Here is a picture of me. I think I was about 2 or 3. Does anyone else think this looks like my son?

Xander has said several things lately that are so nice to hear. The first involves me. I was making dinner the other day and took a piece of cucumber to him while he was watching TV. He said, very sweetly, "Thank you. That was very nice of you." :-)

The next cute thing was this morning. On our way out of the house Xander said, "I can't wait to go to school and see my friends!" Gosh. I hope he continues with that mindset far into the future.

Since I never get a Valentine's day due to SOMEONE singing for everyone else on the planet, I decided that my true valentine, Xander, and I would go on a trip. The Lost Dutchman Marathon is the same weekend and it's only a 3.5 hour drive up to Apache Junction. I am no super runner and haven't done that kind of distance for a long time, so I signed us up for the 2-Mile Family Fun Run. Besides, I'll have a stroller with me. Anyway, the race is on the 14th, which is a Sunday, so Xander and I are going up that Friday. We'll have all day Saturday to look around and have fun. I do so love race expos. I can get a new pair of shoes at an awesome price and have them fitted by a professional. Should be fun!

I'll be sure to take the camera and have other people take pictures!

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow,
but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have
to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."

God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you.
And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the small child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand
when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"

God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words
you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will
teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"

God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach
you how to pray."

"Who will protect me?"

God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."

"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."

God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach
you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you.."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth
could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave
now, please tell me my angel's name.."

God said, You will simply call her, "Mom."

A friend of mine who was Xander's babysitter when we lived in Bisbee, AZ, just lost her grandson. He was 10. Anthony lived with his mom and step dad. They went out to get some dinner and left him home alone. Apparently, he got scared about something and decided to get his step dad's handgun. He died from an accidental gunshot wound to the head.

Here's a link to the story...
http://www.kvoa.com/news/family-and-friends-remember-10-year-old-accidentally-shot-and-killed/

Sigh. Anyway, the family has no money for the funeral. Some funeral home in Tucson, where Anthony lived, wants to charge the family $7,000 up front and they will not do anything until the money is paid. While we are all trying to get them to find another funeral home, we are also trying to raise money. If anyone can help, you may do one of two things.

First, you can donate to the Anthony Joel Wells Memorial Fund at Wells Fargo Bank. Hopefully, there is one near you. Second, if you are in S. AZ., you can go out for a nice dinner this coming week (Jan 11-15) at the Bisbee Grille in Bisbee, AZ. Please write the word 'FUNERAL' on your ticket and 10% of the price of your dinner will be donated to the fund.

Thank you.

Time: Way too early- usually before 0630.

Situation: Trying to sleep.

End result: "Mama. It's wake up time. Make me breakfast now, please."

Sigh.

Yesterday Xander peed on the carpet. Not sure why. I think it was b/c I was taking to long getting ready to go out. Today he was a doll! We (as in Xander, my stepdaughter Melanie, her step daughter and I) went to the Tucson Mall. Very tiring. Xander got to walk some and play in the kids' area twice. He whined a little when he had to ride in the stroller so I could actually shop, but he was pretty well behaved. I like the bathrooms in that mall b/c they have kid-sized toilets. Xander likes that, too. Whenever he finds something in his size he says, "That's my size!" and has a big smile on his face. Hee Hee.

I should be posting more pictures in the future as I have discovered my computer DOES take the camera's memory card. The slot was in the front and filled with a benign filler card. Sometimes I just kick myself for being stupid about computers.

On a bad note, Mel's wallet got lifted in the mall. Sigh. She couldn't remember which cards she had with her, so she canceled them all. Her step daughter's $80 Wal-Mart gift card was in there too. Oh well. C'est la vie!

I recently joined a local gym. Sure the one on post is free, but (1) it's a pain to get to and (2) doesn't have a kids' area. Yes, this gym I joined has a special area for kids. If I happen to have Xander for the day, I can just leave him there and go work out. He loves it! They have a play center, toys, a TV and a rock wall!

Nothing else going on. Getting ready to go to the gym!

Up before 5 was my little boy with some screaming and nightmares, oh joy. He crawled into our bed and put down his head. I thought he'd go back to sleep, but such was not the case. As I fed the cats Xander had snuck in to see the tree where more presents lay at its base.

No one else was up, but he began to unwrap them and I had to deter him from his chosen task. While we shouted and yelled for everyone else to get up, Xander kept going back to his original destination. Finally, once all the presents were opened, he discovered one more. Just a little something my parents picked up at the store. A huge train table with all the extras. Now it's the only toy in his field of vision and he won't leave it because he's on a mission.

Now I've been cooking and cleaning and cooking some more. Lots of things are strewn all over the floor. I've got turkey and stuffing and potatoes to make and I think, there might even be cheesecake. I'm tired, I'm weary and I don't mean to complain, but can someone else please help Xander with his train? "Hey Mama, come play with me", is all that I hear, but I am still expected to grin from ear to ear- and cook and clean and play the nice hostess. I swear all Moms are expected to be the most-est on a day that others get to relax. "If only!", I say as I clean the candel wax off the wood table. Who put it there? Oh yeah, the candle.

Sigh. No one to blame. Can someone please scoop up my brain? I think it fell- there on the floor. If I weren't so busy, today might just be a complete bore. For me at least, now let's have some roast beast.

Merry Christmas!

I've tried putting a Twitter widget on my page, but nothing appears. Does anyone know how to add a widget?

After much struggling and arguing, Xander finally had 5 days in a row where he got a sticker for going poop in the potty. Yay! As his reward, he got to wear his brand new super hero underwear! All of the super heroes are from Marvel Comics and, as his first choice, he picked Spider Man.

Xander went poop in the potty twice yesterday and once so far today. Last night he said, "I don't want to poop in my pants." Hmmmm...

On Sunday and Monday I gave him hot sauce after he pooped in his pants and he had to sit in his timeout chair without water for 3 minutes. Maybe it worked. We'll see over the next few days.

Last night I was awakened by several random screams in my house. No, it's not a ghost. It's Xander. His epilepsy medication has a lovely side effect- vivid dreams. He doesn't always scream in his sleep nor does he always wake up when he has bad dreams. Last night, he had a few screams like he was scared, but then it was silent. It's always enough to wake me up, but not him. Funny.

Here is a family portrait we had taken while on our Disney Cruise. I have crazy hair, especially in humid climates. Xander did not want to have his picture taken. Getting him to smile was next to impossible and then he gave his fake smile. Sigh. It turned out alright, though.





Still working on those Halloween pictures of Xander.

Last night's scenario:

Xander walks into bedroom at 0228 and says, "Can I sleep with you?"

Me: Why? What happened?

X: A (mumbles something indistinguishable) flew into the air and buzzed me. It shook my hand and my clock light is after me.

Me: Really? Oh.

X: And there was a ghost.

Me: Ok. Let's go to sleep now.

Of course, he slept ok, but I didn't. You know kids like to move all over. I was on the very edge of the bed. Then he was coughing some and was stuffed up. Sigh. Through all of that, I still like cuddling with him.

For the record, he has this clock in his room that has a light in it. He sleeps with it on, but lately he has been telling me it scares him. In front of the light is a stained glass picture, which can be changed with the seasons. The current season is fall. The scene is a Snoopy Halloween and one of the characters is dressed as a ghost.

My friend made hotel reservations for us to attend next years DragonCon. Now I need to go buy the tickets. Woo hoo! Should I start working on a costume now or use my old BTVS standby?

UPdate: Bought my ticket, uh, membership! Happy happy, joy joy!

This is one of my favorites! It looks like Xander is a clown fish! Ha!


While the park had professionals taking pictures, no one argued if you took your own. Goofy is really, really tall!


Of course we had to get a shot with the big star!


Xander and Pluto were just to cute! And David was ok, too. ;-P


My friends, Tigger, Pooh and Eeyore, too!


We should have worn these for our wedding. Aren't we cute?

My dad took a few pics with his cell phone during our vacation. He sent me one today. Yay! Here it is!