SAT is over now applications and the wait

The SAT's are now done and scores are in - not what he wanted. Its hard to tell my son that its not the end of the world when they really wanted a better score but life goes on. He is still applying for Pace & FAU. I have my fingers and toes crossed that he gets excepted to one of them.

Christmas break is going on and so that means over the holiday homework which most will know that means procrastination! LOL He is getting better but I have to keep pushing him. I will post after the break!

Happy New Year everyone!

SAT's take 2

Second SAT taken on Saturday - keeping fingers crossed that the scores are much better this time. This whole thing is just so frustrating especially as a mom. I can only support him and hope he did much better. College applications going out - a bit late but we need to wait for the new score. We are leaving all options open and going from there.

Karate is soon going to start again and the LoneStar Open will be here before we know it. He is thinking of helping out this time instead of competing. I am trying to talk him into competing at least in kata - we will see. I am going to compete in my first black belt level NASKA tournament and see how it goes. I have a month & 1/2 to get ready so hopefully I don't get crushed!

Christmas is coming and with that is time off for Nick - where he looks forward to sleeping in but I have to remind him that he also may have school work he may have to do - oh the fun part of being a mom!

So I haven't updated this in a bit

Here is where we stand. SAT retest on Dec 5th and hoping for a much higher score. Grades are looking GREAT!!! College applications are due very soon and so some stressing has begun but other opportunities have come. Contacted from Les Roches which is located - catch this - Switzerland! Its a school that is only catered to International Hotel & Hospitality. I am really looking into this as the cost seem to be a bit cheaper than Pace, FAU & San Diego State! I like the fact that they go to school for one semester and then go on a PAID internship for the following semester. They also have a similar program in Chicago which I am also looking in. The only issue would be that he would not start til Jan 2011 - which can be bad or good depending on how you look at it. He has to be 18 to get into the program by July so I figure that he can work for the months and then go to school. Lots to think about!

Otherwise - he is a big brother again as Lori - mommy 2 has given birth to a beautiful baby boy named Luke today!

I will try to update this more often.

For you mom's with little ones - out side of the college cost - senior year is expensive. Here is an example - 30.00 for cap and gown rental. If you want a ring - think 200+, pictures - 200+ or get a really good digital camera and do it yourself! And college applications - 100+ per!!! Sucks!!!

That's it for now! Everyone have a great Thanksgiving!!!!

He's a black belt now!

Its been crazy and I haven't had a chance to blog. Nick and I are now both black belts. We had a great ceremony and the best thing was doing this with him.

On the school front - we went to the Leander College Fair and spoke to some folks from Pace University. I have to say it was great speaking to them. They offer a hospitality program in their NYC campus. Nick said he would apply. While I know that the cost is thru the roof but it would be worth it. So we will find out in early 2010 where he will be going.

Obama's speech to kids

I have read so much about the speech that President Obama is going to give next week that I had to do a post on it.

I am NOT a political person - never have been and never will be. I am a registered independent, with that being said, all this controversy about a speech to tell kids to stay in school and get an education is a bit scary. There have been presidential speeches televised before during the school year and allowed to be shown on such things as drugs and other things without this much fanfare. Why is it that this president is telling kids to stay in school and get an education such a big deal?

I plan on listening to the speech if I can next week because I want to see what the big deal is about. With kids dropping out, failing and only getting by through our education system, why not have the President say - hey stay in school, education is good? Can someone answer that? How is that brainwashing (this was said by someone on a blog)?

Someone has got to get into kids heads that going to school is NOT a chore, a waist of time but something that later in life is going to benefit then. If parents aren't supporting their kids or don't have time to let them know that an education is important why not let the president do it. Without a proper education your chances of getting a good job and better life can be slim.

Ok - done venting. And Nick would like to hear the speech too but unfortunately his school decided that they wont be showing it.....

Some days are just better than others

Nick is going through his moods this week. It was good on Monday and yesterday well - glad its over. Teens go through some serious moods - one day happy, the next - "the world sucks" attitude. He is better today and went to school happy.

He is liking photography alot and if he does well I am thinking of getting him a SLR camera - any suggestions for brands would be great! He also likes Economics - go figure I hated that class in college but he saids that his teacher is really into it and that makes the whole class pay attention. There is something to be said about teachers and their passion for teaching. The more passion they bring to the classroom, the more the kids get into it! He is not digging web design as much as he thought as the classroom computers are not working - that has him bummed because he can't get much done.

A recap on something I forgot to post - Nick came in 2nd on weapons on Saturday at the LoneStar NASKA open. I am posting a pic I took while he was waiting to compete!

This Saturday - part I of the black belt test!!! He is so ready!!! I can even admit he is more prepared than I am!!!

Nick turns 17!

Today is Nick's 17th birthday! Wow how time flies. I remember when he was on a Monday 17 years ago. Born at 21" long and 7lbs 12oz and now 6ft 2" and about 138! He has become a great young man and has made the last 17yrs for me wonderful. While we have had our ups and downs the truth is I wouldn't trade it for the world. I love forward to many more birthdays with him and can't wait to see him grow into the man he is becoming.

Fixed him a great breakfast this morning and he was off to school in a great mood. Dinner tonight to finish off the day!

Time to dish the cash!

3rd day of school and all is well but as many of you with kids know - its time to start paying and buying things. For Nick - its a fee for photography class plus supplies. Not many notebooks needed this time around so at least school supplies are kept to a minimum. Now this year I get to save on lunch money as he is on early release!!! I am thrilled because at 5.00 a day - lunch can get pretty pricey throughout the year. He is happy because he doesn't have to eat school lunch!

For the most part he likes his classes but knows that he has to make sure he stays on top. I am thrilled he will get home a bit early because that means there will be NO excuses on why things aren't done -- you should have everything done by 7pm and have the rest of the night to play games!

Karate practice is going well. He has a great self defense partner - a black belt and they just finished practicing. Friday is tournament and he is competing in the weapons division. I believe he is going to do well!! Our black belt test is on the 5th - so next week is going to be a bit nerve racking! Also Nick turns 17 next Monday!!!!!! My baby is grown up!

Today is the day - first day of school

This morning began at 630am for me-- then began the "Nick wake up calls" it start at 650, 7am, 710 and finally at 715 when I decided get up or walk LOL. He did get up with the grumbling of, "school sucks", why do I have to go followed by I rather be sleeping LOL.

He eventually got up and got himself ready. I had promised him Whataburger breakfast so off we went got some drive thru. I wanted to beat the parent drop off crowd so we got in at 8:05 and as I watched my son leave I came to realize this was the last time I would be doing a first day of school drop off. I watched him go into the building and drove off remembering the last 12 years off first day of school. Mom's/Dad's - don't take for granted those days - you never realize how fast they go. So a little misty eyed I went off to work.

Nick just called a few minutes ago and sounded so happy! He gets out early everyday and loves it! Also he said mom you will save money since Lunch is last period so he figures he will wait til he gets home to eat - Yippee no lunch means about $100+ saved a month!!!

He was happy about his classes and his teachers.

So a great day overall and hopefully tomorrow will be just as good. I look forward to the paperwork waiting for me tonight as well as self defense practice.

Tomorrow is the day - First day as a Senior!

Notebooks bought, pens & pencils in bookbag, Textbooks picked up and schedule in hand. Tomorrow begins Nicks last year in high school as a senior. Tomorrow will be the last first day of school I will share with my son. Next year it will be college and if does go out of state - I wont be there to wish him well in person :(

The morning ritual of trying to wake him up begins. I think this year I am going to start the call at 630 - maybe by 730 he will wake up LOL I await tomorrow afternoon when the forms, complaints & my favorite "I need XXX$$$$!"

So to all the mom's sending their kiddos to school tomorrow - remember - feed them a good breakfast, make sure their clothes match and wave goodbye as they go but don't ever forget the day!

Books and a flight home

Picked up Nicks books today - I have to say the school has the process down very well. Come in with your schedule, walk out with your books - 2 minutes is all it took, plus the fact that he only got 2 books! Looks like this year his Swiss Backpack will hold up well with less to carry.

Nicks flight gets in to Austin in about an hour. As a mom I am excited he's coming home - I missed my son :) , he, well he would rather be on vacation with dad playing golf - which is fine too! He dreads coming back to the 100 degree heat! Florida's heat is like Alaska compared to this Texas heat!

Tomorrow - appointments, karate, catching up on sleep for him - the fun begins in 4 days - back to school!

School Schedule has arrived - the fun will soon begin

Nick's schedule arrived yesterday and its not that bad. He has early release everyday which I told him he needs to use to do his homework early!!! I get the great task of picking up his books tomorrow as the school allows you to get the books early. Now you may think just let him get it - well if he waits til school starts, he will end up with the "left over books" - better known as the well worn out books - so as a good mom tomorrow at my lunch hour I will go get them.

He arrives tomorrow from Florida so hopefully he will be ready to get started with school. We also have the LSO (Lone Star Open) karate tournament next weekend and then black belt test the weekend afterwards. Lots to do and lets not forget all the first week of school meetings and things to buy shopping spree. September will be a VERY busy month!!!!

Vacation, karate school - all in that order

Nick is on vacation with his dad in Florida. Golf, relaxing and enjoying family is all that is on his agenda. When he returns on Thursday it will be karate/school for the next 3 weeks. With our black belt test coming up on Sept 5th and Sept 12th and school starting on Aug 24th - it is going to be a busy couple of weeks.

On top of all of that is scholarship applications, SAT retest, new teachers, new assignments - oh boy the first couple of weeks of September will be crazy!!!

For all you moms and dads reading this -- scholarship.com - great site to look up scholarships to apply for - in this economy any money your kids can get for college is greatly appreciated!!!

School starts in 12 days

In 12 days my only child Nic goes back to school to begin his senior year. The thoughts that have gone through my head as I think about this go from happy to scared out of my mind. The child I have taken care of all his life from the moment he was born to the first day of school, to his first field trip to helping him on his first project to driving him around from band practice to karate. How fast they grow and now he's a senior and college is on the horizon.

His senior pictures were taken two weeks ago by Photo Texas and the moment I looked at the proofs, my eyes started to tear - no longer was he my little boy but now a full fledge young man. What's a mom to do but embrace the coming year with open arms and in these technological days - blog about it! I am going to blog about the upcoming year so that I can share the joys, frustrations and experiences about being a mom through this time. I will also add some helpful sites for college bound students or anything that is relevant.

So welcome to my blog and if you want to share your experiences please feel free to leave a comment.