The Lovatos

I can't remember having a busier weekend then the one we just survived. On Friday night I went to the mountain for our weekly bonfire. It was so busy! The Bear Trap Summer Festival was up there and we got the last bonfire site. It was beautiful up there and the bonfire was a blazing. On Saturday we went to Cheyenne so that Ashley could go to the Taylor Swift concert. When Santa brought her those tickets last Christmas I was sure she was going to ask her mom. But no, she decided to take her cousin Courtney. The girls had a blast and I am sure that she had a better time with Courtney then she would have had with her mother. We got back into town about two in the morning and got up and went boating and tubing with some friends. Stephen and Ashley both had a lot of fun tubing. They are a little sore today but had a great time. So now for my headline...what I missed last weekend...

I had another student die this past week. This time it was a little kid...she was 11. I had her three short years ago and her sister two years ago. This was a tough one! This little girl has the most insane mother in the world. This little girl, her sister, her mother and her mother's "new" boyfriend were traveling the northern part of the United States. The "new" boyfriend travels around doing odd jobs for people. While in Iowa the "new" boyfriend apparently made enough money for mom to get her nails done. So while she was in the salon getting beautiful nails with bright blue tips...This little girl and her sister decided to explore the mall. They started riding the escalator. Security cameras at the mall caught this little girl sitting on the railing riding the escalator. It also caught her falling over backwards...twenty five feet...and landing face first! This little girl of course was rushed to the hospital and was on life support for several days before dying. Mom decided to go on a couple more jobs in Minnestoa with the boyfriend before returning to Casper.  Oh yea! I forgot they didn't have money to ship the body home. This little girl's father came to the rescue and got his daughter home...did I mention he didn't know where his children had gone with their mother? I couldn't go to the funeral yesterday. I am not a violent person but I so would have lost it on the mother. When she brought her other children to summer school last Monday she had the nerve to tell us about the wonderful and fun vacation they had been on! After hearing her speak about her adventures and not even upset over the loss of her daughter I couldn't stomach it anymore.  She showed the beautiful nails with bright blue tips!   She was actually quoted (in the past) as saying that she didn't ever want kids in the first place! So I missed the funeral last weekend...

On a much lighter note...I also missed shopping for underwear for my grandmother. Thanks dad for catching that one...you're the best!!! <3 Steph

Teachers are supposed to have more time in the summer, RIGHT? Our summer has been very busy so far. Ashley has taken many dance classes getting ready for the next competition season. We just returned from Nationals in California at the Disneyland Hotel. She received 2 Diamonds (Platnium), 3 Rubies (Gold) and one Emerald (Silver). She did an awesome job and competed really well for a girl from a smaller dance community.

Stephen tested for his purple belt in Tae Kwon Do on Saturday. He passed the test and is now taking the advanced classes. In less then a years time he went through all of the lower belts and is more then halfway to his black belt. He is a tough little dude and now he has formal training.

Mike visited his family in Evanston over the 4th. He was able to spend time with both of his parents and brothers Rockey and Troy. He seemed to have a really good time but hated seeing how ill his father has become. He was also able to spend time with his nieces, Taylor and Savannah. He sent us pictures of the girls and they definatly look like Lovato's. I always thought Stephen looked like a Lovato but not so much after seeing the pictures of the girls.

Then there is Talladega. I always mention her as a joke because I don't want her to feel like she is not an important part of our family. This time I have real news about her antics. Tally got sick at the beginning of June. We aren't quite sure what made her sick but she stopped eating and vomited for at least a week. She was becoming dehydrated. We took her to the vet and after x-rays of her stomach it was determined that she had a virus. So we spent two weeks giving her antacids and vomiting medication. ONE DAY after finishing her medication she developed kennel cough. She got it from the vet the week previous. So more vomiting and two more kinds of medication! Just as she is getting back to normal we notice her whimpering and biting her tail. We are thinking yeast infection from the antibiotics. Mike and I were arguing about who gets to apply that cream...Anyway we take her to the vet and she doesn't have a yeast infection...she broke her tail! So two more medications. She seems to be on the mend however Mike kenneled her while he went to Evanston so I am waiting for the other shoe to drop. So she really was news worthy since the last update and quite expensive. They forgot to send me three hundred dollars for her in the tax rebate check!

I started teaching summer school today. I am making Stephen go with me since I haven't ever really gotten a chance to be his teacher. I made Ashley go when she was in second grade also. I am proud to announce that Stephen is going to have a very lucky second grade teacher next year. He is so much smarter then the new crop of incoming second graders I will be getting.

I am finally getting caught up at home after being gone for the 10 days we were in So. California. I love the California lifestyle. I just didn't get enough sleep this trip. It was nice to catch up with my California relatives and I got to meet up with a friend that I went to junior high with. On a whim I texted her as we went through the town she lived in while in high school. I had visited her many times in high school and a couple of times since then. I was surprised to receive a phone call from her and that she was in So. California also. We met up for lunch and it was really fun to get to visit with her. I hope to talk to her again real soon.

I had camera issues at Disneyland so I will only be uploading a few pictures. I am definately NOT related to my brother, mother, aunt and cousins when it comes to taking pictures. I don't like carrying my camera around and think it is easier not to hassle it. I have to go a get Stephen ready for his new class and get dinner ready for the family. Have a great one! Steph

My one year anniversary! 72 pounds lost! Seems like a lot to cheer about but...I still have a loooooonnnnnngggggg way to go. I am past the half way mark but want so badly to drop the weight as fast as I did in the beginning. I don't want to wish my life away but I do want to see what June 16, 2009 will bring. Will I make my goal? Will I be the thin person I have always wanted to be and have always felt like on the inside? Only time will tell and oh yeah another year of wishing I could eat my favorite foods again. Hey, though...I am a salad expert!

OK, yesterday I mentioned that Mike's daughters wouldn't call. I was half wrong. Abbie called. A lot of pleasantries were passed and Mike vented some long built up feelings. I am not sure anything was solved or ever can be...a lot of hurt has been passed back and forth. But at least they talked. He didn't hear from them last year on Father's Day. In fact he hasn't spoken to either of them for over a year. He did let them know of the passing of his family members last year but he mostly talked to their mom. But hey, at least he spoke to one of his daughters on Father's Day.

I have been thinking a lot about this holiday in which we celebrate our father's. Father's Day has been on my mind because I don't know what to get my dad. I get my mother the same thing every year and she seems pleased with her gift. But what about dad? He doesn't need the flowers I get mom every year. Here are a few of my thoughts...none of which solve the gift dilema! Fathers: I watch with a tad bit of jealously the relationship my son has with his father. Mike is truly the light of Stephen's life. Too bad Megan and Abbie are missing out on this relationship they could have with their dad. I am sure that they won't call Mike. Then, there is Ashley... I wonder what Randy could do to make his daughter worship him a fourth as much as Stephen worships Mike. She loves her dad but seems very content to talk to him on the phone every few days and be happy. This for me is very sad. Ashley has truly missed out on the joys of a close father/daughter relationship. I have watched the heartbreak Mike is experiencing right now believing that the end for his dad is near. Mike is full of regret that he lives so far away and hasn't been able to do more for his dad. He is also so angry that he has two siblings that live in the same town and are MIA when it comes to seeing Floy. I have watched and listened to my mom and her sister try to capture some of the father they remember. They want so badly to reverse the effects of my grandfather's illness. It is so hard to watch. I am also thinking about my brother and the joy he must be feeling while experiencing his first Father's Day. Finally, I feel lucky! My dad is the best. He is healthy and happy. He loves unconditionally, hurts when we hurt, is proud of all we have done and honors the paths we have chosen for our lives. I wish this moment in time with my dad could last forever. I think about all the situations above and feel very blessed to have the dad I have right now! I love you Dad! (I still don't know what to get you though!)<3 Steph

Where is the summer weather we are supposed to be experiencing? I don't think Casper has hit the 80 degree mark in 2008. The kids are experiencing their second full week out of school and arent' spending their days outside. Ashley has been to the pool twice but is disappointed that she can't get a tan because it is too cold to lay out. I have never played softball in so many layers of clothes for this long in the season. Stephen hasn't even been able to use his waterslide. It poured rain during his first coach pitch game yesterday. Summer...please come soon...the kids are getting cabin fever.

There is a plus side to the wonderful weather we are experiencing. I haven't even gotten the hoses out from winter storage and the sprinkler system is still winterized. It rains heavily every couple of days so the water bill is looking pretty good! Wyoming is also officially out of the drought stage.

Even though summer vacation has begun the kids are as busy as ever. I worked the first week of break writing curriculum for the district. It was rainy and cold most of the time so I really didn't miss much. Ashley finished her dance recital on Tuesday of last week and has begun work on next season's competition stuff. She attended a workshop last weekend that two famous hip hoppers and choreographers from many TV shows and dance videos put on. They choreographed a dance for about nine students from her studio. It is "true" hip hop. She has been teaching dance this week at a dance camp for younger students and has been putting in a lot of practice time for our upcoming trip to LA for Nationals. Oh yeah, on her down time she plays Junior Olympic fastpitch softball three to four days a week.

Stephen still takes Tae Kwon Do every day and is playing on a "Coach" pitch baseball team. He so badly wants to play Little League. He learned how to play a card game called, "GOLF" and tries to teach it to everyone he can. It is actually an adult game and has a high level of strategy involved but, he gets it. I have been making him add and subtract the scores to keep his math skills sharp. He also has to read for 30 minutes everyday before he can play the Wii. So he's busy.

Tally was sick for four or five days this past week. I had to take her to the vet early Monday morning because she was vomiting at least once an hour from Friday night on. They took x-rays of her stomach (quite pricey) and determined that she probably had a virus. She finally ate some food yesterday and gobbled a whole bowl full today. She also has been quite feisty today so I think she is on the mend.

Poor Mike has to work while we have all the fun. He is coaching Stephen's team. Stephen told him that he needed to practice pitching. Mike's dad has also been in the hospital twice in the last week. This time they are keeping him for a few days. We aren't sure what is wrong but he is becoming very frail and is always in a great deal of pain. He is supposed to be to be on oxygen 24 hours a day but has a hard time staying on it since he likes to smoke. I think he is at the point that it is probably too late to give up the cigarettes so he might as well be happy.

I am not really much into politics but OMG what in the world are the democrats thinking...sorry Mike!

This time of the year is so unbelievably busy! I have 11 days of school left. Report cards to do, awards ceremony and last blast activities to plan, class promotion lists to prepare, track days to attend, first grade conferences, school supply lists for next year, final choir concerts, 2 Tae Kwon Do tournments (one in Green River, one here), one more dance competition, three days of dance recitals, eoy parties to attend, American Idol winner will be announced, the Bachelor picks his new woman and B's graduation all within those 11 days! Summer vacation here I come! No wonder I want to sleep for the first week. Can't though...I am writing math curriculum for the district, pays very well, but it is during the entire first week of summer break.

We are looking forward to doing absolutely nothing constructive this weekend. We have been soooo busy lately that we find ourselves walking out the door as soon as we enter it. I think if people really stopped to think about the real purpose of owning a home they would find that it is merely a place to store your stuff. It doesn't seem like we have put in very much time here lately. A storage shed might be cheaper!

Ashley danced at the Calvary Game again tonight. We left at halftime after she was done because the Cavs were winning 76 to 6. The news just reported that the score was 97 to 12 with a minute left in the game. Watching the people at the games is the part I enjoy most. I think the whole thing seems to be staged anyway.

Mike just completed his first week of the day shift. It was weird to have to cook dinner again and to have him around. He really likes it but says it is so much busier then the night shift.

Stephen's teacher went to New York for a few days. He really misses her. She seems to really like him too. She always sends me the nicest e-mails about him. He learned how to do a flying side kick in Tae Kwon Do this week. He thinks it is the best kick ever. He also got his swords in this week to practice sword fighting for the next competition. Don't worry mom, they are padded poles with handles. He and Mike go after it nightly.

Tally just hangs out. She loves waffles. Every morning when I put mine in the toaster she sits and waits for them to pop up. If we are not standing there when they pop up she comes running to get us. It is really funny. We try to hide but she still comes and finds us. Of course, we have to share with her. She loves whipped cream on hers! (Random information you probably did not want to know but read anyway!)

So, Natrona County School District, in all of its infinite wisdom, designated April 21, 2008 as a "make up" snow day.  School hasn't been canceled all winter so we are off today.  Seems kind of strange to be off for no reason.  Seems like they could have made us go to school today and not made us come back the day after Memorial Day.  But we will, for just one day.  I wonder how many students I will  have show up on that day.  Mike started day shift today and we are all home.  Funny! 

Yeah! Mike finally gets to go to the day shift on Monday. I am not sure we are going to remember how to handle having him home in the evenings. It couldn't have happened at a better time with spring sports starting. Ashley still has one more dance competition and recital coming up in the next 6 weeks. She will also begin to play her fourth season of girl's JO Fastpitch softball a the end of this month.

Stephen's Tae Kwon Do continues throughout the summer months. He missed the birthday deadline for Little League Baseball by 14 Days! The board won't make an exception so he is stuck in another season of the Boys and Girls Club program. He gets to play "Coach Pitch" baseball this season. My friend Kalen, who used to play for my brother, worked hard to get Stephen in but no luck. Kalen also suggested softball since Stephen is bored with T-Ball but you have to be seven to do that also. We knew sports would be a problem with sending him to school at a younger age but we thought it would be at the High School end. Who knew they would be so picky with a first grader! Oh well, there is a reason for everything! Right! Stephen will be going to another, bigger tournament in Green River for Tae Kwon Do in May. He is really excited because his dad ordered him some equipment to practice board breaking.

My softball season has already begun. My women's team was supposed to have our first practice last Wednesday night. It snowed! I was so excited to get the phone call that said no practice. I am in the process of uploading the last 100 or so cruise pictures. I hope it doesn't take all day again. My old e-mac seems to be holding up well but is not as fast as I would like when using it for uploads. Have a great Spring Weekend. Remember to love you children, especially the teenagers, their hearts are sooooooooooo fragile! *Hint, hint to AShley's SD!

Ashley and her dance group had a fabulous weekend. Ashley and Brian scored a Diamond Award. Ashley and McKena scored a Diamond Award. All three solos received Diamond Awards. The group dances she was in received 1 Emerald (second place), 3 Rubies (first places) and 7 Diamonds (highest award). Her dance studio received the Sweepstakes Award (most diamonds scored by any group). Oh yeah, the biggest accomplishment of the weekend for Ashley was a beautiful bouquet of flowers from one of the duo partners mentioned above.  Bet you can't guess which one!

Ashley is competing this weekend at a Regional Dance Competition. Last night she presented three solos and all three received the "Diamond" Award (the highest possible). She also received Category Winners on the the solos and had one of the solos rank #3 out of 60. Her second solo finished number 12. Not too shabby. She competes in 13 more dances over the next two days.

After a two months as an orange belt Stephen tested and was promoted to a green belt this morning. He only needs to complete five more levels before he can test for a black belt!

Tally hasn't really accomplished anything this weekend. She just likes to be outside and enjoying the spring weather we are having. (She feels left out when she isn't included in the accomplishments of her siblings!)

Stephen and Mike left at 4:40 this morning for a Tae Kwon Do Tournament in Green River, Wyoming. This is Stephen's first tournament and he is really excited. I don't know if he is more excited about the tournament or about getting to be alone with his dad. I asked him if I could go too and he flat out said, "NO!" After Green River, they are headed to Evanston. Stephen hasn't seen Mike's parents or grandparents since he was 2ish.

Ashley is with her dad this weekend. She has been logging in many additional hours this week at the dance studio. Next Friday, Saturday and Sunday she will be dancing in her biggest competition of the season. Sixteen dances. This is the competition that determines what dances will go to LA in July. That is why I stayed home from Green River. She has competition pictures and dress rehearsal today. There are ALWAYS a million costumes changes or add-ons that have to be taken care of at the last minute.

So, Tally and I get to hang out together. I am really kind of looking forward to the time. I feel like I have been sooooo far behind in everything since the end of February. I need to get caught up. So I am screening the phone calls and diving into getting things back on track.

Look in the photo gallery under Cruise 2008. I uploaded more pictures. I still have 90 or so to go but my dang battery on the camera keeps dying during the upload process. I will post Stephen's results of the tournament later this evening.

I am having major issues uploading pictures.  I do have 134 uploading 

right now.  There are still 455 to go.  I will try to get the rest 

tomorrow.  Sorry mom.

Wow, by the look of all of the pictures uploaded from the cruise by my other family members, I must be a slacker! I haven't even had time to check my e-mail yet and we've been home for 5 days. It is hard to believe that just one short week ago we were hanging out in the Caribbean! I can still close my eyes and picture all that blue. I truly can't imagine a more beautiful blue. We really had a great time. Ashley met a lot of fun people. Stephen enjoyed mom and dad time. He came home a little brown bean from hanging out in the pool and ocean all day. Both of my children got to experience Speedos and naked people hanging on the beach. Ashley, Mike and I decided that before a person wears a swimsuit (especially bikinis and speedos) in public they should have to go in front of a panel of 10 people! Wow! Actually it is kind of cool that people have such a high regard for their bodies that they feel comfortable in public with all their rolls of fat hanging out of a tiny swimsuit. YIKES! We had a blast and can't wait to go again. The ship was awesome. I don't believe that we made it to all of the areas. Definately next time! One more piece of good news for me...I lost a pound on the cruise. I wonder if the rest of my family can say the same?????