Science Project NIGHTMARE

OK, so I will fully admit:  I am a procrastinator.  I work better under pressure.  But will my child?  Do I teach her about mapping out her time to make the most of it, or do I teach her the bad habit of procrastination just because it is easier?  I elect for procrastination!  Hold on people, just joking. 

So my child has a fourth grade science fair experiment due March 9th.  I have been trying to be the good parent.  I gathered all the materials we needed and tonight we got started.  Unfortunately,  I have a child who could care less about all of this and is only doing it because she has too and a husband who wants no part and fights with me when I ask him for some guidance.  I should say, that once the fighting was over, he did help with what I asked him to.  Thanks Dear.

Trying to get your kid to think for herself is no easy task.  Mine is very smart, yet she will try and manipulate you into answering everything for her. (Guess she learned some laziness from me after all)
She started out fine, but after being asked the same question three times on the same piece of paper, got a little tired of trying to find a new way to word her answer.  I don't blame her.  I was getting irritated also.  I mean, come on, they are 10!  If you want them to become future scientists, then you shouldn't expect them to do these projects at home, with parents who hate these things.  I mean, we already had to do these type of projects for numerous years and celebrated when the torture was finally over.  I know I did!  Sorry, but I am no scientist. 

We tried to pick a fairly easy experiment, in both procedure and final result.  We are finding out which type of sugar, white or brown, forms crystals faster on cotton string.  4 easy steps and then a week of monitoring and something fun to show the other kids and judges.  So I thought.  Then you start trying to answer their "procedure time line sheet", they are trying to keep the kids and parents from falling behind, and our simple project became too simple.  Oh well, we have completed the questions, and because nerves are raw, we are going to complete the sample graph tomorrow.  It is not due until Friday, so I guess we are technically ahead of schedule.  I just hope it stays that way.

 How many more years of this do I have to go? I must have been pretty evil in my past life.  HA!

to birthday or not to birthday

So yesterday was my birthday.  Yes, I am one of those unfortunate people whose birthday fall near or on a holiday.  And mine is almost worst than Christmas!  It is Valentine's Day!  The most commercialized holidays of them all.  People spend absurd amounts of money on flowers and candy and diamonds all to impress the one they love.  Or maybe to whoo the one they want to love them.  Either way, my birthday gets the short end of this stick!!  Now I am a 37 year old woman who should not care of these things, but people, I LOVE my birthday!!!  I mean it when I say LOVE.  I am going to be that 90 year old lady at the nursing home singing myself Happy Birthday, because no one else there is going to be able to remember.  HA!  If my mother doesn't call me early enough, I actually call her and sing "Happy Birthday to me", it drives her crazy!  LOL She called me at 6:30am just so she didn't get that phone call.

Anyway, me and my husband will be celebrating 17 years of marriage this May.  Now he is no romantic and that is perfectly fine with me.  I hate the blubbery cards and the hoopla associated with Valentine's Day.  But, in all these years, I have ALWAYS woke to a wonderful, perfectly chosen birthday card on my night stand.  Until, this year, that is.  He doesn't know it, but my feelings were REALLY hurt, when I found the card, he had bought on his way home, on my nightstand last night at 9pm when I was going to bed.

I don't need a present, in fact, many of the years we have been married, we just haven't been able to afford them.  And this year, well, is really no exception.  We didn't get paid until today.  But really? My birthday is no secret.  He couldn't have picked up a card a week ago?  Am I over reacting?  I have been asking myself this question all day.  Maybe all of these years he has waited until the last minute to get my card and I just didn't know it.  All I can say to that is, I didn't know it!  This year, this year hurt my feelings.  I don't know how to tell him because then his feelings will be hurt.  I have a kind and considerate husband.  He doesn't hurt me on purpose.  I tried not to make a big deal out of it yesterday.  I am trying to be an adult about it.  But people, my 10 year old made me a card and gave me $5 of her own money. (I put it back in her piggy bank when she went to school)  She does love her mommy. :)

I just don't know.  I think I am feeling better about the situation now.  I can tell you he was more upset when I told him he was not allowed to spend any money on me for Valentines Day.  I guess at some point this year, I will have to break down and tell him how much I loathe the big V Day.  I mean, it has been robbing me of my birthday all of these years and I now think that I am fed up!!  NO MORE!!  This is the last year that damn, made up, over exaggerated holiday takes over my birthday!

Busy, Exciting Patterson Weekend

Well, this was the big birthday weekend for my monkey!  She turns ten on Thursday the 9th, so we had quite the sleepover party on Saturday.  We started the day at Lily's Pampering Spa in Seattle.  They did a wonderful job catering to the girls. They got manis, pedis and make up.  This was very exciting for the four girls. My little big girl is the one in the peace sign.  This girl is a genuine 80's baby, must have been all of the 80's music I listened too when I was pregnant.

We then went for some lunch at Dick's Drive-In, her favorite.  This pic is her with her BFF Lilly, wearing the ultimate present.  It is a grey wolf hat with attached mittens.  Your BFF always knows the best presents to give. The other girls got her great things also, she loved everything.

We then headed to the mall for some retail therapy.  We shopped til we dropped.  Almost literally.  My feet still hate me.  LOL  The girls were really good and it was a great time had by all.  We refueled at Olive Garden and then headed to the hotel.  Yes, I said hotel.  A girlfriend of mine gave me the idea and it worked out perfect!  The girls loved it and so did us adults.  It really was a wonderful day and night had by all.

We were all home and ready for the Super Bowl today.  My poor NY Giants loving husband was a nervous wreck.  He knew the Patriots were looking to reclaim the ring they lost in 2007, so he was really hoping his team could last all 4 quarters.  And of course they did, but they had to do it in classic NY style and not win until the final seconds of the game.  I swear that team is trying to give me a stroke at 36!

So, all and all, this was a great weekend for the Patterson household.  We enjoyed a wonderful birthday celebration and my husband gets to hold his head high tomorrow when he goes to work and throws this crazy win in all of the haters faces.

I will say sorry to my cousin Casey, who is unfortunately, a huge Patriots fan.  Maybe next time sweetie.