Look what I bought Ma!

Look what I bought Ma!, originally uploaded by torri_g.

YES!! I know this may be difficult to believe but this little girl of mine has been at least half of my insane back and forth driving for about a year now. Well that ended today as of 4:50! Steph is now the proud owner of her very OWN Suzuki Vitara. The best part of this used car is that she got financing all on her own! The dealer said she had to be the luckiest young lady he has ever met. She may have car payment now, and a little bit of a list of things that she needs to get done or buy...oh and let's just not even talk about that car insurance now but it is all her's. She saved the down payment, she did it all. Best look you will ever see as a Mom is when they look at all the paper work that has just their name on it.

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.

Flowers for Tuesday

IMG_8966, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Keeping it short and simple here this morning since I have to head off to riding lessons with Binky Sue here soon. Did want to make sure to at least post a photo again today though.

I hope that everyone enjoys a wonderful Tuesday!

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.

Feline, Furball, and Feather's Friday

Gypsy Rose, originally uploaded by torri_g.

I've been so busy this week I almost forgot about Feline Friday! Thank goodness I always have a ton of pictures in archive to pull from, because I think if I tried to take a photo of any of the animals today they would be nothing but huge blurs. This picture though was shot with my cell phone so not the best as far as quality but I love it because it show a happy Binky Sue with her girl Gypsy Rose.

I'm a little rushed here so just going to keep this short...if you want to join in and play along just post your own and leave a link in comments. Enjoy a wonderful weekend and hopefully I will get some time to post more this coming week.

Guest Blogger Binky Sue

IMG_7877, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Continuing with the "What I'm thankful for" and Binky Sue is tonights guest blogger.

Yo! Dis is Binky Sue in the hizhouse! Wat up dawg?

No, just kidding. So what am I thankful for? Hmm, good question. Actually there are tons of things I'm thankful for. But I'm sure you the readers want to stare at a bunch of words that never end so I will try to remember to keep this sweet and simple. Like PIE!

Well. I'm thankful for my family who are always there for me and there to make fun of me whenever I have a blond moment. I am also thankful for all of my buddies out there who are more than willing to drag me out out of my house and do something "fun."

Lets see. There is more. I'm grateful for having scholarships for me to be able to go to college to better educate me and make me a more well rounded being (before the holidays!) I'm grateful that my teachers are the cool ones that you actually learn something from than the ones that make you work, work, work and not understand a thing! I'm also grateful that I am able to see different spectrum's of where my future career will be at. I am also thankful to be in the Lions club where I can make a difference in the community.

Even more stuff. Wow. Don't worry I think this is the last of it! I'm also grateful that I have such an awesome job! Sure the pay is minimum wage and 1% tip of what the house makes. But I think this is a job where I am more than happy to work at. The people there are great and funny! I have wonderful bosses. One of them, she's sweet and awesome and loves peanut butter-applesauce cookies! The other manager likes to poke fun of me. Seriously, is there the words ,"TARGET" or "EASY PREY" on top of my forehead? And the final one....well he doesn't talk much, he does help me out when the place of my work does get busy. Hey! At least he is not the type who likes to yell and scream.

Okay I call it quits. your brains have probably has had enough! Thanks for reading.

BYE! BYE! Binky Sue OUT!

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.

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.

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!

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.

Monday Catching Up

IMG_6660, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Because of running on Friday, running on Saturday, running on Sunday and then the collapse of I refuse to do anything more, I'm going to play some catch up here today. Let me start with saying that Sweetpea and Little Bug are settling into the routine of school nicely and now that we finally got the last of the requested supplies, I should be done for at least a week or maybe more if I'm really lucky!

Binky Sue had her first freshman college class this morning, and with just that one class under her belt she came home and said that she was exhausted and needed a nap! Binky is very glad that we finally found out just how to access her scholarship fund from the Lions Club last week, and were able to get all of her books on Friday to the tune of $446.00. However, with her whole first year paid for by scholarships there is much happy dancing going on around here.
I know that I have mentioned here that Binky Sue was invited to be a honorary member of the Lions Club that gave her the scholarship, and that she has enjoyed attending the meetings, and even had an idea for how to advertise. I think I mentioned that the idea was well liked by the members and even promised to share pictures. Well, that is what this picture is for finally. It is a tee shirt design using the colors purple and yellow, and done with a youthful approach for the top one, and a more mature (doesn't make you ask how to pronounce a word) for the lower one. The vest was presented to her a couple of meetings ago and is part of what is required to wear to the meetings. This Saturday though, Binky Sue spent the day in Safford, Arizona for a cabinet meeting of the Lions Club. Her favorite comment coming from the president for the state of Arizona's Lions Club "Wow! You are young!" Binky Sue is the youngest member of the Lions Club of Arizona in the last 20 years. The local Lions club got to show off their young member, she got to show off her idea, and the day sounded as if it was a great one. Binky Sue is enjoying learning all about the club and their good work, and looking forward to being a part of it for the next two years. Now she just has to come up with some youthful ways of fund raising that don't require a lot of man power. (Hmmm...thinking about it now maybe there is an Aunt that could give some idea's on that one.)

There is probably tons more that I could type about, but I will spare you all of that. Binky Sue did point out that if you have the "Heart of a Lion" you should check out your local Lions Club. I hope that everyone had a great weekend and that there is a wonderful week ahead for all of us.

Getting out

IMG_6633, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Yesterday Binky Sue, Army Guy and I got out of the house and headed out to Parker Canyon Lake. Lots of things to photograph out there so I have a couple of days worth of new pictures. Binky Sue located this tiny little horn toad for me, and then took several minutes trying to get me to see it. To bad her eyes didn't work as well while walking the trail so she could have missed tripping of the big rock. Don't worry though the only she hurt was her pride about not seeing the big rock that tripped over. Army Guy picked the flowers while he waited for Binky Sue and I to return from our adventure down the dirt and rock trail, so of course we had to get that in the picture too.
Thinking about maybe heading out again today and see if I can capture pictures of butterflies out in Huachuca Canyon to go with the tons of dragon fly pictures from yesterday.

I hope that everyone has a good Wednesday.

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.

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.

Sibling Sunday

Sweetpea, originally uploaded by torri_g.

The senior portrait shooting is now done, time for the editing to kick in. I'm not going to get back to killing my eyes working on that though till I post this stink face picture. It's funny to me how while looking through so many portraits that were shot I automatically find the one that can not be used and is funny. To say it smelled bad out in the upper garden canyon would be a huge understatement. The closer we got to the creek the worse the smell got. So of course I picked a spot that was right down on the creek to shoot pictures. I mean why not? So what if the smell made you want to gag! Sweetpea did it without questioning though. To be fair the face isn't the result of the smell of the area. There was a fly that kept attacking her face that caused the look. Or maybe it was her way of telling Mom that she was tired of being shot and it was time for me to put the camera away. Of course I'm still wishing I had taken a picture of all the spiders running through the long grass ahead of me while we looked for location to shoot pictures. Think Harry Potter movie "The Chamber of Secrets" with all of the small spiders running to the forest. Sadly though I don't think many other people would have liked that photo as much as me.

So now that the senior portrait shooting is done and the editing is going to begin it is a sign that school start time is very close. Friday was family fun day up at the clinics with the girls. Army guy took Sweetpea and Little Bug for immunization updates, while I went with Binky Sue for an appointment. Binky Sue's one appointment lead to another appointment being set for her that afternoon, lab work, and prescription for pain. I'm going to hold off on anything more about Binky's appointment till she gets a call with results from all of the tests that were done on Friday though. Fingers crossed that tomorrow brings that call though, because I'm not sure how much longer Binky Sue can wait before she has a break down.
Sweetpea and Little Bug did fine with getting their shots. Little Bug's arms hurt the most because of needing four shots. But she was a good ways behind since for the last four years they were not willing to give them to her because of the Epilepsy and the medication. Sweetpea got only two, but for added fun she seems to be having a mild reaction to one of them. (I swear these girls can't do anything the easy way that doesn't involve me having to keep a constant watch on something.) But they are all current now and come this week while clearing the nurses station at registration there shouldn't be any hiccups.

With registration this week means that we are in the final two weeks before school starts up again. August 6th is the date for the Sweetpea and Little Bug. Which mean that come next weekend I'm going to have to get out and finish the back to school shopping. There are shoes to buy, hair cuts to get, and the always dreaded school supply list to shop for. Plus then there is the first day of school list that comes home for each of the classes. It is time again for the $5 here, $10 there, $20 here game to begin all over again.

I hope that everyone enjoys a wonderful Sunday. For family and friends portrait finals will be up in the next couple of weeks with a link sent out again like last year. Everyone have a great day spent with those you care about most!

Being "Furwoahsis"!

IMG_5834, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Binky Sue is probably going to yell at me for using the not so great picture, but it is the first one that came to mind to use so she is just going to have to deal with it. Her first meeting with the Lions Club was last night, and talk about a hyper Binky Sue when she finally got home! From the sounds of it there was lots of stuff talked about but recruiting new members and how to was biggest topic of conversation. In the coming weeks Binky Sue will be creating a power point presentation that can be used and a few other things. When they hit the topic of advertising, she had an idea that she wrote down but didn't share with anyone because she would like to have one or two done for the next meeting to show them. When she got home she asked me for help setting up design, and I have to say I think they are a cute and good idea. Today while out shopping for school clothes she is going to look for the supplies that she will need to get them ready. Fingers crossed that the other Lions like this advertising idea with an 18 year old twist. Once she has them done I will make sure to get pictures to share, but only after she has shared them with the rest of the group. I think right now she is loving the idea of doing good things and adding her own flair to how she goes about getting those things done.

I hope that everyone enjoys a great Wednesday.

Sibling Sunday

IMG_5824, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Summer vacation is going by very quickly here. There is less than a month till the start of school for Sweetpea and Little Bug, and there just barely over a month till classes start for Binky Sue. But at least we got out for one mini adventure this summer even if it was very short.
Binky Sue has her first meeting as a honorary Lions Club member this week, which she is looking forward to. Sweetpea will be making her senior year back to school clothes shopping trip this week. Thinking about a trip up to one of the Tucson malls for this shopping trip. It is a big deal because I'm making it a big deal and celebrating the end of Army Guys and mine part in having to buy all of the back to school stuff. It's not to say that we won't help after graduation, but let's face it to know that I don't have to buy all of it every year is reason to celebrate even just a little. Little Bug has me worried about doing her back to school shopping, because she is right now in the midst of a growth spurt that seems to have no end. Little Bug is also the one that needs the most major amount of stuff bought because of having worn uniforms for the last three years.
I also have to sit and do the math for registration for the younger girls. The good thing is that they already have their schedules and there is not going to be a three hour wait for Sweetpea to get stuff fixed finally this year. If I sit and figure up all of the fee's in advance I can get them paid for before registration and supposedly that is going to help "stream line" the process. I really don't like when the school uses the phrase "stream line" because their idea of it and my own seem to be very different. To me it would mean less than a hour spent getting it done...to them it means 3-4 hours. Fingers crossed though that this will work out faster.
The strange thing for me about Sweetpea's schedule this year is that there is no art class. After the budget cuts the took out her art teacher of the last three years, she does not want to take art this year. Her replacement class for that however is she is taking photography this year. I'm looking forward to seeing her projects this year.

I think that is it for this Sunday, because I have reached the point where I can not think of anything else. I hope that everyone has enjoyed a great weekend so far and that today is spent with those you care most about. Have a wonderful Sunday!