Library : Home away from home.

So the library has become like a new best friend for me. They call me all the time now to let me know that a book I have on "hold" is now ready for pickup. Fun. It's like getting a package. I don't know which book it will be until I get there. Yes.... it is a little sad, I'm a "hold" hog. I always have 5 books on hold at a time because that is the limit. But the really sad part of this "hold-it" story is when I get a couple of books come in at the same time and I have to decide between them. It's like choosing between children. Seriously? No. But I can't read two books at once. I'm gifted, but not that gifted.

Soooo, I frequent there often. Kate and Clayre like to pick out a movie or two each time I go. No reading for them...just me...movies keep them busy while I am reading. Well they picked a VHS movie the other day, I think it was "Fly Away Home." Good movie. Clayre came home and put it into the VCR (yes, we still have one of those VCR's) and a minute later came downstairs hysterical saying that she broke the movie. I scolded her for interrupting my reading...but then told her she probably didn't break it and I would go check it out. It wasn't broken, yet. I actually broke the video trying to pry it out of the machine. I ended up having to take the VCR apart to get it out. No worries...I put it back together in working order, before Shayne could lecture me about how we are not made of money and buying a new VCR for $5 from DI wasn't in the budget this month.

But the video was still broken and could not be repaired. I didn't want to pay for a new video probably over $30 because Library's like to charge a lot for out-of-date VHS's. I thought of a better plan. AMAZON. I got online and found a "Fly Away Home" VHS for .... now brace yourself, .01, yes... 1 cent. I ended up paying just under $3 because of shipping. Nice work, Dais! And the best part is that it got here before the week was up, no need to renew. I just took the library stickers off of the old broken video and retaped them on the new one. Genius! A little devious. Yes. But dishonest? No, I'd like to call it Resourceful!

Yay Me?

So I bought a lunch bag for Parly a few weeks ago from a company called NY Built. I got a cute bag called a Munchler for only $9.99. It zips all the way around so you can also use it as a place mat. Cool. Anyways, they said that the bag would be shipped and arrive in 5-7 business days.

Over a week went by and no lunch bag. I was a little disappointed, so I emailed the company and just asked what was up and wondered when it would be getting here. Well an hour or so later I got a reply. The email said that the shipment was late and there was an influx of orders...they were sorry for the inconvenience and they would send another Munchler bag with the one I ordered. SWEET!

After reading the email I was excited and very proud of myself (for contacting the company and thus getting a free bag) that I called Shayne and told him the great news. It was also nice to hear him say, "Well done, dais, well done."

It wasn't more than a few hours later the FedEx came and dropped off a package. Who from? NY Built. Yay! But wait, now I won't get a free bag. Oh well. I opened it anyway and ....SURPRISE...two bags were there. Sooooo, I guess it wasn't because of me that I got an extra lunch bag after all. It was actually just because I was dealing with a great company. Oh well, that's okay...now we have something to give Clayre for her birthday.

Maggie's 1st Birthday

Maggie's first birthday came and went. It was July 23rd. She is obviously my 4th child, because we didn't do anything to celebrate the BIG day. "She won't remember it anyway," Shayne said.

But, I did feel a little guilty...so I just told everyone that we would celebrate her first birthday when she actually looks a YEAR old. Chuckle, chuckle. That will buy me some time....maybe even a year. It will be the first ever: 1st and 2nd year birthday celebration!

Here are some pictures of Maggie...between 5 and 12 months old. I know they look like they were all taken in the same month.... Don't ask me which picture was taken when, I'm only HER MOTHER.

I have an 8 year-old

So Parly Sue was baptized on Saturday. It was nice. We had lots of family there and even a few of her friends came, which was fun for her. The saddest part was Parly wasn't feeling well and had thrown-up the night before and then that morning. (Story of my life, right?) Well, we got to the church early and sat down when she said she thought she might throw-up again. We ran to the bathroom and just made it. I guess it turned out to be a good thing, because then she felt better and we didn't have to worry about it when she was actually being baptized.

It was really neat to watch her walk into the baptismal font from one side and her dad walk in from the other and then meet in the middle, both of them dressed all in white. Although I have to say that my favorite part was being able to go into the dressing room afterward and help her change back into her white church dress, just the two of us. I remember my mom doing that for me. Parly was then especially excited when she saw that she beat her dad out of the dressing room.

It's so amazing to me that I now have a child that is 8 and she has been baptized. I still remember my baptism. And this makes me realize more then ever that her memory of her childhood has already started. Scary. I better be on my best behavior from now on. Right?