I thought we'd given him enough time.

LE got a check from his godparents for Christmas this year--and being the beginning reader that he is, he recognized his name and asked what it was for.  We explained that after Christmas we would let him pick something out with the money.  And I assumed he would forget.

A few days ago, he reminded me that he wanted to go shopping, so I presented him with his first choice--actual in-the-store shopping or online shopping.  He chose online so that he could get packages in the mail--his absolute favorite thing to get!

So we talked a bit about what he might like to get with his Christmas money.  And at the top of his list was more things for his Thomas & Friends Trackmaster set.  LE and I did a bit of browsing last night, and again this morning and decided on 2 different sets (plus I added a pack of switch tracks out of my own pocket).  I ended up ordering off of 2 sites--amazon.com had the cheapest prices on 2 of the items and had free shipping.  toysrus.com had a cheaper price on the 3rd item--even with the shipping figured in it was cheaper.  So the lucky boy is getting 2 packages!  Yay!

Not 2 hours after I clicked the 'submit order' buttons, LE comes to me and says he decided to switch to Batman stuff for Christmas.  Boy, did I have a sad boy when I explained that we can't just switch the orders.  And that I won't be sending them back.  I told him he has a whole week to get excited about the train sets.  I mentioned that he could look for Batman toys for his birthday.  Now he's begging to do some more browsing for his birthday list--his birthday is 4 months away yet.  I think we'll be holding off on the browsing for a bit yet.

a day...

Today TO had an appointment with her psychologist for the needle phobia and had blood work afterwards.  I am amazed at how well she did with the psychologist.  Dr. Kelly brought a butterfly needle into the room and by the end of the session, TO had held it, and had let Dr. Kelly hold it at various places on her hand and arm.  Definite progress!  But the best news is that there's no homework for us to do--other than the relaxation techniques.

After TO's blood work, they always let her pick from the treasure box, or sometimes they pick for her.  This appointment, being so close to Christmas, they gave her a bigger toy.  She got an American Girl doll!  One of the customized dolls.  Of course it's an African American doll, but I'm astounded that they have had gifts like that donated.  TO is absolutely in love with it and I know that CD is looking forward to TO leaving for school tomorrow so she (CD) can play with it.

And while TO had a good day (her blood work was no better or worse than usual), I did not have a very good day.  Things have just been off for me lately.  P has been getting longer chunks of time off in the afternoons, which is nice.  But, I'm definitely feeling the need to get out of the house--and there just doesn't seem to be time to do that.  Not like there's anything to do in this rinky-dink little town if I were to get out of the house sans kids.  P's parents are coming into town on Friday, and I'm hoping that they'll agree to stay with the kids one night so P and I can go out to supper.  We haven't been out alone together since we moved down here.  And, I'm thinking it might be time for a date night.

I know that a lot of my emotional status is stemming from the holiday season.  As excited as I am for the kids, I'm really missing being around family.  And the Christmas cards just aren't coming in like they used to.  And I'm kind of dreading P's folks coming down.  2 days of letting the kids do whatever they want and giving them whatever they want.  "McD's for the 3rd time?  Sure, why not?"  Arg.  I'm hoping things will be getting better after they head back north.

TO's class has monthly reward parties for all the kids that have met the requirements.  The requirements, you ask.  Not have more that one math homework turned in late and have completed 4 reading counts tests.  Well, the reward party this month is on the 22nd--they're heading over to the high school to watch the Polar Express on a big screen.  And she should be turning the last of her homework in tomorrow--just on time.  And as far as I know she only has one reading counts done.  And the rest need to be done by Wednesday.  Should be interesting to see if she gets it all done or not.

snow=boredom

So, we've had a lot of freezing rain and gusting winds--but not much actual snow, just lots of snow drifts.  And as a result, we spent the day indoors--well, it's not like I don't do that everyday anyway.  But today was very boring--which is funny because what can be boring about 4 kids and husband hanging around the house all day, right?

I'm in the middle of a knitting project for Omega--probably 20 minutes from being able to felt it, and I just haven't gotten up and done it, but I probably will now.  Gotta go...finally some ambition.

lessons learned...learning...to learn

The past week has been very chaotic for me.  I've come down with a bad sore throat (I'm actually pretty sure it might be strep--of course that statement didn't seem very sure, did it?) just after I finished up a week long dose of nasal congestion.  This one has been bad enough that I was hardly able to eat or drink anything for 3-4 days.  I'm not getting much sleep at all, due to the pain and to the fact that just as I drift off to sleep, I start snoring and wake myself up again.  Needless to say, I am not functioning on a full tank at all.

Monday was my day to register for my tech classes.  Registration started at 8am and I was feeling like I was getting something accomplished at 8:40 when I logged on--only to find that the class I needed to take was already full.  I couldn't believe it, although P said the same thing has happened to him--wish he would have told me that sooner.  So, after quite a bit of talking, we've decided to put it off until next semester--and try it again then.  But I'm kind of realizing I don't want to go back to school.  I like my life the way it is right now.  I like being able to stay home with the kids.  I think I would hate going back to school, I don't think I'd like nursing...

This afternoon when P was home for lunch we were talking about it a bit.  And I realize I need to get a job to bring extra $ into the household.  Last year at this time I was working part time, and we're starting to miss that extra $ now.  Why not just get a job you ask?  Because at this point in time, daycare is too expensive for us to swing.  Full time for 2 kids.  So we would need to work opposite shifts.  The problem being that Pat doesn't really work shifts.  He's over to the farm by 6:30-7am and many nights isn't home until after 10pm.  So, I'm not really sure how I would find a job that would work into those few hours.  Before Omega was born, they had given him every other weekend mornings off so he could be home until I got done with work.  But when we chose for me to stay home, that time off ended--not to mention his boss's wife got a different job, and I'm not sure how I could find a job that coincided with hers (she milks when P doesn't).

I also decided it was time to make the kids help out around the house (okay, I know I've decided this before, but we're trying it again).  Which means the kids are staying up later in order for TO to have time to get her homework and chores done.  It's all been a lot of extra stress for me, but I know that it needs to be done.

After the kids' first visit to the dentist, I needed to take some action to get the kids brushing.  So now, I'm making sure that they're teeth are brushed morning and night, flossed and night.  However, it's definitely turned into some I'm-getting-special-attention-from-mom time.  Problem is, since I never bothered with brushing before, they're just learning this--so they need someone going behind them and re-brushing.  But I'm sure getting tired of the amount of time and...

Okay, enough venting and grumbling.  I'm going to go have a cup of hot chocolate and curl up and watch my shows and try to forget about my life for a few minutes.

See what happens when I don't have any library books in the house?  And that was a choice I made.

a sock hop is just hopping with socks, right?

Let me start by saying that as I type this I am listening to CD snore away on the bottom step of the stairway upstairs.  She has been sleeping there for 5 nights now because there are bugs in her room--granted there are bugs (Japanese beatles and box elder bugs) all over the house and have been for weeks.  But evidently there aren't any on the bottom step.  And yes there are, I've checked.

Tonight was the elementary school sock hop.  Last year P's mom took TO and then told her that they'd go together again this year.  However, she ended up dog-sitting and couldn't come down.  I wasn't able to find a sitter, so the 4 kids and I trooped off to the sock hop--thank goodness for my sling.  Omega was more than content to be carried that way the entire time.

The party started at 6:30 and we got there around 6:45.  The noise level in the entire school was almost unbearable for me.  I wasn't able to hear LE or CD unless I squatted down and they talked directly into my ear.  And my children are not quiet children to start with.

We enjoyed the pizza dinner--and by we I mean TO, and possibly LE.  For $3 a piece, each of the kids got a huge slice of greasy pepperoni pizza, a handful of carrots and dip and water (there was a choice of pop, but I chose water for everyone).  CD picked a few pepperonis off of hers and ate a few carrots.  LE ate all his carrots and about half of his pizza.  TO ate her pizza and ignored her carrots.

After supper, we headed into the gym for dancing.  And I still can't believe it.  But the entire gymnasium was lit by one strand of white Christmas tree lights.  We're talking a whole gym, filled with 5-11 year olds running around and lots of parents and younger siblings too, is completely in the dark.  It was close to impossible to keep an eye on the kids.  So, I found my one position on the floor and stayed there.  TO went off with friends and kept coming back to check in like I knew she would do.  Surprisingly, LE was scared in the dark gym and stuck pretty close to my side.  So did CD.  At 7:30 they finally turned the lights back on for the hula hoop contest and everyone crowded to one corner of the gym.  They had all the kids that weren't going to be hula hooping sit in a semi-circle, and I let LE and CD go join the kids--TO was waiting her turn to hula hoop.  And as soon as the contest started, the kids started standing up--and because I wasn't right next to LE and CD, because there just wasn't room--I lost my line of sight.  I was so frustrated.  I knew a general direction of where they were, but being short myself, and having short kids, there was no way I could see over the rest of the grown ups standing around.  LE finally got tired of not being able to see and came back to find me, I sent him back in to get CD and we spent the rest of the contest behind the crowd--they ran around with the rest of the kids that were too short to see.

After TO came back--none of us got a chance to see her hula hoop--I decided I'd had enough of it.  Omega was almost asleep in the sling and I was exhausted trying to keep track of all 3 of them.  We got home at 8:15pm.  All in all, I think 1.5 hours with 4 kids in terrible crowds by myself was pretty good.  I know that they would have liked to have stayed longer, and maybe if we had, they would have gotten to do some of the dances they'd been practicing in school.  But, I was the bad mom that made them come home.  I was the mom that knew I'd met my limit for the night.

Next year, I'm going to try to arrange for a sitter and only take the school age kids.  It really was too much for me to have all of them there, and I'm sure next year Omega will not be content to be hanging out in the sling.  I'm proud of myself for doing it, but I don't think I'll do it again--at least not by myself.

-----

I ordered my cloth diaper detergent today.  I found a website that had free shipping on any purchases over $49 so I bought 4 bags in order to get the free shipping.  I haven't ordered more of my new diapers though.  I'm still holding off.  As much as I love them, it does seem to be a waste, since I already have enough diapers.  A girl can dream though.  When I do decide to order some, my favorite cloth diapering website has free shipping--so there's no rush.

-----

I made a list of my ideal housekeeping schedule.  How often I would sweep and mop and vacuum, etc.  If I'm supposed to have a 1 year, 5 year, 10 year, etc. plan for my life--why not have a final goal for my housekeeping.  Let's face it, it's pretty much non-existent right now.  I broke my list down into each room and decided what I would do ideally, if procrastination and ambition never played into it.  Now, I'm going to pick one thing to start with and do that for an entire week.  Then add another item each week.  I'm hoping that by having a clear cut goal, I'll be able to see clear steps in my achievements.  Yay for me and all that!

a whole lot of little bits

Let's see, let's see...what to say about today.

Omega actually slept through the night last night!  Went to bed by 8pm and slept until around 6:30am.  I can't believe it and although I'm hoping--I'm not expecting it to happen again.

TO, LE and CD had appointments this morning to have some dental x-rays done.  Now, here's where I admit that I'm a terrible mother and none of my kids have been anywhere near a dentist.  And TO is 8 now.  But, we're getting that taken care of now.  Today were the x-rays, and knowing TO's anxiety with anything new, last night, I explained exactly what would happen during the x-rays.  How they would bite down on some "plastic" and a picture would be taken, they'd wear a heavy bib, etc.  Yeah.  Nothing like what actually happened.  Apparently the orthodontic office where we were today is a bit more up to date than my old dentist.  But, the kids all did very well and I was surprised that they all, especially LE and CD, were able to hold still for the whole time.  So, yay kids!

My new snow suits for Omega came in the mail today.  A bear suit for this year (which is a bit big now, but we are looking at close to 6 months of wear) and a size 3T suit for next year.  Not knowing how big he's going to be next winter I wanted to go a bit big.  I was surprised to find that it fits CD--a bit snugly, but still, it fits.  The cuffs on the sleeves and legs are tight enough that it will probably stay above his hands and feet next winter--especially when you add boots into the mix.

I also got a birthday check in the mail from P's mom.  And now I get to decide what to do with it.  It's enough that I could get 2 more of my new favorite diapers--and only have to add an extra $1.  This is the path I am currently leaning toward.  But I also feel like maybe I shouldn't jump the gun and I should try those diapers out for more than one try before I fall completely in love.  However, figured into the equation is the fact that I'm almost out of diaper detergent.  I know that I can probably get by with detergent from the store, but we have really hard water here and it's hard to get the diapers nice and clean.  I found this detergent that was specially formulated for washing diapers in hard water.  And if you don't figure in the shipping, it's no more than Tide or one of the other name brands.  However, the shipping can be a bear since it's detergent, which means it's heavy.  So, I'm looking around for a website that carries the detergent that might have free shipping.  And most sites do have free shipping--if you spend a certain amount.  Why can't my mind handle these little decisions.  Why is it so hard for me to choose.  Arrg.

stubborn one

So here it is half past midnight and Omega is still up.  I put him in his crib about 30 minutes ago, and he's really pissed off right now.  The down side is, I have to walk through his room to get to my bed.  I'm not sure if I should do it while he's awake--and get his revved up to top pitch wail again--or wait until he's asleep--who knows what time I'll get to bed again.

It's so hard to listen to him cry.  I know that he's not hungry--he's had 11+ ounces since 8pm--but I'm not sure what's wrong.  In the past I've given him some tylenol and some orajel and eventually he nods off, but I don't like to keep doing that.  I know that eventually he'll learn to fall asleep and stay asleep all night, but in the mean time, my heart is really hurting.  He definitely has a way of making it sound like the worst, most dreadful thing that can happen.  Sigh.

On a happier note, I've started yet another hat for him, and this one seems to be working a bit better.  I actually bought him a hat at WalMart this afternoon.  And I knew as soon as I bought one, I'd get one made.  I'm kind of making up my own pattern again, but working from a pattern at the same time.  I've given up on the elf style hat and I'm going to settle for a stocking cap with ear flaps.  At least I hope I'll get the ear flaps on.  I'm writing out the pattern as I knit it, in case it turns out super awesome and I want to make another one.

LE has wet the bed again tonight--so he's sleeping on the guest room bed.  This is the 3rd time in the last week or so that he's wet the bed.  He's not drinking copious amounts of water before bed, so I'm not exactly sure where this is coming from.  He's been completely out of diapers--nighttime included--since he was 2.5 years old.  I'm not sure how to handle this--other than lots of laundry and not making a big deal of it.  Of course, he's the kid that likes to sleep under multitudes of blankets, so a wet bed equals lots of laundry, but...

a bit of...

I have to admit that these last few days have been particularly hard on me, and I'm not 100% sure why.  Physically, I haven't been feeling up to snuff--which I'm sure is the result of being off the ww wagon.  The only thing better than carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is Ben & Jerry's Carrot Cake ice cream--with a cream cheese frosting swirl!  But, I digress.  I'm finally feeling like I should start counting points again, and am just wondering when would be the best time to start.  Yeah, yeah, no time like the present, and all that crap.  I need time to plan, time to get the food in the house.  And, maybe most of all, I need time to prepare my mind--to get it out of the deprivation mindset that it automatically sinks into anytime the word "points" comes up.  I'm also fairly nervous about getting back on the scale.  I know that I'm still fitting into the size-smaller jeans that I got before vacation, but they are fitting a bit tight.  And, I'm wondering just how much damage I managed to do while enjoying the jalapeno poppers, chili and carrot cake ice cream.

Mentally, I have not been at the top of my game either.  I'm still taking a nap almost every morning.  And while I tell myself that it's just because I'm still getting up with Omega during the night, part of me wonders if it isn't a bit of depression setting in.  Things are so lonely here during the day.  And now with Omega so mobile and getting into everything, I'm having to leave the computer off while he's awake.  I'm realizing just how much time I spent on the computer every day. 

I was an avid FrontierVille player on facebook, but I started having a lot of problems with the game--the internet needing to refresh all the time, etc.  And I realized that I was spending up to 2 hours a night (not counting anytime during the day) just getting the basics of the game done.  Not to mention that I needed lots more friends to make the game play easier--and I refused to friend people I didn't know.  So, I gave up--I gifted all the items that I could to my friends that play and have unliked the application and blocked all the posts from my newsfeeds.

I've chatted up everyone that I could about our trip, which now leaves me with not much to talk about--and I don't feel that I can pester my few friends that often without too much going on.  And I'm definitely getting the feeling from my mom that my phone calls are coming at inopportune moments--namely any time of the day.  So, I'm really feeling cut off from grownups--which is just kind of feeding the depression issue.

I am currently on my 3rd attempt to knit a hat for Omega--and I tried the bottom on him today--which was a struggle considering the needles and yarn were still attached.  And it's looking a little big.  I'm really getting ready to throw the towel in and just buy the poor kid a hat.  Pretty soon, he's not going to be able to get by with just the hood on his jacket.  But, I really wanted to make him a hat--so maybe I'll have to start over from scratch and use some yarn that I'm more familiar with--something that's more uniform.

For TO's halloween costume (she was a witch), I needed a length of rope or twine to tie around her waist.  And of course lacking that, I looked up some instructions on how to "finger knit."  I was able to make her belt (big enough to tie around me) in under 10 minutes.  Now I'm debating about teaching TO how to do this--it was extremely easy--and see if she would want to make a big long chain to use as garland on the Christmas tree this year.  The instructions for finger knitting are here--I used the photos, not the video--which did not match the photos, and for the belt--and garland--I only used 2 fingers.

I currently have 3 packages that I'm waiting for in the mail.  Snow pants for TO from P's mom.  Evidently she shipped them to the wrong address--again.  I thought we had gotten that corrected the last time it happened, but evidently everything that she sends to our house has been addressed to the wrong address.  Somehow the post office gets it here (and of course, I haven't noticed the incorrect address because when something shows up in my mailbox addressed to me, I don't stop to read the address too), but UPS gets it screwed up every time--meaning they aren't mind readers and deliver it to the address on the label.  Or, at least this is the gist of the 30 minute lecture that I got on the subject--like it's my fault.

I'm also waiting for Omega's snowsuit--I had returned the ones that my step-mom sent me and am waiting for the correct ones to be sent to us (a cute bear one for this year--built in feet and mittens--and a polar fleece one for next year).  I'm not really hopeful of a quick turn around time, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed--snow could be coming any day now--and as mentioned before, the poor kid doesn't even have a hat!

The third package is my birthday present/Omega's Christmas present.  Perhaps I should preface this with--I told P that I wanted a birthday gift this year--we've been married 8 years now and have never exchanged presents--for birthday or Christmas.  And this year--I just really wanted a birthday present to open--don't ask why, I'm not really sure that I know.  I told him he has a chiropractor appointment on my birthday and that he should just stop after he was done and pick something out.  So the other day he took LE and CD out for supper and it was taking them a really long time to get home.  Turns out they were birthday shopping for me.  They brought home a new dual handset cordless phone.  And I'm not trying to sound bitchy--but it's my blog and you can stop reading if you want to--1) I really wanted something on my birthday, 2) I kind of feel like it's more for him than for me--he's the one that's been missing the cordless since it broke a few months ago, and 3) isn't it kind of like getting a vacuum?  While I'm glad I got a gift, I can say I wasn't really excited about it--but honestly I'm not sure what I was expecting him to get for me anyway.

But, back to my 3rd package.  I got a facebook post from Nicki's Diapers today about a new diaper that they had stocked--basically like the ones that I use and love--only with prints!  Rock on!  I'd been wanting prints for so long--that's the best part of cloth diapering--being able to put really cute prints on your kid's bottom.  Anyway...I checked out their website and ended up ordering 2 really cute diapers--with kangaroo print!  Actually kangaroos wearing diapers.  Kangaroo diaper seen here.  I was only $10 away from the free shipping and when I calculated the shipping--it was going to cost me $10.10.  So, I went back to the site and found some inserts and bought enough to equal the $10.  If I had to spend the $10 either way, I might as well get something, right.

Something completely off topic that maybe considered gross--but again, it's my blog.  About 8 years ago, I started using the Keeper during my periods.  And as grossed out as I thought I'd be, I really liked it.  Combined with some cloth pads that I washed with the cloth diapers--I was set.  Then sometime in the last move, I lost my Keeper--my apologies to whoever runs across it.  I went through 2 periods using the disposable products that I had managed to collect and move over the last 8 years--of course, it couldn't be them that I lost--and hated every day of it.  So after my last period, I broke down and spent the money to get a new one.  However, I had trouble finding the Keeper at a reasonable price, and I decided to try the Diva Cup seen here.  And after using it, I have to say, I like it a lot better than the Keeper.  It seems softer, more flexible and it has a few raised rings/ridges at the base to help with removal.  The site says that it needs to be replace about once a year, but I also ran across sites that had reviews from women who have used the Diva Cup for years.  So, I guess I'll just see how it's doing after a year.  Again the whole above paragraph was probably TMI, but again--my blog.  And as long as I'm TMIing, I use the FuzziBunz Comfort Pads seen here.

I have been reading up a storm lately--probably due to the less computer time.  And, I've finally caught up on the flux of books that accidentally all came in at the same time about a month ago--apparently there just aren't too many holds on older romances.  So, I'm reading Master of Fire by Angela Knight right now--and the only thing I have left here at the house is Death's Excellent Vacation a compilation of short stories by various authors.  I got it for the Jim the demon dog short story by Katie MacAlister, which was hilarious by the way.  I still have all the other short stories to read in that book yet.  Now I need to get back on the library's website and reserve some more books.  And they'll probably all come in at the same time again, and I'll be right back in the same boat again.

Well, I think that's enough babbling for tonight.

did I find the solution?

Today was TO's library day at school and she brought home a book about crocheting.  Gotta say, at least she checks out all areas of the library.  Anyway, she was very excited to try crocheting and was very surprised when I told her I would work with her on it--after she finished her homework.  She finished her homework in under 10 minutes and then spend 30 minutes trying to learn to crochet.

I didn't realize when I agreed to help her, just how hard it would be.  I think the hardest part is that each hand is doing something different.  And learning how to hold everything so there's tension in the yarn.  She wanted to start a blanket for baby cousin J, but I talked her into trying a dishcloth square first.  I explained that she could make more squares and we could sew the squares together to make a blanket.  I worked the chain and the first row for her.  She worked until supper and then again between her bath and bedtime.  She's about halfway through the 2nd row and asked if she could crochet again tomorrow morning before school.  I told her she could, as long as she got ready for school first.  I sure hope she remains so enthusiastic about it--I could really use crocheting as a tool.

same bat time, same bat channel

We got a new channel on the dish--Hub.  And it's basically a semi-retro channel.  During the day they run new shows (like a computer-animated Strawberry Shortcake) and old shows (like Fraggle Rock) for the kids.  In the evening they run old classic shows like Family Ties, Doogie Howser, and ....  Batman.  Holy reruns, Batman!  The Dynamic Duo rides again!  And being a show from the 60s, there's no blood and most of the violence is covered by the big splash words like "BAM!"  "POW!" and "ZONK!"  I figured this might be the ideal chance to introduce LE to his super hero.  And he loved it.  As soon as the theme music started, he jumped up and started dancing.  And the fact that he's getting to see some of the villains that he has in his play set (Mr. Freeze), makes it all  the better.

Christmas shopping started early!

P got a few hours off of work this afternoon and I got to head over to the Farm and Fleet Toyland--which opened yesterday.  And thanks to a Packers game, the store was relatively deserted.  I was able to get TO and Omega done.  For TO:  The latest big Littlest Pet Shop set, Mousetrap, and a Spirograph (remember those?).  For Omega:  a Crocodile block wagon, 2 board books (welcome back Moo, Baa, La La La!), and 2 pjs--which we'll use early.  For LE:  A Sponge Bob Matchbox car set with extra cars, a tying shoe laces book, and a countdown wooded dice game (roll 2 die, either flip over each number or the sum of the two).  For CD:  the new Pop Goes the Froggio game, and some magnetic wooden paper dolls.  I still need to get the "big-guy" presents for LE and CD, but I figure I have 3/4s of my shopping done and it's not even Halloween--I so totally rock this year!  I still have money in my Christmas budget, and if have extra after the "big-guy" gifts, I'll probably add some of the new movies--Tinkerbell, Dragons or Beauty and the Beast.

Definitely a feeling of accomplishment today!

little accomplishments

The last few days CD has been doing a really good job with keeping her underpants dry and clean.  She seems to be very excited about it too--which is a good thing.  Today she's actually been in the same outfit since breakfast--and she usually changes the entire outfit every time she has an accident.

Omega came back from my mom's a completely mobile little one.  When we left, he was barely crawling.  And yesterday he pulled himself up to standing on the end table.  He's done it a few more times today and was very proud of himself.  We picked up a baby gate for the door way between the kitchen and living room--a walk through kind.  I showed the older kids how to work the door so they could go back and forth--now I just have to keep LE from opening and closing it all the time.

The husband's boss is gone for the weekend and has hired another guy to help out.  Right now the other guy and the husband have gone to the sporting goods store to pick up hunting licenses.  I guess they're going to go hunting after morning chores.  Sigh.  I know he wants to have friends, but sheesh.  I told him not to bring me a deer home--I told him I didn't even want to see a deer.

The mother-in-law is coming down Saturday morning.  I'm hoping I can convince her to take TO to get her hair cut.  I'm tired of struggling with her over combing her hair.  She went to school this morning with the front half combed and the back half looking like she just climbed out of bed.  So, now she doesn't get a choice in the matter--it's either get it cut short or get it cut off--well, maybe that is a choice...