Excuses

My life has become a crazy, busy, get up at 4:45 a.m. and home to stay around 7:30 most nights, whirlwind. I've been trying and I emphasize trying to get up at 4:45 to make it to the gym because exercising in the afternoon/evening has become nearly impossible. Most days I make it, but sometimes the snooze button gets pushed one or two or three too many times...
My morning consists of making lunches, getting my self ready and then off to work around 7:10. Work is eventful to say the least. This year's crop of 5th graders are taking an extreme amount of energy to teach (and I got the well-behaved class of the two!) Then it's grade papers, clean the room, and get ready for the next day. Back to "The Pocket" by 4:30 just in time to pick up Kass from her basketball practice, take her home for a snack and maybe a quick start to homework, only to take her to soccer practice at 5:15; then over to the high school to pick up Kennedy from her basketball practice that ends at 5:30; the grocery store for a few last minute items; home to start dinner (and usually clean the kitchen from breakfast...); back to the soccer field to pick up Kass; and finally home to stay. Keith has been busy (THANK GOODNESS) working, and has come home in time to pick up Kass some nights. Then there's always more grading to be done while the girls do their homework, and bedtime comes before it's all done...
Don't get me wrong. I LOVE IT!!! Especially watching them play.

So here's a few things that I would have blogged about since June, if I had more time...

I ran a marathon. I had my 20th class reunion. I was co-chair of my family reunion. Kass made the metro soccer team and started summer tournaments. Kennedy started the high school PACE program and had 5 weeks of summer school. Kennedy made the high school volleyball team and practice started in August. Week long training for new math program. 3-day training for writing program. 1st days of school for all of us. More soccer, more volleyball. Kennedy decides to make her homecoming dress. Mom finishes it the night of the football game and the day of the dance. Both girls have orthodontist issues. Kennedy has had her braces on for almost 4 YEARS!!! Halloween. Kass makes the basketball team. Kennedy makes the basketball team. Grades came out. Both girls did awesome. Report cards on 33 students due now. And Keith volunteered our house for the family Thanksgiving this year.

So, with that being said, our computer has had issues. Keith took it apart to clean it a couple weeks ago. That did seem to help some with the speed. However, I can't get it to read the disc my photos are saved to. So, for now, all you're getting are words. And excuses...

Kennedy Graduates from the 8th Grade

Kennedy and Rarie

Claudia and Kennedy giving their speech.

Kennedy and Sarina as they walk in.

Kennedy and Claudia (her birthday twin and bf)

So, Kennedy is officially a freshman at Kennedy High School now! (How did she grow up so fast?) She starts her summer school program on Monday at Sac State with a bunch of other freshmen. She is such an amazing young woman with so many talents and I am so grateful for her.

Girls--Didion Dragon's Basketball Team

The team took 2nd place at a tournament. They're in 2nd in the league right now, with one game and the play-offs to go.

Kenn is #2 and Kass is #5. It's fun to have them both playing on the same team. Sometimes Kass even gets to pass the ball to her big sister. :D

Christmas Photos

Here are the girls with the tree we picked out at the drugstore parking lot this year. Between soccer tournaments and basketball tournaments, we just didn't make it up to the tree farm in Foresthill. Maybe next year.


Kass received a homemade gift from Kennedy this year. Here are the very first products of Kennedy's jewelry line as modeled by a very happy Kassidy.


Keith opening up his stocking. If he looks tired to you, it's because he has been working very hard lately without any days off except Christmas.


Kennedy before opening gifts. Sure was glad that she was this happy so early in the morning. Kass just couldn't wait for us to wake up on our own.

There are no pictures of me because I am the one who controls the camera. How's that for an issue???

Hope everyone's Christmas was merry!!!

You Didn't Think I Was Kidding...Did You?

On the post about our Halloween costumes, I actually did think I was stretching the truth a bit when I said that this was how my girls dressed everyday. When I usually pick them up from school, they have been to basketball practice first and are wearing their practice gear. So, normally, I don't see what they had worn to school. Well, they didn't have practice on Friday before vacation and THIS is what I found. Apparently, there was NO STRETCHING OF THE TRUTH!!!
Notice the rain boots AND the shining sun in the sky...the tutu (from Halloween) under the dress...the layers of stripes under or over floral print.

We are so blessed to have such wonderful, confident, happy, and healthy children. Some days I forget that...It's nice to be reminded every now and then.

Kass Sings for Arnold (aka Governor)

Kass' 6th grade choir was invited to sing for a ceremony where the Governor gave out medals of valor to heroes who work for the California government. The choir sang "The Star Spangled Banner" and a song about heroes of which I do not know the title. I got to attend as a chaperone and had a 3rd row seat. Rob Lowe happened to be there too. He was about 15 feet away. He's not ugly. I was not able to get a picture of him though, so Arnold will have to do...

Christmas Elves are Spotted Taking a Break

I found these two elves jumping on our trampoline between soccer games last weekend. I went out to get our Christmas decorations out of the shed and lo and behold!! (Kass is on the right and her friend, Hailey is on the left).

So, last weekend was the official end to the soccer season. That doesn't mean, however, that I am sport-free. We've been overlapping with basketball for the last month ! It does mean, though, that we get to be home before 7:30 on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Now we get home around 6.

Back to the Christmas decorations...I am pretty pathetic this year. I did manage to open the lights box and get a few strung around the outside of the house. Here it is the 13th of December and we do not have a single Christmas decoration IN our house. I'd like to think that I'll get some of that taken care of today, but the girls have a basketball game at 10, I have a staff Christmas party at 4, and there is another basketball game at 8.
Wish me luck!!!