Getting over the butterflies

Band camp was yesterday and my dear daughter was so nervous. I had to go to work for a couple of hours and my hubby was home sick. So, I asked my oldest daughter to go and pick her up from camp. When I got home, she was so excited over her first day. She kind of clung on to the other guy she knew from her last year band, and they both ventured out making new friends. She was excited that there weren't just a few flutes playing but around 10-12 of them. She met a girl there, but didn't remember her name, but she has some of the same interests as her and she was happy. Oh joy, I am so happy that things went well. I knew they would. I remember back when I was young, and my parents moved ALOT...within the same city, but I ended up changing schools alot so I knew how she felt. She came home full of excitement and here it is today, another day at band camp. Now, I just need to say, dear daughter, please find out that new girl's name.....lol

a new year with alot of anticipation

Yippeeeeeee !!!! Band marching camp starts tomorrow and I know that my daughter will make some new friends. She has been complaining about having funny feelings in her stomach over all of her friends going to the new school in town, but I have every bit of confidence that things will go fine for her next year. She will go tomorrow and the next several days and then they will break until Aug 1st and that's when band camp begins again. It's been pouring down rain today and I had my doubts that marching will take place, but I called around and found out that it will go on regardless. I want to tell my dear daughter that I have every confidence in her that things will go fine. She is going to meet new friends and those butterflies in the tummy feeling will eventually go away.

The end of intermediate school

Graduation day came and went. Believe it or not, not ALL the girls wore skirts and blouses like my daughter thought they would be....some actually wore dresses. There were so many people packed into the gym and the ceremony was great. The awards ceremony was long but well worth it, especially since my daughter got an award that she was not expecting to get. Oh I was so proud of her, and I sat there with my digital camera thinking about the fact that I was also glad that I didn't have that old video camera of yesteryear that when you took the video, you had to put your eye up to the lens, because it would always get clouded up when I would cry being so happy and proud of my daughter doing something great. Here she was, accomplishing a graduation from intermediate into high school. What a great time in her life. I left after it was done, knowing that she was going to be given a luncheon from the school and a dance and then I would go and pick her up. When I picked her up, she was sad. She had to say goodbye to a great school, and many of her good friends that she would not see next year, due to our city building a new high school and splitting up the kids. But I have assured her that she will make more new friends next year, especially in band camp, and she can always keep the old ones by calling them and seeing them some during the summer. What a very happy, and sad day all in one. It's hard seeing her go through so many emotions all in one day. But she will be fine, I just know it.

Graduation coming up

Tomorrow will be graduation day for intermediate school and getting ready for high school. We went and picked out a nice dress, not too fancy, but since we cannot wear spaghetti straps, we bought a short sweater to go over the top, and some heels but not too tall, and jewelry to go with it. What a wonderful time in life this is. My daughter who I don't see but twice a year drove down to visit and she is a hair stylist just like my oldest daughter, and she decided to fix up my youngest daughter's hair for graduation. It turned out so lovely. My dear darling daughter says:"All my friends are wearing skirts and blouses", but this time, a skirt and blouse just didn't fit the bill here. My youngest has very thin, long legs and the skirts just didn't look right on her so she found a great dress. This is one time in life, dear daughter, that you have to learn that it's ok to be different. Don't be exactly like your friends. You are YOU and you are special. It's good to be different sometimes. "Please know, that I am extremely proud of you and I want your graduation to be a wonderful experience for you, and you will be a very lovely beauty in the midst of all the rest because you are a special jewel".

Is there any soap?

Today, washing a load of laundry sounds like a simple thing. And it is, if you are in the mood for it, but what about if you're not? I have taught my daughter how to do her laundry, but does in fact she separate those clothes? All the whites go together, all the dark clothes, including the loud colors (bright colors) go in another pile. What about the towels? How about bras and undies? Well, depending on the size of the load, towels and unders go great together. Don't dry the bras in the dryer. They only make them fall to pieces even quicker. Undies can be the same way if they are those skimpy little numbers that I, as a grandma cannot even begin to wear or would even think about anymore these days. (haha). Dear Daughter of mine, when you start separating your laundry, please remember to start the washer on the correct size of wash, remembering to make sure you have enough water in there to wash what you have, for one, and for two, put the laundry detergent in the water so it can dissolve, because if you put it on top of your clothes, it can cause marks on the clothing. And that's liquid. Not getting powdered soap not dissolved is another thing. Dont' wash your dark clothing on warm water. Cold water is best for those. And please, don't put towels in with your nice pants because they will only come out of the dryer with towel sheddings on them and you will have to rewash them. Don't do anything that you have to do all over again because it's just a waste of your time. And lastly, if you don't want to iron those cotton, button up shirts, make sure to take them out of the dryer either as soon as they are dry or right before they are completely dried and hang them up. Really, it's not too hard, but you have to stay on top of it in order to take care of your things.

Teen money and clothing

Money is a very touchy subject to alot of people, but to teens, it's more like water. When I grew up, money came easily. My dad would give me money to go and spend, and that was back in the 70's. My parents paid me for getting good report card grades, allowance to keep my room clean, but I didn't really have alot of chores. I didn't really learn what it was in life to have to work hard at earning a buck. My dad just made good money and we didn't have to worry. Some people DO make good salaries but it seems like it takes both parents working to be able to make it good these days. The cost of housing, electricity and such has really sky-rocketed. And man, the price of buying groceries these days is way out the roof. My point here, is that going to school puts kids from all incomes together. My dear daughter, sometimes you gotta realize that some of your friends might have fancy clothing, and that's all well and good, but then there are others who are barely able to afford the clothing they have. It's all good because it's not the clothing that makes the person who they are. It's the personality, their kindness, their smile, and the way they are that is most important in life. Clothing and jewelry is just on the outside. Always look at a person on the inside. That's what's most important. Money is nice to have, but money does not always make that person better because he can buy nicer and fancier clothing. Designer jeans are nice for the ones who want them, but they are not necessary in life to make YOU a better person. Only your kindness, personality and the way you help others in life is what makes a great person.

summer time

With the school year almost over, I have found that we have become increasingly busy. It doesn't seem to be as busy in the middle of the school year, unless it's around the holidays, of course. My daughter will be going to high school next year. Oh boy---this can be a frightening time for them, and for the parent. It's not like I haven't been through this before, I have (4 times before) but this is my baby, the last of the crew. I don't know why, but it just seems that school is costing more and more these days. I still don't know if she will be going to summer school for math or not as she is on the border line with that grade, and to boot--summer school costs!!! Then, in the summer, band will start up and of course, it's ordering time-- a dress they have chosen for band concerts, a band marching uniform, shoes they require and geez, 2 pair of gloves or more. They have also stated that they would like them to continue taking lessons for their instruments. I am starting to feel like what little money I make is going to be sucked out even before it's time to do that traditional "school clothes shopping". Oh well, it's all going for a great cause.. I would much rather her be in band and be busy, than I would be having her home all summer saying "mom, I'm bored and have nothing to do"
Enjoy your summer dear daughter, because once you start high school, it's going to be a busy one.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is fast approaching.  Now, teens don't always have extra money to buy gifts, and for this mother, and many others, gifts are not the most important thing anyways.  Making a card on the computer, by hand, or offering to do the dishes, vaccum the floor or doing something nice is really one of the best gifts a mother can receive.  Remember, it's not the gift, but the thought that counts most.  Remember your mother on her special day by doing something nice for her.Tags: mothers, mother's day, teens and mothers, family

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an easy dish or two

Here's a recipe for some really easy Frito pie !!
1 can of chilli with beans
fritos
shredded cheese
sour cream to garnish if you like

Add a handful of fritos in the bottom of your bowl, warm up the chilli with beans and add that on top of the fritos, add shredded cheese and then if you really like sour cream, add that too... it's really fast, easy and fun to make for a quick snack.

Grilled Cheese sandwiches

This is very easy as well. Take 2 slices of bread, butter them and place buttered side down in a skillet (medium heat). While this is toasting, add a slice of cheese or two to the bread. Flip one bread on top of the other, making sure it's toasted but not too much, then flip on the other side...your'e done. Now, to make things a little more interesting, you could also add a slice of ham to the cheese and this really tastes yummy.

Your local library

Today is Sunday, and like most Sundays, life seems to slow down a bit, and give me a chance to rest some. At times I feel like the day goes slower than the rest of the days of the week. I know for my dear daughter, this is the very day of the week that she seems to find herself bored. I decided to take her to the local dollar store, and we took a ride to our local library to return her books in the outside slot as they were due. Well, much to my suprize, that library was OPEN----wow. We came back home after returning the books and she seemed like she was searching for something to do. I told her that I would take her and my 2 granddaughters back to the library if they would like to go. Sure enough, an hour later, I drove them back and they spent an hour there, going through the books and checking some out. Now, some libraries are not open on Sundays, and I am shocked ours was, but libraries really do offer our youngins alot these days. Not only can they browse the books, they have magazines as well. What a great deal and it also encourages them to read more. In my daughter's case, it has really helped her reading, especially since she didn't like to read....now she does. yippeeeee.

What to wear today?

After such a busy week, orientation at the new high school and band physical, getting ready for a band contest trip, things have surely been hectic around this place for sure. This morning, my daughter comes to me and tells me that they are having this "hug a tree" thing at their school. "ok" I replied. what else will they come up with next? That's good though, because they are thinking about our environment. So, what was on her mind this morning? It was what to wear. They normally have dress code, but this morning, they were allowed to wear a tie-dyed shirt. She had 2. At this age, it's normal for them to start being more choosy on what they wear. Dear daughter, please find SOMETHING nice to wear because you look great in EVERYTHING !!!!! well, as long as it's not anything too tight or vulgar....

I got some link love from the Blog Hog

I have been very fortunate to have been given something called "link love". This is where a blog writes a little bit describing your blog and in return, you blog about their "link love". This is great because it gives your site more traffic and theirs as well. And to my dear daughter, my advise is this: Be kind to others: treat others as you would want to be treated. The Blog Hog gave me this link love(thank you Blog Hog) so come check it out here. http://fightingfatigue.typepad.com/the_blog_hog/2007/05/link_love_advic.html

Going To High School

Next year, my daughter will start high school. She has made so many friends here at the intermediate school, and our city has built a new high school so many of her friends will be going there. Last night was the orientation for band. We watched as the people poured in and only to find that 4 students from her band now will be going with her to this particular high school. But there were SO many other students. I asked one of the ladies there and she proceeded to tell me that 3 other schools will be attending as well. My daughter will have to make some new band buddies next year, but luckily she will start marching camp at the end of this month, and again go back 2 weeks before school starts for more band practice. That will be good so my daughter can make some new friends. She was very nervous about going to the meeting in the first place, however, I think that she will be fine..at the end of the meeting, one of the guys that she knows came up and talked to her and that seemed to help a little. I can SO remember those days of going to a new school and having to meet new people. I have every confidence that she will good. And so, to my dear daughter, my advice would be: "There are so many people out in this big old world, and you have to learn how to make friends, while still learning how to keep those treasured "old" friends as well. But make sure to choose your friends wisely."