I'm in a much better mood today than I was on my birthday. D bought me a slightly used but in great condition iPod, and tonight, thanks to my awesome friend Penny, I had the once in a lifetime opportunity to see about every big name personality from Oklahoma on stage in one place at the Centennial Spectacular. Very cool!

I also bought a king-size reversible down comforter with a microfiber cover at a midnight madness sale for $70, and a Christmas present for Anna that would usually cost twice what I got it for. It was a great way to end the night.

Now if my migraine would go away, it would be a perfect night.

I have almost decided it was for the best that I was not surprised with a laptop or MP3 player because I know it would not have been paid for with cash. As we enter the gift-buying time of the year (even more so for my family with all the birthdays except Jack's), I'm planning to use cash for everything. Fortunately because of my many travels over the past month, I will get a nice expense check at the end of this month. So on Dec. 1 I'm going shopping.

I'm using a Christmas organizing/budget tool online thanks to my friend Amber. I know that if I have a list of what I'm going to buy the kids, I manage my money much better. Last year, I did not stick to a list and the spending got way out of control. (I'll blame post-partem mood swings for that.)

So my plan for purchasing technology for myself is to use this strange new method called "saving the money until I have enough to buy it." Interesting concept. I'll let you know how that goes.

We used the new blender today. Jack thought we needed strawberries and blueberries like it showed on the box, but I convinced him we could make chocolate milkshakes instead. He's very proud of the blender, especially since it came in such a big box that he carried himself. He's growing up fast.

I think I'm going to try an unofficial Menu Plan and maybe sometime I'll do the official link.

Monday: Baked Spaghetti
Tuesday: Hotdogs
Wednesday: Pizza and birthday cake
Thursday: I have no idea
Friday: Hamburgers and macaroni salad

I'm 36 now. My #3 son (as cute as he is) picked out a blender for me. I love the thought because it's what Jack just new he wanted to get me. I really don't have room for something else on my kitchen counter, so I guess I'll find space for it somewhere. The other kids picked out about 3 or 4 different kinds of chapstick for me. Not sure why I needed that much chapstick.

D did make me a chocolate and vanilla cream pie with real whipped cream. Maybe I am depressed about turning 36...

I'm tired. My house is a pit. I've got birthdays to plan. And I've got nothing exciting to say. Maybe I'll come up with something in the next couple of days.

Dang this computer! I just sat down to check my work email before shutting it down at 11 p.m., and now it's after midnight and I'm addicted to this: The Pioneer Woman's love story.

Today I realized there are way too many things I need to do in my life to wait until the kids are older. So hopefully, we'll find some way to travel with four young children.

I went to a great conferencet his morning. While I wasn't looking forward to spending the morning listening to speakers, all of the speakers were discussing the project that takes up all of my work time lately. However, after listening to the executive director of the program and four recipients of the grant, I am so honored to be a part of this program.

We also listened to a state representative I was not familiar with, but he was very energetic, charismatic and entertaining. I've really got to find out more about him even though it sounds like he's about to be term-limited. We also watched a video about the importance of learning more about other countries, people, culture, etc. So between the comedian and the video lecture, I realized that my global education is sadly lacking.

I was one of the few individuals in the room who did not have a passport. So it is now my plan to start teaching myself and my children some foreign language (probably Spanish) and try to take some trips that go beyond our comfort zone.