* I wish I had discovered Webkins ages ago!  What a great way to keep a kid busy in a safe, cute little area for hours on end!  Ds only has two Webkins that he calls, "the boys".  Tonight when I looked in his online "room", he had them sitting side by side on a sofa watching a big screen TV!    They are wearing matching outfits:  black ski caps with the word, "DUDE' on them, camo shirts, camo pants, and black sneakers.  It looks like he's setting up his own little street gang in there!  LOL

* It is so easy to buy gifts for dd.  Last night I made a list of everything I've purchased for her so far.  Then I made a list of what we have for ds.  His two little gifts came to about ten bucks.  Yikes.  He is so difficult to buy for.  He loves stuffed animals (he just turned 6) and actually plays with them.  Every day.  But he doesn't need any more, except maybe another Webkinz or two.  I may have to break down and buy him some "plastic crap": Star Wars/Power Rangers stuff. 

* What we won't be buying is anything related to GAMING.  Webkinz is about as close as I want to get to that for as long as possible.  I think that the whole internet world of fantasy is a dangerous trap for kids and adults alike.  My kids need physical activity.  They need to interact with real kids in the real world.  We thought of getting a Wii, but not now.  Maybe not for a long time.  Ds is very influenced by what he sees on TV and what his cousin gets into, and I want us to keep that in mind. 

* I need to find a different phonics program for him.  I am very not happy any more with what we're using.  I used Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy (BORING!!!) Lessons with dd, and it worked.  I'm just worried that if I start that, he might be confused.  I've been forcing him (not a good word for a HS mom to use, I know) to do one lesson per day at www.click-n-kids.com.  He just hates it!!!  LOL  I think we'll take at least ten days off from doing any school, and that will give me time  to consider what to do next.

* I got my hair cut really short this past summer.  I have to say, I think I was meant to wear short hair.  I have to get it trimmed and colored every four weeks (a pain), but it takes just about five minutes to go from just-washed-hair to I'm-ready-to-leave.  Can't beat that!  I'll post some pics for my many fans who visit my blog!  LOL

*January is around the corner, and I'm dying to start the new year!  I've made some decisions about our outside activities.  We are going to drop ballet.  Dd has many talents but I fear that becoming a professional ballerina is not in her future.  There's just not the interest, passion, or, it seems to me, an obvious God-given talent in that area.  OTOH, she loves piano.  I rarely need to remind her to practice, except during weeks that are unusually busy with outside activities.  Also, in January we'll re-start attending HS P.E. classes.  This will be an activity that both kids can enjoy, will keep dd in touch with her friends from ballet, and will provide another day of physical activity.  I think it's a good move overall.

* Thank you, Jesus, for a prosperous year.  I think dh is tickled pink about how his year is ending up.  (Is it just me or was that some pretty terrible grammar?)  I'm so proud of my introvert husband who is so in demand in his field that our advertising budget is $0 and he is constantly busy.  I have learned a lot by watching him push himself out of his comfort zone on a daily basis.  What a wonderful man.

* I have no idea why I felt the need to get back into blogging.  Tonight.

* Dd wants to be a missionary.  She's just 8.  "And a half!"  As part of our curriculum this year, we've been reading about missionaries in the series, "Christian Heroes: Then and Now".  They can be purchased at www.ywam.org  Anyway, I told her that I sure hope her Dad and I like the country she'll be in, cause she AIN'T GOIN' THERE ALONE!!! 

* Re: scrapbooking.  I don't have the desire to do this at all, and there's probably no other hobby out there that makes me feel so guilty!!!!

* I recently went to a Stampin' Up party.  Spent about $100 on rubber stamps, ink pads, and paper, and have made two $50 cards so far.  At a holiday boutique last week I found an extremely talented gal who makes gorgeous hand-made cards for the same price as a Hallmark.  Guess I'll be puttin' my supplies on craigslist sometime soon!

* What an odd assortment of Republican Presidential candidates!!  There is not one of them that I can get behind 100%. 

* This week I'm going to work on our annual Christmas newsletter.  I have a lot of fun with it each year because I strive to make it unique and fun to read.  Last year I included a multiple choice "test" that gave people information about our favorite TV shows, where we traveled during the year, etc.  The Christmas before dd was born, we included a poll for people to vote on what we should name her!  I'd like to think that our friends and family actually enjoy reading our newsletter.

* We have had the healthiest year ever!  It's been a year since the kids have been to the doctor's!!

* I had some other things on my mind earlier tonight, but it is really late here, and I need to get some sleep.  We're supposed to go on a theater field trip tomorrow, but it is way, way across town, and .....  Who am I kidding?  I'm sure I'll end up taking the kids.  Probably.