birthday blues

Well, Jonah had his birthday. He had a blast, but I did not. After accepting that Jill was not invited because it was a "boy party", I got there to find tons of people including the neighbors' two little girls. Their father even asked me, "Where is Jill?" Where are all the kids bowling, playing video games, eating the pizza that Grandma brought? They were there, but I couldn't get into taking their pictures. Sure, Jaime said Jill could come at the last minute, but she wouldn't be able to bowl. Well, EVERYONE bowled. Leave it to say that I didn't have fun and it was obvious. Karin and Alan, Grandpa Jerry, Erica and her roommate and lots of other people came and brought Jonah some really nice gifts. I did stick around to watch him try to blow out the trick candles I got. They kept re-lighting themselves. I'm pretty tired of this kick Jonah is on that he doesn't want Jill around. Maybe he will have outgrown this when he gets back home. Or maybe she won't care and I won't either. Right now I care. Today is Jill's recital and my job is to pick up Courtney and get her there. Another fun day I fear.

hair cuts, birthdays, dance recital and last day of school

Hard to tell, but Roger and Nibbles both got hair cuts the other day. Roger complained he hadn't combed his hair yet when I took this picture. Nibbles is a skinny shadow of his former fluffy self. Both feel a lot better. I will try to get a better picture.

Today at 6:30 Jaime is having a bowling party for Jonah's birthday. He will be 9 on June 12, but he is leaving on Sunday for Tennessee to have his real birthday with his dad. Jaime is serving pizza and a huge birthday cookie "cake". This is a boy party and Jill is not invited, but she is handling it really well.

Jaime sent cupcakes to Jonah's school on Wednesday. I forgot to get a picture, but here is one of Jonah and his friends eating pizza at the new outdoor picnic area at school and a picture of Ms. Goodknight who has been his teacher for two years. I know he will miss her and I will, too.


Jonah took this one of himself and his friend.

Everyone got gift bags just before they left.

Money is tight. Especially since there is also a party for Vannon on Saturday. He agreed to have his party a week late. His friends are coming over with their video games. Vannon and Connor's X-Box is broken again and doesn't look to be fixable this time. Also, they are doing without internet as well. Vannon is 16. He and Connor get wonderful grades and help Jaime with the house and the baby and are all around great kids. Happy Birthday, Vannon.

Lastly, Jill's dance recital is on Saturday at 2:30. I should have some great pictures from that. I haven't seen the costume yet but I hear it is white and sparkly. Jill got a very good report card and will be going to first grade next year at Lake Magdalene, I hope. Her teacher at Miles, Ms. Baker, did a great job. This was her last year to teach after about 34 years. She did a great job with Jill as her report card reflects. Jonah will be in third grade next year.

third anniversary - June 3

Yesterday was our third anniversary. When I got up a beautiful card was waiting on the dining table. Like all the cards my husband buys, it was wonderful, but it looked somewhat familiar. Also, it said "Happy Birthday" instead of "Happy Anniversary". To be fair, the "birthday" type was light and Roger is color blind. He had scratched out "birthday" and written in "anniversary". That rang a bell with me and I got out my box of cards and found the same card from Valentine's day with "birthday" scratched out. He said he picked it for the sentiment. I guess he really means that one. I love my cards and the husband who chose them! I include pictures from our wedding and a picture of our beautiful wedding cake. We made a vow to always go back to Rusty Pelican for our anniversary, but this year we stayed home and had steak, stuffed potatoes, salad and homemade Hershey's chocolate bundt cake (made with Splenda). Someday soon we will go back to the beautiful Rusty Pelican, but our steaks at home were just as good.

milestone - the play set is finished!

Actually the play set is not quite finished. There is a baby swing to add and a covered sand box, and a baby pool of water to slide into, but the playhouse stand is finally complete with steps and paint and railings. It means a lot to see it done. You see, Jaime and Sean were working on the play set when an a "friend" brought over his big dog who attacked Mia and injured her horribly. Thank God, she is getting better every day. The play house has been in the dining area for the last couple of months and the blinds have been closed so that Mia wouldn't cry to go out in the back yard as she loves to do. We didn't know how long it would be before she could have a bath, swim or get dirty. Thanks to a great job of care taking by her mom and her own great healing, she is way ahead of schedule and again able to play as she was doing the day she was hurt. Now the dining table is back and they can have their family meals again at the table. I am so glad and happy.

up!

Jill celebrated her birthday early at school. Real birthday is July 17.

Ok, so Jonah, Jill and I were on the way to Westshore Mall to see the new movie, "UP" when UP came Jill's breakfast. We were almost there when I heard the unmistakable sound of "UPchucking". YUK! So we went back home and Jill took a bath and went back to bed and I went out to clean the car and throw all her clothes in the washer. I should have taken it seriously when she said her tummy hurt! We will try again today to see "UP".

Since Jonah missed the movie, he and I went to Lowry Park so he could prowl around all the streams and look for critters. We ran into a cub scout troop. Jonah and the troop discovered a snake that looked like it could be dangerous. It was brown and black. The kids loved it. This troop meets at the zoo every Tuesday nite and goes camping 4 times a year. Perfect for Jonah. His mom tried to get him to join last year when school started. Next school year for sure after he gets back from Tennessee.

Here is Mia wearing Jill's crown. She will be 3 on November 10.

Jonah: turning 9 and heading for Tennessee

Jonah, Jill and I went to Safari night at the zoo where all the rides are free. We used our zoo passes and headed straight for the sky ride which we usually can't afford. After a little trepidation, Jill got on and loved it. We had to leave our flip flops behind (in case they got dropped somewhere in the zoo, even in an animal cage). Next we rode the train, fed the budgies (parakeets), petted the goats, rode a pony, played on the playground, danced at the Radio Disney exhibit, visited the gift shop and then went to the concert in the park where Jill scored a free frisbee. I'm trying to spend time with Jonah since he might be gone for most of the summer visiting his Dad. Today we are going to try to go see "Up" at the movies. Jonah's birthday is on June 12, but he may be in Tennessee by then so his Mom wants to plan something before he goes.

perfect moment

I spent many years working in a cubicle, being somewhere I didn't really want to be for 8 hours a day. Even though I was blessed to have several great jobs over my lifetime and found satisfaction in my work and made lifelong friends, like many other people I always craved the luxury of time, solitude and nature all around me.

I was inspired to write a description of my perfect moment by "Wishcraft", a book written by Barbara Sher. Check out http://www.wishcraft.com/ where you can actually read the book online. I think it is Chapter 3, "Wishing" where I read other people's descriptions of their perfect day. I enjoyed writing what turned out to be more like my perfect moment. I looked at it every day and always found it soothing and inspiring. I also hung pictures from the "Out on the Porch" calendar all around my windowless cubicle and found them very comforting as well.

I had to recreate the perfect moment from memory since I have not been able to find the box where it is stored since our last move. Doesn't matter. I remember it well and have visited it many times in my imagination with friends and family members who might be far away or even gone forever.

I looked for stock photos of mountain cabins, but I could find nothing that matched my imagination so well as my friend's actual cabin in Kentucky. It seems she is living my fantasy even though when we met she was the Big City Career Girl and I was the one who wanted to live in the woods. Life is full of surprises. My friend's blog is listed here on my blog. She is a crafter of beautiful handmade soap and skin products at http://www.annas-soaps.com/. I imagine she will be surprised if she visits my blog and sees pictures of her own house.

Perfect Moment

I am on the wooden deck of a mountain cabin. Sun light is filtering through the leaves above. It is warm and still and the sound of chirping insects fills the air. There are two deck chairs, some potted plants and a small table on the deck. A cat is sleeping in one of the chairs. Inside the cabin is dim and cool and a pot of stew is simmering on the stove. A small creek trickles below and runs into a cool, clear river further down. I hear laughter from that direction. I will be joining the others soon, but right now I am working on my laptop computer. A deadline and a pay check are waiting, but the work is going well and I am almost finished.

In the distance, I see someone walking toward me. As she gets close, I am surprised to see my old friend. "Don't worry," she says, "others will come." She comments on my tan skin and slender figure. Laughing and talking quietly, we inspect the garden and stroll down the path toward the river.