Good Morning

It's just about 6 am. I have nothing to do. Well, that's really not true...I could do dishes or laundry but I don't want to. I could also watch TV, but I don't want to do that either. Morning news is so boooorrrring. Except for that Tracy Butler...love her...and GMA, but it's too early for them.

I would love to be sleeping. Lucy is. But that's why I am awake. Last night she made it all of the way. No waking, not even a stir. So did I. Slept right through. I would have considered the evening a success, except I was up at 5ish and she is still in bed.

You may wonder why I am out of bed when she is not.

There is one simple answer.

Turbo.

The butthole was up at 3, for no reason other than he was convinced in his slumber that Otis had stolen some bread off the counter (a new thing he started doing around here to welcome Lucy to the family). By the time he was awake enough to get ready for work, he was bored too.

So he woke me up. Just wanted to say good morning, make sure I'd take his suit to the cleaners, help him pick out a tie for the wedding (in 2.5 weeks), discuss when we would get an oil change, what my plans are for the day. You know, all of those things we do every morning before he goes to work.

That brings me to here. Awake for no reason. Bored. Alone. Already checked my email. Almost done with the blogger thing. Through my first cup of coffee.

Maybe I'll check in with Tracy. I'm sure Roz has a funny story about the traffic. I bet Hosea & Judy are up to some wild and crazy morning shenanigans.

Maybe I'll go pinch Lucy.

Boogie Shoes

Turbo's cousin Alinda got married nearly 3 years ago. After her bridal shower, my SIL's & I headed over to a local watering hole for an impromptu girl's night. As we sat sipping our drinks, listening to karaoke, a wonderful new E family tradition was born: the wedding cd.

We decided right then and there that we would make a cd to prepare us for the upcoming wedding. Music we wanted to hear, stuff that would put us in the mood for wine and dancing. I scribbled on the back of a napkin while they rattled off titles from the 80's we all were dying to hear (minus the dingy bar maids giving similar songs their best shots in the background).

I compiled the list the next morning and passed them out the day of the wedding.

It was awesome. So awesome that when his cousin Kelley got married the following year I put together another. This one a nice early 90's hip hop & funk mix.

This spring, my cousin's the one tying the knot. Naturally I started working on the cd for her nuptials. Her life in Indy made it easy to pick a genre. Country.

My SIL's aren't even going to this wedding, but I've already printed off their copies. I've been listening to all three in preparation for the wedding in 2 weeks. I've even gone so far as to try to get the boys to work on some of the dances with me. (Really, wouldn't you all love to see Nate & Rex doing their best rendition of the Footloose dance? What about our little Jake & Elwood Shaking Their Tailfeathers? Ok...I know you couldn't resist the zombie dance from Thriller.)

Our little spark of barroom genius has grown so popular that I'm not quite sure what I'll do next summer without a wedding.

(Oh, and thanks Patti...wasn't sure what to call this until I got your email!)

Sausage Party

Turns out if you mix 4 generations of my family, 15 pounds of pork, and a meat grinder you end up with one heck of a fun Saturday afternoon. (And some pretty yummy sausage too!)






Going to dinner at my grandparents usually means at least two things for us: getting drunk with good company and filling up on lots of awesome food.


Since my grandparents are from overseas, many of their recipes involve taking time to do things by hand and from scratch. They labor so we can enjoy the fruits. And boy do we ever, usually so much that we are loosening waistbands on the trip home.



Naturally then, when my grandpa offered to teach us how to make his homemade sausage the decision was unanimous. We all wanted know how.



This morning they came over with boxes full of supplies, meat, and spices. Our kitchen was jam packed for hours. Mixing, grinding, stuffing, twisting, boiling. There was sausage everywhere. Despite the hard work (that grinder is no easy job!) the time flew by. We had so much fun, learning and sharing in a tradition that I can't wait to continue with our kids.



We're so eager to do it again that Turbo and I already went looking for our own grinder. I don't think I've been this excited about a mother's day gift in years!

fAST fOOD fRIDAY

Not sure what we are doing for dinner tonight.

I know what you're thinking...slacker. And you're right. I'm off the ball. If you're an everyday EFC reader, you'd know my posts are a day behind.

What can I say...I've been busy. Can't really say with what? A couple of projects, a baby who has decided naps are beneath her, a pile of laundry. (Glorious life I lead, huh? Don't even ask about my shower schedule...)

No dinner for us tonight, or you either. But here are some treats I found on the side of a cake mix box we had in the cabinet. (Rex was particularly 'active' Wednesday and we pulled this out and made it to keep him busy for, I dunno, 20 minutes. Of course, we then followed it with a 'dance party' while they were in the oven. Not sure about your kids, but mine need more than a few minutes to work off their energy sometimes.)

I was pleasantly surprised with how easy they were to do and how tasty they were the next morning. (Ah, did I say that out loud...yes, I ate them for breakfast...shame on me...)

Peanut Butter Bars

1 pack butter cake mix
1 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup water
1 egg
1 can chocolate fudge frosting
1/2 cup peanut butter
Chopped M&M’s
Chopped peanuts

Prepare cake:
Heat oven to 350. Spray 13x9 inch pan with cooking spray.
Combine cake mix, peanut butter, egg & water. Spread in pan.
Bake 20 minutes, until puffy. Cool completely.

Prepare frosting:
Mix peanut butter and frosting. Spread on cooled bars.
Top with candy & peanuts. Cut into bars.

The Advocate

There are many different causes, platforms, movements, and agendas I support. Some of you may agree with me, some of you may not. It doesn't matter to me which way you roll. I think our differences make the friendships that much more interesting.

I'm an advocate of choice. I think we should all be able to live our life in a way that brings us happiness and joy. We should be able to feel safe in our skin, love whomever we choose, believe in what we understand to be true, act in manner that makes most sense to us. We all deserve the right to be free to choose what path is best for us. Really, who does it hurt anyway?

So...Here is where I am going with this...

Yesterday I watched MILK. It was an amazing film, empowering and moving.

I can only relay how I felt after watching it, you'd have to decide for yourself, but I think if you watch it with an open and understanding heart you will find the right message in the story. A message about sacrifice and hope. About love for everyone. Equally.

Longevity

I've heard lots of talk on TV lately about living a long life. Apparently, you can live darn near forever if you eat the right stuff, avoid the wrong stuff, etc. etc. etc.

I wonder if it is really possible to live to be 120? Oprah says so. Dr. Oz says so too. I think I heard Diane Sawyer say it. Or maybe that was Robin?

That would be cool. To see my kids grow and become parents, even grandparents. To see them accomplish the laundry list of things I'm hoping each will. Graduations, weddings, babies, all of those wonderful things. To live long enough to travel the world, and still feel good doing it. To enter the twilight of my life anticipating greatness rather than deterioration.

But then, do I really want to live that long? Do I want to sit back, watching those I love wither away around me? Do I want to give up the things I find so much pleasure in? Coffee in the morning. Delicious sweets after dinner. Margaritas with my friends. Red meat fresh off a searing grill. Hot dogs at the ball park.

Oh I think not. I don't want to live my life restricting calories and exercising like mad to add a few years on at the end.

I want to live it now. I want to party with my friends and play with my kids. I want to eat chocolate ice cream, do shots of Jager, enjoy my McDonalds.

I think I would prefer to live like Nana, sipping martinis well into my 90's. Or like Gigi, still driving around the country in my RV at 70. Perhaps Turbo & I will be like Victor & Anni, with a calendar so full of card games and dancing we must schedule our 80th birthday plans months in advance.

I don't know about you, but to me that sounds like living.

Burg. to M.V.

Last weekend Turbo noticed all of the change was missing form the cup holder in the truck. We didn't think much of it, since the kids are always rummaging through looking for goodies and Rex claimed he took it (seemed like a lot, there was between $10-15, but not impossible if he had the right sweatshirt on).

St. Pat's day we went out to the store for some new shoes, came home, went to bed. The next morning Turbo could not find his MP3 player.

Day after that he realized he was missing some cigarettes.

I immediately chalked it up to him loosing his mind and misplacing things. He swore neither was the case. (Sure.)

Saturday, my dad started complaining about his missing cigarettes. (Crap.)

We called the cops and filed a report.

We are all assuming it's some neighborhood kids stealing fun stuff like music, quarters, and smokes. The officer told us to lock the doors, bring our valuables in. Warm weather brings out the little thieves, itching for something to do after months of being trapped indoors with nothing to do but play on their computer, wii, ps3, ipod.

Spoiled brats.

(Oh, but it was fun to tell Rex the cops were here to bust him for sucking his thumb. He was fairly worried for a minute, then decided Turbo was full of it. Smart kid.)

Creative Genius

Remember when I said my aunt was a creative genius? I was serious. She is brilliant. Crafty and creative, but in such a modern way.

It is pretty ridiculous how our minds start churning over projects we've both half concocted in our heads. Of course, we can't go very long at all without sharing the ideas with each other. Almost like we need the others input just to solidify the image of the completed masterpiece we've burned into our own brains. We need another someone to at least attempt to visualize it with us. (Rather than providing us with a blank stare and a 'you put too much into this sometimes' response.)

Anyhoo...this morning when I checked my email I had two such projects of hers in my inbox. The first, something we've been doing together, is one of I've had lots of fun with and plan to share with my SIL's this Christmas. (Sorry Lisa & Tracy...you'll have to wait...but you'll L-O-V-E it too!) The other is her new website.

Most of you only know what I tell you about Patti, and it's more about hanging out than working. She does all kinds of graphic design stuff. She designs things like websites, logos, my wedding invitations ('member those?).

Her new site is awesome (and it includes a link to donate to my walk, BONUS!). Take a peek...image definition & design...and if you know anyone who may need something cool for their business, contact her. Her work will speak for itself once they see it.

fAST fOOD fRIDAY

We've got a jam packed weekend ahead of us. A bridal shower, a birthday party, a man-date watching only college basketball (& over eating & heavily drinking with the guys), a weekend guest. Ok, fine, it's just Patti so we won't be pulling out all the stops, just sitting back and enjoying the company (and some margaritas).

Since she will be arriving tonight, and we have a handful of things to do before tomorrow, we're ordering a pizza for dinner. We already have it planned out. (Well, Patti doesn't, so if you object after reading this PK, call me...)

I know it's Friday and I promised food, so I'll share some dessert this weekend. I just got all of the stuff out to make a banana cake. (DELISH!) It's pretty involved and I would normally not make it if Todd weren't home and I still had dinner to do. I'll save that one for another time. Instead I'll share these super easy banana bars. Trust me, you'll love them.

Banana Bar Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting

Cake:

1 cup butter, softened
1 ½ cups sugar
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 ½ cups mashed banana
2 eggs
1 8-ounce carton sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 15x10x1-inch pan. Beat butter with electric mixer for 30 seconds in a large bowl. Add sugar, baking soda, and salt. Beat until combined. Beat in banana, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla until combined. Beat or stir in flour until combined. Spread in pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until top springs back when touched. Cool on a wire rack. Prepare frosting and spread over top. Cut into bars. Store in refrigerator.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
In a large bowl, beat one 8-ounce package of cream cheese, softened, and ½ cup butter, softened, with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in 2 cups sifted powdered sugar and ¼ tsp vanilla until combined.

Spring Cleaning

You've probably noticed a few big changes here.

First, the awesome new header. Patti, my aunt the creative genius, designed this super cool family photo for another project we've been working on. I fell in love with it immediately and modified it to fit the blog. I can't say how much I love, love, LOVE it. Oh, it is so perfect!

Second, a new background. Couldn't press on with the cool new title and old background. This new one is nice and fresh...just like everything else in my world right now.

Last, but not least, an email option. I've talked to lots of you about my dear blog and keep hearing you guys forward some posts on to others. Now it should be much easier to do. Just click on the envelope next to the post and send it on it's way.

Before I forget, get busy, forget again...I want to say thanks to everyone that reads this. This blog started as a goofy project for school and has turned into something I look forward to doing every day. When I talk to you, my dedicated readers, I find I'm hearing more and more how much you enjoy it too. I'm glad our photos put a smile on your face and our antics give you a little early morning giggle. Every post makes me love my family more for who they are (even if that is a crew of crying, whining, starving, smelly, helpless, snot nosed, back talking little hooligans).

I hope it does the same for you too.

Irish Blessings

For the first time this year I feel like spring really is around the corner.

Today I turned off the heater and opened the doors and windows. Instead of a sweater, I put on a nice little tank with my jeans. No need to ask if I'm wearing any shoes.

The kids and I went to the park, we even drove there with the windows down. Lucy traveled without an enormous blanket for the first time. Rex was happy to leave his coat behind.

We flew a kite in the backyard, soaking up the sun. Otis ran around with his soccer ball, rolling in the (soon-to-be-green) grass.

When Nate gets home the kiddos will get out the bikes and ride around the driveway. They won't stop until I force them to.

Tonight I think we'll celebrate more than St. Patrick's Day. We'll still have corned beef and cabbage. The kids will still be dressed in green. But we'll also celebrate the first beautiful day in a long while.

We'll play outside. We'll blow bubbles. We'll throw a football. We'll look for frogs in the pond.

We'll all sleep well tonight, grateful for spring.

Hmm...

Lucy is finally starting to get into a routine. She goes to bed anywhere between 8-10 pm. Unfortunately she wakes up between 2-4 am, but she goes straight back to bed after a new diaper & bottle. Dry and fed she sleeps until 7ish. She'll nap in the afternoon, if I'm lucky she'll do it again in the early evening. It's not the best schedule, but I'll take it.

With her new schedule I've found I can begin to enjoy some of my pre-baby activities. A 'bedtime' means I can dust off a book and try reading again. Her early morning wake ups have me on the couch catching up with a list of movies I've been wanting to watch since last, I dunno, August? Since I can't sit idle and watch a movie, it also means I have pulled my knitting bag out, dusted it off, and proved to everyone in this house that my K1, P2 mumbling is here to stay. (I'm willing to forgo a few hours of sleep for some me only time, even if it means waking up at 2 and being highly caffeinated until noon.)

For Christmas my cousin bought me a copy of Marley & Me. You know, the puppy memoir? Terrible dog teaches family to love life? I'm only 1/3 of the way through the book. (Started the day I got it, if that tells you anything about my life since the holiday season.) It's a great story, however I am having the hardest time reading it. Normally I would devour a book like this in under a week. Sleep deprived or not.

It has taken a while, but I finally figured out what the problem is. It's not the book. It's me.

I sit, reading this book, thinking 'I could do this.' It may not be a story the masses are hungry for, but it could be. It may not be made into a movie or top the best seller list, but I could try. It may take me forever, but I could do it.

I think I might.

13

Superstitious
by Shel Silverstein

If you are superstitious you'll never step on cracks.
When you see a ladder you will never walk beneath it.
And if you ever spill some salt you'll throw some
'cross your back,
And carry' round a rabbit's foot just in case you need it.
You'll pick up any pin that you find lying on the ground,
And never, never, ever throw your hat upon the bed,
Or open an umbrella when you are in the house.
You'll bite your tongue each time you say
A thing you shouldn't have said.
You'll hold your breath and cross your fingers
Walkin' by a graveyard,
And number thirteen's never gonna do you any good.
Black cats will all look vicious, if you're superstitious,
But I'm not superstitious (knock on wood).

fAST fOOD fRIDAY

I'm a huge fan of the Oprah show (go ahead, laugh...just get it all out...I'll wait). Though O and I don't always see eye to eye, I love some of these best life shows she has been putting out lately. Like the ones to spend wisely, be healthier, organize your home/life, etc.

This week she had meal makeovers with some pretty awesome celebrity chefs. Since I'm a sucker for this kind of stuff, I'm going to try out one of the recipes.

I'm going to do the Cat Cora
Quick Jerk-Rubbed Pork Chops
with Oven-Baked Sweet Potato Fries.

You can find the other recipes here if you'd rather browse and find something more suitable for you.
Lots of them sound really yummy!

Enjoy!

Fantastic 4

Lucy made it to her 4 month Dr. appointment without a hitch!

She is doing great, weighing in at nearly 14 lbs. Developmentally she is right where she needs to be, maybe even a little advanced. (Those feet she found, turns out most kids don't find them for another 2 months.) Thankfully the Dr. informed me that second and subsequent children usually do things quicker than the first (um, hello...you'd think he'd never met Rex) and told me to start preparing the house for her crawling and scooting around. The fact she can't roll yet doesn't make him think she will move any less quickly, in fact her big brothers and their early walking just made him recommend getting baby gates asap. (Sweet.)

One of the coolest parts about our trip was his ok to start feeding Lucy some cereal. Right after the appointment (and story time, and a trip to Culvers so Rex could get 'Culverized' [they sent him a free sundae coupon for his b-day and he continues to use their catchy phrase whenever he talks about eating there]) we went to Target to pick up an array of feeding supplies and some rice cereal.

After two bites, she started crying. I thought she hated the stuff, she was screaming like I was torturing her. Turns out I was. My cautious feeding was not nearly fast enough for our little piglet. She wanted more, and more, and more. She ate the entire bowl.

Can't wait to see how she does with veggies next month!

Hide and Seek

Rex is many things.

He is adventurous, lively, fun. He's caring, cuddly, and helpful. He can be outgoing, but sometimes he's shy too. He enjoys playing outside, learning new things, and being with his family. He certainly makes the most of his unlimited imagination, however he can also focus mightily on the task at hand. He loves to bake with Grandma, play sports with his dad and brother, garden and build with Papa, wiggle on the floor with his sister, get crafty with me. He is as polite as you'd expect a 5 year old to be without losing any of his playfulness. He embodies an unlimited supply of charismatic charm. He is a very well rounded boy.

Of all the things he is, he is not a nose picker.

Or so we thought.

Lately we've been catching Rex with his finger way up there. We'd tell him to stop, and he would, but not often before earning himself a 'prize'.

So we talked about it. Why it's disgusting, how it can make you and others sick, that it is not polite. He said he'd try his best to stop.

Last night I was cleaning. Went into his room to vacuum. There it was. On the wall. Yuck!

Before I had a chance to bring it up to Rex, I saw another. Behind the TV. Gross!

So I began a search. And discovered one more. Next to his bed. Ugh!

I got Rex. Talked to him, again. We both talked to Turbo, again.

He scrubbed the first two off the wall with soap and water. He complained a bit. I lectured a little.

Then he got to the one next to his bed. He had some trouble finding it. When he did, the little booger looked at me and said, 'Wow, that was a good hiding spot.'

Terms of Endearment

When the kids were born we were very particular about their names. We did not want a name that people could chop up, add on to, or adjust. We wanted a strong name for our little guy, a name that would suit a child but fit an adult. For our daughter we wanted something feminine but not overly cute, a name that would still sound beautiful on an 80 year old woman. So we got Rex & Lucy. Add those to an already sturdy Nate and we were set.

But Turbo and I have a problem. As much as we hate when others call our kids goofy stuff, we cannot help but do it ourselves. To the point where it is almost out of control.

I noticed how ridiculous it was a few days ago while making breakfast. Todd peered over my shoulder at some sausage simmering in the skillet and asked if my aunt would be upset if he called her Sausage Patti from now on. I said she would most likely prefer Krabby Patti. We giggled and decided she would not like us at all for this, even if the sentiments are sincere and full of affection. (She must know how much we adore the breakfast meat and Sponge Bob. To call her either one would be nothing less than a compliment in our weird world...)

Over the years we have come up with much stranger names for those we love (Harry Porpoise), however the children seem to bear the brunt of our odd monikers.

Nate. Nate Dog. Nathan Bacon. Goose. Turtle. Po (we think he looks like Jack Black).

Rex. Rexy. Rexy Roo. Rex Rocket. Rex Machine. Sexy Rexy. Rexecutioner. Monkey Man.

Lucy. Lulu. Liftoff Lucy. Lu-seal. Loose Jeans. Spot.

Poor kids, they were the ones we were trying to protect.

As Krabby Sausage Patti pointed out, I did forget a few. Like Natek, one of our faves for Nate (who went through his first few years of schooling as Nate K...). I am positive there are many many others I forgot to add to my list!!!
I am a horrid parent!!

Just You and Me Punk Rock Girl

Lucy is currently rockin' the coolest baby mohawk ever.

What makes it even better is the fact that she has combined it with a mullet.


I can't wait until she is old enough to dye it pink. Or orange. Maybe purple?

But only if she helps me color mine too. Oh, it will be so much fun!

Sweet Victory!

So, just had to let you all know that I DID NOT make a fool of myself last night. In fact, I sat around, sipping my 4 beers (see, already getting better!) watching a handful of others get smashed. I still had a great time and now I even have some leverage with them in this whole tavern fool competition we have going on.

Oh, I also met baby Isabella. She is so darling, a beautiful little girl. She’s teeny too. She makes Lucy look like a monster. It’s so funny what a huge difference 3 months makes with them at this age. We're looking forward to lots of play dates with the two girls!

My PSA For Today

Just got a disturbing email from a great friend. In fact, the email was terrifying.

My friend, and bowling partner, just informed me she would not be joining us tomorrow. Her hubby was in a car accident last night and is now (very luckily, we all agree) recovering from some minor trauma and a concussion.

On his way home last night he was stuck in traffic, just sitting in the express lane. The car behind him did not stop and instead hit him at an estimated 50 mph. Totaling his Cherokee.

Witnesses to the accident reported the other driver was in his car texting.

This is how I feel about it: There is nothing in the world that guy was typing that needed to be said at the risk of endangering other people.

If you are an avid texter, please think about it next time you're in the car and a message comes in. My friend was very fortunate, and we are extremely grateful for that, however this appears to be becoming a regular occurrence on the road. One I think we should all be trying to put an end to.

Brain Farts

So twice in the last few days I have noticed some grammar and spelling errors in my dear blog.

First, the whole bate thing that Turbo refuses to let me live down. Ok, so it's bait. I know. I knew then too. It just didn't make it from my brain to the blog correctly.

Now rite of passage. Put it in a comment as right of passage, read my cousins blog this morning using the correct terms. Ugh, did it again.

I have no excuse as to why I keep doing this.

I'm tired. Yeah, have been for months. It's nothing new.

I'm typing with Lucy on my lap half of the time. Again, doin' that for a while now. (4 months tomorrow!)

I'm certainly not the best speller. Todd has teased me about that for ages. He used to make me spell words out loud. Just to make me practice. Instead it made me mad (and even more dependent on spell checker). Who the hell cares how you spell Jeopardy? Just turn the damn channel and let me watch Alex work his magic.

God knows I'm no grammar queen. Who the crap used my shampoo? Whom should I blame for it spilling all over the floor? I took English 101 in college. And passed it. They even let me graduate. As far as I'm concerned, I know enough to make me look like a moderately intelligent human being. Most of the time.

Whatever the current reason, I must relay to all of you (my devoted 6 or 7 readers) that I am by no means perfect. Nor am I a moron (as Todd suggested). Just doing my blogger thing for fun. Not earning a grade anymore, just gabbing about my life. And misspelling half of it.

fAST fOOD fRIDAY

60 degrees never felt so wonderful! Could it be that spring has finally sprung? I'm crossing my fingers. Tightly. Since the weather is so glorious, we'll be grilling for the 3rd day in a row. Huge, fat, tasty pub burgers. YUM!
I believe every well rounded lady should know her way around the grill, charcoal and gas. If you don't yet, get your fanny out there and learn! Wow those boys with something they think is sacred only to them!

The Soundtrack: Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs,
You Can't Buy A Gun When You're Crying
listen to my fave, Devil Do here

The Meal: (well it's really a side...) Layered Salad
this one's pretty cheap and it serves a bunch.
modify it for your fam.

what you need:
chopped lettuce, I use romaine and iceberg
1 cup celery, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 pack frozen peas
1 1/2 cup mayo
2 tsp sugar
1 cup shredded cheddar
cooked and crumbled bacon, about 6 slices
(feel free to add or subtract contents, we throw in red & green peppers.)


what you do:
layer in the order listed. (add any extras before the mayo)
do not mix
chill for a few hours before serving

Enjoy!

The Town Drunk

Bowling is this Saturday.

Unfortunately, since the birth of dear Lucy I have a problem with alcohol. Not that I drink too much. In fact, I hardly drink ever. I really only throw them back on bowling nights. And that, dear friends, appears to be my biggest problem.

I don't drink much at home. Maybe (BIG maybe) I'll have a glass of wine or a beer with Turbo on a Friday, when we've got something in the fridge that catches my eye. Then the calendar rolls over and that first Saturday of the month shows its delightful face. The huge bold letters B-O-W-L scream at me from across the room. Our night out, away from the kiddos, to enjoy a taste of the glory days.

We got out to dinner with some friends.

I drink a margarita. Yum. Make that 2.

We get to the bowling alley.

I have a beer. And another. Just one more.

I get hammered. Whoops.

I don't try to. Honestly, I don't even want to.

The alcohol hides, slowly tempting me into taking the bait by disguising itself in a delicious lime and strawberry swirled concoction. Peer pressure, in its finest form, makes me order more when everyone else at the table opts for another. On the lanes I reply 'sure' to the offer for a beer. I'm just hanging out, keeping pace with the rest of them. I'm in no danger of repeating last month.

Oh, but I am and I do. Any more than 2 drinks for me means a ruined game of bowling. A horrid Sunday headache. A laundry list of foolish antics.

This month, we have not yet made it to Saturday and my friends are harassing me.

Where should we eat? Will Ky be able to have a drink? Have one for us, Ky! Do you want to go to McDonalds so you can't start too early? Think you should start at home so you get the barfing out of the way before we start? A-holes. Every last one of them.

That of course, is why I love them. It is why I respond that I will carry a flask so I can drink anywhere we eat. Tell them I refuse to promise anything regarding my behavior. Try to get other stay-at-home moms to start drinking with me during the day.

The day will come when I can hold my liquor once again. Then those SOB's I call friends will have to find a new fool to entertain them. Then they will be sorry they pushed me to rebuild my tolerance so quickly. They'll miss the easily drunk me. They'll see.

Ready to Party

Last night we took Rex & Lucy out to pick up outfits for the wedding next month.

Rex got some snazzy pants & shoes to go with the shirt & tie he picked out a month or so ago. He tried the entire outfit on as soon as we got home. Needless to say, he would have gone straight to Indy and waited a month on the steps of the church if we'd have let him.

Our fave purchase, however, was this dress for Lucy...so cute I can hardly stand it.

I just hope some of her hair grows in before the big day.

Moral Support

This morning, as soon as I had a chance, I checked my cousin's blog. Her entry today began with a little rant about sacrifice and finding yourself in an unanticipated place. It included a snippet of her love story, one that will take on a new form next month after a beautiful wedding.

Through her post I could almost feel her frustration at those who assume her path to happiness was lined with sunshine and roses. That it never saw storm clouds, never felt a frosty chill, never needed repaving.

Here's what I have to say to her (...and you guys too, since you feel like listening.)

I may not have traveled around the world, but my life has taken me to many places. My experiences were not always perfect, sometimes I returned from them heartbroken and confused. After one particularly difficult journey I stumbled across a fellow diamond in the rough. A friend in the same confused state as me, not sure of what path to follow next.

We had known each other all our lives, meeting in kindergarten many many years before. We were friends, but not by much. Our lives teetered on the edge of a very small social circle. The kind where we saw each other frequently but were alone very rarely.

For whatever reason, we eventually found ourselves spending lots of time together. We quickly became good friends, finding outrageous commonalities in each other. Our time sitting around with others slowly turned into nights going out to the movies, a trip to dinner for two, an evening phone call, a daily meeting. When we realized what was going on we worked very hard to minimize it, hide it from some people, we even tried to put an end to our budding relationship. (That breakup only lasted 2 days and cemented all of the things that followed.) We talked long and hard about what was happening, what we expected to come away from it with, what we would do if it crashed and burned. The end decision was that we would take it very slowly and with extreme caution so no one would be hurt and neither of us would ever regret the choice we made.

Within a month of this discussion he whispered he loved me in my ear at the very loud and noisy Duck Inn. (Right after he told me I had the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen, they are so pretty, they look like... moss.) At his brothers wedding 2 months later we both felt the knowing gaze of his grandparents as we twirled around the dance floor. I left that weekend in Ohio knowing half of the people there would eventually be at our own wedding.

Over the last 10+ years together, 5+ years of marriage, 2+ kids on our knees, we have made millions of sacrifices. (Him much more than me, though you may not know that by peering in from the outside.) We have proceeded through our life together always considerate of what the other wants and needs, our combined dreams and goals, the best interests of our family. There are lots of things we do that some people may not understand, loads of choices we've made that are unconventional, and follow a drum that beats only in our ears. It all makes sense to us, even when it doesn't make sense to anyone else.

Now, I don't know if there is anyone out there that envies us. (Really, we don't care one way or another if they do.) I also don't believe anyone thinks we had it easy. (And even so, it wasn't half as hard as others may think.) But I do know that it is the sacrifices that make people envious and the faith you have in each other that makes it seem easy.

Eventually, you will come to a point in your life (seems impossible now, if your friends are all happily rushing to the alter as ours once did) when some relationships around you start to self destruct. When that happens, you'll realize you have something they don't. You'll have a relationship in which you can communicate with each other, where you consider the others thoughts and feelings before you make a decision, where you can resolve a conflict without always having an argument.

The sacrifices won't ever stop, but since you're willing to make them for each other in order to live a life that makes sense to you, others will be envious. They'll say you have it easy. That you don't understand what it's like to have to work hard for something. That you're lucky. What they won't know is that you work at it every day. That is always hard work and that there is very little luck involved at all.

The difference is that you found a person willing to give up some their dreams to accept and work toward yours. Someone willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, so that you will both live happily ever after.

A Big Day

Today is Rex's birthday. He is ecstatic. He woke up this morning anticipating being a foot taller, since now he's 5. (So, we had to explain that your body takes some time getting used to being older.) He thinks kindergarten starts tomorrow, because he's 5 now. (We told him it starts in August, he'll just have to wait a bit longer.) He believes the entire world knows today is his birthday, and they're prepared to spoil him generously. (That one we're going to let go on for the day.)

We do our best every year to make birthdays special. Little trips, special dinners, big surprises. Since our pocketbooks are generally on the thin side, we have learned over the years that creativity goes a long way in a little heart. This year is no exception. With the birth of sister Lucy, Rex has learned very quickly that babies change how you do things. Less time with Mom & Dad, fewer trips out of the house, not nearly enough fun as far as he's concerned.

To make his day special we scheduled a few Rex Only hours. He wanted a new bike, so we left the other kiddos at home and went to pick one out that was perfect for him. A nice 'big' royal blue and yellow Huffy, complete with handbrakes and 'Super Charger' decals. (The extra cool bight orange Mongoose he first picked was out of stock, and he refused to wait the two weeks to get one. Go figure...)

Then we traveled across town to take him to lunch at the place of his choice. This was a HUGE secret we instructed Rex to keep until we got into the car, so Todd & I would not feel compelled to sway his decision if we weren't in the mood for (corn dogs, chicken nuggets, pancakes). As soon as we were out of the driveway, he told us we were eating at Red Robin. (YUM!)

After a new bike, delish lunch, and a brief stop to barf on the way home (our little guys gets excited and sometimes throws up. especially after an onion ring tower, corn dog, and bottomless fries.) we headed home to begin prep for his birthday dinner, remaining presents, and cake.

Todd's grilling some hot dogs and brats in the snow. We'll set up a 'hot dog bar' complete with technicolor relish, sport peppers, and all the other Chicago fixin's. We'll have potato salad, fruit salad, and root beer. We're going to sing and eat a big chocolate cake. Rex will get the big green frosting balloons on his way-to-big-for-him piece. He'll open his cards and presents, then play with them until he falls asleep.

It will be exactly what he asked us for.

(Since I'm finishing this Monday morning, I already know it was the perfect day. Before I took Lucy to bed I got a huge hug and 'I Love You' from our new 5 year old. Very rare behavior when he was 4.)