The Newest Addition

Here we were doing school and having a pretty productive morning (this doesn't happen often). The phone rings and its for me, I always hate phone calls during the morning hours of school. Its Barnes and Noble, huh? thinking to myself *I didn't order anything why are they calling?* So I answer the call and am pleasantly surprised when they tell me that Victoria won the contest she entered the previous month. Most of you know (and attend) the American Girl Club at the Barnes and Noble bookstore...she absolutely loves it and was so excited that they had it here in Michigan too and wouldn't have to miss out because we had moved. Well, last month they entered a contest to win the new 'Julie' doll from American Girl...I had forgot all about it until the phone call (although I am sure that Victoria didn't). I really didn't think that we would win, isn't that how everyone enters a contest? Nice if I won but not counting on it? So I get the call in the morning and of course Tyler and Victoria heard me talking and I had to tell the little white lie because I was just going to take her there and surprise her (also because if she found out then the rest of the day would be "I want to go and get my doll"). So after we have a "birthday lunch" with my Dad and get our school work done we head out...Tyler by then knew that she was getting it (and I guess he handled it ok, because the little green eyed monster likes to pop out sometimes..."I don't win anything" which I am sure he has in the past I just can't remember what right not). So we get to the store and I tell the clerk and they call back to whoever to bring up the doll...Victoria was so surprised by it she was speechless...she just kept looking back and forth from me to the woman who gave her the doll looking somewhat confused...I thought maybe she would have got more excited but I think she was just so shocked that she didn't know what to say...plus that and being shy. It was pretty excited for her and myself. Julie is a really cute doll from the 70's (yup now they are making dolls from the era that I grew up in...scary for me. She is the newest edition to our American Girl Collection, wonder if she will be the doll Victoria picks to go to the American Girl Store in Chicago in a couple of weeks?

Our Busy, Busy Week

Well we made it through another week of school, this week wasn't quite as filled with "work" as the last weeks have been so we have had somewhat of a reprieve. We were busy with activities though; skating lessons, CAP, Wed. night youth group and pioneer girls, gym class, art classes, shark dissection and Tyler's big overnighter with the youth group...didn't sleep at all (currently though he has come home and went straight to bed).

So...although I thought I wouldn't get as involved in things this school year as in previous years, we are back to pretty much packed (with a few more things that we still need to add...where are those instructions for adding more hours to my day???)

Yesterday was the "big" end to our week culminating in dissecting a dogfish shark. The kids were kind of leery of it as they have never done anything like that before (and I wasn't too crazy about it either but I had to hide that because I wanted them to be excited about it.) Well it was supposed to take place at a church in the beginning but it had to be switched to a pavilion in a park because of the smell/oiliness (is this a word?) of the specimens. Which was such a blessing that it was a gorgeous day, with a slight breeze to help take away the odor.

We got there and the little (well actually they were pretty big for a dissection) sharks were out and on their trays ready for all the inquisitive children to start carving them up..oof! The kids did very well (as did their apprehensive mother) and I was pleasantly surprised. We cut open the shark examined all the "stuff" inside, learned what they were and so on and so forth...the one neat thing was when we cut open the stomach/ilium and found the treasures inside. Well our sharks didn't have anything (guess they were starving) but some of them had some tiny shrimp in them and one had a partially digested fish...really sounds pretty gross but it was interesting. Glad the kids had the opportunity to do this and really the price was rather inexpensive...only $11 for each shark.

This is the first real activity that we have done with this home school group up here and there are sooooo many kids, it is huge. Makes it difficult to get to know people though. Although there is one woman involved and she grew up down the street from me (small world). I was told that they usually do 2 dissections a year, I am anxious to know what the next one is. When I was in high school we only did a frog and a fetal pig. The other biology class did a cat. I still have some issues with the dissection and especially being exposed to the formaldehyde but all in all it was a great experience for all of us.

On Friday mornings we have classes at a local church here also. Victoria is taking a clay class where she sculpts something from clay, the teacher fires it brings it back and then they paint it and fire it again, now its ready to take home. She is really enjoying that class and looks forward to Friday mornings (partly too because they don't do much "school work" that day). Tyler is taking wood carving which I think he is enjoying with the exception of cutting himself frequently. These classes run through sometime in January, not sure if I like how long they last or not, we'll see if we sign up for anything else next semester (gets pretty pricey too).

Last night Tyler had his first overnighter with the youth group at the church we probably will be eventually attending. I think he had fun although he is soooo tired and rather grumpy I am not going to cross him at all today. I think he had fun though, they left on buses at 8pm...first stop, bowling; bowled a couple of game with the glow bowling and they it was off to this sports center that has dodgeball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, flag football, inflatable things, movies and food. What more could a teenage boy want (well maybe a little sleep but that wasn't on the venue last night. Some of the kids (mostly girls I think) brought sleeping bags and their pillows and whatever else they wanted to bring but as far as I know the majority of the kids DON'T sleep at all...they returned this morning at 7 a.m. and I am so thankful for Tyler's friends dad who picked him up too and brought him home so I did not have to get up at 6 to go and get him.

Today is my Mom's birthday, we bought her a bowling ball...strange yes, but as my parents get older I am finding it harder and harder to find gifts for them...I hate the same old thing, flowers, candy, clothes...I am all about finding unique unexpected gifts for people and I think a bowling ball fits that. She can't go bowling with us because she needs a really really light ball (like the kiddie balls for bumper bowling) but her knuckles won't fit in the holes for those balls. So now she will have a really cool pink sort of stripey ball and get it drilled just for her fingers. Guess we are going out to dinner tonight too but she hasn't decided where, we are just waiting on her decision.

So it will be one birthday down 3 more to go...October is a really busy busy month of birthdays for us (4 just in our family) Tyler's is next and he wants an iPod...not sure if that's what he will be getting or not. He will be 13 next week and I wanted to get him something special for it but I can't think of anything, so if you all have any suggestions please send them my way. Otherwise I may succumb to the iPod or maybe another bowling ball???

Next birthday is mine, followed by my Dad's a week later (and throw in a friend or two during that time also...its like Christmas in October in our family. Victoria just said last night that she wished her birthday was in October also...oof! I can't afford another birthday in October, but in all actuality it would be kind of cool...my brother was born in October also.

So, time to get moving and start with the first of the birthdays today, have to run out for wrapping paper and cards this morning, better get started now here is a picture of our dissection, well I meant for them to be at the bottom and it didn't work that way, hmm??? Have to practice more I guess.