Monday, April 14, 2014
It's not goodbye, but see you again in time....His time.
It doesn't seem like 67 years with you was nearly enough, this family still had so much to learn from you... With your booming voice and sparkling blue eyes, you took over a room with out effort. The yells from our kids on the look out for Grandpa G will always be one of my favorite memories...
Grandpa G is in the house, watch out ya'all!!
Your energy, honesty, devotion and love of God is a HUGE foundation for this family in so many ways. We will forever remember the gentle giant that spent every day of his life loving the Lord and his family with every fiber of his being. The earth lost a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend... But heaven just gained one heck of a new angel!
So we are not saying goodbye, but until we see you again... Grandpa G, we love you.
Last Saturday we were all invited to a family BBQ at the request of Alex's parents. Alex's mother has had some health issues lately and so she has been spending more of her time back east. She didn't say anything during the holidays and then the weddings followed that so she again held off. But she felt it was time to tell the family that she was diagnosed with cancer and they didn't find it until she was already stage 4. After much prayer and discussion with doctors she has decided not to try any treatments but take what time she has left and spend it with family. Sadly many of us felt she made this choice due to her husbands failing health, that they wanted to go as closely together as possible. None of us vocalized it but I know all of us wanted to hear her say she would fight and win over this cancer that has attacked her body. Of course that is selfish on our parts and probably a gut reaction since we are just learning of this and she has had several months to come to terms with her decision.
Sunday morning around 2am, Alex's father had a massive heart attack and passed within moments. Needless to say this family is dealing with a bunch right now and just in our house alone we have gone from shock to anger and then tears... Lots and lots of tears. Alex has taken his Mom home and we are traveling first thing in the morning to be with them. The rest of the family is all finding ways home for his final celebration.. Yes, he had written a letter explaining he didn't want a funeral but a celebration of his life and his passing on to meet his Lord. So a celebration of life is what this great man will get!!
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
The balance goes both ways...
We arrived in Hawaii mid-day on Wednesday, put our thing away in our hotel room and went out to enjoy the beach and a tropical drink. The usual scouting around and where shall we eat for dinner followed and then we settled in our room, opened our patio door to listen to the waves crash and cuddled in for the night. Alex mentioned that he had read my last post earlier that morning and he really thought we should talk about the balance this dynamic gives to both of us. He knew that I felt bad about getting into so much trouble lately and that I felt ... well off in our dynamic since last year. So much change has occurred with the moves, our children getting older and family situations that it would be a challenge for us not to feel "off". Alex pointed out that he was proud of us for keeping up with everything and that our dynamic helped us along the way when we needed it to bring us back together. He didn't want me to feel badly about seemly being in more trouble lately, because he said that it helped him gage how we were handling the changes and it helped him center himself.
Me: "Um... Center yourself? How is your wife not being able to stay out of trouble and constantly push at you and our rules helping you center yourself?"
Alex: "Being able to focus on you and us in that physical way helped me put all the change into perspective. You allowing me to continue leading our family and giving me the physical connection that comes with our dynamic outside of our bed helped me through it all. I need you in this dynamic just as much if not more some times than you need me."
Well now that took a bit of time for me to even start to wrap my brain around...
Me: "So you are saying that you NEED me to get into trouble?"
Alex: "No, I am saying that the intimacy and trust you have given me over and over allows me to focus on my family more fully and it centers me."
Me: "I read a blog a few weeks back, where the wife knew her husband needed the contact and moment of leadership in order to feel better about something he was struggling with outside of the home. The wife picking up on that actually went to him and asked for a spanking to help him get back on track. That blog made me stop and think, did I ever see you needing to spank me for you rather than my actions warranting the outcome of a spanking. My answer was that I never looked at it that way so along the way I could have missed that you need this dynamic past how it helps our marriage. With everything that has been going on I never came and talked to you about this and honestly just remembered it now. Wow.. I am really sorry honey do you need a magnet to flip too?"
Alex: "You have nothing to be sorry about.. I think we have learned a lot about ourselves these past few months and the blogging community has opened both our eyes to the amount of people that have some form of what we practice in their relationships. Some of those blogs have influenced us in ways we are just now starting to understand, because we are questioning our dynamic more than ever before. I see Jay and Lori watching us more closely than ever and our kids have us in a fish bowl 24/7. But here the two of us are together and honey I have to say that for all we have been through in the past few months I feel closer to you than ever before."
Me:"Do you ever feel like spanking me would help you when you are upset about something outside our marriage?"
Alex: "I think spending time alone with you in any intimate setting would help me forget about anything upsetting me. It doesn't need to be spanking, but I can't say that our fun spankings aren't a huge turn on for me. As they say in blog land, I am definitely classified as a spanko."
Me: "Well then we may just be in trouble here, cause I have started craving our fun spankings. I would have been on the floor laughing a year ago if some one told me I would be craving you spanking me. I only wish we could have brought some new implements to try out, as we finally have time alone to make noise and have some fun." (My lower lip actually came out as I said this...)
Alex: "Well then worry no more little one, I have brought some surprises and one of them is about to come out."
He went into the closet and returned with a wooden ruler, plastic hanger and oh my goodness his belt!! Now if you follow my blog at all you know that the belt is a HUGE fear of mine. I don't have any idea why it freaks me out so much, but I was losing my playful feelings at the sight of that in his hand. But being the smart and very observant man that he is, once he saw me zero in on the belt and start to panic he put it on the table across the room and said maybe another time. Whew...
Back into bed he came and over his lap I went and fun we did have.... But the man didn't stay inside the lines!!! My bikini lines that is... The next day I had to wear a cover up as parts of my bum was still red and marked from our fun the night before. I told him as much over breakfast and his response made me choke on my coffee...
Alex: "Well then I should definitely practice more, but maybe for now we should just find you a red bikini so it all blends."
Um, yeah.. I have a new red bikini that I will forever keep even when I can't (shouldn't) wear it anymore, it will always be a keep sake from this trip together.
Me: "Um... Center yourself? How is your wife not being able to stay out of trouble and constantly push at you and our rules helping you center yourself?"
Alex: "Being able to focus on you and us in that physical way helped me put all the change into perspective. You allowing me to continue leading our family and giving me the physical connection that comes with our dynamic outside of our bed helped me through it all. I need you in this dynamic just as much if not more some times than you need me."
Well now that took a bit of time for me to even start to wrap my brain around...
Me: "So you are saying that you NEED me to get into trouble?"
Alex: "No, I am saying that the intimacy and trust you have given me over and over allows me to focus on my family more fully and it centers me."
Me: "I read a blog a few weeks back, where the wife knew her husband needed the contact and moment of leadership in order to feel better about something he was struggling with outside of the home. The wife picking up on that actually went to him and asked for a spanking to help him get back on track. That blog made me stop and think, did I ever see you needing to spank me for you rather than my actions warranting the outcome of a spanking. My answer was that I never looked at it that way so along the way I could have missed that you need this dynamic past how it helps our marriage. With everything that has been going on I never came and talked to you about this and honestly just remembered it now. Wow.. I am really sorry honey do you need a magnet to flip too?"
Alex: "You have nothing to be sorry about.. I think we have learned a lot about ourselves these past few months and the blogging community has opened both our eyes to the amount of people that have some form of what we practice in their relationships. Some of those blogs have influenced us in ways we are just now starting to understand, because we are questioning our dynamic more than ever before. I see Jay and Lori watching us more closely than ever and our kids have us in a fish bowl 24/7. But here the two of us are together and honey I have to say that for all we have been through in the past few months I feel closer to you than ever before."
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Me:"Do you ever feel like spanking me would help you when you are upset about something outside our marriage?"
Alex: "I think spending time alone with you in any intimate setting would help me forget about anything upsetting me. It doesn't need to be spanking, but I can't say that our fun spankings aren't a huge turn on for me. As they say in blog land, I am definitely classified as a spanko."
Me: "Well then we may just be in trouble here, cause I have started craving our fun spankings. I would have been on the floor laughing a year ago if some one told me I would be craving you spanking me. I only wish we could have brought some new implements to try out, as we finally have time alone to make noise and have some fun." (My lower lip actually came out as I said this...)
Alex: "Well then worry no more little one, I have brought some surprises and one of them is about to come out."
He went into the closet and returned with a wooden ruler, plastic hanger and oh my goodness his belt!! Now if you follow my blog at all you know that the belt is a HUGE fear of mine. I don't have any idea why it freaks me out so much, but I was losing my playful feelings at the sight of that in his hand. But being the smart and very observant man that he is, once he saw me zero in on the belt and start to panic he put it on the table across the room and said maybe another time. Whew...
Back into bed he came and over his lap I went and fun we did have.... But the man didn't stay inside the lines!!! My bikini lines that is... The next day I had to wear a cover up as parts of my bum was still red and marked from our fun the night before. I told him as much over breakfast and his response made me choke on my coffee...
Alex: "Well then I should definitely practice more, but maybe for now we should just find you a red bikini so it all blends."
Friday, April 4, 2014
Vegas Baby!!
I was chatting with Lori last night and she wanted to know why I wasn't going to blog about our Vegas adventures... Of course we had several "adventures", as usually when she and I are together long enough it just HAPPENS. :0) She laughed and said to feel free to share her run in with security at the airport, she didn't think Jay would mind sharing that particular "adventure". He is still reading blogs that Lori brings to him, but he doesn't venture out and read them on his own.. At least that we know of anyway. But she is still hoping to one day blog herself, so until then this one is for you Lori!!
Living so close to Vegas, we have been there numerous times over the last several years but this was our first wedding there. The guys headed over to Vegas on the Tuesday following the March 8th wedding to get everything setup. I went back to work with the intent of joining Alex on Friday and spending the weekend in Vegas and getting home late Sunday. Both our kids already had prior plans and we were not big on the idea of taking them to Vegas, so they were given a very BIG opportunity to stay home by themselves. Jay and Lori decided to let their older kids take charge for the weekend as well and left them in charge with a list of rules longer than ours for them to follow. I only know this because the list was texted to Kaylee by her cousin and she gave me a big hug and thanked me for making their list short and sweet.
On Thursday I got a call from Alex asking me to request the next two weeks off work and I wasn't allowed to ask why...
"It is a surprise that is much needed, so put in the request and don't ask any questions woman!"
So with a VERY huge smile I went and begged my boss for the next two weeks off and he (bless his heart) gave them to me and told me to have fun. My entire team up at work could hear all the wedding details coming via phone calls and text messages for weeks, so they starting asking for daily updates. I swear we started having cooler chats every morning so they could get the latest updates and they even started pools on the fainter. I have to admit that I love the people I work with, they are like my second family as we have almost a decade of working together.
Lori and I were booked on a flight to Vegas together early Friday morning, so after getting all the kids off to school and laying down the law one last time with the older kids...We were on our way....
Or trying to get on our way!
The shuttle was twenty minutes late picking us up and we were stuffed into an already full back seat. This is one of those times where I wish everyone would make personal hygiene a top priority... ICK!
So by the time we reached the airport (an hour trip from our houses) we were ready to breath in some fresh air and get the show on the road. We only had carry on so we were able to skip that hassle and we had pre-checked in online before going so we were going directly to our gate.... We were only 10 minutes from our take off time, but first we had to get through security. Well now I don't think either of us look suspicious in any way shape or form, but Lori got pulled to the side and patted down. She looked to be taking it well, so I went over and gathered my things and found a chair to put myself back together. I was in the process of putting my shoes back on when I heard Lori's raised voice exclaim that her perfume was very expensive and she measured the amount of liquid to follow the rules. She was full on reciting the liquid carrying rules to the security lady (who didn't look very impressed) when a second security guy started over in their direction. I grabbed my bags and went over to offer Lori my support, much against the wishes of the security group that was now around Lori and all smelling her perfume.. Yes, they were literally passing the dang container around and smelling her perfume.. I am trying hard to remember what fragrance it was, but for the life of me can't recall at the moment. But I was informed that it was very good perfume and cost and arm and a leg and it took her months to save up for the bottle.
We must have been called in as a "situation" at some point, as a golf cart full of MORE security people showed up and Lori and I were asked to relocate to their security head quarters to further discuss our options. Oh goody, because missing our flight was not fun enough!! After another hour of explaining over and over that she felt she had followed the rules (demanded them to measure the liquid) we were given the option of them tossing the perfume and letting us proceed to our gate (but at this point we had missed our flight...HELLO!) or we could call some one to pick up the perfume or they could hold the perfume for Lori to pick up on her return. Well that got Lori to explaining that we lived a good hour away and we were going to Vegas for a wedding and THEY had made us miss our flight and what were they going to do to fix that!
I felt maybe it was time to call Alex, who immediately told Jay and Lori's cell phone went off minutes later... Only security still had her cell phone and so then I had to tell them it was her husband calling and they REALLY should let her speak to him. The head security guy all but ran to get her the phone at that announcement and within minutes it paid off. Lori was told in no uncertain terms that Jay didn't care how expensive the perfume was but to leave it and find the next flight to Vegas and get on it before security banned her from the airport. I am not certain if the head of security just wanted us out of his airport or he was just scared of our next move, as he not only got us to the right desk to get another flight but took us to our gate and put us (literally walked us on the plane!!) on our flight. I called Alex right before take off and told him our new flight details and that we were about to take off. I could hear Jay in the background, it was really NOT going to be a good day for Lori once he got ahold of her.
She was in a panic by the time we landed, as I think after her anger wore off she realized what she had done. This is very out of character for her, I am the vocal one and she is usually the voice of reason. I really think the stress of moving and the weddings had taken a toll on all of us. So I was ready to make a case for Lori to Jay as soon as we were out of the aircraft and walking down the corridor of the airport with our men at the other end waiting for us.. (Well Alex was standing and waiting patiently but Jay was pacing.) Only as soon as I got close enough Alex hugged me and lead me away and said to let them have a few minutes alone. He could tell I was really worried so he squeezed me and said to let them work it out. Then he tickled me and said he was happy I didn't like perfume... Well that made me laugh and it made me feel better as we walked ahead to get the car.
Lori had red eyes when we picked them up but she and Jay both had smiles on their faces and nothing further was said ... For a bit, because then it became the running joke during the course of the weekend and will more than likely follow Lori around for a time knowing this family. The good news is that we drove home with the guys, so no more security checks were in our near future. :0)
P.S. - Lori took a basket of candy and fruit to the airport a few days after our return and personally thanked everyone and apologized for the incident... They actually still had her perfume and some of the ladies owned up to using a bit of it.. She told them to keep it and enjoy!
Lori, you are one classy lady! :0)
Living so close to Vegas, we have been there numerous times over the last several years but this was our first wedding there. The guys headed over to Vegas on the Tuesday following the March 8th wedding to get everything setup. I went back to work with the intent of joining Alex on Friday and spending the weekend in Vegas and getting home late Sunday. Both our kids already had prior plans and we were not big on the idea of taking them to Vegas, so they were given a very BIG opportunity to stay home by themselves. Jay and Lori decided to let their older kids take charge for the weekend as well and left them in charge with a list of rules longer than ours for them to follow. I only know this because the list was texted to Kaylee by her cousin and she gave me a big hug and thanked me for making their list short and sweet.
On Thursday I got a call from Alex asking me to request the next two weeks off work and I wasn't allowed to ask why...
"It is a surprise that is much needed, so put in the request and don't ask any questions woman!"
So with a VERY huge smile I went and begged my boss for the next two weeks off and he (bless his heart) gave them to me and told me to have fun. My entire team up at work could hear all the wedding details coming via phone calls and text messages for weeks, so they starting asking for daily updates. I swear we started having cooler chats every morning so they could get the latest updates and they even started pools on the fainter. I have to admit that I love the people I work with, they are like my second family as we have almost a decade of working together.
Lori and I were booked on a flight to Vegas together early Friday morning, so after getting all the kids off to school and laying down the law one last time with the older kids...We were on our way....
Or trying to get on our way!
The shuttle was twenty minutes late picking us up and we were stuffed into an already full back seat. This is one of those times where I wish everyone would make personal hygiene a top priority... ICK!
So by the time we reached the airport (an hour trip from our houses) we were ready to breath in some fresh air and get the show on the road. We only had carry on so we were able to skip that hassle and we had pre-checked in online before going so we were going directly to our gate.... We were only 10 minutes from our take off time, but first we had to get through security. Well now I don't think either of us look suspicious in any way shape or form, but Lori got pulled to the side and patted down. She looked to be taking it well, so I went over and gathered my things and found a chair to put myself back together. I was in the process of putting my shoes back on when I heard Lori's raised voice exclaim that her perfume was very expensive and she measured the amount of liquid to follow the rules. She was full on reciting the liquid carrying rules to the security lady (who didn't look very impressed) when a second security guy started over in their direction. I grabbed my bags and went over to offer Lori my support, much against the wishes of the security group that was now around Lori and all smelling her perfume.. Yes, they were literally passing the dang container around and smelling her perfume.. I am trying hard to remember what fragrance it was, but for the life of me can't recall at the moment. But I was informed that it was very good perfume and cost and arm and a leg and it took her months to save up for the bottle.
We must have been called in as a "situation" at some point, as a golf cart full of MORE security people showed up and Lori and I were asked to relocate to their security head quarters to further discuss our options. Oh goody, because missing our flight was not fun enough!! After another hour of explaining over and over that she felt she had followed the rules (demanded them to measure the liquid) we were given the option of them tossing the perfume and letting us proceed to our gate (but at this point we had missed our flight...HELLO!) or we could call some one to pick up the perfume or they could hold the perfume for Lori to pick up on her return. Well that got Lori to explaining that we lived a good hour away and we were going to Vegas for a wedding and THEY had made us miss our flight and what were they going to do to fix that!
I felt maybe it was time to call Alex, who immediately told Jay and Lori's cell phone went off minutes later... Only security still had her cell phone and so then I had to tell them it was her husband calling and they REALLY should let her speak to him. The head security guy all but ran to get her the phone at that announcement and within minutes it paid off. Lori was told in no uncertain terms that Jay didn't care how expensive the perfume was but to leave it and find the next flight to Vegas and get on it before security banned her from the airport. I am not certain if the head of security just wanted us out of his airport or he was just scared of our next move, as he not only got us to the right desk to get another flight but took us to our gate and put us (literally walked us on the plane!!) on our flight. I called Alex right before take off and told him our new flight details and that we were about to take off. I could hear Jay in the background, it was really NOT going to be a good day for Lori once he got ahold of her.
She was in a panic by the time we landed, as I think after her anger wore off she realized what she had done. This is very out of character for her, I am the vocal one and she is usually the voice of reason. I really think the stress of moving and the weddings had taken a toll on all of us. So I was ready to make a case for Lori to Jay as soon as we were out of the aircraft and walking down the corridor of the airport with our men at the other end waiting for us.. (Well Alex was standing and waiting patiently but Jay was pacing.) Only as soon as I got close enough Alex hugged me and lead me away and said to let them have a few minutes alone. He could tell I was really worried so he squeezed me and said to let them work it out. Then he tickled me and said he was happy I didn't like perfume... Well that made me laugh and it made me feel better as we walked ahead to get the car.
Lori had red eyes when we picked them up but she and Jay both had smiles on their faces and nothing further was said ... For a bit, because then it became the running joke during the course of the weekend and will more than likely follow Lori around for a time knowing this family. The good news is that we drove home with the guys, so no more security checks were in our near future. :0)
Lori, you are one classy lady! :0)
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Oh the drama of it all....
I have decided that with the size of my family and the amount of drama that surrounds us all.. I could probably either write a soap opera script or a novel with very little problem... I would never run out of material, that is for sure!!
On March 8th at 6:15 pm Laci walked down a path laced with white silk and gold accents towards her future husband Matt. She had a huge smile and love in her eyes as she made her way to him. Her husband to be watched her walk towards him with a huge goofy smile and his mother on stand by with smelling salts. I am happy to report he made it through the entire ceremony and celebration on his feet and without fainting! (The man fainted twice prior to the big day, so we had plans and back up plans in place just in case...)
Now I have all of you scratching your heads wondering where our second bride was right?
Well, she walked down a very different aisle a week later in Vegas. Elvis was there and it was very fun, just a few of us in attendance and a great way to let go after all the stress of these two weddings. Kenzie was happy and after it was all over she said that if she could go back two years, she would have eloped instead of trying to plan the perfect wedding. Gary (her husband) was the happiest I have ever seen him and he seemed to actually keep Kenzie happy and out of trouble all weekend. Kenzie was our monster bride and always the joy of any family gathering. :0) We love her, but a little bit of her goes a VERY long way if you know what I mean.
Ok, so now you know both ended up married.... But now you probably want to know why the change in the last hours before the big day right? (Yes, I know you all are the curious types.) Just a bit more family drama, but nothing that didn't get resolved in the same night. But both couples felt that since strong feelings were at large over them sharing a wedding day (mixture of both families) and knowing all the chaos that had already ensued they both agreed on walking down different aisles. Honestly I felt bad for both couples at this point, as we had gotten so close to the big day and all this went down during the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding. Ugh. Too many families in the mix and too many judging their decisions for them to have any chance of making everyone happy.
Basically to sum it up.. Gary and Kenzie will be welcoming their first (of hopefully many) child in October, so she was getting married while pregnant. (Yes, big gasp from the parents on both sides that didn't know.) She and Gary have been engaged for two years and did zero planning for the wedding until January of this year... In comes Laci who has known her man for three months, turned 30 last year and feels her biological clock ticking away and wants to get hitched ASAP and start her family. Laci went to Kenzie and promised to make the wedding a success if they share the expense and still have it on March 8th. So then a few weeks later I get my phone call about having the wedding in my backyard and well you have a picture of how all this started.
Only... Kenzie didn't tell Laci or anyone else for that matter that she was pregnant, she was hoping to spring that on everyone after the wedding. She confessed that she knew people would be upset and that she didn't want her wedding overshadowed by the news of the pregnancy since it wasn't going to go over well when the math of conception was done. What she didn't count on was getting sick during the rehearsal dinner and wearing the wrong outfit that shows she has a little baby bump... I am sure talking amongst the families behind the scenes had been going on for the past few months, but it all came to a head during the very ill fated dinner.
Since Laci put her heart and soul into the wedding plans and in my humble opinion..ticked off less people she kept the March 8th wedding. The Vegas wedding was a miracle that took several family members and friends pulling strings to pull off. Alex, Jay and Tony should be given medals for pulling it off as they pushed, finagled and probably a bunch of begging was done to get it to all worked out and in such a short time. They are really SUPER brothers!!!
I will just leave it at that and tell you where I have been since our return from Vegas.....
My man took me island hopping!!! We hit all the major islands and filled our days with snorkeling, eating, fishing, eating, swimming and playing in the surf, eating, sailing, eating and just having a blast. (You notice the amount of eating we did? Diet starts on Monday.)
I have been MIA for almost a month, so am super excited to read some blogs and get caught up. Plus I will start writing more about some interesting conversations and fun (adult type) we had in Hawaii.
On March 8th at 6:15 pm Laci walked down a path laced with white silk and gold accents towards her future husband Matt. She had a huge smile and love in her eyes as she made her way to him. Her husband to be watched her walk towards him with a huge goofy smile and his mother on stand by with smelling salts. I am happy to report he made it through the entire ceremony and celebration on his feet and without fainting! (The man fainted twice prior to the big day, so we had plans and back up plans in place just in case...)
Now I have all of you scratching your heads wondering where our second bride was right?
Well, she walked down a very different aisle a week later in Vegas. Elvis was there and it was very fun, just a few of us in attendance and a great way to let go after all the stress of these two weddings. Kenzie was happy and after it was all over she said that if she could go back two years, she would have eloped instead of trying to plan the perfect wedding. Gary (her husband) was the happiest I have ever seen him and he seemed to actually keep Kenzie happy and out of trouble all weekend. Kenzie was our monster bride and always the joy of any family gathering. :0) We love her, but a little bit of her goes a VERY long way if you know what I mean.
Ok, so now you know both ended up married.... But now you probably want to know why the change in the last hours before the big day right? (Yes, I know you all are the curious types.) Just a bit more family drama, but nothing that didn't get resolved in the same night. But both couples felt that since strong feelings were at large over them sharing a wedding day (mixture of both families) and knowing all the chaos that had already ensued they both agreed on walking down different aisles. Honestly I felt bad for both couples at this point, as we had gotten so close to the big day and all this went down during the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding. Ugh. Too many families in the mix and too many judging their decisions for them to have any chance of making everyone happy.
Basically to sum it up.. Gary and Kenzie will be welcoming their first (of hopefully many) child in October, so she was getting married while pregnant. (Yes, big gasp from the parents on both sides that didn't know.) She and Gary have been engaged for two years and did zero planning for the wedding until January of this year... In comes Laci who has known her man for three months, turned 30 last year and feels her biological clock ticking away and wants to get hitched ASAP and start her family. Laci went to Kenzie and promised to make the wedding a success if they share the expense and still have it on March 8th. So then a few weeks later I get my phone call about having the wedding in my backyard and well you have a picture of how all this started.
Only... Kenzie didn't tell Laci or anyone else for that matter that she was pregnant, she was hoping to spring that on everyone after the wedding. She confessed that she knew people would be upset and that she didn't want her wedding overshadowed by the news of the pregnancy since it wasn't going to go over well when the math of conception was done. What she didn't count on was getting sick during the rehearsal dinner and wearing the wrong outfit that shows she has a little baby bump... I am sure talking amongst the families behind the scenes had been going on for the past few months, but it all came to a head during the very ill fated dinner.
Since Laci put her heart and soul into the wedding plans and in my humble opinion..ticked off less people she kept the March 8th wedding. The Vegas wedding was a miracle that took several family members and friends pulling strings to pull off. Alex, Jay and Tony should be given medals for pulling it off as they pushed, finagled and probably a bunch of begging was done to get it to all worked out and in such a short time. They are really SUPER brothers!!!
I will just leave it at that and tell you where I have been since our return from Vegas.....
My man took me island hopping!!! We hit all the major islands and filled our days with snorkeling, eating, fishing, eating, swimming and playing in the surf, eating, sailing, eating and just having a blast. (You notice the amount of eating we did? Diet starts on Monday.)
I have been MIA for almost a month, so am super excited to read some blogs and get caught up. Plus I will start writing more about some interesting conversations and fun (adult type) we had in Hawaii.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Hiding Out
I have taken the rest of the week off from work to get the last few details for the wedding(s) this weekend settled. I am not sure just how many people will be walking down that aisle on Saturday evening at this point, but am hoping that all this mess will see at least one couple hitched at the end. I am surprised and happy that I didn't place any bets on the grooms, as the fainter looks to be the one holding up at this point and rumor has it he took his bride to be aside and "had words" with her. So we have one couple that is not making waves this week at least, but no such luck on the other set.
But now that I have the time off.. Well I am hiding out. :0) I am just sooooo done with it all at the moment. I am done with drama... We have had too much drama in the last few months with moving and helping Jay and Lori move so then to add this wedding madness has just put me over the edge. I am trying to be a good sport about it all, Alex did put up a really good fight but was unable to keep the wedding from invading us. His family really does look to him as the older sibling and his dad's health is not good at all... So he feels a lot of pressure to take care of everyone. Trying to keep that in mind and really trying to make things easy for him at home....Wow, it's just got me really TIRED.
Now let me be really clear... When I say make things easy for him at home, I am talking about running of the house and keeping the kids schedules going... He really hasn't had to step in on anything for the last few weeks in that regard. Between the two of us... Well that is different. It would seem every time we are alone together lately we end up "discussing" something. Seriously, we can't have a conversation that I don't end up over his knee by the end. I know that I am pushing him and right now it would be REALLY nice if I could NOT push at him. Why can't I just stop??? I have been asking myself that exact question for weeks now... I mean WEEKS!!! Ugh. Makes me seem like a horrible wife, seeing all the other things he must deal with and I can't seem to pull it together for him. So I am sitting her feeling horrible about the wedding.. horrible about my attitude and well... just sorta horrible in general. Grrrrrrr.
I think we just need a vacation.. The two of us alone for a few days to regroup and get back on track alone without all the other stresses. I know if we can just make it past Saturday we will be just fine and we will bounce back. Anyone have a time machine I can borrow and speed this week up so we can be done?? :0)
But now that I have the time off.. Well I am hiding out. :0) I am just sooooo done with it all at the moment. I am done with drama... We have had too much drama in the last few months with moving and helping Jay and Lori move so then to add this wedding madness has just put me over the edge. I am trying to be a good sport about it all, Alex did put up a really good fight but was unable to keep the wedding from invading us. His family really does look to him as the older sibling and his dad's health is not good at all... So he feels a lot of pressure to take care of everyone. Trying to keep that in mind and really trying to make things easy for him at home....Wow, it's just got me really TIRED.
Now let me be really clear... When I say make things easy for him at home, I am talking about running of the house and keeping the kids schedules going... He really hasn't had to step in on anything for the last few weeks in that regard. Between the two of us... Well that is different. It would seem every time we are alone together lately we end up "discussing" something. Seriously, we can't have a conversation that I don't end up over his knee by the end. I know that I am pushing him and right now it would be REALLY nice if I could NOT push at him. Why can't I just stop??? I have been asking myself that exact question for weeks now... I mean WEEKS!!! Ugh. Makes me seem like a horrible wife, seeing all the other things he must deal with and I can't seem to pull it together for him. So I am sitting her feeling horrible about the wedding.. horrible about my attitude and well... just sorta horrible in general. Grrrrrrr.
I think we just need a vacation.. The two of us alone for a few days to regroup and get back on track alone without all the other stresses. I know if we can just make it past Saturday we will be just fine and we will bounce back. Anyone have a time machine I can borrow and speed this week up so we can be done?? :0)
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Quick Check In...
"Why are we making two of everything if they are sharing their big day?"
"Because they each want to be unique and stand out in their own way."
"Then why don't they have separate weddings and be uniquely normal?"
"I vote you ask that question tonight at the family planning meeting."
"Seriously, this is getting silly! We have to have two entry points because they can't both travel down the same way. Plus, they can't agree on the same number of friends to stand up with them."
"Oh, you must be behind.. They are now color coding their friends and the over flow will help to seat and cover DJ and cake and camera duties."
"Nooooooo!"
"Oh yes, they are now fighting over the disposable camera solution so we may yet be on the hook to find a photographer, which is going to be fun since we have just over a week until the wedding."
"We had a photographer!! They fired the photographer together! That was the only thing they have agreed upon this entire time!"
"Lori honey, you are preaching to the choir here... I was right there when they did it. But now they both don't agree that disposable cameras will capture all the fine points of their wedding and the kids might get ahold of them and waste them. "
"So we watch the cameras and tell the kids up front to not touch them and let the adults take the pictures. We can't change course now, it's just too late for them to change their minds."
"Couldn't agree with you more... You going to tell them?"
"No.. I am calling Jay and electing him to tell them."
"Bet ya a glass of Merlot he calls Alex and makes him do it."
"Are we talking your good Merlot you have hidden downstairs or the cheap stuff in the rack in the kitchen?"
"Hey now, that is just... Oh fine, the good stuff."
"You are on!"
This was the conversation Lori and I had yesterday afternoon on the phone... I will be sitting down with a glass of her best Merlot this evening (she doesn't hide her good stuff like I do), as Alex had a REALLY bad headache last night after telling the ladies they must use disposable cameras and move on. Easy bet for me... :0)
The wedding is March 8th and it IS in our backyard!! I won't even get into the family drama that made that happen. Needless to say I have been swamped busy the last few weeks trying to keep our schedules moving and not losing my mind with all the wedding drama. We even had a groom faint dead away last weekend during one of our "family planning meetings". Yes, this family is not for the faint of heart! I seriously wanted to have a shirt made saying that and pass it out at the next meeting, but Alex said no. Grrrrrrr. He is just no fun!
The teenagers have a pool going (one they don't think we adults know about, aren't they just adorably cute and naive still...) on if one or both the grooms don't just make a run for it... I would love to put money down on the odds of the fainter making a run for it, but I guess that would just be a bit wrong.. Sigh.
It has been a while since I posted so wanted to make a quick post to let the few that come by know I am still here.. Just crazy busy with this wedding drama. I would love to report that the amount of drama and crazy has helped to keep me out of trouble...But sadly it would seem that I am not capable of staying out of trouble anymore. I kept telling myself that it was a just a phase or the time of year was playing into things.. But I have now just come full circle that I am no longer capable of staying out of trouble and honestly I don't even care. Maybe it is my age or just the point of life I am in... Alex doesn't seem to be all that put out either and assures me no matter what I throw his way he will be able to handle. I tried to tell him maybe he just needed a vacation and that he was just overly HOHy lately.. But neither of us really went with that theory. I can feel a change in myself and can't really say what has made me want to push the boundaries more, but I am.. Not in a major way that is unsafe or damaging to our marriage or family. But I am pushing... Sassy could be my middle name. Plus having Lori and even Jay down the street has made me feel more like my younger self I think too. I got into trouble the other week with Jay.. He is an HOH and led me astray, yup I blame him!! (Are you falling for that? Yeah, Alex didn't either and Jay didn't look at all sorry about it.)
Ok, I am off to head home and to my lovely glass of wine with Lori... I promise to post and let everyone know how the wedding ends up and maybe post about the trouble Jay got me into. :0)
"Because they each want to be unique and stand out in their own way."
"Then why don't they have separate weddings and be uniquely normal?"
"I vote you ask that question tonight at the family planning meeting."
"Seriously, this is getting silly! We have to have two entry points because they can't both travel down the same way. Plus, they can't agree on the same number of friends to stand up with them."
"Oh, you must be behind.. They are now color coding their friends and the over flow will help to seat and cover DJ and cake and camera duties."
"Nooooooo!"
"Oh yes, they are now fighting over the disposable camera solution so we may yet be on the hook to find a photographer, which is going to be fun since we have just over a week until the wedding."
"We had a photographer!! They fired the photographer together! That was the only thing they have agreed upon this entire time!"
"Lori honey, you are preaching to the choir here... I was right there when they did it. But now they both don't agree that disposable cameras will capture all the fine points of their wedding and the kids might get ahold of them and waste them. "
"So we watch the cameras and tell the kids up front to not touch them and let the adults take the pictures. We can't change course now, it's just too late for them to change their minds."
"Couldn't agree with you more... You going to tell them?"
"No.. I am calling Jay and electing him to tell them."
"Bet ya a glass of Merlot he calls Alex and makes him do it."
"Are we talking your good Merlot you have hidden downstairs or the cheap stuff in the rack in the kitchen?"
"Hey now, that is just... Oh fine, the good stuff."
"You are on!"
This was the conversation Lori and I had yesterday afternoon on the phone... I will be sitting down with a glass of her best Merlot this evening (she doesn't hide her good stuff like I do), as Alex had a REALLY bad headache last night after telling the ladies they must use disposable cameras and move on. Easy bet for me... :0)
The wedding is March 8th and it IS in our backyard!! I won't even get into the family drama that made that happen. Needless to say I have been swamped busy the last few weeks trying to keep our schedules moving and not losing my mind with all the wedding drama. We even had a groom faint dead away last weekend during one of our "family planning meetings". Yes, this family is not for the faint of heart! I seriously wanted to have a shirt made saying that and pass it out at the next meeting, but Alex said no. Grrrrrrr. He is just no fun!
The teenagers have a pool going (one they don't think we adults know about, aren't they just adorably cute and naive still...) on if one or both the grooms don't just make a run for it... I would love to put money down on the odds of the fainter making a run for it, but I guess that would just be a bit wrong.. Sigh.
It has been a while since I posted so wanted to make a quick post to let the few that come by know I am still here.. Just crazy busy with this wedding drama. I would love to report that the amount of drama and crazy has helped to keep me out of trouble...But sadly it would seem that I am not capable of staying out of trouble anymore. I kept telling myself that it was a just a phase or the time of year was playing into things.. But I have now just come full circle that I am no longer capable of staying out of trouble and honestly I don't even care. Maybe it is my age or just the point of life I am in... Alex doesn't seem to be all that put out either and assures me no matter what I throw his way he will be able to handle. I tried to tell him maybe he just needed a vacation and that he was just overly HOHy lately.. But neither of us really went with that theory. I can feel a change in myself and can't really say what has made me want to push the boundaries more, but I am.. Not in a major way that is unsafe or damaging to our marriage or family. But I am pushing... Sassy could be my middle name. Plus having Lori and even Jay down the street has made me feel more like my younger self I think too. I got into trouble the other week with Jay.. He is an HOH and led me astray, yup I blame him!! (Are you falling for that? Yeah, Alex didn't either and Jay didn't look at all sorry about it.)
Ok, I am off to head home and to my lovely glass of wine with Lori... I promise to post and let everyone know how the wedding ends up and maybe post about the trouble Jay got me into. :0)
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Is boring too much to ask for???
Two of Alex's sisters are getting married in March and they have decided to share their special day. Now one of these two have been engaged for two years, but has just left all the details to the last minute. The other sister has only known her soon to be husband for three months and so the family is still in shock and maybe in a bit of denial to be honest about her getting hitched. My perception on Alex's family is that the boys were raised with a more firm hand, because these girls are all over the place. Seriously, his sisters drive me batty... I love them, don't get me wrong, but they drive me completely up the wall with the choices they make and how they expect their brothers to save the day for them when they mess up. I told Alex he needs to tell them his super hero cape is at the cleaners or something to give him some much need rest from their dramas.
Last Friday I got a phone call from Laci, she is the one that has only known her fiancé for three months and is now not only joining Kenzie at the alter... But taking over the details of the wedding as well. Due to weather, timing (lack of planning on Kenzie's part) and finances they want to have the wedding in our back yard. SERIOUSLY? Wouldn't you think this conversation warrants a bit more than a phone call? We want to take over your entire month of February planning the wedding and oh by the way your back yard and home for an entire weekend in March on a telephone call at 8am on a Friday morning!!! Did she really expect for me to say that sounds WONDERFUL and dance a happy jig????
I mean the dust is still settling from our move, the holidays were a blur and my stress level has just started to level out. Not that she is aware, but I haven't even managed to stay out of trouble for one entire week of 2014 so far... What are the chances of that improving if I have to enter into this new huge pot of CRAZY?
Once I was able to put words together again after the initial statement, I do me statement she didn't even ASK! I told her that I could understand that finances and timing would make a backyard wedding more viable for them, but that my backyard was probably not the location they should be focusing on. We just moved in and still have boxes in storage we are dealing with, not to mention my daughter has started her count down for getting her drivers permit and my son has only been driving for a few short months. So we have teenagers to keep up with and just basic life moments we are trying to catch up on since we got so behind with the move and holidays. Is it really wrong for me to want to put the brakes on anything big right now and focus on regrouping?
Laci wasn't happy at the end of the phone call, she hung up with out saying goodbye so to me that is just rude from anyone but from family??? Come on now! I didn't even take time to breath, just picked the phone right back up and called Alex. I had to beat her to him was my first thought and it was closely followed by... Oh you just wait until I tell him about this latest problem his sisters are dumping on his door step.
Alex: "Hey honey, I am stepping into a meeting is this important?"
Me:"Do you want a double wedding in our backyard in just over one month from now to happen?"
Alex: "Give me five minutes and I will call you back."
So while I waited for his phone call I got a text from Lori... "Did you talk with Laci and Kenzie about having their wedding in our backyard? I am going into class right now and am more angry than I can even say in a text message." So I wrote her back.. "Interestingly enough you are not in angryville alone and no, we talked about the wedding being in our backyard not yours." Which got me a "WHAT???" back. I told her to call me when she had some free time between classes. Lori is a teacher and she loves her job, but her being in class all days makes it hard for us to gossip.. I mean chat during the day.
Alex finally called me back and I was able to relay the conversation I had with Laci to him and informed him we were not the only angle being played as Lori had texted me about them having the wedding in her backyard and they had put my name in there some place too. He obviously could tell I was upset so he told me not to worry and to let him make some phone calls and we could talk about it when he got home. I wished him the best of luck and hung up... I even managed to get lost in work and totally forgot about everything until later that night when I came home.
Laci and Kenzie were in my kitchen with Alex and his mother chatting happily with wine and munchies. Both of them live a good hour to an hour and a half from us and his Mom is staying with Lori and Jay for a few weeks before heading back to the mid-west and hopefully less snow. So them just dropping by without planning at all was just not realistic, so this was a planned attack. Alex came and greeted me with a huge hug and a whisper in my ear to "be nice" (ME?) and a squeeze to emphasize the statement. Grrrrrrr. I was given a glass of wine and a chair materialized out of nowhere and I was pushed into it and told to relax after my hard day at work. All I could think was no amount of wine and buttery words are going to change the fact that these ladies are scheming against me and I am NOT backing down. (I also wanted to know how Alex had let it get this far and why didn't he call me and warn me what I was coming home to?) I took the wine and made a show of sitting back and relaxing.. That would be when Kaylee came bouncing into the room exclaiming she had just found the ultimate wedding dresses for both Laci and Kenzie. She noticed I was there and bounced over... "Isn't this just too exciting Mom? Two weddings in one and we get to be part of all of it and they are even letting me help with the theme and everything!" Oooooohhhhhhhh NO they didn't!!! They went around me to my daughter??? Seriously? Now that is just playing dirty right there...
I turned to make eye contact with Alex and he looked like he was about to throw up.... Literally, the man was green. He turned from the room and just barely made it to our bathroom before he was sick. The flu bug had hitched a ride home with him and he was sicker than a dog for the rest of the night. (Unfortunately Kyle was next and it hit Kaylee just last night... Ugh.) Needless to say Alex was sick and out of commission and I was left to CLEAN house. Which I did... I was nice enough about it but was very determined to let them know that we were all off limits for at least the entire weekend. So I got them all out the door and my kitchen cleaned up and took care of Alex the rest of the night. It only dawned on me in the wee hours of the morning when Alex finally stopped getting sick and fell asleep that I had no clue where the wedding location currently was and how far in they had pulled Kaylee. Really, Alex at this point hadn't even told me his thoughts or what conversation he had had about all this either. Alex slept most of Saturday and when he was up he looked like death warmed over, so we didn't talk about anything important. I kept him loaded up with fluids and watched movies with him until he fell back to sleep again.
The flu bug did actually help me win the Super Bowl party argument... I didn't want to attend any parties this year, but stay home and watch from home and relax. We had been invited to something like 7 different parties, just crazy the amount of people throwing Super Bowl parties this year. Alex had said we would wait and play it by ear to see what we ended up doing, so it looks like a really good thing we didn't commit to anyone. Jay came down after it was apparent the game was just not going to get any better and he made sure no one was currently tossing their cookies, he and Alex went out back for about an hour. I was guessing they were talking about the wedding so kept my distance and gave them space. (But dang, I really wanted to know what was going on. Amazing how I could go from wanting NOTHING to do with the weddings to wanting to know EVERYTHING. Yes, I admit to my nuttiness, but I am a woman we change our minds ALL the time!) Lori called while they were out talking and said I should meet her half way between the houses to "borrow" something.. I didn't get the clue right away but the quick whisper made me jump to the conclusion Maria was right next to her and she obviously had information she wanted to share. (YES! I was finally going to get some information about the weddings!!) So I decided cookies were needed and I was out of eggs and should really borrow some right then and could she meet me half way.. Lori quickly (and with a happy/giddy tone) repeated that I was out of eggs and why sure she had some I could have and she would meet me half way.
I have to wonder what the neighbors between our houses think of our two families.. If anyone had watched the confrontation Jay and I had a weekend or two back that would have been fun enough.. But the amount of kids that go back and forth daily and the amount of time Lori and I spend meeting half way to talk... Lori talks with her hands.. (Don't kill me, you know you do!) I am pretty animated when I get going on subjects that get under my skin so I can only imagine what they have decided about our families from watching us the last few weeks. This conversation or lack there of would only just add to their belief we are Crazy people... Lori came jogging from her side cradling the carton of eggs and I came running from my side with my monster puppy in tow. (We have been working on leash training and so far I can say he has failed miserably.) So it wasn't too surprising that when I came to a stop he didn't and he launched himself at Lori. (I think animals can sense when a person doesn't like their kind (Lori is NOT a dog person) and they go that extra step then to torment them for revenge.) Also you should know I call him a monster puppy but he is not so much a puppy anymore in that he is 75 pounds of happy now...But very much still in puppy mode, he has zero manners yet. So Lori ended up covered in egg and got a pretty nasty scrape on her left knee that started to bleed to the point we needed to get her inside quickly. She wouldn't walk anywhere near the dog and so I told her to take the lead and I stayed a few steps behind with the monster in tow. He was still bouncing around with tongue hanging out and all not a care in the world and if he had egg on him it was not noticed. (Oh the life of a dog.) So we went back to my house and we no sooner got through the door when the men noticed we were there and Lori was hurt. Jay came in and swept Lori away and back to their house (dang, I still don't know what is going on with the weddings!) and Alex turned on me... Well he turned his HOH, you better start talking look on me.
Me: "Alex, I was going to make cookies and we are out of eggs and so Lori was going to give me some. I went to meet her half way and took the puppy to get some extra leash time in and he got super excited and took Lori out. It all happen really quickly, thank goodness it is just a scratch on her knee because he really took her down fast and hard. You should really take a turn at the leash thing with him, he might listen to you better than me. There is still some light left you could take him now, you know if you felt up to it. "
Alex was leaning up against the kitchen door way at this point and when I ended with him taking a walk with the puppy if he felt up to it he just continued looking at me as he crossed his ankles and sighed. Ok.. guess he is not taking the monster for a walk anytime soon and we are going to actually have a conversation... Heck, I better just get this over with I mean it was pretty innocent really... Just a quick gossip between sister in laws. Wasn't he and Jay doing the same in the backyard or was that ok under HOH standards, since they were figuring out if there was a way to tame their sisters this late in the game? (I know, I am so bad... but really these girls get away with EVERYTHING!)
Me: "Lori called and it seemed like she might have some information about the weddings that she couldn't talk about with your Mom right there next to her.. So she was going to meet me half way with eggs so your Mom didn't know we were going to talk about everything that is going on."
This was all said without making eye contact, because really he already had to know this without my admitting it... (I don't make or eat cookies unless forced by a school project or function that I get volunteered for and can't get out of..) Sunday night is our reconnection night and I REALLY didn't want a un-fun spanking that night. Seriously, my goal all last week was to have a FUN spanking this weekend and change my stripes for February to be a good month. I had not gone one week in January without getting into trouble! We have been meaning to try out some implements and have some fun since late last year and have yet to have the time or the lack of trouble to get it done. :0(
Alex: "We are not having the weddings here or at Jay & Lori's home. Mom and I have found a few other locations that they are going to check out next week and decide which will work for them. There intentions in dragging Kaylee into the details may not have been pure at the beginning but they are loving her help and enthusiasm so we should really let her help as much as they will let her and she enjoys. If you wanted an update all you had to do was ask and I would have told you what I know and Lori could have been spared the hurt knee and up close cuddle with your uncontrollable dog."
(Did I mention we had this lovely puppy because I found him and brought him home? He found me actually and was so small and dirty and clearly mistreated. How did I know once he recoverd he would become a HUGE menace? A very huge and cute menace to be exact...I wouldn't change it for the world and neither would Alex, if he was being completely honest.)
Me: "Yes, of course that would have been the best way of getting information but you have been sick and then Lori called and you were with Jay... So I thought why not find out what I could and make some cookies for the kids at the same time. It's a win/win right?"
Alex: "Jay was right... Lucy and Ethel." He finished that statement with a shake of his head and a chuckle.
It only took me a minute to figure out what he was talking about... He and Jay grew up watching EVERY "I Love Lucy" show.. I mean they can probably tell you by heart several episodes! Grrrrrr.
Me: "Oh yeah Ricky, well then you and Fred had better stay one step ahead then."
That got me a raised eyebrow and then he started towards me...
Alex: "Oh honey, trust me I am WAY ahead of you."
I ended up having a VERY FUN spanking that night and we called in sick on Monday... So we had even more fun while the kids were in school..
I now have a favorite implement too! But that is just an entirely different post all on its own.. :0)
Last Friday I got a phone call from Laci, she is the one that has only known her fiancé for three months and is now not only joining Kenzie at the alter... But taking over the details of the wedding as well. Due to weather, timing (lack of planning on Kenzie's part) and finances they want to have the wedding in our back yard. SERIOUSLY? Wouldn't you think this conversation warrants a bit more than a phone call? We want to take over your entire month of February planning the wedding and oh by the way your back yard and home for an entire weekend in March on a telephone call at 8am on a Friday morning!!! Did she really expect for me to say that sounds WONDERFUL and dance a happy jig????
I mean the dust is still settling from our move, the holidays were a blur and my stress level has just started to level out. Not that she is aware, but I haven't even managed to stay out of trouble for one entire week of 2014 so far... What are the chances of that improving if I have to enter into this new huge pot of CRAZY?
Once I was able to put words together again after the initial statement, I do me statement she didn't even ASK! I told her that I could understand that finances and timing would make a backyard wedding more viable for them, but that my backyard was probably not the location they should be focusing on. We just moved in and still have boxes in storage we are dealing with, not to mention my daughter has started her count down for getting her drivers permit and my son has only been driving for a few short months. So we have teenagers to keep up with and just basic life moments we are trying to catch up on since we got so behind with the move and holidays. Is it really wrong for me to want to put the brakes on anything big right now and focus on regrouping?
Laci wasn't happy at the end of the phone call, she hung up with out saying goodbye so to me that is just rude from anyone but from family??? Come on now! I didn't even take time to breath, just picked the phone right back up and called Alex. I had to beat her to him was my first thought and it was closely followed by... Oh you just wait until I tell him about this latest problem his sisters are dumping on his door step.
Alex: "Hey honey, I am stepping into a meeting is this important?"
Me:"Do you want a double wedding in our backyard in just over one month from now to happen?"
Alex: "Give me five minutes and I will call you back."
So while I waited for his phone call I got a text from Lori... "Did you talk with Laci and Kenzie about having their wedding in our backyard? I am going into class right now and am more angry than I can even say in a text message." So I wrote her back.. "Interestingly enough you are not in angryville alone and no, we talked about the wedding being in our backyard not yours." Which got me a "WHAT???" back. I told her to call me when she had some free time between classes. Lori is a teacher and she loves her job, but her being in class all days makes it hard for us to gossip.. I mean chat during the day.
Alex finally called me back and I was able to relay the conversation I had with Laci to him and informed him we were not the only angle being played as Lori had texted me about them having the wedding in her backyard and they had put my name in there some place too. He obviously could tell I was upset so he told me not to worry and to let him make some phone calls and we could talk about it when he got home. I wished him the best of luck and hung up... I even managed to get lost in work and totally forgot about everything until later that night when I came home.
Laci and Kenzie were in my kitchen with Alex and his mother chatting happily with wine and munchies. Both of them live a good hour to an hour and a half from us and his Mom is staying with Lori and Jay for a few weeks before heading back to the mid-west and hopefully less snow. So them just dropping by without planning at all was just not realistic, so this was a planned attack. Alex came and greeted me with a huge hug and a whisper in my ear to "be nice" (ME?) and a squeeze to emphasize the statement. Grrrrrrr. I was given a glass of wine and a chair materialized out of nowhere and I was pushed into it and told to relax after my hard day at work. All I could think was no amount of wine and buttery words are going to change the fact that these ladies are scheming against me and I am NOT backing down. (I also wanted to know how Alex had let it get this far and why didn't he call me and warn me what I was coming home to?) I took the wine and made a show of sitting back and relaxing.. That would be when Kaylee came bouncing into the room exclaiming she had just found the ultimate wedding dresses for both Laci and Kenzie. She noticed I was there and bounced over... "Isn't this just too exciting Mom? Two weddings in one and we get to be part of all of it and they are even letting me help with the theme and everything!" Oooooohhhhhhhh NO they didn't!!! They went around me to my daughter??? Seriously? Now that is just playing dirty right there...
I turned to make eye contact with Alex and he looked like he was about to throw up.... Literally, the man was green. He turned from the room and just barely made it to our bathroom before he was sick. The flu bug had hitched a ride home with him and he was sicker than a dog for the rest of the night. (Unfortunately Kyle was next and it hit Kaylee just last night... Ugh.) Needless to say Alex was sick and out of commission and I was left to CLEAN house. Which I did... I was nice enough about it but was very determined to let them know that we were all off limits for at least the entire weekend. So I got them all out the door and my kitchen cleaned up and took care of Alex the rest of the night. It only dawned on me in the wee hours of the morning when Alex finally stopped getting sick and fell asleep that I had no clue where the wedding location currently was and how far in they had pulled Kaylee. Really, Alex at this point hadn't even told me his thoughts or what conversation he had had about all this either. Alex slept most of Saturday and when he was up he looked like death warmed over, so we didn't talk about anything important. I kept him loaded up with fluids and watched movies with him until he fell back to sleep again.
The flu bug did actually help me win the Super Bowl party argument... I didn't want to attend any parties this year, but stay home and watch from home and relax. We had been invited to something like 7 different parties, just crazy the amount of people throwing Super Bowl parties this year. Alex had said we would wait and play it by ear to see what we ended up doing, so it looks like a really good thing we didn't commit to anyone. Jay came down after it was apparent the game was just not going to get any better and he made sure no one was currently tossing their cookies, he and Alex went out back for about an hour. I was guessing they were talking about the wedding so kept my distance and gave them space. (But dang, I really wanted to know what was going on. Amazing how I could go from wanting NOTHING to do with the weddings to wanting to know EVERYTHING. Yes, I admit to my nuttiness, but I am a woman we change our minds ALL the time!) Lori called while they were out talking and said I should meet her half way between the houses to "borrow" something.. I didn't get the clue right away but the quick whisper made me jump to the conclusion Maria was right next to her and she obviously had information she wanted to share. (YES! I was finally going to get some information about the weddings!!) So I decided cookies were needed and I was out of eggs and should really borrow some right then and could she meet me half way.. Lori quickly (and with a happy/giddy tone) repeated that I was out of eggs and why sure she had some I could have and she would meet me half way.
I have to wonder what the neighbors between our houses think of our two families.. If anyone had watched the confrontation Jay and I had a weekend or two back that would have been fun enough.. But the amount of kids that go back and forth daily and the amount of time Lori and I spend meeting half way to talk... Lori talks with her hands.. (Don't kill me, you know you do!) I am pretty animated when I get going on subjects that get under my skin so I can only imagine what they have decided about our families from watching us the last few weeks. This conversation or lack there of would only just add to their belief we are Crazy people... Lori came jogging from her side cradling the carton of eggs and I came running from my side with my monster puppy in tow. (We have been working on leash training and so far I can say he has failed miserably.) So it wasn't too surprising that when I came to a stop he didn't and he launched himself at Lori. (I think animals can sense when a person doesn't like their kind (Lori is NOT a dog person) and they go that extra step then to torment them for revenge.) Also you should know I call him a monster puppy but he is not so much a puppy anymore in that he is 75 pounds of happy now...But very much still in puppy mode, he has zero manners yet. So Lori ended up covered in egg and got a pretty nasty scrape on her left knee that started to bleed to the point we needed to get her inside quickly. She wouldn't walk anywhere near the dog and so I told her to take the lead and I stayed a few steps behind with the monster in tow. He was still bouncing around with tongue hanging out and all not a care in the world and if he had egg on him it was not noticed. (Oh the life of a dog.) So we went back to my house and we no sooner got through the door when the men noticed we were there and Lori was hurt. Jay came in and swept Lori away and back to their house (dang, I still don't know what is going on with the weddings!) and Alex turned on me... Well he turned his HOH, you better start talking look on me.
Me: "Alex, I was going to make cookies and we are out of eggs and so Lori was going to give me some. I went to meet her half way and took the puppy to get some extra leash time in and he got super excited and took Lori out. It all happen really quickly, thank goodness it is just a scratch on her knee because he really took her down fast and hard. You should really take a turn at the leash thing with him, he might listen to you better than me. There is still some light left you could take him now, you know if you felt up to it. "
Alex was leaning up against the kitchen door way at this point and when I ended with him taking a walk with the puppy if he felt up to it he just continued looking at me as he crossed his ankles and sighed. Ok.. guess he is not taking the monster for a walk anytime soon and we are going to actually have a conversation... Heck, I better just get this over with I mean it was pretty innocent really... Just a quick gossip between sister in laws. Wasn't he and Jay doing the same in the backyard or was that ok under HOH standards, since they were figuring out if there was a way to tame their sisters this late in the game? (I know, I am so bad... but really these girls get away with EVERYTHING!)
Me: "Lori called and it seemed like she might have some information about the weddings that she couldn't talk about with your Mom right there next to her.. So she was going to meet me half way with eggs so your Mom didn't know we were going to talk about everything that is going on."
This was all said without making eye contact, because really he already had to know this without my admitting it... (I don't make or eat cookies unless forced by a school project or function that I get volunteered for and can't get out of..) Sunday night is our reconnection night and I REALLY didn't want a un-fun spanking that night. Seriously, my goal all last week was to have a FUN spanking this weekend and change my stripes for February to be a good month. I had not gone one week in January without getting into trouble! We have been meaning to try out some implements and have some fun since late last year and have yet to have the time or the lack of trouble to get it done. :0(
Alex: "We are not having the weddings here or at Jay & Lori's home. Mom and I have found a few other locations that they are going to check out next week and decide which will work for them. There intentions in dragging Kaylee into the details may not have been pure at the beginning but they are loving her help and enthusiasm so we should really let her help as much as they will let her and she enjoys. If you wanted an update all you had to do was ask and I would have told you what I know and Lori could have been spared the hurt knee and up close cuddle with your uncontrollable dog."
(Did I mention we had this lovely puppy because I found him and brought him home? He found me actually and was so small and dirty and clearly mistreated. How did I know once he recoverd he would become a HUGE menace? A very huge and cute menace to be exact...I wouldn't change it for the world and neither would Alex, if he was being completely honest.)
Me: "Yes, of course that would have been the best way of getting information but you have been sick and then Lori called and you were with Jay... So I thought why not find out what I could and make some cookies for the kids at the same time. It's a win/win right?"
Alex: "Jay was right... Lucy and Ethel." He finished that statement with a shake of his head and a chuckle.
It only took me a minute to figure out what he was talking about... He and Jay grew up watching EVERY "I Love Lucy" show.. I mean they can probably tell you by heart several episodes! Grrrrrr.
Me: "Oh yeah Ricky, well then you and Fred had better stay one step ahead then."
That got me a raised eyebrow and then he started towards me...
Alex: "Oh honey, trust me I am WAY ahead of you."
I ended up having a VERY FUN spanking that night and we called in sick on Monday... So we had even more fun while the kids were in school..
I now have a favorite implement too! But that is just an entirely different post all on its own.. :0)
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