Last Week Of School

Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.

~ B.F. Skinner

So this is the start of the last week of school for the monsters. Overall, it's been a good year, but each has had their personal highs and lows. We'll see how much of their education survives this summer.

And with the start of the summer, there are changes to our lives. The boys will begin their summer living arrangements on the 8th. That means that they live with their dad from Sunday evening until Friday afternoon. This was the compromise that we came up with when we got divorced. This keeps the boys from jumping from house to house during the school week, but causes a lot of loneliness on my part. Oh, I can't deny that the first week or so, I'm excited that I don't have to cook for two endless pits, that I don't have to harp about chores or homework, but by Week 3, I'm ready for them to come back home where they belong.

This being the last week of school, also means the end to huge planned meals. Cooking for one isn't always fun, but I'll be attempting it.

This week's menu is as follows:

Monday ~ Scouts for Mr. A

Alfredo Bake We didn't get to this last week, so it's on the menu again.

Tuesday ~ Baseball Night

Monster's Mexican Meatloaf

Wednesday ~ Baseball Night

It's lasagna tonight...I'll post the link when it gets posted.

Thursday ~ Baseball Night

YOYO - You're on your own!

Friday, Saturday & Sunday ~ First Summer Weekend

My plans are to go to my parents' place and give the monsters their birthday present...yes, I know that their birthdays are two and three months away, but I think that this gift is worth giving to them early. So with going to my parents' place, that means I don't have to cook! WhooHoo!

So that's what's up for this week. Stop by this week's MPM to see what others are planning. Who knows? You might get some good ideas for yourself!

Until later...

Wii Belong...

♪♪♪Whatever we deny or embrace
For worse or for better
Wii belong, Wii belong
Wii belong together♪♪♪

Ha! There I go again with pulling the songs outta my arse when it comes to post titles...

Last week as I was happily minding my business running through the various blogs I check daily, what to my wandering eye should appear? Not a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer, I'll tell you that! No, Mir over at Want Not had listed a Wii package that Circuit City had for sale on their web page (as in, not available in stores). For way too much money, you could get a Wii console, two remotes, two nunchucks, Wii Sports and two other Wii games.

I caved.

The monsters have been begging for MONTHS...pleading desperately for me to buy them a Wii. I contemplated it for a short time at Christmas, but turned from the dark side and purchased other "things".

Then my mom started in on me..."Buy those precious, perfect grandsons of mine a Wii! I wanna play it." LOL!

And like I said I caved.

The monsters have birthdays a month apart from each other at the end of summer, so when I cave in this manner, they share the item as a combined birthday gift.

"Wait!" you say, "If their birthdays aren't until the end of summer, and you bought it now, how are you going to keep it quiet?"

Well, that's the thing. Remember my mom? And her pitiful whining telling me that I should buy the monsters a Wii? I sent it to her house. AND...AND I gave her permission to open it and play it now.

The Wii shipped Friday. It's currently in the same state as I live in. My parents should have it later this week. I figure that they'll spend all weekend bowling or golfing.

♪♪♪Whatever we deny or embrace
For worse or for better
Wii belong, Wii belong
Wii belong together♪♪♪

Do you suppose Guitar Hero Encore has any Pat Benatar? Of course, I'm more of a...



than a Guitar Hero, if truth be known.

Until later...

Milestones...

My grandmother turns 80 at the end of May. You wouldn't be able to tell however. She's as active and spry as I remember her being in my youth, when she still had three young children at home herself.

There's a big hullabaloo with the aunts & uncles about a surprise party for her. Where to have it, what to eat, what the family should buy. I've stayed out of it, thankfully enough. Once I started hearing rumblings about the potential of this, I started looking for a gift to do for just the monsters and I...I'm selfish that way.

I remembered that a friend had spent some time creating a book for her graduating son just a little while ago, and I thought, "HEY! What a cool idea!". So a couple of weeks ago, I started asking the family for pictures and information to use in creating this book. I wished I'd just shown up on some doorsteps and said, "Here, I want that picture and that one, and...". It'll get done though, I'm sure of it.

Well, I went out to Shutterfly and spent all weekend putting together a 40 page hardbound book, designed just for Grandma. I'm truly hoping that she'll enjoy it. I know that I think it's the coolest, but then, I'm a little bit biased.

The ease of putting this together (family idiosyncrasies not withstanding) was like making a cake from a boxed mix...SIMPLE. Of course there are many out there who have a hard time with that, but really...if you're looking for a WOW gift, check out the photo books at Shutterfly!

I'll let you know how it actually turns out!

Until later...