week in review.

Finally Friday ! My mom's 55th birthday!! We will celebrate tomorrow with dinner at Red Lobster. yum!

I've been kinda slack this week with my blogging. Not much going on, really. My life is pretty boring. Since mom has been out of work for the past two weeks I've been struggling with getting my girls home from school. Well struggled might be the wrong word to use. It hasn't been an actual struggle to find someone to help out. My friends are very helpful - it's just the struggle within myself. I feel guilty for having to ask other people to do things for me. Ridiculous, I know. I just hate having to inconvenience others. Of course they don't see it as an inconvenience. Anyway, here is what this week has been like for us - Monday was dinner at Asiana for the cheerleading squad. Madison had a good time. She received 2 certificates for participation both in basketball season and football season. She also received 2 certificates for getting straight A's for both seasons. So proud of her! I don't think I eVeR made straight A's - here she's done it two grading periods in a row. She's a smart girl (Damion gets all the credit).


Tuesday, I went to the gym. Yay me. However, going to the gym just one day a week isn't really gonna make a difference...I blame that on mom. She's totally messing up my routine since she's handicapped for another 2 weeks. Does that work?

On Wednesday I picked mom up after work and brought her over to my house for dinner. I had planned to fix chicken fajitas but this was postponed to Thursday after Damion got called because of an electrical issue a customer had. So he got home later than usual - I fixed popcorn shrimp and maccaroni instead! :) I took mom home after American Idol.

Thursday was chicken fajita night! Again, I picked mom up after I got off work. She helped prepare our meal :) not too much though - she's still healing. Since dad was working nights this week, he was able to take his dinner break and eat with us as well. I enjoyed it very much! I hope Damion doesn't think I can cook now - even though the fajitas were really good, I still hate to cook.

As you can see, our week was pretty calm. Funny how the hours slip away so fast though.

In addition to my weekly journaling - here's a list of thoughts that are running through my brain right now . . .

* can't wait to sleep in tomorrow
* I thought today was gonna be cold and blustery? I'm wearing a sweater!
* I can hardly look at mom's scar without wincing.
* in just a few weeks Madison will be taking her first plane ride - without me.
* Tiff and her family come next weekend!
* gas prices are on the rise - who's idea was it to have a big SUV?
* iced coffee is my absolute fav
* it is Friday - will we get to have papas & beer tonight?
* sometimes I wonder just what in the world Hannah is thinking
* please keep my family safe...all of them.

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

Heart throb - heart ache

I totally understand Bieber Fever. I know how Emma-Leigh feels - and by the looks of things, Madison is suffering too. I had a crush on the New Kids on the Block when I was their age (have I mentioned I am going to see the NKOTB on July 23rd with my sister?!). I know how it feels to want something or someone so bad, all the while knowing you have no chance in the world of obtaining it. I want to meet Darius Rucker...bad. Real bad. I'm not in love with him though or anything like that. The lyrics in his songs have really helped me (and Damion) get through a lot. I would just really like to tell him that, maybe have dinner with he and his wife. Now Madison & Emma-Leigh on the other hand, want to kiss JB all over! lol. I love that he was able to follow and fulfill his dream - what a great inspiration to everyone. It does kinda help that he's cute! I would love to be able to take them to one of his concerts. Since my post/letter to him last week - Emma-Leigh has stopped sleeping with her VIP badge. Thought you all might like to know!

ugh...Valentine's Day

Today is Valentine's Day and while it is a very significant day for me, I also don't get too excited about it. Why is it significant? This may be too much information for you but Madison was actually conceived on Valentine's Day - you see, before Damion became a workaholic and owned his own business, we actually had a lot of fun together. He had the perfect night planned that day. It was February 14, 1997. All I knew was that I needed to pack a bag for the night. When he picked me up - he had my favorite song at the time playing - Patience, by Guns & Roses. We had dinner at The Peddler in Asheville (it has since closed) and then went to the RV & Boat show at The Civic Center. haha. I didn't care. It was actually kind of fun. Then he drove us to the Holiday Inn on Airport Rd (it is called something else now...not sure what). He had already checked in, went up to the room and left my favorite candies, bubble bath, a Piglet (my favorite) stuffed animal and a small wrapped box - which turned out to be a pair of diamond earrings. Everything about that night was perfect. I had never had someone plan so much for me. Another reason this day is so special is because it is the day - 11 years ago - that he proposed to me. We went to dinner at TGIFriday's - Madison had the opportunity to stay with my mom and dad but she didn't want to. She wanted to be with us. So we had dinner and when we finished eating, he brought out the ring and asked me to marry him. I was shocked. He had always said he would propose when I least expected it. Of course, I expected him to propose on Valentine's Day - so I just knew it wouldn't happen. What was so sweet, is he had bought Madison a ring too and asked her to marry him. She said no and kinda tossed it back at him. haha. So maybe the place we chose to eat wasn't that great and if I remember correctly, the service was absolutely horrible but our little family of 3 was together and now that we were on the track to making it official - it was just perfect. However today, I'm just not that into it. I have always told Damion NOT to buy me flowers for Valentine's Day. In fact, I told him if he ever bought me flowers on V-Day I would be really upset because the price increases for just that one day and then the flowers die - like the next day. He used to send me flowers ALL.THE.TIME before and while I was pregnant with Madison. My gosh the people at the flower shop right down the road from where I worked knew me by name, it happened so much. But stuff like that doesn't happen anymore. He doesn't need to buy me flowers to show how much he loves me. They'll die anyway! But this morning, he forgot to say Happy Valentine's Day and when I sent him a text, he didn't respond right away...but then he called - and didn't say anything about Happy Valentine's Day, I love you - nothing. Just another example of how things change as you get older. Life just gets in the way! I still love him though. How could I not?

Daddy Daughter Date Night

Damion & Emma-Leigh, Brett & Riley had their date night at Chick-fil-A last night. Here are a few pictures.


They weren't actually in this limo - their reservations weren't until 7:30 but this is the one they rode around in when it was their turn.

What was so great about it is that they were seated right beside each other - at tables #13 and #14 - Sarah and I couldn't have planned it better! LoL - such luck!

and here are Damion and Brett - both of them smiling! This makes me smile! :)

While they were having their date night, Madison & I spent some time together too - along with Dawn, Walt & Cameron - at our favorite place - Papas & Beer!! When we got home, EL was already asleep! So I didn't get to hear about her date until this morning. She told me everything! The servers came to their table and took their order - she had a 6 piece nugget kids meal, Damion had a chicken sandwich and a chocolate milkshake. There was a piano player there for music and the limo ride was an actual ride - not just around the Kmart parking lot like I suspected. I am so glad they were able to do this. Memories in the making!

My letter to Justin Bieber

Dear Justin,
I took my daughters (ages 13 & 8) to the sneak peek viewing of Never Say Never last night. They really enjoyed it and I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed it as well. Your story is superb - it gives such great hope to all the dreamers in this world. Your crew seems phenomenal and you have the best personality - you just seem so normal and down to earth. But here's the problem - ever since we left the theater last night, my 8 year old has been crying - NON-STOP. She is in bad shape. When I went to tuck her in bed last night - this is what I found.

Yep, she's sleeping with her picture of you (her VIP pass). At one point she lost it in her comforter so she starts to panic saying "Where's Justin? Where did Justin go?". She also knows your birthday is coming up and she does NOT want you to turn 17. I have no idea why. She just wants you to stay the way you are. I told her you were touring in the UK right now and so that's where she asked her dad if he could take her last night. I don't know what to do. She says she wants to go see the movie again and then buy it when it eventually comes out on dvd but until then, she's gonna cry every single time she sees the commercial for it on tv. I thought maybe Madison (my 13 yo) would react this way - not Emma-Leigh! Needless to say, your movie was a hit! You have forever touched my little girl.

Signed,

A mom with the fever.

Superbowl 45

I have such a huge headache right now, I can't even see staight. So if this post is kinda all over the place, that's why.

Sunday was the Superbowl - Packers vs. Steelers - Packers won - 31 to 25. Normally, we have some friends over for the game. This year, we did not. We decided that although we love to watch football, we really didn't care too much about either team and why spend the extra money on all that food? HOWEVER, when we told Madison & Emma-Leigh, they were not happy. They started talking about traditions and how we ALWAYS do something for the Superbowl...they were right. So I placed the call to Wild Wings, bought some shrimp, tortilla chips, salsa and guacamole, fruit, cheese & crackers, pretzels & cream cheese and it was game time! Funny how when I think of traditions I base it around the holidays. These girls are thinkin' game day! Needless to say, Damion and I gave in and we were all happy with the way it turned out. Oh and Madison had her friend Emily over so that was fun for her too.

Mom has her disk surgery this Friday. She will be out of work for a month. We will see if she actually is - she's not one to sit around and do nothing.

Here are a couple pics from last week - Madison had a gigantic wart frozen off her big toe :)

and EL did her current event project on the 25th Anniversary of the Challenger explosion.

Tomorrow is the big Justin Beiber Movie. I bought the girls tickets to the sneak peek of his movie, Never Say Never for Christmas (I bought myself one too). I'm actually looking forward to it!! LoL

Thursday night Damion and Emma-Leigh will have their own little date night. Chick-fil-a is having a daddy/daughter date night for Valentine's Day. EL heard it advertise and immediately wanted me to sign them up. So they will have dinner, music and then get a free limo ride. She can hardly wait!!

Oh today is another snow day for Buncombe County - started as a 3 hour delay which then turned into school being cancelled for the entire day. So it's another Saturday school for them this weekend!

Married,single mom

Damion laughs when I tell him I'm a married single mom. I think he laughs because he knows it's true...don't get me wrong - I love that man of mine. But our love languages are different and I am completely aware of it. We all know we can't change a person so I deal with it and keep right on a truckin'. Problem is - I'm tired. And when I'm tired, I withdraw. I don't want to do anything, go anywhere. I don't mean 'don't want to do anything' as in curl up in a ball in the bed and cry. I still do all my routine stuff - because without my routine, I'd be in even more of a funk. But I don't really want to socialize, communicate or anything. I'm like a turtle, crawling back in my shell. I start to think about what all I do and how it often goes unnoticed, unappreciated. I have learned not to compare myself with other people but I just can't help it, and often find myself doing it. My responsibilites and priorities actually mean something to me and others just flit thru their days with no care in the world.

It really isn't fair for me to feel this way. I really have nothing to complain about. If you have time, go to www.howcantheyhear.org - I could never be that strong.