but Ella has been sick and was in a TERRIBLE mood at the time.  Tonight she seems a bit better, but not 100% yet.  At least she's not running a 102+ degree temp.

I skipped church yesterday because of her feeling so yucky, and told Shawn when he got home that I could not go to a cook-out that we had planned with some friends of ours.  He insisted, though, that I at least go for a bit.  I was very confused, so he finally fessed up-  he had planned a surprise party for my birthday!  This is the first time that he has ever managed to pull off a surprise in the entire 12 years that we have been together.  My birthday isn't until the 29th, so I wasn't expecting anything a week early, LOL.

My friend, Dawn, baked 2 cakes for the party....

And my friends got me great gifts.  They know me too well, LOL.....  I got a Webkinz Tie-Dyed Frog that I named 'Tipsy' (Dawn and I are quite certain that he is a lush because he has a weird, half closed eye, LOL), and Jelly-Belly Beans...  YUMMMMMMM.......

Shawn got me a new cell phone (A pink Razr with a new green face plate) that will match the frog, LOL.  And Christi sent me a beautiful handmade beaded bookmark for my Bible.   This was an awesome birthday.  :-)

Ella, even being sick, found a troublesome way to entertain herself.....  'Oh, these look yummy...'

"Now, how do I open this box?"

"Awww man......  I dumped then all over....."

"I never realized that rolling in crackers could be so much fun!  Why hasn't mommy let me do this at our house?"

Oh, and I also got something else really cool.  Not as a birthday present, mind you, but it is awesome.  I got a copy of 'The School-House Planner' and I cannot get over how much is in this one planner.  I'll be writing a review of it next week, and running a contest to give away a free copy, so check back here for that.   This is, by far, the best planner I have seen for a homeschool mom.  You'll definitely want one for yourself,  :-)