What was that about?

Lliam will soon be 12 - less than a month away. Our usual tradition is to spend the night in a hotel so he can go swimming. This year, he mentioned that he wanted a backyard bug safari party. So like any good mother, I have been looking into ideas for such a party. It shouldn't be too terribly difficult.

He had also mentioned that he really liked a certain BB gun he saw at Traderbaker's. Well, we went ahead and bought the gun. We were going to save it for his birthday, but decided to give it to him early. Now my husband just bought the gun today and was going to give it to him this weekend. Why would we give it to him early? Well, he's been through so much lately, including having to change schools in the middle of the year. Hard enough for a regular kid, almost impossible for a special needs kid who HATES changes. He's been doing very well and we thought we would just reward that awesome behavior.

When he was picked up from school today, he asked if the gun was still at the store. His dad told him someone had bought it. OMG....the world just ended. Lliam started crying and blubbering about stupid people and he never gets anything. Lance was trying to get him to calm down and finally shouted out that HE had bought the gun as a surprise for him. Lliam calmed down then said he didn't want a birthday party and didn't want to stay at a hotel for his birthday this year.

Now I ask, was this a statement of stubbornness or was he feeling guilty for blowing up and acting out?

He called me and said he didn't want anything for his birthday. I asked him why several times, but he would only say he didn't know why, he just didn't want that this year. Is he finally realizing that people can do nice things on other days besides Christmas and birthdays?

I hope so, because we do nice things all the time for him. Take the new dog for instance. She wasn't in the budget right now, but she seemed like a perfect fit for him. I rearranged a few things and came up with the money for her. I don't know. It seems like to me that he doesn't always see the nice things, just the times he doesn't get what he wants. That's when we hear what terrible parents we are. How nice. Oh, I know, every parent gets told at one time or another how horrible they are. It's inevitable. It's part of growing up and finding out there are rules and limits to everything. All I can do is hope that someday he sees the light.

A special Trip to Idaho and Washington

Well I just got back from Washington and Idaho. I was able to squeeze out enough extra money from the budget to go. I bought a plane ticket and then made my plans on where to stay. It wasn't until after my plane ticket was purchased that my husband lost his job. Since the ticket was non refundable - we decided I should still go and just relax.

Teresa Sue was gracious enough to open her home to me and Dawn. She has a wonderfully charming old farmhouse that I just love. She told me to come back in the winter - I'll want to divorce it. I had a marvelous time and can't wait until I can maybe go back. She is a terrific hostess and I just love her cooking.

We went antiquing on Thursday. Friday we played in the sewing room and she gave me about 20 pounds of fabric. Friday night we went to Mary Jane's store in Couer D'Alene, ID. I loved the store and dressed the part. What I didn't like - sorry if I offend anyone, but I have to honest- was the people in the town. There is rude then there is REALLY RUDE. I have never in my life been made to feel so uncomfortable. People all looking down their noses at us. Whatever - I understand I only saw one little part of the town, but I sure didn't like that part.

I truly want MJ's store to be successful, but I probably wouldn't go back to that one. The mall it was in was full of REALLY expensive boutiques. Sorry, but Kmart budgets can't shop at Tiffanies. Now don't get me wrong. I did go to the candy/ice cream store and make a purchase and I also made a purchase at MJ's store, but there was no way I could have made a purchase at any of the other stores.

I'll take her little store in Moscow over Couer D'Alene any day. Again, I am not trying to be bitchy or nasty, just honest. I shoot from the hip. It may offend, but that's life.

That's all for tonight, I have to go inspect more buses in the morning.

Merry Christmas

Another Christmas is over and I am just worn out. We had a good one albeit slim. This economy has everyone in a tight spot this year.I did get a really cute pair of cowgirl boots and some Farmgirl apparel.

Lliam received mostly what he had asked Santa for. I think his most favorite thing was the Wii Harry Potter game he received from my mother. (see the expression on his face?)It was the very last thing his grandpa bought for him before he passed away. When I told Lliam this, he nearly burst into tears and ran to my mother for a big hug.

My grandpa is so very difficult to get gifts for. He is 92 years young and always says he doesn't want us to spend our money on him. Well, I just cannot justify this as he has always done so much for us. He had made a comment a few weeks ago about his bedroom being cold and having a hard time falling asleep between the icy cold sheets. He had thought about getting a small heater to put in there and then decided against that as it would increase his electric bill. So I thought and thought and thought about how to make is room warmer. This year I gave him flannel sheets. He said in all his 92 years, he had never had a set of flannel sheets. After I was sure he liked them, I put them on his bed (along with another blanket) and washed and dried the sheets I removed. I do hope it helps.

We are planning on starting a new little country market in 2009. It won't be much to start with as we won't have much to put in it. We are going to offer soaps, lip balms and other bath type products that are organic or mostly organic. We are also still shooting for the horse hotel. I am also going to offer upcycled aprons and other cutsie farmgirl things.