It's birthday week around our house. I may have mentioned in some previous posts that DoodleBug will turn 21 tomorrow. Stasha at The good life hosts a cute little hop called Monday Listicles and this week the list theme is BIRTHDAYS. With that in mind, I made a list of the good and bad concerning--BIRTHDAYS.
The Good:
It's a birthday! We are born! We have arrived!
There will be TONS of cake!
There will be presents!
Everyone is nice to us!
IT'S a PAR-TAY!
My parents are still having birthdays!
There will be ice cream!
There will be balloons!
There might be a pinata!
It will be recorded by dad on video.
You get to wear silly hats.
Someone tells you that they are very glad you were born.
The smiles!
The laughter!
The nostalgia of birthdays past.
The Bad:
We get old- fast.
Coming up with new, creative ideas for kids' birthday parties gets old- fast.
Cleaning up after all those parties SUCKED.
Our kids age at warp speed.
Our kids grow up and move out on their own and we are faced not having them home to celebrate their birthdays.
We are expected to mature in behavior as we mature in age.
People don't always mature in behavior as they mature in age.
That gray doesn't look as bad on men.
Not everyone gets wiser as they get older.
Figuring out the perfect gift.
Keeping up with the dates.
Getting the cards in the mail---on time.
It takes several strong men and an aluminum baseball bat to open the damn pinata. Or a chain saw.
It will be recorded by dad on video.
You wear silly hats.
The spills!
The tummy aches.
The nostalgia of birthdays past.
Stay tuned- tomorrow is all about DoodleBug's special day!
What's on your list of the good and bad about birthdays?
What a great oyster roast it was! We had about 30 people and it may very well have been our best, most fun roast yet!
I think I"ll let some of the pictures do the talking...most of it anyway!
Gorgeous fresh shrimp that was delicious in the low-country boil!
Deanie and NickleAss (there's a story behind his nickname that I'll share soon)
First round of oysters
NickleAss and BestSonInLawEVER shucking oysters
Round two---
Round 3...you get the idea!
A Christmas kiss!
Breezy and her Christmas gift from BestSonInLawEVER!
My family might be a bit on the crazy side...
Ok, they ARE a little bit crazy!
The boys- NickleAss, Evwardo, and BestSonInLawEVER
Mr Brian entertaining the masses...as usual!
Chatting around the table...and eating!
That's DoodleBug in the middle, her BFF from high school and roommate, Hannah and Hannah's BF, Benjamin! (You've seen them in Wednesday night dinner pix)
It's so much fun to chat around the table...
And there was playin' and singin'- Hubs and Breezy.
My Sweetie.
More singin' and playin'...
All of the boys are talented too- here's NickleAss with the dobro that Hubs made YEARS ago (yes, he made it from a tree trunk- Hubs is a luthier by trade)
Still singin' and playin'
It was, simply put, fantastic!
And, best of all? The nest is NOT empty for the holidays! I am one happy mom!
Not too much going on around here--again. Except for this weekend. Breezy and BestSonInLawEVER came down so that Breezy and I could host a baby shower for a friend she's had since fourth grade!
Anyway, here's my week in a:
There is an actual weather update: WE GOT RAIN! That's right! And we've had it several times over the last few days coupled with some amazing storms! It has been glorious! PLUS, we have a couple of days coming up when they are calling for the highs to be ONLY in the upper 80s! We might need to get out a sweater or two.
Several of you have been waiting for a picture of Tucker in his brand new carrier- I finally remembered to get Hubs to help with this over the weekend, so, HERE'S TUCKY:
He looks a little pitiful here. I think he was wondering WTH he was doing in the carrier without being outside walking--and why his dad is carrying him and not me. Usually, he's looking all around and then looking back at me and giving me little Tucky kisses!
Birdie is still slowly adjusting to be in Texas. She says it's HOT. The main thing bothering her is that she has no family close by. We are a tight-knit family so moving away does take some getting used to. ANYWAY, she got her sewing machine set up and went out to get some fabric, a pattern and various other sewing needs. She returned to her apartment and taught herself how to sew! She made an apron. Here it is:
Her sewing machine...
The necessary items...
In progress...
Finished product!
Finished product on Birdie!
OH! This is Birdie's office---
Here's another angle of her office.
Breezy and BestSonInLawEVER arrived Friday night. It was almost strange with just the four of us here, but more pleasant than anything. Breezy has a friend, Keely, that she's been close to since 4th grade. Keely's mom was one of our most wonderful parent volunteers at the elementary school the lovelies attended. Sadly, her mom passed away a few years ago. But Breezy and I have stepped in as family for this wonderful occasion. So we're sort of honorary aunt and grandma! It'll be great practice! She got TONS of gifts and everyone had a great time! Here are some highlights:
The goodies.
Granddaughter of a dear friend- cute isn't she?
Some of the girls---that's Keely in the chair with the balloons. Breezy is to her right (your left...the girl holding the paper...LOL)
This kid is just the cutest thing!
The woman talking is Breezy's 3rd grade teacher! She is one of the most wonderful people ever put on Earth! (I'm not exaggerating I could write an entire post on her!) She was a good friend of Keely's mom too!
Two pregos at the party! That's Keely on the left.
Breezy and Keely!
My dad is having surgery to remove (we certainly hope they get it) cancer from his prostate on Thursday morning (August 18). Any and all prayers/positive vibes are welcomed and appreciated!
That's all for now! Hope everyone has the best week EVER! And remember to smile- it makes people wonder what you've been up to!
One of the things I love most to do is entertain. In the good 'ol days--the days before our nest became empty--we hosted many gatherings in our cozy little house, from occasion related parties to casual cookouts just to have fun with neighbors, friends, and family. The cookouts were just like the ones you've seen in movies and even commercials. A gathering of adults and children- the grill smoking with burgers and hot dogs; sprinkler blasting water in all directions as the kids run, laughing and screaming, through the jetted streams, pulling each other in the wagon, swinging and hanging upside down on the swing set; adults with drinks in their hands, talking and laughing, cooking and getting all the necessary items out on the picnic tables for the Norman Rockwellish summer feast--buns, condiments, watermelon, baked beans, homemade french fries, cups, plates and napkins decorated with a summer theme of beach umbrellas and flip flops. No special occasion needed--just spending time with each other. There were the occasion supported gatherings, celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, bridal and baby showers (the most recent one is in the picture above), etc. And then there were the holiday gatherings from dinner parties where we all actually dressed up and prepared fancy five course meals (where our next door neighbor, at the time, would make her homemade French Onion soup--DELICIOUS!) to parties for the purpose of collecting toys for children of the local migrant workers and creating Christmas crafts. Ah, yes. Those were, indeed, the days my friend. But then--and is almost seems suddenly, now--the children got older, some of the adults grew apart and divorced, and others moved to new neighborhoods, towns, or even states. This, coupled with a now empty nest, led me to the realization that we had better come up with some holiday plans that would accommodate everyone being able to attend. Thus, our FIRST ANNUAL EMPTY NEST CHRISTMAS OYSTER ROASTis in the works.
My thoughts are that we have this gathering the weekend before Christmas and include friends and family. That way, should anyone not be able to make it the actual day of Christmas, we will still be together during the season. I know this kind of thing happens with an empty nest, especially when one daughter is married and another one lives nine hours away and has a job. I am also aware that the preparations won't be as much fun as they used to be when our girls were little. When I roll up the cheese and olive balls and the sausage balls, for example, they will all be uniform in size and I won't have to say something like, "We're not rolling up basketballs here girls." (and very few to none will be dropped on the floor.). No one will be here to get covered in icing while decorating the Christmas cookies (see how cute they were making the cookies?). No one will be here to lick the mixing bowl of cake batter and icing. No one will be here to lick the cooled pot that was used to cook the homemade fudge. No one will be here to ask if I would please just go ahead and cook a few things right now just for a taste. No one will be here to help decorate the house or the trees. No one will be here to shake every single present under the tree to try and guess the contents (and YES they STILL do this.). HOWEVER, they will be here to enjoy it! Plus, it's an OYSTER ROAST! Who doesn't love an oyster roast?! There will be oysters outside and Christmas goodies inside (because, although I love to throw the party, I HATE oysters) and the warmth will be provided by the gathering of friends and family. Right. There's only ONE problem with that wonderful picture---
Married daughter and BestSonInLawEver (both soon to be known as TheTwoWhoDidNotCometotheOysterRoast) won't be able to come because of a wedding they justhavetogotomom. AND the one who wanted to experience living in a big city (soon to be known as TheOtherOneWhoDidNotCometotheOysterRoast) so she moved NINE hours away won't be here either --she took off December 22-26 so she could be here ON Christmas. Oh well, the best laid plans--as they say. At least our two college babies will be here for everything! And there will be plenty of friends and family around to help spread the proverbial Holiday Cheer.
I knew that, at some point, we would be faced with this situation where one or two of the girls wouldn't be able to make it home for one thing or another. But I am STILL NOT READY to join the ranks of those who celebrate the holidays without every family member being present. I'm not bitter. I won't be trying to make their lives miserable when they cannot make it to whatever event it is (I'm not that kind of mom and Hubs is not that kind of dad). I'm just NOT DIGGING it! At all! Not one little bit! It's CHRISTMAS for goodness sakes! And then, I realized something else! The ANNUAL NEW YEAR'S EVE OYSTER ROAST! We started that one last year and it was big fun! Two might be missing the December roast and TheTwoWhoDidNotCometotheOysterRoast might be missing Christmas Eve and Day (because they're spending it up there with his family but I'm thinking if they get you year round WE should get holidays...just saying) BUT we do have New Year's Eve! Wait. Oh CRAP. TheOtherOneWhoDidNotCometotheOysterRoast will be back in DC and NOT here for that one either. Our family is going to be split up for the FIRST TIME EVER! This is muy UNCOOL!
Yes, there's a first time for everything. And I'm sure we'll survive this just fine. But no one asked me if I was ready for this. No one told me how to prepare for this. But, carry on we will. And there will be decorations, and yummy Christmas goodies, and those nasty oysters that everyone else LOVES, and friends and family and HOLIDAY CHEER (the bottled kind) and gifts...
WAIT! (a bright light bulb just popped up on top of my head because this idea is fantastic!)-- If I tell them 'No showing up = no presents' do you think their plans will change?
Being a transplant to the low-country of SC for 31 years is still not long enough to be called a ‘benyeh.’ If I stay until I’m dead I’ll probably go a ‘comeyeh’ since I am, originally, ‘from off’ (which is the upstate but, rules you know). By day I take care of my sweet little granddaughter, Baby M and do all those things I did when I was a SAHM raising four daughters which has translated to, ‘by day, I am exhausted.’ By night I blog, blog, blog, and blog some more or I sleep, depending on my level of exhaustion (do they still make Geritol?). I have a very unhealthy addiction to sweets (nearly any kind will do) and all comfort foods not covered under the ‘sweets’ category. I’m known for speaking my mind so, if you don’t want to know, don’t ask me. I love to find the humor in my empty nest life. I live life hard and smack into that brick wall almost daily because I’ve always had to learn the hard way. Why change now? I’m so glad you’ve come to laugh with me as I do this middle age, empty nest thing like a BOSS!
It's birthday week around our house. I may have mentioned in some previous posts that DoodleBug will turn 21 tomorrow. Stasha at The good life hosts a cute little hop called Monday Listicles and this week the list theme is BIRTHDAYS. With that in mind, I made a list of the good and bad concerning--BIRTHDAYS.
