I have finally resolved the dilemma with that friend/non-friend. I'm simply done with it and it feels so right. Tomorrow is her daughter's birthday party which she invited my kids to. I was going to go but the more I thought on it, the more I thought it was ridiculous. My children haven't seen her children in over 5 months now. We haven't communicated as friends in nearly as long. There is no friendship either between our children or ourselves so I'm done with the pretense of it. I have no idea why she even invited us. I think my realization that any energy I put into it would be met with air was when I found out 4th hand that she is pulling her daughter out of the school our kids go to. 7 months ago, she'd have been on the phone talking with me about this decision everyday... I heard from a friend of a friend of a neighbor that the event was occuring. I feel so content about this decision though. Along the same lines I've realized that I must quite the woman's group. I cannot belong to the same spirituality group as this woman because, frankly, I couldn't share anything of myself with her. I am deeply saddened and will miss that group but I realize now that there is a reason.

Wednesday I went to a cooking class with two new friends and my neighbors. The theme was Thanksgiving Dinner and while it was good it wasn't nearly up to par with the results of the previous two cooking classes. It was lovely however to get out with my two new friends and, as The Husband puts it, have some sanity in my life.

I've been searching for a job lately. I haven't found anything that looks remotely like it will work but... it'll happen eventually.

The Son & I have started Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons and I have to say his enthusiam for it and his progress are amazing both The Husband and I. I purchased The Daughter's Santa gift today -- competely from IKEA. I was going to spend $40 on a real cooking set for her (real in that you could actually cook with it but it was made for kids) but, at IKEA, I got her all the pretend cleaning, mixing, baking stuff AND a pot and a pan that were real for cheaper than I'd have paid for the whole set of kid's stuff. The oven isn't as great as I'd hoped it would be but for $30 well, you can't beat it.