Being a mom of a teenager

     I've never been a mom of a 16 year old boy before, It's all new to me. I kinda stole that & adapted it from something my sister said to me.  I remind myself of it all the time.  When things are easy, and especially when things are hard.
     SAW is a good kid.  He's gone through a lot and has come out on top.  He might not see it that way yet, but he will someday!  He is doing great in school this year!  2 C's, 3 B's and 2 A's!  He is taking responsibility for his mistakes and his successes!  He has adjusted so well with this last move.  He's got good friends and a girlfriend.
     I don't know if I will ever think that any girl is going to be good enough for him.  Like any mother, I guess. I know that someday he will find someone perfect for him and I will just have to suck it up and let him work his way through it.  He does treat all women with respect, and has the potential to spoil someone he loves.  I hope that I have taught him enough to not get taken advantage of though.
    Being the mom of a teenager is hard.  Being the mom of a teenage boy is hard!  I never want to see him cry - for any reason.  I hate to see him frustrated - for any reason.  I wish he could have everything handed to him on a silver platter, but I also want to make sure that he knows that he has to work for what he wants.

Oh, I could go on and on....
I am scared to be the mom of 2 teenagers!

I'm going to do it!

I was playing around with some pictures today.  I fancy myself a bit of a photographer, but I am not much of a photo editor.  I really do believe that the photographer should just take really good pictures rather than take mediocre pictures and be able to turn them into something magical with a good editing program.  Now, don't get me wrong, that in itself is awesome!  I am jealous of people that have mastered Photoshop, even the books are intimidating (I have like 5 of them, but good Lord, who even wants to attempt it?). ANYWAYS.....I get sidetracked easily...
My point was that I was playing with some pictures today in Photoshop.  I was critiquing myself and playing around with the pictures I didn't think I'd keep anyways.  I found one picture that I loved while I was taking it, but looking at it today I found a million things I didn't like about it. Soooooo.... I changed it.  I am sure all of the professional Photoshop people could do a better job with it, but I am pretty proud of it. 
I have been seeing Wordless Wednesday posts on so many blogs I follow.  So, I decided that I am finally going to join in!  Tomorrow is going to be my first WW post with my new awesome (edited) photo.  Shhhh, it's going to be a Christmas present to someone.  I know that posting this today kinda bends the rules of WW, but it's my first time so forgive me, please. 
I always seem to want to explain things to death, just ask my son.

So, check me out tomorrow and join in the Linky fun!
And here's a few other pictures I played with today.

MJ Time

May and I have been having a rough time spending all day together and not seeing anyone else.  When SAW walks through the door I shed a little tear and say "Thank GOD you're home!" and I think May says it too!  He comes right over and scoops his baby sister out of my tired arms and instantly she's all smiles!  It's a special love -the love between a big brother and his sister.  I miss my brother terribly.

I planned on inserting touching pictures of SAW and MJ and of my brother and myself, but alas, my POS laptop has decided to eat all of my pictures... *sob* *sob*

Anyways...

When Bug comes home she scoops MJ up out of SAW's arms and plays with her for a few minutes too.  I am truly lucky that they all get along so well.  I'm not delusional tough, I know it won't last.  She comes back to me, a little happier after a break.  Then I make dinner, all the while trying to make sure that nothing hot gets splashed or spilled on her because she won't leave my side.  Then I feed her.  Yes she can feed herself, I just like to do it.  Here's a little video of her feeding herself yogurt just to prove it! Luckily this wasn't on the computer, still on the SD card. OK, so the video might not load either... I guess you'll just have to take my word for it! LOL!

So, anyways... I love having her back on a schedule of sorts.  She gets up anywhere from 6 to 8 am.  Nap time is around 11am, and if I'm lucky, again at 3pm.  Then bedtime is usually around 8pm. 
Well, after a long, particularly stressful & grouchy weekend she woke up around 7:30 and at 11:10 grabbed her new Penguin Pillow Buddy thing that she got from the East Idaho State Fair and said "nap".  She was headed for the couch until I reminded her that she naps upstairs.  She turned to me with a "oh, yeah" and we headed up the stairs!  No tears, no coaxing into bed, no nothing.  She was more than happy to take a nap with her new buddy and her "woobie" (blanket).

Thank you to my mother and sister for making sure that I know the importance of having your children on schedules!