DH has probably spent more hours on the back of a tractor mowing than anything else so I was delighted when I came across a card with a grass cutter on the front. Inside it said, "Every day, I love you a little mower." A get well card for someone in the hospital. Cover: The nurses say you are the best looking patient on the floor! Inside: What are you doing on the floor???

Oh Sharon, I'm sorry! Several years ago I had sent out written invites for our quite dressy Christmas party for Saturday Dec 11. On Sat Dec 4, we were all sitting around in our comfies, watching a movie and the doorbell rang. Hmmmmmm. Sure enough, one couple had put it on the calendar for the wrong weekend! So there they were, all spiffed up, us all not, staring at each other and laughing! They ended up going out for the even also and had a wodnerful time. Her only complaint was that she had to go buy a new outfit since she felt she couldn't wear the same thing again since they had run into a couple of other guests! LOLOLOL! Hope you did enjoy dessert! A

I hear your frustration. Some orders specify who is responsible to take kids to appointments, usually the primary custodial parent, but if they don't do it, then duh! the other parent should.... that's just common sense. I will never understand why a parent would complain about anyone doing something nice for their child, who they "love" so much. The reason I put "quotations" on love.... if a parent truly loves their child, don't they want what's best for them??? If they can't provide it, they should be grateful when someone else does provide it. Period. It doesn't matter whether the person providing it is the other parent, a relative, step parent, neighbor, stranger or government agency... isn't the goal to do what is best for the child? If someone is too busy, lazy or in any way unable to do something like take the child to the dentist for a year, kiss the feet of the person that isn't too busy or lazy and takes the time to do YOU a favor because now your child has received care. I am way past caring what my SD's BM thinks... if I give her an opportunity to do something and she doesn't do it, then I am taking carte blanche and I don't care if she thinks I am stepping on her toes or over my bounds. SD has a class trip coming up. DH asked her to pay part of the fee two weeks ago. As of today, no response. He tries to call her. No answer. He can't afford the trip so SD won't get to go. Meanwhile, SD tries to call to talk to her mom about her upcoming birthday but BM is still not answering her phone.. maybe thinks DH is trying to call about the trip. SD leaves a message because I offered to throw her a party if her mom isn't going to. BM never calls her back. (last year she said she was doing something and by the end of the day, SD was in tears & we are left to console her mother's disappointments) When you are dealing with someone that says they are going to do something but then don't... you have the choice to do it yourself or leave it be and it doesn't get done. If she chooses to do it because you did it first.. then eventually the kids will see that their parent isn't doing it for them, they are doing it because they are engaged in battle with you (or your DH). Kids are perceptive and they know who is doing right or who is doing wrong.... unfortunately, they sometimes choose a side and usually it's the wrong side because they love both parents and the one that is doing wrong... well, I think kids want to help the parent that seems to need them more.

Lol My3dogs!!!!! That pic is SUCH a classic! Still makes me smile & chuckle! Yes, in the burgundy chair, he's clearly saying "thanks for the nice bed Mom"! Got the Sanford-ortho "Preparing for surgery" packet today....Uffda! Surgeon's scheduling-secretary & myself will hammer out a date in April. It really was gracious of him to open-up his Tues & Thur's, to get me fixed-up in April!!! Thank you all for your help & encouragement! Faron