McMuffin3+

Vacation Blues?

2011-06-01T15:27:00.007-05:00

Summer is here and its HOT outside. Even though super pop almost never went on vacation with us, this year will be different. Lots of questions have come up. Will we EVEN go on vacation? Can we just go see Monica? Can we go to the beach? Will it be just us or will everyone go?

So school is over and now the kiddos went with super pop on vacation. They have been texting me like crazy. They went to MY vacation destination that I picked out years ago and never got to go so yeah I've been a little pissy about it. Couldn't go when I wanted to go but sure could go when he knew I wasn't going. Its crap like that that doomed the marriage to begin with. Well fine. Have fun with the boys. They deserve it. They have deserved it for many many years and now its happening. Yeah and one has deserved another thing and I'm just about ready to blow the lid off of that one also. If it wouldn't throw said person out in left field and leave him wondering what happened and who blew up his world I would do just that. Actually it would blow up 3 worlds and I'm just not into blowing up kids worlds these days. Back to vacation. Yes I hope they have fun. I hope they get to see lots of shows and do lots of fun things with super pop because they do deserve to spend a little time with him.

Sooo yesterday I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what I want to do for vacation. I would love to go to the beach and take the entire crew. Do some brotherly bonding/family bonding with this new and wild crew. I also need to take the boys to see Monica since we have not seen her in about 3 years or so. I would love to just go away for a couple nights on a "couples only" getaway so you can whisper that in my sexy mechanics ear if you want to. So now I know what I want to do and who I want to do it with, the question is can we do it this year or so we really need to just wait till next year. Having two houses and payments and utilities just drains everything. That won't fix itself by next year probably but who knows. Stranger things have happened. My sexy mechanic is back and I didn't think that EVER would happen. Vacation Blue? Not me. As long as I'm with this man and all 4 of these kids I don't ever plan on getting any type of blues. If it doesn't work right now it will work at some point.

Now if I could just get enough courage to tell him..................nope not blowing up their world with that little info. Its all in the eyes babydoll. Just keep looking and you will find it.

Schools Out!

2011-05-18T10:11:00.003-05:00

Finally school is out for the summer. Hopefully all the boys passed and will move on to a new grade. Not sure what all they have planned for the summer. Hopefully they will work for a couple months before getting back in the swing of things in August for a new school year. Scott has learned that he can be exempt from test. He will hopefully work harder next year and be exempt from more test than this year. With school being out I can sleep later and not get up at 5:15 unless its to get Gil and the boys off for work. This morning was almost perfect. Got up and got Christian and Gil off to work then back to sleep.

Hopefully we can get these race cars ready and out of the garage and onto the race track soon. I'm ready to see all of them out there having fun. Its just a slow process to build all these motors and get them in the cars.

So how do you make the youngest understand that his dad will not now nor ever it seems do things with him? Just got the call that the oldest is going with dear ole dad to the baseball game. Sounds fun right? Well while they are planning this little outing the youngest would love to be included in some of the fun but hell NO. He will be dropped with dear ole mom. Not included again as usual. They both are suppose to go on vacation with him in just over a week but the youngest doesn't want to go. They never do anything with him or include him in things so why go to what was suppose to be MY vacation spot this year. Forget his feelings dear ole dad. He will get over it as always or at least he will seem like he does but one day it will bite you in the ass.

Different kind of happy

2011-05-17T15:03:00.005-05:00

Gil and I are learning about one another and also all of these boys that we have. We are all settling in as we learn to live with new people. So far the boys all seem happy and they get along most of the time. Gil and I never know from day to day how many will be at the house to eat that night or how many will be staying the night. I love having a house full of boys. Listening to them inside and outside makes me somehow content. It doesn't matter whether its Christian picking Scott up and carrying him off down the hall or Ricky and Christian wrestling in the hall or even Billy walking thru the kitchen with the bull whip cracking. As I am learning Billy and Christian they are also learning all about me. Every day I go home after work and walk thru and pick up after them and smile. I've always HATED having to pick up clothes and stuff from where they have been dropped in the floor but for some reason this doesn't bother me at all. I just make a quick loop thru the house, scoop it all up and wash the two loads of clothes that wait for me. This just feels right somehow. Not sure if its because I've waited for almost 20 years to be this happy or what it is. I'm like the little energizer bunny running around the house cleaning up after these boys. The dirt, grease, dip cups, drink cans, tools, things left in pockets all just fits in to this group. In just a few short years some of them will be gone to college or out on their own. If everyone passes this year (fingers and toes crossed) then we will have a 8th grader, Sophmore, Junior and a Senior all living under one roof at one house plus all the ones that just come visit and stay awhile. Thats a lot of male testosterone in one house at one time. lol I knew about all the cars, dirt, grease, dip cups, drink cans, race cars, etc before I ever thought about any of this so I can't say I didn't know. The hardest part is finding some alone time whether that is just me or me and Gil together. We are working on creative ways to make it happen though. Communication is always the key. As long as we can communicate we can make all this work and work in an amazing way. I can't read his mind and he can't read my mind. If I don't tell him something is wrong he will never know and vise versa. Same thing with the boys. I've told them all several times that if I need to know something then speak up, otherwise I'll never figure it out. If you need something, you will have to tell me because with 6+ people here every night I dont have time for guessing games. Just call me, text me or send me a message on FB and let me know. If there is any way possible and not something that is really not needed then I'll do everything in my power to help make it happen. I love all my boys. There is nothing I wouldn't do for any of them.

"Daddy Built"

2011-04-08T15:09:00.005-05:00

I love how my life has changed in the past few months. These days I don't mind coming home and washing clothes, washing dishes, sweeping or just cleaning up in general. These days I can zip through ALL the bedrooms gathering up clothes that all the boys left just laying around. Its almost funny when I walk into the laundry room knowing that at least 4 or more took showers and I find only 1 maybe 2 towels in there and I have to go find the rest along with greasy jeans, tshirts, socks etc. Never know where they will show up. So walk room to room I do each and every day all the while laughing about it.

Most days after finding all the laundry and getting it going I'm walking around finding all the coke, dr pepper, pepsi, diet dr pepper cans and anything else my crew of guys have left laying around. Do I get it spotless? Oh no way. They will just have it messy again in a few minutes so why even try. I do try and keep it semi picked up for them and I try and keep it swept so the floors are not nasty but I know they are coming in from outside in the garage or out of the driveway where there is sand etc so it really does no good at all. After getting it all semi picked up I'm ready to cook.

After spending many years trying to cook something that my family would eat then giving up cause I couldn't please anyone, I'm happy to say this group will eat anything and everything. They just don't care. Doesn't matter what it is if I cook it they will eat it. There are days they start asking what's for supper early that day cause they all know that on most days we will cook. Its all new for me and I love it. Yes I was meant to have a house full of boys. I love it.

As I sit inside watching tv or cooking or just cleaning up I usually hear bang, bang, bang coming from the garage. I know that my sweetheart is out there working on one of the race cars. Right now its Billys car and Ricky's will land in the garage just as soon as Billy's comes out. Oh how this man loves these boys. I've been in the background a long long time but never up close to it all until now. I've been really good friends forever it seems with him. I would loose touch with him then he would find me again. I don't care how much noise he makes, or how dirty he gets out there. I don't care if I go weeks with no alone time with him or if he spends all his free time with these boys. All these boys will be gone before long. Gone whether its to college or to a job or eventually off to get married and have a family of their own. Time is rapidly speeding away and there is nothing we can do to stop it. So for now I share this man with all these boys. All these cars are "Daddy Built" and thats just the way I want it. He makes sure they are safe and that they have fun. He also makes sure they learn something as it goes on as he has them doing much of the work themselves. Hopefully when they are grown they will be outside in the garage with their son's building race cars and teaching the next generation and having fun. Oh how I love this man. Yep. Our time will come one day. For now its all about the boys. Love you Ricky, Billy, Scott & Christian plus all the friends that just come hang out and I of course love you Gil. You are the light of my life, you plus all "our" boys.

Racin season

2011-03-17T10:16:00.004-05:00

Big C's car is looking great. They have all put in lots of time on this car. The first time Mcmuffin saw it he thought there was no way it would be running any time soon but it is. The boys had to take a small break for G's surgery but after a couple weeks plus having spring break they have really gotten busy and pulled it all together. This weekend is practice. We can see how good it runs and what they need to do to it. I can't wait. Watching all this fall into place is amazing. I leave every morning for work while they sleep in and then get up and work on the race car. When I come back from work I can really tell the difference. Just as soon as they have this one finished they will start working on Billy's Nova. I'm not sure how long that will take as it is at the begining stages. They will have to put the roll cage in before getting the other things put together. Have to make sure Billy is safe above all else. Then after that its Codys and Mcmuffin's. We could end up with 4 cars this year. Now to find a trailer to pull them all. At least all the boys are now old enough to drive so they can help get the cars to the track. Its almost race time and I'm excited. I can't wait to go listen to all the cars. This is where this all began almost 19 years ago and we have come full circle it seems and I'm loving it and all of these boys.

changes

2011-03-15T14:58:00.006-05:00

Its been a long while since I wrote anything. A lot has changed. We are now the McMuffin 3 and not McMuffin 4. Pops moved out in September and we have divorced. It was a long time coming. I was so unhappy and I know I made everyone else unhappy. We probably should have done this years ago. About 8 or 9 years ago it almost happened and I just couldn't do it. We both knew then how unhappy I was and had been many years before that. There were times it got a little better but I was just there for the kids. When your adopted or rather when your an only child and your parents have passed splitting from a spouse is scary. Even in the good times I knew I wanted out but my McMuffins are my life. There are times when being lonely takes over when I need a backup plan and I have no one. When Pops and I split, it broke McMuffin's heart. It totally blindsided him. I knew it would. Pops is his hero. He never saw any of the things that I saw or heard. Hopefully he can see how happy I am and learn to accept my new life. I have reconnected with an old love, someone that I have loved for a very long time. He has always had this effect on me. He makes me smile and laugh. I can be myself with him and he understands. He loves my kids and I love his son and also the one he "adopted". He is amazing and always has been. Will I tie the knot again? I have no idea. Only time will tell. I've been hearing this question alot lately but I have no idea what the future will bring. I would gladly do anything and everything for him. I love being loved by him. I love watching him with all the boys and all the kids that come to his house. He once told me he would never do it again and I totally understand. But to see McMuffin with him and watch them together knowing how long I have waited for them to connect like this (17 long years) just brings tears to my eyes. To see all three or rather 4 kids together is just unbelieveable. They all 4 deserve parents that love one another. This we can give them whether we are married or not. I'm totally ok with that. But to hear McMuffin singing with the other boys is just more than I thought would ever happen three months ago. Scooter just rolled with the flow but I didn't think McMuffin ever would get there or forgive me. Looks like he has finally forgiven me and is on board. I looked at my sexy mechanic yesterday and I just knew. This is it. Having a house full of kids is what I was meant to do. We will go broke trying to feed them all but having this country palace as the hang out for all these kids is just amazing. Kids laying everywhere and loving us both. I love you Gil, Ricky, Billy, Scott and yes even you Christian. You are apart of this crazy family now and always.

Summer

2010-07-19T13:25:00.004-05:00

Summer is coming to an end. Books are being read, football practice every morning is coming to an end. We have had a wonderful fun filled summer. We went on vacation for the first time as a family in many many years. It actually turned out kinda nice. Hopefully we can make this an annual event. For too many years it has been just me & the boys. They always want their dad to come but he never has time for us. We went to Chattanooga and stayed for a few days. Went to caves, dinner and a mystery show, aquarium, rode the incline and a few other things. Took lots of photos. We have also gone canoeing this summer. I love floating down the river and having fun. I've found more and more ole friends on facebook or rather they found me. I love reconnecting with them. We have had cookouts with friends, gone out to eat and just reconnected. One of my lost loves also found me on facebook. I was so happy to see him even if it was on a computer. I'm learning to live knowing that I'm not #1 in certain people's life even if I should be. I still have no air in my car. Yes I know this is the 4th summer. I've been told I will NOT ever have air in my car. It needs to be replaced but that won't happen for a few more years. For now I'm driving my old '94 Ford Ranger that does have air. It looks horrible and I really do not like having to drive it but since it has air I will love it. I want my car fixed but unless I find a way to fix it myself it will not be fixed. Scooter has been invited to be a US Student Ambassador with People to People for next summer. I sure wish I had the money to make it happen. I don't think that I can raise that kind of money or I would jump at the chance. Hopefully in another two years I can let him go. I hate that his brother was allowed to go but now he can't go also. Trip of a lifetime. Wish I had known about this group when I was growing up. I would have gone, no doubt about it. We are working on my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary party. That's something that really needs to be celebrated. Will I ever make it that far knowing that I'm not #1. I have to learn to get past his toys being #1. Always have been and will always be that way I guess. First it was the horses, then team roping, then cowboy mounted shooting and now that the horses are sold but we still have the horse trailer and we have added motorcycles. I refuse to ride. I have kids to raise. I don't want on one of those things with kids to raise. Wonder what I can get into before school starts back.

School is almost out

2010-05-13T14:41:00.002-05:00

Well school is almost out. We survived the 10th & 6th grades. McMuffin is exempt from all final exams. 6th grade does not allow that so Scooter will have to take his. McMuffin is still loving his job at McAllister's and has bought himself a truck. He is learning just how far his paycheck will not go. He is learning how to budget and manage his own paycheck with is always a good thing. He ask for extra hours and loves having his own money. Scooter is about to be allowed into the youth program at church. He can't wait. I just hope it lives up to his expectations. I loved my youth group growing up but found out really quick that it was not what i expected when I was allowed to attend. Hopefully he will fit in like he wants to and have really good friends there. We are planning out little mini vacation. This will be the first time in many many years we have all gone somewhere together. Usually its just me and the boys. Mcdaddy usually skips these events. We are going back to the Smokey Mountains. The boys and I went a few years ago and had so much fun. They want McDaddy to go then but he wouldn't/couldn't. Like I said this will be a short trip so we will not be able to do much. We plan on going to Rock City, Ruby Falls and go through some other caves. I'm taking my handy dandy camera and hopefully getting so really good pics this time. Hope everyone has a great end of the school year and a fun summer.

Frustrated Mom

2010-01-10T20:10:00.002-06:00

Yes that describes me today. Christmas came and went and so did the new year. Work is busy as usual and the boys are back in school. I'm glad to be back on a schedule. I usually walk daily with two ladies from the neighborhood. Friday morning started as usual with us walking but it was super cold. When we started out it was 17 degrees and I had on 4 layers of clothes and two sets of gloves. I sure didn't want to get cold but I do need to walk. We were walking right along until the car started coming. We all tried to get out of the way and I ended up stepping in a pot hole. I fell and hurt my hand and my foot. Both seem to be better and I know it will just take a little while to get well and start walking again. Fast forward to Sunday. Found out that the clutch is out in McMuffin's truck. I've said before we need to fix it and now its broken and it needs to be fixed really soon. I'm afraid it will just sit there with the excuse we can't fix it now and I'll end up with no vehicle. McMuffin will have to use my car or rather I'll let him since I only work one mile away but now is no time for this. We can't seem to fix my air in my car thats been broke for 3 years, nor can we fix the pop pop I have in my front end when I turn. The truck that I'm usually stuck with has no air, the door is screwed up and other things are screwed up on it. Now the other truck is broke and I just know there will be excuse after excuse on fixing this one too. I'm tired of this merry go round and want off.

Leading up to Christmas

2009-12-18T10:39:00.002-06:00

Just a week is left until Christmas. The outside decorations went up early this year. I was surprised that Pop wanted to put lights up since I usually do and he never gets around to it. I gave up years ago trying to make this happen. After the lights went up we put the tree up. Last year I didn't want a tree up. It just makes me sad since the money is low and I feel like I let the kids down when they do not get what they want for Christmas. This year it will be more of the same. Pop took the list, and since Pop gets a Christmas bonus check and I dont, he goes shopping. I tagged along and gave a little direction on some things but try to stay quiet. Its up to him. I can't do what I've always done and I can't get the big things they want so I just keep my mouth closed. Do you know how hard that is? The one day the following week I get it all out and count and see how many they each got. As usual one had more than the other so Pop gets to go back and fix that problem this weekend. I'll give just a little direction and see what happens. Scooter has already notice there is not much under the tree. They each have three small gifts, I have one and Pop has none under the tree. His was his motorcycle riding suit he already has. This makes me super sad but nothing I can do about it. All my income goes to pay the bills and there is nothing left for extras. There would be extra if and when I get the doctor bills paid (6 more months hopefully) and then try getting the tutoring bill paid after that. The bonus check seemed to pay Pops parents back the money he had borrowed from them and also pay for the leather motorcycle riding suit first, then Christmas second or rather third. Hopefully by next Christmas it won't be so hard and I'll be more in the spirit. Until then Bah Humbug!!

A family for Stacey

2009-12-11T14:50:00.002-06:00

Girl, Born February 18, 2005

SIGNIFICANT RISK, PLEASE ADOPT ME SOON!!

Stacey is a lovely young lady who is about to turn 5 years old. She has golden blonde hair and big brown eyes. Stacey is DEAF. She is totally normal for her age. Normal development. She is reading by lips, she understands when people are talking looking at their lips. She is a favorite in the orphanage, and the staff and director so hope to find a family for her. She is a beautiful girl with a great personality.

Can you tell I've been looking all morning at the http://www.reecesrainbow.org/angelgirls.html site? These little angels just break my heart. If you can't adopt one now can you give toward helping another family adopt them? Check out the site and see how easy it is.

A family for Olga. Can you be that family?

2009-12-11T14:21:00.004-06:00

Here is her information from Reece's Rainbow:

Olga is a beautiful girl with brown hair and deep brown eyes. She is almost 5 years old and has severe CP. She is not able to walk or do much of anything on her own. But she needs a FAMILY!
From one of our own adoptive families who visited with Olga in August 2009: "Little Olga really touched my heart, and I SO hope that she finds a family!!!!! She is such a pretty little girl with a very, very sweet spirit. Her CP is pretty severe, and I don't believe she sees well. Also, her hips look either to be dislocated pretty badly, or else they are just in a bad position. I didn't hold her or try to do anything with her on this first visit but I did talk to her, and stroked her face and arms and whispered sweet nothings in Russian to her. At first she seemed a little wary, but after awhile she softened and I could see what a beautiful little girl there was inside. To the right family who could handle her issues, oh, what a blessing she'd be. I just fell in love with her. I do have more pictures if anyone is interested."
Olga is almost 5 years old and is blessed to still be at the baby house. She is facing institutionalization this Winter, and will likely remain bedridden the rest of her life. :(( Someone please save Olga!
Now... if you are honest you are probably asking yourself the same question that I asked myself. This is all wonderful but, realistically, is anyone going to adopt Olga? In my heart we had to answer YES! We would not be raising money toward her adoption in vain... her family is out there, God is moving in their spirit.

Oh, and by the way, Olga means "Holy".

This post had me in tears. I so wish I could adopt a special child like Olga but I know I can't. How about you? Visit the Reece's Rainbow site and see all the beautiful special children.

Thanksgiving

2009-11-24T15:50:00.002-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. This year it will be a happy one for me. Since I am adopted and do not know my birthparents, I usually feel all alone on holidays. My adopted parents passed away many years ago and I was the only child they adopted. I know very few facts from being adopted and would love to find my birthparents. Growing up my adopted parents and I went yearly to South Alabama to my aunt and uncles house or to my grandmothers house. There were lots of cousins to play with and I loved it there. I always wanted to move there. I've gotten tired of being alone so with the help of facebook I have reconnected with my cousins and my wonderful aunt. We are heading to South Alabama to see (hopefully) all my cousins, their spouses, children, grandkids and my aunt. I can't wait. We went to visit not to long ago and my youngest son loves it there just as I did when I was young. He has been counting the days until he can go back. I so hope that both of my kids can find a family connection there and have some type of connection to family on my side. The next best thing to this would be for me to find my birth family and eventually have a relationship with them.

Homework Hussle

2009-11-18T11:25:00.002-06:00

There are alot of kids out there that do not understand all the stuff that is being taught. I know since I have one of these kids. We try hard most every night to work on what we do not understand but it doesn't always help. Many times I feel like I explain it really different than the teacher does and I give up. I get really frustrated since I do not have a text book in one subject and I do not remember the English grammar to be able to help with that. So I find myself doing the homework hussle almost every night. I've finally thrown up my hands and found a tutor to help with the English grammar. I'm very thankful that the Math teacher is willing to help during some of her planning periods so that we can try and bring that grade up. He just needs some one on one time to figure all this out. From what everyone says he does really well when they take him one on one and work with him. He just has trouble in the class room setting. I know its because the teacher can not wait on just that one person and must move on to something else and I can not do the home school thing since I do not understand it either. Its been so so long since I had to do anything with English grammar. I know I could remember if I had the time but after working all day and then going home to house work I just do not have the time or patience. Good Luck sweet boy. We will make it somehow. I hate that it seems harder for you than for others but your doing great. I'm so proud of you and I love you.

Don't sign up if you don't want to do it.

2009-11-18T11:18:00.002-06:00

Some things just bother me. Doesn't matter who does it. It doesn't have to be the kids or the husband just people in general. DO NOT SIGN UP FOR SOMETHING IF YOU REALLY DO NOT WANT TO DO IT. If you sign up then make good and dang sure you show up. Others are counting on you. This applies to charities, service projects, helping friends, studying with others, job applications and may other things. I do not want to hear "I don't feel like it today" because there are many many times that I do not feel like working or cleaning up after you or cooking you something when you should do it yourself. If you join a group and you know it is a service organization then you know you will have to do service projects. If you do not want to do this type of thing then don't sign up. Don't get upset when graduation time comes and you don't get as many scholarships because you do not have as many service hours as the others. Do not tell me it doesn't matter when I see every year that people get scholarships for service hours. Sitting at home watching the boobtube is not going to help you through life. A good job will take you far. Get out there and do something with your spare time. You might find out what your meant to be doing for the rest of your life. At least you will be getting the experience and you can use it on applications for years to come. Just because you do not get paid for your service does not mean it does not count in many ways. If you don't want to do service projects then do not sign up!!!

Surprise Party

2009-11-18T11:11:00.003-06:00

I planned a surprise party for McMuffin for his 16th birthday. I spread it all around on facebook and told many of his friends. I tried contacting many of the football players and others from school just to let them know. Thanks to A-Dub and J-Dub for getting him out of the house. A-Dub had been out of town with the youth group for a conference and called Mcmuffin to come pick him up and take him home. lol Good idea since there were many youth and a youth leader there that just couldn't do it. lol He fell for it hook line and sinker. Then they took McMuffin to a movie. By the time they got out it was party time. Many of his youth friends and a few kids from school were at our house to jump out and say "SURPRISE"!!!! The look on his face says he was very surprised and even more surprised to find out that I had planned it. They played games, ate hamburgers, chips and birthday cake. I'm so happy I pulled it off. Happy Birthday sweetheart. I love you!!

Race Tickets

2009-11-09T14:15:00.004-06:00

I love car races. It doesn't matter what kind. Drag racing, dirt track, or the big boys at Nascar. Imagine my response when dear Pops came home saying he had free tickets to Talladega. Woo Hoo I'm going to Talladega. I love it there. In years past we would take the camper a week early and set it up, then travel back there the following weekend and have a fun filled weekend at the race track. My boys have gone to several races. Some of our friends have also met us there and would camp with us. Well just think of how I felt when I found out that dear Pops had a ticket but I didn't. Those of you that know me I'm sure know what I thought. Might not have said it but I sure thought it. lol Since we no longer have our fabulous camper, dear Pops took Scooter's pup tent, McMuffin's sleeping bag and his motorcycle and road over to Talladega with his motorcycle friends. Since it was raining that weekend a little, they did not leave as early as they planned. They took their time and finally ended up at the camp grounds. Come to find out they had pit passes (but did not go), they had passes to meet Mark Martin (and they did this) and they got lots of free food. Pops said it was a little chilly (ya-think) in the little pup tent but he slept well. On Sunday they went to the race for a little while. By this I mean that he left early. Yes really early. He stayed for about 30 laps and got on his motorcycle and headed home. Now this is where I get upset. He wasted those tickets. I could have gone and taken my car and stayed for the entire thing. He could have come home whenever he wanted to but I could have watched the race and would have been able to see those wrecks at the end of the race firsthand. Sooo his wonderful free tickets were wasted as far as I'm concerned. I also noticed that lots of people are complaining about the race because all they did until the end was drive around the track. lol Well people thats just what race cars do - they drive around the track and try not to wreck. No its not as entertaining as the wrecks but its much safer. Who wants to smell burned rubber from wrecks. lol If I wanted to smell that I would just go burn my own rubber on my own car (yes I did this many times in my younger days).

No Child left behind

2009-10-06T13:05:00.005-05:00

I have been helping the kids study for benchmark test. These are the test that are suppose to tell how much you understood from the previous eight weeks in school. The dreaded nine week test. My youngest has major problems in school. Always has, I am guessing always will. We are both tired of the homework hustle we do each and every night for hours. No matter what he does and how many hours he spends studying it is never enough. He keeps his grades up by making sure he has his homework ready so he can turn it in each day. By doing this he can get a 100 homework grade which pulls up the bad test grades. This is where I have a problem with the process. Don't get me wrong. I do not want him to fail. I just think it makes it worse when he does not understand the chapters he is doing but is able to look up vocab words to turn in and then fail the test but still come out with a decent grade. As one chapter builds on the previous chapter he gets farther and farther behind but still has at least a C in the class which is passing. Next comes the dreaded MCT2 test in May each year. If he scores at basic or below he will then be put into a learning class that should help him. Why not help him before he gets to this point. Why not pay attention before the end of the school year and try to help the desperate parent that is struggling to help her child instead of saying he has a C in my class. He is fine at this point. NO he is not fine. He has no idea how to do scientific notation or even what the term means but yes he has a C+ or better in the class just for turning in homework. I've tried tutors, I've tried grounding, I've tried taking things away from him that he really wants, but it just doesn't help. The school says he can learn and is not special ed material which I totally agree with but he still needs help. No child left behind is leaving my child behind and I sit here totally unable to stop it. This seems to be a never ending cycle year after year. He keeps doing just enough to pass and get by and he still doesn't understand things that should come natural by now. Its because he was left behind years ago and was passed by turning in his homework. I've cried, I've screamed, I've begged but so far I still have no help.

Football

2009-09-29T10:36:00.000-05:00

Last night I traveled about 30 minutes away to watch McMuffin play football against some of his friends from another school. At one time he played baseball with them so it was good to see some friends from past years. We won 14 - 6 and have now won two games and lost one. One game was rained out and we have one game left for next Monday evening. We are not sure if the rained out game will be played or not. Since McMuffin is on the JV squad and must dress out for the Varsity squad games we go twice a week to football games.

Scooter is home sick today. Had a headache last night, this morning was cold and stomach was bothering him. So far no fever but I didn't want to take any chances so he is taking it easy. Since the bacon flu (yes swine flu) is out and about in the schools I didn't want to take a chance so when he called and said he was worse than when he left home this morning I went to get him. Last time he called like this he was better by that evening. I'm praying this time is the same.

Welcome

2009-09-28T13:44:00.001-05:00

Welcome to my new blog. I've been following several people on their blogs and thought I might like to try this also. I am married and have two wonderful boys. The oldest is almost 16 and is driving around everywhere. The youngest is 11 and loves to draw. We also have two greyhounds - Leprechaun and Lacy - and one fat old cat named Charlie Brown.

Pops is on the road alot delivering ice cream to all the stores. He is gone much of the time so its just me and the Mcmuffin boys. I am an office manager to a bankruptcy trustee and taxi service driver for my youngest son. I am adopted and an only child. Both my adopted parents have passed away so other than my in-laws and my husband and kids I am now alone. I have wonderful friends that take up much of what is missing at times when this all makes me sad. I would love to find my birth family and learn that I have many siblings.

My oldest son is nicknamed McMuffin at school which is what sparked the name of this blog. He has always been smart and almost doesn't have to study. Last year in the 9th grade he was 25th of 382 in his class. 25th sounds really nice but imagine what he could do if he would just study a little. One day this will come back to haunt him. McMuffin is on the football team and loves to hang out with his football friends and is very active in the youth group in our church.

Scooter loves to play pokemon cards in a league that meets twice a week, loves art and loves his cat. In school he studies really hard but seems he is just an average kind of kid and that's fine with me. Some of the things they do in school are over my head already and he is only in the 6th grade. Scooter is active in RA's in our church and can't wait till he can join his brother in the youth group.