GRADUATION!!!

The big celebration has come and gone, but not without great excitement and anticipation prior, tremendous laughter and pride during, and much thankfulness and exhaustion after.

Graduation was fun. I am so proud of the girls and all they have accomplished. The party was a blast and lots of great friends and family joined us in celebrating Ashley and Nicole! I made a slide show and gave the girls photo books of their lives thus far, which I think they loved! The food was awesome-Grandma should open a catering service. I couldn't have done it without her! I mean, who else has slow roasted pulled pork sandwiches at a high school graduation shin dig? Thanks Grandma Carolyn (oh and Grandpa helped too...thanks Big L)!

After everyone went home and the clean up was done (thank you Laurie!), we were exhausted! But it was all worth the smiles on my girls! They deserved every bit of it!

The countdown began several months ago and continues to be posted on our front door. Guests chuckle and ask me if I am counting the days until they leave, but in actuality, it is the girls who began the countdown and keep track of the ever-changing numbers. Although I am eager and excited to see what the future holds for each of my children, as the time closes in on the inevitable move-out dates, I get a little more emotional and know that I will miss my girls when they are gone...but that doesn't mean I don't want them to go :)

Brandon says he won't miss his sisters and is excited about his new freedom, space and food! Dad pointed out that he shouldn't get too excited as now he has both his parents able to devote all of their time and energy on one kid instead of three....look out Brandon :)

....Graduation Weekend!!! (live, live, laugh)

Perfect Prom

What a production! I only wish I could see the performance! But moms aren't invited.

Like any great performance, it began weeks ago with behind the scenes preparations. First the costumes had to be carefully chosen and purchase (two prom dresses, equally cute but they had to be different). I threw out the idea that maybe they should find a dress that could be worn again, after the prom. The girls are sensible and agreed with my idea...hmm, who'da thunk? So instead of long formal strapless gowns, they decided on knee length, more classic style dresses. Nicole found a black dress and Ashley found a navy one. Great! Done? Nope...

Next the perfect shoes had to be found, which was no easy task. Nicole had to find the perfect color of red heals. Not just any red, but a deep rich red. And of course Ashley needed hot pink pumps. After a thorough search of all stores in the entire Portland Metro area, we ended up special ordering shoes in the perfect color! Whew! Done? Nope...

What else is needed? Accessories! But not just any accessories. The kind of accessories that require going to multiple stores to purchasing bracelets, necklaces and earrings, to match the exact color of the previously purchased shoes, all individually found at different stores. Seriously. Five accessories for two girls were purchased at no less than 5 stores! But the stores failed Ashley and she couldn't find the perfect hot pink and silver sparkly necklace. No problem. We headed to Michael's to purchase the crystal beads and supplies for Mom to craft the needed necklace. All items match perfectly and look great with their dresses and shoes. Done? Nope...

Seems like there's not much more to do except buy nylons, choose nail polish, and figure out hair styles and make up. Last night I helped the girls paint their fingernails and toenails in the perfect shades of polish. Today we finished their nails and began the beautification process! Nicole wanted straight hair and Ashley wanted curly. I helped them style their hair and my job was done until photo time!

The girls headed to a friend's house to finish getting ready with a group of girls who were going to dinner and to the prom in a group of about 20 kids. I met them to take some photos and off they drove.

A lot of time, money and effort went into this Perfect Prom. Ashley and Nicole never once expected anything from me. They were grateful and appreciative of everything I did and helped them do. It was my joy and pleasure to shop for all the "perfects" that they wanted. I am so proud of the beautiful young women they have become. I know they will have a wonderful and memorable time tonight at their prom. I'm lucky to have been a small part of the memory. (Love)

My perfect prom princesses:

What To Bring With You to College

Okay, I'll admit that I'm over organized sometimes. I'm a true girl scout-always prepared! So in keeping with my true self, I have already searched the girl's college sites for lists of what they can and cannot take to college so that we can be prepared!

Of all the info I found, the best info I got was about dorm sheets. It turns out that regular twin size sheets are too short for dorm mattresses - yep, who knew that college kids need longer beds? And if that's the case, then why don't they need longer beds in high school too? Anyway, luckily there was a link to purchase said sheets. Check.

Other items on the college lists made me wonder how up-to-date these lists really are:
* Cassette player (great to use at the gym)
* Sewing kit
* Phone (check with roommates to avoid duplication. Should be cordless, with multiple message boxes in the answering machine)
* TV and VCR
* Dictionary and Thesaurus

Okay, maybe there are a few youth left in the world who don't own an mp3 player and a cell phone...NOT! And what college kid is going to do any mending? A VCR, really? And even I don't use an actual dictionary and thesaurus anymore... HELLO! Computers!

In addition, there is an exhaustive list of toiletries and office/desk supplies to bring that seem to have come from a mom of a 3rd grader going off to camp. Does a 17/18 year old really need to be told to bring their toothpaste or pens and pencils to school?

Well, enough ranting and raving. I think I feel pretty good that my kids will be prepared when they head off to college next year. I think all I need to do is order extra-long twin sheets! I hope they come in pink. (Laugh)

WOU Scholarship!

Yay! Coley got a great Presidential Scholarship from Western! It's an academic scholarship that will pay for about %25 of her tuition for four years! Although Coley's scholarship isn't as massive as Ashley's, Brian reminded me that Ashley's college tuition/housing will cost more than Nicole's. And Nicole added that there are more students at Western and more competition for the money than at Eastern -Touche'!

Even though Nicole was offered the scholarship from Western, she hasn't decided where she will go to college. She is also considering UofO and PSU. Hopefully they will offer her academic scholarships as well!

I'm very proud of Nicole. She has worked hard and has always been an excellent student! I know there will be more money coming her way for college very soon. Like Ash, she has written many essays and applied for lots of scholarships. Our next step for Nicole is to revisit the colleges she's interested in and talk to advisors, pick out dorm preferences and make a final decision.

EOU Scholarship!

Yay! Ashley got a great Academic Scholarship to Eastern for almost 50% of her tuition for 4 years! I'm so proud of her! Her hard work has really "paid" off! She has been applying for many scholarships and there are many more she will try for. We can only hope for more money to roll in :)

Ashley, Brian and I visited Eastern Oregon University again this past weekend. Since we were there in August, during the warm part of the year (an understatement), we felt Ashley needed to visit when it was cold (another understatement) so she could see/feel what she would be in for next winter. Ashely made a 10am appointment with the Office of Admissions so we had to leave home at 4:30am to get there on time. We encountered some freezing fog going over the pass, but arrived just a few minutes late.

We took another campus tour, talked to people in various departments, including housing and financial aid, as well as speaking with an advisor. This time we paid better attention to the details! We ate lunch in the student cafeteria (not bad at all) and bought Ash an EOU sweatshirt at the bookstore (school colors: blue and gold -the same as NHS!). It was extremely cold there and snow covered much of the ground. Ashley was excited and so were we! Go Mountaineers!

We drove around the town several times and checked out the area. We even went to a little soda fountain-Hought's 24 Flavors. We got some great drinks there. Bri got an old fashioned soda and Ash and I got shakes that were extremely thick, but very yummy! After checking out the town, we were exhausted and crashed at a local motel, only to wake up to SNOW! We decided to take off early and get back over the pass before the weather worsened. We stopped to visit friends in Hermistion (The Anderson's) and ate lunch before the long trek back home. It was a great introduction to the cold weather and long drive to/from Eastern Oregon for Ashley.

It was a great experience and I think it solidified Ashley's choice in colleges. It was weird for us to just have one of the girls with us on a trip. It's the first time we've ever taken just one of the girls anywhere overnight. I'm glad we did this as it helped us focus on Ashley and this important decision about her future. (Live)

Eastern - Western

My twins have been accepted to college, or I should say colleges! Ashley is planning on heading East to La Grande (a little farther than I'd hoped) and Nicole plans on staying closer to home in Monmouth. I've told them over and over (the repetitiveness may be for my own benefit too) that they should go to different colleges. It will be the best thing for them. Expand their horizons. Broaden their worlds. Not turn into freaky little old twin ladies who live together until they're 90, dressing alike until they die. I guess I've convinced them that this is the best thing for their future. And I really do believe that to be true.

But...yep there's a but...but I would also like them to go to the same college...take care of each other, keep each other accountable and make Mom feel better about her little girls leaving home and living in the great big ugly mean world. I've never worried about them being out in the world because they have always been together. Driving to school, going to movies late at night, going to the mall, they have always been together, taking care of each other, watching out for each other. They have each other's backs. Different colleges means being alone in the world. Something they have never really done. Different colleges means that no one will have their backs. Being alone means I will worry about them.

So, as I always do, I will pray...pray for their safety...pray they make good choices...pray for their new friends...pray they adjust to living with a new roommate...pray for their roommate :)...pray they don't miss each other too much...pray they aren't homesick...pray that I adjust to a quieter house...pray as I always do for them!

I'm so excited for them. The process is so great and I'm thankful to be a part of it and to be able to help them through the whole thing. Brian has been doing much of the work with applications and helping them find scholarships. We are planning second trips to the colleges that they have chosen and I have already began planning a grand graduation party! It has been fun thinking about all the things they will need when they move out...a dorm refrigerator, new sheets, towels...mostly stuff Dad doesn't care about and the girls aren't really thinking about, but things I can't stop thinking about. I can't wait to see who they will become. It's so exciting! (Live!)

ARCTIC BLAST

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...the weather guys are calling it an Arctic Blast. It has been snowing here off and on for over a week. The first large accumulation was on Saturday, Dec 20th, when it snowed for 14 hours straight! Then on Sunday, we got a little more snow and about 3/8ths inch of sleet. We measured the total snowfall last night (Sunday night) at 9 1/2 inches. After a few hours of shoveling and getting the driveway and the car cleared off, and chains on and ready for this morning, we awoke to more snowfall...almost 7 inches fell overnight for a grand total of just over 16 1/2 inches. Record breaking snowfall! So once again we got the shovels and plowed the walkway to the driveway and cleared the snow off the car so Brian could go to work this morning. I even have had to clear a path out the back door and clear a spot for the dog to go potty :) Weather reporters are predicting snow through the 25th...Looks like a white Christmas this year! (Laugh)

ONLY 9 Months Away!

Life has kept me busy! The girls are officially seniors and I am officially old I guess. The countdown has begun...how many days until they move out...according to them, about 9 months! Not sure how I feel about that yet...that answer will be revealed in about 10 months :)

So I started a facebook page awhile ago, and now have 15 friends. I'm still not sure what the purpose of the website is, unless it's just supposed to help you waste time. If you're ever on facebook, give me a "poke"...whatever that is.

This school year should prove interesting and full of great experiences for all of us. I'm looking forward to seeing what decisions the girls make about college. I'm so proud of the young women they have become (nothing like me when I was 17--thank God!).

Even though I haven't blogged in quite awhile, I really don't have a lot to write. Tune in to see if I survive senior year with twin daughters!...and pray for me:) (Laugh)

I am Proud of My Kids!

My kids are the best kids in the world. People have often told me that teenagers are difficult and are cause for much worry, heartache, and grief to parents. I believe the exact opposite! I think parents are the source of the grief and heartache! My teens are just who I raised them to be...respectful, loving, kind, and wonderful! I think it's important to listen to my kids without judgement and tell them often that I am proud of them (not their achievements), and to love them unconditionally. They deserve my respect for their decisions and privacy. Most importantly, I try not to manipulate my kids! My kids rock! Check out my Picasa Web Album (My Kids Rock) and you will see how awesome they are for yourself...it's so obvious how much they love life! (Love)

The Winner of American Idol

Okay, this did happen a few weeks ago, but it took me a while to face the facts that David Cook is The 2008 AI...he's good, but it really should have been my Michael! I'm sure we will see a few of this year's contestants make it big...there was a lot of talent! (Live)

Click Here to check him out on Ellen

Michael Johns appears on Ellen

Michael is hot!
Too bad he's not on AI anymore.

Click the picture and watch him sing a U2 Song. (Oh, and Carly is singing with him.) Enjoy! (Love)

This is Hillarious...

Japanese Train Push. Click on picture to view a hillarious video!

I saw this on Ellen today and had to find it on-line. Did I already say it's hillarious? (Laugh)

Michael Johns was sent home! What the heck?

I started watching American Idol (AI) this season with my girls (and Bri). We watched all the auditions and had some great laughs. I immediately liked Michael Johns during the auditions and picked him as my favorite to win AI. Aside from having the most talent, he is Australian which means he has an awesome accent, oh and then there's the fact that he's good looking! He made it to the top eight...but tonight to the surprise of the entire world, he was sent home. He had the least viewer votes. What the heck?

Even though he lost on AI, I believe he will be a rock star some day soon. He has a great voice, a great look and wow...did I say he looks hot?!

Okay, even though I'm bummed because I won't get to watch him on AI, I know the world will see him on a much bigger stage soon.

Now...let's see who the dumb viewer voters push through to the end. (Laugh)

I joined Mamasource...

I was invited to join Mamasource.com but didn't know anything about it. Turns out it's a cool website for moms. I wish I had access to this when I was a mom of young kids. Basically it's a website for moms to get info and advice about being a mom. If you have time check it out...it's free.

One of the questions I answered in my profile was: The Hardest Thing For Me About Being A Mom Is... (I thought it was a good question and a good answer :0), so I included it here):

What's not hard? Like marriage, children are work. But I believe some work is enjoyable, like raising my kids. I have always tried to view my role as a mom as one who is preparing my kids for life as adults. It's a scary world out there and if I don't prepare them to go out into that scary world, then all I will do is worry and they will not be prepared to live.
Instead, I have talked to and taught my kids about the world they would someday be thrust into. I've given them learning experiences and opportunities for failure, so that they can learn, at a small cost, the importance of self awareness and responsibility. I've taught them life skills at an early age so that they could practice and sharpen these skills now, so that when they are alone, these things will come easy and they can focus on those things which are difficult.
Letting my fourth-grade son go without lunch because he left his lunch bag sitting on the counter-that's hard. Or letting my 10th-grade daughter worry about a poor grade because she is too afraid or shy to talk to the teacher about a missing assignmnet that she already turned in-that's hard. Sending my 16-year old twins on a church mission trip to Mexico-that's hard. But if I remember that these children do not belong to me, but to God, and my job is to teach them to live, then it's a lot easier. And if I know I've done my job when they are toddlers and small children, I am more confident they will know what to do in the world without me. (Live)

Springtime is Here!

I like Spring (although not as much as Autumn). Spring means warmer weather is coming. Warm weather means carpi's and sandals, which means shaving my legs and pedicures. Spring brings beautiful blooms and the smell of fresh cut grass, which means my allergies perk up. Allergies mess up my sleep and make me wish I had stock in Kleenex. But still, I like Spring.

Spring is that wet stepping stone into Summer, which is why I like Spring. Although I wish Summer was longer here in Oregon, I still enjoy the few short months of long days and warm nights. I enjoy the kids home for summer vacation, hosting BBQs for friends, visits to the coast, and yes, even yard work.
I've learned to enjoy yard work because I try to keep on top of the "work" part of it so that I can enjoy the beauty of my yard. Each year we add a little something new to our yard. Last year it was Heather, Heavenly Bamboo, and some Rosemary. This year we plan to add more Heather because it's pretty and adds color even in the Autumn and Winter.

Which brings me to my favorite season (and my least favorite season). Autumn means cozy fires and time with family. It means the kids go back to school (yeah!) and the holidays are coming. But the colors of the foliage is the real reason Autumn is my favorite season.

Of course Winter has to follow Autumn. And who really looks forward to cold, dreary days? It rains all day, unless there's a day or two of snow or ice, and everything in my yard is bare. Which reminds me of a funny little joke:


God was over heard talking to St. Francis:

God: "Frank, you know all about gardens & nature. What in the world is going on down there with those humans? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistle and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect, no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracted butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But all I see are these green rectangles."

St. Francis: "It's the tribe that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to great extent to kill them and replace them with grass."

God: "Grass? But it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees, only grubs and sod worms. It's temperamental with temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?"

St. Francis: "Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn."

God: "The Suburbanites must be happy that the spring rains and cool weather make grass grow really fast."

St. Francis: "Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it, sometimes twice a week."

God: "They cut it? Do they then bail it like hay?"

St. Francis: "Not exactly Lord. Most of them rake it up & put it in bags."

God: "They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?"

St. Francis: "No sir. Just the opposite. They pay to throw it away."

God: "Now let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?"

St. Francis: "Yes, sir."

God: "These Suburbanites must be relieved when we slow down the growth of plants. That surely saves them a lot of work."

St. Francis: "You aren't going to believe this Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it."

God: "What nonsense! At least they kept the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a natural circle of life."

St. Francis: "You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and have them hauled away."

God: "No! What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter and keep the soil moist and loose?"

St. Francis: "After throwing away your leaves, they go out and buy something they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves."

God: "And where do they get this mulch?"

St. Francis: "They cut down trees and grind them up."

God: "Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore. Saint Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?

St. Catherine: "Dumb and Dumber, Lord. It's a real stupid movie about..."

God: "Never mind I think I just heard the whole story."

Anyway, Happy Springtime! (Live)

Happy New Year ~ 2008

'Tis the season for resolutions...if you make them.

First, I must take a look back at 2007. What a year. I'm glad it's over. So much happened last year that I know I won't be able to recall it all right now...but here goes...

It all started with a stomach ache that turned into a trip to the hospital on the morning of December 31, 2006 (New Year's Eve last year). After several miserable hours in the ER, I came back home with meds and canceled our New Year's Eve Party. A week later, I went back to the ER and they finally made the correct diagnosis...surgery to remove my gall bladder Whew! That was only January!

In February I turned 40! Enough said.



(Oh, I also moved Real Estate Companies in February. After several months of looking for a new broker, I went with the most progressive/cutting edge company around, Prudential Northwest Properties.)

Everyone already knows that the RE market went soft last year, but even though work was sparse, I met and helped several great people find wonderful homes. (Here's my plug...I always appreciate your referrals, so send someone my way!)

On with the year.

Brian started a new job/career. Our new church (where we've met lots of new friends) celebrated it's One Year Anniversary. Our twin daughters turned 16 and got their driver's licenses. And our son turned 13, which made us parents of all teenagers.

Which brings us up to date...even though I'm sure I missed a few happenings.

It's 2008. A time for Resolutions, which I've never made. Maybe it's time to start.

I have several things I'd like to resolve to do or not to do. Here goes...
I want to eat healthier, drink more water & less pop, walk more and spend more time with friends. I want to pray and read my Bible more consistently, and spend more time developing the new friendships I have made with the women at my church. Finally, I want to work on my spending and budget.

What are your 2008 New Year's Resolutions? (Live)

Nubbin

We got our Christmas tree on Saturday. The kids picked it out and named it "Nubbin" because of the new little nubs on it's branches. Brandon cut it down and we brought him home. He is a little on the small side, but still a wonderful addition to the family.

I readied the room and found the perfect place to put our little Nubbin. Last year our living room seemed crowded so I wanted to rearrange the furniture to give Nubbin plenty of room to stretch out his branches without feeling cramped. I even unloaded a book case and move it to the hallway.

The room was ready for Nubbin. Brian put him in the stand, which was almost too big for the trunk but means we will be watering him less. After bringing him inside and placing him in the designated place, we soon realized that Nubbin was a runt, a late bloomer (which might be why a tree has new growth in December), and much smaller that we originally thought.

As we contemplated how to decorate Nubbin, I thought about past Christmas trees we have decorated. The last few years we have had a "travel" tree with all of the ornaments we have collected during our travels. Then there was the "santa" tree and the "snowman" tree. We have so many ornaments! Last year I bought new boxes and organized all the ornaments. I even separated out all the kid's ornaments and made each of them an ornament box. How fun it will be when they someday decorate their own trees with all the ornaments that have been given to them during Christmases past.

This year we couldn't decide how to decorate our tree. Nubbin was too small to hold all the ornaments of any one theme, so we decided to do something new. We decided to make all our ornaments. Yep...we decided to get creative with the glue gun. (Even the boys are getting into it!) This will be a project that lasts until Christmas or until we tire of burning ourselves with the hot glue. We set up a crafting station in the garage on the ping pong table. It is nice to be able to leave all the pom poms, popsicle sticks and googly eyes out and ready for someone who gets the itch to create.

Nubbin isn't glamorous. He isn't perfect. But he holds the evidence of the time we are spending together as a family this holiday season. I believe this will be one of our most memorable Christmases...and we will surely get some good laughs for years to come as we reminisce about Nubbin. (Laugh)

Black Friday

Thanks to my "friend" Michelle, my kids got the idea to go shopping the day after Thanksgiving. Thanks to their dad, my kids found out the outlet store opened at 12:01am.

So, at 11:15 on Thanksgiving night, we all piled into the car (with friends, Mark and Laurie) to experience the madness. It was crazy! We effortlessly took the back way into the outlet mall, but saw never- ending headlights on the freeway both directions. Passengers were getting out of their cars on the freeway, walking to the mall, and standing in parking spaces to save spots. The outlet was packed. Luckily, we didn't need anything bad enough to stand in the hour long lines.

After about an hour we headed back home. Cars were parked on the sides of the road almost a mile away. One truck we saw was a little too far in the ditch and one of his tires was actually off the ground. (I wished I could have stuck around to see how that turned out.) Neighbor, Kyndra, said she was one of those on the freeway waiting to get to the outlet for over 2 hours...madness!

A quick trip home and back into bed...for two hours. Yep, the kids wanted to go back out and hit the sales. So being the good mom that I am, blurry-eyed I drove them to 5 more stores. We were back home and in bed by 9:30am and slept until 3pm.

But it was all worth it. We saved at least forty bucks! Thanks Michelle! (Live)

Counting My Blessings

Today is Thanksgiving. My gut is stuffed, I've visited with family and friends. I've organized my Black Friday shopping list, and I've watched Christmas Vacation (a family tradition on Thanksgiving night to kick off the Season of Christmas). What better time than now to recall all the many things in my life that I thank God for. Since there are too many to write in one blog post, I will attempt to scratch the surface of all that He has blessed me with.

Above all, I am thankful that God has given me a Savior. I am thankful for His patience and forgiveness and unconditional love. And that He gave me Brian, my husband, who taught me what patience, forgiveness, and unconditional love means.

I'm thankful for...

• My kids and their unconditional love...they teach me how to be a mom everyday



• My parents, for staying married through all the difficulties and challenges in their life


• Brian's mom, Penny, for teaching me to dote on my husband and kids


• Brian's dad, Larry, for teaching me to be encouraging and proud of my kids


• Larry's wife, Carolyn, for teaching my kids (and me) to be excited about and find adventure in everything


• My friends, for their laughter, love, acceptance, advice, shoulders, and so much more


• Leslie, for listening to my parenting advice (solicited or not)


• Michelle, for being a role model and older Christian influence/friend to my daughters


• Laurie, for being the big sister I never had

It seems to go on and on...I'm thankful that...

• I have a church family and a place to worship and learn more about God freely and openly


• My kids, husband, and I will live eternally together in Heaven. whoo hoo!


• My kids love to serve others


• I have a warm bed to sleep in at night and a warm hubby to put my cold feet on


• My daughters can drive themselves (and sometime their brother) to all their extra curricular activities


• I can pray for God's protection around my kids instead of worrying about them when they are driving to all their extra curricular activities

And I'm thankful for the little things too, like...

Good health, clean water, a warm shower, electronics, warm slippers, a cozy fire, coffee, Diet Pepsi, riesling, Italian food (esp pizza), Mexican food, and CHOCOLATE!

And of course, I'm thankful for best friends and Thursday nights.

What are you thankful for? (Love)

Embarrasing My Kids

I had the privilege of hanging out with my teenage daughters, Ashley and Nicole, this weekend at The Revolve Tour - http://revolvetour.com/ (a Christian conference for teen girls). Speakers talked to the girls about topics relative to their lives and bands rocked the house. LOUD NOISES!

My girls were very excited to see Hawk Nelson in concert, along with some other bands. One of those bands was KJ-52 ...Christian rappers! (I'll get to them in a minute.) Of course I had no idea who any of these bands were, except for Hawk Nelson who I've heard only because I'm a good mom and let my kids choose the radio station in the car...oh, and my daughter, Nicole, has a t-shirt that says "Hawk Nelson is my best friend"....which confused me and made me think Hawk was a guy not a band. Evs.

So back to KJ-52, the rappers. I had no idea what any of the words were in any of the songs that they sang. Not that I didn't know the vocab, my ears just could not make out any of the words they were singing. So they taught some rapper moves, which I tried. I was trying to be a "good" mom and pretend that the music wasn't too loud...because if it's too loud, you're too old...so, I'm cool and I learned the moves, all the while they snickered at me. So far they were not too embarrassed. Afterall, we were in a suite at the Rose Garden and there were only three other's there besides us and Michelle (who gave us the tickets..thanks Michelle).

Okay, so the weekend went well. I got to spend time with my girls (and my friend). They got to hear some great advise from the speakers, hear/see some "great" bands, and even get autographs from all four of the guys in Hawk Nelson. (Even though I may have been the oldest one in the room, I too got a photo autographed for my son, Brandon...how cool am I?)

Sunday comes and I'm hanging out with some college students at church (okay, not really hanging out, just standing near them) when I tell them about the cool new moves I learned from KJ-52 (I was name-dropping), and then I demonstrate the moves...and from across the room I feel waves of embarrassment. I look over and sure enough, my daughters are watching me, no, more like glaring at me. They don't think I'm cool. They think I'm old. And I don't really know how to do the moves. And I should never do that again...especially in front of them. And if they could make me disappear, they would. Now, they didn't have to say a word. It was the looks on their faces that revealed their thoughts. I smiled and waved at them, content in the fact that they were sufficiently embarrassed.

Hand Hugs! (Laugh)