That's what this forum is turning into for me! I think this is three nights in a row that I was just going to check my e-mail before I went to bed, but I couldn't resist just seeing what was going on around here! Of course, I get sucked in and find myself still sitting before this computer an hour later, even reading the archives on how old everyone is! (By the way, I am 32 and Lance is 30 -- one year and eleven months apart, his birthday is Oct. 1 and mine is Oct. 30! The boys are Mitchell 5 1/2 and Nicholas 3.)

Shame on you, keeping an old tired mommy from her sleep! Probably the most enjoyable lack of sleep I've had in awhile, since usually my lack-of-sleep anymore comes from someone waking me up sick or needing to "potty"! Even the dog, on the rare occasions when she is allowed to sleep in the house, wakes ME up to let her out at 2 a.m., and she sleeps on the floor on LANCE's side of the bed!

Thanks for all the enjoyable conversation and helpful ideas. I really appreciate all your work on this forum, Melissa, and I especially enjoy knowing what the weather is doing in other parts of the country, not from a weatherman, but from the people that are actually experiencing it. Goodnight and God Bless!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@aol.com), December 28, 2001

Answers

Christine, "an old tired mommy" at 32! Try doubling that and adding half again, then use that phrase!! Its 3:20 a.m. on the 28th, E.S.T.: Wakey-wakey!! As you get older you will find that sleep is something needed by young people. Are you no longer young?

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), December 28, 2001.

It is 4 am and I just finished correspondence with my forum friends. I can't wrestle the computer away from my kids until midnight!

Christine, you will get used to it. It started for me almost 3 years ago with countryside forum and it seems I've been here every night since. I will be here later with my coffee too, if I can put my kids to book and pencil work at the same time.

-- Laura (LadybugWrangler@hotmail.com), December 28, 2001.

Yep, its a bad influence allright-one I wouldn't give up! I was wondering about you, Christine, and how your Christmas "turned out" I hope every thing went well! Its difficult-the first round of holidays with out a loved one, and I was thinking of you, and also of Melissa who lost an aunt.

-- Kelly (Ksaderholm@yahoo.com), December 28, 2001.

Hey everybody! It is a bad influence on me too!! The trouble is that every topic on here is interesting! On some of the other forums I visit I might read about 1 out of 5 topics, but here I read them all!!! It has been an enjoyable experience, even though it seriously cuts into sleep time. I feel bad about letting any of my other responsibilites go, so sleep is the area that suffers the most. I think it is entirely possible to feel very old in your 30's. Most people I know who have kids at home are exhausted. It seems that when they are all raised and leave home, that is when you get your energy back and get your second wind!! My grandmother recently expressed concern with how tired I am, but after I told her everything I had done before lunch-time, I think she started to understand why I was so tired!!! OH well, I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Now if I could only figure out how to get by on about 6 hours sleep...

-- Melissa (me@home.net), December 28, 2001.

I can never go to sleep if there is something new posted! I am also here late at night reading new and old! I love this forum and all the new friends I have met here. I have learned so much and can't wait to learn more. Sometimes, I set stairing at the screen using the refresh button waiting until someone posts! Is that not silly! God bless

-- Micheale from SE Kansas (mbfrye@totelcsi.net), December 28, 2001.

Thanks for asking, Kelly, things actually went very well, despite the phone call from my sister-in-law (Lance's sister) on the 22nd wanting to know why we weren't there already and declaring I could wrap presents in Tulsa just as well as in Edmond! We did actually go on up, and enjoyed the visit very much. Christmas at my house turned out very well also, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and no one cried except my great-niece (8 1/2 months), who pinched her little fingers in my entertainment center door!

We are actually still Christmasing - Lance's grandparents on his mother's side will be in town tomorrow morning and are staying until about Wednesday, so we will get to see them for a little extended visit. They live in Springdale, AR, which with they kids is about a 4 hour trip from here, so we do not get to see them as often as I would like.

Better get going, I am bound and determined not to be lured in to the never-ending reading tonight, and swear to be in bed before 11:00! Good Night, visit you all tomorrow!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@aol.com), December 28, 2001.