Baby Talk

Ok, so you all get 2 from me today. I couldn't resist. Thanks to a FB friend I got this link to a You Tube video of twin boys talking to each other. Amazing how they really do have their own language. They even have the inflection of "Question-Answer" format. One asks a question and the other answers. It's amazing. I giggled the whole way through it and to tell you the truth, to quote my FB friend, they both have some compelling arguments.

Toys these days

Ok, so this just boggles my mind. Today I turned on the radio to the middle of a conversation about toys and what they do. Then shortly after, my manicurist told me this story hit the news. They have made a doll that teaches little girls how to Breast Feed! Seriously? Are we really pushing motherhood on 4 and 5 year olds now? And so graphically that they now have to learn to breastfeed at an early age? I really don't get it. Here's a link from Yahoo...http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2011/03/30/news/doc4d929cc14e448398001208.txt

Anyway, I believe in breastfeeding. I breastfed all of my children. However, I don't think it's appropriate for children 4+ to be imitating breastfeeding. The question that runs through my mind as I think of this doll, is "How many more teenage pregnancies will happen in the future because this doll encourages children to be young mothers?" Now, the toy company may have had other ideas in mind when they created this toy, like maybe promoting breast over bottle, but does it really have to be introduced to kids at such a young age? I mean, they don't even know about sex at that age, let alone the reason for breastfeeding. Now, I can see if they have baby siblings and the mother talks to them about breastfeeding and why it's done, but, face it, now a days parents just don't do that. They don't talk to their kids about topics such as these. So, can someone explain to me the reason the inventor of this particular doll thought this was a good idea? I would NEVER buy my daughter a doll that did that. I never even bought her a doll that "peed" in the potty when I was potty training her. What is this world coming to?

To Recess or not to recess, that is the question...

Today I thought I'd catch up on my spiritual Three Minutes a Day reading. Sometimes I don't have time to read it or I forget, so I fall a few days behind. Well, the one I was supposed to read on March 26th discussed the importance of Children spending time outdoors. It addresses the fact that when Children play outside it helps develop their large motor skills, their social skills and improves their imagination. I completely agree! Although my children dearly love video games, I try to make sure they play outside as well. For those of you who know me and my children, I have 2 very active kids (well, all my kids are active, but 2 are particularly very "busy") One is an ADHD child and the other is just very hyper and she always has to be moving. It's amazing she lays still long enough to sleep! Anyway, in reading this particular passage it got me thinking about the early days in school of my Eldest child. We, of course, enrolled him in the public school we were zoned for when he was of Kindergarten age. By the time he got to 1st grade we found out that the school only had ONE fifteen minute break outside for recess and this was right after the kids ate lunch. That was it! ONE! I was horror stricken! They of course tried to appease me by saying they took potty breaks 2 other times during the day, but seriously! That's not running playing and screaming time! Get Real! During this time, since he was our first child and this was our first time dealing with the public school system, we were also trying to diagnose him as ADHD. We had a lot to learn. By Second grade we sat down with the teacher and told her that she'd better give him some breaks or she'd be pretty miserable! So, it took US to suggest that during the potty breaks, instead of taking them to the bathroom INDOORS, take them to the OUTDOOR potty and if they didn't want to go potty, let them run around on the playground for 10 minutes. Can you believe she was actually SURPRISED at how much better her class behaved when she did this twice a day? Go figure!!! Well, after further research, we come to find out that most of the schools in the Clark County School district DONT let the children have any other recesses during the day; just the one at lunch time! I was appalled! I grew up in this school district and always had a 10 minute morning recess, a half hour lunch break and a 10 minute afternoon recess. This was in Boulder City though. (the other issue with this school was that they acted like they didn't know what an IEP or a 504 plan for special ed children were. That's another topic though.) So, needless to say, we yanked him out of that school and tried parochial school because we knew they had recess time.

So, what's my point to all of this? Well, I'd like to know why schools think it's ok to work the children all day  with only one lunch break and enough time to pee and get back to class for the rest of the day, when even the Work Force says you, as an adult, have to take TWO 10-15 minute breaks and at least a half hour of lunch when you work an 8 hour day. Why do the Adults get recess and the kids don't? Wanna know one of the reasons I was given? Because we are trying to keep up with the education of Japan and the Japanese kids don't get breaks so neither do we! Yeah, except Clark County is voted one of the 10 worst School Districts in the country!  And they think not giving the kids recess is going to help that? How about paying teachers more money and reducing classroom sizes?! According to this website Nevada is #2 for the worst school district in America!
http://www.walletpop.com/photos/best-and-worst-public-school-systems-in-us/ and here's what it says:

2nd Worst: Nevada

Total Score: 68.8 (out of 100)

Overall State Grade: D+
Chance of Student Success: D+
School Finance: D
K-12 Achievement: D-

I also have this comment: If everyone wants their children to be successful adults, I agree that education is important, but so is being a kid when you ARE a kid! After all they are only a kid one time in their lives, so I think they should enjoy it and play and take breaks from their school work, don't you? I mean, really, if you didn't get any breaks in your 9 to 5 job would you be performing at your peak everyday? Or would you go mad because you couldn't get up and stretch your legs, relax your brain, and have a bite to eat or a drink of water? I plead my case!!!

a little about my favorites...

Well, Since I'm having a lack of imagination today I thought I'd write some things about myself. So, I'm writing about some of my favorites. If any of you have favorites you'd like to comment with, please do. I thought this would help people to get to know me a little bit better.

1)Favorite Drink: Water
2)Favorite Movie: Well, I have 3, Titanic, Jesus Christ Superstar, and The Notebook.
3)Favorite Book(s): Again, I have a few...all the Harry Potter books, Twilight, Vampire books, The life of Padre Pio.
4)Favorite sweet indulgence:  chocolate (go figure)
5)Favorite TV Show: Again, I have a few...Survivor, Amazing Race, Chuck, Big Bang Theory, Dog Whisperer, Cake Boss and DC Cupcakes
6)Favorite Color: Green
7)Cats or Dogs: Both! But, now that I've had both, Cats are easier to take care of.
8)Favorite Vacation spots: I love Newport Beach and Zion
9)Favorite sound: My children laughing
10)Favorite food: Italian
11)Favorite Group: Metallica
12)Favorite activity: Nowadays, P90X (cuz I really want to have a ripped body in 2 more months. ;)  )
13)And lastly, (but only on this list... not anywhere else in my life) my favorite of all is God because he is my father and he takes the best care of me and he loves me the most ;)

If Only...

So, I have to change the "feeling" of my blog and move away from the events of the week. Yesterday Stephen showed me a video of a woman who is 119 years old. I'm amazed! This means she was born in 1892! In the video the news caster says she has no ailments, she walks on her own (with only the aid of a walker,) She has outlived her children and lives with her 61 year old Grandson. Can you imagine? Think of all the changes she's seen in her lifetime! She was alive for Titanic's sinking, WWII, Vietnam, Kennedy's assasination, the drug riddled 60s and 70s, The punk 80's and has lived to see not one, but 2 new centuries. Now, I don't know about you, but what would you do with yourselves if you lived to be 119 years old? Would you even want to? I think the latter question opens a new can of worms, so I'd better not go there. Anyway, here's the link, watch and enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsyOtuHmhG8

My thoughts about the future

Ok, so now that we have to move on with our lives and take an active role in determining our future, I've begun to think out a few scenarios. My number one choice is to stay in Vegas. Stephen has begun to iron out all the details of his appeal with his co-workers and it sounds like he has a good case. So, this being the best, he wins the appeal, he's re-hired with the county and nothing changes. We have our benefits and the life we've known for the last 15 years. After all, who can't take comfort in what's easy...we wouldn't have to uproot the kids from their schools and friends, we have the medical benefits we're used to and can stick with the same Dr.'s we have the house we've lived in for 15 years, and I get to stay near my family.

However, moving on now to scenario number 2. Stephen gets a job with another Engineering firm and takes an immediate position in San Diego, or Augusta Georgia. San Diego would be the preferred option here. Now, there are pros and cons to this decision. Some Pros...Stephen hates Vegas and has been wanting to move back to CA for a LOOOOOOONG time now. San Diego is very pretty! There are better schools in CA than in Las Vegas. We will be 2 hours away from HIS family and only 5 away from mine, which is much much closer than Augusta Georgia would be. And I have to say, I wouldn't mind living near a beach ;) (I've always wanted to and want to retire in a beach house anyway ;)   ) Cons? Um...no seriously, there are some. One would be uprooting the kids. Another, I've never lived anywhere except the Vegas Valley (although this could be an adventure) Having to start all over in finding schools, churches, friends, Dr's etc...Not exactly fun, but part of the necessary process. Money is also an issue: Salary, Benefits, CA has state taxes which suck, how much house we could get there, etc...As for Augusta? Hmmmm, it's definitely new, that's for sure! It looks pretty online? I love the houses and the land that goes with them (from what I've seen on the net) and again, an adventure it would be. I'm sure there are other companies that Stephen could work for and some may even still be in Vegas, so that's also not in the realm of possibilities either.

So, what to do now? Only God knows. It's really tough to not be able to predict the future. Where's my Crystal ball or magic mirror on the wall when I need it? My best advice to Stephen is this. File his appeal, win it, take his job back and if something better ever comes along, take it and resign from the County.

The loss, the birthday and the future

As I sit here looking at my blank page, I wonder where to even begin. I guess the beginning will be sufficient. About a month ago the County laid off close to 60 employees and a chunk of them were in Stephen's division. Well, 3 of those employees took their case to the appeals board and won. So, this meant Stephen was next to go. Sure enough, at 7:30 this morning he met with his boss and he's officially been laid off from the county. He's been with the County for 15 years. This of course doesn't matter one bit as he's only been a Senior Engineer for 2. The 3 people that won their appeals have been Senior Engineers for 2 1/2 years, so they beat him by about 6 months in the Seniority chain, even though Stephen was hired with the Building Department 3 years before they were and, like I said, the County for 15 years.

We are unsure about our future. He has contacts with professional Engineering firms here in Vegas. One company is located here, in San Diego, and in Augusta Georgia. The part that scares me the most about this is our Medical Benifits. They run out at the end of the month. Our eldest is on meds for his ADHD and they aren't cheap WITH insurance. I can only imagine what they'll be without. Part of me feels like maybe this is trying to tell  us something. Stephen has always wanted to move back to California. If there are positions in San Diego, I can picture myself living there. I guess I feel like Vegas is slowly dying, since we are the worst city in the nation as far as digging ourselves out of this recession. So, maybe God is trying to tell us to bail now! Who knows. All I know is that I love Stephen with all my heart and I know this is very difficult on him. He has a lot on his shoulders in trying to stay strong for me and his kids. He wants to be the "man" and support us in all of this and deep down I know he feels like a failure. WHICH he is NOT! He knows as well as I do that we had no control over this matter.

To top the day off today is his 40th birthday. What a way to spend it huh? I don't know what to do for him to make it special, but I'm certainly going to try my best. I know this will go down in the history books as the WORST birthday EVER!

My Baby Andrew

Well, I'm blogging about this today because I don't know if I'll have time to do it tomorrow. This is all about my Middle Child, my beloved Andrew. Eight years ago on March 18 2003, I gave birth to my second child Andrew Stephen Toms. This was a very special day for obvious reasons. I was induced at Mountain View Hospital here in Vegas. The atmosphere was very calm, but full of excitement as Stephen and I awaited the birth of our beautiful baby boy. After 9 hours of labor, and, yes I opted for the WONDERFUL epidural. (I'm a wimp with intense pain) In comparison to the birth of my first child, Alexander, Andrew was CAKE! In the labor and delivery room with me was my Dr., a nurse, Stephen and myself. I was really expecting Chaos because that's all I knew, but when it came time to push, it was very relaxed. We were actually shooting the breeze about the news stories we were watching on TV between Contractions. It was surreal! After 4 short pushes my baby Andrew was born. What's the reason for mentioning all this? Well, his personality mimicks his birth. As does Alexander's and Megannes. Anyway, ever since that day, my Andrew has been a blessing to my life and I'm sure to Stephen's. He has shown me that I CAN be patient with my kids, because he is a very calm child. He has brought so much into my life. He is strong, extraordinarily smart, loving, and funny. He loves sports, cake decorating, playing with Legos, video games as well as board games. He is even in the Chess club at school. He loves my music, he's pretty easy to please and he doesn't ever ask for very much except for snuggle time every now and then, food and a place to lay his head at night. He has grown up so very fast and I just can't believe he will be 8 tomorrow. He is one of the joys of my life and I love him so very much. So, I have to say, HAPPY, HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY ANDREW STEPHEN! Mommy and daddy love you very much.

RCIA day

So today was one of my busiest days with my RCIA program. Today my Catachumen attended the rite of sending and rite of election. You might ask, what are Catachumen? They are people who have never been baptized or were not baptized in a faith the Catholic Church recognizes. Today they signed their names in the book of life and were sent to the Bishop to become the Elect. Elect meaning they have been elected to finish their Catholic Formation and receive their sacraments. In just 6 short weeks they will be "full blown" Catholics. They will be baptized, receive Confirmation and receive Holy Communion. They along with our Converts and Catholics who need to receive Confirmation will be taking part in the biggest nights of their lives. I am so happy to be a part of their spiritual development. I meet so many wonderful people filled with the light of Christ every year. It's amazing to watch the transformation. I am so proud of everyone today and I'm thrilled they they will accomplish their goals of becoming Catholic at Easter. Congrats to everyone. God Bless.

Japan

Please say prayers for the Victims of the devastating earthquake and Tsunami in Japan. 'Nuff said.

Andrew and Metallica

For those of you who know me you know one of my favorite bands is Metallica. I've loved them since High School. Therefore I play it often in my car and both of my boys have Metallica songs, of their own choice, on their Ipods. Suffice it to say my love for Metallica is definitely rubbing off on them. Andrew looks forward to his drive to school every morning because KOMP plays morning Metallica at 7am. So this starts his day off on the right foot every day.

Andrew is taking Drum lessons, and yes this has to do with Metallica. Well, one of his drumming inspirations is Lars Ulrich from Metallica. So, tonight I took him to his lesson. When it was over I was talking to his instructor about his progress. He told me he could tell Andrew had been practicing. I said, yes, and he's quite enjoying drumming along with his I pod. So, Andrew piped up with , "Yeah, I want to go turn on the next Metallica song on my Ipod and practice on the way home." His instructor told him that it was a good group to practice with. Here's the rest of the conversation between Andrew and me...

Andrew "Yeah, the best drummer ever comes from Metallica."
 Me, "Really?"
 Andrew "Yeah, the best adult drummer anyway. I'M the best KID drummer."

LOL, I couldn't believe it. But then again I can. This is the kid who told me he was the best on the team in baseball when he was 4. He's also been known to tell me he's the best 7 year old bowler. So, it shouldn't be a surprise to me that he thinks he's the best kid drummer. Keep in mind he does have talent, but he's only been taking lessons for a couple months now. It just made me laugh. I'm happy I've been able to instill in my kids some self esteem, since that's been a huge struggle for myself. I'm also happy that I can find joy and laughter when my kids say something cute like that. And lastly, I'm happy that my kids like my music!

FAT TUESDAY

Those of you who are not Catholic might ask what is Fat Tuesday exactly. This is a summary in a very small nutshell.

Fat Tuesday is an unofficial celebration that is generally recognized by those of the Catholic denomination of Christianity, or by any other group that fasts for Lent during that same time (this would exclude the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox denominations, for example, who do not generally celebrate Lent at the same time).
It is celebrated on the day before Lent , the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. It is a day where people eat gluttonous amounts of rich fatty food, drink ... Hence the name "Fat Tuesday." it is a time to fast/give up your desires and recognize the Feast of Resurrection.
The Feast of Resurrection, commonly known as Easter, is on a Sunday each year, and the fast of Lent lasts 40 days. Therefore, Lent always begins on a Wednesday followed by Fat Tuesday as an annual celebration .

Thus, today we celebrate by eating to our hearts Content. Ash Wednesday is a fasting day and an abstinence day (where we don't eat meat.) Way back when fasting meant exactly that...no eating or drinking for the entire day. Today we have adapted it to mean one regular sized meal and 2 smaller meals that don't equal that regular sized one. Senior Citizens are Exempt as are Children under 12 and anyone with a medical condition that would endanger their lives if they don't eat regularly (like my daughter who is hypoglycemic.) 

 

So, today, since I've decided to give up sweets for Lent, (as well as yelling at my children and maybe committing to P90X for my health and well being) I eat tons of meat and sweets! Yum! It is truly a sacrifice for me to give up the sweets. I love them. I can't not have them, so it will be difficult for me this year. Yelling at my kids is something I do way too often, so finding a better way to communicate, especially when we are pressed for time in the morning before school, will be challenging but we will all be better off in the long run. As for the P90X...exercising is better for my health then sitting around being lazy. It will not only help me to lose the weight I've been trying to lose for 5 years, but it will keep my body healthy and help me live up to the example of my 83 year old grandmother who to this day dances 3 times a week, still drives, still breaths on her own without oxygen, and has never used a walker or cane. If I can be as active as she is when I'm 83 I will be very happy with myself. 

So, to those who celebrate Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, Lent and Easter...Happy Fat Tuesday everyone. To those that don't...God bless you all.

Motivation

Motivation means, according to Mirriam Webster,

1

a : the act or process of motivating b : the condition of being motivated

2

: a motivating force, stimulus, or influence 

Why is motivation my topic for the day? Well, because I still struggle to lose 25lbs. I have some motivating things going on in my life that I'd like to look good for, like my 20 year high school reunion and this summer I'd like to wear a bikini again, but somehow that doesn't seem to be enough. Every day is a struggle. Like today for instance, I decided it would be a good idea to eat a candy bar with peanut butter for desert from lunch because I was craving chocolate. My excuse was, tomorrow is fat Tuesday and I'm giving up sweets for lent with the only exception being Andrew's birthday because I ordered him cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcakes (the source of the TLC show DC Cupcakes) and I really want to try one. So, I gave myself the go ahead to eat something I didn't need today because I knew I wasn't going to get sweets again till Easter. This happens to me daily, and then I wonder why I'm still hanging on to the 25lbs. I really need to break out my Weight Watchers Cookbooks and make some Weight Watcher's friendly deserts, after Lent of course. I also want to start P90X. I had every excuse in the book not to work out today. So, people, some words of wisdom and some motivation would be helpful! I know I can  do it, I just need to find the way and the will. 

Just because I love Penguins I had to share this. Thanks to my Sister in Law who thought of me when she saw it. Just click on the words and it will take you to the video.

Penguin Shopping

Happiness

Happiness. What is Happiness? Websters defines it as-good fortune : prosperity

2a : a state of well-being and contentment : joy b : a pleasurable or satisfying experience

How do I describe, see and feel happiness? Well in many ways actually. Happiness to me is listening to my children play outside and get along. It's listening to them laugh and giggle. It's watching my Oldest tickle my youngest in order to get here to stop playing the piano because he wants to watch his recorded TV show because everyone knows its better to do that then to scream at her or, God forbid, hit her or something. Happiness is getting to sleep in today and having my wonderful husband kiss me goodbye and call me angel before he leaves for work. (Yes, I hear it every time) Happiness is going right back to sleep after that because I know he is going to work to give us a roof over our heads and to make sure my kids go to a good private school and because he makes me feel loved and safe. Happiness is getting to enjoy a cup of Decaf coffee in the morning (can't do the leaded brand because it makes me have heart palpatations) because we have running water and the means to make it for my enjoyment. Happiness is watching a movie with my family on the couch all snuggled up together and eating popcorn. Happiness is running my RCIA program because I know it keeps me close to God and it's satisfying to see everyone grow in their faith and love of the Lord. Happiness is petting and loving our pets because they bring peace to me and my children as well as responsibility and all they ask for is a little love, food and water. 

As I write this I realize I have a lot to be thankful for. What I mentioned is just the tip of the iceburg. I hope everyone reading this can come up with their own types of happiness. I also hope I've inspired someone to look for the happy in their lives and to dwell on that instead of the things that might bring them down. God Bless!

 

 

Expensive free kitty

So, a year ago today our cat Frodo was born. We got him from a friend from church and he was born to a Ferrel cat. We got him for Alexander who really wanted to have a cat for his birthday, one he could take care of, one that would be his very own. He grew up with my cats Aerial and Sebastian, and never connected with them because they weren't HIS. So, at the end of April, as a birthday gift, though belated, we brought home "baby Frodo" as he calls him. Frodo was so tiny he could fit in the palm of our hands. And, best of all he was free!

Well, Yesterday, I had to take him to the Vet for what I thought was a urinary tract infection. HA! It was much, much worse than that, as is our luck. He had developed so many crystals and debris in his bladder that it was very, VERY stuck in his urethra. Plus his bladder was the size of a Softball which is rather huge for a small kitty of 11lbs and only a year old. The Vet couldn't unblock him so he was referred to an Emergency Veterinary clinic for emergency PU surgery. Sorry to the men out there, but I have to give a little detail. They basically castrate him and give him a bigger opening to pee out of. EEK! This by all means doesn't prevent crystals from forming, it just improves his chances of passing the crystals, stones, debris that may form in the future. Plus we will have to have him on a strict diet and he'll have to wear a cone on his head for a couple of weeks. So, now the part that gave Stephen a Coronary...the bill. Yes, this free cat is now costing us $3000 for this surgery. Who says that Vets can charge as much as Dr.'s? Luckily they have a payment plan, but geez, really? That much for a cat? I love animals and will do anything for them to keep them safe and healthy, but, do the Vets really have to charge that much?

Anyway, Alexander and I visited him in the hospital today. Poor thing is shaved and has his entire right front leg bandaged because he has an IV in it. He didn't want to be held and kept trying to shake off the bandage and get the cone off. But otherwise he's back to his normal self, well, as normal as can be given the contraptions, and Alexander just wanted to bring him back home. Knock on wood, I can only hope our other animals don't go through extensive procedures like that that will cost us another $3000!

SAVE BABY JOSEPH (I had to post this.)

Save Baby Joseph!

 February 26, 2011

 Dear Patricia,

There's an 18-month-old baby boy in Canada who is about to be put to death by the Canadian government.

I'm writing to you today so that you can help Priests For Life save this baby's life if possible.

Here's the situation … The baby, who is known as Baby Joseph, is suffering from a critical condition that requires him to have a breathing tube in order to stay alive.

However, the Canadian government has decided that they don't want to spend any more money on Baby Joseph to keep him alive.

And, to everyone's horror, the government won't even let Baby Joseph go home with his parents. His parents need to obtain better health care for Baby Joseph by bringing him to the United States where a hospital -- preferably a Catholic hospital where the baby will NOT be euthanized.

My experience in the case of Terri Schiavo back in 2005 showed me how devastating it is when a person -- no matter how young or how old -- is put to death by the "health care" system that pretends to help the sick, the poor, the indigent, the elderly, and those with terminal illnesses.

In reality, the government "health care" system doesn't want to spend money on anyone if they can't make money on that patient.

Therefore, since the Canadian government -- because of their system of rationing health care -- is determined to put Baby Joseph to death by removing his breathing tube, we at Priests For Life are stepping up to the plate and offering to bring Baby Joseph to the United States so that he can receive better health care and possibly survive his illness rather than being put to death because of rationed health care.

You see, the Canadian government is refusing to let Baby Joseph's parents take care of him. His parents don't want him to die. They already had one child die from a similar illness, and they don't want it to happen again.

But because of the Canadian government's system of "socialized" health care, Baby Joseph is in danger. They won't take care of him. Therefore, we have to.

The first thing I urge you to do is contact the officials in the Canadian government who are holding Baby Joseph's life in their hands. All you have to do is click here and your message will be sent immediately to these Canadian officials to implore them to release Baby Joseph back to his parents so that he can get the proper health care he needs and not be put to death in the painful, inhumane method of removing his breathing tube.

The second thing you need to do is pray for Baby Joseph and his parents for a sensitive solution to this problem.

And then, third, please forward this alert to everyone on your email list!

I will keep you updated on our progress in this crucial fight to save Baby Joseph. Please keep reading these alerts and forwarding them to all your friends and family members so that the word can get out about the injustices inflicted upon little children by the Culture of Death.

Blessings,



Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life

Priests for Life
PO Box 141172
Staten Island, NY 10314
Phone: 718-980-4400
Toll Free: 1-888-735-3448
Fax: 718-980-6515
mail@priestsforlife.org
www.priestsforlife.org 

If you do not wish to receive any emails from us, let us know at unsubscribe@priestsforlife.org. However, unsubscribing will deprive you of some important and helpful information in the months to come, and therefore we strongly encourage you to stay on our list!

My soon to be 8 year old

So, since yesterday was the first of March, the realization hit me that I have 2 birthdays to take care of this month. No, I take that back....3 birthdays. My grandmother comes first on the 17th. She will be 83. Hard to believe she will be 83 since she acts like she's 60. Thank God for that. She is my inspiration. I want to be as active as she is when I'm 83. I guess this proves that age is all in your head. She thinks young, there fore she acts young. I admire her for that.

Next, my middle child will be 8. Yikes! I can't believe he's going to be 8. He's growing up so fast. My game playing Mario loving boy will be another year older. As I sit here and write about this I think about the day I gave birth to him at Mountain View hospital. It was a very peaceful, calm birth, which mimicks his personality. How the years have passed. 

Lastly, My wonderful husband will be turning 40. I would love to do something special for him but I have no clue what to do. 40 is a big milestone and I want to make it special. Funny, now that I think of it, he was 21 when I met him! Geez! That seems like a lifetime ago!!! But it also seems like just yesterday.

All in all, I haven't done ANYTHING to shop for them. I have no idea what to get them or what kind of party to do for them. (well, mostly my son and my hubby. Grandma is taken care of thanks to my aunt.) I guess I had better get organized, huh?
 

Toys

So I was listening to the radio this morning and they were talking about the top 10 dumbest toys. This got me thinking about the toys I used to play with as a little girl. I wasn't thinking about the dumbest necessarily, just the ones I like. So, to all of you who are about my age and want a blast from the past, here is a list of toys I remember from the 70's and 80's!

Cabbage Patch Kids
Barbie
Pogs
Rainbow Bright
Strawberry Shortcake
Sit and Spin
Big Wheel
Garbage Pail Kids
GI Joe
Star Wars Figurines
Slinky
Silly Putty
Play Doh
Pound Puppies
Rubiks Cube
The Magic 8 ball
Roller Skates with Metal Wheels

Anyway, I think you get my drift. If you have any you remember that I didn't post, please comment! The list of the 10 dumbest toys ever is on this link http://guyism.com/humor/stupidest-toys-of-all-time.html #1 according to them? Furbys!!!