Domino Effect

Well, judging by the wild & crazy facebook argument my family heavily participated in - which had the 6 of us evenly split on whether or not it was Taryn in a photo from a family reunion in 2004 - I think titling this entry the Domino Effect is pretty appropriate.

It seems to describe the day-to-day stuff of our lives pretty good too. Each day seems to have its own catalyst and then a bunch of stuff happens or changes. The next day something else happens and it's a whole new world again.

Today it was a very nice college financial aid offer to Gib including a grant that when combined with merit aid already awarded basically covers full tuition to Birmingham Southern College!  It's in the Top 3 of Gib's list, and #1 on mine. So I'm pretty excited! I have to call and verify some things, but I am cautiously super-excited. Gib is mulling it over. He'd have to give up the ideal of playing Ultimate as a club sport - unless he could start it there. He would have to give up a sweet 65-35% female-male ratio at another top choice university. And he would have to go to a significantly smaller school than any others on his list - only about 1100 students total. But he would be getting paid a lot to go for it. For that much money I could make a couple concessions.

Waiting on pins and needles for the last 2 schools to send out their financial aid package.

Designer in Progress

Mariah received a basic sewing machine for her birthday.  It didn't come with any material so she improvised! She found some clothes that didn't fit and recreated a new outfit by piecing together parts of other outfits. I think she's brilliant!  She has that creative mind to see things and make it happen without a pattern.  Thanks to her Grammy for a little assistance and showing Mariah how to put in a zipper. She wore her new outfit to school today.  Looks great!!!

From Freak Out to Fantastic!

So yesterday I had quite the text messaging morning with Indie.  She has an advisor whose personal style is both a blessing and a curse. Hard to get ahold of, kinda casual about the details, but always in a hurry. At least that's my take from our conversations. She had some difficulty signing up for Fall classes due to an error that took fancy footwork to overcome. There went her priority registration which also caused some stress. Finally it all worked out in the end, and Indie even got him for a class which is exactly what she wanted. So we were happy that her final year would be awesome and easy.

But then her degree audit came back saying she was missing a 400 level class to graduate. Indie thought she was going to be stuck there another semester and was freaking out. Totally did not sleep. The next morning, knowing this professor doesn't answer email, she ambushed him at the coffee shop. She was hoping he could let it slide since technically as her advisor he shouldn't have let that happen. So she starts talking really fast, and I'm imagining it's before he got his caffeine fix, so naturally he tells her to STOP - be quiet and tell me what's wrong. I can see Indie taking a deep breath, lowering the excitement level, and saying "I'm. Missing. A. Required. Class. To. Graduate". So then he goes, "what class from your transcript would you like me to replace it with?" and then just literally writes it in and signs it.  (In my imagination I like to think he ordered a double shot of expresso for himself after the ambush and a decaf for Indie. Haha).

So then Indie gets a call from the registrar that she can actually receive two diplomas instead of one! She was going to get one diploma with a double major, but now she has enough hours and credit to get two diplomas - one for each major: BA in Program in Service and Leadership and BS in Psychology.

I say Well Played Indie, Well Played.

In other news, she has been accepted into University of Tennessee's masters program for Social Work. All that's left is to hear from Denver and Washington University in St. Louis and compare offers. The tricky thing is the deadlines to accept are not lining up with each other. I think she is going to let Texas go and see what compares to Tennessee (nothing!). Washington University is the #1 in the nation and Denver is just below that. Their financial offers will be important part of considering one of those schools over TN which will be very affordable since she is considered in-state.

Since You've Been Gone

Here's the latest and greatest:

Mariah turned 15 and went on her first "real" driving lesson with her dad at the high school parking lot. She came home for 5 minutes and left again to go on a service project at Feed America First. They portioned about 1600 lbs of beans to feed 800 families.

Grammy and I did yard work, went to a patio store, sat in massage chairs for 30 minutes, and ended up just buying new cushions for the wicker chairs vs a sunbrella glider. Another summer or two of running out in the thunder, lightening and rain to collect cushions so they don't get soaked. We had a lot of fun at a huge store nearby that sells everything you'd ever want for your house or garden. That's where we found the cushions and saved probably $50 off what they would have all cost elsewhere. So it was a worthwhile trip.

Mike finished making the patio firepit cover. Well, he's almost finished... Just a couple last minute touches. I love it though already. Mike also changed the brake pads in the volvo with a coworker who has worked on volvo's in the past so he was a big help. That saved us alot of money. I will put the brake job to the test on my way to work as I go up and over "the mountain" today. 

Gib spent Thursday-Saturday with a cold. He missed a couple days of school and since yesterday our schools were shut down on what we like to call "Manhunt Monday" he will have a ton of work to make up. But before we went back to the daily grind, the kids played at a family fun center with the youth group. Mariah put her new driving skills to the test and Gib tried out for NASCAR and hustled everyone at mini-golf.

 Gib  "look ma! no hands"

 Mariah "where's the brake again? never mind don't need it!"

 Gib "you wanna a piece of me?!"

Is he a mini golf wizard or a hustler?!

Happy Birthday Mariah!

Today our baby is 15 years old!!  Happy Birthday to our kind, smart, funny and delightful daughter! She was happy to see presents appear last night after haranguing me for days to wrap them. There's even a surprise or two in the pile, so there Mariah!!  We are going to Outback for her birthday dinner. The college girls will be missed!

Mariah and I spent a long time researching for places she could apply to for a job. Smoothie King won't hire until 16 so that is sadly out. We dropped off applications at Papa Murphy's and Dunkin Donuts. Last week we did the employment kiosk experience at the grocery store. It is definitely #1 on the list but Dunkin Donuts is hiring right now and asked her to stay for a screening interview on the spot. She was told she'll be contacted for a 2nd interview this weekend. So, I think Mariah will end up with an the opportunity to develop an iron-strong willpower. It may even cure her of ever wanting another donut again for the rest of her life. She really wants to go on the Mission Trip to Ecuador and at this point any job that helps her contribute to getting there might make the difference. I like that she could walk to work. I told her by walking she might work off one donut hole and that should be her limit.


After we dropped off job applications, Mariah and I zipped to her appointment to get a 2nd piercing in her ear. That was her present to herself. It looks fab!  I also like that she does what I do, and gives herself her own present too!



Gib attended the JROTC military ball as a date to the gal who was head of ceremony. He complained about me getting her a corsage because he didn't think he needed it (I secretly think it has to do with the fact that he has a different date to prom who he thinks highly of); however, I LOVED it, I love the new florist I found, and when he texted me that his date was actually kind of a big deal that night, I was REALLY glad she had an amazing corsage!  My new florist friend assures me she can top it for the Prom - and if Gib sends a few people her way for their corsages, his will be free! As a former parent of our high school and living close by, it might be an easy thing for Gib to do.  Gib took the etiquette talk exceptionally well - which means we laughed alot. But he must have listened! Gib was complimented by a couple people on what a handsome, attentive date he was and I even received report that he is a decent Waltzer.  Even though HE doesn't tell me anything, I do my best to keep informed.

Something New Everyday

We had a fun Valentines - Mike got roses that made me so happy! Aren't they beautiful?! We had a low key valentines. Stayed in for the night, had a casual dinner of Mahi Mahi sandwiches and artichokes. I don't know why it's been so long since we had artichokes but it totally reminded us of how Mike had never had one until he met me. Now that's love.

Mariah and I are doing Atkins together Donuts, cookies and chocolate were the temptations of the day for both of us. It is not fair when your diet starts the day before Valentines. At work, there were treats everywhere and TWO boxes of doughnuts - from Krispy Kreme which I don't like; and Dunkin' Donuts which I do like. I resisted and gave Gib all my treats from preschool. He broke into a heart shaped box of chocolates on the way home from a much needed haircut (he had a total Johnny Bravo thing going on and we were making jokes about it and other potential styles he could pull off, and how it had only been 6 weeks but his hair grew 3"). I will admit I seriously considered snatching a chocolate out of Gib's hands. I hoped they would all be fruit filled ones, because those are gross, and then I wouldn't feel deprived! The first one he bit into was the orange filled one. I was secretly thrilled to make a disgusted face as Gib remarked how good it was. I guessed the next would be pink or white inside trying to convince myself I was fortunate to have my taster taking care of all those gross chocolates filled with sugar and carbs. It WAS pink. I was so happy to say YUCK!  Gib remarked that he liked that one too. So I'm thinking I will get out of this without feeling deprived at all. I guessed that the rest would be chocolate filled  (probably crappy chocolate too so I wasn't missing out - now if it had been See's I woulda cried) and whimpered inside that there would also probably be a caramel one. THOSE I like even if surrounded by waxy chocolate! Sure enough the next 2 were chocolate filled and the last was caramel. I just gripped the steering wheel and kept on talking about something else. Luckily, Gib eats pretty fast so my window of opportunity to grab candy from my baby was rather short lived.

Gib got to stay after school yesterday - to learn the Waltz. He is going to the military ball on Saturday with a gal named Maya. She asked him.  He also announced yesterday that he is going to the Prom with another girl. Who asked him. I am working on getting the wrist corsage ordered today for Maya.  Meanwhile, Gib took pink roses and some Spiderman stuff and silly string for an after school surprise - I think for the Prom girl whose name also starts with M. I cautioned Gib on not mixing them up. As one of his friends remarked, shared with us by another mom, "I do all right; but I'm no Gib!" I think I need to print out some etiquette tips for my son. If he is willing to learn the Waltz surely he will read two paragraphs about how to behave like a gentleman.

Gib also decided to apply to University of Tennessee Knoxville. That is where the majority of students go. We didn't apply there (sadly because 12/1 is the deadline and I am doubtful for scholarship money now) because he didn't want such a large school and to go where everyone else is. He said he wanted it as an option now due to the fact that so many of his friends are going there. The application is all but done now, just need the recommendations. Gib wanted to email them first before submitting the electronic request from the application. I chomp at the bit over the delay but he is probably right. I think I will blame this unexpected stress for why I forgot my Valentines dessert. I was working on editing his personal statement a good portion of the evening. Now I get to have anxiety about another college, admission and price tag.

Mariah has been busy with two big assignments due this week. The baby scrapbook for Chad Damien was turned in yesterday. It looked fab, and Mariah said would be proud of it until she saw the professional scrapbookers results the other students turned in. She'll still be happy it's done and has the satisfaction of doing it all herself. I think it looks great! The worst part of this assignment is that now the best scrapbook in the house is for an imaginary child. The best part was the supplies were all on hand from the wedding album!

The other assignment was the English essay on the fashion differences and influences of the 1920's v. 1930's. It was due today. I reviewed it last night from 10:30-11:30 pm.  Mariah did a great job on that too but she has a crick in her neck from working on the laptop in bed... guess she didn't want to work around all the scrapbooking debris littered throughout the house. Thankfully, she'll get it cleaned up tonight. Or tomorrow. Definitely by Sunday!

And the countdown continues for Mariah's 15th birthday in 4 days. She thinks she'll be driving around on a learner's permit right away. I'm not so sure about that. If she's lucky I will take her for a spin in the high school parking lot on the 18th when we have a school holiday. But I'm not promising anything more than that.

File Under - Kids Say the Funniest Things

It's been awhile since I shared an entertaining moment from preschool.

Today as we were walking back from music class one little guy kept trying to balance and walk on this curb for want of a better term. It can be done - there's about 1" of concrete to balance on, but at least once a year someone falls off. Usually into another person, who falls into the person in front of them, and wouldn't you know it, the person behind isn't watching where they were going and ends up in the heap of crying children.

So, experience tells me that a very important rule when we are "on the move" is to keep both feet firmly planted on the pavement and leave the trick-walking for when you're with your mom.  Because I have to remind my little friends of this gem of wisdom quite often, sometimes I get tired of saying it to the same person over and over.

Today rather than my usual "walking feet on the street" spiel, I asked the little repeat offender if he needed me to remind him of our walking rules every day or if he could remember them on his own? I offered to hold his hand if that would help (haha my favorite tool in the preschool toolbox).

He goes, in a real hangdog way, "I'd rather go to a school without ANY rules".
I reply, "Well buddy, this is probably the best you'll ever have it - so enjoy!"
and the friend behind him goes, "Yeah, besides, you don't want to end up a PLUMBER do yah?!"