A very happy 13th birthday to Rachel Turner! Hope to see the pictures from your party and newly redecorated room soon. Your mother is such a slacker!! He! He!

Secret is out

Well that secret didn't last long as Katie was home last night and part of today. She didn't seem too upset about the amazing cleaning job I did on her room. It worked out well as far as the sleeping arrangements as Sarah spent the night at a friend's. Emily had a friend spend the night here and it was really nice having the extra bed in her room. It was a quick trip for Katie - long enough to get laundry done and see Zane. You know - all the important stuff! She'll be home again next weekend to work so we'll get to see her a little longer. It's almost like she's been away at camp - long enough to miss her - but not enough to feel like she doesn't live here anymore. She felt like she wasn't really making too many new friends but got texts from five different people at school wanting to see if she wanted to hang out last night. Guess she might be rethinking that friend thing. I think the freshmen are just now starting to get settled into a routine and venturing out a little more. I know on the tv shows people meet their new BFF the day they move in. . . welcome to the real world! Megan and some of her new friends had a surprise birthday party for their friend, Bill today. They went out to eat, to Mill Race Park and then hit the mall. Hours of clean teenage fun. I'm thrilled she's venturing out again. I knew we needed to do something drastic to help her get back on track, but was really nervous that having her switch schools (especially to the "Jesus School" as her East friends call it) might make her totally shut herself off from all of us. She is getting involved at the school, too. She'll be doing basketball cheerleading and is already involved with Yearbook, too. I have no idea about their basketball teams. Didn't even know they had them until this summer. I guess with the cheerleading it's such a small school that you either cheer or are on cheerblock. But I'm thrilled to see her making an effort so quickly into the school year. It seems as if she may have realized that she needed a clean start, too. It is wonderful to see not only Megan - but a smiling, laughing Megan again. Another reason for her smile lately has been thanks to Cody, her boyfriend of three months. He seems to be a good sounding board for her (and she for him). But whatever the reason(s), we are thrilled to watch her enjoying life again!!!

Shhh...don't tell Katie....

Tuesday Emily had a sick day due to pink eye. Yuck! So I got to stay home with her. Not exactly a day off, though. I know Katie will hate to hear this - but I took all the stuff from her bureau and desk and shoved (I mean gently placed) it in boxes that are now either shoved (oops, gently placed) under the bed or on shelves in the closet. The bathroom has been totally disinfected. Not an easy feat, mind you! Teenage girls have so much "product" it's mind boggling! Shampoo, condition, comb out and blow dry. Maybe the occasional curl. At least now that I'm working I do. Before that it was wash and go! I can't imagine doing all that other stuff

day after day. I guess I'm just not one for primping. I've got too many other things to do. Like clean a teenager's room so her youngest sister can use it while she's not home. Sarah hasn't "officially" moved in yet. She can't as the drawers and closet are still filled with Katie's stuff. But she's thrilled to be able to hang out, do homework and sleep in "their" room as she calls it. It looks so bare without all of Katie's things in it that I'm going to have to help her put her own stuff out. Katie will be home the weekend of the 12th so I'm SURE she'll get a box or two put down the basement - perhaps between rounds of switching laundry? I have to admit I almost feel like a teenager with a crush everytime I get a text from Katie. Remember that feeling - butterflies of anticipation? Then the exhilaration when you were acknowledged by the "crush". I just don't know of any other way to put it. She started classes yesterday and was excited at the end of the day. I'm glad my girls are settling in and happy where they are!

Olympians RULE, dogs drool!

What was that about an orange bubble, Diana?? Rain, what rain??? A little rain couldn't put out our Olympic Flame! I LOVE FOOTBALL!!! (I even love North football every week but one each year) To all our North friends - thanks for being such good sports about the cross town rivalry! In your defense your team is very young and shows great promise for the future. But for now..................

WE'RE NUMBER ONE!!!

May the best (EAST) team win...

Can't believe it's been a year already but it's time for the big cross town rivalry football game again! To all my misguided friends that have children attending North, I'm sorry for your loss tonight! Seriously though I hope everybody has a great time and cool head prevail. Wouldn't it be cool if they would let us use Lucas Oil Stadium one of these years for this game? Maybe then it wouldn't be so hard to walk through the crowd to get to the bathroom or concessions.

A big Happy Birthday shout out today to Katie's boyfriend, Zane, who turns 18 today! I texted him at exactly midnight last night to wish him just that. Then told him to go to bed it's late. :) Always the mom, I guess!

Welcome Home, Katie!

Yesterday we moved Katie and Jaime into their new room at IU. This is a day they have dreamed about for a long time. They actually have a decent space. It is up about a half flight of stairs (which meant easier for unloading!). That makes it look like a second story room from the outside so nobody walking by can see into their window. They also have a huge tree in front that affords them tons of privacy. I think the girls did a GREAT job of planning out how to do a room. They took a very bland and boring room and turned it into a cozy home. It was controlled chaos for the first few hours with six of us in there trying to unpack and organize stuff. It was funny to see what they thought was so important that they had to take with them. Typical girls - shoes, clothes and purses. I think you only need three pairs of shoes. One for the shower, one to go to class in and one if you want to dress up a little. I think Jaime has about fifteen pairs just on top of her wardrobe closet that she couldn't fit in the drawer. Katie had enough tops to not wear the same one for at least a month, I'm guessing.

They printed out tons of pictures and posted them all over their room to add to the color and homey feeling. They used the bookshelf to hold purses and accesories instead of it's intended purpose. Too funny!

This is the final product of a long day's work. No, they didn't call each other to plan what to wear (or coordinate it to their room on purpose, either!) How long do you think that rug will stay white??? I guess they'll learn that lesson the hard way....maybe it will get dyed over the Christmas break. But they're all moved in and loving it so I guess that's mission accomplished. David was banned from the room for a little while because he was hungry and trying to rush us. He was sitting outside when this woman and her child walked passed. She kind of laughed and said, "Hang in there, Dad!" I guess he wasn't the only one banned. David was really happy to find out that their dorm building is all girl. There are guys in the complex - but they have their own buildings. No running into that cute guy in the hallway when you aren't looking your finest. So we hadn't even gotten out of Bloomington before we got our first call from her. She's having problems with her computer accessing the internet. Something to do with her still being linked to the domain here at the house. It's all geek to me! So she's a bit frustrated having to sit around and wait for the IT help people to get to her. Sometimes it sucks to be the "adult" and be at someone else's mercy. With an incoming freshman class of 7500 moving in yesterday - it may take them a few days to get to her. No internet of her own for days????!!!! What's a girl to do??? Um, borrow Jaime's computer to post your pictures on myspace???? MOM! You just don't get it! Yeah, I guess not. Not the first time and I bet it's not the last time, either. The house is already quieter (and not in a good way)! It's like she's sleeping over at someone else's house - but I know in my heart this is a lot more permanent. She's having fun....she's flying alone....she's having fun....this is what we raised her to do - go out on her own (could someone help me pick up the pieces of my heart, please?) Good luck at IU girls and have a GREAT year! Text occaisionally for something other than money....

We love you both and miss you already!

College Luggage

So tomorrow is the day we move Katie into her dorm. The bags (trash ones, of course) are mostly packed. Time for the last goodnights to her sisters. I was truly pleased to see that everyone was in a playful mood. It was like when they were younger and all got along so well. Shades of the women they will become, I hope. Just a little time left yet tonight to spend with Zane. How hard this must be for them! I am surprisingly doing well with it all. Maybe it will hit me tomorrow when we drive away without her.

Shades of leaving her at the daycare when she was seven weeks old??? I was at least smart enough that morning to not put any makeup on until after I'd dropped her off. I figured I would just cry it all off and make a mess. I really am excited for her though. I know she is a smart young woman and will make good choices. I hope these are some of the best years of her life! But I also want her to remember the way home....