It's About Time

It's Official...we have another Licensed Driver in the house! I finally broke down and made time for my poor 'middle child' and took him to get his drivers license today. When I say finally I really mean it...this has been a tough road for Nic and I with this whole Parent Taught Drivers Training. Yep, it is the cheap way to go but the headache, heartache, and heartbreak that has gone along with this process may not be worth the $ you save. It was so much easier sending Riehle off to have strangers teach him and took him a whole lot less time too. Get in, get out, get done. Didn't happen with the Nic...his has been wait, not ready, and wait. Today I have to agree with him that being the middle child through this deal has really sucked. Sorry Nic! It doesn't mean I don't love you...I just really suck as your Drivers Ed teacher :-)

Congrats on getting your official license you 16 year old handsome boy! Now we tackle the task of getting you a car.

Quotable Sunday (it's a blog thing)

Love these quotes on teenagers...
(cause that is life here at the Simkins Home)

Never lend your car to anyone to whom you have given birth.
~ Erma Bombeck
Little children, headache; big children, heartache.
~ Italian Proverb
The average teenager still has all the faults his parents outgrew.
~Author Unknown
It's difficult to decide whether growing pains are something teenagers have - or are.
~ Author Unknown
Adolescence is a period of rapid changes. Between the ages of 12 and 17, for example, a parent ages as much as 20 years.
~Author Unknown

They Grow Up Too Fast

We knew it would happen someday but still don't think I am ready! Riehle has been shopping for an apartment with his buddy Zach during their Spring Break week. They are giddy about it and fun to watch as they explore this idea of freedom and having their own place. As they tell us what they found we can't help but be the parent and go through our checklists of 'you know...' which of course gets the "I know"eye roll from the boys. Their latest plans are to make the move in May after school gets out, but who knows we could come home and find them packing up Riehle's truck at any moment because they are so excited to go. Doesn't help that last night Rand and I are watching TV and Riehle comes down with his gang of friends ready to go out for the night and he says "thanks for inviting me down for dinner." I had to sit for a minute and rethink the evening and realized he WAS up in his room tonight, I assumed he didn't come down looking for food because he usually goes out to eat with friends. Yep, I guess it is time to move out when your parents quit taking care of you!

Now That is a Barton Family!

Now that is a big Barton family...and that isn't even the whole crew! We were missing the three Texas husbands, my two boys, Wendy & Bryans kids, Kim's step kids, and two of the Arizona boys who are on a mission.

A Month Has Passed???

Okay I blew it...I promised myself that if I started this blog I would post at the least every other week. It has been over ONE MONTH! How time flies when your overloaded with much to do.

I really have a great excuse of how my busy schedule got away from me and that is a trip to Utah to a mini Barton Reunion! My sisters take a yearly trip in February to visit our parents at home in St. George and this year they set out to get the 6 Barton kids all together to catch up after many years. Kendyl and I hopped the plane with my sisters and Kim's two kids and what a wonderful time we had catching up on everyone's lives and to see how the Arizona cousins had grown. It was great to see everyone again and now Kendyl will have some memories of her own about the Barton family, since the last time we did this was when she was only 2.


Well let's do a little catch up on what is going on here in Texas --

Kendyl's return home from Utah has been filled with the excitement of making next years cheerleading squad, she went in yesterday to be fitted for her uniform, man is this girl tiny! Her school had a dance last Friday and had her and I out for 3 hours of shopping trying to find her a dress since it was a 'Red Carpet Affair' theme...uggg...i had her in tears several times of course. But finally we found the perfect outfit that lit up her eyes and gave us both that warm fuzzy feeling that this was the one. THANK GOODNESS, because serviously one minute more or another trip into the dressing room, you would have been reading about teh bomb that took out the middle school the night before the dance.

Nic suffered a Xbox melt down while we were in Utah and would text us all day long with his agony. He had to send it off in a coffin to be evaluated for repair...it has been nice to see him hanging out with the family again. But good news the company apologized for the manufacturing mishpa and a new box arrived at the house yesterday, and Nic is back to chattering into his headphones and hanging with his friends through the TV. Thank goodness it played out like it did because next week is Spring Break and that would have been the longest week for him without his girl.

Riehle is busy, busy, busy as usual. He seems to be loving life, "know on wood". I wish I could borrow just a piece of his go get em' attitude. And by golly I have got to get this kid to stop long enough to get a picture, he has been working out, tanning, and seriously is at the top of his game. He is toying with the idea of getting his insurance license and joining the family business.

Rand has finally listened to all the signs that have been pointing him back to rejoining the Aflac family as a District Sales Coordinator. He has also joined the new Lonestar Ducks Region and I think we might have found his smile again...he has been a whole different person this week being back around the hustle and bustle of other people! That has been a big missing factor in his past two years of working out on his own in the insurance world. He needs people...he IS a people person! And I think this week has reminded him that even though it is a stressful position it is worth that kind of stress to get out into the world more. I am excited for him, and I am crossing my fingers it all goes well.

As for me, like I said I am just sprinting along with the life of this family trying to keep up with it all. When we returned from Utah I hit the ground running with catching up with work duties, home duties, and even a school newsletter deadline. I have got to find time to get back in the gym starting this week to build back up my energy level. Life is good here with the Simkins Crew and hope all is good for you and yours. Well this might just catch us all back up to today.

What A Week

DeAnna is now a Lonestar Duck...What a week it has been.

Monday - I spent getting all my ducks in a row around the house since I knew it was about to be neglected with me being off to the office all day.
Tuesday - off to the office for a full day of learning and testing my abilities, to find out I am a little rusty but still got skills. Arrive home to family glares & questions of wonder whether I survived or not. Then a realization that my other job calls -- I have taxi duty shuttling Kendyl and friend back and forth to Activity Girls, a PTA Board Mtg., and a couple of loads of wash cause Nic needed levis he forgot to bring down for me Monday!
Wednesday - Nic wakes up looking like death and needs to stay home from school. (great my first test for self made mommy guilt) Day 2 at office: was able to navigate my computer with a little more ease, things are looking a little more familiar to what I use to do as an Admin 2 years ago. (so much is now computerized, no more old school) I come home a little more bogged down in the brain, good to see Nic survived, rush around the house trying to keep up.
Thursday - Nic still not good takes another sick day (I forgot to call the school...uggg! Should have made a sticky note reminder) Day 3 at office: recruit meetings, phone gets to ringing alot today, I am multi tasking so fast my head spins and I have to come to a screeching halt and gather myself for a moment. (boy do I miss my younger brain that could handle this much) I end my work day feeling satisfied that I accomplished a good days work. Home brings a little more peace as everyone still seems happy and flowing along with ease.
Friday - Everyone is upright and off to school & work...(I even remembered to write a note for Nic to be excused from schoo) Day 4 at office: we contract two new agents to our Region and I get to test the most important part to my job of setting these new recruits up with proper paperwork and track them to success with Aflac. LOVE IT! I just earned my first brownie points of success!! I even show up at the State Office for my training a little more prepared because I already walked through the process twice that morning. Yes, I am a little impressed with my ole' self. Arrive home to finally hit overload at all the things I need to get on top off...quickly start switching hats from laundry lady-accountant-maid-cook-confidence counselor- support cheerleader-rock band audience-homework checker-and finally couch potato!! I MADE IT!!! Week One complete.

WHAT A GREAT WEEK! Rand pitched in and helped around the house like a super supportive hubby, he listened to my many rambling stories of my work adventures without glazing over eyes to often. Hardly saw my Riehle since he sleeps late and I go to bed early, and he is so busy these days, we finally met up on Friday and he gave me a big ole' bear hug so I guess he kind of missed me. Nic is still on the mend and survived his days of being tended by his dad on his sick bed as Rand would come and go trying to work. Kendyl, who I worried the most about, didn't blink an eye, she just flowed through the week without a hitch. Sad to say it must have all been in my head that this family still needed this mom around full time to keep them all happy. Glad to say that right now I am loving this new adventure in life that is all about me for the moment, and I am thrilled that I can actually do it!! Had a lot of self doubt going into this...can't wait until a few weeks go by and I can come back and reread this post and smile of how I finally have life organized and flowing

A Fitting Quote

Other Blogs that I surf post what they call "Quotable Sunday's" and this quote just hit home this week since today is my last day as a 'stay at home mom'. Here's to beginning a new chapter...
"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." ~Author Unknown