Same old Matt

His grades finally came:
Photography F
Guitar A
English D
Intermediate Algebra D
Physics C
Us Govt F
CDC C

This on top of finding an actual sword and chinese throwing weapons in his bed make for a frustrating week. He is going to be paying for these choices for years.He was going to take his drivers test this week, but not now. Grounding him is useless. He lies about everything, you can not trust a word he says. He has some very hard life lessons headed his way.

driving with Matt

If you had been in the car, these are things you may have heard(See if you can figure out who said what):
You don't come to a stop on a highway.
I think I am getting whiplash.
I like going fast.
How do I get home from here?
Isn't this the exit?
Do you really need to be in the car at all times?
Parking spaces should not be made this way?
I am never driving here again until they fix the parking spaces.
Stop before you hit the garage door.
Try it again.
Do you realize the difference between the D and the R
Should we practice our colors a little more?

update

The really sad state of affairs:
1. Take down Christmas tree and non-snowman decorations-DONE
2. Clean out truck
3. dust and vacuum
4. buy new shoes-BOUGHT ONE PAIR- STILL NEED A COMFY PAIR
5. do all laundry and put away (at least stuff that goes in my room)
6. Clean green paint off laundry room wall and kitchen floor(Kristen is barred from painting until she moves out)
7. go through all the mail to make sure not throwing anything out important
8. watch fracture-have had it checked out since 1/7.- RETURNED UNWATCHED
9. go to borders and buy book
10. buy myself Christmas present
11. clean my bathroom
12. change sheets-DONE

Busy, stressful week. Kids alternate days to act like ungrateful brats. Typical teenagers-the world exists for their enjoyment. Have to take Kris shopping for nice white shirt for honor band concert this week. What is my schedule you ask:
Today-
Church from 11-12
Work in the office from 12:30-2:30.
Take Kristen shopping from 2:30 -4:30
Take her to game night at church from 5-8pm, Matt to work from 5-10pm

Monday:
Work and school
Kristen b-ball until 5pm
High School orientation from 5:45-8pm
Randy conference call 6-8pm

Tuesday
Matt jamming with friends after school
Matt Bass lesson at 7pm

Wednesday
Kristen bball game until 5:30
Honor Band concert 6:30

Thursday
No kid events but probably working late on tech fair -48 hours

Friday
3-8pm tech fair setup
Matt works 5-1:30am

Saturday
6am-pick up food and be at Trailridge by 7am for tech fair-clean up finished by 3pm, go to Fridays to celebrate if nothing else that it is over.

Sunday
Church
Take Kristen up to Ft Collins to see Hannah Montana movie.
Come home and Thank God that the week has finally ended.


T

My to-do list

This is what I want to accomplish this weekend( and yes I know there is only one more day left)

1. Take down Christmas tree and non-snowman decorations
2. Clean out truck
3. dust and vacuum
4. buy new shoes
5. do all laundry and put away (at least stuff that goes in my room)
6. Clean green paint off laundry room wall and kitchen floor(Kristen is barred from painting until she moves out)
7. go through all the mail to make sure not throwing anything out important
8. watch fracture-have had it checked out since 1/7.
9. go to borders and buy book
10. buy myself Christmas present
11. clean my bathroom
12. change sheets

Any bets on which ones happen?

Sabrina is left-handed

I was outsiding chasing down some squirrels.(Dad sarcastically calls them "my friends"). It was like 10 degrees and I wanted to come in. Mom opened the door a little bit. She wants me to learn to help myself from time to time. I hate these teaching moments. I try to push it open with my left paw. My left paw goes across my body and hits the wooden door frame. Ok, try again-same result. The third time will be the charm-nope. Neither is the 6th. Ok, now my paw hurts in addition to being cold. I look up at them. Will someone please open the stupid door more or tell me what the secret is. (Stupid dog)

Blogging will be sporadic at best until 2/3

It is now two weeks and counting down to the District Technology Fair which I am in charge of.
Yesterday was an 11 hour day and then I have to come home and be a wife and mother. I will blog when I can, but no guarantees. A library crisis at one of the schools is also going on. Everything is fine. Both kids are fine. Matt will get to play his electric bass in a concert. Cars are being repaired by dealer Saturday. Looking forward to Monday off. Matt works to 1:30 this morning and then works 5-10 Sunday.

Basketball game

Trail Ridge lost by a lot. Westview was just too good. The girl did play in a uniform that fit. She still seems intimidated when she should be aggressive. Does not matter in the whole scheme of things. We went from there to Honor band practice where she met up with other 8th graders from different schools some of whom she knows. She will be done in 45 minutes and then homework for her.

Teenage girls

Day 2 of crazybusy week. Kristen comes home stating she is playing in the second b-ball game tomorrow. Brings uniforms and warm ups. Tries uniform on for photo op and it is too small. the river of tears starts: She does not want to play in any games, she will back out. No she won't I say. More tears. We will go to school early and talk to her coach and get a new uniform. She does not want anyone looking at her. the evil shyness monster creeps back into her world. Very self conscious 8th grader. I remember hating 8th grade. Stay tuned. Kristen has to be at Honor Band practice by 6:30 pm. So now it looks like I will be late to work and leave early. Leaving for bass lesson momentarily and then back home and then out again to get a white tshirt to wear under the sleeveless bball jersey.

A new way to drain my bank account

Kristen had her orthodontic consultation. In 12-14 months, she will have near perfect teeth and I will be 4500.00 poorer. She is happy, I am depressed.

Weekend update and my spoils from Singapore

Matt-worked until 2:30am Friday night/Saturday morning. He went bowling and then over to Grant's house to play video games. We all went to Wendy's for dinner and he managed to eat a single and fries. I think we are finally on the downside of this whole ordeal.

Kristen-fell asleep at 8:30 Friday night and then woke up at 1am to go pick up Matt. Saturday she went sledding with the youth group in Rocky Mt National Park.

Me-Did nothing but drive people places Sat. This morning I cleaned up somewhat, went to the grocery store and picked up Randy who is currently sleeping. He will probably go to bed as soon as he gets to see Matt who is currently working .

Spoils from Singapore

Kristen got another Hardrock tshirt and a Hardrock bear wearing a Kimono and playing an electric guitar.

Matt got a new baseball cap from Japan, a hardrock tshirt and a just released anime 1o dvd set.

I got these:
An orchid paperweight, an orchid necklace and this really cool sparkling dragon that has a pearl in its mouth. Its back opens up and you can hide very tiny treasures in it. Very cool.

Yawn

Just got back from picking Matt up.Yawn. Kris had to go along since R. out of town. Seriously beginning to wonder if this job is that great of an idea. He works 4 days next week. Between his schedule and Kristen's, I really am nothing more than a taxi.

I am being punished-you better not laugh Mom!

These are the sewing supplies I need to purchase for Kristen. I am so afraid of this class. I was not concerned with an A. She is.

• Dressmaker pin and cushion (do you need to buy each pin separately? Someone please help me with this?)
  
• Dressmaker shears
• Seam ripper
• Ruler
  
• Small box to store equipment
• 8.00 class fee
• project fee

I need my mommy to come out for the next 9 weeks. Please let me know when your flight is arriving. You can have my bedroom. I will be catching the 1st flight to anywhere where there are no teenagers as soon as you arrive.

Update on Matt

We are back from the dr. Matt apparently is clenching his jaw and needs to stretch it or the doctor will stretch it for him next Thursday(this sounds painful). He also has a pointy syringe that he needs to squirt in a mixture of salt water and hydrogen peroxide twice a day for a month. Still no food that he needs his molars to chew. Calgon take me away!

Bad day in the neighborhood

1. Refused to accomodate daughters social plan-my reign as the evil mom continues
   
2. Matt did not go to work-called in sick-not feeling well. He is fine-just pushing things too much
3. took the heat for a committee decision at work(I was elected to send out the email)
4. daughter upset that plans to go to Mcdonalds cancelled due to #2

I took a nap and ate some sara lee cheesecake and all is better. No longer wish to be be a greater at walmart.

A boy and his dog

No words are necessary. See Flickr for additional doggie photos.

The great clarinet crisis or I am responsible-I just can't remember that I am

After finishing her homework, Kris went to practice her clarinet. It was not here, oh no! She left it in the bathroom after b-ball practice. Tears and worry. Try to figure out who to call. There is no one. We drive over to the school, finally find an unlocked door. It is not in the bathroom or the gym. Where is it? She checked her locker and there it was waiting for her. GRRRRRR.

T is for Trespass by Sue Grafton

As most of you know, Sue Grafton is one of my favorite authors. I was looking forward to this book. Unfortunately, I do not consider it the pageturner that most of her other books have been. It was still good, but I was mostly through it before I got to the point where I could not be put it down. My vote for this: wait for the paperback.

Ahhh memories

Kristen got her schedule for the second semester and has (insert drumroll) Home EC for an elective. She is bummed that she does not have cooking until the second 9 weeks, That means she has (insert 2nd drumroll), SEWING NOW! Does anyone remember that hideous 17 piece purse with a satin lining and zippers and snaps that mom/I made? Kristen said they get to pick their own projects. Goody. Everyone says Kristen is so like me. Please, oh please let it not be so(at least in the sewing sense).

Happy Birthday Mommy

Today is my mom's birthday. Happy, Happy Birthday to you!

Things I am wonderering...

Why I am the only person who can see the dog needs more water?
Why the trash and recycling are only visible to me?
Is Sabrina as stupid as she appears?
Will Matt and I be able to get enough sleep to function tonight?
Will Kristen dance with my hairbrush as a microphone again? (last night Randy caught her doing this and really startled her.)
At what point I will totally morph into my mother(not that this is bad, but I really felt like her last night)
Will the writers strike ever end?
Will I actually remember to return rented videos on the first pass?

Matt

According to the doctor, Day 3 is going to be the worst. Matt is lying on the sofa with his pillow,blanket, ice pack and Doggie. Yes, that same doggie who has resided with Matt since he came into that world. The other doggie is snoring upstairs.

Our no good, horrible, very bad day

It started with having to wake Matt up every 3 hours to have a snack and pain meds. That meant I had to be awake then too. He slept on the sofa, I slept on the love seat. Around 8:30 pm the Internet connection was slow, by 10:30 it was dead. It took two calls to Comcast to get it back up and then it was hit or miss as far as the speed. You can imagine how this went over in this house.

Next, Randy went to do some errands. Can't. Durango has a dead battery. It only has 34,000 miles and is a year and a half old. In the process of charging the battery, the CD player jammed. While this was going on, the smoke detector in the house was going off. Called dealer and both are covered under warranty. Took the durango back down to Boulder. It had been there two days ago for recall work.

Randy and I decide to do errands in the Dakota. At the very last stop, we go through a bank drive thru. The drivers side window makes a grinding noise and stops. We get it home, Randy takes the door apart and we find a plastic wheel/gear type thing that was broken. We get the window up so Randy can tape it in place while I hold it.

I just want everyone to sit still and not move so nothing else can break.

Matt is better. Arguing about taking meds. He is making due with advil, but I will have him take the strong stuff before bed so I can get some sleep at least.

Matt's surgery

I know the two readers of this blog know Matt is Ok after his wisdom teeth removal, but I thought you might enjoy some comments he made throughout this day that shall live in infamy,

When do I get my damn pudding?
How do you expect me to eat this damn pudding? (I had to feed him)
I want a steak.
Go buy some kill the doctor juice
Are you some kind of stupid?(When Randy questioned Matt's statement that the EKG leads contained microscopic needles)
I want a steak
I don't need any pain meds
I will do what POP-POP does-only take them if I think I need them(Sorry, he was overruled)
I want a steak.
I will be so weak after this weekend because my muscles will have started to atrophy from not being used.

Feeling Random

I could talk about so many topics such as Sabrina and her freak-out after her manicure(the chocolate lab was not intimidated by her much to her dismay). So it is not normal for dogs to sound like Chewbacca when they finish an appointment? Then tbere is the daily battle between Sabrina and the squirrels. Squirrels are winning handily. I made homemade pancakes today and will probably make them a lot more in the coming days. I spent the afternoon with Kristen and Laney and Matt and Grant at the bowling alley. Matt is working now. Matt is feeling terrified about his surgery. I think what scares him the most is a fear that the iv sedation will not put him out-that and a needle is involved. There literally is nothing I can do or say to alleviate this fear and that is frustrating. Must do laundry and attempt to clean up the kitchen, As fast as I clean, someone makes a mess. Food I had bought for meals has been consumed as snacks. Matt is convinced he will never eat "real" food again. We are not talking about your ordinary pessimist here-no the glass is half empty-no sir-we are talking about the glass being completely empty if the glass exists at all. Kristen is pursuing her evening hobby of Doggie torment during commericials on the Disney channel.

New years resolution and the answer to everything is Chicago

Matt:
To form a band and get rich

Kristen
To pass Honors English

Mom
To post something to the blog everyday
to be a better cleaner
to not let Randy's temper tantrums get to me

Now for some reason Kristen is obscessed with Chicago. As in the city and the pizza. you ask her a question and the answer is Chicago. She is now cut off from sugar.

Flickr is working

Flic kr is working now. Click on it to see the photos in a bigger size.

Merry Christmas

Ok, so it is New Year's day, but I finally downloaded the pictures from the camera. Here are very few of the highlights. Having problems uploading photos to Blogger or Flickr.