How Much!?

I knew this was coming. Braces. I took my two oldest children to an orthodontist for an assesment. If I did what they are suggesting, my son alone would be $3100.00 after the insurance paid. So, I've been looking for a job. What a depressing situation! I have years of experience of working in an office as as receptionist/secretary/office manager and no job prospects. I found one job I would absolutely love but he was going to make a decision on Monday, September 20, 2010 and I did not get a phone call or email. I never knew how depressing it could be to look for a job. Your self-esteem sure takes a hit. I knew it would be harder in the economic conditions that exist now but I didn't know it would be this hard. I've never had a problem finding employment before even though I'm not good at interviewing. I'm trying to get better.
I am still optomistic. I will work wherever necessary to make my children healthy and happy. I just wish I could pay for this stuff while still being home for them.

Nightmare at the Zoo

The zoo is hosting an exhibit called Nature's Nightmares. No, my children weren't on display. Instead, they had bats

and a vulture (who I thought was actually pretty with all the colors on his neck).

The ones I couldn't get pictures of were a piranha, a bird-eating spider (whom was hiding in his hole so we didn't see him well), scorpions, a skunk and a vemenous centipede. It was nice that my husband could come. His arm is healing well. He promised to bring the children to the zoo. It was great to have him along.

Discovery Gateway

My husband severly burned his arm on August 14. This means he cannot do the things he wanted to do. I know this may sound odd but I look at this of a kind of blessing. My husband always has projects he wants to do which does not leave any time to do things with his family. Usually, if I take the children to the zoo, I have to take all three by myself. This week, because he couldn't do what he had planned, he took us to the children's museum at Discovery Gateway. My son got a ticket for up to six people to get in for free. We spent about 4 hours doing projects and watching the children have fun and we still didn't do all that was offered. We played with balls that went through a maze. We played at the store. I think my youngest really loved to shop. She bought mostly fruits and vegetables. She would wander for a minute, pick up a can or two and go back to the produce section. We were able to sit in a real life flight helicopter.

We played with stacking toys and legos.

The girls made tie-dyed bags using permanent markers.

I don't think I could afford to pay for the tickets at full price at $8 to $8.50 each. We did have fun and the children do want to go back. Validation cost me $2.00 for the day.