She's 17

Happy 17th Birthday to my beautiful

first born child.

Arianna Kathryne

You make me happy everyday.

I couldn't be more proud of the woman you're becoming.

Happy Birthday Baby.

love mom.

A couple Things

Alex has been home sick since last Friday. I took him to the Doctor as soon as he said that it was hurting to breathe.

He has pneumonia. Lucky for him and me... He's a pretty good patient. it's amazing how easy they are when they REALLY don't feel well. He probably won't be back to school until next Monday. Pray for me.

Ari started her first REAL job. She applied at the local vet where we take all of our pooches. He told her that he'd love to hire her but that she was probably gonna have to choose between playing volleyball in the Fall and this job. She came home and cried.

She agonized for two days about what to do. Does she give up volleyball her senior year to have a job she really wants? Or does she keep her commitment to herself and her team and give up the job?

Ted and I both told her that we thought she should NOT give up volleyball her senior year. There are NO do overs. You don't get another senior year. She was so torn because she really wanted the job.

I finally told her " Ask for the moon!" Tell the Dr that you want the job but you will be playing VB in the late Summer/Fall and that you'll be back to re-apply when the season ends. Ask for the moon! You deserve it.

She didn't have to ask for the moon. He called her two days later and asked her to start the next day.

He said that when she started VB he would deal with it then, but that he wanted to hire her in spite of the fact that she would need a few months off.

She started a few days ago. She wears scrubs to work and gets to do whatever they need help with.

She cam home yesterday all happy and excited because she got to help in an exam. She got to hold a dog while he had blood drawn. She also got to take a poop sample and put it into a lab tube. Exciting stuff. She loved it. I told her to go wash her damn hands and to take those scrubs off before she walks into the house and carries in all the animal germs and fur.

gross. to each her own i guess. So proud of her.

Indy started tennis lessons last week. Hey, I've gotta have someone to play with when Ted's not around. She loves it of course. Damn.

10-20 Inches

It rained most of the day yesterday.

Rather... It poured most of the day. I think we got something like 10 plus inches in one day.

When I ran next door to say something to my neighbor, I was ankle deep in water.

But most of the night I lie awake worrying.

About what you ask?

Does all this rain ruin a clay tennis court and deem it un-usable?

A bit shallow don't you think?

My New Thing

I have been sitting on my ass for a long time now. Not really but it feels like it. I have spent the better part of the last two years consumed with a UC flare up and really didn't give a crap if I exercised or not. I'm still not 100% better yet but my friend Erin made me sign up for tennis lessons a couple of months ago.

The first lesson I really just showed up to get her off my back. ( she had been harassing me for several months). The thing is... is that I actually liked it. A lot. Damn her. 

Now seven weeks later I have been playing 2-4 times per week and am having a blast. I never thought that tennis would be my thing but for some reason I've been sucked in and I'm happy about it. The group lessons ended and most of the ladies in my class are now continuing more group lessons and getting ready to play league tennis. I even bought a bunch of tennis skirts and I love them. 

I played this morning and wasn't happy because I wasn't playing as good as I wanted to. I almost threw a huge tantrum and cried and smashed my racket on the ground but It wouldn't have done any good. I like it too much to give up. I only wanted to stay and play more so I could get better. I just want to get better.

yep thats how my face looks when I swing.

This is totally what I look like when I play.

I'm thinking of  making my family eat ramen noodles for a month or two so I can pay for some private lessons to improve my game.  What do you think? My kids would be thrilled to eat that crap but my super sexy husband wouldn't be too happy. He is however thrilled that I've found something that I love to do. I actually got him to play with me last weekend and we had so much fun. Of course he's really good even though he hasn't played in like 40 years but he went easy on me and was really encouraging.

Indy starts tennis lessons tonight. My little grasshopper will try anything. She'll probably love it like me and she and I will start playing singles against each other. I need to stay on my game or she might kick my butt.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday 

to my super sexy husband.

I love you

What's That Smell??

Sometimes when it's warm and humid outside I come home and walk into the house and get a SLAP in the face.

A slap in the face by the smell of stinky dog.

It makes me cranky.

It reminds me of how rarely the dogs get bathed.

Well guess who's been getting a bath more often?

Don't feel sorry for that sad little face. There's a reason why they use Wiemeraners in depression commercials.

Because they are famous for that sad pathetic "feel very sorry for me" look on their face.

That's me standing outside the shower pointing and laughing at the dogs. It's how I get my kicks.

Braces Braces Braces

I took the two older ones to the Orthodontist for a consult. Ari has already done 2 years of braces and One year of a retainer. Last year I noticed that Ari's bottom teeth seamed to be shifting. I said something to her and she immediately slapped her hand over her mouth and said that she had done everything right. "I know"  I said but they seam like they're shifting. In the meantime, Alex has always been on our radar since he was a MAJOR thumb sucker. We were just waiting for all of his permanent teeth to come in so we would know what we were dealing with.

Alex went first. While the ortho was talking to me Alex looked adoringly at the retainers in the display case that had the Under Armor logo on them and asked several times as to when he would get his retainer. I answered him several times with the " buddy it's gonna be a couple of years before you get a retainer so give it a rest will ya?"

Ari took her turn next. YES she will be needing yet ANOTHER set of braces. Oh and by the way... her wisdom teeth need to come out immediately. I'm sitting there taking it all in. Both kids need braces  and Ari also needs her wisdom teeth out. Cha ching cha ching!!

Alex is sitting next to me while Ari is in the chair. He is pestering me about the damn retainer and when does he get his braces. A moment of silence comes over us and Alex hears a drilling noise..."what was that?" as he whips his head towards me. "Was that a drill?"

Why yes, yes it was!" I say just to torture him a bit. He starts to get a bead of sweat on his forehead. Perhaps his excitement was a bit  premature. The ortho quickly puts his mind at ease, damn , " that's what we use to get the glue off of your teeth when we remove something." " nothing to worry about."

 My fun is over when the nurse sits down with the estimates for both kids. The smile and enthusiasm is gone from my face. I sit and stare into space while Ari tries to get them to start her treatment today. She is in a hurry. The Doc tells her that she will only have to have her braces on for nine months if she wears her rubber bands as prescribed. She of course WILL because she wants it done before she graduates  high school next year. I tell her to cool her jets so we can go home and talk to Dad about it. She reluctantly agrees., but bugs me all the way home about wanting to get her wisdom teeth pulled this weekend
( because she is available and doesn't have volleyball). I am tired.

That following Friday I manage to bribe get her an apt for her oral surgery. She had her wisdom teeth pulled last Friday. All four were impacted and had played a major role in the shifting of her beautiful teeth. She spent five days in our bed. Poor Ted was banished to sleeping  upstairs in the  bonus room. I was banished to sleeping with a teenager that required round the clock pain meds and Advil. NOT to mention her bad breath that smelled like an animal carcass. I still love her though. She is much better now and so is her breath.

someone is hiding her chipmunk cheeks

Blanky makes everything feel better.