Happy Summer! Long time between updates. Life is busy around here. So let's see where did we leave off.... High School: So after many sleepless night, we have chosen a local Charter high school for tay. She got into 2 privates and got transfers into 2 publics. The privates did not give me enough financial aid to continue to allow me to eat. LOL So we chose public. The school is transitioning from a public to a charter this year. So far so good. I have joined the operations committee at her new school and am helping to make decisions on the basic running of the school. It's been very informational for me. Tay has already gotten involved in sports at school. Yes they start very early. While try outs aren't until August, she is practicing twice a week for volleyball.
Volleyball: Tay had a great season this year with competitive volleyball. Her team finished 20th overall out of 184 teams. It was such a confidence booster. She really came into her own in vb this year. While she still struggles playing the position she wants (middle) due to her height disadvantage, she did her best. It does look like she'll be playing back row in high school. Which is fine with her.
Soccer: A season that struggled a little last year. Tay lost her spirit in the spring. However it's a new year and she is trying to work with a relatively new team. They lost 5 players and picked up 7 new ones. It's definately challenging to figure it out. Her coach is starting to recognize that teamwork and trust extended beyond the soccer field. Something we've been saying all along. Hopefully these team fun dinners and events will help the girls build that trust they need. It would be nice if we had a back-up goalie too though....We had a terrbile tournament in Santa Maria but it was great for team building and trust. After the tournament tay and I along with another girl and her mom went to the dunes to play around before we drove home.
Middle School: Tay ended middle school with a fabulous graduation and
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| Jag sports award |
dinner/dance. We are very proud that tay won the conveted sports award. Not only does she get a plaque for the house but her name will be placed on a perpetual plaque at school. Always leaving our mark somewhere! She had a good crowd come and watch her graduate too. Including her Grandma and Grandpa from Palm Springs. It was so thoughtful of them to travel up for this event. 
I felt like a bad hostess though to all my family and friends. They all travelled for her event and since I was one of the committee members, I was dealing with so many issues that day. We had a little dramz behind the scenes but the event overall went off without a hitch. 
For the summer, I am keeping my kid busy with a JOB...thats right a JOB. So between vacations and camps she is working. She's not making any money but she is getting practical experience that she can use in the future. This will most likely be her last "camp" summer anyways. So far so good. They tell me she is working hard and they enjoy having her around. She has already secured employement for next summer..of which she'll be paid a smaill stipend. It's as a Jr. counselor so she half camper half counselor. It still gives her the luxury to come and go. The following year she would have to be available for the better part of the summer and truly get paid. Which at that point she would need it to pay for her gas. Oh, I just can't believe how old my child is getting. Well she's not a child anymore. She's my height, beautiful young woman. UGH! Now that she's heading into highschool I have to worry about the worst thing...BOYS! Crap. On the vacation front, I am getting ready to book our next trip. I can't believe it's almost 11 months away. We are headed to the world with my brother and sister and their families. It will be nice to spend some quality time with my siblings and niece and nephew. I am booking a 2 bedroom condo thru my time share. So we will all drive each other crazy LOL. I haven't been to a park with little kids in a LONG time. I hope my patience holds out. The good thing about the world is there is alcohol everywhere and I'm not driving. HA! After we finish our disney trip, tay and I will head down to port canaveral for a week long cruise on the new fantasy ship. I can't wait to test out the new ship. Hopefully my finances will stay on track. I have managed to make some major financial adjustments. Now to use them to their best advantage. Still working out some plans but it looks like I could make some major dents in my finances and still take care of everything else. That would be nice. I'd really like to go back to europe with tay before she graduates high school. We shall see. I'm also worried about the college debt so I'd like to get as ahead of the game as possible. I also have a lofty goal to drop some pounds. It seems I always have this goal but i've decided to do it slow and sure. I'd like to drop 20lbs a year over the next 4 years. That will put me at a weight I can date at LOL. No vacations for us this summer. Tay just got back from a trip with her dad to see her gma/pa in so cal but otherwise we are just working and trying to get ready for high school. I'll take a day here and there but otherwise, nada. I hope you all have a great summer. Get out and get sun. Enjoy the weather!
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| Me at Oso Flaco Lake Dunes entrance |
