(no subject)

Today is my mother-in-law’s birthday. Everyday there is something to be grateful for in regards to the boys and the fact that they’ve really cemented a new type of relationship with my mother-in-law is pretty fabulous. I love that she calls me from time to time to see how we are doing when she knows Nicole is at work. We put her on the speaker phone and let her talk to the boys and they love hearing Nana. When I feel like I’ve always been a motherless daughter, she reaches out and gives me an inkling of what it might have been like to grow up with a mom that was invested in my life. I love that she loves her grandsons like she does. Don’t get me wrong, she stresses me out sometimes – but doesn’t all family? I hope she has a wonderful day and we will see her at the beach soon! YAY!

I talked to Bailey on his 30th birthday yesterday. He had a low-key day, no fan-fare. He said his plans were to “Watch an idiot give an acceptance speech and go out and have a nice dinner by myself.” Bailey has always been able to go out and eat alone, go to movies alone. I love him. I wish he weren’t so alone, though.

Night before last, Brenner and Brooks went to bed without dinner because they refused everything we offered. Brenner cried until he was gasping, Brooks fussed until he couldn’t fuss anymore. It resulted in early bedtime without a bath. Last night was Nicole’s late night, so we had a dinner of Whatever-we-wanted and I let the boys take a loooooong bath because they were grimy and gross. Boys! The bathroom was trashed but they were joyful. I think if Brooks could live in the water, he would!

I made a coca-cola cake for the potluck today. I ended up having Nicole help me make it, too. We both chatted as we heated up cocoa powder and coke, joking about how it was cruel to fill the house with the smell of chocolate when we couldn’t touch the cake at all. Alas. Maybe I will be able to bring home some leftovers….

I am *stoked* about this long weekend. (Does anyone say ‘stoked’ anymore?) Even with the heat back, the dog days are the best. And the beach creeps ever closer.

Perhaps the best thing about today? The Dona comes home from a 5-week long government posting in Baltimore! She comes back to us an engaged woman, too! I can’t wait to see her shiny ring, hear all about her life in the big city and catch up with her. And I’m sure her Fiancee is going to be deliriously happy to have her back, too!

ETA: I forgot I wanted to remember this ;) My college roommate made it official on facebook that she is expecting TWINS! YAY! That makes THREE sets of twins from my freshman year hallmates. The boys will be 2 at reunion, L's twin girls will be 1, and K's twins a few months old. HURRAY for twins! And many of my friends from college and high school are also announcing 1st and 2nd pregnancies. I am SO terribly clucky. Poor, poor Nicole.

(no subject)

Today is my mother-in-law’s birthday. Everyday there is something to be grateful for in regards to the boys and the fact that they’ve really cemented a new type of relationship with my mother-in-law is pretty fabulous. I love that she calls me from time to time to see how we are doing when she knows Nicole is at work. We put her on the speaker phone and let her talk to the boys and they love hearing Nana. When I feel like I’ve always been a motherless daughter, she reaches out and gives me an inkling of what it might have been like to grow up with a mom that was invested in my life. I love that she loves her grandsons like she does. Don’t get me wrong, she stresses me out sometimes – but doesn’t all family? I hope she has a wonderful day and we will see her at the beach soon! YAY!

I talked to Bailey on his 30th birthday yesterday. He had a low-key day, no fan-fare. He said his plans were to “Watch an idiot give an acceptance speech and go out and have a nice dinner by myself.” Bailey has always been able to go out and eat alone, go to movies alone. I love him. I wish he weren’t so alone, though.

Night before last, Brenner and Brooks went to bed without dinner because they refused everything we offered. Brenner cried until he was gasping, Brooks fussed until he couldn’t fuss anymore. It resulted in early bedtime without a bath. Last night was Nicole’s late night, so we had a dinner of Whatever-we-wanted and I let the boys take a loooooong bath because they were grimy and gross. Boys! The bathroom was trashed but they were joyful. I think if Brooks could live in the water, he would!

I made a coca-cola cake for the potluck today. I ended up having Nicole help me make it, too. We both chatted as we heated up cocoa powder and coke, joking about how it was cruel to fill the house with the smell of chocolate when we couldn’t touch the cake at all. Alas. Maybe I will be able to bring home some leftovers….

I am *stoked* about this long weekend. (Does anyone say ‘stoked’ anymore?) Even with the heat back, the dog days are the best. And the beach creeps ever closer.

Perhaps the best thing about today? The Dona comes home from a 5-week long government posting in Baltimore! She comes back to us an engaged woman, too! I can’t wait to see her shiny ring, hear all about her life in the big city and catch up with her. And I’m sure her Fiancee is going to be deliriously happy to have her back, too!

ETA: I forgot I wanted to remember this ;) My college roommate made it official on facebook that she is expecting TWINS! YAY! That makes THREE sets of twins from my freshman year hallmates. The boys will be 2 at reunion, L's twin girls will be 1, and K's twins a few months old. HURRAY for twins! And many of my friends from college and high school are also announcing 1st and 2nd pregnancies. I am SO terribly clucky. Poor, poor Nicole.