I thought some of you were friends...

WHY did you never warn me about a seemingly harmless, even fun-sounding place known as CHUCK E. CHEESE???? Why??
I've been a mom now for over 13 years; why was I not informed of how hideous this place is on a Saturday afternoon? I will never be the same; I am scarred for life from yesterday's 3-hr birthday party.
Just by the look of the parking lot, I knew it was going to be bad. People fighting for parking spots, parking in the grass, etc. I'd take the Shrine Circus any and everyday over this place... The people, the kids, the crowds, the screaming, pushing, shoving, crying, and did I mention the screaming??? Okay, anyways, we survived (PTL for Tylenol & Coke Zero!) BTW, why don't they have a bar at CEC?

Other weekend happenings:

-A nice friend got my treadmill assembled yesterday - thanks!!!

-Xian is sick w/ a cold, cough, and sore throat:(:(-T is in NJ & NYC enjoying family and Lombardi's Pizza. YUMMY!!!!!

-LB taught herself to ride her bike w/o the training wheels. See the video & pic below:

VIDEO BELOW:

Edited to add these 2 weekend pix, too. LB & Mims enjoying their Sat. morn tradition, chocolate chip pancakes:

The Girl I Used To Be - author unknown

She came tonight as I sat alone

The Girl I used to be

And she gazed at me with her earnest eye

And questioned reproachfully:

Have you forgotten the many plans

And hopes I had for you:

The great career, the splendid fame,

All the wonderful things too

Where is the mansion of stately height

With all its gardens rare?

The silken robes that I dreamed for you

And the jewels in your hair?

And as she spoke, I was very sad

For I wanted her pleased with me…

This slender girl from the shadowy past

The girl that I used to be.

So gently rising, I took her hand

And guided her up the stairs

Where peacefully sleeping, my babies lay

Innocent, sweet, and fair.

And I told her that these are my only gems,

And precious they are to me;

That silken robes is my motherhood

Of costly simplicity.

And my mansion of stately height is love,

And the only career I know

Is serving each day in these sheltered walls

For the dear ones who come and go

And as I spoke to my shadowy guest,

She smiled through her tears at me.

And I saw the woman that I am now

Pleased the girl I used to be.

Weekend fun

Over the weekend, we introduced ourselves to a new park just a few miles from our house. This is our new favorite place. In addition to the new playground equipment, there are several miles of walking trails, lakes, fishing, hills, picnic tables, and disc golf.

Another highlight of the weekend was getting to meet our friends' 2 1/2 week old Yorki-Poo puppies. CUTE!!! NO, we're not getting one - I'll say it again to convince myself - NO, we're not getting one!!!

Oh, and it snowed over the weekend, too. In SD we'd call this a "dusting," but here in GA, it is SNOW!

This is my kind of art...

Lily made this lovely family tree at school the other day; isn't it wonderful!

Puzzle pieces as the bark of the trunk, green toothpicks as the branches, and alphabet pasta w/ all of our family - including Buddy!

(click on the pic to see it bigger)

PRECIOUS!!!!

Andrew Wyeth, Painter, dies at 91

One of my favorite artists has died....
Andrew Wyeth

RETRACTION....

Okay, remember what I said about Obama "not being so bad."

Forget I said that..............

WHAT?????

If you know my husband, and you value your time,

do NOT ask him how he feels about this!

OBAMA - he can't be all that bad...

After all - he is considering a Labradoodle - the world's best dogs!

We love our's - his name is Buddy - for any of you that haven't had the pleasure of meeting him.

I'm sure if the Obamas decide to get one, the notoriety of this breed will skyrocket and most of us regular folk won't be able to afford them.

They are an amazingly smart, loyal, joyful breed!!!

Tues. updates & thoughts

-Xian is in the middle of mid-term exams. I help him study every night. I’m so proud of how far he has come even tho’ he needs work on his ambition and attitude at times. What is the best way to teach a kid to diagram a sentence? Why can’t he ‘get’ this?

-We were BEYOND blessed by the neighbor of a friend who basically ‘gave’ us her condo in Panama City, FL for the kids’ winter break. We are so pumped about this!

-Mims is sick this week w/ an infection surrounding the tissues of her eyes – on meds.

-Our Walmart friend, Vicki is doing remarkably well! PTL!

-I’ve befriended several old acquaintances (and met new ones) on Facebook; it is so much fun!!! My brother’s joining it is entirely another post – anyone know of a good mental counselor?

-BEST NEWS THIS WEEK: we can request up to a 5 year extension on the military moving us to our next destination (wherever that may be.) I’m so relieved of this. No doubt it would cost probably $10k to move us and as long as the economy stays the way it is, extensions for reasons such as ours are being approved. I’m meeting w/ a new realtor this week.

-Another praise – my cousin’s little boy’s MRI was clear except for a polyp that has to be removed!

-The low this weekend here is supposed to be 11 degrees! Ouch.

-Hope you all are enjoying your week.

Liliputians

My mom ordered Xmas tutus for the girls and then sent a pic into the company...
they made their website gallery - check it out here!

Random Wednesday Thoughts....

Some very special people and things are on my mind today.

In no particular order, they are:
-my cousin's little boy, LM, who is the same age as my Xian, is going in for testing today for migraine headaches
-my good friend who, like me, is suffering from 'moving disorder/dilemma/duldrum syndrome'
-a 6th grade girl at my son's school that died over the weekend (this one horrifies me as the kids say it was a suicide!!! She was picked on at school and had no friends!!!!!)
-our Walmart greeter friend
-a friend who has her adorable son at a specialist today
-our thoughts on renting/leasing out our house so we can move to FL to be w/ T
-my Mims who is going to be evaluated for speech therapy
-my brother's girls who started a brand new school yesterday

Zip Line & Guitar Hero

By far the 2 Xmas favorites!
Pix and videos below of both!

L.B. ZIPPIN' THRU THE WOODS

WHO'S THE REBEL HERE???

Say it isn't so.... Xian is 13-years-old!

How can it be??? I wish I had a digital montage of pix over the past 13 years, however we weren't digital back in 1996! I'll have to scan them.
However, here are a few from his low-key b-day party the other day (and a video song.)
His actual b-day is tomorrow.
I love you so much, Xian!!!