Friday, November 13, 2015

Feliz Cumpleanos, Mija! (and more)

Actually, let's backtrack a little...

Halloween -- The only trick or treaters we've ever gotten are the three not-so-little neighbor kids when their aunt had custody of them. The aunt has since gotten married and moved, so the kids only come around to visit periodically. However, we do decorate the house & yard just because we love it, and I always have fun sized candy in the house, so if a T&Ter wanted to ring my bell, I'm prepared. About two weeks prior, Princess still hadn't figured out her costume, so we went in search of inspiration & pieces. She decided on her own version of Mickey/Minnie Mouse. She had black leggings, a black tee, and a headband, and bought a black & red plaid skirt and a pair of yellow socks to wear with her black Converse. Her Mickey pumpkin kit came with ears, so we stuck those onto the headband, which she ended up wearing when she and some friends went out T&Ting in Beaverton, but for school on Friday, she had me do two hair buns instead. She got to hang with those friends overnight Saturday, so after Ace got home from work, we just watched a couple of DVR'd shows.

School -- Princess is still enjoying her Drama 2 class and her instructor... and she *did* end up getting not one, but TWO, roles in the Fall play. She worked very hard to make sure she had her lines down (her OCD tendancies kicked in; she made flash cards for each role, and studied any time she had a break/gap in something she was doing). I'm also happy to report that at every show were at least two people who are important to her: Ace & I at one, Mimi, her friend, and Princess' aunt & uncle at one, her squad, other friends and "village" members... she felt truly loved. If you follow me on FB, you'd also know that not only did she get asked to apply for National Honor Society, but she (as well as her whole "fam" - the four close friends that, along with her, make up her "squad") got in! Apparently, not everyone who has honor roll grades got asked to apply and not everyone who applied got accepted; just under 40 students total (mostly Sophomores) were inducted this past Monday. Ace & I are super proud of her! Tuesday after school were auditions for the next school play. It is a musical, so neither Princess nor her bff, KP, wanted to try out, but N.E. (their teacher) asked them to co-stage manage. This is not a glamourous job, but with their awesome ability to work together and their shared OCD tendancies, this should be right up their alley.

Birthday -- Ok, so as most of you know, November 6th is her birthday. She had that day off school, so she came with me to work that morning, and we headed straight down to Woodburn to meet up with my SIL for some lunch and early Santamas shopping. We finished up around 230p and were home before 330p (which was good because she had to have an early dinner and be at the theater by 6p). I'd wrapped her gifts on Wednesday that week, but we hadn't had time to let her open them until she got home from the play on Friday night. Saturday, she didn't do her weekly chores because I told her I'd do them that week (another gift to her), so after I got home from work, we just hung out, caught up on some DVR'd stuff, and watched the Beavers game. I later took her to the school for that night's performance, but her dad picked her up because I was watching the Ducks game. Sunday night, we took her out to dinner at Red Lobster (her decision), and this Wednesday, she got her free ice cream cone at Baskin Robbin. Today she had a brow wax appointment & Saturday, we finish her *Birthday Extravaganza" with a professional massage. She said, and I quote, "Sweet sixteen was one for the books!" as well as "best prezzie EVER" in regards to one of the gifts we got her.

Other Kids -- Gamerboy's living situation hit a snag (construction/remodel halted due to owner's lack of funds) so he has found a new (safer) place nearby and moves in next week. We also got an update with his grades; he was really concerned about two of the four classes he's taking, but just got mid-term grades back... looks like he has a B in one class and an A in the other. Now, if he could either get more hours at his one job or find a second one, he'd be set! Squeeks is "same old, same old" -- still has the same job, same bf, same living situation, same schooling situation. The only newish thing in her life is that she got her settlement from the insurance company and bought a newer car. It's a smaller version of mine, same year.

Ace & I -- Finished a couple of our projects that needed to get done during his sabbatical, including a platform for my gel lamps to sit on at work and the shooting gallery we wanted. The gallery has been taken out and field tested a couple of times; I'm a better shot than he is with all the handguns but he's better with the shotguns. Anyway, he begrudgingly went back to work mid-October so the only project we're working on is getting the weather station up & installed (it's partially there). Next on our to-do list is to get through the holidays.

Holiday Stuff -- I started doing some shopping, I've got a list of some other things to get, I need to send reminders to the older two kids for their wish lists (interesting how those changed when they got out on their own), and I need to prep & bake both for Thanksgiving and Santamas. This year, all of my mother's children and their families will be gathering over Thanksgiving weekend here in town; this will be the first time we've all been together since 2006, at T&D's wedding. There will be roughly 15 people, including my husband & son, who haven't joined us since GB was a bratty teenager. Mom's new place is smaller than her old place, but we also have full use of the apartment across the hall, and the hang out area next to her. Should be fun.

Wildebeest/MG & gf -- Not much to update, except Wildebeest is still obviously pining for MG, while MG & KC continue their relationship. They truly look absolutely happy. I'm debating sending them a Santamas card, with a handwritten note included in which I write something about being glad he finally found whatever it was that was missing in his life... Anyway, I should take bets on when Wildebeest finally admits they're (to quote Taylor Swift) "never, ever, ever... getting back together." HAHAHA!

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