He Grew

 When Reed and I were getting his permit, I told him to go measure himself so we could see how tall he was.

Afterwards I just happen to be looking through my phone and saw where I had taken a picture of him last year.

The picture on the left was taken 1 year ago today, January 31, 2002.

Now we all know to never trust my math, but if my calculations are correct (which they probably aren't) it looks like he's grown about 4 inches. 

My New Hat

 I've been wanting a rhinestone hat for the rodeo, but I just couldn't bring myself to spend $500 on something I'd wear once or twice. 

So I watched lots of how-to videos and decided I could make it myself.

So after about 1,700 rhinestones, 4 packets of jewelry glue, and 8-10 hours of my time...I am done!

As long as you don't look too closely, it looks great.

I'm ready for rodeo season!

District

 Little Jason placed 3rd at district and is going to regionals next week.  

On top of all that, Elvis has his big showing in 2 weeks.  

Big times around here.

2023 Diet Plan

 Looks like Chloe has no new 2023 diet resolutions. 

She's also not supposed to sit at the kitchen table.

You can see how fiercely we discipline her and enforce that. 

1 Down, 1 to Go

 So we all know I have a hate-hate relationship with the DPS.  

 Every single time I've been in there they always come up with reasons they won't accept the documents they ask for to prove my residency. 

I made an appointment for Reed to get his permit on Thursday (I'm not letting Kyle start the driving process until he's finished with his pig and diving.)

Jason knows how they always refuse to accept my proof of residency so instead of the required 2, he sent me with 3. (He also knows it's easier to send me with 3 documents than to bail me out of jail.)

We get there on Thursday and because of the appointment system we were called back after only about 20 minutes of waiting. 

I handed her my voter ID card 

and then I handed her our bank statement.

She handed it back to me and said, "this doesn't work, this is from November." 

 Here is a picture of what I handed her.  Now, please tell me how this "is from November"?

I do not understand why they target me! 

But, instead of arguing with her that December is not actually the same month as November, I said, "Oh, it's ok, I brought 3 forms with me...just in case" and handed her another one.

She was not happy that she wasn't able to send me away.

And without a fight, tears, or police involvement... Reed walked away with his permit!

Buh-Bye

 After a month at home, The Golden Child left yesterday to start making his way toward Oxford.  They don't start school until Monday, so he still has a few days.

And almost like they knew, he even showed up on his camp's insta page yesterday. 

Houston Half

 So, no big deal, but Reed got up like any other day he was going for a run and went out and ran the Houston half marathon.  He didn't put in any extra training for it, just what they normally do for cross country. 

We were able to see him around mile 4

And then again around mile 11.

He said he could have done it faster, but didn't want to injure himself for track season.  I'd say he did pretty good. 

He keeps telling me he wants me to run one again, I said. "Why? So you can see how bad you can beat me?"  Which of course is the reason he wants me to do it.  

The fastest time I ever got on a half marathon was 11 years ago and it was 2 hours and 19 minutes.  

And here's Reed wearing my medal from it.  Now he has his own.

Elvis Update #5

 Elvis is now 195 pounds! 

And he's still the cutest one in the bunch. 

He loves belly rubs and powdered donuts!

And Kyle looks the part to show him in about a month!

15

 Can you believe these people turned 15 yesterday?! I can't either.

We did our usual and celebrated at Benihanas.

And I made my own version of baked Alaska for them.  Reed said, "it tastes like you tried to make baked Alaska", so yay me!

The Last Thing

 So our trivia knowledge was not up to par this trip.  Partly because we missed 80's name that tune (the itinerary said it started at 7:15 and it actually started at 7) and partly because with a ship this big you pretty much have to get a perfect score, plus guess random things that you couldn't possibly know like the hosts favorite song, movie, etc.

Here we are losing at multiple trivias.

The first picture is us just watching JR do Queen name that tune.  He didn't win because he missed 1, but the table near us was so impressed with his knowledge they turned around and wanted to chat with him.

I figured Anna, Emily, and JR would have a lock on ABBA name that tune, but they didn't know "Eagle" and apparently someone did.  (Whatever.)

On the last day of the cruise Kyle and Reed went to the ship scavenger hunt with some serious determination.  I knew they were going to kill themselves to win it. I just happen to see them at the front of the pack when a throng of people (not just kids, but grown adults) came sprinting down the promenade.

(And no, I wasn't eating nachos...I was at the pizza place). 

I soon got a text with this picture, so I knew they had won. They actually came in 2nd because they couldn't find the ship's library (shocking) but I guess the top 3 places won the coveted highlighters.

And that was our 5-day cruise.  My only complaint is that it wasn't 7 days! 

Other Things

 So here's some other things we did that I have pictures of...except trivia because you know how seriously everyone in the family (besides Jason) takes that.

We rode the carousel

Sat near the adult pool

Enjoyed our towel animals

Rode the Rising Tide Bar from The Promenade to Central Park. (The first picture is mid ride, and Central Park is behind JR.)

Went to napkin folding class. Some of us were better than others.

The kids climbed the rock wall (I was at the nacho and quesadilla bar).

And enjoyed our views from our balconies

New Year, Same Us

 It might be a new year, but none of us are going to be "new mes" anytime soon.

Wouldn't you know it, the show on the cruise was Mama Mia.  

And while the show was great, here's how I feel about watching someone who isn't my kid play Harry. 

Yep, no personal growth at all.

Speaking of not changing, this cruise makes the 3rd one where that kid in the picture above has gone to the onboard clinic.

The. Third. Cruise.

As the book of John clearly states: if he's not happy, the rest of us have to be miserable.

Apparently, his sore throat was so bad he "couldn't breathe".  

Here's Kyle doing a perfect imitation.

I told him I'd buy him antibiotics when we got to Mexico, but he was in such "misery" he couldn't wait the 12 hours until we arrived, and he took himself to the ship's doctor. 

 After getting diagnosed with tonsilitis he felt miraculously better after his visit.

 

And as the gift that keeps on giving, he got to open this little gem as one of his Christmas presents.

2022 Wrap Up

 We did lots of things...