Mama Pajama

Heads or Tails

This week the theme for Heads or Tails is Heads: Fool.  With April Fool's Day tomorrow, I'm busy trying to think of a way to trick Chris.  I'm the more gullible one, so odds are I'll be the one getting fooled this year. 

My grandmother  used to get me every year, calling me before school.  Now why would she be calling me at 7:30 in the morning??? But, I'd fall for her antics every time.  One time she told me her old dog was going to have puppies.  Another time it was that the tooth fairy had visited after the same dog lost a tooth.  I told you I was gullible. 

If you want to participate in HoT, visit the all new home here. But, you should also visit Barb over at Skittles' Place.

Big Improvement

Several years ago, I decided to paint our master bedroom a very unusual shade of gold.  No, this was not the smartest decision I ever made.  I really did like it, because it matched our comforter set and curtains.  But, after four years, I finally had to admit that it was a bonehead move. We went ahead and hired a guy to paint our bedroom as well as the bathroom a very pretty light tan color.  It looks so much better! 

April Fools Day

April Fool's Day is just around the corner.  I have so many memories of my grandmother "getting me" every year.  She would call the house before school and tell me some ridiculous lie. I would fall for it every time.  What is your best April Fool's Day prank that you either pulled off or that someone else played on you?

Mother's Day Idea

For Christmas this year, Chris gave me a gift certificate for a massage.  The lady we found did a fabulous job!  I have a few odd back issues, but she knew how to deal with all of them.  I can't wait to get another one some day...hint hint!!!  It takes training and practice to learn how to give a therapeutic massage.  I know that there are a few massage therapy schools in our area. 

Another Project

Like most men, Chris really loves new tools, gadgets, and gizmos.  His latest project is to change out our gas water heater.  It's located in the attic, and he's afraid that since it is getting older it might leak into the house.  He wants to buy a tankless water heater, but I'm not sure if that's what we'll get. First, we need to do a little more research. 

Big Brother

Is anyone out there still watching Big Brother?  I've already admitted to being a Big Brother addict.  This year started out horrible, but once again, I'm hooked.  I don't really have any favorite to win, but Ryan and Sharon seem to be the most "normal" of the bunch.  Adam and Sheila are quite a pair, and Natalie is pretty hilarious.  If you watch the show, let me know who you think just might win!

Power Nap

Cameron fell asleep with his hand still on his train today.  He actually does this almost every single day.  I guess he wants to keep it close by so that when he wakes up he'll know right where it is.  I wish I could calculate how many miles that thing has covered in our house.

Thursday Thirteen: Connect the Actors Part IV

This week's game is 'Connect the Actors Part IV'. This time it's all about male actors. Can you connect Harrison Ford to Robin Williams through films?  The answer for each question will be the movie title that connects the actor for that number with the following one.  Just in case my directions sound as bad as I think they do, here's an example series:

1. George Clooney

2. Brad Pitt

3. Susan Sarandon

4. Sean Penn

The answers :

1. (Think - George Clooney stars with Brad Pitt in...)  Ocean's 11   

2. (Think - Brad Pitt stars with Susan Sarandon in...) Thelma and Louise 

3.  Dead Man Walking

I realize that some of these might have more than one answer, so any true connection that I can prove with IMDB will be counted as a correct answer. Also, please note that there are 14 actors listed, but only thirteen answers.  The thirteenth answer will be the movie that stars both Jeff Bridges and Robin Williams. Please do not leave your answers in the comments section. If you would like to play, just leave me a comment letting me know, and then e-mail me your answers at: holly_f_smith@yahoo.com.   I'll post the answers on Monday morning.  Good luck and have fun!

1. Harrison Ford

2. Joe Pantoliano

3. Lou Diamond Phillips

4. Denzel Washington

5. Matthew Broderick

6. Jack Black

7. Jude Law

8. Ethan Hawke

9. Steve Zahn

10. Eddie Murphy

11. Nick Nolte

12. Albert Brooks

13. Jeff Bridges

14.  Robin Williams

Birthday Party Fun

Oh MeMe, I guess I'll wear this hat if it makes you happy...We had Cam's birthday party over at my parents' house this weekend.  He had fun opening all his presents and playing with balloons outside.  The weather was beautiful and he had a great day!

Who's in Charge Here?

Cameron is three years old, and has simultaneously reached his "Terrible Twos".  Yesterday he wouldn't even let me feed him. He batted at his spoon and practically dumped out his bowls all over the floor.  But when his Granny tried to feed him, he opened up like a little bird.   I think there is a word for this....manipulation!  I can only imagine what will be in store for me today.....

Answers to Connect the Actors Part III

Thanks for playing this week's edition of Connect the Actors.  This week, Malcolm of Pop Culture Dish was the only person to get them all correct. Way to go Malcolm!

Here are the answers:

1. Sense and Sensibility
2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
3. Elizabethtown or Little Women
4. Anywhere But Here
5. Closer
6. Runaway Bride
7. Arlington Road
8. Proof
9. Sliding Doors
10. Basic Instinct
11. Catwoman
12. Losing Isaiah
13. Cape Fear

Be sure to check back this Wed. for Part IV of Connect the Actors!

Cameron is Turning Three

I can't believe Cameron is already three years old.  He's getting so strong, and exceeding all his doctors' expectations.  He goes all over the house in his walker, and is feeling much more independent because of it. He truly is our miracle boy.

Here he is with my mom.  I just love this picture, even though it's a little dark.  He certainly loves his MeMe! 

Thursday Thirteen: Connect the Actors Part III

This week's game is 'Connect the Actors Part III'. This time it's all about actresses. Can you connect Emma Thompson to Juliette Lewis through films?  The answer for for each question will be the movie title that connects the actress for that number with the following one.  Just in case my directions sound as bad as I think they do, here's an example series:

1. George Clooney   

2. Brad Pitt    

3. Susan Sarandon 

4. Sean Penn....

The answers :

1. (Think - George Clooney stars with Brad Pitt in...)  Ocean's 11   

2. (Think - Brad Pitt stars with Susan Sarandon in...) Thelma and Louise 

3.  Dead Man Walking

I realize that some of these might have more than one answer, so any true connection that I can prove with IMDB will be counted as a correct answer. Also, please note that there are 14 actors listed, but only thirteen answers.  The thirteenth answer will be the movie that stars both Jessica Lange and Juliette Lewis. Please do not leave your answers in the comments section. If you would like to play, just leave me a comment letting me know, and then e-mail me your answers at: holly_f_smith@yahoo.com.   I'll post the answers on Monday morning.  Good luck and have fun!

1. Emma Thompson

2. Kate Winslet

3. Kirsten Dunst

4. Susan Sarandon

5. Natalie Portman

6. Julia Roberts

7. Joan Cusack

8. Hope Davis

9. Gwyneth Paltrow

10. Jeanne Tripplehorn

11. Sharon Stone

12. Halle Berry

13. Jessica Lange

14. Juliette Lewis

Cameron's Room

We have been debating whether or not to get Cameron a "big boy" bed.  It's nice knowing that in his baby bed, he's trapped!  But, he is getting older.  Sometimes he sleeps with us, so he mainly uses his bedfor his naps (that is if I can get him in it before he crashes out on the carpet). My brother bought a beautiful Emily crib that converts into a daybed. I wish that we had bought a bed like that!

Chris' Car

Chris has a 2002 Honda Accord.  I think it's time that he looks for something new.  But with gas prices so high, he wants to stick with something as fuel efficient, or with even better fuel economy.  I like the Prius, but it does seem really small.  But since it's mainly a commuter vehicle for him, he doesn't really need the extra space.  Maybe he could even spruce it up with some chrome accessories.  The Accord is running fine, so we should probably just hang on to it a few more years.

Garage Sale

My mom had a garage sale this past weekend, so we were able to unload a lot of our stuff that was crowding up our home.  We sold things such as tennis rackets, a pair of wrought iron glass top planters (not good with a three year old), baby clothes and toys, and a couple of duffle bags Chris had from Enron (before the company collapsed).  It's funny because apparently, people are collected Enron items now. We had lots of imprinted promotional products that had the Enron logo on them.  In fact, we had clothes, jackets, a golf club cover pad, bags and plaques.  We never thought that anyone would show any interest in them!

Great Gift Idea

I found the perfect gift for my dad or Chris this year.  They make safety cutters now that can be used for everything from box cutting to ergonomic knives.  I know it would make me feel better if they used something designed for safety.  Although, I'm the clutz in the family, so maybe they should be buying me a safety cutter!

Backyard Memories

When I was in seventh grade, my brother and I received a trampoline for our birthdays.  I have lots of good memories playing dodgeball with all of our neighborhood friends.  But one day, when my parents were at work, my brother and I were out on it and we started fighting.  I fell off with one of my ankles stuck in the springs.  I didn't break my ankle, but I came very close. Luckily, now the trampolines come with the safety netting around them that make them much safer.  I could have used that back then!

Pen Thief

I am, and always will be, a pen thief. In other words, if you loan me a pen, do not expect to see it again.  I love pens!  But I am also prone to misplacing them.  I love different kinds of pens for different reasons, but my favorite are the uni-ball Vision Elites.  I go through lots of cheap pens now, but when I was teaching I would go through many more!

Making Changes

I must say that we have had a lot of luck with our insurance company.  But, you never know when you might want to make a change.  You can find great online car insurance now to save yourself time as well as money.  Now that getting insurance quotes is as easy as typing in a little information on your computer, what are you waiting for?

No Country For Old Men

We finally saw No Country For Old Men this weekend.   I was really looking forward to watching it after it won the Oscar for Best Picture this year.   Javier Bardem clearly deserved (and won) the Oscar for Best Actor. What a creepy guy!  The scene where he terrorizes the store clerk with a coin toss was extremely well acted and written. But I thought that Josh Brolin was also deserving of an Oscar nomination.  The only thing I didn't like about the film was the ending.  I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but if you've seen it, you can probably relate.  Maybe if I watched it again it would make more sense to me.  What did you think about this movie?

Update on Buster

Chris brought in Buster for his three week checkup, and it looks like all his bladder stones have dissolved!  We are very happy and relieved.  He hasn't ever shown any signs of discomfort, but the vet could see the stones on an x-ray about a month ago.  The special food he's been on must have lowered the pH of his urine enough to dissolve them.  Now we just have to keep him on Hills S/D for another week and then he'll be on Hills E/D for a while.  Thank goodness he's not going to need surgery!

Answers to Connect the Actors Part II

Thanks for playing this week's edition of Connect the Actors.  This week, three of you got them all correct: Malcolm of Pop Culture Dish, Anna of Beth and Cory's Mom, and Thea of I'm a Drama Mama. Fantastic job you guys!

Here are the answers:

1. When Harry Met Sally
2. You’ve Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, or Joe vs. The Volcano
3. Road to Perdition
4. The Color of Money
5. Days of Thunder
6. Something to Talk About
7. Erin Brockovich or Ocean's Twelve
8. Bourne Ultimatum
9. The Talented Mr. Ripley
10. Great Expectations
11. Training Day
12. Man on Fire
13. Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story

Be sure to check back this Wed. for Part III of Connect the Actors!

Spring Cleaning

Spring is here, and I am forcing myself to some spring cleaning.  How do miniblinds get so filthy?  Our house is looking better, but I still have a long way to go.  I guess if I could resist this computer it might speed up the process.

Thursday Thirteen - Connect the Actors Part II

This week's game is 'Connect the Actors Part II'. Can you connect Billy Crystal to Kurt Russell through films?  The answer for for each question will be the movie title that connects the actor for that number with the following actor.  Just in case my directions sound as bad as I think they do, here's an example series:

1. George Clooney   

2. Brad Pitt    

3. Susan Sarandon 

4. Sean Penn....

The answers :

1. (Think - George Clooney stars with Brad Pitt in...)  Ocean's 11   

2. (Think - Brad Pitt stars with Susan Sarandon in...) Thelma and Louise 

3.  Dead Man Walking

I realize that some of these might have more than one answer, so any true connection that I can prove with IMDB will be counted as a correct answer. Also, please note that there are 14 actors listed, but only thirteen answers.  The thirteenth answer will be the movie that stars both Dakota Fanning and Kurt Russell.

Please do not leave your answers in the comments section. If you would like to play, just leave me a comment letting me know, and then e-mail me your answers at: holly_f_smith@yahoo.com.   I'll post the answers on Monday morning.  Good luck and have fun!

1. Billy Crystal

2. Meg Ryan

3. Tom Hanks

4. Paul Newman

5. Tom Cruise

6. Robert Duvall

7. Julia Roberts

8. Albert Finney

9. Matt Damon

10. Gwyneth Paltrow

11. Ethan Hawke

12. Denzel Washington

13. Dakota Fanning

14. Kurt Russell

Wow!

When we bought our house, we chose white grout.....not smart.  After seven years, it had turned to a dark shade of ugly grey.  Even though I clean it weekly, it just looks bad.  But Chris found a guy that has a cool machine that blasts out the dirt without doing any damage. I am totally shocked at how much better it looks!  Why regrout when you can get it looking brand new!  What a difference this has made!

The Big Bang!

Mel of Attitute, The Ultimate Power is asking all the participants of the Big Bang meme to repost. I have seen this everywhere, but I had not participated until now. When I saw it again today over at Comedy Plus, I was convinced that I should participate!

Here's the rules: *Start Copy Here*

You do not have to be tagged to play along. This game is simple and so are the rules.

1. Copy from *Start Copy Here* through *End Copy Here*

2. Add your site(s) to the list. Just be sure to post at each site you add.

3. Tag or don’t tag, your choice, however, the more tags you create the bigger the list will grow.

4. Let me know your blog’s name and url by leaving me a comment HERE. I will add you to the master list. (If you would like a scroll box code, leave me your email address and I will email it to you.) Scroll Box Example. (I decided not to use the box for the Big Bang for ease of copying.)

5. Come back and copy the master list back to your site, often. This process will allow late-comers to get as much link benefit as the first ones in. Once you are on the master list people who have participated earlier will update their bookmarks and help everyone lower than them out on the list.

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*End Copy Here*

Note: In order to be included on this master list you need to first post the "Big Bang" on the site(s) that you want included. Add your site at the end of the list. Then leave Mel a comment that you have done so.

Also, I would double check the link and make sure it correctly points back to your site. If there are any issues please let Mel know and he will immediately make the correction.

Hint: when you copy this list, make sure that you paste into the "Compose" mode of your post, so that you maintain all the links.

This is truly a unique opportunity to watch your Technorati score explode with a "Big Bang"...so you should definitely take advantage of it!

Giftventure

The fine folks over at Mom Central gave me the opportunity to try out a fun new idea called Giftventure.  To put it simply, it's a treasure hunt that comes in the mail!  Your child will receive letters addressed to them, that contain clues and puzzles from a fantasy character. After following all the clues, they find out the location of a present hidden by you! Pretty cool concept, right?  I wish I had thought of it! 

What's really neat is that you, the parent, provide lots of familiar names and places when you order Giftventure for your child.  They will wonder how this mystery character knows so much about them!  For example, I chose "Cappy's House" as one location because my son, Cameron, loves to visit his therapy horse, Cappy.  One of the letters I received came with "Cameron's Treasure Map".  It's all personalized and well thought out.  In the end, all clues will point to the final hiding spot, which you, the parent, have selected.  You just put the gift item in that location.  It's that simple! 

Our son is a little young for all of this, but I have put away these letters for his next birthday.  But for an older child, let's say four to eight years old, this will be a truly magical experience.  It's also a great way to make an Easter egg hunt fun for older children.  You could use Giftventure to help your child find his or her Easter basket, etc.  The possibilities are endless!  I have already told my brother about this idea for my niece, and my husband shared it with his boss who has young children.  This year, give your children a gift in a way that they'll never forget!

If you're interested, Giftventure is offering to take 10% off if you make a purchase during the month of March. All you have to do is use the promo code: MOMCENTRAL. If you want to get the letters in time for Easter, make sure that you get your order in by March 14th.

Give Me Five!

Give Me Five ways you like to de-stress, relax, wind down or kick back.

1. I like to read juicy mystery/crime books.  But I hardly ever read anymore because I seem to be glued to the computer when I have free time. Also, after reading about 25 books to Cameron at night, I'm ready to go to sleep.

2. I love to draw/sketch with charcoal pencils.  This isn't to say that I'm good at it, I just really enjoy it.  I have a few drawings that I think are pretty good.  But anytime I try to draw human faces (especially noses) it turns out laughable. 

3.  How about just vegging out in front of the TV.  This seems to be what I do most often to kick back.

4.  I take walks to de-stress.  Unless the weather is atrocious, I walk Buster every night.  But on the weekends I like to go out with my ipod and take a really long walk.  I also love to ride my bike when the weather permits.

5.  I love to listen to music.  When I'm cooking I set the ipod on shuffle and Cameron and I have fun listening to all our songs.

Head on over to BeccA's Buzz to participate in this meme...

Heads or Tails

This week's theme for Head's or Tails is Heads: Anything Green...

Here's a St. Patrick's Day Card from Cameron to all of you! Sorry I haven't been commenting as much lately, but I just haven't had very much computer time.  This week I will return all comments!

Click on play to watch it.

Don't send a lame St. Patrick's Day eCard. Try JibJab Sendables!

The Living Room

I love the way our living room furniture looks, but it is not very comfortable.  We have two recliners (which we use all the time) and then a couch and a floral chair.  The recliners are great, but the other pieces are not even used (except by Buster).  For some reason it's just hard to relax on them. I would love to eventually get a leather sectional and sell the couch we have now.  Buster wouldn't like it, but I'm sure he'd learn to love something new. 

A New Watch

I am definitely not a jewelry person.  I wear my wedding ring, and I'll wear my Aggie Ring on occasion, but I never wear earrings anymore or bracelets (not a good idea with a two year old anyway). But, I do love watches.  The battery on my last watch stopped on the day Cameron was born, and I haven't worn it since.  I'm almost always at home, and so it's not a big deal.  But I've been looking at different brands online, and I like Hublot.  Of course, what I like and what I'll actually be getting are two very different things.  But I really love those watches!

Time to Get Organized!

With all of our talk about possibly getting hardwood floors, we've been doing some major organizing of things like CDs, DVDs, stereo equipment, etc.  I finally put all of our MiniDV tapes onto DVD, and I burned all of Cameron's photos onto CDs as well.  It feels good to get it all together...because I'm a procrastinator at heart.  Now I need Chris to get all of his stuff like this organized.  All of the wiring and bulk cable stuff is his department. We also have about thirty blank tapes with bits and pieces of football games and episodes of Magnum, PI on them that he needs to weed through. 

What Should We Do?

We are thinking about changing out our carpet and putting in wood or laminate flooring.  I know that it is actually a lot cleaner, and it will look better.  The only problem is that I don't know if it will be as good for Cameron.  We like to lay around on the floor with him in the living room and it is nice having carpet.  And, of course, carpet is cheaper.  We don't have to decide anytime soon, but I think we should at least start pricing our choices.  Does anyone have anything positive to say about wood or wood laminate floors?

Feeling Dumb...

My favorite candy bar is was Snickers with Almonds.  But I just took off part of one of my molars eating a frozen one.  Why was I eating a frozen candy bar you might ask? Maybe because I like the extremely chewy texture...or maybe it's because I must not have any sense!  At any rate, now I have to wait until Monday or Tuesday to see the dentist because they are closed on Friday afternoons. I'm never eating candy again!

Friday's Feast

                                    

Appetizer

If you could be any current celebrity for one whole week, who would you want to be?

I hate questions like this, but I like Katherine Heigl right now.  She seems to be really grounded but also fun.

Soup

On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how much do you enjoy talking on the phone?

I don't like talking on the phone that much these days.  I'll say four.

Salad

Name a charitable organization to which you have donated (or would like to).

United Way

Main Course

What is a food you like so much you could eat it every single day for a month?

I love homemade macaroni and cheese the way my Maw Maw makes it. Mine never comes out quite right.

Dessert

Have you or anyone in your family had the flu this year?

Knock on wood, no!  Everyone got flu shots this year and we're pretty diligent about making people wash their hands around Cameron.

Heirlooms

Do you have any prized heirlooms that have been passed down from one generation to the next?  It would be nice to inherit something of value.  I hope that we will have at least a few special items to pass down to our children one day.  They will definitely be receiving my wedding ring, Chris' gold cufflinks, and the piano that I plan to one day purchase...maybe.   

American Idol

As usual, by this time in the season, we've already stopped watching American Idol.  After all the bad singers are weeded out, it just isn't as entertaining.  Hopefully the rejects can still find some sort of talent management.  All of this is coming from one of the most tone deaf people in the world, so while I might sound harsh, I do realize that this just might stem from jealousy....

Friendship Chain

Sandee, at Comedy Plus has this fun "Friendship Chain" meme posted on her site today. She's inviting everyone to participate, so you should, too! It's incredibly simple!

                                 

~~Begin Copy~~

This is the easy way and the fastest way to:

1. Make your Authority Technoraty explode.
2. Increase your Google Page Rank.
3. Get more traffic to your blog.
4. Makes more new friends.

Rules:

1. Start copy from “Begin Copy” until “End Copy” to your blog.
2. Put your own blog name and link.
3. Tag your friends as much as you can.

1. Picturing of Life 2. Juliana’s Site 3. Hazel-My Life, My Hope, My Future.4. Jeanne-The Callalily Space 5. Colin from Life 6. Sandee of Comedy Plus 7. Holly of Mama Pajama

~~End Copy~~

I tag everyone who reads this! Come on, it's so easy!!!

Play Doh Rocks!

Cameron loves Play Doh now.  I don't know why we never thought about buying him any before.  Just one whiff of the stuff and it takes you right back to being a four year old.  Honestly, I'm having fun with it too.  My biggest problem is keeping Cameron from trying to feed it to Buster. 

New Arrivals

For some strange reason, a pair of doves have taken up residence under our roof on our front porch.  Every morning I see this bird perched right there.  The mama bird sits on top of the roof as a lookout.  It's really cute.  I just wonder why they would choose a house with an obnoxious barking dog like Buster. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Don't send a lame St. Patrick's Day eCard. Try JibJab Sendables!

Hyped Up Sports

Are a complete sports fanatic?  Well, if you are a collector of sports collectibles, you are going to love this!  HypedupSports.com has come up with a totally new and exciting way to improve the value of your own memorabilia!  You can send in your items to Upper Deck to be signed by their top athletes.  And when they say top athletes, they really mean it. Some of these star athletes include: Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Durant. 

How do you know that all of this is legit? Well, every single time an item is signed, it will be witnessed by an Upper Deck representative.  It will be authenticated immediately!  These athletes will sign any type of sports memorabilia, not just balls.  For example, you could send in things like jerseys, sports cards, pictures, posters, and even paintings.  The possibilities are endless.  And for the real sports fan, autographs are just invaluable. 

Just think about how excited your spouse, significant other, or child would be to find out that you've arranged for one of their favorite sports collectibles to be autographed by his or her favorite athlete!  It's truly a unique opportunity.  If you are interested all you have to do is go to their website and follow the simple steps.  What are you waiting for?

Children with Disabilities

Finding out that your child has any form of disability is very difficult to deal with.  But, kids are resilient, and most of us find that while our children might have special needs, they are also extremely loving and happy.  If your child shows any cerebral palsy symptoms or other motor issues, you should definitely seek out early intervention specialists. Our son has a genetic disorder called CRASH Syndrome, and while he has several different issues, he is doing extremely well.  We have many people to thank for that, but much of it is because of his own sheer will to get stronger and to achieve his goals.

Life Struggles

I have always had a hard time understanding why people abuse drugs and alcohol. Today there are so many young stars with these issues such as these.  What a terrible example they are setting for kids everywhere.  Luckily, there are drug rehabilitation facilities to help them figure out way to break the cycle and move on with their lives.  But, even with help like this, it takes will power and determination to really make permanent change.

Democratic Primary

Wow, the race between Obama and Clinton is so much tighter than I predicted.  Chris and I both voted yesterday.  Chris went back to join the Obama Caucus last night, but the place was impossible to get into.  Clearly, the facilities were not prepared for the increased turnout.  Overall, it is very encouraging that so many people are participating in the political process.  Healthcare is one of my biggest interests in this election. Without medicare advantage, many seniors are unable to get the coverage they need.  It saddens me that our government does not do enough for its seniors. 

School Friends

Today, in Texas, part of the infamous TAKS test was being given.  When I heard that one the news last night I thought about how nice it is not to have to stress about that kind of stuff anymore.  When I was teaching 5th and 3rd grades, test scores became all consuming.  What a waste of energy!  When I left right before Cameron was born, I let Dottie, one of my teaching buddies, keep my massage chair. Since school is out by now, I'm hoping she is enjoying it after a long and stressful day...

Early Birthday Fun...

Cameron's birthday present from all the grandparents was this big Little Tikes climber.  My dad brought it over yesterday, and we put it together last night.  His OT came by this morning and she found all kinds of ways that I can help him do lots of strengthening activities with it.  Today his favorite thing was to throw his balls down the slide. It has a platform (complete with a telescope), a giant slide, a rope climb, and a rock wall that you must climb up.  It's pretty big for him now, but he'll be able to use this for several years. Cameron says, "Thank you Granny,Paw Paw, MeMe, and Pa Pa."

Good Report

Today we received wonderful news at our appointment with Cameron's Orthopedic Surgeon.  His scoliosis curve has actually decreased by about eight degrees in the past three months.  Last summer we brought him in for the first time to get a baseline report on the severity of the curve in his back.  We have been going about every three months or so to do repeat x-rays.  After the last visit (since the curve had increased by six degrees) he told us that Cameron would probably need to start wearing a hard brace starting in March.  But then when we went today his curve was only twenty-six degrees!  We are thrilled and relieved that he won't be needing a brace (at least for now). We've bought at least another four months of time without one.  We are so thankful for visits like this!

Heads or Tails

This week's theme for Heads or Tails is: Tails - List 7 Things from a category of your choice. If you'd like to participate and join the Heads or Tails Blogroll, head on over to Skittles' Place.

Here are my 7 favorite television shows (of the moment):

1. "Breaking Bad" (AMC) - This show is highly original and the acting is incredible.  I never knew that Bryan Cranston (Dad from Malcolm in the Middle) had these kind of acting chops.  If you haven't seen it, you can probably watch back episodes 'On Demand'. 

2. "Big Brother" (CBS) - This season is especially dumb, but it's a guilty pleasure of mine. 

3. "Jericho" (CBS) - Jericho is my husband's favorite, but I've gotten into it, too. Government conspiracies, nuclear weapons, survival, vaccine shortages....you get the picture. 

4. "Dexter" (Showtime and CBS) - I'm waiting for Season 3 to start on Showtime.  I've said it before, but I think it's one of the most creative, well written, shows out there.  I haven't watched the edited version, which airs Sunday nights on CBS, but I can't wait to see what happens next!

5. "The Shield" (FX) - I'm waiting for the new season to start in September '08? We started watching this only two years ago, so we missed a lot.  But the past two seasons have been excellent.

6. "Big Love" (HBO)- Bill Henrickson makes polygamy almost seem OK!  Well, not really.  But it's very entertaining to see how this arrangement would work in modern-day America.

7. "Friday Night Lights" (NBC) - I don't know where this show went...maybe it stopped due to the writer's strike, or maybe the season ended. At any rate, I really enjoy this one.