The perfect birthday present is....

an omelet made by my son, a birthday cake made by my son, and dishes washed by my son (even though he's allergic to dish soap). Notice the theme. *lol*

Oh, and he made sure I got to lick the beaters and bowl! That's almost better than the cake :D

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday to you dear son,

Happy birthday to you.

My baby is 18 today!!!!!!!

WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!

Christmas Lists: Yea or Nay?

I vote Yea!

I like how a list enables me to get new ideas from my son.  I can't possibly notice all of his interests the older he gets.  I'm just not as involved as I was when he was 4.  I notice the biggies, but the smaller ones that aren't in front of my face go unnoticed.

Lists give me a way to avoid the same old, same old gifts.  My son doesn't do sports, crafts or mechanics, so lists give me ideas.  Lists also eliminate the gifts that sit in a box for eternity until kiddo can toss it without being seen.  A prime example would be the wood burning kit that is sitting in the garage.  Why did I buy something like that for an super not-crafty kid?!?!  Stupid mom moment!

Obviously, we don't do the huge gimme list.  But he does frequently give me a starting point.  For instance, he tells me which PS2/PC games are interesting, what type of movie and which are his favorite.

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Some pics of the Lipizzaner Stallions

Mom and I went to see The World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions on August 27, 2007. My birthday was on the 27th and Mom has wanted to see them for 30 years. These are in no particular order. I actually snapped close to 175 pictures; surprisingly, I didn't have too many lousy ones. *lol*

Kiddo turned 16 last week! (Jan 25th)

It's looking like he may live to be an adult yet :)

I can't believe it's been 16 YEARS since the lovable twerp was born. I'm amazed at him even when I'm irritated beyond belief with this kid. He's smart. He's gentle. He's thoughtful (most of the time). He's teachable. He's been shaving for 2 years now and is up to twice a week. *lol* He's got the normal teen attitude that really drives me crazy some days and other days it's okay.

Oh and he's not driving until he's 18 for various reasons, but mostly because I'm not a fan of minors behind the wheel.

(okay this will make two posts in one day. MIRACLES never cease!)

Tina made me do it :)

Okay, my friend Tina told me to blog so here it is. If you are bored, blame Tina :)

Actually, I keep meaning to blog, but get distracted. I truly didn't mean for it to be so long between posts. I also have to update my other blog with the book study. I am very BAD about maintaining my blogs :(

Weather:
I hate the up & down of the temps. We go between 0° and 40°. We had maybe a week's worth of subzero night temps which is waaaayyyy less than normal for this time of year. Usually during Hunting Season we are in the teens with subzero's at night. This has made for a very wet fall. Which for me makes it a painful fall. Arthritis and Fibromyalgia don't like wet weather. I wish it would hurry up and get cold and stay there until Summer. *lol*

Holidays:
After listening to my friends fuss about:

• what they are buying or not buying
• what relative they are visiting or not
• to keep this tradition or start a new one
• going into debt
• to celebrate religiously or not
• gaining weight because they can't refuse holiday food
• the traffic and malls
• interfering in-laws or other relatives
  

I'm so glad that we are very low key around here these days. We have decided upon having ham and may actually have it on the 25th this year. We've never been big on celebrating on the 25th. It has depended on travel plans, ours and other family members. We aren't doing much in the way of gifts. I told kiddo I would spend about $100 on him and he's told me what he wants. He'll probably be buying me a new CD. Although the latest Smallville has dropped in price so he may get me that. Or I may help him buy me that :) I believe my sister and I are going in on a gift for mom. I have to check back with her on that one.

Truthfully, I'm more concerned about what I'm going to get my son for his 16th birthday next month (Jan 25th). I want to do something special. He's not getting his driver's license until he's 18 so I would like to do something special. I'm stumped and would welcome any suggestions. I can't believe my baby is going to be 16. It's just hit me lately how soon he's going to be an adult. WOW!!! Where did time go!?!?

Quotes for today:

"I'm seventeen and I'm crazy. My uncle says the two always go together. When people ask your age, he said, always say seventeen and insane."
- Ray Bradbury

"What we become depends on what we read after all of the professors have finished with us. The greatest university of all is a collection of books."
- Thomas Carlyle

"The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others."
- Bertrand Russell