RA RA REE KICK HIM IN THE KNEE, RA RA REE KICK HIM IN THE OTHER KNEE

K had a cheer competition over the weekend. We had to do her hair in baby doll curls high up on her head. That was an ordeal! We borrowed sponge curlers from next door and after she had showered, blown dry her hair and put it up in a high pony on her head, we hair sprayed each piece of hair before rolling it. Then it was sprayed again. Her hair was SO freaking sticky!!! She slept in it, then we took it out for church the next morning. They were so cute! Then, after church and Sunday School, they started to fall. So, I had to spray them and put them up in the rollers again. They worked really hard on their dance and cheer they did. Her squad got 2nd place in cheer and 3rd place in dance. She has 2 medals and her squad has 2 trophies now. She's so proud, she even had me bring the medals up to school so she could wear them like the other team members are doing. Oh- she's in the spelling bee today! I'll let you know how that goes. I'm so proud of her.

CRIME / PUNISHMENT AND MAKE-UP

Wow. Sometimes you just have to be firm with these kids! K didn't get her homework done before spending the night at a friend's house over the weekend and now she is seriously being punished! J came up with the list. Sometimes I think he's too strict. But, I guess that's how they learn. He gets mad when I try to make it a lesser punishment sometimes. Other times, I agree with him. K has to keep her room clean at ALL times, keep her bathroom clean (no dirty clothes on the floor), can't talk on the phone after 7pm and can't sleep over or have anyone else spend the night till spring break. She has 2 birthday sleepovers she'd already been invited to. Now, she still gets to go, but can't spend the night. I'll pick her up to come home at 11pm. At least she still gets to go. All of this is because her original punishment was a week's worth of grounding from after school activities and church fun activities. Then, she said she's missed too many BB games and can't try out for cheerleading if she misses 2 more. Being grounded for a week would make her miss those 2. I guess we'll see how bad she really wants it. I do hope she makes the cheerleading squad at jr high. She doesn't play any other sports and it would be so good for her to be on the team. So, after spending the night at M's house, she comes home with fake nail on and mascara and eye shadow and blush. I guess I'm a little put out because she thinks it's no big deal to have that stuff on. I personally don't think she needs it. I know, I know! All the girls are wearing make up mom! Come on! Well, we all know not ALL the girls are. I guess a little now and then wouldn't hurt, but it would have been nice to at least be asked if she could start wearing it! They are developing at such a young age! Both are getting boobs and hair "down there". Both are shaving their legs (not underarms yet). Periods are coming soon I'm sure. I just want them to be good kids and not get into trouble. I know I can only teach them so much and then the rest is up to them. I do know this. It's just hard to accept sometimes. There's a Valentine's Day dance coming up in a few weeks. I just want her to remember the rules. No dating till she's 16 and no kissing till then either. Many of her friends have already had a couple "boyfriends". I know what kind of reputation that leads to and I don't want her to be seen the wrong way. So, here's to raising your kids the best way you know how and hoping they have been listening... I'll let you know how the dance goes...

ELAINA, CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S

Okay. So, now my sister J has adopted this gorgeous baby girl from Guatemala. She went to pick her up on the girls bday and came back on the 21st. Just in time for her first Christmas and her first Bday on the 28th. It was an emotional homecoming. I have never seen J happier. Really. Even my hubby commented on it. She's gonna be such a great mom. Well, let's see... Santa was good to me this year. Brought me a dvd recorder that I wasn't expecting at all. Now I can finally transfer to dvd about 50 or so camcorder tapes. I never did get any of them copied over to vhs. thank goodness! now they will go right to dvd. I know, in a few years I will need to move them from dvd to something else, but that's okay. I will feel safer having them on dvd instead of 8mm tapes that can deteriorate or get wet. The girls made a bracelet for me at global gems. I'm so mad they moved. Oh well. Time to find a new bead shop I guess. This year has got to be better for us financially. No more eating out. No more extras. We have got to get our debt paid off. I really really want to try the Dave Ramsey method of being debt free. I listen to his show everyday at lunch during the week. Not brain surgery, I know. It's just common sense stuff that apparently is working for thousands of people. The W get back from Ireland in a few days. I know they had a great trip. Hope it's not too hard for them to leave D. Sally Mae has been squawking like crazy when I go over to fill her water/give her food. She misses them like crazy. Oh- that reminds me. I should check the litter box to make sure it's not overflowing. I know- like you needed to hear that! Anyway- the kids got MP3 players for Christmas. They wanted IPODS and cell phones, but clearly that wasn't happening. They are absolutely thrilled with the MP3's. L starts her orthodontics this month. Spacers then braces I'm sure. She's not looking forward to it, but I'm thinking the sooner we start, the sooner we can be done with it. They will so appreciate it when they are older. I know I did. (thanks mom and dad!!) We spent New Year's Eve at home. I prefer to do that anyway. No sense being out amongst the crazy people. We watched Air Buddies (new movie Santa brought them) and had sparkling grape juice to toast with. J got a wild hair up his ass and bought a bunch of liquor. He wanted to make Kamikaze's and Cosmo's. I bought myself a bottle of wine. Riesling. Yummy! He made me a cosmo and it was terrible!!! YUCK!!! So, that's why the grape juice. For dinner on New Year's Day, I boiled some awesome large shrimp and we had twice baked potatoes. Now that was some good eatin'!! God Bless this New Year. May everyone prosper and be happy.