It Can't Be Almost Over!!!!!!

Wow! It has been such a nice week! The weather has been less than desirable, but just being off and being with my boys has been like a breath of fresh air....just what I needed before we hit spring IEP season running next week!

Although Leighton's birthday isn't actually until next Wednesday (March 24th), we had his "birthday party" yesterday. This was actually our first party that really wasn't....up until this year, we have had typical birthday parties with cake, ice cream, pizza, and, you guessed it, goodie bags! Well, this year it just seemed like the time might be right to scale down a bit...it was either that or scale up to inviting his entire class, and, well, I just wasn't ready for that. So, in my finest mom fashion I mentioned that we could go do something really fun if he would agree to invite just a few friends in lieu of a big party....and it worked! Like a charm!

Now, don't misunderstand me, I am all about a party, and if he would have insisted, I would have obliged....but, since he seemed content, it was a go.....for bowling!!!!! And, as luck would have it, when I asked him which friend he would like to take, he said, "Well, mama, Sara Kate, Hallie, and Hunter....they are my best friends...who else would I ask?" Did I mention that this boy makes his mama so proud?!? Because this way, my 2 best friends will go too, and we can have a fun day to boot! He even WANTED Logan to go....how about them apples? So, we set out yesterday morning for the bowling alley....and we have a BALL!!!!! (Sorry for the pun...I just had to!!!) Oh, that I could show you a fantastic pictoral documentary of the day, but, guess who realized the battery to her camera was on the charger only when she got the camera out of the case at said bowling alley to take the first picture!?! Cry! Ugly Cry! I could have just cried! But, as my friends always do, Jill came through for me and documented the day. I just have to get the pictures from her and then I promise to wow you with a series of pictures that all pretty much look exactly the same....how many ways do you show someone bowling! A good time was had by all!

Then, we went to Dairy Queen for the birthday lunch. Now, there are those among you who are probably doubting my choice of venue for the birthday lunch, but where else can you get an Oreo Blizzard ice cream cake for the birthday boy?! Look, I may not be the world's best party planner, but I am all over getting a cake...a great cake! So, it was kids meals all around and then cake! The poor people at DQ...they were so patient with me...me, the mama who did not bring a candle, or plates, or a lighter, or even anything remotely birthdayish. But it was a great birthday lunch in spite of me! Leighton said he had a great time, and that is really all that matters. I just hope it sticks! Since we have a week until the "real" birthday, I hope he doesn't forget and request another party. That would make him, well, like me!!!! I like to stretch the celebration out. I love birthdays!

I promise to dazzle with you birthday pictures as soon as I get them....and, if we are lucky, I will have a picture of a snaggle-tooth boy one day very soon (although you probably won't want to hold your breath on that one....the permanent tooth is practicallly all the way in....BEHIND the tooth that is barely hanging on!) It also won't be long before I will have baseball news....practice is going well.....we have a practice game next week, with the opening day of t-ball season being next Saturday.

Speaking of practice, in honor of Leslie's Not Me Mondays which I haven't participated in yet and although it is not Monday, it certainly was NOT me who was yelling out phrases like "Good job, buddy!", "Great hit!", "Run all the way through the bag now!", "Don't slack up...keep running hard right through the base!", "Catch it..ohhh....yes, good job!" So it could NOT have been my son who came to the fence and said, "Mama, please don't talk anymore. You are giving me a headache."

Out of the mouths of babes!