Birthday Party & A Walk

Morgan had a classmate’s birthday party to attend today.  Dan wouldn’t switch his schedule, so I had to bring Ashley.  I decided to take advantage of the situation and make it a “special” day for Ashley. 

The party was held in a room adjacent to a local restaurant/deli.  Ashley and I had lunch together.  I also chatted with Rebecca for a little while (her daughter Emma also attended the party).  I’m sure Ashley wasn’t thrilled, but she wasn’t too pissy about it 🙂  She knows how I can go on and on and on.  So does everyone else for that matter.

After lunch, Ashley and I stopped off at the car and got some old buns to feed to the ducks at the local pier.  It was a really sunny and pretty day out, but it was still bitter and windy near the lake.  She didn’t get to feed any ducks, but the seagulls sure got fed.  Nasty creatures. 

After spending some time at the pier, we took a long walk around the Village of RP.  It was much warmer the further we got from the lake.  I made that kid walk forever.  Hopefully, I worked some of my lunch off.  I didn’t have a shake today, I shared a poutine with Ashley instead.  My guilty pleasure.  Ashley loves it too.  Bad, bad, bad.

Eventually we went back to the party and got Morgan. 

We’ve been back at home for about 40 minutes or so.  The fighting began as soon as we got inside.  Ashley just cannot help herself.  She loves to antagonize Morgan.  Morgan then hits her, she hits back.   The screaming escalates.  Ashley ended up with a 21-minute time out (7 minutes for the original offense, 7 minutes for sassing and another 7 minutes for making me physically place her in her room).

Goes to prove that nothing I do is ever good enough for that kid.

 

Dinner With My Parents

My father invited us over for dinner Sunday.  I was surprised when I got there because he made Thanksgiving in April.  Yes, he made turkey and all the fixins.  That was exciting, but having to deal with my mother was not.  She makes me CRAZY.

I’ll spare you the dysfunctional details of the evening, but I will share one of her many helpful comments.  While showing my mom where the hem of her pants should fall, I turned around to show her where my hem fell.  What did she say?  She said, “You’ve put on weight, haven’t you?”  So I turned around and said, “So have you, about twenty years worth.”  Take that. 

I also used that as an opportunity to lecture her on proper etiquette while in public.  I told her if she felt the urge to make comments about people or their children while at basketball practice, that she would be banned by me.  I wish I had a mini, low voltage taser that I could use on her whenever she’s about to humiliate me. 

Typical visit with my mom. 

At least I got an excellent meal out of it.

 

All The Pretty Horses

Saturday morning the Brownies had a field trip to a local horse farm.  Unfortunately, it rained all day.  The girls got to ride their choice of four horses.  Ashley and Morgan rode all four and had four turns each.  I know because Morgan reminded me in a loud way that she only had three while Ashley had four 🙂 

I took some photos, but we weren’t supposed to use flash so the quality is quite crappy.  I also took a few videos. 

The owners also had a cookout inside.  Talk about chaotic and claustrophobic.  My nerves were shot by the time we left.  We were the second to leave (surprise, surprise) only because I couldn’t make it to the door fast enough.

The girls had a good time and really enjoyed riding the horses.  That’s what counts.  Hell, I would have rode some myself if it wasn’t for the audience I would have had. 

The rest of the evening was filled with more familial obligations as well.  We had to go visit Dan’s grandfather in the nursing home (I hate nursing homes and hospitals) and then we went to visit Dan’s aunt, uncle and cousins from Rochester.  His aunt never ceases to put in a dig about me being overly talkative.  She would have a meltdown if she ever came to one of the St. Sauveur/Lemieux events.

Long day for sure.

 

Buddy Ball

The last two nights I brought Ashley and Morgan to their elementary school gym for buddy ball. It’s a three-week K-2 basketball program to teach beginning basketball skills. Our official youth basketball starts in third grade.

The boys and girls have separate times. There were dozens of boys, but only 8 girls showed up. Funny considering that the high school girls have always killed in basketball. The boys? Not so much.

My father called and put more pressure on me to go because surprise, surprise – he’s coaching with MG. My father and MG coached the girls youth program for 18 years, retiring a few years back. Ashley and Morgan were excited to have him as coach. Morgan had to miss a Daisy meeting, but what could we do? My dad would have been seriously bummed.

My father has been bringing my mother along. My mom and I have a long history of not getting along, so I was sort of dreading having her potentially embarrass me in front of everyone I know. Let’s just say that she isn’t one to hold her tongue or think before speaking. There hasn’t been one time in history wherein she doesn’t do something to make someone cringe – usually me.  I was quite relieved when only a handful of people showed.  Less of an audience.  Also, selfish, I know, I like to talk to the other moms and catch up with them.  Mom pouts when I don’t give her my full attention – ugh.

She’s been okay the last few nights.  Only a few things, so I’ll give her a B for behavior.  She only mentioned out loud that someone was overweight once 🙂  I love when someone who is 220 lbs. points out another’s weight gain.  If that’s not the pot calling the kettle black.

The girls really like basketball.  Ashley likes it more at this point and is doing quite well.  She will be playing next year.  I won’t be surprised if my father and MG coach again.  Ashley would be thrilled.  I don’t know how I feel.  I think it’s easier on many levels to have a non-relative as coach.

I was worried about my mom embarrassing me when it was Morgan who blindsided me last night.  At the end of practice she overheard someone say they were going to get milkshakes at McDonalds and she proceeded to nag and whine and then full out cry hysterically when I said NO!!!!  It was a long and loud drive home.  I’m not mean and I would normally indulge her, but it was 7:30 p.m. on a school night.

 

My 34th Birthday

It started off with Dan and the girls giving me their cards and gifts. Dan even made coffee for me – woo hoo. The girls made me cards and other drawings and put them in old cereal boxes that they had decorated – too funny. Ashley gave me 50 cents and Morgan gave me a nickel. Dan snuck off to Pburgh yesterday and bought me a new shredder and a wall ledge. I was thrilled. Sounds weird, but that’s what I told him I wanted. I’m all about shredding and recycling anything I can and my old shredder was a toy. This is the cadillac of shredders. I’m not a jewelry kind of girl. I’d rather have practical things that I will actually use. Cash works too 🙂

By sheer luck Dan had the day off. I always have Wednesdays off. Once the kids got on the bus, we headed for Pburgh and had a leisurely day of shopping. He goes his way and I go mine. The mall is great at that time of the day – practically void of all people, especially obnoxious teenagers.

We have a new store in the mall where the Gap was – The Dress Barn. They have so many cute dresses. The prices are not like the outlet in Glens Falls, that’s for sure. I tried on three dresses. They looked much better on the rack :(. I almost had a situation in the dressing room. I got stuck in a dress and seriously thought I was going to need help getting out. I wrecked my hair and scratched myself, but I got out without embarassing myself. The clerk actually came by and asked through the door if I needed help twice :). Their dresses were reasonably priced, but the blouses were not – yikes. I love me a clearance rack.

I also purchased another framed print. Yup, it’s a black and white scene depicting trees. I can’t get enough. I have several already. Dan liked it too and didn’t protest for once, so there’s that.

We decided to eat at Applebees instead of the 99 for a change. Shouldn’t mess with perfection. The food was less than stellar. I’ll spare you the details. Luckily, Dan did not embarrass me by having them come to the table and sing. He teased that he had put in the request with the waitress while I was in the restroom.

I also received cards, calls, emails, facebook comments and myspace comments from friends and relatives. Thank you again.

We concluded the day at home by having chocolate silk pie after dinner instead of cake – my choice. I still made my wish and blew out a candle.

All said, all done, it was a great day.

 

Ice Fishing

Before the ice went away, I braved the frigid temps and accompanied Dan and the kids one morning in February.  I didn’t complain at all.  Dan even commented on my noncomplaintive mood.  The kids enjoyed themselves.   What did they enjoy the most?  The snacks and hot chocolate of course.

 

Wordless Wednesday – Sewing Tutorial With Memere

 

Wordless Wednesday – Farmer Dan

 

Wordless Wednesday – First Day of School

Today Ashley started first grade and Morgan started PreK.  Big day for both girls.

 

Wordless Wednesday – The Cherry Bandit

Remember the cherry photo from two weeks ago?  I thought I just had to worry about the birds.  They had competition this year.