As I was walking upstairs to take Isabella some juice this morning, she appeared, opened the gate and said, “Come on in little lady!”
This after she proclaimed the other night, ” I don’t have a beef with that” when I told her to keep walking in Target.
She’s a character all right!
We were watching a cartoon on TV and some carrots flashed up on the screen. I asked Isabella what those were and she said, “Carrots! Those are for bunny wabbits and healfy people!”
I guess I could take a lesson from her!
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My dear old husband had a birthday last week. He turned 50. Normally he wouldn’t be keen on me sharing his age with the world but the half century mark is one that he’s proud of.
I couldn’t let this birthday go by without doing something special. I’ve know since the summer that I wanted to plan a surprise party for him but it took me a while to figure out just how I would do it. It all came together though and the big night fell last Saturday, the 10th (his actual birthday is the 15th).
The “rouse” was that we were going out to dinner with my family, which we do on a regular basis anyway so it would be nothing suspicious. The guests would arrive around 5:30 and we would get there at 6 for the surprise! Believe it or not, we were able to keep it a surprise too. There were a couple close calls in the weeks leading up to the big day but all were covered up so that he didn’t suspect a thing.
The day of the party was the most stressful for me and CJ did not help matters. I had created a video slideshow of old and embarrassing pictures that would run during the party. It took me until the night before to get it finished so I needed a way to get it to the restaurant on Saturday. We had plans to meet up with some friends Saturday morning for brunch so I suggested that CJ just go alone while I stay home with Isabella (and therefore use that time to drop off the DVD). He said no and insisted we all go. I tried again to convince him he should just go and enjoy some time away. He kept insisting so I finally relented.
I texted my brother-in-law and he said he would come to the house, pick up the DVD and drop it off for me. I told him I’d leave it between the glass front door and the storm door.
About an hour later, while we were at brunch, he texted and said the front door was locked. I had forgotten to unlatch it for him. Damn.
Plan B. When we got home and after I put Isabella down for a nap, I casually mentioned having to run to Target for milk and bread. He said he’d do it because he needed to pick up a prescription anyway. NO! I’LL GO! I insisted and he relented. *sigh*
Finally it was time to head to the party. We got there and he saw my family at a table (which was the plan) and headed toward them, into the room reserved for us. Suddenly he saw 40 or so people waiting for him and he was indeed surprised!
Isabella was too!
I was so happy to see so many people able to come out and help us celebrate. I know he was tickled too!
His sister and brother-in-law even made it all the way from Michigan! A delightful second surprise!
After some socializing and laughs over the slideshow, it was time to sing and have cake!
I hope someone was ready with the fire extinguisher…
Isabella had fun running around with some other kids but then started getting tired and cranky.
So my parents took her home so that we could stay and party! The last guest left around 10:30 p.m. and then we headed over to Two Fine Irishmen for some live music and dancing.
All in all it was a super fun night that I know CJ will remember.
I’m just glad it’s all over. All the sneaking around and withholding of information was starting to get to me!
We spent the next day with CJ’s sister and BIL, showing them around town.
We went to the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge and walked all the way across and back (even though it was a cool rainy day).
Then we went to The Upstream Brewery to dry off and warm up with a few beers.
And monster poopy diapers. Isabella had 2 big ones during our visit and wouldn’t you know, we only had 1 diaper. CJ had to run down the street to the gas station and get another package. I was the good wife and changed both diapers, being judicious with the wipes as we were low on those too.
It all worked out and we had a really nice day.
Here is the video slideshow from the party. Enjoy and thanks to all who came out to help us celebrate!
**Most of the party shots courtesy of H&J Creative Studios!
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I know I haven’t posted in a while. Life’s been busy. Guess it’s time to play “catch up”!
1. I took a blow to the face in volleyball last week. Got hit right on my left cheek.
This picture was taken after about 5 days after it happened and it’s a nice greenish yellow color. Still a tad bit tender but nothing show stopping.
2. CJ and I went out on a date last weekend! Woot! We tried a new restaurant and it was fabulous!
OK so CJ looks annoyed in this pic but he wasn’t. I think I caught him right before/after the smile. Anywho, the place was Mark’s Bistro and it’s located above some shops in the Dundee neighborhood of Omaha. We had a great view from our table.
More importantly, the food was great! I had their famous macaroni and cheese. I mean, how could I not order that?
It didn’t disappoint! CJ got a salmon sandwich of some sort that was also very good.
After dinner we went to see “The Fantastik’s” at the local community theatre. It was in their small “in the round” theatre and we had front row seats. At one point one of the characters handed me his prop – pruning shears – and asked me to hold them. Turns out that actor was CJ’s high school theatre teacher! We went backstage afterwards and saw him. He said, “Hey, you were the one holding my shears!” It was a really fun evening and nice to get out for a bit!
3. Isabella helped me make Thin Mint Brownie’s on Sunday.
Samson was very interested in helping too…
There ended up being more licking than actual helping, but that’s ok!
4. I had to take Samson in to the vet today. He’s been limping around off and on for a few weeks. They think he has a sprained ACL. Doc gave him a steroid shot and some pain meds. Said if he didn’t stop limping after a few days on the meds, then they’d have to put him under and do X-Rays and other tests to see if there is a tear or something. Here’s hoping the meds and some rest do the trick!
5. Today I got to tour the construction site of the new office tower my company is building. It was super cool to see it all up close and personal!
Safety first!
This is one of the main hubs where all the electrical, HVAC, etc. run through.
Careful not to get to close to this guy!
Anyone have marshmallows?
Interior of the windows which are made of special glass. Don’t ask me to explain what’s special about it…I wasn’t listening that close. It’s environmental stuff.
Then we got to ride in this “Man Lift” all the way to the top. Our guide kept saying, “Man life…er, Woman lift…er,…Person lift.” Dude, just call it an elevator.
Now for the view from the top (11 stories up)!
Hiya!
I tell ya, I do not know how construction workers get those hard hats to stay on. I must not have a head shaped well for those. Mine kept slipping no matter how I tightened it. As you can see the vest didn’t fit real well either. But hey, it wasn’t about looking good, it was about safety!
6. As I was tucking Isabella in to bed tonight, she held on during our usual nightly hug for an extra long time. She rested her head on my shoulder and closed her eyes while I rocked her. I could have stood like that forever. After a few minutes, she pulled back, looked me in the eye, and then gave me a kiss and a smile.
There ain’t nothing better than that.
Nighty night!
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1. Isabella has turned the corner from being a distraction when I’m trying to get things done to being my helper. Instead of the constant “hold me! hold me!” pleas I used to get (OK, sometimes still do), I can now give her a task and let her do it.
For example, when making dinner the other night, I told her to play dress up as that would really help mommy out.
Like, really.
So she did!
First she put on a pair of slippers.
Then she added the crowning touch.
OK 3 crowns.
Believe it or not, this kept her busy for the 15 minutes I needed to throw some ingredients together.
I also discovered a trick to both tiring her out AND getting help at the store: make her push the cart. She thinks this is so much fun. What she doesn’t realize is that she’s getting lots of exercise walking around Target multiple times and it helps me keep track of her since she’s right there in front of me.
Genius!
No worries, she manages to have plenty of fun too.
Like finding beautiful bags to hold.
And hugging pillows.
2. Over dinner, I asked Isabella today if she went outside to play in the snow. She said, “Not probably. It’s not impossible.”
Not sure if that means she did or didn’t. We have a little Riddler on our hands folks!
3. Speaking of The Riddler, CJ has a multitude of comic book posters in the basement. They used to hang in his man cave at the old house. In the new house, they’re just leaning against the wall, waiting for a home. Isabella saw one the other day that had every single Marvel character imaginable on it.
She was naming some of the more obvious character like Spiderman, Captain America, Hulk, etc. She impressed me when she could pinpoint Wolverine, The Thing and Thor. Then she blew me away when I pointed to this guy and said, “I bet you don’t know who that is!”
I mean, I don’t even know who that is.
Without hesitating she replied, “That’s Juggernaut Mommy!”
*jaw dropping*
I checked with CJ and she’s right. Little Smarty Pants.
Tomorrow I plan to set her down to do our taxes.
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