What will $282.66 buy you in today's economy?

NOTE: Complete new survey at right before reading this posting. Okay, fine... be that way!

Good evening!

As Deborah eluded to yesterday, Uncle Rich and Aunt Nancy delivered a most beautiful gift to Simon. It is a cradle that Rich hand crafted in his wood shop. It is an amazing piece as seen here:



It's a new experience for Simon as he has not yet experienced a side-to-side baby soothing device since being born, but he has taken to it quite well and enjoys hanging out in it. It's a sturdy 47-pound behemoth and as Rich boasted, it does indeed sit level in the neutral position. Thank you again Rich and Nancy and blessings and prayers to Nancy as she undergoes knee replacement surgery next week.





This weekend we stumbled upon some gigantic marshmallows at the Hy-Vee (nice segue, eh?). They're about five times bigger than your average marshmallow and luckily Simon chose to snuggle with the white one. I felt very much like Homer did in Episode 168 (4F11, Original Airdate 16-Feb-1997) when Bart had to make a decision between chocolate cupcakes and pink snoballs.



Simon will be partaking in several new adventures this week. Tomorrow night we venture to the Olive Garden to celebrate Ray & Ila Mae's 59th wedding anniversary (much more exciting than taking pictures with giant mallows on the 40th anniversary of the moon landing... way to go Buzz!) and Thursday we meet with Pastor John to discuss Simon's baptism coming up in a few weeks. And then on Friday, Simon gets to meet Dr. Zhang who did not happen to be on call when he was born, but helped a great deal in the months preceding his birth. Hopefully he can get his picture taken with her.

And then this weekend we are going to hang out with our neighbors (who are no longer s'more virgins) and kick it up a notch with the gigantic marshmallows I can't stop talking about. They're crazy!!! And not too long after that, Simon gets to meet Grandma and Grandpa Vieira and Great Grandma Curson. Yay!

So in answer to the question above, $282.66 buys you a 5-day/4-night all-expenses paid stay, a 24/7 nourishment center and a Cesarean section at St. Luke's Birthing Center. Thank you insurance!!



Until next time y'all (that was for you Chandriqua)!