the last year. I'm pretty proud of him and his independence, I think he's a really good kid and I don't have to worry too much about him making stupid choices - at this point. We willl be re-visiting his independence and responsibilities again in a few years. I hope we can always have this open line of communication that we all have. He's a little more open w/ me than dad, and it kinda freaks me out. I guess, I am just afraid of saying something totally stupid that will make him feel as if he can't talk to me and then shuts down. I'm so afraid of any kind of shut down w/ any of the kids. I so remember that period in my life w/ mom - but it was a totally different circumstance back then and with that I am comforted that at least we aren't contending w/ all that I was carrying around.

Anyway, about this nationals, I just hope it doesn't cost us a small fortune. He was given a scholarship to attend this competition. I don't know if they will be able to afford any scholarships for nationals. We shall see.

Oh, but in our van search - it looks like we found something. A friend from church mentioned she was selling her van and i thought it was going to be way out of our price range, so I hesitated in contacting her. I finally did this week and she was going to the dealer to find out how much they would get in trade in. She emailed me that it would be in a price range that was a bit reasonable but still a little bit more than I would have wanted to pay. we didn't know anything about miles and maintenance. Clint said we should look into further because it was still reasonable for a town and country. This evening she emailed and said that the dealer was offering her a much lower amount due to a dent on the side and that is what she would sell it to us for. It was a heavenly price! low miles, no major problems (as of yet) one owner and a 2002. So, it looks like we will be the new owners. She wanted to make sure that we knew they were getting a new car because they didn't know what kind of problems were around the corner w/ an aging chrysler. I totally understand but it feels good to buy from someone you know and that you can trust. We will be meeting w/ her this weekend! It's a nice shiny thing too! S has ridden in it and said it's really nice. He's good friends w/ their son and they get together often.

Way too much time on their hands!

Sprinter?

It's not quite winter and not quite spring. We went out yesterday and today to play and I'm sure the high was about 38, but very manageable. I wasn't freezing my arse off - of course, I am dressed head to toe in warm clothes. I feel like a desert flower in need of SUN! Like truly, from the inside out I need SUN. Like I am slowly wilting away. I have a plan: In a couple of weeks, I am going to get an eyebrow wax AND a haircut. I'm saving up to go to the local Bo-rics to get my $20 makeover. You can't beat that price w/ a stick and everytime I have been, I haven't walked away dissapointed. Not even w/ the wax job! That's a bonus! I've already taken the time out to SHAVE my hairy armpits and legs. That was a lot of work. The boys were kind enough to keep Creaky down in the basement w/ them for as long as it took to get the job done. Next I would LOVE to get me some artificial sun rays but I know Clint would be like "whaaat - That's so fake!" It's not even for the LOOK, it's for the restoration of my dying insides. This poor bag of bones is in need of something and w/ growing a baby AND nursing a toddler, I think I deserve to do whatever I think needs to be done. I know a night out w/ the girls isn't going to do me any good UNTIL I replenish myself. I would just be a hunched-over, unibrow, split-end downer w/ no appetite for food or talk. Get me to bo-rics ASAP and a fake tan and I will be good to go!

Mom called yesterday, she was sitting on her porch w/ her new patio set wishing I was there w/ her. Oh - she had to throw in - the weather was a balmy 80 degrees and beautiful. I shrunk a little more. We had a nice conversation about having babies. She was telling me how she felt she HAD to be there when I gave birth to S so she could "agonize" w/ me and hold my hand and make sure her baby didn't suffer any pain. She left to get my slippers and by the time she got back, I gave birth. She was left w/a "what?" She couldn't make it for J, but she prayed over me before I left to the hospital. She said by the time I gave birth to #3, she said, "I knew you didn't need me and you were more knowledgable than I was." I told her I didn't care how much knowledge I had, it was her prayers that have always gotten me through it all. I kinda get this panicky feeling if I don't think I will catch mom at home before I deliver. I don't care if I have everyone around me praying, I will not feel at peace until I get my mama on that phone and she says her powerful prayer over me. (I don't feel like I need her w/ me either - would jsut feel like it's another set of eyes on me) She was happy to hear all that. Isn't it like us to feel we have nothing to offer of substance? Last summer I received the nicest most heartfelt THANK YOU note and I wanted to frame it. I so did. I thought it was a bit narcissistic of me to actually do it, so I didn't. I didn't even keep it because I thought it was too "stroking my ego." It was the nicest letter I have ever received in my womanly, wifey, motherly years. All the words and phrases you would want with your name said in the same breath. A few months laters I read somewhere to keep a box to store such mementos for keepsaking. I wish I had. A few weeks ago, when I was w/ Mrs. T. we were talking about stuff and she asked me what kind of grades Clint was getting and I told her mostly A's. She said, "well then I say those are the type of grades you are getting as a self assured woman, loving wife and awesome mother." That floated my boat and if it was written down in a note, I would have put it my keepsake box.

I made S unpack his bags w/ out realizing that he leaves again for 3 days on Wednesday. I am so out of it. I'm glad I check email because I would be even more out of it! He's off to the state wide Academic games competition in Grand Rapids. (actually, I think it's grand rapids - it could be canada!) He's a little globetrotter or at least an intra-state trotter.

I'm having some really good nights w/ Creaky. I'm hoping he's starting to understand that I am not a WILLING participant in his little nursing shanigans! I hope that is what is happening.

OH OH OH - today was good day but even better becasue MLM came over and brought some "financed" breakfast sweets and did a prenatal AND got heart tones w/ the doppler! So yes there is a baby in there!

Sonny made it home in one piece!

S came home last night and said he had the best time! He never once did ski, they stuck to the snowboarding. He and Y had private lessons and he says he is so much better at stopping and other things. I'm glad I bought those snowboards at the rummage sale last year because S said it was perfect and the boots fit him well. I almost didn't want to spend the $25 on the two, but I knew Clint would have been like, "turn around let me kick you in the seat of your pants!" He's sore and sleeping in today. I'm so happy he was able to go and do some real snowboarding and not this 15 yards of slope before you stop and have to unbuckle just to go back up. Hopefully, he will pass on what he learned to J and then they will both turn pro in a few short years - minus the broken bones and missing teeth. Okay, forget I said that because I don't think I could watch them doing crazy stunts and flying way up.

Ms. Keri had her baby. Another baby girl. Josie will be her little name. I LOVED her labor story. She was getting worried about having the baby next Tues. since it was her hubby's biggest day of the year at school and he didn't want to miss. Thursday ended up being a snow day in his school district because of freezing rain! He was able to be home all day w/ his laboring wife. She was a trooper for staying home as long as she wanted - doing her "labor chores" of vacuuming, diaper laundry and baking muffins. She finally went in at 7 pm and had her baby at 8:52 pm! She pushed for less than 2 min. which totally beats the 3.5 hours of pushing she did w/ her first. In her email, she sounded so elated and thankful for how it all worked out. I get to be the point person for arranging her 8 weeks of meals or whatever else she may need from us. I know when we talked on Wed. she was feeling like she didn't want to bother anyone w/ anything since for the most part it wasn't a big deal that she had a baby, compared to the other things that are going on w/ some of the women in our group. I know I will have to be pretty firm w/ her about us providing whatever she would like or else she will say she is set and nothing is needed at this time.

Weather has been super cold - freezing. It's not fun. If I don't have to leave the house, I don't. Clint has had research papers to turn in all week. What a break for him. What a break for J. He's the one that has had to suffer w/ absolutely nothing to do. T was out of town for the week and it was way to cold to go outside and play. He did get a new video game that was on clearance for $6 and he's been happily playing w/ that since Thurs.

Creaky wears a police helmet and grabs his football and runs around. It's so cute. He also has started singing different words for the bamba. Like he will say "ma ma mamba" or "cheese cheese cheeseba" We need to get him on video soon before he stops.

good night sleep and good stuff all around

Creaky slept so well the last two nights and boy, what a difference that makes for all of us! It's a good thing because the last bad early morning we had was pretty bad because I don't know if he woke up the neighbors, but they were going at it and it was pretty scary. I kept thinking any minute they would be pounding on our door ready to beat us up. I think it had more to do w/ their new baby and night feeding - sounded like she needed the dad to get up and help out.

I've had 2 pretty good days so far. I'm not so starving every minute and if I don't eat right away, I don't turn into a ball of yuck. Wonder if it has anything to do w/ Creaky giving my milk supplying energy a break?

Yesterday, I hung out w/ Keri. She is one of the most symplistic people I know in material goods, but she still manages to bless people w/ gifts. I lent her some maternity clothes and a pair of jeans that were pretty worn out from me. Yesterday she gave me a thank you card and a gift card for Mimi maternity, to buy a new pair of jeans because she said she wore them out. I refused to take the money because I don't want to buy ANY new materity clothes or clothes that I can't wear after this baby. On that note - I have been buying every clearanced item off the rack at Target that will double as maternity wear and after the baby is born wear. Mostly summer clothes. I have this anxious tick that keeps reminding me that I am going to be pregnant during the most hottest/humid time in MI. So, I have found tons of tanks and spaghetti strap shirts. All less than $5 bucks! Not bad for summer stuff in the mid of winter.
Keri is in labor as I write. She emailed the group this morning saying she wouldn't be coming because she has been having cxt since 11 last night. I called her at about 3 and she was STILL home, but things were cooking. I was hoping her mom would have answered and said she had the baby or something. Keri answered in her most sweetest voice but she couldn't talk through her cxt. I told her I loved her and I was praying for her and let her go, so she could work on them in peace. I can't wait to hear!

Clint and the boys are on break. This is mid-winter break for the boys but spring break for Clint. I think only 8 more weeks and Clint will be done w/ this semester. Not sure if he will try to find a job or not for the summer. I still am holding out for a summer vacation in NM and AZ. But if S doesn't get a full scholarship to camp then, I think we would rather send him to camp than go on vacation. We will see what comes of it all. We are on the hunt for a van too. We need another tax refund for a more reliable van like a toyota or a honda. We might have to just bite the bullet and hope that we don't end up w/ a lemon of a ford or chrysler. Scary!

S left on Tues night and called last night to say they made it and are having fun. He said he crashed on his snow board and hit his head, but that he was wearing a helmet! I'm so happy they decided to rent those helmets! He said it was scary, but he's doing fine. I told him not to be a hero and try to grind like he does on shawn palmer's snowboarding video game.

Angie emailed and said she had started on that one piece sweater pattern. It inspired me to get started on mine and tweak it w/ different size needles and yarn. So far so good. I'm glad I am feeling up to knitting.

I am going to go find something to snack on since I have been pretty hungry for a bit now, but too busy knitting to actually put food in my mouth. Nothing sounds good anyway. Clint is making chili beans for dinner and it smells good, but he just left to buy stuff to make t-shirts - so need to wait for him to eat. I'm going to have him make me a t-shirt that says "chicana mama" on a better t-shirt this time. I want him to make creaky one that says "mocoso" which means "buger" or "snotty - bratty" which he is neither, but it sounds cute. Mom will be horrified to see that on his shirt!