Last night Stef and the girls came over to play and Stef and I had Papa Murphy's garlic chicken pizza and a cinnamon wheel. Oh man was it good...but anyway it looked like Avery had a rash on her foot and up her ankle. She was scratching at her legs like crazy in the bathtub so I put some Eucerin on it and hoped it was just a weird thing that went away by morning. Well it didn't, and it looks kind of like hives. I asked her if it was bothering her (because she didn't seem to notice how bad it looked) and she said it was okay. I told her if it bothered her at school to have the nurse call and we'd go the the allergy/asthma doctor we saw before. It worries me that I was allergic to my inhaler and had hives for a horribly long period of time when I was little. I just got her first refill on her inhaler last night, so it's been a month. I'm really hoping that's not what it is, and it just kind of self corrects. Since every trip to the doctor is 100+ dollars out of pocket, I would rather not make multiple trips trying to solve the mystery of the rash/hives. I got some cortizone 10 cream with aloe, and put that on it after I picked her up from school, and sent it with Tim for the night. She wasn't bothered by it at school, so hopefully that doesn't change.

Tonight I planted my butt on the couch and finished season 7 of House. I have "Sugar Queen" by Sarah Addison Allen to finish and a Starbucks salted caramel hot chocolate to accompany my reading now. It's also only a little after 8:30 on a Friday night, and I'm ready for bed. Oh well!

I'm debating on whether or not to try putting my bunny butt to bed, or to just let him run amok. The last few nights he has thrown hissy fits by biting and banging on the cage bars until I can't stand it anymore and let him out. Then in the morning when I wake up, he's put himself back to bed. He doesn't wreck anything while he's out, and pees and poops on the pee pads in the living room so I guess there's no harm done by letting him have his way. So maybe I'll just leave him out tonight.

I'm still waiting for the New Years Eve resolution-ers to fall off the wagon at the gym. Tonight was especially trying on my patience as the woman who planted herself in front of me couldn't follow instruction or go in the right direction to save her life. I understand some people have no rhythm but this was just ridiculous. She was flailing all over the place and constantly doing the opposite of what everyone else was. Idiots. Next week my instructor won't be there so she was looking for a sub. I think I might try to find a different class to go to that week, since subs don't usually show up, or if they do I don't like the class anyway.

Okay the votes are in, Geronimo stays out tonight. I'm going to bed without any bunny drama.

Getting Avery's birthday party in order every year never fails to stress me out. This year we're doing Chuck E Cheese. There were 8 kids invited, and 1 couldn't come, yet somehow now there the kid tally is at 12. *sigh* I'm going to stop thinking about it for tonight.

The other thing that has my mind in a tangle is that Sam is gone. Sam was a 20 year old Apaloosa owned by Cheri's neighbor Carol. He's been the go to horse for therapy ever since I started helping at the farm. His personality was so sweet and laid back, you couldn't ask for a better horse. Besides working with the therapy kids, he was the first horse I climbed on for an impromptu riding lesson. He dealt with my hands, legs, and eyes all telling him different things and somehow could still figure out what I was trying to get him to do. So when I got the text from Cheri saying Sam had passed away I couldn't believe it. They found him down in the morning and managed to get him to the hospital where he was diagnosed with acute peritonitis. I wish I could have given him one more hug and a kiss on the nose and told him what a wonderful horse he was and how much he meant to me. This coming from a person who doesn't own him, or even live there! I can't imagine how Cheri, Carol and Terry feel. Dear, sweet Sam, you are so loved, and so missed.

Avery had riding lessons today after a little hiatus we were on for the holidays. Of course it was the first Saturday it was cold again, but it wasn't too bad. She rode Duchess for the first time and I she really enjoyed helping Cheri with her training. Duchess is one cute little pony, I'll have to get pictures next time. She's been at the farm for a few years, but I've never worked with her before today.

After lessons we stopped at my parents and decided to go to dinner at Pino's Italian restaurant in Oakdale, since I had a coupon from restaurants.com for $25. We got there at 10 to 5 because we were hungry. The sign said they opened at 5 so we waited in the car. A few minutes after 5 the owner and servers showed up and unlocked the place. At this point we should have left since there would have been no prep work done, the ovens weren't on, etc. But we went in and sat down. We waited for food for an hour and a half. It was beyond annoying, and Avery was not amused either. I suppose she did fairly well over all for having to wait that long. Then to top it off, they charged us full price for everything, there was an automatic 18% gratuity for using the coupon, and it was crazy expensive. So we won't be returning to that establishment...

Waking up late really sets the mood for the day. I had to rush to get Avery ready and myself, she was about 15 minutes late, I was about 30. Work was okay but then I had to hurry up and pick up Avery from her after school program and get her fed and ready for dance. I missed the 10th street exit for whatever reason and had to loop around on 94. We made it on time, but alas, more rushing. After giving her a bath and getting her to bed, I feel I can finally slow down. But really all I want to do now is go to bed!

On an happier note, I finally found the Cane's Chicken in Stadium Village on the U of M campus. I haven't had it for ages, and it was delicious. It was confusing getting there and back, but I'll figure it out eventually. Then it's chicken for lunch every day! Just kidding. But it was delicious.

Tonight was Culvers night for Avery's school. A portion of the earnings from 5-8 pm go to the school's PTA so we went there for sundaes. I had a sourdough melt and some rootbeer as well. It was pretty good, and with the caramel cashew sundae afterward I'm still pretty stuffed. Good thing I go to the gym so when I eat like a pig it's only half as bad. That's why you go to the gym right?

I finally watched Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr in its entirety on my laptop since it was a blu-ray. I couldn't really tell the difference between it and a normal dvd but who knows. I borrowed it from a friend just to try it out. I actually liked it and would enjoy going to see the new one that just came out. I doubt I'll make it to the theater while it's still playing though. Warhorse is first on the list and my mom and dad want to see that too. Eventually we'll be able to find a day that works for us all. Hopefully anyway.

I ended up heading to Target last night to get the correct light bulbs and a few for the bathroom. I got regular light bulbs for the bathroom. I bought a 4 pack of the big round vanity lights and the only had them in 60 watt. I figured that was probably what I had but when I got home and put them in they were brighter than the sun! Apparently I had 40 watt in there or less. Oh well, it's just super bright and energy sucking in the bathroom for now.

Today Avery and I returned the CFLs that didn't fit to Menards and stopped by and saw Chad. Then we went to the library where I was in a constant state of annoyance. I really hate the noisy rude kids that run around with no parental supervision. They all just sit on the internet and use the library as a free unsupervised daycare. I miss the days when it was quiet and peaceful at the library. It hasn't been like that ever since they got the internet for free.

Today was a pretty productive one, once I got it going around 11! I cleaned the shower (wow I hate doing that) and then went to Menards to get a new lamp. I bought a Tiffany style one that was on sale and some of the "instant on" CFLs to go with it. Well the "100 Watt" one for the top lamp isn't bright enough to light up the living room so I couldn't even get rid of my old one, which was the whole point of this expedition...There is also a little reading lamp further down the pole that I was pretty excited about. It only takes a 40 watt or equivalent and if the 100 watt isn't bright enough, I don't even know what 40 will do. The one I bought has too big of a base to screw in. It needs the "G" size, whatever that is. So I get to go return the ones I bought and find the correct ones, but I'll save that for another day.

I also went to Half Price Books, Michaels, Costco, the post office, and Burger King. As far as BK, I'm pretty sure I'm the anti-New Years Resolution because my eating has been pretty crappy lately. But I haven't had a whopper junior in years! So it was tasty. Anyway I'm finally home with my spoils and now I'm going to wrap some of Avery's birthday presents and watch Bones. Phew!

Avery and I just got done watching Hachi: A Dog's Tale and while I didn't catch the beginning of it, and my neighbor stopped by during the end, it had me in tears. It's based on a true story, if you click on the link I did you can get more info. So good, and so heart breaking. Avery's in the tub now saying "Hachi, Hachi" in a sing-song voice.

I took down the tree today and its amazing how bare that corner looks with it gone. It's funny because when I put up the tree it feels like there isn't any space left in the living room and now it feels empty. I moved the floor lamp back over there, but I think I need to get a new one before it burns down the place. It was my parents' before mine and they had it for years too. It's really hard to turn on, and if I plug it in in the top socket, it sparks and makes the other lights go out. Slightly disturbing, and thus time to get a new lamp. Maybe that should be my goal for tomorrow after work, a trip to Menards.

Ohhhh how I dislike the gym after New Years. All the people make their resolution to lose weight and go to the gym, and all of a sudden my nice classes of a dozen people turn into 30 people who don't know what the heck they're doing. And for boxing that means only half of us can go on the bags at a time, and that's my favorite part darn it! I can't wait for 90% of them to fall off the wagon in a few weeks so my classes can go back to normal. Sad, but true.

I took down the Christmas decorations today, except for the cards. I put those up kind of late so I'm not willing to part with them yet. By late, I mean Christmas Eve. Oh well. The tree itself is still up but I'm going to take the lights off and take it apart tomorrow I think. Geronimo and Majik have one more night under their tree.

Avery has another two Mondays off school this month, which means she's off every other Monday this month. I like that idea...I wish I could do that all the time at work!

Avery got an extra sticker at dance class tonight for winning the quiet game. I have to admit, I was shocked. MY Avery, winning a game centered around being quiet? How is this possible! But alas she did. ;) Today was her first day back at school and dance so she fell asleep almost immediately after she got in bed around 8:30. Hopefully it will be easier to get her up tomorrow morning than it was today. She got spoiled sleeping in till 9:30! I was a little spoiled too, oh how I love sleeping in.

I've been staying up late reading and I finished the Bronze Horseman last night. I immediately started Tatiana and Alexander, the next in the trilogy. I'm so glad I stumbled across someones post about these books on Pintrest! They get a little "racier" than I care to read, but looking beyond that they're such fantastic books. I'm going to be sad when I'm done with them.

Sunday

I'm borrowing Robin's idea of using just the day of the week for the title of the posts so I don't have to put much effort into thinking of one. I like to keep things nice and simple!

Today was baby Harry's first birthday party at 1 pm. I had Tim bring Avery home by 11 so we could get ready. Guess who didn't wake up until 10:45? ME!! I stayed up reading The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simon until 2 am. It is such a good book, I didn't want to stop. I assumed I'd wake up at an early hour like I normally do but nope, it was almost 11!

When we got home from the party I read some more while Avery watched A Barbie Fashion Fairytale. Then she got out her Barbies and did a little runway work herself. I have it on tape, it was great. Then we played with paper dolls and drew our own clothes. She said she had the best day, which is always good to hear. Now I'm going to keep reading (but I'll probably stop before 2am!).