Happy First B'day baby girl!

Alexis' first birthday party was a big success. Judging by the fact that people stayed fairly late and all the kids played extremely well together I think it was great. It snowed out which could have been a bummer but no one complained even though some of the guest came from NH. We also were lucky enough to have all the Graham cousins attend so Brooke & Lexi had loads of kids to play with. They are all such good kids that it made the day a lot of fun. Brooke went outside and played in the snow with the boys and alternating girls (whoever could stand the cold at the moment).
The food was perfect for the number of people (unlike the last big party we had) and there were no timing mix ups! Overal a good time.



Now on to plan Brooke's party - which happens to fall on Easter! Big dilemma - stay posted!

Soooo lucky!!

My kids are so lucky! Their daycare center is absolutely awesome. They really enjoy going there and I never hear a complaint from either the workers or the kids. It is really something you take for granted if you have a good situation but pictures like this remind me how good they have it.















The owner of the daycare center got a new camera and is going crazy taking pictures and e-mailing them to parents. Yesterday was Alexis' first b'day so we brought in cupcakes for the class. They got Brooke up from her nap to come to her sisters party - is that not the cutest thing?

Don't they appear to be the same size in these pics? It's not that far off in reality!

p.s. Two king size mattresses will not fit in our bedroom (but you knew that already didn't you?)

Unbelievable!

So we finally got the new mattress - it is awesome. Just great. No more back pain while sleeping, crawl into bed with that "aaahhhhh" feeling, kids can jump on it. Fabulous. For me. John can barely walk. So now we own two KING size mattresses that we, together, can not sleep on. So what do we do? Here are the options I see:

1 - Return the new mattress and try another one though I am pretty sure regardless of what we try at this point John is not going to like it because he liked the tempurpedic so much.

2 - Return the new mattress get me a queen size (of equal value mind you) and have two large beds in the room

3 - Keep them both which is fine with me but it will look slightly weird in the bedroom. I think I could work that out though.

The issues are thus:
- John truly needs a king size bed. His feet hang off of it as it is. If I were not in the bed I am convinced he would sleep like a starfish completely utilizing the entire bed .
- I can sleep in a twin size bed though I do like some room and I don't want to be the martyr here so I am going to hang in for at least a queen.
- Now the difference between and queen and a king is fairly small so why go through all the trouble to return it when I'll be paying shipping, etc. for like 2 feet less. 2 big beds is two big beds.
- Now here is the kicker, if we keep the two king size beds I am pretty convinced we will get along better. I won't be tossed around all the time, the snoring will be coming from WAYYYY over there and I won't be able to hit him in any of the various body parts that he generally gets assaulted in.
- He will not go for this until I actually do it and show him that it will work, who cares what our bedroom looks like? BUT if he doesn't help me do it I can't really do it alone now can I? I'm strong but not that strong.
- Why not try it with two for awhile? Well, he did already move the other in to the basement but, well, you know what I'm going to say, right?

Anyway, he thinks he'll "get used to it", I think not.

A craft I can do!

Even I can do this! We are doing it this week to show off Lexi's b'day party this weekend! How fun!
http://knittingiris.typepad.com/knitting_iris/2006/02/icy_sun_catcher.html
Yes I realize I'm queer.

Lordy, lordy

Johnny's finally 40!! Here are some photos from our big night! He had no idea about the limo or Bob & Paula coming along. It was a great time!

This is us leaving for the big night!
[n.b. strapless bras are not compatible with larger assets if you know what I mean]












Here John had just gotten in to the limo. It's hard to see but the limo was HUGE and in great
condition. Tvs, moonroof, mirror on the ceiling, multi-colored lights, full-on tacky limo-ness!









First stop Acapulco's for a pitcher of margaritas (and a free one from the fabulous Martina the bartender)!










Here is a great candid of Paula & John at Acapulco's.











Then it was on to the Barker Tavern for the big dinner - baked stuffed lobster -sooooo good!











Bob & John at the Barker.












Lisa & Paula at the Barker.












This is a shot in the limo on the ride home. Shortly before the the camera somehow got tossed from the limo, dragged to our house and left in a hole in the road (which John discovered in the morning). Still able to get the pictures off it, Thank God, but the camera is now junk.
Don't fear! We already got a new one so the photos will keep coming!
Happy Birthday Johnny! Love you always, Lisa




p.s. Two cutie patootie pics

Some anxiety relief

My boss called me in to the office yesterday and basically allayed my fears that everyone thinks I'm the cause of the ongoing weirdness following the blog blowout. She reiterated that my co-worker seems somewhat unbalanced and I should not bother myself with worrying about it. Surprisingly this has really helped to make me feel better about the situation which was pretty much clinching my psyche up into little balls of tension.
Another source of relief is the new book I am reading titled Perfect Madess:Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety. It describes (in the first two chapters I've read) how basically there is so much pressure to have your kids doing the right thing constantly that mothers are becoming worse mothers while trying to be perfect mothers. My stepfather told me the story of a woman who has a gifted child who is taking math class, french class and learning violin all by the age of 5! Instead of saying, "What a loon!' I found myself saying, "Maybe Brooke should learn violin, or piano or something. I'm probably behind the curve on math but...." Craziness! but it's nice to read that other mothers are going through the same thing.
One of the major points of the book is that in America vs. France (who I know we hate), where the author lived for 3 years, there is not much support from the society/goverment for mothers. I found this out first hand last week at a new music class we are going to on Friday mornings (it's just to get out of the house not to learn violin or piano!). Brooke & Lex were having a great time, Lexi was toddling around in and out of the circle of kids and everyone was cooing at her UNTIL she wiped out. When she got up there was a big bloody gash in her face. So I grabbed her and tried to figure out the extent of the injury while keeping an eye on Brooke. The music teacher just went on with the class. Not one other mother gave a sh*t (except for my friend Linda who is a godsend) about poor Lex. The teacher did the next song with Brooke but seemed to sort of be put out by it.
Lex was fine, though the gash did need to be cleaned and was pretty rough looking for the whole week. This is a class of 8 kids and their parents. It was not like no one noticed, they were just more concerned with themselves. It's just a cruddy way to be and I find everywhere you go you see it. If you are struggling with something, anything, generally no one pitches in to give you a hand. Plus, people don't listen to you. Sometimes you try to let people know you are struggling internally with things and they just pooh, pooh it away because they don't want to hear it. I think we need to listen to our people more.

Weekend Update

This weekend was a crazy, busy, fun weekend. When I say weekend it went from Thur - Tue this week because I, as always, have Friday off, worked at home on Monday and then took Tuesday off to spend Valentine's day with John. So pretty much a loooonnnnngggg weekend.

We had a birthday party on Saturday night for our friend who turned 40. It was a good time. His wife is a great person, easy to talk to, makes everyone feel comfortable, etc. His friends that were invited sort of knew each other so they tended to talk to each other a little more. PLUS there was definitely that competitive female vibe going around. Everyone had kids and this was their one night to "shine". So all the chicks, myself included, were checking each out in that I-bet-I-can-find-her-flaw kind of way. One of the women was absolutely stunning. Black straight hair, fantastic t-shirt (and age appropriate which I really think is so important after 30), thin, etc.
But the puss.
When I'd talk to her smiles, laughter, I'm-so-friendly. When I'd glance at her while I was talking to someone else she'd be staring at me with the afore mentioned "flaw checking" look. Her friend, a blond, cutesy late 40s flower child was nice but a little too flowery for this child if you know what I mean. Both nice people but not going to be going to any movies with them anytime soon.
Linda's sister-in-law was seated next to me and she was great to talk to. She is very straightforward, tells it like it is and seems to know a good time when she sees it. So I talked to her and Linda most of the night and all was well until..............................the dreaded curfew hour.

What you don't have a curfew? Oh I do.
It's whatever time my beloved husband decides that we must leave wherever we are. This particular night it was 9:30. Nine thirty! For god sakes! I realize he worries about driving, I realize we still have to get up with the kids, I realize that we have to be responsible, blah blah blah. But freakin' nine thirty??
Anyway, there may have been a little argument. It was settled before bed but I don't think it will refrain him from dragging me out of somewhere next time at whatever ridiculously early hour he decides he's had enough.
Cest la vie I suppose.

So as not to let my in-laws, parents or friends think all we do is fight we'll move on to Tuesday. Yesterday, Valentine's Day, John & I took the day off. We really had a great day. Here is our itinerary in case you want to steal it for your next day off (tongue in cheeck implied):

6:30 up with kids, get ready for school.
7:45 drop kids at school
8:00 to gym (swim & cardio)
9:00 leave gym head to Panera for breakfast & coffee (this may have been the hightlight of the day because we got to sit in the big comfy chairs in front of the fire and read the paper!)
10:00 reluctantly leave Panera
10:30 Arrive at Mattress Giant, meet Jim, from whom John was seperated at birth, who sells us our NEW MATTRESS - yippee! Best Valentine present ever (wee bit expensie but I DON'T CARE!)
11:00 Head to next shopping location - IKEA. John was a sport on this. He really looked around and was a good shopper. No complaining. In fact I pooped out before he did.
12:15 head to Olive Garden for lunch. Wasn't aware of the elderly housing bus showing up at that exact time but only had to wait about 10 minutes so no biggee. Had a glass of wine at lunch with dessert and cappuccino. This is my idea of fun!
1:00 head home to take nap before picking up the kiddos
3:45 outside in the yard making a "lying down" snowman because Mom can't figure out how to get the snow into actual balls to make a "standing up" snowman.

So it was a very nice Valentine's Day. Life is full of ups and downs, if it weren't what the heck would you do with your time?

Better than her!

At least I'm a better mother than Britney Spears! Good lord! Even if you feel like just driving the 10 feet from point A to point B with your baby on your lap you don't do it because you KNOW that is the one time the axiom that you are more likely to get hit within 100 feet of your house will come in to play. Now, if you are constantly being chased by papparazzi you DEFINITELY don't do it because you know it will be all over the internet and in magazines. This girl really is an ass.

Makes me feel like I know what I'm doing though so thanks Brit!

Another news story that kind of shocked me was the woman who had a full face transplant in France. What an amazing thing. The thing that was a little strange in the story, I thought, was had had a "hard" day so she took a "bunch of drugs", fell asleep and woke up in the pool of blood with the dog (who had eaten her face off) sitting next to her. Really kind of hard to believe unless she had a steak dangling halfway out of her mouth or something. I mean, you gotta believe this dog was normal up until this point otherwise it wouldn't have been in the house. Also, where were her 2 kids? Were they sleeping prior to her drugging herself to the point that you don't feel a dog eating your face? Anyway, the weirdness of that aside. What makes her the lucky recipient of this new technology? Did it just happen that 30 minutes before she came in to the ER they had perfected the operation? I realize they would have had to have the donor ready. I guess they don't make judgements calls on who "deserves" to be healed but it seems to me this woman had something to do with the reason why she needed the surgery in the first place. I'd be a little tweaked if I were French and found out that my tax dollars went to this woman for this (I am sure exorbitantly expensive) surgery. Does that make me uncaring? I'd like to think it makes me believe in consequences. I know I suffer the consequences of stupid things I do or say all the time. I would like to hear her (or other people like her) say, "Geez, I know I did this stupid things, I'm really glad there are people who can help me and forgive me." That's all - too much to ask? Probably.