Random Thoughts

I went to my friends birthday party the other night. It was fun. I knew half the girls and the other half were friends she has met out of school. I can't believe we are hitting the big number this year.

I used to get together with a few friends for birthdays. I organized it. Always. Then it came my birthday. No one coordinated it. I got upset. I stopped doing it. I guess that is what happens when you are the one who always organizes things. I think I might get together next month (a month before my big number birthday) for another friends birthday. I just have to have the time and the energy to do so.

So last night was fun. They went all out. They chipped in for many gifts for her, a common thing among the "single girls". They did Broadway theme. They hung pictures of NYC on the wall as well as some Broadway shows signs and a map of NYC. They rolled out the red carpet for her, and had her blind folded all the way from her house to the Lower East Side. It was really cute. The printed out playbills that they created with her and people she knows starring in the play. It was adorable. The songs where appropriate and the scenes were cute too. Too much time was invested in it. They got her some nice gifts too.

We had a family Chanukah party last Motzei Shabbos. My in-laws where there as well. It was really nice. Too bad they sent my kids gifts to a different family and gave us theirs. They made it up last night where they gave my kids "cheaper" gifts just to give them something. My kids loved it and have no idea they are getting the real gifts, eventually.

I got it this year. I figured out what to get my siblings children. And not spend a fortune.

My daughter has been begging for an American Girl Doll. She has a doll that she received as a birthday present and calls it an AGD. I let her do so until she brought the magazine to school and told me other girls have one. I had to tell her that what she has is NOT the real doll and didn't want her to tell people she has one. I can't bring myself to pay that much for a doll that will not get played with. I saw the mini dolls for relatively cheap price, and decided to buy it for her and that way she can feel that she got the coveted American Girl Doll that she so very wants. Did I have issues with that!! But she loved it!

I ordered the dolls. I ordered three (one for her). The one for her was not the right doll. The packing slip said one doll. The upc sticker that they added was the right doll. But the doll was NOT the one I ordered. I emailed the company complaining. The message I got back was they are mailing me a new one out and I should receive it a week or so later. I was mad. I was not happy with that answer. I told them that I needed it for my Holiday that was starting that Friday night. I got a new email. It was being sent over night at no charge to me. I got it in time for when I needed it. But, I now have two extra dolls and one extra charge for the doll. I got rid of the charge but I have two extra dolls. One box not even open. Need to figure out how to return the dolls. What a pain. I hate shopping on line!!

Now if I can only figure out what to give the parents/inlaws as a gift!

I know that we need to give the Rebbi some $$.

Have a very happy Chanukah (the last three nights at least).

Oh

Oh 'tis the season all right. Shopping till 10PM on stores that normally closed at 9 or 9:30. Now trying to figure out what to buy everyone and what is really needed.

I am impressed. I got all the nephews and nieces done. I figured out what to get them and hope they are happy with what I got. Now, on to my own children. Such a toughy. I know what my daughter wants, but I am not going to get it for her! Maybe next year. Maybe not.

Biggest dilemma that I have is regarding camp. She is so wanting to go to sleep-away camp. I received an application for camp in the mail. It is a fortune. It is more than double daycamp. If not three times the cost plus. Oh, I have thought about it. Remember, I went to camp at age four. She will be almost eight when she goes. I would love to send her to the camp that I went, but if not, not.

The thoughts. The debates. The phone calls.

I think in the end I will send her to the daycamp last year, and push off sleepaway for another year. Next year we can have this discussion again. I would like to go visit camp this summer, again. Though it will be a different camp than last. Good to get a feel of the summer camps. I guess I can wait another year.

On other news...the shul where I daven at had two major occurrences the other day regarding their members. One member had TRIPLETS!! Mazel Tov!... while another lost her young husband, leaving her a widow with two young young children (5 and 3). I saw her kids at the park yesterday before the levaya. I am contemplating about making a shiva call to her. I have no idea who she is or her husband. I never met either one. My heart goes out to her and to her very young children who are now without a father.