Lauren's Dating!!!!!

Can I renig on a promise to let Lauren date when she turned 16? She has been 16 for two months and approached me a couple of weeks ago about dating.

Well her first date was him coming over to play WII and watch a movie. No problems and he seems to be a good kid.

The second date (valentines day) was more nerve racking for me. It started with him telling me when I answered the door that the flowers he was holding were not for me:) While they were watching a movie in the other room the door closes by itself and I have to go in and prop it open. Then I notice their sitting together with a blanket covering them. I remember my youth and cringe and scream inside but bite my lip and walk away. She understands my concerns and now the new rule is that if a blanket is used then they need to be in seperate chairs. I need help! Mandy rarely brought boyfriends over so this is somewhat new to me. Am I overreacting? I am glad she feels comfortable having him over rather than who knows were else.

I need to know what you women think about this. What do little girls want their dads to do? I thought about having my step son over to clean his guns when I introduced him to her 6'6" 300#plus step brother. Ok I'm just kidding I will leave the guns in a safe place.

I am done venting now. I am all ears. What do you think?

Mandy is Disney Nice!

Well finally I have time from my busy summer/fall to continue what I left unfinished in March. To tell everyone about my other favorite daughter Mandy. Sorry Mandy I feel bad that it took this long to post this after bragging about Lauren. Both of you girls make me look good every day.

Mandy has always been very persistent and knows what she wants and goes and gets it. She has the smarts and determination to do whatever she wants. She started college right out of high school with the help of some scholarships. One which was from winning Oconto's Miss Copperfest!

She is now in her third year of college and is doing an internship at Disney World and interviewing for a professional internship. I admire her desire and determination to do whatever it takes to find the money and grants etc to continue her education. I could not come up with the money I needed to go to technical college so I chose the Navy.

We had a very nice trip in her car driving from Wisconsin down to Orlando. We stopped in Charleston and Daytona Beach. After spending 6 days with her in a car and sightseeing etc. I am totally convinced that whatever she chooses to do in life she will be successful. She is definitly all grown up now and making me prouder every day! She now is sort of friends/dating a marine in Orlando and I told her to tell him the only good marine is a submarine:) Just kidding, she just likes military men like her Dad. What could be wrong with that?
Good luck Mandy in Orlando and finishing college and doing whatever makes you happy. You deserve it!

Growing Up! Oh My!

I often thought that my girls would be grown up when they got married and had kids. Boy was I wrong. I realized Mandy had grown up so to speak when she visits and she no longer has to be asked to do the dishes or I can tell she really means it when she says thank you.

I really want to brag about Lauren. I will fill you in later about Mandy and her school and travels later.

Just like her big sister the first time I realized Lauren really was growing up was seeing her for the first time in their prom dresses. WOW is all I can think of (See Pic). Lauren is now also starting to be more outspoken and take on her own personality when it comes to dealing with me. By that I mean she argues with me more now about what she thinks instead of just saying yes Dad all the time. I remember what it was like to be a teenager in a house where your feelings were not allowed to be expressed very frequently if at all. So I try my best to listen more.

Lauren will be driving in a couple of months also. I wish there was an anti stress pill for the both of us before we go out on that first lesson. Any suggestions are appreciated. I don't mean for a good drug either! She is very sensitive and I think she might take some of the things I am saying to her as being too critical. I am sure we will be just fine. I just wanted to sound off a little and prepare myself some by writing about it here. I also just wanted to show every what a beautiful daughter I have.

Bathroom Thoughts are the Deepest!

A few days ago my sister Barb wrote in her blog a funny story about texting from the bathroom and few days earlier my other sister Mary wrote about looking at her inner self in the bathroom mirror. So too keep with the bathroom theme, here are a few thoughts of mine while I am in the bathroom. I tend to peek out of the shades and look out the window. Across the street is the local church where there is always something going on. I try to imagine all that has happened there over the years. How many masses? Weddings? Funerals? First Communions? Confirmations? Picnics? This church is going to be torn down soon and replaced by a new one out of town. I often think of the day my parents were married there and what that day was like. Model A's or T's lined up out front. Was rice thrown? Was there a party after? I will definitely have to ask Mom about that some more.
One summer day I was outside washing my car and got the crap scared out of me from the guns being fired in a final salute to a veteran at his funeral. I stopped and stood at attention and paid my respects. That reminded me of my fathers funeral where he too was honored with a gun salute and taps. I also get to see neighbors in there pajamas letting the dog out or the lady walking her dog past the house. Or the kids walking home from school.
Maybe the reason I find this interesting is I use to live in the country and never saw more than a few squirrels and birds in the backyard when looking out the kitchen window into the woods. Now I have a live view from my throne of a different kind of wild life.
I think every house I live in from now on will have to have a view from the throne. It gives me time to just relax and observe all the things happening around me. Taking time to reflect and observe those around you is always fun to do even if your not on the throne!

I'm Spoiled Too!

Sorry Sis I could not help but steal your title. You see I thought you were talking about MrsRooster in your post. Once again I was in Sunny Georgia on business and Mrs Rooster was home snowblowing our place and the neighbors again during the same blizzard I am sure. Lil L(Daughter) even helped the neighbor the next day finish the job. Her reward was (In her words) the fluffiest choclate chip cokies she ever had.
Even though I was not home Mrs Rooster still made dinner for Lil L. She is always glad to cook for us and her kids. Yesterday we had her famous pizza burgers that according to her kids they have not had in ages!
We do not have a fireplace so she did not get her ax out when we ran out of kindling;0 Her talents are many and are mostly helping others whether it is in her job or at home. I REALLY AM SPOILED and she will be the first to agree with that statement. Don't tell her I said that, she might start asking me to cook also. I can cook but I am sure everyone in the family prefers her meals. I will stick to what I am good at like crawling into the attic and changing bathroom ceiling fans.

I'm Home!

After a week on the road in Savannnah for work I am glad to be home to snow and cold! Nothing beats home. My wife had to try and shovel the driveway while I was gone. Well she usually enjoys the exercise but it snowed everyday while I was gone and was real wet and heavy. She learned real quick how to start and run the snow blower. She even did the older couples next door. She had my boots on and was bundled up pretty good so the neighbor asked is that you Tracey? She amazes me alot of times in the things she does for others all the time and now shes even amazing the neighbors. Now that I am home of course it hasn't snowed for a few days now.

Another reason I am glad to be home is because now Tracey and I can watch the Packers play in the championship game together with friends at the golf course. Last week was good to see the pack win again but it was not the same without her to watch it with. All year we watched it together at home or with friends or went to the game in Green Bay or Dallas. My prediction is the pack is going to beat the Giants 31-20. Go Pack Go!

Happy Birthday!

Yesterday I started the day by calling Tracey at work and singing happy birthday to her over the phone. Mandy came over later in the day and surprised Tracey with some delicious cupcakes. Jessie, Mandy and I sang happy birthday and went out to a new restaurant in Pestigo. We had a great time and some good food.
After getting home we visited for awhile and somehow the subject of our heritage came up. We had a good laugh when Mandy said she thought she was indian! Grandma supposedly told her this a long time ago for a report she did for school. We called grandma and she laughed with us and confirmed there is no indian blood in our family. I have a hard time remembering my heritage for some reason. Mom was German and Norwegian and Dad was French, Irish, Scottish, and English. Or as I like to say American. Generations to come will truly be a heinz 57 or just good old American.
I have spent a good part of the last couple of days dreaming and planning a bike trip to Virginia for the nascar race. Virginia is for lovers:). I think planning trips for the warm months on these cold and rainy blahh days is a great way to dream and get through the day. We may even stop to watch Tiger Woods smack some balls around at the Wahcovia Championship in Charlotte.