Michelle, they weren't all bad. I could've had to dig up that entire yard, but I didn't. I found the spot lickety-split. I was glad to find the problem. You're not unplesant. Here: called and met the locksmith broke a door pane (all while I talked to Michelle about her upcoming party menu and odds/ends) Meaning, that you offset the problem. Girlfriend! You are one crazy chick. Love ya!!!!! anneliese, I do wish I'd get a break. I'm not looking for the bad, but it sure is finding me! But what the heck, I'll get all new stuff soon. Better stuff. Stuff that works and is great. I love my all new car. I don't worry about it and love driving it again, after $3000 worth of work to it. That's a pretty good price for an all new car. I even got a new boot shift cover that has a red racing stripe down it! I'll feel snazzy when shifting gears on that sucker. Not only that, I found out that half of the engine noise is coming from the lack of insulation under the boot cover. I never knew it was missing. I would never have found out if it hadn't finally worn out and need replacing. I'm good. :)

Four stars for Bobbie and her DH! Absolutely fair in my mind to make it a team effort-I have done the same if you remember! Oh, and the Christmas story that Dr. Faulds used to recite was Luke 2:1-20. I still love to hear it, but no one can match his telling. Also, it HAS to be the King James version for me. Three stars for Tm and Nancy who got one and probably for Annette as well although she never got back to post! #1. Yes, it was St. Francis of Assisi who, in 1223, started his Nativity Plays in Italy. The people in the plays sang songs or 'canticles' that told the story during the plays. Sometimes, the choruses of these new carols were in Latin; but normally they were all in a language that the people watching the play could understand and join in! The new carols spread to France, Spain, Germany and other European countries. (Taken from the website-see carols history link below) #2. The Three Ships in the original version were said to be carrying the skulls of the three Wise Men to the cathedral in Cologne. Also see link (Carols stories) #3. Won't go through each of these, but again, the carols stories link goes through them all. I will add to that to tell you that the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord (wonder and awe). The Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. All words to live by no matter what one's religion or whether one follows any religion or not. I wish you all joy, health, and laughter this week and throughout the year. Thanks for playing! Cheers, Cynthia Here is a link that might be useful: Lots of fun and info here!

DH is doing all the cooking tonight. DS would help but he is not very good at it. We are having 'Surf n Turf'. He picked up top sirloin steaks which he is cooking on the grill, giant crab claws, fresh asparagras, mashed Yukon Gold potatoes and some homemade sourdough bread I made today. For dessert we are having killer Trader JoeÂs Ice Cream Cake. He picked that up yesterday. It is a layer of rich chocolate cake, topped by a layer of the chocolate-est of chocolate ice creams, topped by a layer of crunchy chocolate cookie crumbs, topped by a layer of creamy chocolate chip ice cream, the outside of the cake rolled in more chocolate cookie crumbs, and decorated the top with rosettes of whipped cream. Just hand me a glass of wine and I will be all set. Oh, almost forgot, he made oatmeal pancakes for breakfast this morning. And I got to goof off all day. Clare

nikemama, Focus on your kids and satisfy them. let your Dh handle is picky son. I use to try and inclue my Dh's kids as familyl.. ...well they've been taught otherwise and so i now treat them as guests in my home. Respect them as guest and if they are rude to me, i will tell them off as any other person under my household and if need be, tell them to leave...via mom or dad..but they will get out. i tolerate no disrespect from anyone..not my father...not my own child, not my husband. THEY are nothing special and are not treated in any special way. They know it. Your SS has issues....in sharing and accepting his new family. He of course has been taught you are not his mother and do not count... well...you are not his mother....but that doesn't mean he treats you like this. So ...let your dh handle him. Do not include him in plans, dont set your heart on it. Let the reality bubble burst for yoru dH. Oh yah, dont count on your dh 100% to come to the game after his son takes a fit and refuses to go see it. ' You see the game and enjoy your kids and be proud of them. When my SK start acting up, my hubby just refuses to take them. He basically tells them you are out of the pic for this weekend because of these reasons and when you are reasonable we can talk about it. They're in their teens andi think its not a skid issue. Its a teen issue. Its a trying time for any parent. And i think your SS is 13 andhas alot of teen issues ontop of his jealousy issues. I know you are pist off at this kid. Nothing wrong in being pist off. I've been there and done it. Cancelled 'family' pictures because they would not come. And then i basically called in a professional photographer to make an albumof my son and of us and hung it in our living room. They still look at that pic till this day. Do i feel an ounce of sorrow? NO F' way! They CHOSE, to not show for the event. THEY LOSE OUT. not me, not my son and certainly not my Dh. THEY CHOOSE not to be part of our family...no my problem. And my Dh is starting ot accpet this attitude as well. We've discussed it recently that the chances of them living with us is very slim and they way they behave at this point, i do not want them. Both my Dh and i have decided that if in the future they decide they want to come and live with us and ditch their mom...it will be a no. We just discussed it tonight. Now depending on the circumstances...things can change. Things can happen that will nto offer us a choice to refuse them. But given the choice now, with our lives, and how they are...its a no. Mother dear has raised them for 14 years and she can continuing doing so. This is how we feel, we've been pushed to our limit. I wont go into detail. They are not bad kids. They are good, with teen issues because of how mom has raised them. And i will not clena up her mess now and i told my dh unless its a serious situation, like they are in danger, i will not clean up her mess. BM did this to her kids, let her fix it. They do not listen to their dad, nor respect him. They visit less and less...and we do understand. sorry i'm rambling....i understand your anger towards your ss...i've had it and completely know the anxiety and anxiousness before a visit. Its dreadful at times when you know a person acts like such a rotten potatoe! Your Sd doesn't behave this way...i guess that is positive. Learn to disengage, not give a hoot, and focus onyoru kids and what makes them happy. Leave the attention seeking SS to his dad. He wants his attention...not yours....so dont take offense. You've done nothign wrong.. He focuses his hate on you because its an easy target for him. IGNORE HIM> live him to his father and leave him be. Do not cook for him if all he does is complain. let his father cook for him if he doesn' tlike what you've cooked for the family.