That time of year again…

…IEP’s!  I have both of the kids’ this afternoon.  I will begin IEP posts as soon as humanly possible

Party Plans A-brewing

I mentioned a couple of your ideas to Lauren.  She received them much better than I expected.  I thought she was hard-pressed on having a dance.  Thankfully, she wasn’t and we were able to begin plans of a different kind.

So for her sweet sixteen we will do an all girl slumber party.  I rented a suite at a local hotel that has an indoor pool.  The room comes with a living room type area so we are looking at maybe doing a Mary Kay party for her.  I know a couple of consultants.  She liked the idea of non-alcoholic daiquiris.  We will do that. 

I also told her that if she has about 7 girls or less that come we could look into doing a limo ride to the theater for a movie.  But that hinges on how much the limo costs, if one is available, and if we can afford the movie (hence the 7 girl limit).

We still have a few other little details to work out and things to plan but I think I might get this done under $200…woohoo!!!

Single Mom

Kevin is away on business until Tuesday.  He left at 1:15 this afternoon.  My house feels terribly empty without him in it.

Happy Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day Turns 100 Today

and for fun…here are some lol cats for all you mommas out there

more cat pictures

more cat pictures

more cat pictures

more cat pictures

more cat pictures

more cat pictures

more cat pictures

more cat pictures

 

Beee-u-teee-fulll

Lauren had her spring choir concert last night.  She was awarded with a solo in the song Dink’s Blues.  It was AMAZING!!  She hit the notes perfectly.  She was poised and you couldn’t tell just how incredibly nervous she was.  I plan to put it on youtube for family and friends.  So some of you will get to see it. (you’ll get an email with the link in a few days) 

Woohoo!!

The other day I was whining about how much I hate English.  Well, classes wrapped up on Monday.  I went into my college account last night to see if final grades have been posted. 

And this is what I saw!!!

That’s right!  Straight A’s baby!!!!  English had to have been graded on a curve.  I’m okay with that.  :) 

Sweet 16!?!?

I need help from all of you with girls older than 16 or know anyone with a girl older than 16!!

Lauren will be 16 on June 3.  We want to do something nice for her.  But what she wants is over the top (in my mind).  She wants to have a dance with like 50 people.  Which means hiring a DJ, a place to have it, a caterer, etc.  I think this is extravagant and not realistic.  Realistic to me is picking out 10-15 of her closest girl friends and working with that…maybe spend the weekend at the lake, have a campout in the front yard, something.  A dance with 50 people is called a wedding reception not a 16th birthday party.

Kevin thinks that we should.  He feels that she deserves it.  Lauren & Austin’s mother didn’t have birthday partys for the kids.  She told them they could have a party on even years and then would change her mind when it came down to it. 

On top of all this her presents aren’t going to be all that cheap either…and some are essential.  I can’t go into details because Lauren reads my blog but trust me…essential.  Financially I don’t think we can afford it either.  I have missed a lot of work with my female organs hating me and that doesn’t look to change.

I know this stupid MTV show is what makes her think it is necessary to have one!  I talked to my mother in law and she agrees with me.  She doesn’t think this is realistic and we can plan something more down to earth that can still be fun.  But I don’t know what to do.  One of the things Kevin and I talked about was how much we hated our wedding because it was all my mother’s doing.  I don’t want to do that to any event in my kids’ life.  But when we ask her what she wants it’s huge.  I dread this girls future wedding.  Maybe she will just stay single or elope!! 

So my question to all of you wonderful bloggy folks is:  What kind of party did the 16 year old in your life have for their 16th birthday?  What seems to be the norm in 16th birthdays??  Anyone know of any websites with ideas to have a good sweet 16 on a very limited budget?

I know that her friends haven’t had extravagant parties because she would have attended at least one by now.  The girl is the “baby” in her class so we would have seen an invitation to something. 

Please, please help.  I need to know what happens in the real world.