Happy Anniversary indeed!!!

Ok, ladies.  This is going to be one of those posts where you either think, "Awww, that is so great," or you think,"Awwww, why can't my husband do that kind of thing?"  But just don't get into any marital spats because of me, 'k?  Because I have got to seriously brag on my husband for a bit. 

In general, we don't have a fabulous track record with our anniversary.  And it's not Jeff's fault or anything, we just don't usually make it a big deal.  As a matter of fact, I have actually forgotten it before!  Although, to clarify, I knew that our anniversary was the 13th of August, but I didn't know that that particular Tuesday, or whatever, was our anniversary.  And since I forget what the date is on a regular basis anyway, that should come as a surprise to no one.

Anyway, I've been wanting to go somewhere overnight for our anniversary for a few years now, but it's never worked out, mostly because we don't have family in the area, so we don't have anyone to watch all of our kids at one time.  (Seriously, all you people with grandparents readily available really don't know how good you've got it.)  As a matter of fact, we haven't had a night away, just Jeff and me, since Jarom was a year old and we came out to North Carolina to go house hunting.

What I had really wanted to do was to go stay at the Renaissance hotel at North Hills, and go to dinner, and see a movie, etc., because it's all there, and we wouldn't be too far away.  Doesn't it sound fabulous?  But I had resigned myself to it not happening, because of the aforementioned "no family to watch the kids" wrinkle.

HOWEVER!!  Not only had Jeff been listening to me when I was wishing out loud that we could do this fun thing for our anniversary, but he actually took the whole thing in hand and arranged with our good friends who have 4 kids, just like us, all the same ages as our kids, to take our children, and he made the hotel reservation for us, as a surprise, all by himself!!!!

I know!!!! 

It really could not have been more fabulous!  We went to dinner at Firebirds, our favorite steakhouse, bar none, where we had a truly fantastic dinner (filet mignon, anyone?), and then we went to the last Harry Potter movie (yet another present from my sweetie), and after that, when the movie got out ofter midnight, we didn't have to make the long drive home, and then pay the babysitter, and then drive the babysitter home -  all we had to do was walk to the end of the "block" and go to our room!  It was awesome!!!

The next day we got to sleep in as late as we wanted, and then we actually went in to all the fancy shops and boutiques at North Hills that I would never ever go into with my kids.  And then, after we were done window shopping (because there was no way in heck that I was going to actually buy anything at those fancy boutiques.  One place had sequined sweaters for $497!!!  I kid you not!  And the clearance racks were still all over $200!   I was blown away by the senseless materialism) we went to JC Penney where they were having a fantastic sale, and got Jeff some work shirts (all more than 50% off), and me a couple of necklaces (also all on major sale - nothing more than $10).  Now that's my idea of clearance.

To finish out the day we had linner at Bonefish Grill, which I had never been to before, but I will be going again.  They do really good seafood, and I had grilled shrimp and sea scallops with roasted asparagus, which was all incredible.  Just like the weekend!

So please, don't hate me because my husband is awesome.  :o)

And Another [Song] Bites the Dust

Have you ever really liked a song from your childhood, only to have it completely ruined by today's technology?  Let me explain.

So, when I was younger (like, elementary school "younger") I really enjoyed this one song that would come on the radio, and even though I didn't really understand any of the words, except for an occasional "Angel," and sometimes a "centerfold" (which made no sense to me at all), it had a great melody, and there was this awesome chorus of "Na Na Na Na's". 

Do you see where I'm going with this?

Anyway, I heard the song on the radio again recently, and really enjoyed bopping out to it as I was driving around.  Of course, I understood more this time around (at the very least, I know what a centerfold is) but I still couldn't understand most of the words, either because it was on a fuzzy radio channel, or because the lead singer didn't have very good diction.  Probably both.  But I sure enjoyed those "Na Na Na Na's".

I downloaded the song from itunes, and then, last night, while I was watering the lawn (because we paid a ridiculous amount of money to get our lawn aerated and seeded, and I didn't want to blow our investment, even though it kills me to think what our water bill is going to be next month) it came up on my ipod.  And, thanks to crystal clear digital technology delivering every nuance straight to my ear canal via my earbuds, I finally hear the song in its entirety.  Every. single. word.

So, now that I completely understand exactly what the song is saying, and why the words "Angel" and "centerfold" were so prominent, I must reject the appeal of the chorus of  "Na Na Na Na's".  Which just basically all means that I've erased the song from my itunes library.  But...Argggh!!!

The really frustrating thing?  Not only have I lost the $0.99 that I paid for the darn thing, not only do I have those stupid words and the images that they created in my mind, but now I can't even listen to it on the radio with the same innocent enjoyment of my 80's nostalgia.  Technology has ruined this song for me forever.

Even the Na Na Na Na's.

I'm almost an empty-nester

Yup, it's actually happened: Kelcey has started kindergarten.  She had her first "staggered entry" day last week, where only a few kids from each class attend so that the teacher can get to know them individually, and get all the assessments done (such as, do they know their letters, numbers, colors, etc.).  She knew all that stuff a long time ago, and we'd been reviewing the last few days, so I hope it went well.

Better than mine, at least.

My mother taught me how to read when I was two, which is less a comment on the fact that I was a gifted child, and more a reveal into how fantastically and incredibly AWESOME my mother is.  So, by the time I was in kindergarten, reading was normal.  It was just something that I did all the time.  I don't remember a time when I couldn't read.

Anyway, when I got to kindergarten for my assessment, according to my mom, I was so irritated that they were asking me what the letters and numbers were, stuff that I had known forever, that I just clammed up, and refused to answer any of their questions.

So, apparently they thought I was somewhat backwards, and put me into a remedial program until my mother figured out what was going on, explained the problem, and convinced me to read for my teacher.

Which just goes to show you...actually, what, I'm not exactly sure--that you shouldn't cross someone off your "people with potential" list, because they might have talents that they are keeping hidden?, that public school education is somewhat inadequate?, or that I shouldn't cause problems for myself just because I think that the people around me are acting like idiots?  Pick any of those as your favorite moral and run with it.  :o)

Oh, and I guess I should have said that I feel like an empty-nester.  Because I still have Ben at home with me, but without Kelcey it feels so quiet.   I've always maintained that having just one child is pretty much the same as being alone, and it's totally true. 

Maybe if Ben was older, it might be different, but I find myself forgetting about lunch time, because Kelcey isn't there telling me she's hungry.  And when Ben goes up to play in the playroom I don't hear any of the regular noises of two kids playing together, and occasionally fighting together.  It's just pretty quiet.

Ben misses her too.  Yesterday he would be playing or walking around, and, out of the blue, he'd say, "Kelcey gone?  Kelcey school?"  And I'd agree that she was at school, but remind him that all the kids were coming home soon (ish).  He actually might miss her more than I do, because they played together so much, and she was so good about doing things with him.

It's only been two days of school so far, and I know that I will get a routine again with Ben and me (part of the problem is that I've been housebound while Jeff's car is in the shop)  but right now I miss having someone at home that I could really have a conversation with.  Yeah, ok, maybe not a deep philosophical discussion, but a conversation nonetheless.  I admit that I'm wallowing in it, just a little bit, but, you guys, it's the end of an era!  (2 points to whomever knows that TV show quote)

I guess I should be glad that I only have one child at home, making shopping, etc., much easier, but right now I'm just sad.  I only cried once yesterday, and it's getting better, but today I'm sad. 

Ok, bright side: isn't it great that I have kids that I actually miss?