The Party People are Pooped.

TWO Birthday extravaganzas this weekend...it was a little bit of a miracle that they happened at all. It seems like kids are scheduled every minute of the day (mine included). I can't say whether this is good or bad, but it makes it hard to get a group of kids together.

G's get together was first (which is strange, since her actual birthday is after Mike's; I can't even remember how she talked me into that).

As you can see, since this was a group of third-almost-fourth-graders, there were very sophisticated.

But throw a 5-year old in the mix and they are more than happy to come down to his level. Quickly.

Mike's had his party at Chuck E Cheese, or as Nina called it, "Vegas for the under 10 crowd". It is totally like Vegas, the kids eat too much Spongebob Cake, and their tokens are gone before they know it.

Fortunately everything that happens at CEC stays at CEC.

How did Angelina feel?

two words: Not Impressed.

April Vacation

G's school put on a parent-child dance this year. The theme was "Fly me to the Moon" and it was super cute or the pictures make it seem that way...Mike, Angelina and I weren't on the guest list.

What to do, what to do...without Bill and G, we had a lot of options. Instead of dancing and hob nobbing with the Millbury Elite, we played Wii, picked out cookie recipes we want to try on http://www.foodgawker.com/ and made movies. Movies that will be boring (i promise you) to anyone but those directly related to us. Or scientists measuring the velocity of baby sneezes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9WKDZsdkus

Number Three

Poor Angie...

Already three months have gone by and she hasn't had a single post on Soybutter. I really don't think she is taking it personally...in fact, most days I think she is glad that I don't forget her at G's dance class.

She is assimilating nicely into the family. She has learned to assert herself already, her explosive poops are enough to intimidate everyone but Nina. She is learning to share and has a (necessary) patience that her siblings did not need to have. We have routines we share with G and Mike, like mealtimes and bathtimes, and she has routines that are just hers.

It's magical to see the first signs of her personality emerging. She talks up a storm and is already more serious then her siblings were at this age. Her smiles are heavenly, but they are only won with a little effort on our part. I love it, but it was still bittersweet to pack away those tiny 0-3 month outfits this weekend. Fortunately, I know from experience--even more fun times are ahead!

Happy 3-month Angie, my beautiful number 3!

Meet Anthony!

Anthony is here!

He made his appearance this weekend both feet-first and a week early; clearly he heard how many illegal fireworks were puchased in NH by his dad and he didn't want to miss the opportunity to see them on the 4th of July. So we know that: he is punctual, loves surprises and is a bit of a pyro right from the womb. He's going to fit in just fine.

Here is Justin doing his best Buzz-Lightyear-Goes-to-Surgery impression.


...and now he's doing an impression of that pole that holds the IVs. All in the name of keeping spirits high. It must be working on Nina, she's smiling while she's actually walking to surgery.

He's a keeper! (that's actually a nice product shot for the iTouch there too--I'd send it to Apple, maybe get AJ's college paid for...)

There's the beautiful boy! He is absolutely perfect! Nina was the picture of grace under pressure during the whole experience. I'm not biased, the nurses and MDs all were amazed at how cool and calm she was from the moment she found out this wouldn't be a typical birth right up until she held Anthony in her arms. Justin was a fantastic birth partner-strong and calm, he kept everyone serene and did absolutely everything right.

"If I have a monument in this world, it is my son"

-Maya Angelou

The D-Word

Sweet relief. I am NOT good at keeping secrets and even worse at not talking. That stream-of-consciousness thing I do is sort of a compulsion, so I guess this could count as therapy.

New destination-appropriate outfits are ready...

Bags are packed (the butterfly one is Bill's)...

Now I just need to make it to tomorrow morning.

It is not quite what I anticipated...but their reaction got better as the morning went on. Michael was very concerned about what kind of fuel the plane runs on (?!).

April Fool's and Cognitive Psychology

yumm....grilled cheese!

G was a little confused when I served her this last night...but I blamed it on being distracted (long day, can't concentrate, blah blah blah). She found it rather easy to believe that yet again, I don't have my act together. (is there a message for me in there somewhere? that's what sublimation is for folks--let's make some crafts! )

Anyhow--this is actually slices of butter poundcake (toasted) with orange-tinted vanilla frosting. It took a few bites for her to believe it was dessert and not a grilled cheese--even after I showed her the frosting. It was interesting how long it took for her switch her thinking and not trust her eyes. Mike would not believe it no matter what we did. He would not try it.

This is what they are getting at breakfast--its not cranberry juice, it's jello. Whee! THIS is what parenting is all about, playing mindgames with your children.

Holiday Wrap-up

The holiday post is way overdue, but here are some great pics from the holidays. Santa did find our house, and he was good to everyone.

X-mas morning...notice the Zhu Zhu pets on the fireplace. They have yet to be played with (downside: out $50 bucks, upside: no lead poisoning! I think its a win).

Gia with her American Girl Doll! This the one with the llama. (as opposed to the one with the horse, the one from the depression, the homeless one--someday I'll learn their names).

And Nina with her American Girl doll. Err...I think this is the one from China....

My two little angels eating the holiday dinner. Wait, is that Mike saying grace?!?

Actually, he is squishing the roll between his hands to mash it flat. Because it "tastes better that way".

I hope you all had great holidays!!

White no, TAN with a green roof

I think that it is pretty standard to hate on your hometown...everybody thinks where they grew up is too small-town, too clique-y. Not surprisingly there is a Facebook page devoted to hating your hometown. I think the real reason most people hate their hometown is because thats where they went through their ackward teenage years and no one likes remembering that.



Not the town's fault you made bad decisions at age 14, people.


Anyway, some people move BACK to their hometown, in the same neighborhood they grew up in... And while those people's siblings would love to laugh at that, they can't. Because they did the same thing. There is a comfort in your hometown too, and I guess that is what I focus on.

Anyway, one of the things I love about Millbury is every year Santa drives through town the Sunday before Christmas. He gets to ride the firetruck and pass out lollipops too. At a function for Gia's school this year, some of the parents who grew up in Millbury were remembering how this happened every year while we grew up. We all remembered running out of the house, shoes on the wrong feet and no coat in December to catch a glimpse. It is one of those little things that becomes a tradition under your nose.

I'm glad my kids get to take part in this town tradition too. This year we are especially glad that he got to do a drive-by. The siding we put on last month changed our house color, and we wouldn't want him to be confused on the big night.

The holiday season is in full swing. Our weekends are packed with parties, christmas activities and functions. Last week Gianna danced at the chain of lights.

Mike slept.

Mike is really starting understand Christmas. Like halloween, this is really the first year he can anticipate what is going to happen. This has made for some interesting conversations. Last week he ran up to me, breathless, and said

" Is Santa watching me now?"

me: "yes he is, to see if you are being good"

him: "RIGHT now?"

me: "yeeess...why?"

him: "so, right NOW?"

me: "what did you do?"

he ran away at that point...

Gianna's list to Santa was very short and simple:

• A horse
• A puppy
• A kitty
• A hermit crab
• A saddle for the horse

She's going to need to ask for some re-zoning laws as well.

Rock Lobster

Great Halloween this year, no big events, no one puked in the neighbors breezeway (looking at you, Mike...).

The halloween costumes this year were also pretty low-key. Gianna picked a "dark princess". Frankly, I'm not sure that is a real thing, and I've taken a class on gothic literature. However, since she didn't want to be one of those floozy little Bratz characters, we couldn't really argue.

We sort of dropped the ball with Mike's costume. Right up until 2 weeks before Halloween, he hadn't decided, and when he finally did--he wanted to be Wall-E again (which was unfortunate because I had thrown out the remnants of his costumes during a recent playroom-purge session). We were banking on the fact that his three-year-old attention span is only a few minutes long and that Target has a dazzling array of costumes (this strategy works on me and nina effectively as well).

On the night of Halloween, it was unseasonably warm, which was great for walking around the neighborhoods. The kids got so much candy that their bags broke. We got some treats walking around the neighborhood as well (Thanks Neighbors!).

The hit of the neighborhood? Defintely Mario's lobster costume (though Nina and Justin's giving out bud light is a very close second). Mario is a BIG fan of halloween (and the trick or treaters were big fans of Mario, its a very symbiotic relationship).

It was most disturbing when Gia ran ahead to trick or treat with her friends from the neighborhood (both boys). We are so uncool. already--she's not even a tween.

ahhh...the loot! Two complaints: Not a Mounds to be found in all of this candy (my favorite) and not a single piece of dark chocolate (and DOTS, who eats those?).

Walk to Cure Cancer 2009

What a great day for the Cancer walk!
Take a look at the table...and whose that attractive woman handing out mousepads?





At the beginning of the walk, theBreast Cancer group released pink balloons...



Our team! Kim, Alex and Sam (but Rudy was being shy...)

Bill jumped into action to provide the walkers with glucose (in the form of lollipops). Why are you only giving lollipops to the girls Bill?

Gia was teaching Bill how its done...She was also the resident Tattoo Artist. I think she was the busiest person there!

I can't figure out why Mike was so tired--he didn't even walk!

Dark and Stormy

During our vacation last week both Bill and I had to leave for mid-week meetings. This meant driving from North Truro (right next to P-town) to Worcester and back. Not fun.

Fortunately, I got to come back Wednesday night and after tucking the kidlets into bed, Nina and Justin took me to the Beachcomber in Wellfleet. This is a very cool bar that is right on the beach.

We were still sad that Bill wasn't there.

So we ordered some drinks.

and were much happier.

even Nina was happy. Despite getting hit on by some very drunk Radiators fans.

That drink is a Dark and Stormy--which at first we thought was a good nickname for Nina and Justin. But really, Nina is both Dark and Stormy...so maybe we don't draw any conclusions from that except that its a great drink. and I think I want some Burberry pants.

Guess what "P" stands for....

For vacation this year, we decided to forgo the camper and rent a house in North Truro. Fantastic idea! Two bathrooms! TWO! and that is not counting that outside shower--which is always a crowd favorite.

One of the things I love about the beaches at the end of the Cape is how remote they feel. The first day we arrived we drove onto the beach at Race point.


Looking right...nobody for miles.














Looking left, nobody. Except the two rugrats asking for fruit snacks (I believe fruit snacks are the equivalent of crack for kids).









There's my little addict.


More lightnin' McTween fruit snacks, pleeeeese? I can quit anytime...I pwomise!



Every year I have thoughts about going here or there, catching some of the theater in Welfleet, going on a whale watch, taking the kids to the Islands--but it is all for nothing, we spend just about all day every day on the beach.

This striper was a keeper (31 inches long)

Yes, all those kayaks belonged to us--next year we are bringing snorkels and fins too--I don't care how silly we look. There were whales and seals swimming with us everyday and loads of piping plovers. They are all delicious. (just kidding!!)

We did do a couple of non-beach activities...we made it to the Truro Vineyard for a tasting.

Yay! We're tipsy!

Bill scored a fire permit for that night too (because the BEST time to have a fire is when you are buzzed from a wine tasting). That meant everyone had to pile into the truck to get to the beach.



My favorite part was when bill started the fire by shooting lasers from his eyes.

I braved first degree burns for the s'mores, which are, in fact, worth getting second degree burns for. So I made out on that deal.

Did you know that beach fires are not supposed to exceed 3 ft in height? Nope, neither did we.

Lobsta..(of course) was eaten. and the carcass was subsequently played with.



As the week went on, things got more and more relaxed. Given what Justin and Bill told Mike that the "P" in P-town stands for, he felt it was more than appropriate not to wear pants.

Thanks guys, I have enough problems getting him to wear clothes as it is.