Challenges

Well both kids are in school now. This year is going to be a challenge for us all. Amber has several classes that we feel will challenge her. Zach has a ton of homework, which we are not used to. My challenge is to try and keep two different school calendar's straight and their sport events also.

I have been on the job hunt, which we all know in Michigan is the most challenging. Went on another interview last week and was hired. WOO HOO. The only down fall is that its a subbing position. But I am taking it just to get my foot in the door.

Debutante Ball

Some background information on this event. In the Filipino culture when a girl turns 16 she is introduced to society as a lady. This happens at a ball with a special dance. Am turned 16 in July and so it was time for us to introduce her to society. Let me just say Neil's mom, who has only the two boys, was ecstatic and was I. But you all know my tomboy girl, she was gritting her teeth through the whole process.

We spent almost three months in dance classes, most of the time twice a week. She had to have a boy escort. Unfortunately, there were not enough boys in the age group of 16-18 and so Zach got asked to be an escort ( Neil and his brother were escorts when they were younger). The kicker was that he was escorting his sister. Well you can guess how that went most days.

The event was formal, the debutante's have to wear white full gowns (wedding gowns) and the escorts have to wear tuxedo's. Neil also was in a tuxedo and I had to wear a formal, to the floor length gown ( that was an adventure to find in my size).

It was an amazing night. We were so proud. She looked amazing!
Zach was so handsome!

The deb's and the escorts
Sorry for the dark picture but this is Neil and I introducing Am.

Photo's of the dance. It was part Waltz and other choreographed dance moves.

Our family photo-

Here is a picture of Neil as an escort when he was 16 with his god sister Tina.
and this is the picture of them at Am's ball-

Bad Blogger

Yes that's Me! I have let my blog just sit here since October. So let me try and recap what's been happening since then.
End of October- We went north to my Great Aunt Jo's and Uncle Henry's wedding anniversary and vow renewal. We were also introduce to the sport of Geocaching.
November- I went to mega retreat. Spent the rest of our time at basketball practices.
December- it always comes and goes so fast. Started and completed a scrapbook project based on the 25 days of December. I took one picture of what we did that day and then combined them into a mini album showing what we did the days leading up to Christmas.
January- Spent NYE at the Baker's. We got to share their family traditions. I also started another major scrapbook project- project 365. This project is taking a picture of your life each day for an entire year. So far I have done a pretty good job with keeping up with this major project.
February- I had taken all I could handle at my job at Head Start and I quit! Relief is the word. Instead I started watching a 2 1/2 yr old girl. Wow its been a long time since I had to potty train a child. Basket ball ended and softball has begun.
March- Mega Meet work in full swing.
April- Very cold days and evenings watching softball games. We are thoroughly enjoying Geocaching.
May- The big event -Mega Meet conventions big 1 0. What a great weekend. I am so busy but try to get some shopping in. However after the weekend I realize that I had more items on my list to buy that I never got to. Ah well there's always next year!
June- End of school- Hooray! But our busy summer has started. We are going to Dance classes 2 time a week for the Debutante ball.
July- My baby girl turns 16. Seems like yesterday that she was born. More time spent at dance. Isn't this supposed to be summer break? It's for a great event so we will have summer next year! That brings you up to date.
I will also preparing with pictures of the debutante ball.

Homecoming

She bought her ticket, found a dress she liked and got made into a teenage girl. All I can say is that she looked so beautiful tonight and so grown up.
To get her hair done I took her to the salon and the lady that has been doing my hair for like 20 some years. Karen did my hair for all my formals and my wedding and now she is doing Amber's. So hard to believe. And can I just say that Yes this is just Amber's hair no extra extensions and it cost me $40.



Amber and her friends at the park.



Amber from the back and a close up



In true Amber fashion....
Playing football with Zach and Jeff.

We sent her off to the dance with her camera so hopefully more great pictures of this event. Her group of friends are going bowling after and then a few are headed to a sleep over. We hope she has a great time.

Oh and on a side note she dropped my camera at the park lucky for her it just broke the eye piece. Neil said to save my pennies and buy a new camera. If I would have known I could buy the little camera I have been eyeing this easy I would have dropped the camera myself. I do want to keep my big nice camera but I also want a little one that will fit in my purse.

Powder Puff game

Amber was so excited to play in this game. The teams this year were- Seniors and Sophomores vs the Juniors and Freshman. She was not thrilled about their uniform-a Pink shirt.

We were tied at half time 7 to 7 and then they saw Amber throw a ball 30 some yards. At that point they put her back in as Quarter back. This is how the game ended-

She threw two passes that allowed her team to score. They won! What an amazing time.

Dress Shopping

Somehow her friends talked her into going to homecoming. On our way to the B-cubed we stopped at the outlet for dress shopping. However, I forgot my camera so these are taken with Neil's cell phone. These are the discards:
I liked this one and its hard to see but the material was pleated.
Lady in red. She was hoping for a red dress but not this one!


This dress was sparklie. Not her color.
This was a deep purple. She said she looked like an ice skater.
And the winner is.... Sorry you will have to wait until homecoming to see it.

Long Break

Here I go again having to play catch up. The school year started which means I went back to work. I am so exhausted when I get home that I cant even think about updating. First things first- work. Its been extremely stressful. We are two teachers short and for some reason they can't figure out how to hire people. Then you have adults that act like children. The good thing is that my boss actually did her job,this time, and handled the situation.
On to the kids. Go back to August and we bought Zach a cell phone for his B-Day. Well 3 weeks ago after school he tells me that he lost it. Said he had it in the morning and then gone in the afternoon. So he got the wrath of his mother. We came home and searched our house and couldn't find it. Neil and I spent all that night calling it - its was off. Then I spent the whole next day callling, with no luck. Until right after school got out- then the phone was on. So in the 1/2 hour it took me to get home and to the Verizon store the phone had been making calls. In the process of getting the phone deactivated the phone had made 28 minutes of calls. We figure the phone is a lost cause until 3 days later when the bus driver tells Neil that she has Zach's phone. She was handed the phone that morning by a student. Come to find out a sibling pair- a 5th grade girl and her 3rd grade brother had stolen it. I called the school and the principal was looking into the incident. Come to find out the mother of said children knew they had the phone and told her 3rd grader to take it back. She also said" I don't understand why they had it cause they have their own phones". Anyway, no punishment given at school because(to quote the principal) " These are not bad kids and i think just having them in my office was enough". I am so MAD. They are old enough to know what they did was wrong. Then one week later the so called "good kids" got kicked off the bus because of fighting!
Amber has been busy with her classes. She has had alot of projects already. She is looking forward to playing in the Powder Puff game and going to homecoming.
More posts to come...

Falling apart

I feel like I am falling apart at the young age of 30 (something)..wink wink
For those of you I talk to alot you will know that I have been complaining of foot pain all summer. With my love of doctors I have put it off until yesterday. On another note, I opened a door last week and felt pain in my left wrist. It ached and felt miserable all last week- even had pain in my pinkie finger. So with both issues I decided to go see my friendly doctor. He thinks my wrist is arthritis- sent me for an x-ray. On to my foot- he thinks that is planter fasciitis. Another x-ray ordered and a prescription for Motrin.
Why didn't someone tell me that you fall apart at 30-something? I thought it happened at a much older age!

Busy times....

Its been a busy two weeks. School started, Boy Scouts started and I went back to work. Both of our kids are enjoying this year. Am is super excited about US Military History (if you remember she didn't ask for that elective but got placed there). She has had homework and three projects already. I can tell what this year is going to bring- a butt load of homework! Zach is just in the same groove. Band has started and he has a new band teacher yet again- He hasn't had the same band teacher since he started band in 5th grade! Here's to hoping this on stays through the year. Neil has had one Boy Scout training so far. I have had 3 meetings and a conference for Scouts.

Here's to another busy and great school year.

First day of school

Here is our annual first day of school photo- We have a 10th grader and an 8th grader. So hard to believe.

Fun

Turtle Cove Waterpark just opened in May and we haven't had the chance to get out there. Zach asked to go for his birthday. What a great day. If you haven't had a chance to make it or if you think its too pricey- I am here to say that its totally worth your time and money. We were there about 4 hours and could have stayed longer. You can't take food in (they have a concession stand) but you can get a wrist band to go out and picnic.

No more little kids

Zach turned 13 today. Hard to believe, I know. We took him to Turtle Cove waterpark for his birthday (pictures to come in later post).

Another great visit

Last week we took another trip to the B. Bed and Breakfast. Cara had invited Donna and the girl's. So I loaded Neil's car with the seven of us and all of our stuff for the journey. It was a little chaotic with the 7 of us and the 6 of them but we had an awesome time. Th little kids even got along-which in my book is amazing when you have 5 kids trying to play together. The teens and preteen just hung around playing Gameboys and watching the Moll's. The mom's even got some scrapbooking in. We can never thank Cara and Jason enough for inviting us, housing us and couping with that many people.

Family day

My grandpa came into town for his usual summer visit. We always throw a get together so everyone can see him while he is here. Along with my grandpa coming , I had a cousin who graduated this year. So why not have his grad party at the same time.

My grandfather and all his kids-

Brent, Nelson (Chuck), Robert (Bubba),

Mark, Sharon, Michelle (Shellie), Teresa (Terri),

Judith (Judy), Susan (Sue)

My grandfather and his grandkids-

Timothy, Andrea, Mitchell, Lisa, Michael, Troy, Me,

Tina, Kayla, Melissa, Lindsey, Hillary, Joshua,
Caleb (CJ), Emalia, Alyssa, Grandpa, Macy and Breanna

Grandkids that are missing-Lori, Matthew, Faith, Ryan, Amy, Bradley and Devon

The great grandkids-

Zachary, Amber,

Austin, Tye, Ethan (held by Tye), Cody, Bradley, Mackenzie, Brandon,

Haidyn (in stroller), Dylan,

Rebecca and Larissa

Great grandkids missing- Audrey, Samantha, Ryan's Baby (name not known), Alex, Matthew's baby (not yet born) and Savanah

Some of my favorite snapshots of the day-

I do believe a great day was had by all.

And the mailman lives.....

I think he is lucky to survive. We received a phone call from the high school 2 weeks ago that told us that schedules would arrive the first week in August. Everyday this week Am has been at the mailbox just as soon as she hears the mailman. No luck until this afternoon when she received a message from a friend that their schedules were posted on their web page through the school. Her hopes were to get into weight training class and Honors government. Here is what she ended up with:
US Military History
English 10
Geometry
Biology
Spanish 2
Advanced Physical Fitness
Personal Finance
Honors Government
She is a tad disappointed with not getting into weight training and puzzled by US Military History (which was not one of her back up choices). Well I guess we will see.

Movie Star

Have you heard that they are filming a new movie in Detroit? Well they are and its being filmed right outside Neil's building. He can see the action out his window. He has not been able to spot the movie star yet- oh yeah I forgot to tell you that the star is Clint Eastwood. I am sure that my husband will be using his lunch hour to get as close as he can to the action. I wish he would have taken my camera.

Beach Day

I can't even remember the last time I spent the day at the beach. I even forgot what it was like to pack lunch, towels, drinks, sun block and everyone. We had a great day-the weather was nice and the kids truly enjoyed it.
Another great visit at Cara and Jason's!