17 years ago today I gave birth to my first beautiful daughter, Britney! She was perfect in every way and even began holding her head up at a day old. 17 years later she has grown into a beautiful young woman and I am very proud of her. She is beautiful, smart, talented and so very kind hearted. The young woman she has become is one that everyone flocks to because being around her makes everyone else happy.

Tomorrow morning she will take her road test for her license. It is hard to think of letting her drive off in her car alone, but I know it is all part of the letting go process. We do what we have to do and this will be no different.

So, happy birthday to my beautiful Britney! May you always be blessed and protected!

Here comes the rain

Raining again! Ugh! Sick of rain since it has done it a lot in the last weeks. It's also very chilly out. The kind of day where you want to stay in bed. I didn't though. LOL I took an Ambien last night to get sleep. I'm tired of insomnia and need to find ways to sleep. My lack of sleep even contributes to my weight, which sucks!! So, I had enough last night and broke down and took one even though it was a school night. The girls are great about getting up and going without me. I still woke up, but stayed in bed and texted them to make sure they were up and moving. All went well. I stayed in bed until about 9 and then had to get up because of a major coughing fit. I'm feeling like such crap today. Ugh!

Britney's birthday is on Sunday. Can't believe she will be 17 and driving. She goes for her road test on Monday morning. Very scary time for me as her mom, but a very exciting time for her! I'm sure she will do great as she is very responsible, but I know it will just add more stress and worry to my life. I can't help but wonder how my mom did this! LOL

I'm in the process of trying to plan Ashley's Sweet 16 party. We are having such a hard time finding a resonably priced place to rent. Everyone wants around $400 just to rent the hall. Ugh!! We figure once we add in the hall rental, food, etc... we are looking at a party that will cost over $1000, right after Christmas! Ashley keeps telling us to push it back some and she doesn't care if it's on her birthday or not. I would hate to do that though. Guess I care more than she does when it comes to that. I want her 16th to be special and since she was born 4 days after Christmas, most of her birthdays have been a flop! I don't want her 16th to be a flop, it needs to be memorable!

Oh well, I suppose things will fall into line at some point.

It's raining really good now. I was going to wander out to get the mail, but it's a bit messy at the moment out there. Guess I'll wait. Wish I was the kind of person that could nap, because that is what I would be doing right now. LOL

Nationals and more.........

The band had Nationals on Friday. So glad competition season is now over. We were exhausted this season! Anyway, we took 4th at Nationals which isn't bad at all! We were the highest NJ band in our group and also beat the band that beat us the week prior at Northern Championships. Just goes to show we should have won those as well if it weren't for one judge that had a preference for a marching drumline over a stationary one. Oh well, we know that our kids were on top of their game then and at Nationals. We are so proud of them!

It was really weird because as of Friday night, it was like a weight was lifted around here. Especially for Britney. She told Pat yesterday while they were out practicing paralell parking and stuff that she is so much more relaxed now that it's over. All of the stress seems to have disappeared now and she is back to being happy go lucky again. Thank goodness! I don't think my stress will lift until after Santa Breakfast in December, unfortunately!

Britney & Sarah are making cupcakes right now. Yum! Can't wait to have one. LOL Ashley is out and about at the moment. We are just relaxing and watching some football. It's been a pretty good Sunday here.

Mom's Things

Last night I had Dad over for dinner, which I do often so that is nothing new. He brought two big boxes with him of Mom's knick knacks, snowglobes, etc... I have yet to go through them. Mom loved snowglobes and I probably bought her 90% of the ones she had. I am planning to put all of her snowglobes out in my craft room where at the moment I have two empty shelves to fill. Was going to put dolls on them, but I think this would be better. He also told me he found their cake top from their wedding and a candle from the wedding. He is going to give those to me now as well. I love having Mom's things, but will be honest that it tends to make me sadder sometimes. Maybe it's just the initial having to go through the stuff and set it up. Hoping that is all it is anyway and that once I have things in their place the sadness will subside again.

I have been thinking about Mom a lot in the last month or so again. I'm not sure if it's the girls growing up and I'm sad that she isn't here to share this with me or what. Maybe it's band season because Mom's favorite thing was marching band when I was in high school. Heck, she even stayed with the band after I graduated for a couple of years back then. LOL She would be the biggest, loudest fan in the stands watching our band now! Sigh... Oh well, life goes on, right?

Well.....

It looks like we have a newly elected president. Hope he lives up to all the hype around him!

Moving on.........
I am feeling pretty down lately. Trying hard not to be, but for some reason it's here like a brick sitting on my chest. Not sure if it's just exhaustion from band season, the approaching holidays, etc..... but it is here. Sigh....

Not much to say, I guess since I would hate for this post to turn into a whining spell. LOL So, going to go now and do.............nothing at all. LOL

Northern States

Well we had Northern States Championships last night. We took 2nd and also won best music and best visual effects. We lost by less than a full point, so really nothing to be sorry of. The kids did a great job, as always! On to Nationals next week. Win or lose, we are all very proud of our wonderful kids!

Today we are all pretty much relaxing. Britney had an essay to finish up and she did that already. I think her and JD are supposed to hang out later.

I'm so glad the kids have several days off school this week. We could all use the break. Now, I just wish band season had ended for us when originally supposed to because that would mean the days off would be completely free. Unfortunately, they won't be now since there will be band practices and then Nationals on Friday!