Alan's (and Darlene's) Birthday Celebration at Cody's

Alan and Karin

Rick and Darlene

ribs

ribs

ribs

Joyce and Peggy

Roger, me and Alan. Water drops from the cooling spray can be seen.

So much going on lately. We went to Cody's again for Alan's birthday. Darlene's birthday was also coming up on the 7th. Jaime and Aaron split some ribs. Cory stayed home and watched the kids. We had a Scottish waiter who was funny but not very efficient. The band never got started while we were there. We did have to steal an umbrella from another table to block off the sun until it finally moved.

Birthday Party and Mia's First Day of School

The girls' faces were pictured on this screen while they road a virtual roller coaster. Amazing!

Mom and Birthday girl

Joyce

Grandma (me), Mia and Jill

Jill and Mia

Mia and Jill went to a little friend's birthday party on Saturday. I'm posting a few pictures.
***

Monday was the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL for Mia. She started at Headstart and she was very excited. A space opened up and Jaime only had two days to get all the paperwork done. I forgot my camera but Mia looked adorable with a little hat and her book bag. The building was completely plain on the outside but had the cutest little classrooms I ever saw on the inside. Jaime and I hung Mia's things in a cubbie with her name on it and she started playing with the toys. We said goodbye and she barely looked up.

***

We waited anxiously to hear what she would have to say when the day was done. Well, here is what she said about 50 times. "I missed my mommy and I cried and he got away." (She still gets her pronouns mixed up sometimes.) We asked about the playground, the other kids, the food, etc. but this is all she would say.

***

This morning was very different from yesterday. She cried and fought and didn't want to get dressed. She begged to go to Grandma's instead. She tried twice to run out of the room and finally they had to restrain her, screaming, while Jaime left. The worst possible scenario. Jaime called when she got to work and they said she was eating breakfast and being good. I plan to pick her up at the earliest possible time - 3:00. I think that will be long enough for today.

Karin's Birthday - Cody's

Another happy occasion at Cody's on the patio. Karin's birthday celebration. Good music, pretty good food, fans blowing a mist around that left everyone and everything cool but slightly damp. Besides Karin and Alan, there was me and Roger, Peggy, Joyce, Cory, Rick and Darlene, Jaime, Aaron and Mia who somehow didn't get her picture taken for once. Mia enjoyed the free peanuts and asked her mother in a very grown up way, "Could you show me where the bathroom is?" Good girl! Fun!

Peggy's Birthday

I love this picture of Joyce and Peggy

Left to right: Joyce, Peggy (sitting), me and Karin

We all met up at Cody's Steakhouse and ate out on the patio. A fan was blowing mist around and a singer was playing Mellencamp and Sheryl Crow. Good friends, good food, beer and margueritas. It was truly a Happy Hour (or two). Happy Birthday, Peggy!

It's Complicated

Joyce, Peggy and I went to the local Pitcher Show to see "It's Complicated" with Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. The picture above is from another occasion, but we did order a pitcher of beer and nachos. We had a great time and laughed like crazy. The movie is hilarious and it was great to get out for a couple of hours with good friends. I am going to try to catch up with them to watch the Colts this Sunday. Joyce and Peggy are huge Colts fans and I like them because I love Tony Dungy who used to coach the Tampa Bay Bucs before he coached the Colts. Plus, I love Peyton Manning (and brother Eli Manning, too.) I am hoping to see the Colts in the Super Bowl.

miscellaneous musings - worries

Mia napping in the middle of the floor with her favorite (surgical) gloves on.

Jill arriving in the rain complete with Hannah Montana hat, umbrella and baby doll.

Ale House with good friends.

I haven't posted in a while. My mind is full of mostly worries. Worry tends to paralyze me. I want to sleep or watch tv and just not think too much. Worries about the world in general and about my talented and beautiful daughter who has finally finished her degree and having a hard time finding a job. The police finally found her van which was stolen 9 months ago in Sarasota, but the impound fees were too much for her to pay. No telling what shape the van was in, but she wanted it back anyway. It had air conditioning and was the right size to fit her family. She cried and made phone calls for 3 days before giving up and realizing she could not get the van back. Worries about my son who has amazed me lately by signing up to go to International Academy of Merchandising and Design to study sound recording. It is a huge risk since it is very expensive and he has not got a good track record for finishing anything. I have a little hunch and a lot of hope that his love of music and a lot of encouragement from Stephanie might get him through. Worries about Jill who just returned from a long, scary bus trip with her mother to visit her family in which Courtney had her purse, bus ticket, money and cell phone stolen almost as soon as she arrived. Also stolen was Jill's cell phone which was meant to keep her safe. The GPS on the phone which was meant to track Jill if necessary turned out to not even be good enough to find the damn phone! For whatever reason, the bus company would not honor the return ticket and Courtney had to borrow money just to get home. Courtney needing a liver transplant?? Courtney is a huge worry in general. Stephanie and Cory did take Jill to Disney World for her birthday on her return. That child's life is full of highs and lows but missing the basic security that she really needs. That is what I try to provide along with Stephanie, her dad, Jaime, even Roger who was worried about her, too, while she was gone. Jonah is due home on August 9. They had a tornedo up in Tennessee while he was there which is something he has always worried about. Worried about little Mia who is growing like a weed and learning every day. Her scars are getting better, but she still faces more surgery. Wondering if she will EVER get potty trained. Worried about how I can make some money to help us make ends meet. Worry about Roger who just had a CT scan of his neck arteries yesterday. We have been to the doctor every day this week for different tests. Today it is Nibbles turn to go to the vet. Tomorrow Roger has to have his coumadin tested again. Of course, Roger has his own worries about his children and grandchildren. Well, enough about worry. I have more uplifting things to say, but this post is already contaminated with worry. I will add a little gratitude that I am waking up with my husband in my beautiful house that Alan did such a good job on with a beautiful view and friends and family down the street and around the corner.