Yeah Yeah, I know, it's been a long time...

Back again after way too long! Life is crazy and never seems to slow so-oh well-guess we all just do our best! We lost in the quarter finals for football so that was sad but text-guy got over it pretty fast. In some ways I think he was glad to be done. He was tired of being a good sport for all of the coaches insults. I think the coach meant to motivate him but that doesn't work for text-guy-he's much better with constructive criticism and instruction. Anyway, it was sad to sit at the last game and know it was the last high school football game I would attend as the mom of a player :( However I was pretty proud at the banquet when he got the Marine Corp's Outstanding High School Athlete award. It's given for having the Marine spirit and dedication and performing in all areas-academic and athletic. He really deserved it and we were very proud.

We had a good Christmas. Sally got a new I-pod, her last one was stolen, so she was very happy! Life is good when you have a cell phone and an i-pod right!? I-tune gift cards rounded out the take for both my kids and everyone was happy. bri-guy was smart and went with the universally perfect gift of green paper with presidents and I think he got everything on his list. We didn't do anything too memorable or creative this year but it was a nice relaxing, simple Christmas.

The real excitement of the last few months is related to text-guy and his cars-yes-plural. The first part of November he was going down the road happily with Brit and a girl ran a stop sign and hit the right front side. No one was hurt-Birt got a pretty good jar but was fine. Text-guy jumped out ready to see if the other driver was okay and found she was coming at him looking like she thought it was his fault! Well, he came at her with 'what are you thinking, didn't you see the stop sign?' She was just a teenager like himself but remember he's pretty big and I'm sure intimidating! She was all flustered and when when text-guy told her to move her car so she wouldn't block traffic or get hit (his car wasn't going anywhere-his axel was broke) she got in her car and drove off! Fortunately someone on the street got her plate # so they had that to give the officer. We got a call that afternoon from her father apologizing and saying she had paniced. Luckily they had insurance and had started a claim. The car was totaled of course and since it was already a salvaged title we only got 1200 for it. Then the search was on for a new vehicle. Not a pretty job!

We finally found something we could all agree on. A Honda Passport that we spent more than we wanted to but felt it was a good deal and was more car than anything we had found. Well, it turned out to pass inspection it needed new front wheel bearings (another $600) and we thought we were finally good to go. We drove it to Layton for the family Christmas party so text-guy could show his cousins and on the way home, the transmission went out. Yes, more money-$650 which was a good deal. Once again we thought it was all settled.

Driving home one night, text-guy hit a patch of ice, hit the curb thingy in the middle was pushed to the other side towards a ditch -which he could have put it in 4 wheel drive and backed out of-if it weren't for the reflector post. As he sheared it off, it launched him and he flipped over and hit on the top of his car on the opposite bank of the ditch and then fell down onto the passenger side and stopped. Text-guy was bummed as he hung there on his side and call 911 and then us. He was not hurt AT ALL! It was a miracle and am so glad he was wearing his seat belt. The police came and held the door open while he hoisted himself out and the paramedics questioned him and questioned him, checked his vitals and could see no reason to treat or transport him so he came home with us. One huge irony in this is that the same tow truck driver picked up the vehicle from both his accidents! What are the odds? Anyway, we felt the Passport was totaled and so with only liability insurance on it, text-guy is out of a car. He's saving but we have no more to give and it's working okay with 2 cars for the moment. He just doesn't enjoy driving a mini van to high school.

Here's some shots of the damage-doesn't look too bad but the post he sheared off must have done something because it wouldn't start.

Very sad to be out a vehicle and a lot of money with nothing to show for it. Sometimes life's lesson's really suck.

On the upside, text-guy got his Eagle Scout on Sunday-more later!