Friday we took hubby’s parents out to dinner.  Saturday we met SD1 and her grandparents for lunch then SD1 came over for the rest of the weekend. After back to back big meals I was done with food for the day!! 

Sunday was the usual busy with church and we had a good lunch out with our friends. 

So Monday I went to the store and meal planned. Monday night I made baked ziti with a salad.  It was good.  Easy and quick.  We made some apple dumplings while I was in a kitchen mode. 

For dinner on Tuesday I made chicken cordon bleu.  It is more of a casserole form but it was tasty and liked by all.  I served it with mashed potatoes and green beans. 

Wednesday is dinner at the church and usually on Thursday I want to eat whatever is taking up space in the fridge. 

SD2 got to practice driving Saturday and Sunday.  She is doing good for being a beginner. 

Just trying to keep everything spinning in the right direction.

Because we live in a small world.  Marce’s brother (Monty) and his wonderful wife (Kimberly) live in another suburb near me.  Image that both from OKC and we end up here in Nashville.

Monty is in the ministry and he was a huge influence on mine and Marce’s walk into adulthood.  He is such a godly man.  I have known him for years and there is nothing I would change about him. 

Kimberly has breast  cancer.  She is my age.  That hits too close to home for me. 

Please visit his blog and keep them in your thoughts. 

http://montywaldron.wordpress.com

Friday SD2 and I went to get her new semester school supplies – the specific items she needs for her classes.  They had to change her schedule around so she is taking Geometry, Geology, Spanish 1 and Child Development.  

Saturday SD2 and I went to get our hair done.  I got mine done and she got a trim.  She just wanted to go along with me.  We then went home to take a nap and lounge around.  Saturday I cooked fried chicken and made scalloped potatoes.  SD2 had never had scalloped potatoes and she liked them. 

Sunday was church all day long.  We left the house at 9am and returned at 8pm.  There was only about 2 hours when we were home.   I put a corned beef in the crock pot and that cooked all day long.  We had that for dinner.  SD2 had never had corned beef and really wanted to try it. 

Monday was back to work/school.  I had made a lasagna on Sunday and put in the fridge.  SD2 put it in the oven for dinner when she got home.  She ate a huge portion so I guess she liked it. 

She did call her mom on Friday because we told her she needed to.  But she still doesn’t want to see her – can’t say I blame her either. 

I am fully into working on SD2 sweet 16 party.  Invitations are ordered, speciality M&Ms will be here on Friday.  Paper goods have been delivered.  Caterer is working on food and cupcakes (I even found zebra cupcake liners).  My big void is what to do.  The room is 1100 sq feet which is huge and we have about 25 guests ranging in age of 5-70.  Any ideas??  The party is only 3 hours long. 

So I have cooked 3 days in a row.  Did a good cardio workout yesterday and I thinking about just doing weights today.  Trying to mix it up some.  My first run for 2012 is March 17 so I need to get ready for that. 

Anna is good.  No movies viewed – there is nothing at the theater to watch because SD2 and I were going to go on Saturday since it was cold and dreary here but nothing. 

SD1 starts college this week.  I think she is coming to spend the night on Saturday and her birthday is in about 2 weeks.  She will be 19.  I am glad there is at least hope for her.

Yesterday I ran 1.25 miles solid on the treadmill. My goal is to up my mileage as the first 5k I plan to run is March 17.  I need to get SD2 back to running also as she plans to run these with me but she is a whole lot faster than I am!! 

So far I am looking at 3 runs in March and 1 in April.  After that is TBD. 

SD2 started back at school today.  New semester.  She is taking Spanish 1, Chemistry 1, Geometry (bleh) and PE.  Lots of basics still to get out of the way.  I will have my first parent/teacher conference in February.  She really seems to take school seriously and makes really good grades – like all A’s.  I hope she forms some friendships this semester.

Since my last post on December 20…I worked all that week. On Friday we went to meet SD1 and her grandparents for dinner.  That went well and SD1 came home with us for the Christmas weekend.  My trust for her grandparents is still shaky as they have done a lot of bad things for 8 years to me and to hubby before I came along but I do believe they are truly doing the best for SD1.  Hubby, me and the kids all went to Christmas eve service at church.  Then we came home to open gifts.   Both were happy with what they received and it was nice and stress free. 

On Christmas Day we got up and went to Waffle House for a nice breakfast/lunch.  The kids thought it was fun.  Then we headed to MIL house for chaos.  The gifts she gave were awful and all had to be returned but that is the norm.  She gave both girls pajamas that would be fine but they looked like they were for a 5 year old and the price was $4 when I took them back.  But they survived. 

The day after Christmas hubby had to work and I was taking SD1 to meet/go back home with her grandparents and SD2 to meet her mom for dinner.  Her mom cancelled and did not show up to me and SD2 hit the mall – why yes I am just that stupid.  You would do it for her too.  She wanted to hit Hollister with her gift card and cash.  We stood in the check out line for an hour but it was fun quality time as those things do not stress me out. 

SD2 started driving school for her learners permit on Dec 27.  She had to get up at 6am every day to ride with her dad and she never complained or anything.  Me and her were both battling a cold but we kicked it to the curb.  She passed her test with a 96 and will get her learners permit as soon as school starts back up (you have to prove you are in school to get a permit). 

On Friday 12/30 SD1 had a lock in at church and she had a BLAST!  It was from 10pm to 6am.  Hubby picked her up as I was still fighting the cold.  She slept the next day until 4:30pm while hubby and I ran some errands.  They her and hubby went to our group’s NYE get together.  I stayed home and rested with Nyquil.  They got home around 11:45 so we said Happy New Year to each other. 

Jan 1 hubby did a 5k run and placed 3rd in his age group!!  SD2 and I hung out and I cooked meatloaf and mac & cheese.  She really likes those type of meals.  We then met some friends later on that evening. 

Jan 2 hubby had to work.  I took SD2 to a friends house for a slumber party.  This friend is from her old school so it is more than an hour away. She really appreciated me taking her there as her mom didn’t and she always had to reley on others for a ride and I took her to get a gift.  She had a good time at the slumber party. 

Hubby took off on Jan 3 so he could pick her up from said party since it was over at 11am on a weekday – who does that???

SD2 goes back to school tomorrow.  New semester.  I hope this semester goes well for her and she makes friends. 

I am slowly woring on her 16th birthday party.  Send help please!! 

Otherwise this gets us all up to date.  I am alive and well but with nasal dripping.  Anna is loving having us home during the holidays but also ready for us to go away so she can nap. 

Hubby and SD2 are cooking dinner tonight since I am at work and they are home.  This should be good.

Friday night we went to see the new Sherlock Holmes movies with some friends.  It was fun and the movie was good.  I give it 3.5 stars out of 5.  It was action and humor not cussing and family friendly. 

Saturday we puttered around the house all morning long.  No one was in a hurry and that was nice.  I did a few errands and took SD2 to get some more school clothes while the sales were on.  Love the Aeropostle store!!  I watched a DVD finally.  I watched “Doubt”.  It was really good.  I gave it 4 stars.  I highly recommend it.  There was no cussing but it is a heavy drama.  I watched it alone. 

Sunday after church it was time to take SD2 to her mom’s house then hubby and I had to go to MIL’s house for a family gathering (eye roll).  SD2 did not want to  go but she knew she had to face it at some point of time  Might as well get it over with. 

Monday morning around 5:30am hubby wakes me up and he is on the phone with PEW (that is never a good thing).  The story goes something like this…SD2 woke up around 5am and her step brother (age 15) is sitting on her bed watching her and tugging on her covers.  She starts yelling at him to get out – atta girl!!!  PEW calls us to get her and we proceed to make the hour long trek.  Everyone is trying to make reasons why he was in her room.  There is none!  She will not be going back there anytime soon. 

Oh and her mom got her a pair of socks for Christmas and that is all.  Seriously.  SD2 hates the holidays and all the stress.  I am right there with her.  When does she get to be a kid?  I called the attorneys office and told them what happened and told them she would NOT be going back there until hubby and I had a long talk with the attorney because nothing will happen to her on my watch.  I was pissed. 

So Monday was my last day of vacation for the year and I was mentally  and physically exhusted.  I made chicken and dressing and again it was good.  I have these 1 dish dinners down!!  yea me.  SD2 is home resting today and probably going to hang with some friends this week. 

I made the chocolate no bake cookies for the first time yesterday and they were good and easy.  Who knew? 

Busy busy week and SD1 is coming on Friday for the weekend.  I am off work on 12/26 so maybe I can rest some that day. 

SD2 will start drivers ed on 12/27.

So not sure if SD2 is going to her mom’s and if so for how long.  SD2 did get into drivers ed so by the end of the month she will have her learners permit and she can start driving to earn her drivers license.

SD1 is doing quite well at her grandmothers house (PEW’s mother). She has not spoke to her mom since she moved out and even changed her phone number.  SD1 is going out on weekend with friends and even taking care of her appearance.  She is off of all the meds her mom had her on and the fog in her brain has finally lifted.  She is enrolled in 2 classes and the community college and she is really looking forward to it.  By golly she might be okay after all. 

I am on vacation Friday and Monday for some much needed rest and relaxation and that is what I plan to do!!  Well that and laundry and maybe wrap a few gifts.   Thursday night is my company Christmas party.  Busy, busy and I need a nap!!

SD2 is in her final days of this semester.  She survived.  Next semester will be better because she will be in all 10th grade classes and she won’t be the “new kid” any more. 

I took Monday off as vacation and finished out the Christmas shopping.  Now to tackle wrapping those gifts, meh.  I took SD2 to school and picked her up.  PEW called 8 times in 20 minutes which would explain why SD2 has been stressed out.  It would drive me crazy too. 

SD2 does NOT want to go to her mom’s house for 6 days and she and hubby told PEW but she is going to make SD2 go anyway.  How crazy is that.  I told hubby to call the attorney to see if SD2 really has to go for that amount of time.  She is almost 16 doesn’t she get to say if how she wants to spend her time?  Crazy I tell you – just crazy. 

Tueday I took SD2 and myself to get pedicures.  Much needed and deserved. 

I am taking Friday off as vacation and SD2 gets out of school at 11am so we can hang out all day and veg.  It is just so wrong that a kid is put in the middle of craziness – her mom kept saying on the phone “do you still love me?” and other stuff like that – I heard it with my own ears.  Crazy.

Monday I cooked a big dinner with meatloaf and mashed potatoes.  I went all day Monday and Tuesday gluten free.  I am on day 3 but not sure if I don’t give in to all the cookies I baked on Monday.

She doesn’t have to take final exams since she wasn’t here all semester so she will get out early next Thursday and Friday. 

The child support issue was resolved and yes PEW got paid extra and the attorney is sending her a little telling her to pay us back.  Now we all know this won’t happen but it is nice to have a little leverage on her. 

SD2 was supposed to go to her mom’s this weekend but PEW called on Tuesday so say she was going shopping this weekend so SD2 couldn’t come.  WTF?? Seriously.  Even SD2 doesn’t buy this story.  She said it was just another lie in her life.  SD2 knows she is shopping with money that doesn’t belong to her and it has been 17 days since she left her mom’s house.  Unfortuately she will be there for a the week before Christmas. 

Hubby is having a stern talk with PEW today because she is contantly called SD2 and according to the court she can only call twice a week.  It is really stressing out SD2 and it must stop now.  Bounderies people!! 

Lots of little things to do this weekend and I am on vacation on Monday so I hope to finish all my Christmas shopping and things to do with that.  I did get Christmas cards out and if I missed you – please don’t be angry just let me know you want on the list next year. 

Last night was leftover/clean out the fridge night.  I hope to cook on Monday while I am home and maybe do some holiday cooking!!  Lofty plans.

This all means that PEW has received 1 payment already and is about to receive a second payment.  I called the attorney’s office and asked (as I am quite frustrated) for the attorney to send a letter to PEW telling her she must pay back all the extra child support.  Yea like a cold day in hell will occur first. 

Good news is PEW texted hubby that she does not want SD2 this weekend because she is going Christmas shopping.  Yea – with the bonus child support payments!! 

(Banging head against a wall)