I'm Not As Bad As They Say....

I love this. The above picture is that of Sofia Vergara who plays the Step-Mom character on one of my newly adopted favorite shows, Modern Family. She is amazing. Well, she appears to be amazing, it's not like we're friends or anything and I get to bring personality into the equation. The photo of the left is here sans make up and hair and the one on the right is obviously camera-ready.

She's gorgeous. And funny. And sassy. And normal. And the above picture is proof of that. And I don't mean that in the "Haha, I want to ruin your dreams and prove that you're not as hot as you think you are" kind of way that some people get off on. I mean it in the "Oh, so you're a real person who just happens to look pretty much amazing most of the time," kind of way.

And I like it because it reminds me that we all try to put the best part of ourselves out there on a regular basis. And sometimes that's not real. Or true. Or maybe it is, but that's not the whole story. And people base envy and jealousy and probably more angry emotions than these on appearances. Like when I admitted to a friend with a job and a newborn and a three-year-old that I'm sure my kids watch more TV than they should (because I think they should watch none) and she was so relieved to learn that she's not the only one that feels bad about the TV monster. Or when I go other mom's houses and everything is so clean. I feel like my house is never clean...unless someone is coming over. So I spruce it up. But that's not really what it looks like on any normal day....

I like to be reminded of normal. It doesn't pop up that often.

Quote of the Day:
"When I'm big and Parker is big I'll take him for walks in the park. You don't have to come if you don't want to, Mom. We'll be fine." ~ Elle
"Fix Truck!!!" ~ Parker, about every truck in the house that has no tires because he has bitten them off.

In 'Da Club

It's funny how the absence of something makes you appreciate it so much more.

Like this little face:

And this one, too:

The kids stayed with pretty much all of their grandparents over the course of one weekend while we jetted off to the land of $6 Steak & Eggs, Poker Jack and Gin & Tonics. I'm pretty sure they had the best time ever with their much adored Mamas & Papas.

Elle even held a tarantula and was quick to tell me that I wouldn't get a sticker at the Butterfly Pavilion because I'm too scared to hold a tarantula. She's smart, that one.

And Parker has run around the house squealing, "Mama! Mama! Mama! Mama!" for the last 48 hours. I think he missed me. A little.

The hubz and I had such a wonderful vacation, which wasn't really a vacation. Only because at this point in my life I need SLEEP and REST and those sorts of things in order to come home refreshed and energized and those things don't really happen in Vegas. But we did dance and laugh and eat. And had a really good time. We're cool like that.


And we did get to help bestow the joy of marriage on some very good friends. It's a little club, this marriage thing. And they got in.

Marriage is kind of like the club "Marquee" at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Vegas. It helps to know someone in order to get in. All those married folks can show you the way and hold your hand if you get scared and walk you right to the front of the line without having to pay cover....

Hmmmm. Bad analogy. Okay so you don't really need an "in" to get married. But a happy, successful marriage is easier if you surround yourselves with other happy married people. It makes you feel a little less crazy when your idea of a good time is installing new shutters on your house and having everyone over on New Year's Eve to play "Life."

So, welcome to the club Mike & Erika. May your marriage be as fun as your wedding.

Quote of the Day:
"Mommy, I miss you sooo much when you're gone. You're my favorite." ~Elle
"Mommy, I want a new family...." ~ Elle, the next day, while sitting in time-out