So much for being a better blogger....

Ok so it's been awhile. I'm at a depressing point in my life. My little girl is starting High School next year. UGH!!!

I'd much prefer to keep her little forever.

This is a picture of her starting the first day of Kindergarten.

I asked her if she was scared. To which she replied, "No mom, why would I be?" This is pretty much the approach Cianah has taken in life. She's willing to try everything once. Then she knows what she likes and doesn't like. She's always been very independent and a free spirit.

So as I'm putting her on the bus and scared to DEATH, she's all smiles.

She waves goodbye and thinks nothing of it. All the while I'm having a breakdown inside. She's starting kindergarten. Wow. I feel the same way about High School. I was in High School once. I know what this means. Boys and friends. Peer pressure and boys. School work and Boys. Ok so it's the boys thing I'm afraid of the most. :)

Things have changed since I was in school (it's only been 15 years.) There is considerable pressure on her at 13. They really want you to know what you want to be when you grow up...now. Hell I don't know what I want to be and I'm 33 years old. So we've been busy reviewing the courses offered. Looking at the courses she can take for dual college credit. They have a FABULOUS engineering program, but I'm not sure Cianah likes math enough for that. They have a GREAT IT program...you can graduate and be certified and ready to come out of HS making $30K a year, not a bad gig. She's not into computers enough for that. She is a WONDERFUL artist, so we've looked at graphic design, illustration, and other art related fields. She was not impressed with the income potential. She tossed around medical school, but decided that she wasn't sure that she wanted to be in school until she was 30. So I think she's checked that off the short list. I think right now she's leaning towards law school. She said she likes to argue so she should be good at that. :)

We'll see how it all works out. All I know is that I am scared to death that she is starting HS. It doesn't seem real. She makes me so proud. She is such a fabulous kid and I really enjoy being her mother (most days.) I want to keep her with me forever....I don't want her to grow up.

Here's the real problem. Tatiana. I can't even imagine HER being in HS in 2 years. WOW!!!

We had a slight "incident" at school last week. She has a huge crush on a boy at school. Ian.

So she started writing him notes and sticking them in his locker.

He, with maturity well beyond his 11 years, told her, "I am flattered by your compliments but I don't like you that way." He also mentioned that he had a girlfriend and asked her nicely to stop with the notes.

Well Tati....didn't stop. She kept writing notes and even brought him a "present." (Some watch we had lying around.) She got mad when he broke it.

As if stalking and harassing the poor boy wasn't enough...Tatiana tells her friend she is so mad at Ian. This is a direct quote..."I am so mad at him I want to hit him over the head with a water bottle until he is unconscious. Then I hope angry dogs attack him and I'll throw him in dumpster."

Ok that's SLIGHTLY over the top. So the school called. Karl and I have addressed this with her many times. Leave him alone. Stop with the notes. He was very nice to tell you to stop and you are not taking the hint.

WOW!!! We are going to need heavy duty counseling for this one. She is very boy crazy. She just wants a boyfriend. And apparently she will stop at nothing to get one. Only she doesn't get that crazy doesn't attract a lot of men. It attracted Karl...but most men aren't fond of crazy. lol

So I'm thinking we just need to hire our own personal shrink to be on call 24/7. lol

To think this sweet innocent little girl....is a stalker.

I know she would never actually hurt a fly (until I find the bodies I'm sticking to that story) but I am seriously thinking she needs some counseling.

So I think well be calling the EAP helpline to find a counselor....I'll let you know how that turns out.

She's a good kid. You know there's a fine line between genius and insanity...Tati might be on the edge.

In other news. Tati and Bree are getting braces. Karl and I met with the ortho yesterday. OMG, this is so expensive. After insurance $3050 each. We'll be paying $6100. Who has that kind of money? They want $1540 to start treatment and $95 a month for the next 4 years. Crazy! Even though my divorce decree says Sean is responsible for 1/2 of the medical expenses over what insurance pays....he didn't sound like he wanted to help out in anyway. "I'll see what I can do, but I'm not promising anything. I've got stuff going on right now." Really? I guess I don't. I have never asked for any help on medical bills. Not with the tonsils being removed, not with the finger almost being amputated, not with the concussion, not with the prescriptions they get on a monthly basis, not to mention normal doctors visits. Nothing. I did ask when I had to buy Tati's 4th pair of glasses in 2 years...but I got no help then either. He is such an waste of plasma.

It's ok, we'll make it work...like we always do.

Bree has started basketball. Her first game is Saturday. A double header....I'll post pictures. Tatiana has started tennis again. Not sure when the first tournament is...if nothing else I'll take some pictures at practice. I was going to take away tennis, but the wise Karl said anything to keep her mind off boys. :)

She's got a Medieval Faire on the 1st so I'll post pictures of that too.

This must be a busy time of year

So again I haven't blogged for awhile. I thought being off work for almost 2 weeks would make me blog more. Quite the opposite. I was much happier sitting around in my PJs doing nothing. :) I did log into work at least once a day to check emails and make sure nothing major was happening.

Christmas went well. The kids got too much and my husband is a brat. lol He knew 90% of his presents before he even got them. I even pulled a Karl on the 21st and made him pick up his own webcam for the Xbox. :) I don't think he cared. He was already shopping. (which is a rare event)

Christmas Eve my mom stopped by. She got the kids extra controllers for the Wii so I have many pictures of them all (including my mom) playing the Wii. :) Great fun. My mom was a trooper. Her shoulder was bothering her but she still managed to play a whole game of baseball with Karl. I'd like to say Karl the video game "pro" beat my mom badly. Not so much. He won, but I don't think the score was that far off. Tatiana killed me. After the end of the 1st inning they called the mercy rule. :) What can I say?





Cianah in what was referred to all day as the hooker outfit, where this kid gets her style sense is beyond me.

Cianah doing the happy dance! Bryana, whining as usual. It's not fair when she loses.

But when she does well, everything is fine.

Defeat is SO not fair.

Look at that stance!

A batter, batter...swing!

And she SWINGS!!

She so missed her calling! lol

Karl batting. Apparently I need to buy HIM some new pajamas every year. He resorts to wearing shirts with holes in them. This is not from wear, he splashes chemicals on his clothes at work and this is what they look like. At least it's the clothes and not his skin.

Also notice my "special" child on the couch. Covered up because the hooker outfit didn't keep her warm in December.

I took WAY too many pictures on Christmas day. If you'd like to look at all 5 million: http://hobdypix.smugmug.com/gallery/4117002#240101163

The Pajama shots from Christmas Eve are just comical now. They know that's what the gifts are and they try to act surprised.

Yeah! House shoes!!!

Stephanie was in town over the holiday and came to visit.

She looks thrilled to see us, doesn't she?

We were thrilled to see her. Please don't look too close. Cianah "experimenting" with her new makeup kit used red lip liner as eyeliner. She said she liked it...made her look like her eyes were bleeding.

Do you think she needs a therapist now? Or should I wait until I find small animal carcases? Weird child!!!

So the 29th I dropped the two littles off with their dad and picked up 6 Colenurgs. I try to get them each alone (except for the twins) on their birthdays. Since I missed Kendale & the twins they got to come along for Kalen's birthday. Then why leave Kayla at home alone? So I got her too. Then Korey was working so I should just get Kyle too right? How's that for a trade off? Drop off 2 pick up 6. I think I got the short end of that stick. lol

We went to Chuck E Cheese. What fun. I hate bad kids. I "persuaded" at least 3 kids off the skeeball lanes. One little girl asked Kizmet if she could have some of her tokens....UM NO! Go ask your mom.

I also made Carol and Bob join me in the fun. :)

Here's the link to those pictures if you'd like to see them: http://hobdypix.smugmug.com/gallery/4117728#240154421

Then New Year's Eve. Karl and I usually take the kids to First Night St. Louis. Since last year they seemed bored with the whole thing we opted out. We actually went out on New Years. So unlike us.

We went to see Metal Studz and Extremely Pointless.

ROCK ON KARL!!

Metal Studz is a spoof of an 80's hair band. So I knew and liked most of those songs (well I liked them 20 years ago anyway..lol)

Extremely Pointless is much harder and the crap Karl likes...Tool, Rage Against the Machine, 311...I can't stand that. He liked them but was not as impressed with their guitar solo. "Tom Morrello (sp?) is one of the top 10 guitar players." Yep, don't know who that is, I just nodded my head. Whatever. lol

So then more to entertain ourselves than anything else...we put Karl in pink feathers. :)

Doesn't he look cute?

He wasn't even drunk. That was my night and I didn't get drunk. I'm such a wimp. :)

Aren't we cute?

Marsha and me with the lead singer of Metal Studz. Ok that is a wig. lol

I swear he is Bret Michaels meets Dana Carvey.

We are SO going on the next Rock of Love! lol

It was a comical show. :)

Then back to work on the 2nd. I was so busy those three days FLEW by. Month end PLUS being off for two weeks helps to relieve some of the downtime. Plus after being off for two weeks I wasn't ready to go totally postal. :) (But I'm getting pretty close now.)

I had a 80th birthday party shoot on Friday night. Oh how I hope that I have that much spunk when I'm 80.

And it was twins. :)

I think you are pretty up to date with Hobdy Life. I'll try to do better in the new year to blog more often.

It's basketball season and tennis season so there should be plenty of those shots. And we have the medieval night with stretch coming up and who knows what else.