Happy 41st

Mike turned 41 today. He's old, very old. And he'll always be older than me. Poor thing.

We bought him a heater for the garage. I know, not near as much fun as shopping for new shirts and ties (which I find quite enjoyable) but he had been talking about wanting to be able to work in the garage during our lovely 6 months of winter. With MUCH help from my dad, who researched which one was good and actually picked it up for me and stored it in his garage (my amazing parents are another post, seriously how would I manage without them?), he was pretty happy with his present this year.

We went out for supper with my parents and Mike's mom and Dave. I feel so lucky to have in-laws and parents that get along and like each other. It makes things like this so much easier!

I have posted about my husband before. He's certainly the best thing that's ever happened to me. I know we are going to grow old together. And even when he takes off his socks and leaves them by the chair in the livingroom each night, squirts saline solution all over the bathroom countertops for me to wipe up, and leaves his shoes in the middle of the kitchen floor for me to fall and break my leg over....I am going to love him, and be thankful everyday that he's with me and takes care of me.

Happy Birthday Honey!

The Jig Is Up

Noah knows. He knows there is no Santa. Here's the conversation;

Noah: "Is Santa real?"

Me: "What do you mean?"

Noah: "My friends say he's not." (clearly ignoring my question asked for stalling purposes). "They say it's your mom and dad that put presents under the tree Christmas night."

 ( I have no idea what to say because I am freaking out as Connor sits listening and I don't even want to put this idea into his head.)

Me: "So, you believe your friends?"

Noah: "Well, yeah. They wouldn't lie to me."

(But apparently his parents would)

I guess it was bound to happen. He is 10. I have no idea if this is a normal age to shatter his dreams of men in suits, bunnies, fairies, and the like... but it's happened. That's what friends are for, right?

Am I sad? I don't know. It seems like a normal course of life.

Just another indicator that life keeps moving 100 miles and hour, and that's what I am more sad about.

Halloween

Halloween.....my mind goes back to the days when the kids were little. I would dress the boys up in cute costumes my mom made, scarecrows, fluffy white ghosts, and colorful clowns. When Noah was three he was Eeyore and it was about 70 degrees. We had the best time letting him run around until he was a sweaty mess.

 

Those days are gone.

Now I get to go follow them down the aisle of some local store with no enthusiasm. I drag myself through the endless get-ups of blood and gore. Goulish masks, weapons, and fangs take the place of cute and colorful. (And don't even get me started on the cute costumes in the GIRL aisle...ruffles, sparkles, wands, fairy wings). I don't even care what they pick out. I know it will involve a weapon and some sort of fighting-suit-like thing.

This year was no different. I am over it. I am beyond trying to talk them into being something somewhat sensible (like Mario and Luigi... my vote this year. Noah would not be caught dead being a PAIR with his brother) and just let them throw crap in the cart.

The actual day of Halloween is always fun. My parents come over for something yummy for supper, then Mike takes the kids out for tricks-or-treats and we stay back to hand out candy. This year I made cheeseburger soup. Being that Halloween was on a Saturday it was a nice leisurely day.... as opposed to the hectic rushing home from school, trying to get homework done, eating supper as quick as you can, and then throwing the kids out the door.

We even had time to carve pumpkins ON THE ACTUAL DAY!

And the costumes.....

Until next year....

This Is It

Before the movie went into some vault at the Jackson estate, I asked my mom if she wanted to go and see This Is It. Mind you, I am not a huge MJ fan. I liked his music, but I didn't own a single CD of his. I always thought he was a great entertainer, but I found him to be a bit odd. Maybe it was the plastic sugery (that he denies), the children (that he shrouds), or the strange interviews he has given.

Here are my thoughts about this movie:

#1: Shockingly, this is not a movie about just MJ. This movie tells a story about the dancers, back-up singers, directors, choreographers, and producers that were putting together something quite amazing. This was not going to be just an ordinary concert. It was a production. Each person involved had that same look on their face....amazement and gratitude.

#2: There wasn't a single odd thing about MJ. He was humble, he was sweet, he was considerate, he was normal! He was "practicing" in this movie (it was footage from the rehearsals) and yet you felt like he was performing for a crowd with every song. He doesn't do things half-way, that was obvious. The people on the crew and those not in the shot would watch with wide eyes and cheer when he was done. They knew they were watching something special. He thanked his brothers in a part where he sings some of his old stuff from the variety show he did with them. I imagine that was a bittersweet part for the brothers to watch.

#3: This man was 50 years old and he moved and performed like he was 20. His voice hasn't changed. He sounded awesome.

#4: It made me very sad to think about the people involved that never got to see this concert come to be. We lost a genius way too soon and I can't imagine how tragic that was, on so many levels, for all involved.

#5: I loved this movie!

I highly recommend it, you should go see it. Even the little kiddies can go. I was thinking, if Michael Jackson hadn't passed away they would have never made this movie, and I would have never seen this concert. I know I wouldn't have paid the money to go see it. It's sad to think about how great this would have been, it really would have been spectacular. I am glad I got a small glimpse.