Well, I finally got some pictures uploaded, but I can't figure out how to upload them to where I can type next to or underneath them. One of these days, I AM going to figure this out. Picture #1 is of Emily. She is waiting very patiently for her turn to open a present. Mark got a GI Joe. He came across Greg's old stash and just loved them. Unfortunately, they aren't as popular as they were when Greg was little and harder to find. Found this one at Big Lots. Greg wanted a weight bench so he could "work out" in the garage. Well, I had to leave it in the back of the van because it was just too heavy to get out and plus no where to hide it. He had no clue. So, Santa typed up a certificate and put it in an evelope telling him to look out in the back of the van. He was so excited. Last but not least is our lovely Liz. She is not a morning person and hates getting her picture taken. So, I take them anyway just so that someday she can't say "how come there are no pictures of me?" Well, I have them, she's just not smiling in any of them. Oh well.............

This is the week out of the year that I dread. The let down and all the hard work of Christmas is now over. Now I have to look forward to Steve's long hours for the next month. Greg's baseball season will be firing up and Elizabeth will be getting ready for SAT and another newspaper deadline. This is probably when I need Steve the most and he will be nowhere to be found!

I was sitting in the bath last night thinking about 2007 and I suddenly got so depressed. It hit me that Elizabeth will be a senior in high school! She is our oldest and I have never experienced this feeling. Where has the time gone? What if she goes far away to college? I also am dreading my birthday in October. Ugh...............I will be the big 40! Not looking forward to it.

I went through in my mind all the things I want to accomplish in 2007. My priority is to get Mark "figured out". I know the teacher wants a conference when school resumes so I am not looking forward to that. He behaves horribly in class. He struggles in Math and just can't grasp the concept. The teacher doesn't recommend taking him to Sylvan or Huntington but the school doesn't have the "resources" either. I know that I am going to have him tested for ADD eventually and I am also going to push the CAP (Central Auditory Processing) test with his audiologist. She said she could probably test him mid way through 1st grade or when he is 7. I am just at a loss and feel like a failure when it comes to him. None of the other kids had these problems or acted the way he does.

I have also decided that I am going to use the word "no" more and "it's about me" more. I spend so much time taking care of the others (kids, hubby), that I have totally let myself go. I used to be anal about my hair, make up and how I dressed (Jeans & T-shirts have become my new wardrobe). I used to get my hair cut/highlighted every 6-8 weeks. I go months between cuts now and I color my own hair. I miss my hightlights! So, first thing I have done is make an eye doctors appointment. I have put it off for YEARS. I used to wear reading glasses in college but stopped wearing them when Liz was born. I know that I need some kind of glasses. I just never took the time to make the appointment. So, at 4:30 today, I am off to get my eyes checked. Plus, I am able to kill off the remaining balance in the FSA account. I am going to try making Steve have a "date night" at least once a month. So what if the kids have to stay home one night a month? He and I are on two different levels. Sometimes I feel like he has "checked out". I want him to be more than just the "provider". I want him involved in the daily running of what's going on with this family. He is clueless. If you were to ask him, he couldn't even tell you what the kids doctors, dentists names are. So, another one of my "resolutions" is to get him more involved with his kids and less involved with his work. I know his job is important but his family is more and I think he forgets that.

Well, enough of my rambling. Need to switch the laundry around before I leave. If you read this far, sorry for all the complaining. Have a great Hump Day!