WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF??

Every single tax year.
I do it again and again.
and I swear I won't do it again. But I do.
I procrastinate. And it's not like I need to pay in.
We are getting a good sum of money back. Definitely enough to clean up a couple of bills. But do I file on February 1st, when I have all the paperwork? No, that would be easy. That would not be stressful.
Instead, I wait and wait. Last year, I e-filed on like April 13th. This year, I tried to do it earlier this month but now I am taking tomorrow off to track down a few more items that might just increase the refund a bit more.
Yet still, earlier tonite, I was going ballistic because I could not find the paperwork at all.

So I have the software all loaded and the basic info inputted. Hopefully, by tomorrow nite, I'll be all e-filed.....

Happy Birthday, Mom! (I Miss You)

My mother's birthday is March 24th. This would have been her 75th birthday.
I wrote this for her from my daughter who is now 5 1/2. She was only 13 months old when my mom left this earth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have pictures of you holding me
When I was very small.
But it’s hard for me to remember
Even one of those times at all.

I’ve been told you loved me a great deal
And I was the twinkle in your eye
But now you’re gone; I only have
pictures to remember you by.

Please know that my Mom misses you
Every single day.
She wishes you were here right now
So she could watch us play.

I’ll never recall your touch or
The smile on your face..
But, Memere, I feel your love
Through my mothers warm embrace.

Happy Easter!

The Bunny.
We went to the mall this morning to see the Big Easter Bunny. My daughter has had her picture taken with this same bunny since she was born in 2002. Some how I simple forgot about going before yesterday and we tried on the way home last night however the line was HUGE and they would not even let anyone get in line since the Bunny had to have his dinner (Why can't he just nibble carrots in between photos, eh?). My goal this morning was to go and be the first in line. Well, that did not happen. We go there and there was a bit of a line but it was moving. So we waited in line - DD played on this interactive video mat while I stood in line with my Dunkin Donuts coffee and a muffin (I did not have time to eat before we left the house).

DD is 5 - almost 5 1/2 right now. She is over 48" tall and weighs just over 60 lbs. According to the growth charts, she is an average 7 year old. So she goes up to Mr. Bunny and climbs in his lap and is practically falling out. She goes back to get another photo and her legs are like here, there and everywhere. Too Funny. The photographer suggests she sits next to the bunny. Alas, my daughter has outgrown laps.

The photo is awesome. But she does not look 5.

And our mall has a play area. We have not gone since before Christmas, I believe. So we hung out to run, jump and socialize for awhile. And of course, found clearance items at Gymboree. And of course new stuffies at Disney (she was behaving so well at the mall, it is hard for me to say NO - especially when they are on sale).

Why do kids have to grow so much, so fast?

I went up to our local outlet stores yesterday and went shopping at Gap Kids. I got 4 outfits for summer. I bought size 8 tops and 6/7 bottoms. They fit - like a sausage casing!! So back I went because I liked the outfits I had put together and had to change it for size 10 tops and 8 bottoms.

She is 5.

But why is it, she is wearing a size 6x pair of pants right now? Different brand, different size. What a pain the garment industry is in regards to size! Why can't there be a uniform set of measurements for size of clothing? Guess it makes too much sense, eh?

TTFM

WEBKINZ & Some things I love about my Daughter

Webkinz World -
My daughter had been given 4 as gifts over the past year and 1/2. She is only 5. I knew it would require a bit more reading than she can handle so I held off loggin her in. We finally did it last weekend. She is having a blast and now I find myself playing Solitaire in "Webkinz World" in order to earn her more Webkinz money!

But as I sit and watch her, I think "hey, I want to decorate a room." So I went and bought myself a Webkinz too. I have not logged me in yet - not sure what name to give myself in that arena. But since we do have more than one computer in the house, this will allow both of us to be on and we can "visit" each others houses.

Yes, I'm a kid at heart if you didn't know that already (gee, what would daughter think if she knew I had about 150 Beanie Babies up in the attic from before she was born???) I make sure I watch cartoons with my daughter. We watch all the disney movies together -- the TV has not been a baby sitter. We enjoy the show and discuss what is going on while we watch.

==============================
Specific things I love about my daughter...
1) Her Laugh
2) Her Eyes
3) Her wanting to make you smile and have fun all the time
4) Her giving me 15 kisses tonite because I went back outside to retrieve the Webkinz bunny from the car.
5) When out of the blue she says "I love you mom".

My Challange Quilt top

Here it is.... My creation for our challange quilt project.

If you would like to see the other creations, you can check out my friend's blog - http://bingaland.blogspot.com/

The Friendly Fabric Challenge

A good friend gave me a 1 yard piece of fabric for Christmas. She also bought a yard for herself and another friend. And she challanged us to make something with it using only 3 other fabrics. An original design or modification to make it an Original.

That is how she worded it but being quilters, the other friend and myself thought "quilting challenge". I did say I wouldn't be able to sandwich and finish a quilt and I was told a quilt top would be good.

Well, only 3 other fabrics was quite a challange for me. I love mixing fabrics. But I did it - and mine is done. And I'd love to post a picture.... but.... someone might see it before the official unveiling of the "Friendly Fabric Challenge" this coming Saturday.

The friend who's idea this was is currently at her computer next to her sewing machine putting finishing touches on a quilt top. I keep getting instant messages as each border is being put on.

The other friend, who prides herself on being done the quickest, has sandwiched it, envelope-style finished it and has tied it.

My top is done also, and I did do something different with it... but I can't tell you know. I must keep the surprise!!

After Saturday I will post pics. Promise.

TTFN

To Shop, To Ramble and then To Sleep....

Well, yesterday ended up being hectic.
First, I heard of a sale at the Liz Claiborne outlet out on Cape Cod. I had to check it out. I was told pants for work were $4.99 a pair. But when would I get there? I decided to take 1/2 a vacation day and off I went with a friend. An hour ride, 2 hours of shopping and an hour ride back. I got 27 items for a grand total of $113! I have not bought clothes like that since before my daughter was born!
Then I go to pick up DD from Pre-kindergarten, she had been complaining her ears hurt. She had a fever the previous week along with a horrible cough. There have been a few horrible viral infections going around her school. So I treated at home and saved a trip to the doctors. Fever left but the cough has been there. Pre-K is near the doctor's office. I called immediately hoping not to have to go home then back out -- but no luck. We came home for an hour and had to go to the doctors office. And sure enough, ear infection.
On top of that, the past two nights, I have had a HORRIBLE time trying to fall asleep. I don't know what it is. It might be because it's been warmer outside and therefore warmer in side and don't really need the blanket. It might be my leg has been achy when I get into bed (but I don't notice it until I get into bed). I feel like I just have not slept much.
Wish me luck Tonight. I hope to fall asleep right away.

Sorry if this seems a bit here, a bit there, a bit everywhere.... but I think it's the lack of sleep controlling my fingers as I type!

What is a Quilter To Do?

I just received an email from Keepsake Quilting. They have a new BOM (block of the month) Club. Look at this quilt -- http://www.keepsakequilting.com/productdetail/4213.htm#.
Even DH just saw it up on my screen and said "Hey, that is really nice.".

But I have 2 1/2 made quilts that I started before DD was born in 2002. My goal is to finish those this year. I also have another block of the month design that I was going to make as a gift in 2002 and then baby came and that was the end of that idea. And I have a few things I wanted to try.

But that BOM is so nice! It is truly gorgeous!

I guess I will go get a towel to mop up the drool......

TTFN
from the one trying to overcome the shopping "gotta have its".....

Rainy Days and Mondays Always Get Me Down

I hate Mondays.
I hate having to go back to work. I wish I enjoyed my job more.

From the time I was 5 or 6, I wanted to be a teacher. That is all I wanted to do. However, I was told repeatedly during my childhood by someone that I highly respected (and looking back now, I’m not sure why I held her opinion so high) that I did not have the patience and would be a horrible teacher. I heard this message many, MANY times in my childhood. So I had a voice in my head (it was her voice) that kept telling me I would be horrible at it.

I graduated high school in 1982 and that year, in my state, there were so many teaching graduates and so few jobs. My high school counselor suggested I investigate other careers because of that.

I fell into computer programming. I had a couple classes in High School. I was good at it and it was easy (though it was on a Radio Shack TRS-80 – also called a TRASH 80 at the time). I picked it as a major in college just to declare one. Fell into a career at a local company (I’ve been there since 1986!). And now it is 22 years later and I just don’t feel fulfilled.

Granted, if I had not followed this path in life, I would not have the good friends I have now. Our paths would have never crossed. I would have never met my husband nor would I have my precious daughter. So I cannot honestly say I wish I never did this.
But I’m not fulfilled.

Last summer, my daughter’s preschool took several field trips. I finagled some vacation time and went on EVERY field trip. I so enjoyed the children. Not just my daughter – who, in fact, refused to sit with me on the bus (she wanted to sit with either a friend or a teacher) – but I enjoyed the interaction.

And contrary to what that person in my life told me, I have a lot of patience. More than I ever knew I had. I see it every day with my daughter and several people have commented on how much I do have with her.

I have it with my husband. He is unable to work due to a back injury and he is in constant pain. So many people have said to me that they don’t know how I deal with it. Some days I don’t know either but I stick with it.

Patience. I do have it.

And I had it when I was at the daycare for those days during the summer. The kids made me feel so good.

I feel too old to totally change jobs now and I could never make the money I make now (which somehow barely makes ends meet). But at 55 I can retire from my company with a pension. I would love to work at a daycare part time. I would so enjoy being an assistant. It’s under 12 years away….

On another note, how do you know you let your child watch too much NIKOLEDON this weekend? When out of the blue, on the way home, she asks if we are going to buy the Debbie Meyer Green bags – since they will keep our fruit longer and let the gases escape….

Weekend is half over.

Why do weekends seem to just fly by? I think we need longer weekends.

I'm on call this weekend for work and they are doing a "disaster recovery" test. I'm hoping I don't have to actually go in but you never know.

Today was DD's last ice skating lesson. She tested last week and got her her first "Learn to Skate" badge. Today was basically a free skate. There are a few sessions available during the spring and summer but the cost is higher than if we wait for September and do the "city lessons" again. Of course now, DD is in love with skating and saying how much she will miss it. So different than 4 or 5 weeks ago when all she did was cry because she just wanted to do "free skate" and not listen to the coaches.

Someone told me that 2's were not terrible, nor were 3's or 4's. They said for some reason girls when they turn 5 - that was the hardest. And so far, I must completely agree. I feel at times I have no clue how to react or what to do next.

I think I will go crochet for a bit. Maybe it'll relax me some.