Just the Facts Ma'am

If you remember these faces then you get my title??? They are from the show "Dragnet" from a long -long time ago when yes all we had was black and white TV-I just always liked that line when some lady was going on and on and one of the guys (don't know their names??) would say
"Just the facts Ma'am"-at least that is how I remember it. So on with the post...

Since actually tapping into what is going on here at the Price Household is a little overwhelming for me right now-I thought I would do something I was tagged to do a while back from Amber over at sgtsudswife's. (sorry it took me over a month to do it-yes I do believe I have joined the club of procrastinators-not like me usually) so onto the 7 weird, random facts about me. This may be real boring so you are pre-warned..

1.) I was born in Kansas, have lived in Kansas, went to college in Kansas-so been here my whole life! Not something I could see my self doing when I was getting out of High School and ready to take on the World....I am still wishing and hoping that someday I can move to Florida, Georgia or South Carolina. Warmer there you know!!!

2.) I was diagnosed with clinical depression when I was 22 years old and fresh out of college.
It was a very difficult and confusing time for me. Spending 4 1/2 years in college and then graduating my expectations were a little high and the real world hit me hard.

3.) I love the color PURPLE! It has been my favorite color since I was 8 or 9-started out that way because it was also Donny Osmond's favorite color and I LOVED him!

4.) My kids names Taylor-Carley-Connor James: The names were not chose for this reason but it is kinda funny how they all tie together. James Taylor and he was married to Carly Simon.
People actually have asked me if I did that all on purpose-no but I do love James Taylor's music!
So if you like... actually Taylor was a name I heard for the first time as the name of a pop singer named Taylor Dayne in the 1980's. Carley -yes I heard it first from Carly Simon. Like it better with the e and thought it was a cool way to honor my mom whose name is Carolyn. Connor was a name of a boy Taylor's age whom I coached in T-ball-I always said I loved the name. Rodney liked it because there was a character on the TV show "Highlander". I also knew it had been the name of Eric Clapton's 4 year old son that died in a tragic accident. So his name had many reasons..the James part is actually after his grandpa Jim, but Connor will always be my sweet baby James!

5.) My parents divorced when I was in 3rd grade. Both of them re-married within a year.
My sister Lisa (she is 2 years younger than me) and I gained 3 step-siblings and later a half-sister. My step-dad had 2 children, both older than me: Shane and Shannon. My step-monster had one child who was two when my dad and her met...her name also Shannon. So yes I have 2 step-sisters named SHANNON! My little sister Sheri was born when I was 10-to my dad and his wife.

6.) I am a Pepsi addict-plain and simple-I love me Pepsi! I can tell the difference between coke and Pepsi any day. Can't drink the diet stuff-even though I need to.

7.) I weigh more than I have ever weighed in my life-most of it gained in the last 3 years.
I used to have the opposite problem in my early 20's-I couldn't gain weight for nothing.
I ate and did everything to put on weight. I think I was way to tiny-especially now that I look back at pictures from 1987 from my first wedding. 103 lbs.!!!! I know it is ridiculous! I am 5 ft. 6 inches tall-I had people coming up to me all the time telling me I was so skinny-it sucked-no one tells me I am fat or overweight. weird how that works!

So random facts about me. At least I blogged--YEAH ME!

( I would really like to lose about 50 lbs.!!!! but that is for another post)

Trying to Keep Imagining!
Tracy

SURPRISE!

OK ....now I can tell you all about my SECRET BIG project!!! (I haven't been able to check blogs or even update like I wanted to).

I have been so busy planning this huge 16th Hollywood style Surprise party for my daughter Carley-it was so much work getting all her friends invited via email, phone calls and word of mouth, since I was afraid she was some how see a paper invitation, getting the food, cake and decorations ordered, getting the fab location (an old theater they rent out our which was PERFECT), putting together a slide show to premier on the big screen starring Carley of course, coming up with party clothes for all the family, LYING to my daughter countless times to keep the party under wraps, planning reason we were all dressing up (going out to a fancy french restaurant-which we never do) and coming up with a DJ play list! I am exhausted!!! Surprising her was so much stress :) plus Carley is usually my side-kick when it comes to planning parties and events. I used to do this for a living-but I am a huge perfectionist and wanted things to go flawless. Everything went really well-small hurdles such as my panty hose running at the last minute (I hate hose and don't usually where them anymore-now I know why!!) Other than that everything went smoothly...

Thank goodness for all my helpers-my mom, Taylor and Connor especially! My sister and step-dad, Rodney and Carley's friends Chris, Danielle and Gabby. Thanks to all for keeping the secret-SHE WAS SURPRISED!!!!
It was all worth every minute and dollar spent just to see her face when she came in and walked the red carpet to see all her fans and then to have such a good time dancing and celebrating.
I hope she will forever remember her 16th Birthday WEEK as amazing! (It has seemed this blog is about Carley lately-promise it will move on to other topics :)

Enjoy the slide show! I am off to eat some leftover party food and take a big NAP!!!! :)

o

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Trying to Keep Imagining!
Tracy

Sixteen Candles to Celebrate

"Sweet Sixteen"

Dear Carley Suzanne-

How is it possible you are 16 today? I see you in front of my eyes-this amazing young woman that I always knew you would be and I am proud that I get to be your mom. As proud as the day 16 years ago when you came into my life.The day you made Taylor a big sister!-I had my 2 girls!

You are my second born-my smallest baby-my youngest daughter-the middle child. You were the one who taught me I did have enough LOVE to go around. You came home and fit right into our family-surprising me by sleeping through the night on your first night home! (Always that overachiever-LOL!)

You of all my kids spent the most time in daycare (starting at 5 weeks until you went to school) while I worked so hard on my career-you thrived even though I felt I cheated you out of something, you just went with the flow, while smiling! You enjoyed the perks of my job-like being an elf in Santa's Workshop, Playing at the pool while I did my work there, going to all the concerts and special events like "Boo Bash".

We made it work.

You were only three when dad and I divorced, but you don't blame or feel unloved. You just loved more! Going back and forth from Mom's house to Dad's house-is just something you seem to do-not a big deal to you. You accepted the new people into your life like your "Rowney" as well as taking on the task of being a big sister at 4 1/2 when Connor was born with such joy! I can still see you standing by his cradle singing your made up songs to him and later doing whatever it took to make him laugh. not that you didn't take advantage of the big sis role...You had him play"Pretty, Pretty Princess" and marry your life size Barbie!

You have excelled at school from day one-I remember your kindergarten teacher telling me that she was sure that if she needed you to you could teach the class :) We fought hard and you were accepted into the "gifted" program-what a blessing for you to keep you challenged and watch you spread your wings. You became a "true bookworm"-devouring any book you could get your hands on! (still do-now we get to share books and you introduced me to the "Twilight"series when you discovered them last year-yes we have to see the movie!)

So many adventures...pageants watching you learn to be poised and confident, make new friends and learn so much about yourself (plus all the traveling including Florida to Nationals which included seeing and touching your first dolphin!).....Odyssey of the Mind and going to World competition in Colorado.....and then going on the band trip last spring to watch & hear you compete with the high school band in a real Symphony Hall as well as our extra time in Galveston! All of it as been special, because we did it together. I wouldn't have missed it for the world!

Our greatest challenge as a family came when we became a proud military family and watched "our soldier" go to a far off place to fight a war then come home wounded. I know it is something difficult for us all to deal with-since we had no idea how wounded it really made all of us in our own ways-You have been so brave even though I know you deal with your own "moments" that bring the pain back. You have been there for me Carls-I needed those hugs and an ear to listen.

Thank you for you love and patience!

I cherish all the memories we have as well as the special bond we share.

I love to watch you loving life as well as seeing you live you life true to your faith in God.

Your talents are many, your compassion is to honored and your ability to work so hard to succeed is beyond measure. I admire & respect the person you are and cannot imagine all life holds for you.

So on this 16th Birthday-I say to you my precious daughter......You are my inspiration for a life well lived! Happy, Happy Birthday my Sunshine-continue to smile and reach for your dreams-let nothing get in the way!

You know I love you-more than the moon, stars and PEPSI!

Your Madre

You Trying to Keep Imagining!
Tracy