Happy Birthday Cheyenne!

IMG_0610, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Dinner out with family and what better way to end the night than with a "Death by Chocolate" cake, chocolate icecream and a big glass of chocolate milk to wash it all down. Happy 15th Birthday my Little Bug!

Sibling Sunday

arbys, originally uploaded by torri_g.

There should be a picture of the three G girls, but getting pictures of them all is pretty much an impossible task anymore. At any given time only one of them may be in the house for a picture. It is okay with me though because it gives me reason to use this picture that Stephanie took over the summer while we were out for "Girls" dinner while Todd was on one of his many TDY's.

So let's start this with stuff Steph a.k.a Binky Sue:
August brought the start of college classes yet again and full time plus is the name of the game for Steph. Let's not forget the working just about full time balanced on top of full time classes, throw in horseback riding lessons, and that all equals no real free time for her and me with the never ending driving during the day. Good news for this year she has been able to drive herself once Mom is done needing the car. Even better news is that Friday Steph went and started process towards possibly buying a car of her own! Mom and Dad had to take her money down in yesterday for her because you know she is always working...but hopefully before the end of this next week she will have a 2003 Suzuki Vitara of her very own. Fingers crossed so hard they hurt!

Paige a.k.a. Sweetpea also started college classes in August. Two art classes which she does see to love. She likes them even better when the "grown up's" of the class are just quiet and working on projects. She doesn't understand why anyone would take art if they really don't like it and finds some of her classmates to be annoying. Her search for a job has turned up nothing as of yet, but coming up in October she is going to be getting a real work out because of learning how to train a new horse with her riding teacher. Her love for horseback riding lessons is still being filled with weekly lessons and in general she is just very happy with how things are going.

Cheyenne a.k.a. Little Bug has had a very busy couple of months with school. She has had weekends filled with DECA activities, babysitting jobs, horseback riding lessons, home work, and stress of how full classrooms at the high school are. She has asked that I see about transferring her over to Tombstone High because she is feeling that because of the 40+ kids per class for her that her grades are starting to slip due to not being able to hear, and frustration levels of teachers is causing a lot of them to shut down and give up. So yes come tomorrow I will make phone calls and see just how horrible it would be to make a move to a different school.

I know it is kind of short and to the point with all of the girls, but they are all doing well for the most part, and just busy. I hope that everyone has had a great weekend and enjoy a Sunday spent with those you love.

Sibling Sunday

IMG_9233, originally uploaded by torri_g.

If I can't get a picture of all three of the girls together I can at least go with the next best thing...a picture of stuff that belongs to them.

It has been a good while since I did a sibling Sunday post and as we draw near to the end of another school year and I'm supposed to be sitting working on printing senior portraits, what better way to blow that off than to sit here typing up an entry instead.
If things are straight in my mind, which heaven knows the odds of that aren't very likely, this should be Binky Sue's last week of classes. She has had a great first year but is very much looking forward to having the summer off to focus on things like working more. Binky Sue has been doing driving lessons, and horse back riding lessons so I guess one way or another she is going to become self transporting here this summer.

Sweetpea is glad that the final stretch for senior year is in sight now. Actually I think she would love for it to be done today instead of still having a couple of weeks to go. Since this semester has proven to be a bit of a battle with Sweetpea we aren't doing any type of push asking what is in store for after graduation...we just want to see the graduation and then work our way from there. Sweetpea is loving her horseback riding lessons and can't wait for summer and is hoping to be able to have more time to spend with the horses.

Little Bug is still doing great with school and is already looking forward to next school year when her older sister won't be at the school anymore. She joined DECA and is seeing just how much she can add to my already full daily calendar, but I'm happy that summer vacation will be here soon so that can stop for a little while. Little Bug will get to start her riding lessons coming up here soon if all goes well.

I really don't have to much more to report for the girls other than I can't wait for summer vacation this year just so I don't have to keep living in my car on a daily basis! I hope that everyone has a wonderful Sunday with those you love, and I can't wait for hubby to get back home here tonight from his TDY. Everyone take care and I will try to be back with more pictures this week.

Moving done...working on setting up house

image, originally uploaded by torri_g.

One of the very last pictures taken while in the old place the night the movers packed everything up in boxes. The girls true to form and holding with very long tradition made themselves box forts in which to hide in. Because you know hiding in an empty box may be fun, but hiding in towering stacks of full boxes is so much better! The teddy bear with the tape roll for a hat holding the cell phone what Little Bugs fort buddy, not sure just what they were hiding from or defending it against but it did make everyone laugh.

We did our final clear of military quarters this past Tuesday and passed with flying colors and I really couldn't get out of there fast enough! Doing the final cleaning of the house took an unexpected turn over last weekend because Little Bug and Sweetpea got very sick. Wednesday after what seemed like a case of pulling teeth to get answers about who could see them sooner than 2 weeks from now, they were seen at the HDC urgent care. Sweetpea had bronchitis, sinusitis, double ear infection (which would be another "itis" ending word if I could think of the spelling for it), and conjunctivitis. Just a major case of the "ITIS" actually more like attack of it. But we didn't stop there because then it was Little Bugs turn to be examined. Little Bug had strep throat, and laryngitis. I know her list is much smaller but Little Bug had on doozey of a case of strep...and got to be put on penicillin. Which I'm not sure just why that impressed me so much that day.
Anyway, I'm happy to report that they are both doing much better and were even able to return to school for the first time on Friday.

Well, I'm going to stop here for now and will be getting more photo's up and working my way back into some kind of routine here. I hope that everyone has had a great weekend!

Crazy busy

To say that things have been busy is a bit of an understatement at this point in time, so let's go with crazy busy to describe life here in Arizona. I'm just happy to have time to sit down and catch up on some reading of my favorite blogs and heck even e-mails! Binky Sue started back to school this week and her daily schedule is insane right now. Balancing work and 14 credit hours is going to be a fun thing for her this term. Sweetpea and Little Bug are doing fine with the start of the second semester at the high school, and are starting to add lots of extra things to my already full calendar. Speaking of my calendar...as of yesterday I did a bang up job of adding lots more to it myself. We found a place to rent and will be moving in February! For any family thinking about coming out to visit, be ready we are now going to be on one of those wonderfully marked dirt roads that Arizona just loves oh so very much. Of course if you don't want to try and find us we can just meet up at Buddy's bar or they can just give you directions out to us! No joke...everything for dealing with the rental is taken care of out of Buddy's Bar. So family that has already been out here might be able to have an idea of about where we will be living come February. Whetstone area, at least a good mile plus before you hit the lights on the highway for mustang corners. We have been calling it our "country ghetto" home. I think the dealing with having to go to the bar for paperwork and all other things is what got that started. I've laughed so hard and had my girls ask me to stop lying to them about that. No joke here though people. It is bigger than what we are currently in. Older house but not as old as what we are living in. Oh and Oma we are going to have horses in our front yard area! About maybe 40-50 feet away from the front of the house is where their area starts. I'm super excited about all of it except for one thing...of dogs and cats we can only have three. We have 4 and a hard heart breaking choice has had to be made. Unlike others that I have called about though the animals are allowed to live in the house and not outside the house. Angel is the fur baby that we are going to find a new home for because I think of any of them she would deal best with change. We have a house full of hurting hearts right now though because of it. I would have loved to find a place for all of them to go with too, but time has kind of run out and we need to get moving.

So mid February is the time frame that we are looking at being moved from here to new place, which means things for the next month is going to be very busy. There is tons to get done and starting this weekend is the great go through the house and downsize stuff that is no longer being used, no longer fits, or just is no longer needed. Hubby and girls will probably not be real thrilled with this but it is one thing that I have always loved about moving time. A clearing of stuff that has just been stuffed away for a later that never comes. I've already started making some phone calls about Sweetpea and Little Bug for school and I'm happy that they can stay right where they are for the rest of the school year. Tomorrow we will give housing 30 days notice which I honestly can not wait to do! This is it...the final tie and I don't know about anyone else in the family but I'm more than ready for this one. Oh just in case I didn't mention it I will have no neighbors right on top of me!! Country ghetto here I come...well as soon as we get deposits paid, lease signed and all that good stuff at Buddy's bar done next week!!
I hope that everyone is doing well, staying warm and safe. Have a great Thursday and take care.

Guest Poster Little Bug

IMG_7686, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Going with guest posters this week and a set topic...What I'm thankful for. So I'm going to hand the keyboard over to Little Bug and let her share with you.

Hiya's Little Bug is here today. This year I am thankful for many things.

1.Family that cares and loves me even with all my dizty clumsy like moments.

2.Friends, because what are we with out over protective caring friends at school every day.

3.CHOCOLATE & BUTTERMILK PIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whats life like with out these things.O.O (I want some now)

These are just some of the things I am thankful for. Thanks for your time. Babye.

Das Boot (A wordless week)

Boot, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Sibling Sunday

Fall Festival of Color 2009-1, originally uploaded by torri_g.

I'm just not keeping up here as well as I would like to the last couple of weeks. I'm going to try this week though and I have a good amount of new photo's to share even. I've been trying to get myself and my camera out for short bursts of time to relax and the never ending attempt to get my mind to settle some.

Anyway this is sibling day not about me time. The Fall Festival of Color was this weekend and I have to say that the girls and I were a little bit more than disappointed. We do understand that the wind played a huge roll with this weekend and why they couldn't do a lot of the things, but this morning was perfect and to only have two balloons show up for the early morning ascension was just sad.
Sweetpea and Little Bug went out with me for the Saturday night glow, which wasn't to bad...it was just cut short due to the winds. We wandered around the park and listened to some pretty good music, and bought some to expensive treats, but it was for a good fund raiser so that is good. Yes Little Bug is still on those crutches! No I didn't make her go and walk all over creation with those, she wanted to go! Tuesday we finally have an appointment for her to be seen now that everything Tricare has been straightened out. I'm guessing x-rays are something that is needed, and that she is going to have even more time on the crutches since she still can't put any weight of any kind on it.

Sweetpea had a good week and says it is really feeling like her senior year now. Of course what could help make it feel real finally? The order for the cap, gown, and announcements was turned in Friday. Hold on let me get my best happy going on here....woohoo. Nope not working, oh well maybe later. I am excited for Sweetpea and this being her year, it is the cost of everything that leaves me less than thrilled. We went with a smaller package this year and are not far below what was spent last year. Oh yeah and they increased the sales tax which was just wonderful! It is done though and that is all that matters till April/May time period. Sweetpea's Friday was made even better because of progress reports coming out and her having very solid good grades this time.

Binky Sue is feeling the stress of juggling school, work, home work, life. She completed her middle school observation and is trying to get her high school and elementary school time jump started, to bad no one seems capable of calling her back. So the plan for this week is go directly to the schools. Yes, she is planning a sneak attack called just show up in the office and see what she can get done. She has started making sure to take time on what seems to be her one free day of Sunday to enjoy things. Be it spending time with family in the wee hours of the morning for the balloons that don't show up, or spending the afternoon hanging out with a friend at the mall or just at their house. The art of taking time to decompress is what she is quickly learning. Oh and last weekend she for the first time complained about why do the weekends go by so fast!

Alright that is all that I can think of to write about for the girls this weekend. I hope that everyone is doing well and has enjoyed a great weekend spent with those you love the most. I'm going to try to at least post new pictures every day this week. Hey any entry without words would probably be great after this long rambling thing.

Just a thought

IMG00160, originally uploaded by torri_g.

I would love to have just one clear thought this week. Heck I would love to be able to type one word without having to hit the back space key! I know it is only Tuesday and there is still so much left to this week, but I've already had enough! Dealing with Triwest has left me this way, and the joy of all of it is I still need to get an appointment made for Little Bug this week, and still can't get anyone to deal with me. JOY!! This morning was a couple hours of my life either on the phone or in the local office that left me with the feeling of I'm just not speaking the same language or the right one. Of course I'm not sure what would be the right one. I do keep hearing the following words though..."Well you do have coverage it just isn't the one that you paid for, but the good news is that we will retro-activate it to the first of November!" Oh and that is great, wonderful and any other number of things but...we paid for prime coverage and I expect prime coverage and the difference is that until that retro-activation happens we have standard coverage and that means deductibles to pay and that pesky extra 20%, and then pray that you will reimburse for it after the retro takes place. Hmm...and we bothered making sure that we took care of all of this before why???? Little Bug is still in pain and can't put any weight on her ankle and I still can't get anyone to set an appointment with her till this is all fixed! Great!!

Yep I'm a bit on the pissed off side of life here this week. I'm actually having thoughts of bad things that can be done with a set of crutches...to bad Little Bug needs those to be able to get around with! My next thought is that come Thursday morning I'm taking Little Bug to the MTF and just walking in to see the Dr. that she saw last week. It is Dr. R who Little Bug has seen for the last 5 years, and I'm sure hearing the tale she would be more than willing to share a few choice words with some people about all of this.

Alright, I'm done venting for now. I hope that everyone is having a good week so far.

Falling behind

IMG00140, originally uploaded by torri_g.

It is turning out to be one of those kinds of weeks here.(Yet again, like always) I'm finding that every time I think about trying to get out with my camera for a couple of hours that something comes up and but an end to that real quick. This week has been a sudden fluctuating schedule with Binky Sue, tons of other stuff, and oh yeah Little Bug. Little Bug is in a partial cast as of yesterday. No she didn't suffer yet another injury, it is because of the ankle injury from two weeks ago. She finally got off of the crutches last week and moved to using the air splint when she felt she needed it. Well, yesterday was her first day back in PE and after just a couple of steps of jogging she knew something was wrong. Her pain was horrible, and she lost the ability to put any weight of any kind on it. So off we went...well after a couple of phone calls to see if anyone could tell us where "it" was that we needed to go to. Luck was on my side and we got to see Dr. R who has been Little Bugs doctor for the last 5 years. Little Bug is now wearing a removable cast on the leg. It is molded to the shape of the foot and the back of her leg and kept on with ace bandage wraps. She is back on the crutches, and will have to be seen again next week. Without being able to see anything, due to the instant new bruising on the foot and swelling Dr. R believes that it is very possible that Little Bug has a very fine stress fracture, which of course will take a little longer to heal up right. Little Bug is not happy about any of this. She has the note for PE that says nothing until further notice now. She also has the coveted key for the elevator at the high school. Well, she doesn't want it but trust me there are other that would want it.
So busy week and already know that there is another busy week for next week. I still need to spend some time finding out just who we are supposed to take Chey to see, probably going to involve lots of phone calls and time being on hold. I'm kind of wondering if something got messed up with paperwork that we turned in with the first quarterly payment. Right now I know we have the coverage, but not the one that was paid for and we have no listed PCM in system, and we had to pick one before they would take the paper work.

Sorry, I'm rambling now. I'm going to go ahead and toss in with this that tomorrow is seven weeks for me. Oh wait let me throw on here that yes yesterday I cracked and opened that pack that has been sitting here since September and smoked a cigarette. But this time I am still counting all my time, because it was one and seven weeks ago it would have been the whole pack plus some. I'm learning and trying and every day it will just take time and I'm not giving up any time soon. However, I may give in every now and then.

Alright if I get a chance I'm hoping to get out with my camera and get some new pictures, and hopefully I will get a little bit more back on track here.

Sibling Sunday

Oh it is Sunday again and here I am with no picture of any of the siblings. Well, that is not completely true. I have tons of photos of them in archive but not on this hard drive...and I'm being pretty lazy here today...and don't feel like moving to get to a hard drive where I might find a picture or a hundred that could be used. Yes that is my excuse and I'm goind to stick with it!

Anyway for some news about the siblings:

• Binky Sue is steadily learning to juggle school, work, Lions Club, home work, and new for this week...class room observation. She is starting at her old middle school, and when they remember you by your voice I think it can be said that you made an impact in their memory. Great for Binky Sue is that it was good memories. So she start working on getting her ten hours of middle school observation done. She also has set up with a friend who is getting private tutoring due to back surgey to get her two hours of alternate done. Binky Sue this week also got that first pay check and that feeling comes with the very first one. So all in all things are going pretty well for Binky Sue right now.

• Sweetpea this week was just pretty calm life wise for the most part. Well at least until report card was put in Mom's hand on Friday. I don't think I'm going to get into that one here at all other than to say we talked. Photography class for Sweetpea this week had her developing her first roll of film and with mistakes made good lessons were learned. I haven't seen any of the pictures, but I am hoping to see some soon since I love seeing how she views the world. Oh and that dreaded announcement order stuff landed in my house for this year! Good grief just so not sure I'm ready for all the fun of that order of announcements, caps, and gowns brings with the school. Before Thanksgiving break is the due date though, and I'm going to have to be ready no matter what.

• Littlebug was pure clumsy Littlebug this week. Crutches for the 5th time in her 14 years. It is the 4th time injuring her left ankle and I'm wondering if it is just more prone to injury because of how many times she has already hurt it. This was yet again a gym injury, you know the same class that brought us emergency room tag, and Littlebug won because she got to make a trip to the ER. Oh all the great times she has had in gym, and I personally can not wait for this class to be OVER! Due to changes for the freshmen this year, she thankfully will only have to take 1 semester of gym, and then I swear I'm never letting her anywhere near one again! Well, at least not until she is grown up and moved out. Two weeks of solid crutches use and then probably 2 more weeks with air splint. I guess the second base plate meant bussiness. Oh and yes Littlebug also had a report card come home on Friday, and I'm not going to say more than we talked.
  

Now to be fair to Sweetpea and Little Bug for the most part they had good report cards, it is just for one there is a huge problem in the making and for the other one it was basically that straw that just snapped the back because of seeing same words on hers.

Alright I think that is it for this week. I will try to make sure and get a new picture of all three of the girls together for next week. I hope that everyone has had a great weekend, and that there is a great week ahead for all of us.

Crazy Monday

Clouds, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Mondays aren't always the best kind of day anyway, but add a couple of hours with Little Bug in the clinic waiting to get x-rays of a swollen, bruised up ankle and it is less of a great day. Little Bug is on crutches for the next couple of weeks because of a level 2 sprain to her left ankle. I was happy that we didn't have to head to the ER today, but the urgent clinic was insanely busy. She is doing okay tonight after napping for a while once we finally got home. Tomorrow should be interesting for her out at the high school though. I'm thinking for the next couple of weeks till she can drop the crutches she is going to be exhausted every day coming home.

I'm not sure how this picture is going to look, but since the only camera I have had handy the last couple of days is my cell phone camera, it is just going to have to do. I hope that everyone had a good Monday, and that tomorrow is an even better day.

Sibling Sunday

IMG_7488, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Ah Sunday! I'm so glad to see you on the calendar today. This last week was one of those crazy busy weeks and I still have the feeling of needing more sleep. Little Bug and Sweetpea were on fall break, which I thought would have made for a calmer week but boy was that thought wrong. Binky Sue had a week of juggling classes, work, home work, making calls for getting observation hours done for a class (hopefully she has also remembered to e-mail her teacher about needing a letter for the base middle school). Little Bug wanted her birthday portraits done, had a friend that came to stay for a couple of days, and then the whole birthday party. Which I now know that 7 14/15 year olds are louder than just about anything I can think of. It all went well though and Sweetpea and Mom just sat hiding out for a little bit till they all seemed to have enough sugar in them to balance out their already naturally hyper. No joke they got quieter and calmer with the more sugar they ate. I swear sometimes watching the kids at the parties is like watching a science experiment unfold, but Sweetpea and I enjoyed watching it.

Alright, I think that is going to be about it for this week since I need to get going here soon. I hope that everyone has had a great weekend, and that today there is lots of time spent with those you care about the most. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Happy Birthday Little Bug!

Little Bug, originally uploaded by torri_g.

I have only thought about sitting down and getting this posted a million times today, but before I run out of time I'm going to say...Happy Birthday to my Little Bug! Of course I've actually said it do her about a million times since it rolled over to the 15th, but one more time with a post all about her. Or maybe it will be all about me and the fact that I'm oh so very tired right now after this insane busy day. I will try to get Little Bugs portrait shots posted for family and friends to be able to see in the next couple of days or as soon as I have enough time to sit and finish working on them. I hope that everyone enjoyed a great day, and join me with yet another Happy Birthday Little Bug!!

Sibling Sunday

Little Bug and Sweetpea, originally uploaded by torri_g.

I'm glad that I caught this picture late Friday night when there was some goofing around going on, because Little Bug really has lost her happy this weekend. Friday marked the end of the first quarter and for these two it means Fall Break Time! They will be off this whole week, and Little Bug was very happy about that because her birthday is this week. She very skillfully negotiated her way into having a boy/girl party, and the invitations were delivered Friday.

Sweetpea is just happy to be done with projects and have the whole week to do nothing. This last week saw the arrival of the ever dreaded cap, gown, and announcements order stuff. November is the deadline once again to have it all ordered and I'm so happy that they not only raised their prices, but the shipping and handling fees, and the taxes! Gosh we are so lucky! Speaking of things senior year related...I'm going to need family and friends to start giving thought to what portraits you want of Sweetpea. If I missed sending you a link to them let me know and I will correct that. I really would like to see her senior portraits go out sooner than what I did last year.

Binky Sue...well she is done with her math class and couldn't be happier about that if she tried. I think next term she may make sure that the math class she is in isn't accelerated. She worked her first shift this past Friday and was exhausted when I got there to pick her up. She is happy with her schedule for the next week though and looking forward to getting that first pay check.

Other than that there really isn't to much else about the siblings, but that is way more than I've really had in a while about each of them. I hope that everyone enjoys a wonderful Sunday surrounded by those you care the most about.

Sibling Sunday

IMG_7039, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Finally a picture of one of the siblings. This entry will probably not be all that long of one, but since Binky Sue had such a happy week it really needs to be shared. Binky Sue got a job! So needless to say that after spending the whole summer looking and hoping to get one she is very thrilled. Monday she walked into open interview times and she walked out being hired. She will be hostess at a soon new to be opened restaurant. The name of the new restaurant? My Big Fat Greek Restaurant. She did her orientation Thursday and this Tuesday starts her training. They are not officially open till the 5th of October, but do have some events starting next weekend. Binky Sue has her black, on black, with black uniform all set, and really can not wait to get started. She is also getting close to being done with her first term math class, which I think she is happy about because doing the 8 week version versus the 16 week course has been pretty insane on the homework side.

Sweetpea, and Little Bug continue to be just settled in for the quarter which is quickly nearing an end here. Little Bug has been keeping Mom busy with the seemingly never ending "Mom can I go here?" or "Can I go do this?". This weekend was her first football game with friends and I can say that she and her friend had way to much sugar and made it feel as if there was something wrong with my car because of the bouncing around. I got them home though and at some point in time in the wee hours of the morning they both actually finally slept.

Alright that is it for this week. I know I could probably do more but instead I'm going to get back to sitting chilling out watching a football game with Army Guy here tonight. I hope that everyone has had a wonderful weekend spent with those that you care the most about.

Sibling Sunday

IMG_6573, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Well, the routine of the school year is back for two of the three siblings here. Sweetpea and Little Bug were very happy to see the weekend come after two hectic days of school. Little Bug is loving being in high school so far, but I think the schedule of it is kicking her butt already. However, after a summer vacation spent staying up very late and sleeping half of the next day away, having to get up at 0515 would probably kick anyone's behind. She is enjoying it though because she is now part of the group with tales about how the day went at the high school.

Sweetpea's first day had her coming through the door in the afternoon with a great big slamming of the doors. If you live in this house you know that means that she is mad. Actually as Mom I usually know that it means a level beyond mad. Once I got her calmed down enough to talk I found out that she had a great day in her first five periods, it was the sixth period that brought the anger. It is a young man that has been a bit of a stalker since 8th grade, and he just happens to be in her sixth period class. Since they are both seniors this year I'm personally blown away by the odds that he is in the one elective class with her and none of the other senior classes. There was talk of dropping the class, but I know my Sweetpea, without so form of artistic type class on her schedule, this year could be one of the longest on record. It is her photography class that is in question here since she decided to not take a fourth year of art, because of her favorite art teacher leaving prior to the budget and teacher cuts that have taken place. Sweetpea has always needed the artistic outlet to get through a day at school with all of the other classes she needs to take, so there has been a lot of conversation between her and I about how to deal with having this young man in that class. She has had to deal with this every year since 8th grade and is actually very good at it, but it just isn't going to change the fact that it angers her. Hopefully with this week being a full week of school and everyone moving into a state of getting moving with instruction, maybe she will get "focused" on the art of the class and be able to just ignore the fact that he is there. But someone better not aim their camera in her direction because this is still my Sweetpea that we are talking about. She may be little but she is one tough little cookie really.

Binky Sue seemed to be going through withdrawal without her sibling here. I think she felt a little strange being the one that had no place to go with the start of school. Her job searching is still finding her nothing right now, but she has enough applications in at places that at some point in time something has to work out. This week we head over to get her books for the fall term, and next Saturday is orientation. Her classes start the 17th, and I'm sure she will not feel so left out of the learning game then.

I think that is about it for this entry. I hope that everyone is enjoying a great weekend spending time with those you care about most.

Sweetpea & Little Bug

Sweetpea & Little Bug, originally uploaded by torri_g.

The first day of school is here and they are on their way! Time for another fun filled school year. Back packs were packed up and I'm sure checked several times yesterday. Oh and of course outfits were selected and then changed, changed, and then changed again this morning. By about 0530 this morning breakfast was being eaten and the dreaded "kill about an hours of time" started. Ah the first day of school, the one day that no one needs help getting up and being ready to leave on time. By the middle of next week that will change! This morning though will find Sweetpea the senior being very kind to Little Bug the freshman, but even that will not last all that long I'm sure.
I'm expecting tons of paperwork this afternoon and two very tired girls. The routine of school year is on its way back, and all the fun of having a senior again. My biggest hope for this year is that things with the high school go smoother than last year because I'm not sure that I'm ready for another year of wondering just where their brains are.

I hope that everyone is having a good week and that the first day of school goes well for both my girls.

Two Days Left

IMG_5809, originally uploaded by torri_g.

With only two days left till Sweetpea and Little Bug make their return to school, I feel as if we should get out of the house for one last adventure. Sadly this summer just has not been filled with to many of those, and it doesn't look like the last two days will be either. Monsoon seems to have forgotten that it is in fact monsoon time and the temperature is heading back over 100 again today. The irritating part is that usually it is the rains that brings the higher humidity, but for some reason this year even without rain we are having 40% plus humidity. Don't go laughing at me because of that one, I like the dry heat that is Arizona, and wish it would either return or at least rain so that the humidity would make more sense.

Army Guy is out this morning getting some clearing things done, and by this afternoon should be on the final stage leading up to retirement. He has ultrasound of his carotid artery Thursday, and appointment with cardiologist August 25 to see if they can figure out what was up with a couple of tests during his final medical exam, which for right now will put that final signature for that on hold, but he will still be able to do today's clearing and release. Of course he had to go into to talk to them about it and it took a powwow of three people to figure out if he could or not. He has put in several resumes for job postings that closed as of last Friday, so hopefully coming up here soon he will start hearing from someone. There is probably more that I could post about this topic but I'm not going to because is simply makes my head start to swim with all the other things that need to be done. It is enough to say that there is progress being made on all fronts.

I hope that everyone is enjoying a good week so far, and staying as cool as possible with the summer temperatures.

Sibling Sunday

I think I have gotten most of the mind clutter cleared out and feeling a little more back on track now. The problem...well one to many what if's and one to many wait for answers on things. Sometimes those are my worst down falls.

Anyway, let me play some catch up about the girls here instead of myself. I posted about Army Guy and Little Bug with school registration earlier in the week. Friday was Sweetpea and Mom at registration, and I have to say that it wasn't all that horrible. Oh don't get me wrong those lines were still terrible, but we only spent an hour and fifty eight minutes having to stand in them. Which with Sweetpea is a record low, and while we were walking back out to the baking in the sun car, there was a bit of a happy dance being done. For the very first time there wasn't any mistakes made on Sweetpea's schedule and it was just the stand in line and wait to get things done. The added bonus about senior registration is the photographers pushing their fliers at you trying to get your business. Parents were polite about for a little while, but after standing in line for 30 minutes and having the same person trying to push a flier in their hand 3-4 times some parents started to lose it. The photographers have tables in the main entrance, and to leave registration you have to walk right past them. Of the six that were there only one stayed right at her table, and I can tell you that she was the one that had the most people stop by to pick up information. I can understand wanting the business and being pro-active in trying to get it, but when parents are forced to spend upwards of 2-3 hours standing in line trying to get this done, no one is thinking about those senior portraits and really just want to be left alone! I think the best was the one who was told that portraits were already done, and the photographers response was "Well take this anyway because maybe you will want to have them shot again but by someone better this time." At which point in time the parent that was said to dropped the flier to the ground and got the attention of one of the teachers in the area to complain and ask that she be made to leave the area. However, that is my most interesting tale from registration this year.
So Sweetpea and Little Bug are all ready to head back to school this Thursday now. They did the walk about yesterday so Little Bug will at least have an idea of where her classes are located, and the school supplies have been bought. Four more days and another fun filled school year gets started.

Binky Sue...well I've got a bit to share about her this week. Binky Sue's advertising idea for the Lion's Club went over very well this week. She is showing them already that she wants to be an active part of the club, and has some very good idea's. They are looking for ways to increase their membership, and advertising is always a big part of that for anyone. They had talked about doing buttons, and while listening to talk of that Binky Sue had a different idea which she then asked for help designing and putting together samples to show. They are t-shirts and from the sound of it the idea was a huge hit. We put together printed samples of several different ways they could look, and she had two completed t-shirts done for the meeting. She did a youthful approach and a more mature and they liked them a lot. After the meeting this week we did some small edit changes for final look and she already has a couple of t-shirts here to put the transfers onto before the next meeting. To say that she was excited would be a great understatement about what she was when she got home. She has been invited to travel with them for another meeting coming up to show the idea off. YAY Binky Sue!
Now for the medical update about Binky Sue that kept a good share of this week filled with stress for her, and me trying to calm her down. Last September/October Binky Sue was hit with some extreme pain in her lower abdomen/pelvic area. Several trips to the doctor later they said it was probably her right ovary and it would pass...and it did. Then it returned in November, and passed, returned in January, and I think you get the idea. June brought the return of the pain, and this time it isn't going away. So an appointment was made to hopefully get someone to run the right tests and see just what is going on. Binky Sue got that with a P.A. that we will call Mr. KP. The same day as her appointment he put in for a ton of lab tests, an ultrasound for that same afternoon, and a referral to Ob/Gyn specialist. After a week of waiting for a phone call with test results Binky Sue got her first answers on Friday afternoon. Her final will wait till she meets with the specialist later in August, but right now what everything is pointing to is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrom. She has numerous cysts in both ovaries, with a large one in right side measuring 2.4 cm and largest one in left measuring 1.7 cm. She has been upset because of the never ending pain that she is in, and she was upset to find out that it wasn't just the one side. She was caught off guard that they found it in both sides. However, she is doing better now at least having an idea where the diagnosis may be heading when she finally gets to see the specialist August 25th.

So that is the sibling update. It has been one heck of a week here in Arizona. I am going to try to get back to getting some picture's to post on here, oh and if you are family or close friend and haven't gotten an invitation to view Sweetpea's senior portraits let me know. I'm slowly finding out that there were some people that I missed with the first round of e-mails that I sent out. I hope that everyone has a enjoyed a weekend filled with laughter and time with those you care about the most. I also hope that there is a good week a head waiting for all of us.