I may not look like a happy person today because this head cold is wearing me out, but I'm doing a happy dance on the inside. My insurance and my wonderful pharmacist refilled my migraine medication, and rather than paying $230 for the miracle drug, I got it for $25. It's a beautiful day!

I also sent off my order for Christmas cards (I'll post the picture of the kids later), and I finished the photo book of our family trip to Branson. I sent off that order as well, and standard shipping was free! Again, it's a beautiful day!

Also, my awesome friend Penny hooked my up with tickets to an OU men's basketball game, so I can finally take Jeremy. Evidently I promised him a while back that I would take him to a game. It's not a big sacrifice for me since I love basketball. Hopefully, this game will be just what I need to get on board with the new coach. I haven't followed the team very well because he's not a very charismatic coach and there were a lot of new players last year. Honestly, it had nothing to do with their lack of wins. I'm not a fair-weather OU basketball fan. So once again, it's a beautiful day!

Of course, it's not even lunch time yet, but I think those are enough positives to make up for any negatives.

I did survive, but did my sanity remain intact? That's questionable. Here are a few things I learned over the course of 12+ hours with eight seven-year-old boys.

The name Hunter was very popular in 2000-2001. Of the seven boys who attended the sleepover, FOUR were named Hunter.

Three medium pizzas will probably never be able to feed Jeremy and his friends again.

Boys do not know how to whisper -- especially at 5:30 IN THE MORNING! (God bless my husband who got up and tried to keep them quiet for at least another hour.)

Tie a rope to a tree and boys will be spend hours playing Tarzan despite the dropping temperature.

And finally, I'm willing to make about any deal to convince Anna to have any other kind of birthday party rather than another sleepover.

I should be resting not writing. D and I are hosting seven boys this evening. Many parents think we're crazy having a sleepover, especially when some of these boys have never been overnight at a non-family member's house. Maybe we are. But we survived a girls' sleepover when Anna was that age, so I think we can make it.

We had a nice dinner last night with D's co-workers. Good food and good prizes/gifts. I haven't been to a work holiday party like that in years, so it was a nice change of pace. However, by the time I dropped off the babysitters and picked up Spencer's meds, it was after 11. And since Spencer didn't sleep very well, I got very little sleep.

Maybe I am crazy...At least Anna and Jack will be spending the night elsewhere.

I don't usually make New Year's resolutions and wouldn't say this is one of those, but I'm going to beat the fitness rush and say this now: I'm going to try to do some sort of actual exercise. Although keeping up with four kids, one of which goes straight for anything he shouldn't have and alternates between crawling and walking, can be quite a workout, I feel I need something a little more. Fortunately, I came across this article that does away with the excuse that it's too cold. Now we'll see if I can follow through...

A Thanksgiving post seems appropriate. Today I had the privilege of eating wonderful turkey and dressing in a home with two couples who have been married more than 60 years, one that has been married more than 50 years and two other couples who have been married more than 40 years. Amazing!

I love D very much, and every time I see my aunts and uncles and any other older couples who have been married for so many years, I look forward to being one of those couples some day. I'm not in a hurry, but as I say about the time I have with my kids, I'm just enjoying each stage. And the same would apply to my marriage.

I am thankful that God brought me a man who can usually deal with my mood swings and arguments that seem very illogical or irrational to him (even thought they aren't). I'm thankful that he is such an amazing dad who could easily be a stay-at-home dad. I'm thankful that he encourages me to pursue whatever activities I'm interested in or dreams I have. I'm thankful he lets me sleep in. I'm thankful that he is a Godly man and a man of integrity.

I am very blessed.

Still no pictures of the first birthday. I've been busy preparing for the next birthday -- Jeremy's. I guess my life has been too easy because I agreed to let him have a sleepover. This will be a new experience. A girls' slumber party I know what to do -- crafts and music. Boys? I'm thinking pizza, movie and a wild experiment...maybe diet coke and mentos.

I can at least share some of the cute (at least to me) things Spencer is doing. When he's eating and you ask him if he's done, he immediately raises his hands over his head using the touchdown signal. He loves pizza, goldfish crackers and marshmallows. He's the only child we've had who screams when he wants something - NOW.

He's walking more on his own but there's nothing particularly unique about his walk. When Jack started walking, he looked like a monkey, holding his arms above his head as he made his way across the room. When Anna started walking, she took off after my cat, walking like she'd been doing it for months. Unfortunately, I can't recall any specifics about Jeremy's first steps other than he was 13 months old when he started walking.

So those milestones are passing quickly: he's walking, drinking whole milk, and sleeping through the night (FINALLY). I'll miss the baby he is, but I'm looking forward to the people all of my children are becoming.

I don't have much time to write. I should be in the kitchen making oatmeal and everything cookie bars for Jeremy's class feast tomorrow, but I'm taking a break after making deviled eggs for Jack's class (and what 3 or 4 year old is going to actually eat them???). What a waste of perfectly good deviled eggs...

Soon I plan to post about Spencer's first birthday, but that willl have to wait. The oven is calling me.