How much does a CVS franchise cost?

I'm thinking that, at this rate, it might make more financial sense to OWN a CVS Pharmacy than to continue to just frequent one. I mean, seriously. We're there at least once a week anyway, blowing through our HSA money like it's water, so why shouldn't we be able to reap the benefits of the profit margin?

Yep, you guessed it - the kids are sick. Again. Or is it still? Who knows, I've lost track of when, or if, any of my offspring were well. We're headed back to the dr's office today (seriously? I pay this man's mortgage. I'm sure of it) partly because all three of mine aren't eating, and their cough sounds like they're on their death beds. Sadly, the other part of the reason is that it's a Friday before a four day weekend, and knowing my children and my luck (maybe my last name IS Murphy!!!) one or more of them will take a nosedive long around Sunday night, and it'll land us back in the ER. So, I'm practicing the mom-version of preventative medicine. Pray it works.

In other news, FIL is due to arrive sometime today, and is rumored to be bearing Christmas gifts for the children. Which means, of course, that they'll be hopped up on drugs AND adrenaline from the joy of new toys.

Momma needs a drink.

This week at Target - Manners on sale!!

Better run and get some while they're cheap!!!

Wait, who am I kidding? No one's buying them anyway.

Today, while schlepping the gang to Target (hey look, we HAD to get out of the house before we killed each other, ok?) we had quite the lesson in manners. You know, preschool basics - cover your mouth when you cough/sneeze, hands inside the cart at all time, keep your hands/feet to yourselves, etc etc, up and down every aisle.

And then, there was the checkout. I'm in my own world, unloading my overflowing cart onto the belt, when .... when ... grrrr, I can't even think about it now, hours later, without becoming irritated again!!!! I have three kids (who are now at the pinnacle of their tired/whiny/hungry phase), a boat load of groceries and household sundries, and this, this WOMAN shimmies her cart right up behind mine, slaps the order divider down, and starts unloading her cart.

Um, HELLO?!?!?! I'm not done yet, Lady. I'm not even HALFWAY done yet. And there her items sit, inching their way up to the scanner, as I'm now literally handing my items to the cashier one at a time because I have no place to PUT MY STUFF. And this lady was one of those "each item must have it's own personal space and as such can not touch" kind of lane loaders, so her 8 bags of Hershey's mint kisses are now taking up the entire belt. Somewhere between the artichoke hearts and the lightbulbs, my OWN lightbulb went off, and I (very kindly, I promise!) shoved her lane divider back, making her kisses **GASP** touch, and finished unloading my cart.

As I'm handing over my coupons (two measly coupons for free HotWheels, of all things) and paying, Dexter says, "Mom, that lady needs a lesson in personal space."

Hallelujah!

I may sound like a broken record, but at least it's finally starting to sink in!

Jingle all the way, two four open sleigh. HEY!

Thanks to my daughter, I have this stuck in my head, on constant replay.

Oh well, it's a nice companion as I'm sorting Little People, folding dress up clothes, and unboxing various gifts from Christmas yesterday.

Speaking of, seriously - Fisher Price? Mattel? Would you mind conferencing with, say, Melissa and Doug? Maybe you guys could get together and figure out a way to reduce your packaging and limit the number of wire ties you use? That'd be great. THANKS!

And to all - hope you had a wonderful Christmas day, and are having a wonderful day-after-Christmas-day.

Now, back to the toy sorting, and my two four open sleigh. HEY!

Holy Christmas Cards, Batman!

Wow. Quite the influx of cards today! 12 today, 13 yesterday. Love it!

What I don't, love, though, is that I have a few that have been returned and now, sadly, will most likely be late when they receive their (newly addressed) cards. Sorry guys!

What I **do** love, though, is to learn of all the new family additions, as well as those expecting them, the job promotions, the good health, and the overall happiness of friends and family. We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful circle of people in our lives.

Speaking of those wonderful people, I need to get moving on some cookies for our neighbors. I had hoped to share the wealth of Cookie Day 2007, but alas, those cookies are dwindling quickly. So, they'll get a fresh batch of chocolate toffee crinkles to go along with their fudge.

Happy Friday!!

See me? I'm one person.

So, I've determined that there is one intrinsic problem with myself. The problem? I'm only one person.

Dexter's Christmas program was today at 11:45. Bonnie and Clyde's was at 11:15 - 30 minutes away.

What's a mom to do?

Nice that SuperDad whipped out the previously-never-used-Christmas-gift-of-2006 and recorded it for me. Who knew Clyde could sing?

Life. It happens.

You ever notice how life seems to, well, just HAPPEN, despite your best intentions?

Well, it does. So there. Which leads me here. Now what?