Thank you

I see that the majority (being that 100% of you) have thought that I should keep the length and just clean it up (as eloquently written by Mario). So I shall. But, I do not promise that it will EVER be maintained for nice pictures. :)

I would like to say: I am incredibly happy for a friend of mine. She has made a decision in her life that lends me to believe that she is happy (not work related), content, and at peace. I am thoroughly happy for her. Thoroughly happy.

“May the love hidden deep inside your heart find the love waiting in your dreams.

May the laughter that you find in your tomorrow wipe away the pain

you found in your yesterdays.”

I think that I have figured out part of my kid's "problems". Nat (age 3) thinks she is not a 'toddler', but a BIG kid. So, anytime she thinks she is being kept from something because she is smaller, she has a distinct verbal argument with you. Hannah (age 5), is too smart for her own good. She connects things together too well, and unfortunately, she feels that she is not getting the "fair" end of the deal most of the time. That leads to all kids arguing why the way it is IS fair, and that she shouldn't be getting her way. Yes, even Nat can argue this, but it is more whining than conversation. :) Noah (age 7) just gets tired. Tired of listening to Hannah complain that it is "NOT fair!", tired of Nat whining that she doesn't get to do it too, and tired of mom throwing her hands up in the air and telling everyone to "BE QUIET". (Do you see why our trip out to OR will take its sweet time? The young'uns must be let out of their cage every 3-4 hrs.) Noah is also tired of talking to me and having a sister interrupt, poor boy can hardly get a conversation in w/o somebody else piping up, "Mom? Mom? Mom?!" But, at least my kids get along for the most part, and have great talks between themselves. Still, when they are tired of the other...it is irratibility for a long time!

I tried to fix the plumbing under the kitchen sink, and while it looks good...it is leaking! So, I wonder if I will have to re-plumb the whole thing. Because is not fitting in perfect sync with the old piping. Maybe I could take it apart and use plumbing tape to help seal the male/female parts? (the stuff I used is PVC pipe and has a washer that is supposed to seal when screwed down tight) Darn it all!

I am getting anxious about leaving. So many things to figure out: can I take the bikes? Found a bike rack that fits the car, but if I get it than I have to forgo something else and what if I need that something else more? (Don't know what the 'something else' is yet. Could be an extra tank of gas and motel room?) Can all bills get paid before I leave? Will Mark be o-kay till I get a job in OR? Should I get a safety tote filled with jumper cables, flashlights, etc. before I leave? How much should I try to get now vs. waiting and getting them in OR? I want to sign up the kids for activities in OR for the summer, can I? Oh, so many thoughts. I want my kids to have a GREAT summer, and I want to be part of it too. But, I must balance. Whew! What my mom must have gone through! This is a toast to my mom, "Cheers!"

I gotta go finish my daily chores. Adios!