Birthdays

I love throwing my kids' birthday parties. Each time one approaches, I ask them, where they want to have their party. As I'm listing off the choices (bowling, bouncy, skating, swimming, park), I'm very careful to make "home" the most pleasantly inflected and awesome sounding.

I can't help it.

I love having kids' parties. I love the silly games. I love the yummy food and watching them eat it. I love all the screaming and the excited ruckus. I love the special decorations. I even enjoy all the planning and crafting that I do before it. It's like a final exam that involves the research, the presentation, the visual aids, the Q&A afterwards.

The downside of my serious preparation is having to swat at all the sneaky fingers intent for the cakes, frostings, candies, and treats I'm making the week before the party, both mine and the boys. "Saturday" is said a lot. But it's so fun. It's worth it!

90 lbs.

A newborn calf

4 1/2 automobile tires

8 average housecats

Posh Spice

2 elephants' hearts

2 small bales of hay

A bald eagle standing on top of a gold brick

Three gas grill tanks

A bloodhound

Random notes

I like reading the 1000 Awesome Things blog. It makes me feel like I'm doing my part to look on the bright side of life.

Public education is not what it used to be. At least, when I was growing up, I don't remember the challenges that my kids face in public school now. I'm trying very hard to make the best of it, though. But since I'm not getting paid to do all this work, I can't help but feel sometimes like asking for some of our tax money back. Is there a provision somewhere in our constitution that allows people to penalize government if it fails?

Facebook has made high school reunion invitations way easier.

Last Wills and Testaments are creepy.

I need a female BFF. Loneliness isn't about not having someone around. It's about everyone around you being unavailable to share your experiences and understand you. My kids need BFFs, too.