[Inset creative and witty title here]

I sent of the plain white box PIF over a month ago and yet it has still not arrived. I assumed it would take some time because of Christmas, but I would never have thought it would take this long. I sent off another PIF after that one and it arrived what, over a week ago? Jeez.

I shouldn't really be surprised though. I mean I sent three Christmas cards to people in the US and all three of them were late arriving because the envelopes were ALL ripped open. Coincidence? I really doubt it. The mail system is something we should be able to trust and yet that's a big fat NO. I ordered something from an etsy shop back in August that never showed up and was never returned to the sender. Thankfully she sent me out something else and it did arrive for Christmas, but it sucks because she was then out the money for the second item. I also put in an order in November from a different etsy shop and it too has not arrived. I don't know why but more often than not, if a package or whatever has to cross the border something goes wrong. Maybe I should just stick with strictly Canadian shipping :(

On another note, thank you to everyone who put your two cents in about the flu shot issue as well as the birthday party issue. I've never had the flu shot myself and Michael is the first of my kids to get it too. Im always hearing all this hype about it and it seemed like more people got it. Personally, I tend to shy away from these types of things but thought that maybe I would give it a try this year. I have decided to withdraw Josiah from the study though because I think he is probably just too young.

Chris's birthday party will either be at the arcade or we'll do the swamp theme. He would prefer the swamp but Im not sure I want to put out more money AND have to deal with the clean up. The other option is that I pay double (more like $350) and have the swamp party at the fluvarium which is a building where they have diverted a river so that you can go underground and look right into the river through these large windows. It would certainly suit the theme and I wouldn't have to deal with the clean up but it is probably too expensive. The Ex might help cover the cost of the party but even then, Im not sure I want to put out so much. I think it is a great idea and certainly something I will consider for a later year when Im sure more kids will show up.

As for his gift, Im still completely unsure. I like to plan this far in advance because it takes some serious re-working of the budget and I prefer to take a little from each month rather than the whole thing in one month. The only idea that I've had so far is a themed tv/dvd set for his bedroom. I don't really like the idea of tv in their rooms but with the growing family, maybe a second tv wouldn't hurt. Other than that I haven't come up with a single thing but I guess I still have a bit of time to decide.

Anyway, thanks again for your input.