planning for vacation...

can be exciting and stressful all rolled up into one big emotion. I had to go to Costco and Walmart for some groceries and household supplies. Every time we are finished shopping my pantry looks like this.

I am not sure what to do with all of this due to limited space. Just stack it in I guess. The funny thing is my kids will still complain that we don't have food in the house.

Yesterday was a day of cleaning. I had to make sure everything was cleaned before we leave, but just as soon as we leave the kids will mess it up. I think I might be crazy. Oh well, I guess that's how life is and then you move on.

I made sure I printed up all the right documents in case of emergency. The providers for Jessie have emergency numbers, her room cleaned, her laundry washed, diapers and wipes in right places, bathroom supplies ready and this list can go on.

Now I have to pack. The trick is to pack light so I can add extras when I come home. The airlines only allow 50 lbs per bag I may be in trouble. We will see. Maybe pack less for me so I can buy clothes out there. That might be an idea.

Craig and I are off tomorrow morning for Maui. I can't believe the time has come already. This will be our first time away without the kids. I will try not to worry so much about the kids. I know they are in good hands but what can I say, I am a mother!

Aloha!

surprise letter for Cody...

Craig finally went and got today's mail. Craig opened it up and told me Cody was subpoenaed for court on September 29th. We couldn't figure out what he did wrong. Then I remembered before school ended last year Cody witnessed a person robbing a grocery store with a knife.

Cody is spending the night at a friends house so we called Cody. Craig was telling him about the subpoena. Cody's first response was "what did I do wrong?" Just as we first thought. We are real positive thinkers.

Craig told Cody why and that it's really not a big deal. Cody said his friend received one in the mail today too. So Cody and his friend have to appear in court and testify for the State. Should be an interesting day for all of them.

Cody is always in the wrong place at the wrong time. Trouble finds him even if he was not looking for it. This time he's not the one in trouble. He just witnessed trouble. The way I look at it, this is my son's luck.

Is this a face of "trouble"

sweet 16...not so sweet...

1st Birthday...


16th Birthday...

Craig and I tried real hard to make Ashlee's day extra special. I wanted to surprise her with a bouquet of balloons. Craig took them to school and they would not allow the balloons in due to someone my be allergic to latex. Well dang, have that someone not touch her dang balloons!

Craig went back later and just gave her the stuffed animal with one mylar balloon. I guess you can bring mylar balloons. So if you plan on doing this for your children make sure the bouquet is mylar. Craig tried to get pictures of her but of course she didn't cooperate.



After I got off work we were going to take her and a friend or two to dinner of her choice. Unfortunately, Craig and I had a meeting with Jessie's support coordinator. It turned out it was the support coordinator, his boss, and 2 other women who are from a different agency that provides providers to watch Jessie. The meeting was supposed to start at 5, but they didn't show up until 5:30. This was not just a simple hi, my name is Jody, this is my daughter Jessie and good bye. They had to go over goals of what we would like Jessie to accomplish. Those goals I will explain later. We are not sure she will accomplish one of the goals in her life time.

By the time the meeting was over it was about 7. Craig and I went in to get Ashlee and of course she was a little mad. Little puts it mildly. You see, she just turned 16 and life is all about ME! The more we tried to explain the more she wouldn't understand and the more Craig was getting frustrated (that's putting it mildly) I was doomed between the two of them.

So we canceled dinner. I felt bad, but what do you do when no one is wanting to bend. We all went into separate rooms to cool down. Being a nice person that I am I was feeling extremely sad for Ashlee. I know how when you expect your 16th birthday to go just right and it doesn't.

I remember my 16th birthday and two of my girl friends were going to set me up on my first date. It was a blind date too, but hey, I was excited to finally go on my first date. Well, my date picked me up and because my two girl friends had nothing else to do, my date invited them to go too. It was me, my girl friends and my date. How fun was that?? Well, I guess enough of my sob story.

Then after the dust finally settled I told Ashlee we could go to Target to get the perfume she wanted for her birthday. But before we went to Target Jamie and Carolina came over and surprised Ashlee with a birthday cake.

After they left, I told Ashlee that it's hard having your actual birthday on a week day when our lives are so busy. I said we could go to dinner over the weekend if she wanted and that would allow more time to go. She agreed. When we returned from Target it started to rain, but a friend of hers heart attacked our front door for her.

Hopefully between all that Ashlee ended up with a half decent birthday.

girls just want to have fun...

Today Ashlee and I spent most of the day together. We first went and got a pedicure. That is my vanity in life. I have to have my toes done and looking nice. I promised Ashlee we could go together and get our toes done for her birthday. We also got our eye brows waxed. Ashlee's toes are on the top and mine are on the bottom.

Later we went to Arizona Mills Mall for shirts to cover up a few of her dresses. She has a couple of immodest dresses but with the covers make the dress very modest. It's been awhile since she has worn these dresses.

When you go to the Arizona Mills Mall you have to stop at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory! You can get anything you can think of and cover it with chocolate. This is what I have to get every time I go.

It's a big green apple with caramel, peanuts and then chocolate! I used to hate caramel apples, but when had my first bite of this baby, I was hooked! Ashlee had a chocolate covered cheese cake.

Ashlee then drove us home. She rode on the freeway and did a great job. We did have a scary experience and she handled herself really well. We were behind a trunk that had a lot of stuff in the back of his bed. I noticed his break lights going on and just gave Ashlee a heads up. Shortly after that his right rear tire blew. Tire fragments were flying everywhere. Ashlee asked me what do I do mom. I just said slow down and follow behind him. Let him get over and as soon as he gets over then you can get back to the speed limit. Now the way I just explained it sounds like we both were calm as cucumbers, but that wasn't the case. We both were a little excited but we managed through it. I was holding my soda cup and my hand was shaking. I was very proud of her though and I was also proud of myself because I didn't yell at her. A big thank you to our Guardian Angels.

Last but not least Ashlee ended up with a chocolate face mask treatment. She learned this recipe at young women's. Some how she talked Preston into joining. Here are the results.

Over all I think Ashlee had a good day with her mom. I know I had a great day with her!

I love you Ashlee! I am proud of what a wonderful young woman you have become!

a quiet & boring night...

Tonight Ashlee went out with her "4 Amigos." They are 4 boys that are really good friends with her. They took her out rock climbing.

Cody went to the movies with a girl friend. Katie is a real good friend of Cody's who happens to be a girl. Katie is a tomboy and her and Cody like to hang out.

Then Preston and I just hung out. Preston and I played a few card games. I also taught him how to play solitaire. He picked up that game pretty fast. So, while he played his game I was able to straighten up the kitchen. I swept and mopped the kitchen floor. That way there will be one less Saturday chore to do tomorrow. I have my laundry pretty much washed. I just need to fold them. I can do that tomorrow.

I plan to sleep in tomorrow. I do have to go and pick Craig up at the airport around 9 am. It will be good to have him home for a little while. He'll be home all next week and then Craig and I are off to Hawaii. I am getting excited, but also a little nervous.


Last night I had all the arrangements worked out with who was going to come and watch the kids. My mom will stay the night and she will get the kids up for school before she goes to work. I DID have a provider for Jessie...noticed the word DID...That is the part I have to work on again. I received a call today from one of the supervisors and she told me the girl who was going to watch Jessie resigned today. Her first day was yesterday. I guess taking care of someone like Jessie wasn't her cup of tea.

They said at the center they will work on getting someone over here to watch Jessie until my mom gets off work. I figured if they don't find someone then it's not meant for me to go with Craig this time. I am not throwing in the towel just yet. I still have a week left to go.

beauty marks... cuillard genes...

Preston, has done it, he has given himself some beauty marks. I was helping him do his homework and saw this "rash" on his arm. I was thinking what and where did you get those. Then as I looked even closer I knew exactly what he did. I asked him why he sucked on his arm. His first response was I didn't, but I knew better. He then asked what would happen if he sucked on his arm. I said, "You will get this rash." Oh" he said, I never knew that. I wanted to say, Well DUH! Look at your arm after you are done sucking on it. Do you see what appears when you are done??? Children and their experiments.


The other day Ashlee and I were talking about this boy she likes. She asked me if this boy and her look cute together. I said yes, you guys make a cute couple. She then replied, I make any boy look cute! Just like a Cuillard. Her dad is just the same way, always talking about what a stud he is. Being Ashlee's mother and Craig's wife I agree they are both cute.

Ashlee is always with the boys and always in charge...notice which tool she is holding. LOL