Merry Christmas!

Well, the kids made out like bandits- as I am sure all of yours did !
Baby got her Nintendo DS- and a bunch of games and clothes and whatnot.
My son got a drumset- he was soooo happy!
We had it hidden in the office/den- so in the morning- I had baby get all the presents separated for everyone-
So, here she is, in this mountainous sea of gifts(literally!),and my son has maybe 5 lol
Anyways, the look on his face- he opens a box- " wow, sweatpants, on Christmas- thanks..."
Poor kid looked like he was getting the jip-so I told him to get me the telephone out of the office- and he opens the door and was like
HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!
there was a brand new, shiny black drumset!- he was VERY happy! What's the point of having kids if you can't torment them once in a while? :)

Bellydancing

I just got this DVD a couple of weeks ago- It's called "My Personal Trainer" with Rania
As some of you may know, I take a bellydance class once a week. But, I also decided to get some DVDs to get extra excercise at home. This one, while it doesn't stress the technique, kicks your A**! You really feel like you worked out- and the nice thing is you can customize it-so take a look....

Twisted Ankles

My stepbaby twisted her ankle at ice skating a couple of days ago- thank the lord nothing was broken! No swelling or bruising either-which was a good sign. Although she couldn't put weight on it at first.
Yesterday though, she was able to walk on it- I saw her lol
But this morning, here she comes down the hall with crutches, and I'm like- "what happened? you were walking yesterday!" She said, " I know, but it hurts-" Me and Dad exchanged looks and he told her to leave them at home that she would be fine.
I wonder if she was milking the crutch thing for attention. Not sure-
any of you had a similar situation? I don't like to accuse a kid of anything like that, but I know kids can be that way sometimes.
My son will milk an injury for all it's worth if you let him. He will work you over if you don't know how he can be!
He used to do that to his first grade teacher- tell her he was feeling sick and she would call me at work and I would ask to speak to him and realize he was faking! I would tell him to go back to class and then tell his teacher to watch out for him faking illness, because he could be VERY convincing! Not to brag, but my son is very cute- and batting eyelashes at a teacher bowled her over every time!
he doesn't do it anymore- thank god it was a phase, but I also didn't play in to it.
Stepbaby isn't like that- but I could tell she was working this injury lol
I just don't want my kids growing up to be hypochondriacs-

FINALS!

well, I have made it one month without smoking and also without killing anyone!
I haven't gained any weight either- I have tried to replace smoking with excercise and schoolwork- seems to be doing the job for now-
I took my Photoshop final last night- and PASSED! Thank GOD!
I am studying for a certification as an Adobe Applications Specialist-
I am coming up on my third semester- taking night classes and working full time as well-
I did some college when I had my son ( I was 19 when I had him ), and work in administrative office jobs- but I always wanted more, a chance to make more money and do something I really love.
Art is wonderful, I love to draw, paint, play music and write- so being creative in my work would be a dream come true!
Any other moms out there going back to school??? Let me know- let's talk!

Holiday Activities

Well, loyal fans, it has been a busy week at my house so far!
I had dance class and a neighbors party after work Monday-
volunteered for my sons play Tuesday
went to see his play Wednesday
drum lessons and christmas shopping today
stepbaby's chorus AND band performance tomorrow
gift exchange with some of the fam damily sunday
WHEW!

My son played the villian in a musical The Castaways- he was GREAT! I think he may be a natural- he has been taking drama for almost 2 years now and he really has a knack for it-
he's a natural ham! I was watching him on stage last night and couldn't believe how big he has gotten- he's 13 already! His first stage performance he was 4 and was a pirate in Peter Pan- it seems like yesterday!
Stepbaby is excellent in chorus and clarinet-she has been in ADVANCED band now for 2 years, and HONOR chorus- both are by invitation only- so we are very proud of her. I will post pics as they arrive LOL

Baby Mama Blues

Ok- so if some of you have been reading my blog, you will know that my stepbaby's mother is a real piece of work- not only moved out of the county, but cut her visitation from 50% to about 10%- hasn't been willing to pay any support and won't take the initiative to get paperwork to give us sole physical and legal so we can keep her in her current school etc.
She again has a new boyfriend, and has already taken my little one to meet this guy on more than one occasion. She can't wait and see if this one (of like 8, in the last year) will work out- she has 2 weeks without her kid, you think she would handle her shit then, but no, drags her daughter around like some prize to any dude she happens to be seeing at the time.
This one is a fireman at a university, and found it appropriate conversation to tell my little one about a sorority hazing where a girl's fingers got blown off- as well as part of her head and stomach, and proceeded to tell her that there was blood everywhere WTF???? What kind of person thinks this is appropriate conversation for a 5th grader?
This woman is an imbecile-sorry, had to vent-