Not sure how if this picture will show up well. This was taken at bed time. Layla is my teddy bear, she likes to cuddle up and sleep with me. The funny thing is, I can't sleep curled around my Dh, but Layla can curl up next to me and I can sleep. Wierd, huh?

Um, not much going on today. The In-laws came over this evening for dinner, which they brought. Pizza. YUM! (we eat way too much pizza, but love it anyway.) I told them they didn't have to bring it, that they could just come for a visit, but MIL said"we have to eat, anyway."

I read a new book last night I had gotten from the library. "Who loves ya baby?" by Gemma Bruce. It was OK. Some things were niggling at me the entire time I read this book. Questions the author raised and then never answered. It did end with a HEA so, I won't complain much. I'm starting to run out of library reads, so I might have to *gasp* go to the bookstore tomorrow. I'll need to pick something up before tomorrow nigh, though. I need something to read before I get on the treadmill. It just makes the time go by faster.

Did I mention my DH finished our taxes? And that we might be getting back enough to put hardwood floors in my living room? Cross your fingers., because the carpet in here looks bad. Between the kids dropping things, like food and drink, and playdough..... it would just be sooooo much easier to clean if there were hardwoods in here.

Well, I've done my duty of BORING you to tears. So, have a good night. B.

Well, Oreo is sitting still in this picture, I had to take it. See, she doesn't sit still very often. When everyone gets ready for bed she's running around trying to climb the door jams. Seriously. The. Door. Jams. Why do we seem to collect nutjob cats?

Feeling kind of blah today. Don't know why. Also feeling just the tiniest bit put-upon. My family's refusal to, say, pick up ANYTHING off the floor is getting to me today. Feeling a bit like a servant who doesn't get vacation OR a paycheck. And somewhere I have to find the energy to get on the treadmill. Which, once I get on, I'll probably feel better. Or at least after I'm done I'll feel better.

Son is still having a snotfest. Eeewww. 3 year old w/ runny noses are NOT pretty sites! Don't feel like cooking tonight, maybe I can talk DH into greek. I am soooo in the mood for some pita bread and tzatziki. I sincerley hope that y'all are feeling better than I am. Night. B.

I read this today and I loved it. An updated story of Author of Camelot featuring reincarnation and a bit of mystery. Yes, it is a YA, and I will let my 10 year old read it. Because there is hardly any violence, no sex and no other issues to which I'd object. Not to mention my Daughter reads on at least a 8th grade level. I might even be persuaded to buy a copy once it's out in paperback.

Today has been relatively quiet considering my 3 year old has a cold. Which, with all the snot is soooooooo not fun, but he's been in a pretty good mood anyway. And my Daughter, who has to do some chores in our house *gasp*, only took 2 hours to unload the dishwasher. Yup, 2 hours. Not 2 hours nagging her to start, oh no, 2 hours from START to FINISH!

What else? Hmmmmm. Have y'all ever seen a t.v. show called HOUSE? LOVE IT, LOVE IT! The Doctor, played by Hugh Laurie, is so snarky he's hilarious. My DH upon watching one episode on t.v. went and bought me the entire 1st season on DVD. It's better than chocolate. Shhhhh! Don't tell anyone I said that OK? The DVD cover came with a warning about the show being addictive. AND THEY'RE RIGHT! The first night we had the 1st season we watched episode after episode for HOURS! We couldn't stop. It's now officially my favorite show ever.

I've started the book 'Carpe Demon: Adventure's of a Demon Hunting Soccer Mom', by Julie Kenner. So far, so good. It's a tad unusual in it's premise. Kinda like if Buffy had married, retired had kids and then all of a sudden had to start hunting again. Anyway, I started reading it this evening on the treadmill. I love reading while I'm on there, it keeps me from getting bored. Only thing is, if I want to run on there, I can't read. Oh well, can't have everything. I did 4 miles though. The funny thing is though, I have to hold on if I read. Because if I didn't I'd fall off. Klutz. Yup, that's me. I can walk into walls, get bruises w/o remembering how and trip over about anything in sight. *sigh* Either it's sad or funny, I choose for it to be funny. I can't even do step aerobics. I've always wondered how I could be musically inclined (took piano and guitar, sing) and can keep a beat and rhythm, but can't be coordinated enough to do step aerobics!?

I tried my best to keep things light and entertaining tonight. Night, B.

Hahahahaha! I love this picture! I have it stored under the title "kittie roundup". Took this last night. We had Roast Beef sandwiches for dinner and Dh treated them all to a taste. This is a rare sight to behold, all 5 in one room within a few feet of each other.

Michele has an interesting post today on Cryogenics. I personally don't like it, I'm more of a 'everything/person has their time' kind of person and if you want to see the future look at a child. However her subject did resound from within my brain a topic I looked at not to long ago. When my Mom passed away she was cremated, she wanted to be buried at her Mothers feet. However, my Mom's stepfather wasn't to keen on the idea and I have kept her ashes. I keep them in my closet, not out of disrespect, but because I have NO idea where to put them, and they are still in the plastic container they came in. (don't worry getting to core here). A few months ago I found a site that would let you take a loved ones cremated remains and make diamonds out of them. I actually love this idea. A part of my Mom can be given to my Daughter and Son to keep their whole lives. (Trust me Mom liked sparklies, don't think she'd mind.) However, this option is VERY EXPENSIVE. As in the thousands. Ouch! So, until I win the lottery or my disposable income is bigger it'll have to wait. (Hope this isn't too creepy for you.)

In other news, heh-heh, I went to the Homeschool Co-op thing today. Daughter went on another field trip with the group, to learn about Mozart. Son and I went with the younger kids and ate lunch, painted and played. He had fun! I asked. He had fun!! Yay! After a while he did play by himself building with some wooden blocks. I think being around the others w/o his sister got to him after a while. After Daughter came back the older kids made Rosary's with plastic beads. We went by Hobby Lobby afterwards to get beads to make Son one, too. (my idea, but Daughter wanted her brother to have one, too.) As for the shyness thing. Yeah, I was. I stayed mostly by myself, exccept when playing cars with Son on the floor. However I did meet another new to the group mom who was very nice. She introduced herself to me. I was nice, almost inaudible, but nice. It went OK. As long as I keep my expectations LOW, on the friendliness(sp) of the other mothers I'm fine. Oh, and as for the book? Couldn't put it down! Finished it early this morning(late last night). I loved how most of the book was on Eve, her reactions, her with Roarke and her friends. As for the murderer, I hate to say to me it was obvious. But then I am suspicious by nature. So, run, do not walk to a copy NOW! I'm now off to read "Avalon High" by Meg Cabot. (Yeah, I know, a teen book. But what the hey.) B.

Read this book last night. Even a headache couldn't keep me from finishing it. The story is about a strong woman(starts as a girl) and her choices as she grows up,including marrying the wrong man, hiding his flaws from her son, and her struggle to make something of her family business. The book also introduces a man whom others fear for the wrong reasons and the way they find love together. I loved this book. It went right to my keeper shelf. I have read books by this author before and love her 'Mermaid' books. I am looking forward to a new book of hers due out this summer.

I was able to 'throw' my kids outside yesterday as the weather was so nice. Today, I didn't have that choice and with my headache they are driving me nuts. Luckily they are playing a couple of games on the computer. Nancy Drew and Blues Clues. I try to limit them on the computer as far as the amount of time spent on it and the types of games they play. However, it has been chilly and rainy and dreary here all day today and I've let them spend HOURS on the computer today. Cool thing though, Dh has fixed it where our big computer is unable to connect to the internet. LOVE THE MAN! Now, I don't have to worry about them sneaking bad sites past me. Haha! AND we have the computer password protected so that they can't install games w/o us and can't even START anything on it w/o us. We are eeeeevviiiilllllll parents. Actually, we are security conscious and want to limit them to the influences found on the www.

TMI right? Sorry I tend to run off at the mouth where my kids are concerned. Doesn't every parent? If I can finish one more poem by the end of February I will be entering the contest I posted about yesterday. I have 2 I like, one of which I wrote after my Mother died. Another I wrote early in my marriage about my Dh. Sounds corny, huh? Hope not. The very thought of this contest is making me spastic, but at the same time I'm excited. I hope I don't chicken out.

Time to go. Kids are off the computer and for some reason are expecting dinner soon. Hmmmmm, chicken stew, stir fry, burgers? Bye, B.

See my Layla. Doesn't she just radiate sweetness? No? Well, sometimes she does.

Still playing with the new camera-phone. Techno- goober has struck (word?) again. Especially since I, like men everywhere (but being female), have not read the instruction book.

Found out a local writers hub is having a contest to be judged in April. Actually 2 contests. One for a Short Story, the other for Poetry that you must submit 3. I'm eager to try, but at the same time am scared they will find my poetry too juvenille.

Did not make it to the Homeschool meeting this afternoon. I have had a migraine all day and it's finally starting to subside. . There was no way I would have been able to converse with anyone, let alone driven there. I get the whole bright light, loud noise thing, hurts like a ..... . I did e-mail the lady to make sure they would be meeting next week at the same time.

The kids enjoyed the Circus last night. My wallet took a beating, too. They wanted $18 for a program. WTH? We bought the kids small stuffed animals instead. Dh bought me one, too. I guess he was still trying to be sweet because of our Anniversary the day before. Oooh, I didn't tell you what he bought me. (besides a new cell phone, because the others battery was wonky) He bought me a gift card to B&N and a kitty bookmark. Loved the gift card, the book mark is adorable but, not very useful. It keeps sliding out of my book! So, I tied it to our headboard so I could look at it every day. He is such a sweetie to think of that, though.

I forgot the books upstairs again, so I'll post their titles later. It's getting late, have to check on kids. Have a good night, y'all! B.

Say Hi to my sweetie! Yesterday was our Anniversary. We've now been married 13 years. I took this picture with my new camera phone that DH insisted we get because my other was going wonky.

I had a FABULOUS day yesterday because the libray called and 2 of the books I have requested came in. 'Killing Time' by Linda Howard and 'Malpractice in Maggody: An Arly Hanks Mystery' by Joan Hess. I also got to go the USB and found 3 books, plus I still have credit left! (I'll list the books later, they're upstairs and I'm too lazy this moment to go get them.)

We also had class at Church last night and had a good time. Dh had to work yesterday and we were almost afraid he'd miss it. But, he booked tail and made it half and hour late. Better than never.

We are going to the Circus today. It will be the first time for Son. Daughter has been before but does not really remember it. I can't wait to see ho he reacts. (Well, yes I can. He's scared of clowns. HELP ME!) Hopefully we won't get sucked into the whole expensive souvenier thing. Well, not much else. See Ya! B.

p.s. the above picture is blue-ish because I did not know my new camera-phone had a 'sunny' setting. *grin* techno goober strikes again.

So, this is the toddler bed my 3 year old son sleeps on. He has his own room, he just doesn't want to sleep in it. The cats also thinks this is their bed, as Layla and Oreo are demonstrating. We have HIGH hopes that son will start to sleep in his own room soon. We have a 'big boy' bed in his room for him, complete with Firetruck quilt. If he starts out there at night, he always ends up in our room. And DH will be in trouble for a looooong time. He was joking with my son the other day about the bathroom and said, "watch out for the potty monster". Would you like to guess what happened next. Son in one way knows it's a joke, however he has backslid in his potty training. Dh is now trying to fix it because he knows that he is in trouble. However, son is STUBBORN.

The in-laws invited themselves over for this evening. As a matter of fact they called this morning and basiclly invited themselves over for dinner. Granted, MIL is bringing dinner(Chicken Pot Pie), still it would have been nice with a BIT MORE NOTICE!! Not like I had plans or anything. Actually, I only had errands to run this afternoon, but still!

Ooooh, I found a template I like. And it's free. I just have to figure out how to apply it. Dh is soooo busy with work and school right now, I hate to bother him. I might just wait until he is no longer as busy.

Need to run and vacumn before the in-laws arrive. Bye, B.

This is what Dh and I spent yesterday doing. (No, not that. Get your mind out of the gutter!) We painted our bedroom. It only took 4 hours!!!! Don't ask me why, I couldn't tell you. Except we did have to move the furniture to the center of the room, take everything (ha, 2 pictures) off the wall, tape the molding and THEN paint. Agh!

I just wanted to THANK everyone who commented on my last post. I'm sorry if I sounded pathetic. I was so depressed by the time I came home on friday, it actually physically affected me. I'm going to keep going to the group though. It's what's best for my children. My son needs to be around other kids because he relies in his sister for a playmate too much. And my Daughter needs it because if she were in school she would be socializing with other kids anyway. I'm just going to make the most of it. Maybe they'll forget I'm new after a while. I'll grow on them. Like mold.

Went to the bookstore yesterday. Dh thought I needed a pick me up. (before we painted). I bought 2 books. 'Circus of the Darned' by Katie Maxwell (aka Katie MacAlister) Technically it's a YA, but I like her books and this has an element of the "dark ones" that's in her adult novels. The other book is a cozy. Yes, a mystery cozy. 'A Midsummer Night's SCREAM' by Jill Churchill. I've been reading her for years. She has 2 different series she writes. One is a historical mystery set in the era of the stock market crash featuring a brother and sister who inherit a house in upstate New York. The other series (the one I read) features a suburban widow and her best friend who often find themselves in a quite a few 'mishaps'. The mysteries actually come across as believable. No, really, they do.

Not much else going on. Did find out that Dh will have to work on our Anniversary, which falls on his normal day off. Seems his company always seems to schedule mandatory training on his day off. I don't mind. We don't usually do much anyway. At least he won't be out of town in Texas like he was last year! (job, again.) Have a Good Night! B.

It is soooo hard to do anything some days.

I wasn't going to post about today, but I just feel like I need to. We went on the field trip with the homeschool group today. I tried. I really did. Daughter seemed to have a good time and enjoyed the Science demonstration given. Son was upset at not being able to go to the group with Daughter, but soon was playing with the other 'too young for the class' children. I felt like a total outsider the entire time. And it wasn't all my fault. The other parents talked about previous trips and get togethers and made no attempt to include me. The experience has colored my entire day. It has made me sad and the effort to be there today has actually physically drained me. I feel tired and sad like I will never fit in. I feel like crying. I need to learn to not take this stuff personally. I'm sure their intention was not bad. I am probably imagining portions of it. I hope. Maybe, after time, I will feel like I fit into the group. Because I have to go back. It's for my kids. They will always come before me.

In other news. I did something else brave (for me) yesterday. I had 4 inches cut off my hair. I will post pictures of 'before' and 'after' tomorrow.

Dh is home now, and I am hoping just being with him will help me feel better. Good Night. B.

This is another painting by Deborah Smith. Her Folk Art is for sale.

Y'all would be SO PROUD OF ME! At our classes at Church I mentioned to someone last week that I homeschool. That person mentioned it to another homeschooler within the church and today I had a call from her. She and her children came over this afternoon to meet, and to let the kids meet. I talked to a stranger on the phone. I invited stranger to my home. Yes, I was reserved in personality. But, I was nice and as outgoing as I can be. Tomorrow the whole homeschooler group that she belongs to are going on a field trip and we were invited. And we're going! I did good!! I am making sure that my kids don't suffer because I'm so shy.

I am still reveling in the list of books that I was able to get from the library. Not only did I get Jayne Ann Krentz's new book "All Night Long", but I also picked up "Ghost Walk" and "Killing Kelly" by Heather Graham. That should keep me busy for a day (or 2). I was excited to learn that Jayne Ann Krentz will be releasing a new futuristic as Jayne Castle this year. I am so sorry to say, I have nothing more to post about. I'm boring. Sue me! Now, it's still early, so I'm going blog hopping!! Night Y'all, B.

Picked this book up yesterday from the library. I've just started it tonight, but I think I'll enjoy it. The first chapter has started well and the heroine is very likeable.

Tomorrow I will pick up yet another book I placed on HOLD at the library. Actually, I'm pretty sure I'll be dropping by alot there this week. I have at least 4 other books on hold and they only give you a 3 day window to pick the book up, before it's placed back into circulation.

I was thouroughly surprised by Dh last night. Let's just say he hasn't forgotten how to romance me afterall. Hey, an evening of thoughfullness, flirting, romance and seduction once every couple of years isn't bad. I had fun! *wink* Of course, I did ask him if he broke anything around the house or if he wanted something really expensive. Nope on both accounts!

Daughter is still showing off her hair. I truly do like it, as she seems to be better at brushing her hair now. I've been thinking of the fact that she will be turning 11 this year, and trying to prepare ahead of time. Tell me if this is too corny; I have a ring that was mine at the same age and I'm going to have it cleaned and sized for her. Also, I made her a Guardian Angel cross-stitch and I'm going to have it framed for her room. Do these sound OK? Or do I need to rethink this stuff? She's a true girly girl, so jewelry is always a big hit. And the Angel I made is robed in lavender (like her room), her favorite color.

Dh will be working from home tomorrow. He has reports for work to do, and his Director thought he'd get them done faster at home than at work, where Dh is constantly bugged by his employees he supervises. So, I get to try and keep the kids from bugging him while he does this. Anyone besides me see the problem with his Directors theory? Anyway, here's hoping for a stress free day. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! Night, B.

Layla as Queen! You didn't think I ruled in my own house did you? Um, well, actually I do, but I share. The crown came from my Daughters new Cinderella doll.

Had the in-laws over for dinner tonight. (see I am nice to them, it was my idea) Also, we bought the movie Serenity and are going to watch it tonight. I had Dh place a book I had bought and didn't like on Amazon to sell. It sold in less than a day! I'll mail it off tomorrow. I'm happy to at least get a bit of my money back for it. (sorry if this seems disjointed) I have finished 2 of the books I bought last week. "Good Girls Do" and "A New Leash on Life". Both were good. I did enjoy "Good Girls Do" best of the 2. I still had some credit left of my Christmas gift cards left and bought MaryJanice Davidsons new Anthology. I LOVED IT! Sorry if I seem to be on a total fankick of hers, but I have seldom run across one of her stories I didn't like. "Undead and Unpopular" is her next Undead series book. I can't wait. I used up my credit on the Anthology so for the other books I want, well....... the library had best get busy!

Dh's and my Anniversary is later this month. We will have been married 13 years.

Ah, geez! How'd I get off on that tangent? Have y'all seen the HGTV Dream House thingie? That's near here. Dh wants to win badly, as it has always been our goal to live in the mountains. He has entered to win it! With our luck? Well, let's just say that adage of : "If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all". That's us. Usually. The whole month of December was full of miracles for us. I think that's the point really. Anyway, after we pay off his student loans we'll buy land in the mountains. That's our plan. That's what we look forward to. Good grief. Time to watch the movie!! Previews looked good. Okay, I lied. Watched the movie while writing this post. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!! Sign me up. I'm a fan! Bye! Gonna watch it again! B

p.s. I will be removing reference to my secret in a day or 2, so enjoy my sordid secret while you can!