Ugh.  I've been dealing with the stomach flu for 3 days now.  I am praying that no one else gets it.  This kind of thing usually goes through our family of 9 like crazy. 

If this snow doesn't stop coming here (Wisconsin) soon.....I think the headlines will be about the mass migration of Wisconsinites moving to Florida!

More car issues.  I was cozy and asleep at 5am 2 days ago when my husband kneeled beside the bed and wispered that he had just wrecked the good car.  He was out doing our son's paper route (until this wonderful snow is gone) and got stuck in a snow bank.  A plow pulled him out and broke the back axel....or so they thought at the time.  The other car that someone gave us a few months ago....has been sitting in our driveway as the brakes gave out the 2nd day we drove it!  Now my dh is driving our gas-hog 15 passenger van to work.  Not good for the budget.   Praise the Lord for the tax return....even though it was suppose to by a dishwasher (oh yeah... that broke 2 weeks ago, too!), and curriculum....and clothes!At least the cars are getting fixed and should be back by Friday!  Yeah!

The good news.....I dropped my ds off at play practice last Friday and went shopping at the local thrift store.  As I walked in the door....it hit me.   I had no one with me.   My dd had offered to babysit and I took her up on it.  It was a shock to my system.  I took a pile (no kidding here) 2 ft high into the dressing room!  No one was there to say, "mom....let's go!", or "can't I have this toy?", or "He's bugging me", or "Wahhhhhhh!".  It was heaven.  Don't get me wrong....I love my children dearly.   But.....I think I need to do that once a month or something!   I got awesome deals.  Books my dd wanted for $.25......clothes for our travel season.  It was great.  I think I spent $50.  It was sooooo worth it. 

One last thing.....I just read a VERY interesting book.....The Giver by Lois Lowry.  I know this is a controversial book.  But I also Knew that it is on a lot of highschool reading lists including SL.  So.... I decided to read it first.  I would definitely NOT have a younger child read it.  But I will have my highschool ds read it and discuss it.  It would spark some good discussions on Euthenasia (spelling?) and such.  It was a little on the freaky side.....a society where sameness is valued.  No color, no real feelings or emotions.  Very interesting and well written.  BUT I did not like the end as it leaves you wondering if the main character and a baby survive or not.  Also warning: there is a scene where a baby is "released" which is a nice way for saying killed.     I would definitely say read it first before you let your dc read it. It is not for everyone.

Okay.....I should be in bed.....maybe this is why I get sick a lot???  Lack of sleep......:)