So Happy to Have a Normal Kid

Dani usually gets home after riding the school bus at about 3:10. I was sitting at my computer today and 3:15 came and went and she wasn’t here. Five minutes went by and I got a little nervous, but just told myself that the bus may have been running behind. Ten minutes passed and I started having scenarios going through my head… Dani getting beat up, Dani being kidnapped, Dani being hit by a car. When the time lapse hit the fifteen minute mark I jumped up and ran outside.

I found her standing at the street corner talking to two kids who must go to school with her. Ok, that sounded worse than it is, we live on the corner of the street and she was basically on the sidewalk bordering our house. She was talking to two boys, and these boys weren’t the type that I would be afraid of her talking to. They were kinda dorky looking. Totally harmless. Although, the one that had flaming red hair and pale skin looked as though he were going to keel over from sunstroke. The beauty of it was that they were talking about cartoons! My daughter loves anime, and they were discussing it. Whew!

I’m so happy that my daughter is normal this year. After having her makeover done, she is a completely new person. She still hates doing chores and tries to sneak on my new computer now and then, but at least she speaks to my husband and me. At last now she doesn’t walk around jumping back and forth between sulking and being on the verge of tears. She’s a little more fun now. She is a normal girl.

Bliss…

No Harry Potter?

I am distraught!

Now before I get people telling me there are so many other things to worry about out there, rest assured that I do know that. But, it still doesn’t change the fact that my beloved Harry Potter will not be coming to the big screen to us in the latest installment of his journey to rid the wizarding world of one Lord Voldemort as soon as I thought he would. If you remember, a few weeks ago I posted the movie trailer for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and was positively beside myself because I finally had a huge hint about how the movie was to be portrayed. It was set to be released in November. Oh sweet November.

It was just announced that due to the writer’s strike leaving next summer’s blockbuster season a little lackluster, the release of our brave Harry’s movie was being pushed to July 2009. JULY 2009?!?! Does the studio not understand what this is doing to us hardcore fans? It’s like cutting your arm in front of a vampire. The scent of blood gets in their nose and they have to drink and will go crazy until they are able to feast.

Oh this winter was to be fabulous. First Harry, then Edward and Bella in Twilight, which will be released in December. Now I will only have Edward to satisfy me.

Flashback Friday - Proposal

Some of you knew it was coming and for others it was a complete surprise. Some of you were given grand romantic gestures and some of you experienced something very simple yet very beautiful. Most were asked, but some did the asking. Some had flowers, most had a ring, and some just had a moonlit night. What am I talking about? Marriage proposals. This week we are flashing back to the day when your Hubby popped the question…

When Will and I decided to get married, we didn’t have a long drawn out engagement, nor was there a grand proposal. We had already been living together, I had two daughters and when my third, OUR third was born and we just knew we were meant to be together. We discussed how to do it, what type of wedding we should have - we were both ok with just having a small wedding because he doesn’t have a lot of family here, and my huge family scared him. I was fine with that as well. The biggest party I had ever had thrown for me was by my sisters for my 25th birthday, and I didn’t even know everyone there. Let’s just say that coming to a party for Tiffany isn’t usually the type of thing that most people feel like doing on a Saturday night. I just don’t have that many friends. So, the thought of having to do up a guest list, send out invitations, hold my breath and cross my fingers waiting to find out if enough people would show up to my wedding was something I just wanted to avoid.

I remember going to Vegas (for the first time in my life!) for my sister Sara’s wedding in the beginning of March 2002 and we were SO tempted to just run into one of the little white chapels off the strip and become Mr. and Mrs. In retrospect, Will’s cooler mind prevailed. It would have been a horrible smack to the face to my sister to get married on the same day (or day after) as her wedding date. So we left Vegas, still just heathens living in sin.

In October 2002 we finally decided it was time to just do it. He had changed jobs, and his new employer didn’t believe as his old employer did. You see, his old job considered domestic partners to be worthy of health benefits, which covered our kids and myself. His new employer did not. We were already starting to plan a wedding, which was to be held in 2003, but we seeing as we had three children who needed health insurance as well as myself, we needed to speed up the process. Well, Alexis was automatically covered under his plan because she is his “biological” child and he was is not the stepfather to my older girls. So we decided to get married that month.

It was a small wedding, well, would it actually be called a wedding? I don’t think so. We got married by Justice of the Peace at the court house in Glendale. Only my mom and one sister were there along with Will’s parents, brother, his ex-best friend Danny and my girls. It was short and sweet. My other sister threw a reception for me at her house the next night, where we invited all of my immediate family and some friends. I got the obligatory cake in the face, thanks to my sister whispering to my husband that it was tradition - thanks sis! All in all it was small and simple, just as I would have had it.

First Day Back to School

Well, it’s back to school time again. This year Alexis is in 1st, Desiree is in 6th and Danielle is in 8th grade. I didn’t have time to take pictures at home and Dani refused to let me get out with her to take pictures of her at school so I only have Lexi and Desiree.

Desiree and Alexis

 

Desiree and Alexis again. Desiree is glancing around because she was mortified about the thought of being caught having her picture taken by her mom on the first day. I had to sneak these pictures in of her.

 

Desiree and Alexis

 

Alexis outside her classroom door. There was something in the air that was irritating her eyes.

 

In her classroom at her desk.

 

Desiree outside her class.

 

Desiree again. She actually wore a skirt to school! This shocked me, because she wore only jeans all summer!

 

The back to school assembly in the gym. They had music playing and gave all the kids streamers and confetti-filled poppers to join in the celebration. The staff all wore those cone hats, and the Principal wore one of those viking helmets with the horns sticking out because their mascot is the Viking. They all had to yell, “Village Meadows Rocks!” at the same time. It was so cute. I really wish I could have gotten a picture of Dani. She also wore a skirt. I’m in shock.

Flashback Friday - First Dance

Do you remember your first dance? You know the one - you were nervous, you stood in front of the mirror for hours making sure every hair was perfectly in place, you begged your Dad to not embarrass you when your date came to pick you up. This week let’s flashback to that first dance - was it fun, do you even remember who you went with, how old were you?

I remember my first dance. I was in 7th grade. I wasn’t the best dancer in the world, but I did have some rhythm. Oh I remember practicing for weeks leading up to the dance in my bedroom. Beats of “Straight Up” by Paula Abdul and “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice were constantly streaming from my bedroom as I danced in front of my bedroom mirror, trying to replicate the moves that I saw on Dance Party USA (does anyone else remember that show, which came out on the USA channel?)

When the night of the dance came along, I dressed in my favorite MC Hammer-type pants and big ol’ shoulder padded blouse. I teased my bangs up nice and high and applied a little make up. My dad drove me to my friend Elena’s house to pick her up. We rode in my Daddy’s banged up 1970-something orange Chevy pickup truck. When we got to the dance he dropped us off and in we went. The dance went by fairly quickly, and I remember not being able to put my newly-polished dance moves to work very much. The boys lined up on one side and the girls on another. There was no body-to-body touching. Everyone was so shy and all of the juvenile flirtations that took place during the day seemed to evaporate in our little bedazzled cafeteria.

Finally the dance ended. I walked out feeling a little let down. When my dad came to pick us up and as we got into the truck, it stalled. My dad popped the hood and disappeared under it to do whatever it is that men do to fix their vehicles. When this happened, my childhood arch-nemesis, Yvette, and her two cronies passed by. Yvette, was a big (and when I say big, I mean older, as in 8th grade, taller and larger) girl who found her jollies by messing with me. In 7th grade I was small. She was not. She towered over me and intimidated the heck out of me. Yvette saw that my dad was under the hood of the truck and leaped on her opportunity to strike without his noticing.

“You’re a fucking bitch,” she half-whispered to me as she walked by with her hanger-ons. I had finally had enough of her messing with me. So I did it. I flipped her off.

Right at that moment my dad slammed the hood down and said we were ready to go. He had no clue of what had just transpired. Oh but I did. So did Elena. She just turned and looked at me with wide eyes that said, “I can’t believe you just did that!” I knew right as I extended my middle finger that I had just royally screwed up. All I got for my trouble was being shoved really hard into the sinks outside of the cafeteria the following Monday. Yvette apparently thought it was ok to talk down to and degrade people, but didn’t like to be retaliated against.

That was my first dance. How was yours? I’d love to hear all about it!

New page - lookie here!

I created a new page. Take a look up top, or click here. I need your help. Click the link to find out how you can help my weight loss venture by sponsoring a pound.

Feeling the crunch here…

All three of my girls start school next Monday. I have yet to finish shopping for all of their school supplies, although, I really only know of what Lexi needs. I will find out what Dani and Rae need when I go to their schools for meet the teacher night on Tuesday and Thursday. Why they wait until a few days before school to let us know what supplies are needed is completely beyond me! Dani is done as far as school clothes shopping goes. My sister Sara bought all of her stuff for her as “payment” for Dani taking care of Isaias all summer. I have so far only bought new socks and undergarments for Rae and Lexi. I still have to do that tense, nerve-wracking job of clothes shopping. Have I ever told you guys about how I loathe shopping? I really do. 

My schedule for the week looks like this:

Monday: Go to work at 11pm.

Tuesday: Get off work at 7:30, but then go straight to a mandatory meeting. Come home from work at about 8:45. Try to get a few z’s or just stay up all day. Turn into zombie. Pick up Dani’s 8th grade schedule and meet her teachers between 4-6pm. Find out about bus schedule. Purchase her PE uniform.

Wednesday: Take Dani and Rae to my mom’s office at 8:30am to get their immunizations that are now state mandated so they can start 6th & 8th grade.

Thursday: Go to Desiree and Alexis’ school for meet the teacher night. Finally find out what school supplies they need. Take a tour of the campus. Find out about bus schedule.

Friday & Sat: I work both nights, then took the rest of the week off.

In between all of this I have to find time to finish clothes shopping, school supply shopping, get Desiree and Lexi’s hair cut and shop for a van. My car is on it’s deathbed. It took me 25 minutes to get to work last night when it normally takes 4 minutes because it kept stalling. I was so pissed and that bitchiness carried on through my night.

I need another week. Please someone give me another week!

Flashback Friday - First Job

I’m playing along with BlogMomma’s Flash Back Friday.

This Friday we’re talking about our first “real” money-making job.

I got a job working at a new frozen yogurt shop that was opening in our local Smith’s Food and Drug Store. It was called The Golden Swirl. There’s something you need to understand about where I grew up. I grew up in Surprise, AZ but by the time I was 15 we moved to Waddell, which was about 10 minutes away, at the base of White Tanks Mountains and just 10 minutes northwest of Luke AFB. This Smith’s store was roughly 15 miles away in Sun City. The home of the retired folk. It took me about 20 minutes to get to work one way and I was a new, inexperienced driver. I worked late on the weekends, sometimes not getting home until after 10:30pm. Scary stuff. Back then, in the early 90’s, there were no houses out in Surprise, El Mirage and Waddell. It was covered with sweet smelling fields and ditches crisscrossed the empty acres. You had to be really alert while driving. There were way too many times I nodded off, almost landing in an irrigation canal.

I got the job along with two girls (twins who looked nothing alike) that went to school with me. They were a year older than me and really not in my crowd. One was nice and we both were tutors together, and the other was a cheerleader (I was too, the next year) who was in with a crowd of girls that HATED me. It was a bit awkward working with them at first, but as the months went by we came to a bit of an understanding. At work we could enjoy eachothers company and talk like friends, but at school she would go back into the “I’m a cheerleader and therefore better than you” routine. I really enjoyed working at this frozen yogurt shop. I had never had a job before, and it was such an eye-opening experience. I learned how to work with the elderly. I learned how sweet they could be and how crotchety they could be.

I also remember learned how openly racist some people could be. I remember one night, a guy friend of mine came to hang out, while I was closing up the shop. This happened often, one guy or another would come hang out. When I say hang out, I mean they would come and buy a yogurt and either stand off to the side or sit at one of the benches and talk to me while I was cleaning out the yogurt machines. These other guys were either Hispanic or White. This one particular night, my friend who was Black/Hispanic was there, eating his yogurt and talking to me, nothing out of the ordinary. My manager, a little old White lady, apparently forgot something in the day and came back to get it. She walked in and her eyes were immediately drawn to him. The first thing I noticed, and thought was really weird was that her hand went straight to her purse and she pulled it around to the front of her and kept it clutched in her hand. Then, eyes never leaving him, she called me into the back room. She proceeded to tell me off for letting the “dark fella” into the shop while I was closing, and for opening myself up to being robbed. WTF? I was floored. I mentioned that I have had other people visit me before, as had the other girls, and that he was a paying customer just sitting there enjoying his yogurt. She said she knew that, but something didn’t seem right about this guy and she wanted him gone as soon as he finished his yogurt. It was amazing. She didn’t even seem shocked about what she was saying. She didn’t think it was wrong at all.

Thankfully after that she quit and we got another manager. I still remember her and how bad I felt for my poor friend, who just was there to enjoy his yogurt, and left feeling like dirt.

Update on Lexi’s Head

We went to the dermatologist yesterday, and saw the Dr this time. He said he doesn’t see any reason for the MRI. He said the reason they do the MRI is to make sure the skull has closed completely, but there are external indicators that would make them want to do it, and Lexi doesn’t have any of that so he feels that she is fine. He did suggest we cut out the bald spot, and he would pull the gap closed, stitch it up and voila! That would end the bald problem. He did tell me that he didn’t want to do it unless Lexi is completely on board with it, too. He said the worst thing is when a parent drags their child in to have something removed and yet it doesn’t even bother the kid. Basically at that point they are having to drag the kid in kicking and screaming and he hates doing that to a kid. He doesn’t want to do something to her that’ll put her in therapy for the rest of her life. He did say though, that is if were his child, he would want to get it taken care of. I told him I wanted it done before she gets old enough to where kids will make fun of her for it and he agreed.

The surgery would take place in his office, and a local anesthetic would be used. He did say he preforms these procedures more often than you would think. The procedure would take about 20-30 minutes and the stitches will heal in about 2 weeks, leaving her with no bald spot. I talked it over with my husband and he is all for it, so now we have to figure out when the best time to do it would be. Obviously now is not the right time, with her just starting school again. I think we should either shoot for Christmas break, or just hold off unti next summer. 

Have any of you ever had to do something like this?

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Ok, have you guys seen this trailer? My husband downloaded the HD version of it, and it is crystal clear. I highly suggest doing that, but if you don’t want to then just watch the trailer that I have on this post. I simply can not wait! November will not come fast enough for me. I really hope they don’t cut out and insert a whole bunch of stuff as they did for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It strayed so much from the book that it was almost not enjoyable.

Who else out there is a total Harry freak?