Sweet 16...
still the picture of their daughter and her boyfriend! 
I never bothered checking.
being called a 16 year old again!!! 
Or, maybe not!!! 
Not the sweet 16 year olds in the picture!
Those two should GET A ROOM!!!!
I won't call you out, but really, who ARE you fooling?!?!?!?! 
I didn't say that I wasn't interested -- but I *do* say that my imagination can write a better script than anyone in Hollywood would DARE put on the tube!!! You don't have to show me Dane Cook, in all his... er... "glory", doing his "thang" over and over on the screen (granted, that was a movie and not the TV, but you get the idea!). I'm smart enough to take a hint and take the storyline places that not even Roman Polanski would dare film.
[For all you youngsters out there who don't know who Roman Polanski is -- don't bother looking him up. He was just another "filmmaker" whose life overshadowed his art (what little there was of it, anyhow.)]
All I'm saying is that a) my imagination is better than their filmmaking, and b) given the choice, I'd rather be a participant than a spectator.
8-)
I was talking about who were you kidding when you said "who wants to watch someone work out", but gee, thanks for drawing me a bow, chicka, bow, bow picture!!!!!!
And since I had to spell it out for him.....when I am working out, I've never seen the man come in and out of the family room to do so many "mindless" things in my life!!!! Oh, but I'm sure they are all REALLY important to do a million times during my workout!!!!!
Sigh. Guilty as charged.
My apologies for the graphics. I though you were going somewhere else with your statement.
I'm going back to work now. My jaw hurts.
I won't call you out, but really, who ARE you fooling?!?!?!?!
I didn't say that I wasn't interested -- but I *do* say that my imagination can write a better script than anyone in Hollywood would DARE put on the tube!!! You don't have to show me Dane Cook, in all his... er... "glory", doing his "thang" over and over on the screen (granted, that was a movie and not the TV, but you get the idea!). I'm smart enough to take a hint and take the storyline places that not even Roman Polanski would dare film.
[For all you youngsters out there who don't know who Roman Polanski is -- don't bother looking him up. He was just another "filmmaker" whose life overshadowed his art (what little there was of it, anyhow.)]
All I'm saying is that a) my imagination is better than their filmmaking, and b) given the choice, I'd rather be a participant than a spectator.
8-)
I was talking about who were you kidding when you said "who wants to watch someone work out", but gee, thanks for drawing me a bow, chicka, bow, bow picture!!!!!!
And since I had to spell it out for him.....when I am working out, I've never seen the man come in and out of the family room to do so many "mindless" things in my life!!!! Oh, but I'm sure they are all REALLY important to do a million times during my workout!!!!!
I won't call you out, but really, who ARE you fooling?!?!?!?!
I didn't say that I wasn't interested -- but I *do* say that my imagination can write a better script than anyone in Hollywood would DARE put on the tube!!! You don't have to show me Dane Cook, in all his... er... "glory", doing his "thang" over and over on the screen (granted, that was a movie and not the TV, but you get the idea!). I'm smart enough to take a hint and take the storyline places that not even Roman Polanski would dare film.
[For all you youngsters out there who don't know who Roman Polanski is -- don't bother looking him up. He was just another "filmmaker" whose life overshadowed his art (what little there was of it, anyhow.)]
All I'm saying is that a) my imagination is better than their filmmaking, and b) given the choice, I'd rather be a participant than a spectator.
And you won't have to worry about silly contests to keep from getting voted off the island -- All of our silly contests are simply reasons to be silly!
I won't call you out, but really, who ARE you fooling?!?!?!?!
unc
You can have it. The durned thing is like a boomerang, anyway; it goes away, it comes back, it goes away, it comes back. It's making me dizzier than a dog with a tick on it's tail!
Besides (back to the whole "sex on TV" thing), hint at it, tease me with it, make me think about it -- and I'm glued to the TV. Show it to me, right there in technicolor, and it becomes just so much calisthenics -- and who wants to watch someone else work out?
You have made us look like we actually do have a soul and morals. What is wrong with you, Dude. Come on, give your card back.
unc
Yup -- I've seen some ugly on MTV. I've also seen similar ugly on the networks. "Big Brother", "Survivor", "The Apprentice", and a dozen other shows, all obnoxiously popular, and all revolving around the premise of "what do I need to do to win?" Now *there's* a good life lesson for our kids to watch! I guess I'm getting old, 'cause I'm missing the old sitcoms and spaghetti westerns and movies where, if you saw her knee, you thought your day was made!! Don't get me wrong -- I'm not a prude; but "sex" is not "romance". My imagination can come up with better pictures than they show on the screen -- but they never leave anything for my imagination to play with. You can have your MTV and your "Girls Gone Wild" -- give me movies like "Stardust" or "The Notebook" and I'll be perfectly happy!
[Sheesh, the Association of Typical Males is already knocking at my door, demanding that I turn over my "man-card" again!]
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Don't be pickin on Survivor!!!! Them there is fightin words! Actually, because of the bonehead things that some of the stupid girls do for food, or the fact that cbs always has their future porn star on it and their token oh nevermind....we don't let the kids watch it....i wish they would draw some lines in the sand as to what is okay and not okay for the show so we could let our older kids watch it, but we can't and we don't ....but it is a REALLY great show for adults. In the end so many people decide that the million dollars is not worth lying or losing a really great friendship, and they make a decision that costs them the contest. This was true for a cowboy or southern boy named Colby....He was a SHOE IN for the win, and in the end he decided who he would go up against for the million dollars....he took someone he respected, admired and came to love like a sister...knowing she made a ton of friends on the show and coulp actually beat him....she did, but he didn't regret it at all...he just gave her a million dollars in a round about way. anyhow, I totally agree with everything you all have said about being strict and conservative with what our kids watch on tv...this goes way back for us...when my oldest was three, i wouldn't allow her to watch Rugrats, cuz from what I saw it just taught them to be brats....so we didn't watch it.
The more I see your daughter the more I see you. So beautiful like her mother.
Problem is, that line got REALLY thin for us!!!!! 
Isn't society sad? These shows make other girls think that's how they should behave and that everyone gets whatever they want. I can tell you, my girls have not seen the show, but if they ever acted that way, they'd have nothing but a bed in their rooms!
your nice. I would just kick Jessica to the floor. Maybe I might give her a pillow or a sleeping bag. Depends how mouthy she was.
I'm glad to see you two worked that out and Cyn you now understand my husband!!!! I can bop him in the back of the head for you, kinda like a backwards V8 commercial if you'd like?!?!?!?
I can't add anything he didn't......the pictures are most certainly not boring for starters, thank you for sharing them! Your daughter is beautiful, you did an amazing job with the party, Ashley is an amazing talent and that cake was absolutely gorgeous! It looks like you had a wonderfully, well done, party for your young woman!
And as you know, Jordan requested a pig roast last year for his Sweet 16 (his argument being that it shouldn't be for just girls, he made a compelling argument, we agreed, and therefore asked him what he would like to do). We have yet to have it for a number of reasons, mainly life and the fact that his birthday falls when it's cold. God willing, we will be having it for him this summer. Casey continues to remind us that hers is only three years away! 
And moving to Georgia works wonderful for us .......we aren't far from Palmyra (15 minutes due East) so when you come to visit family, we are not far, and Eric lives in Georgia, when he is State Side. I normally get down there once or twice a year when he is State Side, we could always make sure we make time to visit with friends as well.
My husband is finished in Montgomery on June 9th, and we'll be moving (as a family, woo hoo! ) to Georgia. Nope that is not really close enough to come to central PA for a pig roast, but my family is all in the Hershey, Palmyra area, so maybe we'll get home sometime over the summer too. You are waiting til summer to have the shindig right? Cause right now it's way to cold for this "semi-southern" girl.
I am so glad that you have great kids. I honestly think I have three of the best (well two are mine, one is my 17 year old cousin, who I have guardianship of). We don't watch MTV at all, and my reasons were confirmed when my cousin asked just the other day if I could please remove the parental control so she could watch TRL (?), and I did it, well, I was shocked! They were interviewing Mariah Carey, (who I used to like), and then showed her latest video...Oh my Gash!!! It was aweful, and we promptly changed it, and reblocked it.
This year has been especially difficult for my kids with their dad living away from home during the week. (Long story short, he's in the Air Force, going to school in Montgomery, AL which is two and a half hours from us, but since we have kids in high school it seemed a better choice to keep them in their current school, because we'll be moving again in the summer). He comes home every weekend. In spite of that, my kids and I are very close, they are so polite, all are straight a students (well I think each has one b right now), but they are helpful, and kind, and, I just can't say how lucky I am. They love going to youth group, and really they make good choices in friends, which at their ages is sooo important!
Okay, you spoke earlier of 
es, so I'll get off mine now. Someone is going to move this to the brag page...
By the way, as for your nine year old, she's nine, there are lots of changes going on, and I promise she'll outgrow it, if you keep doing what you're doing! She may require an extra measure of grace when you have her. Good luck!
Of course you can come!!!! Consider yourself invited, even though we haven't even decided when or how yet!!
BTW, you mentioned that you would be moving... If you don't mind my asking, are you moving closer to central Pa? It'll be a lot easier to come to a pig roast if you live closer!
[Ack!! I'll bet you're moving closer to Montgomery!! Sheesh, If I'd pay attention, I'd be dangerous! I should change that emoticon request to a "bonehead" emoticon.]
Yup -- I've seen some ugly on MTV. I've also seen similar ugly on the networks. "Big Brother", "Survivor", "The Apprentice", and a dozen other shows, all obnoxiously popular, and all revolving around the premise of "what do I need to do to win?" Now *there's* a good life lesson for our kids to watch! I guess I'm getting old, 'cause I'm missing the old sitcoms and spaghetti westerns and movies where, if you saw her knee, you thought your day was made!! Don't get me wrong -- I'm not a prude; but "sex" is not "romance". My imagination can come up with better pictures than they show on the screen -- but they never leave anything for my imagination to play with. You can have your MTV and your "Girls Gone Wild" -- give me movies like "Stardust" or "The Notebook" and I'll be perfectly happy!
[Sheesh, the Association of Typical Males is already knocking at my door, demanding that I turn over my "man-card" again!]
I'll forgive you even more if I can come!
I am so glad that you have great kids. I honestly think I have three of the best (well two are mine, one is my 17 year old cousin, who I have guardianship of). We don't watch MTV at all, and my reasons were confirmed when my cousin asked just the other day if I could please remove the parental control so she could watch TRL (?), and I did it, well, I was shocked! They were interviewing Mariah Carey, (who I used to like), and then showed her latest video...Oh my Gash!!! It was aweful, and we promptly changed it, and reblocked it.
This year has been especially difficult for my kids with their dad living away from home during the week. (Long story short, he's in the Air Force, going to school in Montgomery, AL which is two and a half hours from us, but since we have kids in high school it seemed a better choice to keep them in their current school, because we'll be moving again in the summer). He comes home every weekend. In spite of that, my kids and I are very close, they are so polite, all are straight a students (well I think each has one b right now), but they are helpful, and kind, and, I just can't say how lucky I am. They love going to youth group, and really they make good choices in friends, which at their ages is sooo important!
Okay, you spoke earlier of es, so I'll get off mine now. Someone is going to move this to the brag page...
By the way, as for your nine year old, she's nine, there are lots of changes going on, and I promise she'll outgrow it, if you keep doing what you're doing! She may require an extra measure of grace when you have her. Good luck!
I hope you do this for yours, it was worth it. I would never spend thousands on a party, I don't even think for her wedding...but did I mention I went over my budget, so I make no promises.
Please don't feel like you have to apologize, it's all good. No harm here.
After reading about your kids on the brag board, you and Amy should be proud, and I think honestly that we have a lot of similar parenting.
... for understanding about me and my big mouth!!
As for ours (kids, that is), as I said, we still owe Jordan his pig roast. That's going to be a blast -- since I think it will end up becoming more like an "everybody" party. We bought a house with several acres of land several years ago, and now we take advantage of it every chance we get. A pig roast will just be more of the same.
Casey will be interesting. She's coming into her own in just about every way; appearance, personality, popularity, etc. She's growing up so fast that we (well, *I*) can hardly keep up. Time will tell what she will want as far as a party is concerned. But, like you, we try to keep a tight rein on the two of them.
Our third, Chloe, is a different matter altogether. While Jordan and Casey live with us most of the time, Chloe lives with her mom and comes to visit us every other weekend. She (Chloe, not her mom) is a super-intelligent 9-year-old whose personality swings between a mature young adult (which she is not) and a toddler (which she is not). She can be darling and sweet, and she can be frighteningly manipulative. I have seen her become an intellectual bully (to her peers), then turn right around and do something completely selfless. Once in a while, I even get to see her become a stubborn child (which seems to be as close as she gets to age-appropriate behavior.) I love her dearly, but I'm afraid that there are tough times ahead -- socially, at least -- for both her and her parents. Thank goodness there are 7 years between now and her sweet 16 party. It'll give us (and the rest of the world) time to prepare!
Finally, as for similar parenting, thank you. We do try to keep them on a short leash as far as some things (like respect and honesty and work ethic and responsibility) are concerned, and give them leeway where it is appropriate (like self determination and individual opinion). And ALL of those are works in progress! But we don't really have any concerns that either one will be cussing us out or demanding a Mercedes. Both Jordan and Casey watch MTV at times, but they also watch the Discovery channel (Jordan is addicted to Survivorman) and the Disney Channel (Casey knows ALL of the quasi-Mouse-kateers -- and can spout bio stats like some kids know baseball stats!)
I think much of what I do for my girl stems from the fact that my Mom wasn't around to do them for me. My mom does a better job now, as a grandmother, but she's never even met my kids. hmmm.
It will be just another awesome thing i do for my girls that my mom never did for me. I sat at home for my 16th with Krista Hocker at my house, my mom told us we had to stay home all day to watch the guys shampoo our carpets and make sure they don't steal anything!!!! It was ridiculous, she actually planned a party with my aunts and my cousins for Easter sunday a few days later, but wanted to "pretend " she forgot my birthday....so I literally sat in alllllll day that day and she totally ignored my 16th birthday. Krista knew about the surprise and eventually told me because I was so angry and hurt by my moms actions.....mind you, my mom REALLY DID forget almost every single other birthday while i was at the milt...I NEVER got a card, or a phone call or a gift!!!!!! So for her to PRETEND to forget on the 16th one was unforgivable in my book. Okay, I really went off there! I feel better how about you guys? So Yes I think I will celebrate my daughters milestones, such as becoming a young lady at 16. But I too know how to do things on the lower side of the monetary scale.
That is all.
NO, NO, NO, Please don't worry about that, Britt's party was nothing like the show from MTV. We don't do big very often. I just wanted you to know why we chose to do this one, and it was really sweet.
I hope you do this for yours, it was worth it. I would never spend thousands on a party, I don't even think for her wedding...but did I mention I went over my budget, so I make no promises.
Please don't feel like you have to apologize, it's all good. No harm here.
After reading about your kids on the brag board, you and Amy should be proud, and I think honestly that we have a lot of similar parenting.
are from parents who don't want to spend time with them, just spend money on them, because they think it is easier, but in the long run, parents are going to regret that choice. The girls are so spoiled, and in such a negative way!
Isn't society sad? These shows make other girls think that's how they should behave and that everyone gets whatever they want. I can tell you, my girls have not seen the show, but if they ever acted that way, they'd have nothing but a bed in their rooms!
Really, I know it seems that we've gone a little too far, but I guess you have to really know us to understand. It was fun, plain and simple.
Boy did that come out wrong!!!!!! I'm so sorry for leading you to believe that I saw your party for your daughter and the crap on TV as even in the same universe!!! I wasn't criticizing in the least -- in fact, Amy and I were talking about your party (since we have an almost-13-year-old who has ALREADY mentioned her Sweet 16, and an almost-17-year-old who wanted a pig roast for his 16th birthday (which we still owe him -- maybe this year) and we were impressed with what you did! Our two don't tend to do "big" very often, although Jordan (17) did have a paintball party last year for his birthday. Casey (13) is just getting to the socialite stage, so we haven't wandered down that road, yet.
My amazement with the MTV program was just that -- amazement! I couldn't believe the money that these people were throwing at their kids, and how those kids were treating those around them. It was reality TV at its lowest. I CERTAINLY never meant to have you (or anyone else) think that I was drawing a parallel between that show and your shindig!! I just tend to rant and rave about stuff, and the mention of a Sweet-16 party caused me to remember that show -- and off I went. I really should learn to keep my safely under my desk where it belongs!
[Hey Murph, how about an "I'm sorry for being an idiot" emoticon?? If you need an image, I've got one of myself that would work just fine!]
They would definately get a size 7 in the booty. Or I just might run them over with the Ferrari and scream Happy Birthday! It is very scary. I agree with you. These little girls are way out of control on that show.
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You should check out a show called "My Sweet 16th" (or something like that) on MTV. The people on there are spending tens of thousands of dollars on their daughter's "Sweet 16" party -- renting clubs and hiring bands and driving their children there in Ferraris and Bentleys and such. It's scary!!
[And the party girls on the show CERTAINLY don't deserve the description of "sweet!" If my kids ever talked to me that way, they'd be tasting pine tar soap for a month!!!] 
Here is a link! Beware to any parents out there... it's scary!!!
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MTV is blocked in our home, so no, I've never seen the show. My daughter is such a good kid, and a very nice girl (as are the other two kids I call mine). While I don't feel the need to defend having such a big party for her, I will explain a little of my reasoning... We are a military family who is getting ready to move our daughter in her junior year of high school. I wanted to have a big party for her here with the group of friends she has now, and so this party was my idea really, not hers. She was thrilled and felt special, which she is, but it was nothing like the show on MTV, I am sure. We played games like pass the orange in the neck (learned that one in the Milt) and we had a hula hoop contest, and then we had a hula relay. I allowed my daughter to invite twenty five friends, (most of the kids are from youth group). I invited the parents, because I like adult company too, and since I was throwing the party, well, you know what I mean. It was a great party, and no, she's not getting a car or anything crazy. She got an IPod speaker to be able to play her ipod in her room, where there is NOT a tv. She also received a pair of PUMA sneakers, because they were pretty (and in her favorite colors).
Really, I know it seems that we've gone a little too far, but I guess you have to really know us to understand. It was fun, plain and simple.
I had a budget and with anything, I went over budget. But hey, I tried! I did all the work, which saved us some money, but we rented a party room ($200), had to do invitations ($40), decorations ($100), and food (I can't count!). The cake alone was probably about 40 bucks (and that's having my cousin actually make it, which took about 16 hours!) I can't imagine paying what it would have really cost to get a cake like that! I think I owe her big time! But look at the pictures, it's priceless, my daughter (and I only have one girl) is only 16 once.
The next time we do a big thing like this will be her wedding! (and here's hoping that's a long time from now!)
You should check out a show called "My Sweet 16th" (or something like that) on MTV. The people on there are spending tens of thousands of dollars on their daughter's "Sweet 16" party -- renting clubs and hiring bands and driving their children there in Ferraris and Bentleys and such. It's scary!!
[And the party girls on the show CERTAINLY don't deserve the description of "sweet!" If my kids ever talked to me that way, they'd be tasting pine tar soap for a month!!!]
Here is a link! Beware to any parents out there... it's scary!!!
Chuck was real good about paying for it though. I had a budget and with anything, I went over budget. But hey, I tried! I did all the work, which saved us some money, but we rented a party room ($200), had to do invitations ($40), decorations ($100), and food (I can't count!). The cake alone was probably about 40 bucks (and that's having my cousin actually make it, which took about 16 hours!) I can't imagine paying what it would have really cost to get a cake like that! I think I owe her big time!
But look at the pictures, it's priceless, my daughter (and I only have one girl) is only 16 once.
The next time we do a big thing like this will be her wedding! (and here's hoping that's a long time from now!)
I told my daughter that since we live in America we will just do american parties. They are very expensive to do. I myself have three girls.
Cyndi,
That is a nice picture of the two of them.
What did you do for her sweet 16? I will post more pictures. We did a big party for her! It was a lot like a "coming out" party. We had about 35 (7 adults) people. I rented a wonderful party room for her, and way "over did" it, but it was the best! I know the kids had sooo much fun.
I love how Spanish people celebrate the girls 15th birthday, but I am also very glad I am not spanish, considering we have four girls total!!! It is almost like a wedding at 15 with no grooms family to help pay the bill. !! What did you do for her sweet 16?
And it all started with Bill making a comment about MTV!
I think they should get a room too, but not the two pictured here!!! That would be just wrong, even if it were the picture of Brittany and her boyfriend!