Contest entry

Lately, I'm all about getting stuff for free. I found out that Staples sells things for 1 penny after rebates so picked up 2 reams of paper and a bunch of pencils and pens. They also advertise 1 "free" backpack per household. That isn't entirely true - you don't actually get the money refunded, you get it in the form of credit at Staples. Nevertheless, I took advantage of the offer as I imagine I will be able to use the credit for more school supplies or something for home.

Additionally, I am trying to win free things, and stamping people give things away if you link to them on your blog. Toward that end, here is a card I made to enter one of the give aways. Once again, I apologize to those of you who could care less about my hobby, but come here for my fabulous prose. (Ha ha ha!) I have to say, this card looks much better in person than in this photo.

Sick Humor

I turned on my all-time favorite TV channel a little while ago (HGTV) and there was a "do it yourself" spot on. It was about unclogging a "trap" and explained how to hook a pipe around a wrench so you could get more torque. When it finished the mystery announcer said something like "This quick fix idea has been brought to you by Dulcolax". I laughed and laughed and laughed at the irony of that. Does anyone else think that it's funny? Or am I just pathetically sick? Even if I'm just sick I'm not sure I care. It felt good to laugh.

It's a big day around here - Anna's 8th birthday! Here is the beautiful birthday girl, in the new dress Grandma sent: ("She always chooses the prettiest clothes for me.")




Quite possibly the most exciting part of this day for Anna is the fact that, FINALLY, she doesn't have to sit in a car seat anymore. Here she is in the car seat for the last time.



She was so happy to get rid of the thing. She took it out of the car...



Put it straight into the trash can...


And gave it a good shove:


I thought this was the finale of babyhood, but alas there is one remnant. We told her we would take her to the restaurant of her choosing for her birthday dinner. She originally chose Outback Steakhouse and I breathed a sigh of relief. I could appreciate dinner there. However, this morning she changed her mind. We will shortly be leaving for the restuarant of her choice... Chuck E. Cheese. We were unsuccessful in talking her out of it. My only hope is that she will realize she has outgrown the place and this will be our last time there. Well, her brother also has to think it is boring and the food stinks, otherwise we could end up there again in short order.

Happy Birthday Anna. You are my sunshine - even if you do make me eat at Chuck E. Cheese.

Stampin Addicts

With apologies to my non-stamping readers (most if not all of you!), I am using this post for my own selfish purposes. There is a give-away on a stamping site and in order to enter I must post a link to their site. I would like to win (I mistyped that twice - first as "wind" then as "wine". I wonder what that means, you know, subliminally.) so here is my link to Stampin Addicts. Oh, and if you don't stamp you could check out the site for gift ideas for yours truly - wink, wink, smile.

Wildlife Update

Since "re-starting" this blog I have not done any wildlife updates. Too bad, since that was the whole origin of my original blog! I don't have time to write a full report - which is needed, but I just have to report this mornings events. Due to time constraints it has to be a very condensed version.

Approximately 7:30 this morning I asked God for a deer in our backyard because I haven't seen one all summer, but I am sure I have heard them in the woods recently. About 9:30 I was sitting at the kitchen table with Ethan while he ate breakfast. I heard "the deer noise" so looked out and sure enough, a deer appeared right at the edge of the woods, straight out in my line of vision! It munched on leaves for at least 5 minutes while I sat in disbelief saying "Thank you God!" Eventually it walked back into the woods and I watched until I couldn't see it any more.

But that wasn't enough! About 10:00 the kids went outside to play. They are on a renewed streak of playing at the creek. It is a little unnerving for me because I cannot see them while they are there. My windows are open so I listen for their sounds. Admittedly I get nervous and misinterpret sounds as cries for help. I was uncomfortable so went out to the edge of the woods and called to Anna. I could hear them in the distance and stood for a while to confirm that the sounds were happy sounds. As I stood there I heard excited kid sounds a ways off to my left. I looked in that direction and a fawn came running past!

God not only gave me the one deer I asked for (for which I was immeasurably grateful!) but then gave me the bonus of a fawn rather close up. He IS good.

More later...

Sanford is an idiot

Governor Sanford needs to resign. He is an idiot. I have tried to keep my opinion to myself, all the while feeling horrible for his wife and kids, but the latest is just too unbelievable. He gave an interview Tuesday (I think) where he called the mistress his "soul mate", said he is trying to fall back in love with his wife and said he told the mistress that he was willing to take the consequences to be with her. I'm sorry, but if I was his wife it would be SO over right now. I would tell him to move to Argentina and see how things work out for him and the mistress (who, by the way, has been seeing other men this whole time.) I feel sad, sad, sad for his kids. The wife has been horribly hurt but she'll recover. If she wants, (big if!) she could find another man, but those kids cannot find another father, and theirs has just thrown them in the trash. I believe in forgiveness and I believe that even adultery can be forgiven and overcome, but this is despicable. Yuck. I hope he goes away.