Well, another birthday for Emily has come and gone. She is 12. Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday we brought her home from the hospital. For her birthday, we totally surprised her with an IPOD. She was so shocked as you can see from her picture. Now she has something no one else in the family has! It wasn't really much of a birthday celebration though. She had an all day field trip through school to Cypress Springs over by Orlando. She didn't get home until 7:00 pm. She had a headache from being in the hot sun all day. That's why she is in her jammies because she took a quick shower before opening her presents. She also got some clothes. I am going to try and put a little party together for her friends at a placed called "Down To The Wire". It's where you make bracelets. It's so fun and you can make some really nice bracelets. Now, we just have to figure out how to use the IPOD!

Yesterday I went to Sam's Club and I bough the Carpenters Gold CD. It is awesome. I have it cranked up right now. I don't usually get to listen to "my music" because the kids always have the TV on. Steve hates this kind of music so it's a real treat for me to be able to listen to it without someone complaining.

Greg's birthday (14) is on Sunday. He just wants a new mitt. He will have some money left over so I don't know what else he wants. He is at that fun teenage boy stage where everything has to be a "name brand" and is really expensive (Under Armour, Oakley sun glasses, Nike). I can't believe that he will start High School in August. WOW. I am really feeling old--even know I am not. But, compared so other parents who started late having kids, I guess I am considered a "young mom".

Today I have a "to do" list that consists of CLEAN UP THE HOUSE. I have been so busy getting ready for birthdays that I have neglected the house and the laundry. But, no one dares complain because they know I will go off on them. There's 6 of us and only 1 of me. I remind them constantly that in other family's everyone pitches in. That really shuts them up. Even Steve does NOTHING around the h0use. The older he is getting the lazier he has become. I don't know what our future will be after the kids grow up and move out. I told him that once the kids leave the nest, what will we talk about. His job will always come first and I don't want to sit in the house all alone. I so wanted to get a part time job but I have never been able to because of HIS job. I have had to get out of jury duty twice now because he won't take off work to help with the kids. So he gets called for jury and he goes. Now, I don't want to go to jury duty but the point is he won't help me out. Eventually, I am not going to be able to get out of it. I just keep sending the same letter. I don't have any family here that will help out with the kids. Plus they are so involved in after school activities how would they get to and fro? My nieghbor is on jury duty right now and she is on it for 4 weeks! Ouch. There is just no way I could do it.

Well better get my day started. I have a full day of chores ahead of me. Hope everyone has a wonderul day. Until next time.....................