Honestly

I am seriously sick of birthdays. I spent in the area of 700 dollars on Darius this year. Ouch.
I posted pictures from the party on Flickr. I'm disappointed I didn't have more energy than I did.
I should've gotten myself some coffee first thing in the morning.
As it was...we had a feast. Three fruit platters with watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, nectarines and oranges. Two veggie platters with baby carrots, cucumber, green pepper, yellow pepper, and celery. Pasta salad, a pickle platter, cheese and cracker platter with a cheese ball on the side, Doritos, Sun Chips, Wavy Lays, Pretzels, corn dogs, tater tots, and Calico Beans (thanks to Rhonda for that). For drinks I decided against pop because I didn't want the wrong people guzzling it down, so I opted for juices....White Grape, Fruit Punch, V8 Splash in mango peach flavor, Cranberry, Orange and Apple, plus a case of bottled water (because our tap water isn't all that tasty, I don't mind if we drink it, but not our guests)
I didn't have the brian power to do the cake on my own, so I waited until Chance's co-worker and his wife arrived and enlisted her help to do it.
All-in-all, we had a terrific party where I believe everyone enjoyed themselves. I was ready for bed at 9, but as it goes I didn't actually get there until 11. I wish I would've made myself some coffee...but oh well. I'm grateful so many people offered to help out when they did.
I'm wondering what was bothering Chance, as he was grumpy for the most part to where I didn't really communicate with him outside of giving orders on what needed to be done. Wish it could have been different, but as I didn't want to be his pinata (or vice versa), I decided it was best for everyone if I just left it alone.
Darius had a fantastic time, and if you take a peek at the pictures on Flickr, you can see his smiles. I wish I would've taken more pictures...but oh well. I don't believe I was the only one there with a camera.
I'm seriously sick of birthday parties, and am glad it'll be a while before I even have to think of another one.
Back to the daily grind I suppose, as I've been putting off anything resembling a daily schedule for about 4-5 days now...I guess we took our Spring Break after all.
Hospice training tonight. I still need to do the reading for it.

Uploaded today's pix to Flickr. I'm too tired to explain the day...I'll do it tomorrow

Chances 1st Guitar Hero

The Amish Moving

The Continents of the World

Bought some new learning stuff yesterday for Darius. Posted more pics at Flickr

Do I Always Go This Overboard?

Honestly...I hope I'm not setting myself up here. What if in the following years he comes to expect just as much, or more for a birthday? Is it really wise of me to get him a Wii? Even though he's been asking for one for months, is it wise to just buy one for a gift?
I'm racking up quite a tab here for both the gift and the party. I'm asking myself now, do I always go this overboard for Darius's birthday?
Chance phoned me yesterday from work to tell me that one of his co-workers' wife went to another town about 40 minutes away and bought a Wii for us. Chance mentioned he couldn't find one to his buddy, his buddy mentioned it to his wife, she phoned around and found one and managed to get them to reserve it for her, she picked up the money from Chance, and went and picked it up for him. Amazing...and now I'm trying to figure out how to say thank you.
I've got all the party favors and the goody bags, and plates, cups and cake plates all in Scooby Doo (just in time because they're no longer making them and they're currently switching over to a dog instead of Scooby Doo). I still plan on getting a few balloons (dollar store does mylar/helium for $1) and a cake from the grocery store (just for the day, not for the party, and a mini one at that).
Of course for the party I'm planning my usual...veggie and fruit platters, with some chips, and D has requested "Hot Dog Treasures" (corn dogs). I've gotten all the juices...I contemplated on having pop because they're having a sale of 3 cases for $10, but I decided against it because I thought that it would be served to those whom I believe shouldn't drink pop. So, I saved myself the trouble and just got juice instead. I still plan on making a cake, and do need to phone around for where I can find a cake pan in the shape of Scooby Doo...but other than that and the fresh fruits, I'm good to go.
I'm not complaining about how much I'm spending, I'm concerned about whether or not it'll boost his expectations. I do think all this will be worth it just to see the look on his face when he either tears off the wrapping paper or comes downstairs on the morning of his birthday and sees it set up and ready to go (we haven't decided which we're doing yet).
We're also going to an indoor carnival thingy, with rides (that I get to ride on cause they make Chance sick...Ya!) and a midway (Chance is good at that stuff). I hope it doesn't cost an arm and a leg as well, but I'm expecting it to as I've reserved some of the cash I've allotted for this birthday.
I've still got shopping to do for the house...taxables and what-not that I haven't gotten around to. I'll get to it soon, I swear.

There's a bunch of sewing that I'd like to do...I hope I can find the time to do it as well...curtains, and a new blanket. Hmm...

Thank Goodness

So the X-rays produced no results. Either I missed the penny coming out or he never swallowed it at all.
I hate sifting through warm poop.
Spent today cleaning over at Ronnie and Don's. A nice relaxing day where it almost took me all say, but it wasn't rushed so it's all good.
Don presented us with an awesome new stroller (passed on to him by someone at work) that we're all quite happy with. It has shocks and a tray in the front with a drink holder on it, a nice big canopy, a huge under-basket, and a 2 drink holders on the handle...plus it's a one hand collapsible and unfolding unit.
We've officially made plans for Darius's birthday. On the 26th (the day Chance and Rhonda get off) we're going a bit north to an indoor carnival thingy and we'll have a small cake that I'm going to buy. On the 30th at 3pm we're attempting to have a party (in a Scooby Doo theme) with a few friends.
Darius is getting a Wii that we're hopefully going to pick up tomorrow (guy says they get their shipment about 11am) but it's only the console...no bundles :o(
For the first year ever, Darius is going to have a pinata at his party...so over the next few days I've got some shopping to do.
Gotta get the pinata (I got the LAST Scooby Doo pinata reserved at the store), the Wii, Cake pan (pre-formed), candy and toys to fill the pinata, Either Scooby Doo tableware or plain (I haven't decided yet), items for goody-bags & goody bags to put them in. I think I ask myself the same question every year...why do I leave everything to the last minute??
I hope that this will be a memorable year for him.
It was supposed to rain heavily today, and it did for the first bit there, but then it turned to snow...again! how silly.
Rhonda took us out the other day and helped us get some fabric for some new curtains in D's room. I guess it's no surprise that after years of having darkened curtains in his room, Darius doesn't like how bright it is with lacy curtains on his windows. We got him some cute froggy cotton, to be backed with a nice soft yellow flannel, and edged with a green striped cotton. I'll take pictures when I'm finished.
I'm thinking I may tame back my Volunteer hours at the library...or at least easing into them since I haven't quite begun yet. I need to give myself time to adjust to everything...Hospice, Ice Skating, Cleaning, and soon I'll have Alterations. Busy, busy, busy. I want to make sure that I'm easing my way into it rather than dropping right into it.
Anyhow...remind me to blog about my Hospice thoughts sometime.

Pennies and Reading

*sigh*
So, the penny has yet to come out the other side...which mens I have to take Hunter to the Doctor's tomorrow to see what's going on. Not fun...I feel so bad. It's not like he's acting plugged up cause he's been going quite frequently as usual, but I haven't seen any penny at all.
On another note...the school website is down, which means I can't access the online courses for Darius right now. I can take comfort that right now I can do Phonics and a Language Arts lesson with him, but other than that I need the computer to either print out the lesson or do it from the screen. The K12 website is showing that he doesn't have any courses scheduled at all. I did phone the teacher and she said it was system wide, so hopefully they get it going soon cause I've been slacking on the school-front lately and need to pick it back up.
Darius is learning to read!! I'm excited about the direction that this Phonics course is taking us. We've worked through the sounds of each letter and worked on deciphering those sounds as separate in a word, and are now working on forming new words with those sounds. He can read 3 letter words now, and I'm so proud. I remember thinking about this time last year that there was no way I could teach him to read in a few months, and here I am doing it in a smaller time frame than even I had imagined. It's an amazing feeling of accomplishment knowing that I am building the foundation to which the rest of his entire learning experience will be based upon.
I hope he'll enjoy it...learning that is. I tease him sometimes and tell him he's asking too many questions, and he always responds with..."But mom, that's how I get to know stuff. I want to know everything!"
There was a point where we were reading a science book that was gifted to him, and he learned that science is just asking questions to figure out how the world works, and so he calls himself a scientist because he wants to know how EVERYthing works, and why it works that way.
Children are amazing.

Well, it's been a little slow goin lately.
Hunter swallowed a penny on Wednesday, which has left me as designated poop sifter (since it happened on my watch I get to suffer the consequences) searching through each dirty diaper for a penny coming out the other side. If it doesn't come out in 5 days, or if he starts to refuse food or becomes lethargic, I'm to take him to ER for an X-Ray and probably treatment.
It's dreary rainy here today, finally warm enough for it...would've been snow otherwise (like the last few days). And I was surprised to find that our inflatable sled (as seen in pix with Hunter) has found it's way home after losing it in a wind storm because we were irresponsible enough to leave it outdoors.
Our basement is flooded and yucky...and of course, it's laundry day.
Am finding myself a bit stretched thin with 2 volunteer things going on per week, but it shouldn't take long to get used to it.
Went shopping yesterday for some new pants that fit, and found 2 pairs...so now I have 4 pairs that fit properly.
Kind of a dull day here...yegh.
Am just finishing all of the St. Partick's Day letters for everyone to send out in tomorrow's mail. They'll arrive late, but at least they'll be post-marked for before St. Patrick's Day.

Chance's VIdeo

Blizzard-Like Conditions

Well, it started snowing Friday morning, and it hasn't stopped since (well, ok, MAYbe it had 2-30 minute breaks in there someplace) We decided to venture out (after Chance called in Snow to work) to Rhonda & Don's for the day.
For some unknown reason Hunter decided to get up around 6:15 this morning, which got both Chance & I up. So, I proceeded to get on with the day...doing the dishes, folding laundry, making breakfast and so on. We had a super yummy breaky with French toast, sausage, bacon, hard boiled eggs, and fresh made strawberry glaze. Super Yum!
I have been wanting to try and make lasagna for a while now, and decided today was the day. So, I got all the ingredients together, tossed it up, and brought it over with us...and put it in the oven there.
The boys played video games/computer games alllllllllll day. I got to clean :o)
The roads were OK for a 4 wheel drive vehicle, but I wouldn'tve wanted a car in those conditions. On the way over we got stuck behind some Amish people who were moving (rough day for it) and had a big wagon (open top) loaded and a buggy (closed top) following behind. They were going slow, and it was rather scary to watch the poor horses feet bend outwards trying to get their grip in the snow. In any event, once we crossed the county line they let us pass so we could plow the way for them...which is exactly what we did. It was scary.
The roads were good on our side of the county line, but on the Wayne (Rhonda & Don's) County side were a bit frightening, and I don't even want to discuss the trip home...in the dark, in which I had to cover my eyes and try to talk to Hunter to distract myself with.
It'll be interesting to see how much shoveling will be needed tomorrow, if any at all because all of the snow we got it light and fluffy, and the wind keeps blowing it around into big drifts (see pictures at Flickr) everyplace, including onto the roads.
In any event, am beginning to catch a glimmer as to why these people panic at the mention of snow, but I still don't see why they think the world needs to come to grinding halt with only 1 inch on the ground.
Anyhow...I've got videos, and pictures to upload...

Posted new pictures to Flickr...

HAHAHAHA

Had a pleasant morning making our way to church and back. They had a nice sermon speaking about what Universalist Unitarian-ism means. I really am starting to think that I've found someplace to belong.
In other news...
I've decided to grow my hair for Locks of Love
You need a minimum of 10 inches to donate, so I'm taking mega vitamins and such.