Bright spots.

Tonight, two people had the idea to call me during the time that the videotape was airing on TV. The first was the Bri, and he called me on my cell phone just as I was leaving the house to go get a gallon of milk. I'd meant to do it much earlier in the day, and his phone call really helped to subside my fears about going back out while it was dark. I sat in the mini-market parking lot talking to him on the phone for so long that A.J. fell asleep in the car, even. He is so very easy to talk to, and he sounds so remarkably like Randy that it's uncanny - must be the 'brain' part in both of their usernames. ;-)

When I returned home, I had a message on the answering machine from my friend Chris. She had called just minutes before 10pm with the intent to talk me through the news program - so that I wouldn't just be sitting there twiddling my thumbs and waiting for it to be over, especially since I wasn't watching it. I called her back at just after 10:30, and we talked for almost 2 hours. I was just so touched by both Brian's and Chris's kindness in thinking of me tonight during the newscast. :-)

Party preparations.

Though I'll admit that it has been very hard to "switch gears" this week and get things moving along in order to be ready for Jack's birthday party, most of the preparations are now swinging along for the event tomorrow. Phil already mowed the lawn this afternoon (his son Connor is invited to the party, and though I never asked him to come early, he rightly assumed that I'd appreciate the yard looking trim and nice for the big day tomorrow - very sweet of him). The cake will be ready to pick up at noon tomorrow. The balloon bouquets and centerpiece will be ready to pick up at 12:30 at Nobbies. I have to exchange our propane tank for the grill, but it will be ready to grill lots of hot dogs for the after-party.

Yes, "after-party." Jack's party is from 4-6pm tomorrow, but then anyone who would like to stay longer is welcome to continue the birthday fun and eat grilled hot dogs for dinner with us. Jack had a great time making all of his goodie bags this afternoon, and each one contains the following: dinosaur egg bubbles, a dinosaur 3D puzzle, a dinosaur fact card, a small dinosaur, a dinosaur party blower, two Hershey® miniature candy bars, 3 assorted miniature candies and an assorted fruit-flavored Tootsie Roll®. We also have dinosaur water globes as prizes for the ice-fishing game.

I've got to get off here now and make the Jell-O Jigglers®. I've never made them before (I'm not really a fan of jello myself), but I bought three really cute dinosaur cookie cutters and decided those would be much easier than sugar cookies. If I start making them now, I've got time to re-make them in case they don't turn out! ;-)