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My Family

Here is my family--my children, as rotten as they can be (hey, they're TEENAGERS!) they are still mostly well behaved, loving and considerate kids. They each have their foibles, quirks and attitude that make them unique. I love them to distraction, even when my hands may itch to choke them from time to time. Like when they come home LATE--without calling--

I'm a mom. That translates into professional worrier and I am very good at what I do. Okay, so it extends to those I care for, their friends, etc.

Dani

This is my Dani-brat. The 17 year old hoyden with a heart of gold and the attitude to go with her naturally red hair (Err, yes, it's bright pink in this picture)but make no mistake, she may look like she can be knocked over by a sneeze, but this girl can drop you to the floor in a heartbeat! ~chuckle~ Good thing I love her, huh?
She's currently dating (God help me) a very nice young man in the Navy--whom I absolutely adore (Lucky for him)-- Josh. He's nineteen, spoils her utterly rotten and yet--has done so much to tame my little mynx, that I cannot help but hope he plans on sticking for the long term. I sometimes wonder just how he manages that and then quickly decide some things a mom is better off not knowing. I might have to hurt the poor boy.
Giving credit where due, he is also the only one that took me completely serious when I gave him the "mom to boyfriend" talk and simply stated that if he were to ever harm my baby girl, I would harm him and to trust me, that *I* would enjoy the experience far more than he would. Gotta hand it to him--He looked me square in the eye (so he had to look down, big, fat, hairy deal) and said simply "Yes, ma'am, I understand that and I want you to know that I love your little girl and I hope you know I am keeping her." I don't honestly know whether to feel pride for his determination--or pity for what his life has in store for him. I *do* know my daughter quite well, you see.

Dani wants to go to NADC (Nashville Auto-Diesel College) and put her knowledge of auto mechanics to work for her, learn to fix the big rigs and generally be the grease monkey she is.~chuckle~ My best friend is a mechanic and all three kids grew up in his shop. Even my 12 year old knows more about cars than most of their friends and a number of adults I know.
This is something that Dani enjoys, even when she's in "girly" mode and something I have always encouraged. Many times you won't have a man around to help you fix the stuff, best to know how, even if you never need it.

here are a few more pics of my bratling.
With Josh


The "Vamp" look


and my favorite, even though you can't see her face

Michael

Well, now here's my son, Mike. He's getting so tall, I can hardly believe it! You have any idea just how frustrating it is when you tell him to do something only to have him look *down* at you with that rotten teasing grin of his and have him ask "and you're gonna make me do that *how* mom?" as he turns to do whatever it was I asked of him ~frumps~ The brat! Some days he's more like his father than I care to realize. I prefer him teasing and laughing, like this.

My son wants to be a Marine. I am so proud of him. This is one thing that has never changed since he was about 6. His steadfast determination to be what he wants to be and no amount of peer pressure or dirision has dissuaded him from this. Boy has a spine of pure steel. The only thing that bothers him is the high school he goes to only offers Army JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, for the uninitiated)But, since we have school choice, here in Florida, he's scouting other schools with better educational opportunities and has chosen the Baccalaureate School here in Tampa. I guess he can compromise on ROTC for the sake of his education. (Thank You, God) I think King has Navy ROTC, but I am not positive. He doesn't much care for the Army he has right now.

He's got most of the drill aspects cold, but still can't quite quit "looking out to sea" when he salutes--those Military personnel reading this will know what I mean and chuckle.--No matter *how* many times I have him hold his arm out straight and tell him "just bend your elbow, son, the rest will follow naturally" He can't keep that hand straight. Maybe duct tape? Nah, he'll get it. He's 15, he has time.

I tell him, if he wants to join, fine. I will worry, but I want him to go to college first. Do I need mention the recruiters are sniffing at him, already? You would not believe the amount of Marine Corps brochures I have laying around here!
My son is bright. I mean really smart! I am proud of his convictions, worry about the future, but I will not stand in the way of what he wants to do with his life. I just demand that he not let his brain go to waste. He has college plans, thankfully and I plan on being the pit bull mom when it comes to enlistment--AFTER college, not before and woe betide the recruiter that tries to wheedle him into going earlier. They are no match for me.

Here are a few more pics of my handsome son


In the hated Army Uniform

A better view, but the boy needs to work on posture

after a day at the beach

Stephanie

Here is my youngest. The light and love of my life and my little Mouse. Don't get me wrong, she's anything but perfect and is a right brat in her own right! ~chuckle~ She's just my baby. Miss Stephanie Michele.

Stephie is my "popular" child. She has a lot of friends, is generally well liked, has no real "enemies" that we are aware of and has to fight not to be "teacher's pet" at school. She's the first one to offer help, a shoulder or a hug--or to step right up into the face of a bully (no matter his size) and let him know his place on the food chain without a foul word leaving her lips. That child terrifies me, sometimes. She's too much like I was at her age, but has the moxie to back up the words with a little "gentle persuasion" if she's forced to use it. Need I mention she's *not* the one you want to get angry? She fights dirty. ~innocent look~ I have *no* idea where she gets that from!!

Stephie is teeny tiny, my little doll. At 12, she barely hits 5 feet and is a whole 92 pounds. All of it wiry muscles and curves more generous than I am prepared to explain. (Mom interjection here--touch her and die-- I am a fully fledged marksman and am comepletely comfortable with the feel of a weapon in my hands, rifle or sidearm. I hit what I aim at. Barring that, I am meaner than a junkyard dog and twice as deadly, barehanded when it comes to miss mouse. You do NOT want to underestimate my protection ability in regards to her)She complains that she's "too thin" some days. I hurriedly assure her that all things come with time, that she's healthy, fit and does not have the rolls so many of her friends do, but there's not much I can do--the kid eats like a stevedore when she wants to! I wish I had her metabolism! She got it from my mother. ~lol~

I am comletely grateful that she doesn't give a rat's a-- that she's pretty. She's not vain, thank God! "So I had a lucky swim in the gene pool of life, looks don't make you who you are, mom, only your actions can do that." Did I mention she has a good head on her shoulders, too? I can only pray it stays that way. She is also very bright and has never been off the honor roll since the third grade, when they impliment it. This last semester, she was welcomed into the National Junior Beta Club (Formerly known as National Junior Honor Society)and I don't know who was prouder--her or me. She just kept it on the "down low" so that she's not labelled "egghead" or whatever today's equivelant is. Only her closest friends were told about the letter that came in the mail. ~mental note to self, copy that letter and pass on to John~ Daddy needs to see what his baby girl is doing and is going to be SO proud!

I have a lot of hopes for her, but only she can decide where her life is going to take her--after college. (Gee, ya think education is important to me or something?) She has a lot of potential and excells at anything she puts her mind to, even if she hates it. She has plenty of time for that, though, at just 12. She has a few ideas of what she'd like to do, but Stephie plays her cards close to her chest and lets absolutely NOTHING escape that she doesn't want seen, digested or discussed. She isn't secretive, merely very cautious. I sometimes think she holds far too much inside her and worry about the fuse on that time bomb. Even when her gramma was dying, she rarely allowed emotion out, except a smile and love. I comfort myself in the fact that she was inconsolable for a few days following, even though her schoolwork faltered only slightly--A's went to B's-- and she seemed to bounce back quicker than the rest of us. That kid must have some resolve.

Here are a few more pics of Stephie


her "I'm so tough" look


Got her laughing with the webcam, here


This is my favorite of the girls, together. They look so sweet and innocent.