Webkinz

I'm trying to start thinking about Christmas and birthdays. Yes, its barely October (not even!), but since I have two Christmas birthdays in this house, I have decided to start thinking about this earlier each year. This does not mean that I want to diminsh the other holidays still to come, I mean what is better than one devoted to candy (is Halloween really a holiday?) and another true holiday devoted to EATING (giving Thanks is important, too as there is so much to be thankful for). That said, I have absolutely no idea what to get T (age 4, almost 5). I'd heard of these Webkinz things-'pets' you can adopt and take care of on the Internet. Fun! I thought-T would get to work on the computer and could take some responsibility for a 'pet'. I thought this would be the 'big' gift. Well, I made the mistake of pointing out the Webkinz at the store one day, and...well, now both T and J already have one. They are only $10-$14 each, so it wasn't going to be the big present I thought it was anyway, and it was fun to let the kids pick out their own pet friend. Of course, J picked a dog and T picked a pink pony. The downside is that these little friends really are for kids that are a little older (the computer/Internet side is not easy for the 4 year old to navigate), even though they are stuffed animals (MOM-are you proud-I bought each kid their first stuffed animal from me-I hate stuffed animals, by the way). It is a royal pain to have to check on the pet each day! Yesterday, during T's computer time, the site was down (and how would you explain this to a 4 year old?), and when it finally came up, J was awake. Well, J loves the 'puter' and wanted to jam his puffy paws (hands) all over the keyboard, which, as you can imagine made T quite mad. I think having a real pet would be easier, but that is not going to happen. I wonder why I do this to myself! Still looking for ideas for T for Xmas and Bday-maybe she'll get a computer of her own to surf the Internet, and play games on-it makes me nervous when she works on our new laptop! J is easy-Thomas the Train is HUGE fun, and we've started our collection. Problem is, all the different track systems ARE NOT interchangeable, so you have to make sure you get the same kind each time. Also, J loves Wiggles and is one heck of a ZINGO player (game for ages 4-8-yes, he is 2-makes for good family fun).

As for the rest of the week, it was busy. There is always something keeping me busy! We suddenly had no hot water Wednesday. A nice cold shower Wednesday morning and I was quickly on the phone to a plumber who nicely said they'd be out that day. Great! I had tried to light the pilot light, to no avail. Around noon, when the plumber was supposed to be calling to say he was on his way, he called and asked what kind of hot water heater we had. AO Smith, I said (installed by builder). I was then informed that this plumber (one I had used before) only serviced Rheem hot water heaters and I'd have to call another plumber. What a pain! Long story short (well, sort of), we now have hot water. The plumber, of course, was able to light the pilot light and serve me with a $100 bill to do so. Next time I'll try harder, confident I probably won't blow the house up. I'm sure John was pleased. Sorry, babe.

T had two field trips this week. Wednesday they went to a local pizza shop and got to make their own pizzas in the kitchen. Of course, the kids LOVED that. I personally can't stand taking the kids to this particular pizza joint because they beg for money and want to play the video games and get candy from the candy machine (I mean, why eat the pizza we're paying for?), but J and I stopped in at the end of the filed trip since it was right in the neighborhood and saw the kids eating (and there was a nice piece of pie left for hungry J to eat). How cute they looked with their chef hat on-too bad I didn't have the camera with me. Thank goodness we were only there for short time, as J was angry that 'my T, pp (sweet pea)' was going on the bus back to school and he was not. Today, we went to the county fair-it was remarkably nice! I was glad I went, however, to wash the kids hands after they visited the petting zoo (yucko!). Those places creep me out, but of course, the kids love them. A good time was had by all (including J, who enjoyed following sweet pea's bus back to school this time). T has a great teacher, by the way. She is the only one who took her class on the pizza making field trip, and has 7 years of experience with these 4 year olds. She gets them, and let me tell you, they would make me crazy, even if they are so cute. Thanks to Miss Tonya and Miss RoseAnn for all you do for that class. My T is really enjoying herself. I'm so pleased with this experience.

Weekend is here. Today is MaMaw's birthday-Happy Birthday to you! We'll try to call you later. Soccer tomorrow morning, birthday party Sunday afternoon. Social time with friends probably both nights. Weather has cooled off a wee bit-low 80's and low humidity, finally. Makes for good soccer weather and almost time to use that fireplace out back. But, oh, did I mention that we went to the pool this past Monday? It was over 90 degrees, and...after all...we could! The pool will finally close on Sunday.

Have a good weekend! The above pics are each kid with their Webkinz. T named hers 'Sara'-don't know why and J named his 'Brown'.