We saw quite a few people at the cemetery yesterday.

If you were there, I was the weirdo  taking pictures of the statues and grave markers...

I stood under the tree and watched hundreds of them buzzing, the sound filled my ears...

unfortunately they were all WAY over my head sometimes it's a pain being short.

It's a good year for bees.

Hope your all having a great Sunday.

We are going for a little road trip today to visit the graves of my Grandma Buffalo, Ben's brother Fred and Mom Linda.

We will  be taking some flowers, clearing the leaves, and just spending a few minutes to say Hi and tell them we  miss them.

Are you visiting anyone this weekend?

Thank you all for the Birthday wishes!

Birthday's just aren't as exciting as they used to be...

Why is that, do ya think?

It could be because every year is a step closer to the grave?

A year closer to  wrinkles and joint pains...

A year closer to grey hairs and unwanted doctor exams...

Maybe that's it...

Nah.

I have the next three days off! Woo hoo!

I could paint or put down new flooring in the sun room.

I could finish moving stuff out to the garage or move the compost pile.

OR

I could spend more time on XANGA!

What do YOU think I'm going to do?

Today it's all about ME! ME! ME!!!!!

Guess why...

Cooper and I took a drive to Grass River Natural Area for a nature walk.

Fiddle Fern and Ants

(Oh how I long for a macro lens. *sigh* )

Interesting things are starting to happen!

The fish were jumping in the Finch Creek, but since Cooper and I were all alone in the woods and there were lots of strange noises going on, because of all of the interesting things happening, we didn't stay around long to watch!

It was a good day. In a few weeks this area will be full of cat tails.   Swallows will dance over the water chasing each other and making whoopee.

I'm getting LOTS of spring cleaning done.

I have a SPECIAL VISITOR coming in a few weeks! I am SO EXCITED!

Bet you couldn't tell...

What interesting things are going on near you?

Charlie after the race.

Charlie is in Track and Field this year, I don't know if I told you all or not.

I love that he is being active and healthy but I am glad the season is almost over.

 Track takes a lot of time and gas and there is an incredible amount of waiting.

What do Cooper and I do while we're waiting?

I know you want to know.

Well, we FLY! Of course!

What do you do while your waiting?

Mercyless1 his circles have me drooling LINK

Jilly Carmel has circles LINK and a face LINK

FUNKYFAIRY      LINK

Craftea    LINK and the perfect finish after The first link... desert! LINK

I just posted this Microsoft Forefront Sweepstakes Widget for 500 credits. You can earn free credits too!

Craftea  LINK

tvtfln     LINK

I wanted a closer picture but it wouldn't SIT STILL...

This is actually a clock...

I have a thing for man hole covers.

When we're done I will do a compilation picture of all of them.

The year is almost half way over and I haven't found anything I think is even close to a perfect picture...

How is your search going? 

I have just  had  the most frustrating experience of my life and I am pretty sure I came away from it with The Worst Mother in the World Award.

Isabelle had a dentist appointment, nothing big, two tiny cavities needed to be filled in a couple of her baby molars. She had a cleaning two weeks ago and everything went fine. I thought this would be no problem.

 She was bright and chipper when I picked her up from school. On the drive over I talked to her a little about what the dentist would have to do and her only comment was that she didn't like to have her mouth numb.

Her name was called, she walked into the office and sat in the chair. The Dentist came in and it all went down hill from there. She said she didn't like to get numbed so he said let's try it without and told her to lift her hand if she wanted it numb. He tried it, she sat up straight in her chair and started crying and saying she was done.

I begged with her, I pleaded with her, I  bribed her, all while the Dentist and Hygienist sat there and watched. Ten minutes, fifteen minutes, it went on and on, her crying, sitting straight up, gripping the arms of the chair like it was her life at stake.

It was all I could do not to yell at her... But I didn't... if it had been just me, the two of us would still be in that room with her sitting in the chair,  we wouldn't have left until she got the cavity filled, but it wasn't just me.

Finally the Dentist gave up and she was given a reprieve. We left the office with a referral for a different dentist (although I don't see the point as it would  be the same scene, different office, different day.)

I bet you think I've gotten to the Bad Mommy Award part, well not yet. We got in the car, not really speaking, I was so frustrated and mad at her. When Isabelle said, "I'm sorry Mom, I was scared, I did my best."

Now here is where I get the award...

I responded in a not kind voice  "No Isabelle, You didn't do your best, if you had, you would have gotten your filling and it would all be over. You didn't do your best. You weren't brave. Now you'll have to live with cavities and hope that all your teeth don't fall out because you won't go to the dentist."

She sat there and cried some more and I apologized and told her I was hurt that she didn't trust me, I didn't understand why she was so scared and that I was frustrated.  

I don't, I don't understand why she is so scared.

We got a shake and sat for awhile in a quiet place. I took her back to school, gave her a hug and sent her off to try and make it a better day for herself.

In the mean time I came home, still frustrated and angry and not understanding.

I just don't get it. In life my motto has always been DEAL WITH IT... Life isn't easy and sometimes things hurt, sometimes they suck,  you just get through it...

How do I explain that to an eight year old and get her to understand it?  

Yes, I get the Worst Mother of the Year Award, at least for today...

How do you handle something you don't understand?  Have you ever had to deal with someone else's irrational fear?

As a parent what do you think my proper response would have been?

Oh the questions are never ending on this one... I just don't know what to do.