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...