Best Birthday Gift Ever!

Well, today is my birthday.  I'm still 40-something.

Interesting aside . . . I share a birthday with one of Amy's sons.  Isn't that neat? What are the odds I'd make an Internet friend whose son has my same birthday . . . although I'm sure we were born several decades apart, LOL.

Also my little sister's birthday was three days ago so we had a nice shared birthday dinner on Sunday.  All of my family and in-law's family came.  That was very nice.

But . . . here's the best gift ever I hinted to in the title:

Yesterday I was on campus and for the first time in the history of me going back to school, I was able to get the three Bs - my Belly, my Booty, and my Backpack - into a regular sized bathroom stall without slathering up with butter first or getting out of breath!  WOO HOO!!!

I'm down 50 pounds on my diet!  I still have another 50 pounds or so to go, but I'm sooooo excited.  This was a really big deal for me.  I usually have to use the handicapped stall because I was too uncomfortable in the regular sized stalls . . . apparently 50 pounds too uncomfortable.  Now I'm not!

Happy Birthday To Me!!

Have you accomplished anything spectacular lately?  I'll be more than happy to celebrate with you.

Tell me about it.



Until next time . . .

 

Taking a Breather

The fairies are staying with their parents for the week.  It's been soooooo quiet around the house.  I have so many mixed emotions about the situation.  I am so grateful to be able to slow down and enjoy the peace and quiet that is our home with three adults (yes, I do view Baby Boy as an adult now) living in it.  At the same time, I worry about the girls and how they are doing.  I worry about the situations that led to them living here in the first place.  Needless to say, we call them - OFTEN.   

Worried.  Relaxed.  Worried.  Relaxed.  That's been my frame of mind all week, LOL. 

I have had a chance to catch up on some housework and on reading the piles of unopened mail stashed on every single horizontal surface in the house.  Most of it just requires shredding anyway.  Too much junk mail for me. I should actually be cleaning right now, but . . . yuck . . . you know. ;-)

Last week Baby Boy had a birthday!  I guess he's my Baby Young Man now that he's 19.  My goodness, every time I look at him he seems to be getting taller and eating more and more.  When the heck do boys stop growing?  I'm good with his current height and weight, so any time he wants to dial back the growing legs and feet is fine with me.  We had a great big family get together party, but the photos are on Mom #2's phone, so I'll have to upload them later.

Speaking of Baby Boy, he's been very busy with school.  His classes seem to be exponentially more difficult this semester than they have been in the past, so it looks like it'll be touch and go right up to the finish.  Please keep him in your thoughts.  He's also going through the certification process in order to be a volunteer at our local hospital.  There are lots of hoops to jump through with meetings, training, paperwork, and immunizations.  Hopefully he'll get through that pretty soon.   

Other than Mom #2's work keeping her busy-busy-busy, that's about all we have going on with us right now.


Until next time . . .
 

Labor Day Week . . . The Long and Short of if All

The intensity begins to rise in my classes as week three comes to an end. My chemistry and psychology classes are both going to put me to the test next week with their first round of exams.  I'm not too worried about the chemistry exam.  That is actually my easiest class so far, plus I've made a couple of new friends in that class.  If push comes to shove, we can form a study group to help each other out. 

The psychology exam has me feeling QUITE uneasy . . . this class has proven to be one of my toughest yet, only rivaled by trigonometry a few semesters back and cellular and molecular biology last semester.  Truly bears!

Japanese II has proven to be just as tough as the rumors surrounding it had predicted.  I am currently trying to burn twenty-five new Kanji into my brain along with a bevy of new verb conjugation tenses.  Interestingly enough, this class, though tough, is so much fun.  I really enjoy learning Japanese.  I've been watching Japanese videos online and I've changed the audio and written language to all my video games to Japanese.  I'm going to become fluent if it's the last thing I do! 

I keep asking myself, JUST WHAT IN THE WORLD HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO???

Well, as you know, even though I am facing a supreme challenge next week, the fire within that will drive me to the peak of success continues to burn.  


See you next week!



I don't have classes on Mondays anyway, so I had a regular week.  Actually, both my Sister and I have birthdays over Labor Day weekend every year, so I had a regular week, plus I'm a year older.  All the baby hair at my hairline must have heard the news, because I'm looking awfully gray lately. *SIGH*

For some reason, this week was exhausting.  I'm so glad the weekend is here.

My statistics class is kicking. my. butt.  I have never had much of a math mind, and this class intends to make sure everyone knows about it.  I spend more time looking around with my "idiot face" on, raising my hand without even having the proper language to ask a coherent question, and crying quietly to myself.  So sad.

Good news in my astronomy class.  I met two more ladies and we've formed a "we're older than the professor, but still hanging in there" study group.  I always feel like the biggest, wrinkliest person in the room, so finding these two nice ladies really makes me feel great, and not so alone.

I've made A's on my first two Spanish quizzes, but I'm still having a hard time with hearing and speaking.  Too bad I can't just walk around Costa Rica with a pen and paper and write down everything I want to say.  I'm an excellent Spanish writer and reader, LOL.

Lots of homework, as usual, so I guess I'll get on with it.



Until next time . . .

The Day in Which Baby Boy Becomes a Man . . . or . . . Happy Birthday, Baby Boy

 This weekend we took a break from the medical drama (and there is SO MUCH MORE to tell) to celebrate Baby Boy's 18th Birthday. 

We decided to have a big family style barbecue at home so that everyone would feel comfortable.  One of Mom #2's brothers couldn't get off work, but otherwise everyone stopped by to celebrate Baby Boy's most momentous occasion. 

I set up a "photo booth" so that we would never forget the great time we all had.

My Mom is always the first to show up.  

She likes to get the party started!

Here we are Striking a Pose!

Auntie and Cousin

Grandpa 

 

Family Fun!

Family Love

Crazy Friends

Special Friends

Mom #2's Family 

Wishing for a Bright Future

 You'll Be a Man, My Son *SIGH*

I have so many sappy things I could say right now, but I'm sure all you Moms of big kids know how it is.  If you open that gate, it's definitely a flood, not a trickle.   

 It was so much fun to put our worries in our rear view for a while and it's been so much fun watching Baby Boy grow up into a fantastic young man.  We're so proud of him.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!


Until next time . . .

Big Boy Birthday!

Baby Boy turned 17 (OMG!) over the weekend and in celebration we loaded up the car with rowdy teenagers and spent the day playing Blazer Tag.  Turns out they weren't kidding when they said it was fun for kids seven to ninety-seven.  We all had so much fun!   

Look how many people we squeezed in that ridiculously small party room.  It was standing room only.  The event coordinator wrote down that Baby Boy was turning 7 instead of 17.  I don't think they were prepared for the man-sized armpits they were about to unleash in that little room, LOL.   

 Blowing out the candles.  

 But it's not really all about Baby Boy . . . some of it's about me . . . obviously.

Reading Birthday Cards

 Do you think someone likes gift cards? 

What about playing arcade games, LOL

This is two hours AFTER the party was supposed to be over . . . some of us big kids were still going strong! 

And the best part is that we laughed and played so hard, that I didn't even have time to cry about about how fast my little Baby Boy is growing up, but I am feeling a little nostalgic about it this morning *SNIFF*   I'm crying even harder now that I'm balancing my checkbook, LOL.  

Happy Birthday, Baby Boy!

Until next time . . .

Consider Me Celebrated, oh and BUSY!

Within a 30 day period we have had the following reasons to celebrate:

• Mom #2's birthday

• Twin Grand Baby Girls were born

• Our Doggy's birthday (he's family, you know)
  

• My sister's birthday

• Today's my birthday
  

• Next week is my Dad's birthday

Sooooooo last week we had a Big Backyard Birthday Barbecue and EVERYONE was here.

Every since my parents' divorce, my Dad has been making himself super scarce. He'll drop by and pick up Baby Boy to take him to get a haircut or to do other miscellaneous guy stuff (Does anyone actually know what guys do when they're together?) but he never sticks around.

Well he actually got here early and barbecued all the yummy ribs and chicken wings, and then stayed around and ate and visited with us. I mean this may go down in Dos Mamacitas family history. We had so much food that we had to eat, take a break, and then eat some more. ;-)

My sister brought over a friend whom I had never met before. I am really not good with strangers . . . as a general rule . . . I don't speak to strangers. I started out thoroughly irritated, but she was so down to earth and so much fun that she fit right in with my loud and crazy family. So I was actually able to make a new friend. That makes one. Score!

Anyway, I'm all celebrated out! I've made enough congratulatory phone calls and slopped enough sugar to last a lifetime. It was great fun while it lasted, but I'm all celebrated out.

Now I'm settling in for a long weekend of planning, planning, and more planning. We're going to start our school year on Tuesday . . . and I do have all my stuff . . . well most of my stuff (I'm trying to sneak in some extra stuff) . . . but I'm an anal retentive scheduler and I've still got a few loose ends to tie up. More details to follow.

Also . . I've recently scored a great work-from-home job. Although I hate that I need to work, I am so very happy that it is a gig that can be done from home in my pj's early in the morning before Baby Boy and I get started on our schoolwork. Thank goodness for small favors! ;-)


TTFN! Have a great holiday weekend!


Until next time . . .

It's Someone's Birthday! (Thankfully, Not Mine)

Today is Mom #2's birthday!!!!!!

Unfortunately, she has to work on her special day, but while she's gone, I'll be attempting to make her a homemade ice cream cake. I usually only cook food that can be prepared either on top of the stove or in the crock pot. Mom #2 does the savory baking and such, so this is a huge venture for me. Hopefully we'll all be alive tomorrow as witness that all things are possible, LOL.

Even though Mom #2 has thoroughly deserted her Organic Gardening Blog (even though she is still organically gardening), it would really mean a lot to me if some of you could drop by and send her a little birthday love. We're super-tight on finances right now, so that's about all she'll be getting for gifts this year.


I hope every one's weekend went wonderful. Have a great week!

Until next time . . .

Someone's a Year Older Today!!! (Thankfully, NOT ME)

Today is Baby Boy's Super-Spicy-Sixteenth-Birthday (he has advised me that there will be no sweet sixteen references today - at all)


But, you know, as a Mom, I need an answer to one simple question . . .

How does this little fresh-faced kiddo . . .

Turn into this . . .

And THIS . . .

. . . right before my very eyes????

WHAAAAHHHHH!!!! Where does the time go?


Oh well, I still love you, Baby Boy, even if you are growing up WAY too fast!


If y'all are looking for me later today, I'll be hyperventilating through driving lessons. Yikes!


Until next time . . .

Labor Day Traditions ;-)

Every since I was a little girl, every single Labor Day weekend my sister and I have had our shared birthday party. I despised this. Hated it. Longed for my autonomy. Unfortunately, in a working class family such as mine, if there was to be a party at all, I assure you, it would be a shared one.

I was born three years minus three days before Little-Miss-Steal-My-Thunder.

What’s so funny is now we voluntarily carry on this tradition.

Even though I have “officially” stopped celebrating birthdays and I really get cranky over anything that smacks of a birthday party, a little family get-together that better may or may not include gifts for my sister and myself is perfectly all right with me.

This year was no different.

My Little Thunder Stealer

Having fun . . . maybe a little too much


Gift certificates . . . my FAVORITE!


The Whole Gang

We got together at a little restaurant and had lunch and exchanged gifts and reminded each other that even though we argued every single day of the first 25 years of knowing each other, we’re now both mothers and great friends and we really enjoy celebrating the event of both of our births.

Have a great birthday holiday weekend!

Until next time . . .

Happy Birthday, Mom #2

Today is Mom #2's Birthday!

She's already got one great gift by getting a nice raise at work, YIPPEE, that's a gift for us all!

But mostly we just really love her around here. She has a wonderful laid back, surfer-girl, summertime kind of spirit that balances out my uptight, anal Virgo like ways; and a calm cool-as-a-cucumber temperament that perfectly mellows my flair for the dramatic. Also without her there would be no Two Moms' Homeschool because I'd be a single mom still slaving for the Man instead of homeschooling our precious Baby Boy. Since she came into our lives, it's been nothing but good-better-best (getting in a little language arts lesson . . . classes reconvene soon ;-).


We'll have a little cake & ice cream later this afternoon. Don't worry, I'll have a little extra with all of you in mind.



Until next time . . .

A Little Cultural Stimulation And A Great Big Party!

We did get all of our scheduled lessons done this week. Well all except for one Spanish lesson, but I gave Baby Boy a pass on that one. Like I said in an earlier post, all of this darned warm and beautiful weather has got us in the worst way. We have been lolly-gaging something serious around here.


We had two big events this week.


First, Baby Boy and I got all dressed up (well Texas style, which means I ironed Baby Boy's jeans and my capri pants) and went to the opera on Wednesday night. We went with the new homeschool field trip group we've been exploring. There was a great educational discount, otherwise we never would have been able to go. Mom #2 was having none of it, so we left her butt at home. We had a great time!

Here we are, on our way to the opera . . . oooh la la.

Of course, on Saturday, we had Baby Boy's birthday party. We slathered on all the sunblock we could handle and had a big ol' barbecue by the pool. Mom #2 made a brisket and homemade potato salad; I supplied all the drama and loud conversation. Fabulous!


Of course, Baby Boy was the main attraction. It was his day and we let him have everything he wanted for this special occasion.

His cake was a narcissistic tribute to himself, LOL.

He got lots of gifts.


All of those envelopes contained cash, which as anyone knows, is a teenager's one and only true love.

And a great time was had by all!

They played and swam and chased each other all afternoon, until it was time for Mom #2 and I to clean up. Then they all piled up in Baby Boy's room and played video games for another 3 or 4 hours. Let me tell you I was tired of playing host, but I'm glad it all went well.


Now I need to finish all the laundry and other chores I neglected to pull off party day.


Until next time . . .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABY BOY!!!!!!!

Fifteen years ago the most handsome, incredible, persuasive, artistic, and unique person I've ever met entered my life with a huge BANG and decided to take me on the wildest roller coaster ride of my life.

Here's a short review of his life in photos . . .

. . . fifteen years ago . . .

. . . ten years ago . . .

. . . five years ago . . .

. . . and . . . TODAY!

Have Mercy! These last five years have definitely been the growing years, LOL.


Happy birthday, Baby Boy. You are the single best thing that ever has or ever will happen in my life. I love you and I know we have lots more years of twists and turns ahead of us.


LETS DO IT!!!

Until next time . . .