Driving with Teens. . .

Driver's education has started again at our house.  Big T is driving this week well, he is driving for the next four days.  I really think Sprat drove longer than four days when he did his driving.  Big T is so funny, he came home and was sharing his driving experience.  He said he hit a trash can with the side mirror when he was driving but, that the instructor did not have to grab the wheel or hit the OS (oh sh!!$) brake.  He said the little girl that was driving with them did get the wheel grabbed at least one time.  I worked on Sunday so the the hubbs took Big T to practice driving in the parking lot, just to get him warmed up. 
Remember we are on a roller coaster this year lots things happening, 2018 is going to be very exciting. The boys first lacrosse scrimmage is this weekend, it is going to be very exciting watching my boys play on the same team. 

The Year of Adventure. . .2018

As we are approaching the end of another school year and one that will end with Sprat going off to College, this is a BIG end and a BIG start.   Very nervous as everything is changing and the new territory we prepare to dive in.  The hubbs and Sprat were invited to visit his college of choice and to visit the business school since that is his curricula of choice at this time.   They got a tour of the business school and dinner then off to a basketball game.  They got to sit in  the Presidents' box and visit with both the President of the College and the President of the school of business.  Fun fact the President of the school of business use to be the President of the school of business at my hubbs Alma Mater.   I am very excited that Sprat will be attending my Alma Mater, it does a mamas' heart good for her baby to follow in her footsteps.  It does not hurt that the University is a pretty good school too. 
Big T will be finishing his first year of High School in a few months and boy has he done a lot in this first year.  He has grown so much as a student and has had some interesting opportunities at his school.  I cannot remember if I mentioned this or not so I will mention it again anyway.  At Big T's school they are encouraged to choose a pathway, Big T has chosen emergency medicine as his pathway.  In this program he could go on to be a nurse, physical therapist, EMT, or an OR technician.  He is interested in either the nurse or OR technician right now.   Yes, this is the kid that is terrified of needles and I did point out all the needle things that are involved in each of these careers.  He tells me that needles only bother him if there are intended for him.  Got love this kid. 
Stay tuned, as you can tell 2018 is going to be one crazy ride. . . .

Random Thoughts for the Start of 2018. . .

2018 is off to a BIG start at our house.  The hubbs got back safely from Florida after a few delays.    He got his name up in  lights on the jumbotron for being ranked number three in the country in sales.  This is huge since he was laid off  in May of 2016 and then re hired in December of 2016.  You just do not realize the satisfaction I find in this whole ordeal.   It was not his direct manger that laid him off it was the pointy heads at corporate that have no clue what goes on at the sales level. 
Enough of that, because we have been too blessed to be ugly about the pointy heads.  I do believe God moves in mysterious ways.   We have made huge strides in paying our house off and saving for retirement.  I recently read the book by one of Dave Ramseys group called "Retire Inspired" by Chris Hogan.  This was an awesome addition to the Dave Ramsey collection of Financial Peace.  I highly recommend it to anyone that has done the Financial Peace class or who has read the book "Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey.  Full disclosure:  I am not being paid to write this, I write what I feel, love and believe in and I do love and believe in each of these programs.  We are saving and giving like crazy and it feels good!!  Could not have done it without Dave and his program.  I would not have gotten serious about it without knowing the facts behind his plan/program and that is what the class gives.  I dabbled at this plan until I took the class.  If you have the opportunity to take the class I highly recommend it. 
Stay tuned, work is really busy this time of year and I feel very overwhelmed most days.  I use my blog as a means to vent some days and as a means to chronicle what is going on in our family.  You never know what you might read about hear at the Pampered Mom???

Snow Days and Grumpy Teens. . .

School is out for the next two days and thankfully I am off work too.  The hubs is traveling this week so I am single parenting this ship.  Look out folks there's a woman at the helm.  School is out today and tomorrow so far, not sure how tomorrow will be for Sprat and his college classes.  College campus closed today thank goodness.  We have about four inches, with it still coming down, who knows where our totals will end. 
I use to love snow days, I would get up early and get on ALL of my snow gear and go find my neighbors down the street and we would sled all day or at least until we were too wet to take it any more.  We would go home and wash clothes, eat, get warm and go back at it.  Sprat has been out once for a couple shots at the goal and that is about it.  Sweet Basil went out early this morning to potty and hopefully she will not have to go out again until this evening.  I went out with Sprat to snap a few pictures for him. 
I am so glad I went to the grocery store yesterday, I really did not want to go but I made myself.  It was a regular grocery day for me unfortunately.  I asked the boys, if it snows and school is cancelled what kind of junk food do you want?  Sprat said, hummus and chips.  Big T said oreos and chips.  I wanted pizza but I could not talk either of them into that last night.  So, here I am on a snow day with no pizza, except the frozen kind (no pun intended). 
Plans for the day:  laundry,  baking cookies, making chex mix, making soup and cornbread, and vegging if my boys will allow.

Truly Pampered Mom

I must brag just a bit on my very sweet husband.  He does a lot around the house and he is fully involved with what ever the kids are doing and he cooks now and then.  The other day he announced he was going to make chicken pies.  I did a little double take with the head tilt and confused look on my face. He said again, I am going to make chicken pies.  I said ok, and laughed it off. Well, low and behold,  he made two chicken pies the other day. We froze one and ate the other one.  I must admit it was very good.  We can add chicken pie to his vast repertoire of pancakes, bacon, omelet,  anything on the grill, Greek chicken in the crock pot,  and Latoshia's chili recipe. 
He said he was preparing to retire, he would cook while I worked part time to provide insurance.  He really has been thinking an awful lot about this retirement thing.  He has had a good deal of practice lately with my work schedule and a lot of folks sick at work.  He has really had to be both Mom and Dad  several days these last few months.   He is a trooper though, he rarely complains, maybe sometimes in jest. 

I am a lucky girl!!  In April we will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary,  it does not seem that long ago.  I love this man more and more each day.  If I could give advice to those engaged or even newlyweds, I would say find someone that makes you laugh and never ever hold anything back.  The hubbs and I do argue but, we argue and get it out and over with.   We are different people and have different opinions and we are not afraid to share that opinion with each other.  We have had our fare share of knock down drag outs but we always feel better after we have voiced our opinions.  Do not change who you are for anyone, your soulmate should know the real you.  

My very sweet hubby said on numerous occasions he loved me because of my fire and my willingness to fight for what I believe in. 

Things have been sporadic for sure here at the Pampered Mom?? but do not fear I am trying to find my way and get back to a regular schedule of posting.  Stay tuned, you know that Sprat is getting ready for College and Big T is finishing that first year of high school.  

Update on Our Clan. . . Bring on 2018. . .

I have been away for a bit, life happens and we must continue.  Some days are more difficult than others with regard to my work.  It is quite sad sometimes the situations I must hear about.  My sister keeps reminding me I am where I am for a reason and that God has put me in this job with  a purpose.  I still cry some days as I am making my way home and I will call my hubby on the way and cry to him about my day. He is my rock and my cheerleader on those days that are so difficult (grateful moment).   It is hard to believe I have been with this company for over a year now.  I kept thinking they were going to fire me for the first 9 months I worked there, you know the old dog new tricks.  I had my PCI review last night, I worked night shift last night.  I  had a good review and they are pleased with my performance and for that I am truly grateful, this job came at a time when my family needed the income and I needed to be able to help my family.  My very sweet hubby carried our family for fourteen years and I would not take that back for anything, I was there for my kids when they most needed their mom.   My schedule is pretty flexible so, I am still able to be there for my boys if they need me. (another grateful moment). 
The hubbs had a banner year with his job and we have made great strides in paying our house off and saving for college.  We are thrilled Sprat will be going to his number one pick college in August with a merit scholarship, it will not cover everything but it is a nice start (grateful moment).  Big T has soared this year in his new school, I never know what he is going to come home with.   Big T is learning how to interact with local business members of our community.  He has made presentations for the business leaders and for the various eighth grade classes in the County. Big T took a test that is given to seniors right before they graduate to see where they will be placed in college classes and did really well and does not have to take that test again (grateful moment). 
Yes, I am bragging just a little but we had a rough go of it last year and I am just extremely grateful for the blessings we have been given this year.   I have said many times that God will bring us to our knees so that He can lift us back up again.   We have been lifted and I am humbled by his grace. 
We are struggling these last few months with family troubles with extended family, so I ask for prayers, God knows what our families need.   I am praying for peace, comfort, and strength for our families.  I probably will not be back until after the New Year, lots going on with work and family.
I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Safe New Year. 

College, What do Boys Need to Pack. . .

So we are three for three on acceptance and each offered scholarships.  Sprat's first choice offered a little better deal and has many opportunities.   He has decided on his first choice and so begins the filling out of all the paperwork.  I have been looking at what a boy needs to pack for college, those lists are hard to find.  What to pack and how to decorate for girls are all over the place.   It is much harder to find lists for what boys might need for college.  Sprat does not drink coffee per say, so he will not need a coffee maker.  It seems I know more about what he will not need than what he will need. 
We recently dealt with a dead battery in Sprat's car, I do declare that kids today do not know how to deal with adversity.  Maybe it is just my kids, but I am pretty sure there are others dealing with this same thing.  Some days I feel as though I have done too much for my kids, they have not struggled for things.  I guess I should really thank my Dad for letting me drive a big ole piece a junk, that first car I drove left me stranded on more than one occasion and brace yourselves this was before cell phones......  I should preface this with the fact that the first vehicle I learned to drive was in fact a pick up truck, mine was a real truck.  It was not some souped up, jacked up, big tired piece of junk you see girls driving these days.  Mine was in fact my Dad's pick up truck.  It was beat up but, it was mine to drive when I needed it and I was darn glad to have it.   There were kids in my high school that drove a lot nicer cars than I did but my Dad taught me a really good lesson.  You work and earn your own wheels if you want to drive anything nicer.  The truck never let me down, the car I later drove did leave me on several occasions.  I drove the truck until I learned how to drive a straight drive.  I have to thank my Dad for that too, not many girls in my high school drove straight drives or even knew how.  I unloaded all of this on you to tell you about the battery fiasco with Sprat.
Sprat came in one evening and mentioned right before he was going to bed that by the way, his car had been hard to start these last couple of days.  The hubbs went out and he was able to start it.  He said it was a little sluggish and that the next morning I should go out and listen to him start it so that I would know what to tell the guys at the shop.  Well it is pretty easy to describe silence, yep you guessed it the little black berry would not start.  With great hesitation and reluctance I gave my eighteen year old the keys to MY car.  Ughhhhh, what was I thinking????  With glee in his eyes that I have not seen since he was probably eight years old Christmas morning, he took my car to school. 
It was indeed time for a new battery.  The way they put batteries in these cars these days are so crazy that the average person or even the Auto Zone cannot replace it.  I had to go to my mechanic to get it replaced and they had to special order it from the dealership.  Ughhhh.   Finally at three o'clock I had the new battery and all was good with the black berry.  I prayed that all would be as good with my car when Sprat got home with it.  I got text from him periodically through the day how nice my car was and how great it drove, all I could think of was that song by the Beach Boys, "Fun, Fun, Fun"  if you do not know the lyrics google them. 
With this anecdote, I will share what I picked up to add to Sprat's packing list for college. 
I bought him a kit that has jumper cables, gloves, bandages, and a head lamp to leave in his car.  I have a first aid kit that I made up for each of us to have one in our cars, just in case.
This is my wisdom for today with regard to kids, especially boys getting ready to go off to college.
Stay tuned I am sure I will figure out what he will need in his dorm before it is too late.