A Visit with the Aunts and Uncles

We got together with the extended family last weekend at Jane and Ken's because Barbara was visiting. Tyler and Janey K. made it in from Southern Maryland and it was an especial treat to see Thom and Aunt Cay up from North Carolina. The biggest surprise, though, was Kix and her kids. Turns out her son and Alec play on the same baseball team. What a small world!

At any rate, we had great pizza (of which I ate WAY too much) and lots to talk about including, in no particular order, our crazy relatives, politics, why you shouldn't "reply all" on e-mails, the benefits of local vs. shipped-in organic foods, and a whole bunch of other stuff.

Janey K., in her usual Pied Piper way, took the girls off my hands, for which I am eternally grateful. They played restaurant and generally ran around like the insane urchins that they are. It was wonderful because I actually got to converse with the adults a little. You don't realize how much you miss that until you get to do it. I also got to hold Baby Kenny a time or two. He feels like a feather when you're used to hefting a 40-pound, solid muscle pre-schooler. The boy is ready to walk and once that happens all hell is going to break loose.

The only bummer of the day was that NOBODY brought a camera. Unbelievable!

A funny followup story (which some of you have already heard...)

Sunday, I came upstairs after working out and found the girls had built a huge nest of pillows in the living room. It was their restaurant, called "A Big Smile on You," presumably because that's what you'll have once you've eaten there. They were wearing their aprons that Aunt Janey K. had given them and Laura had made them name tags. She was Mrs. Tiffany and JiaJia was Mrs. Flower. Laura took my order, JiaJia cooked and served my lunch, then they gave me a hug, because as Laura said, "that's just the kind of restaurant this is." It was a hoot.

I'm embarrassed to admit we did a big nothing for St. Patrick's day. The girls didn't even wear green to school and I schlepped around the house in workout clothes all day (which are definitely not green). No green beer, no corned beef and cabbage (which I don't really mind since I don't particularly like corned beef), no soda bread, nothing. My Irish ancestors are spinning in their graves at this greivous omission. Oh well, maybe next year.

So next Sunday is Easter. Laura announced to me last night that her little buddy, Isabella, had told her there is no Easter Bunny, its really your parents. What?!?!? I thought I had at least a couple more years before we had this conversation but no such luck. I pointed out to her that Isabella hadn't proven herself to be a particularly good source of information in the past but I think she is on the verge. I hope I can convince her to believe for a little bit longer. I'm just not ready for my first baby to be that grown up.

But all things considered, whether she believes or not, I will be expected to pony up with the candy. Some things never change...