Hang-Ups

I have a few hang-ups.  Just things that really....get to me.  I know you have some too. 
Thought I would share a few of mine...you know kind of as a series on my blog. 
Does anyone really care what bugs me?  Probably not, but I feel like sharing...maybe it's a little more like venting.
Toward the top of my list is teenage drivers.
Specifically, teenage drivers in the high school parking lot.  Ugh! 
Now, I know I was once one of them, and I also know I have one of them...soon to be two of them.  So, I will narrow it down a bit more to bad and careless teenage drivers in the high school parking lot. 
Is there any other kind, you ask?
Yes, indeed there are. 
All teenage drivers are inexperienced. I don't mind that because there are many inexperienced, yet careful and conscientious teenage drivers. However, when they slide down into the bad and careless category...well...that's when I have a real problem.
I had some minor altercations with a few of them last year, and yesterday marked the first one of this school year.
Now when I say altercation, I mean helping them to understand in the clearest possible way that their driving style is completely rude, careless, and illegal.  Where is a cop when you need one?
I convey this to them in various mature, adult-like ways, such as yelling at them from inside my car (they do their best to read my lips), rolling down my window to verbally "ask them to choose a different manner of driving", and arm waving (said arm waving is NOT a middle finger wave...just so you know), which is really effective body language from inside the car.
All of these forms of communication are really trying to say one thing...
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING????"
Unfortunately, my "help" is not always well received. 
But, somehow I always feel better after the fact. 
"Yeah, that's right!  Don't think about doing that again....you might not be so lucky next time!!"
And then I drive away in my big, bad green mini-van.

Randomness

Has it really been a month since my last post?
Wow!
Since school started I can't seem to get my bearings straight. 
I am back at work too. 
It's all been a bit bumpy trying to get back in the groove of schedules.  I do love the fall though.  Football, cooler weather, chili and apple cider, mums...I love mums.
Dash is trying to get used to the fall schedule too.  He likes it better when he has someone at home with him during the day.  Poor buddy. 
In other randomness, the whole teenager thing is really......getting to me.
Yeah.....
Pray for me....
Is there life on the other side of teenagers?
Someone who's been there send me encouragement.
More soon, I promise.
Just wanted you all to know I'm still alive and kicking. :)

Conversations with Joey

NOTE:  This post contains subject matter suitable for an older audience. :)

My son has an insane sense of humor.  It encompasses his entire being.
He finds humor in almost everything, and is rarely serious. 
Raising a child of this nature is an adventure.  One minute has you rolling on the floor laughing, and the next frustrated beyond belief. 
Today, I took him and Hannah to get their sports physicals.
He insisted that my presence was not needed in the exam room with him, and since I had no health concerns, I obliged him.  I accompanied Hannah to hers and met up with Joey in the waiting room afterwards.
On the way home, I asked him what he and the doctor discussed. 
The conversation went something like this:

Joey:  "He asked me if I had any sexual questions.  I said, no.  Then he asked me if my parents talked to me about sex.  I told him, no." (laughter)
Me:   (incredulous because it's not true.)  "That is not true at all!  I have been very open and honest with you about the subject of sex, not to mention your dad took you on a father/son camping trip one time for the express purpose of having time to talk to you alone about such things.  Do we need to have more
discussions?"
Joey:  "No, mom, we don't." (uncomfortable smile)
Me:   "I thought we had done a decent job of explaining and answering questions.  Don't you remember that
camping trip with dad?  What did he tell you?"
Joey:  (laughing) "He told me, Son....people have sex...now...pass me a hot dog."

It was at this point I started laughing hysterically. 
Both of us know this not to be true, and I think it was his way of telling me...Mom...I 've had enough of this conversation. 
Point well taken.

I Love A Bargain

I am a frugal clothes shopper.
I love a deal.
Especially clearance deals.  The deep discount ones.
I have been blessed so much this month as I have been out doing a bit of school shopping.  But, nothing compared to what happened today. 
Ok, maybe not quite as good as the 4 pairs of jeans I got Hannah at Lemon Days...however this was a totally different kind of bargain.
I took Jessi into Old Navy to take advantage of their $10 denim bermuda shorts and capris.  $10 bucks for denim is not to be passed up in my mind.  She settled on a pair of shorts and two pairs of capris.  Really cute stuff!
As we are checking out I noticed that the pair of capris she liked the best rang up for  $19.94. 
"Oh, those weren't on sale?"
"Apparently not", the clerk said.
I politely told her I wasn't going to get them.  I mean, $20 was no longer a great deal.  And, I am all about the "deal". 
But, we continued with the other two pairs and the rest of my bargains, including $2 flip-flops.  Lovin' it!
I was totally unprepared for what happened next.
I hear the clerk say, "Would you buy them if they were $10?"
"Well, yeah, but it's OK, I just misinterpreted which ones were on sale," I said.
"Don't worry about it, I'll give them to ya for $10."
After which, I turned to Jessi making sure she thanked the young girl, since without her, Jessi wouldn't have them in her closet right now.
Crazy!  Never had that happen before.
As I walked away, I was so appreciative, and then I thought....
Maybe I look really destitute. :)

Girl Stuff

My niece has been hanging out with us the last few days, and as always we have enjoyed having her around.  She is sweet, polite, kind, agreeable...a delight to have around. :)  My girls enjoy the times they spend together. 
So, on Tuesday I had this idea to let them make their own trifle.  It was so fun...ok...I thought it was fun.  I hope they did too.

I gave them some plain chocolate cake and a multitude of yummy things to layer into it, since a trifle is a layered dessert.  I am putting that last definition in there because Jessi thought trifle was such a weird word.  I think she thought I made it up.

Since I didn't have any strawberries we had to improvise and use blueberries.  After that I filled the counter with pecans, slivered almonds, marshmallows, marshmallow creme, and chocolate syrup.  Then I turned them loose to create any way they wanted. 

Jessi wanted to ham it up for the camera first.

And, then finally the finished product. 

I wasn't able to coax Hannah into the last picture.  Teenagers...

Quick Trip

The girls and I accompanied my mom for a short visit down to my sister's last week.  We always find lots to talk about and even more to laugh about, but that's what makes it fun. 
We went to a 3D movie...

Played games...

Enjoyed Carter's antics...

Got to see Carter lose his first tooth, and enjoy the first visit from the Tooth Fairy...

Enjoyed slushies in the shade...

And did lots of lovin' on each other...

 Looking at these pictures you can see I took nothing but pictures of the kids, but they're the important ones right? :)
Well, they make life alot sweeter anyway.

Hannah's Surprise

We bought Joey his first cell phone about two weeks before school started his freshman year.  I always told Hannah she would get one at about the same time too.  Dave always balked about it, saying he didn't think it was necessary considering her and Joey would be at the same school riding together. 
I could see his reasoning. 
However, in this case Dave's soft spot for his little girl took over his reasoning. 
He showed up one day last week with a cell phone for her, which he promptly hid in her purse.

When her "purse" started ringing she just stood there, literally dumbfounded. 
And, then she reached in with a smile and pulled out her very own texting device. Teenagers don't talk on them you know. It's all about the text. I mean, talk on a cell phone? Why, when you can text? :)

I think the only time they actually talk on them is when their parents call. :)
In other news, I got a surprise from Dave that day too.
"By the way, Tracey, I got you a present too. I changed the plan to give you unlimited texting."
I think I may need it.