Incentives

When we thought the Princess was going to stay up north for the summer, Pan offered her an incentive to come down, if even for just a month. A shopping trip. I know he had no clue how much clothes for a teen costs and after this will be a little more careful on what he offers as an incentive. But maybe not. The Princess has him wrapped around her finger. And I have to admit, she did not go overboard, getting only one pair of jeans and four shirts.

I tried...

To warn her, but she wouldn't listen and left her pajamas on the floor. It wasn't long before they were discovered by the cat and became HIS property. He even took a swipe at her when she tried to retrieve them. We had to wait until he left to eat and then we weren't sure he wasn't going to take them with him.

Carousel Memories

I don't remember the last time we had gone to the mall. I know it has been at least 5 or 6 years. Probably when the Princess was just three years old and now she is 14. Yipes. But we went one day while the kids were here and they still have the same carousel that I have a picture of the Princess riding. I guess some things just don't change. At least they have kept in good repair. 

Happy 14th Birthday

Happy Birthday to my special girl, who turns 14 years old today. I hope all your wishes come true. Love you to Infinity and Beyond x2.

Isn't she gorgeous? It was great having her here over the holidays, although we didn't get to see to much of her, since she was spending most of her time with her dad. But she is definitely getting to be quite the young lady and truly a teenager now.

Who wants spam when

 

you can have canned unicorn meat. The princess was not real thrilled when she opened the gift, especially when we got the can open and it was filled with stuffed unicorn parts, LOL. Pan has the most wicked sense of humor. We made up for it later when she opened "Fluffy" from Despicable Me.

 

You would have died laughing at watching us try to open the container though. Both the Princess and Pan tried prying the top off and finally broke down and had me use a can opener on it. Can opener didn't work either. Just put holes in the top. But then I noticed something and pulled the bottom off and out dropped unicorn parts.

A little surprise in a big box

The Princess will tell you was just putting on an act when she unwrapped this box. I will tell you different. She was genuinely happy to get the "Extreme Chores video game".

 

For those of you who shop Think Geek, you will recognize this gag box immediately. For those who don't you should. I have already posted a picture of the phone case we bought her from Shutterfly, but then heard tell that someone told her we bought one. In order to disguise the gift, Pan ordered some gag boxes to pack hers and the daughter's case in (daughter's box was 100 1'-long extension cords, hahahaha).

 

I am glad she liked the box and more importantly the real gift inside.

The Princess loves her camera

And that was the last gift I have given so far. Pan and I bought her a semi-professional camera for her birthday. She thinks she might want to get into photography and really wanted a professional one. Okay, she just turned 13. Not spending $1,000 on a camera when in the last year and a half, I've had to have her iPhone repaired twice. Still this one does everything a professional camera does, it just doesn't have interchangeable lenses. Told her if she took care of it, then next summer she, ddpuppies and I can probably take some classes on using our DSLRs.

Act my age? Are you nuts?

A Fresh Start ©COLLAB & 3..2..1..Blast off ©Creations by Rachael

Sometimes I'm sure I do act my age. But I try not to a whole lot, then I would remember how old I have actually gotten, lol. It helps, too, when the kids are around to stay young at heart and see the wonder they see in the world. This summer has been illuminating in teaching the Princess how to bake. After I had her make dinner, she informed me that she didn't want to learn how to "cook" but how to "bake," like cupcakes, muffins, the like. She did well and I know she liked that I didn't interfere to terribly much.

I am so proud to be able to teach the Princess to bake

Sunset Blues ©litabells designs

She is really into cupcakes right now. And she has made frog, rainbow, red velvet and chocolate ones. In fact, I the last time she was here and wanted to make them, I told her to just get started. She knew where everything was. Of course, it isn't rocket science to make cupcakes when they are made from a mix. Yet, it is a start. Then again the first ones she made, the chocolate, were made from scratch. She is really doing a good job. Though I told her the next lesson would be on cleaning up afterwards. LOL.

And the Texts keep coming

Sweet Bliss ©A+ Designs

from the Princess. Today's not the only exception. Instead of calling she texts me. She even did it when she was only one room away last week. To ask if I would fix her some green tea. I have a Keurig, for goodness sake, and have shown her how to use it. Can't get much simpler than that I would think. At least I get to hear her voice when she is here or on skype when she's back home.

Happy 4th of July

Tranquility (c)Julie Marie Designs

The Princess and I agree, Thor 2, is the movie to look forward to. Although Captain America is a close second. The Captain is much more courteous and chivalrous than the Norse god, but just to look at Thor is pure eye-candy. Never was much for Robert Downey, Jr., but the Iron Man movies are entertaining.

The Fourth is a quiet affair for us here. Pan and I will probably spend the day in contemplation of the next game to play, read or work on scrapbooking pages. We will also be counting our blessings and saying our prayers for the men and women of our armed forces who are committed to protecting us each and every day. It is they, who have given us our freedoms so that we may celebrate this day.

I'm so smart... I got out of bed

Baby Boy (c)Simply Scraps; Chalk Garden (c)Kristin Aagard; Courant d'air (c)Imagine by Fran

But it was a long time in the going. I don't think I have ever slept so long. It was long enough for me to be achy all over. But I have an excuse. The Princess had been over the last couple of days and she wants to learn out to cook. Excuse me, she wants to learn how to "bake". Cookies, cakes, that sort of thing, so she wasn't to thrilled when I had her make dinner. Of course, it was only spaghetti, but you do need to know how to brown hamburger, right?

After dinner we made double chocolate cupcakes. A recipe I found in an old Cooking Light magazine. As she was chopping up the unsweet chocolate bar, she decided to pop a chunk in her mouth. After she finished spitting, gargling and drinking everything in sight, I asked her what part of "unsweet" did she not understand. Fortunately for her, she took my word on it that the cocoa was also unsweet. The cupcakes turned out great and we each had one. The rest she took with her when she left for her dad's. Now I have to get up the energy to clean up the mess. That is the next lesson on the agenda. :)

Spaghetti loaded with meat & mushrooms

Welcome to Paradise (c)Jennifer Barrette

As you can surmise we are back from Orlando. We had a marvelous time and each day now you will get to see a little bit of our fun. And I think 4 days is just about long enough. Even the kids were ready to leave.

I am already looking forward to getting him back

Whimsey (c) A+ Designs

This past week has been energetic and non-stop. I will be posting more about our trip to Universal in the next couple of days. Just now I have to get over the depression of handing Indy over to his other grandparents. I know he will have a good time and enjoy himself, but it doesn't make it any easier on me :(

Maybe The Princess can spend time over on days I don't have to work so we can do things together.

One push-up today

Sundance (c)Laitha

A time for reflection. A week away has been interesting. More later after the tears are dried.

Anxiety, Nerves, Depression and I still don't know where time went

Whimsey (c) A+ Designs

One week left and he will be gone for 4 weeks. We will get him back for about a week and a half before he has to return home for school. This week is all about having fun.

I haven't said much about The Princess. Frankly because I haven't seen to much of her. She spends most of her time at her dad's which is understandable. But she has been babysitting for me these last two weeks on the two days I have to work. Hard to believe she is already old enough to be doing that. In just a few short years, she'll be wanting to borrow my truck.

The sad reality is that he will be gone soon

Basic Beauty (c) Silvia Romeo and Ageless (c) A+ designs

Another day at work and all my hard earned money goes to The Princess for babysitting. I keep telling myself it is good experience for her and that I'm less than 5 minutes away and her other grandmother is even closer. And it is only for two days a week and less than 4 hours each day. I think I'm getting old.

The family together last Saturday

Basic Beauty (c) Silvia Romeo & Ageless (c) A+ designs

The Princess will be over today sometime. Schedule change again. As long as she is here to babysit on Tuesday and Thursday. This will be the last week she has to do it for a month and a half. Time has really passed this summer and it is only the first week of June.

Tribulations of Christmas and Pasts

The astronomy post will have to wait until tomorrow. I have been shopping all day. Yes you heard right. Me. The one who breaks out in hives just thinking about spending money, went shopping. Even more than that I actually walked inside a Wal-Mart.

But on the upside, all of our Christmas shopping is done. We got the package mailed to Scamp and family in Hawaii; bought more lights for outside (which will be put up tomorrow with the lost reindeer that was found). Got mom's ordered on line and it should be here in a week and a half. The nephews presents will be here this week. It's done. No more shopping. I even have everything wrapped (except what isn't here yet, of course).

After all that hard work, I took Pan to lunch (a very late one) where he ordered a ribeye well done. It came out rare (almost raw if you ask me). So they sent it back and out it comes.... even more rare than the first time. Third time is the charm though, it came out perfect. They gave us enough gift certificates to pay for the steak and then some. I have a feeling there is a chef who is going to get a royal chewing. Pan said the table across from us got their meal free as well. Yep, I wouldn't be surprised if he/she was fired.

The Princess was in the Nutcracker ballet last night as one of the mice. She was sooooo cute. Although they started out saying we could take pictures if we didn't use a flash, they changed that just before the program started so we only got pictures afterwards and, of course, the Princess changed before she came out. But talk about a Prima Donna. I died laughing at her. Just about everyone in the family brought flowers (Pan and I excepted. Hey we paid for the doctor visit so that she would be able to be in the show, LOL). So here you have the little tot who has only been doing ballet for about 5 months, sitting on the stage, surrounded by bouquets of flowers (and a pink bunny). Then to top things off, this little tyke of a girl comes ups and asks for her autograph. Next thing we knew there was a line of people wanting her autograph. Oh it was so funny and cute. I will get it scrapped sometime soon and posted so you can see. I just love my girl.

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