True Love

Last night Curt and I are in the kitchen as I make cupcakes for Emma's birthday celebration in her class. Curt is standing next to me, as he always does when I bake, begging to lick the mixer bowl.

I mention to him that something I did a few years ago was the best decision I ever made, aside of course, from marrying him.

He kisses me and tells me that the kids and I are the most important things in his life. And then very seriously says,

"I think your boobs might just give you the edge though."

Brettism Hump Day needs a passport

"Mom, Emma's party is this Saturday, right?"

"Yup."

"And she invited some friends from school, right?"

"Yes, four of them."

"And we're going swimming, right?"

"Yes Brett, if it's warm enough. Why?"

"I think I'll be in Australia for the party. The only thing worse than a bunch of screaming little girls is a bunch of wet screaming little girls."

LOLBrett

I turned around from the sandwich assembly line this morning to find Brett like this. The caption came straight from his goofy Brett mouth. Think ICanHazCheezburger? would accept it for submission?

Workforce

Since Friday Lucas has been asking for a "big breakfast", which in Lucas speak means 'Can I please have something that doesn't involve a cardboard box and come together in 30 seconds?' I started making eggs and bacon this morning and turned around to find Lucas and Brett hovering and salivating.

So, I put them to work.




Emma wisely hung out and waited to for the spoils.



It was a great morning, nary an eggshell or piece of burnt toast to be found.

Atonement and Redemption

Last night Curt and I got the kids down with frightening ease, and after finding nothing on TV searched through the Netflix movies gathering dust to find something to watch. He quickly vetoed the first two, but for some reason still unknown to me agreed to watch Atonement.

It was by far the best night I've had in a long time; he even let me have the coveted corner spot on the couch, and didn't grumble when I stole swigs off of his beer. Maybe it was Keira Knightly's *almost* nudity, maybe my hand tucked into the waistband of his pants, or maybe he felt guilty for the craptastic Mother's Day, but he watched it, every minute of it.

Almost makes up for the 396 hockey games I watched this year.

Brettism Hump Day wants ID

I've often said that I really look forward to Brett being an adult. I just think he's going to be one of the coolest grown-ups. I can't wait for the day where we can sit down, have a beer, and just hang out.

And sometimes now, I get a vivid glimpse of the adult he's going to be. Especially when out of his mouth pops something so mature beyond his years, I have to double check who I'm talking to.

One morning early this week, Brett staggers upstairs to get ready for school. As he appears, I look over and remark "It's aaalive!" in my pathetic homage to Frankenstein.

"Mom, it's Monday. I don't think alive is the word you're looking for."

New and Improved

Well the content is still the same old, same old; but the layout of CBTHD got a much needed overhaul. Christy from Be Design did an amazing job and it came out exactly like I had pictured it in my little noggin. She does indeed rock the design world, one blog at a time. Thanks again!!

Compromise, the currency of a successful marriage

I've learned that there are a few situations when Curt's resolve is unflappable, when I know I'm beat.

And try as though I might, I know he's not budging when it comes to his meat-and-potatoes taste buds, and his love of all teams Pittsburgh. I grudgingly gave up any hope of pampering on Mother's Day because the Pens had a Stanley Cup playoff game. Did I mention grudgingly?

Then yesterday the schedule for the Stanley Cup finals came out.

Saturday, May 24
Pittsburgh at Detroit, 8 p.m., VERSUS, CBC

Monday, May 26
Pittsburgh at Detroit, 8 p.m., VERSUS, CBC

Wednesday, May 28
Detroit at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m., NBC, CBC

Saturday, May 31
Detroit at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m., NBC, CBC

Monday, June 2
Pittsburgh at Detroit, 8 p.m., NBC, CBC, if necessary

Wednesday, June 4
Detroit at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m., NBC, CBC, if necessary

Saturday, June 7
Pittsburgh at Detroit, 8 p.m., NBC, CBC, if necessary

And when I looked at it I realized that not only were they playing on Emma's birthday, but on our anniversary as well. I didn't so much sweat Em's birthday as all of his hockey-watching family will be here for the party anyway. And with all of her friends, Emma won't care a bit that everyone with testicles disappeared inside.

But our anniversary?? And coming on the heels of the worst Mother's Day evar, I got a little cranky. Not that I expect the full court press, I mean it's a Wednesday. But frankly, the idea of a repeat of the "SCOOOORE" deafness that occurred on Mother's Day made me feel less than warm and fuzzy.

Since I'd already talked him into a nice meal at a Japanese sushi/Benihana-style restaurant out the following weekend, a plan formed, and I turned to him in bed.

"So, let me get this straight. Not only did you spend Mother's Day watching hockey, but now Emma's birthday and our anniversary too?"

"Well maybe they'll sweep them in four games and won't need to play the one on the fourth?" he looks sheepish.

"Riiiight. And if they don't?"

He becomes very interested in the thread count of our sheets. "Ummm."

"All right. I'll make you a deal. If we have to watch hockey on our anniversary, you have to eat a piece of sushi. Without making faces and gagging. You have to take it like a man."

"Just one piece? I don't like, have to have a whole dinner of it, do I?"

"Nope. Just one piece of my choosing."

"Deal." he leans in for a goodnight kiss. "I love you, thank you."

Think tomorrow I can talk him into trying some baba ganouj?

Steve Carell stays clear

Last night, having gotten the four younger ones in bed, Curt and I are sitting on the couch watching TV when Brett wanders up to join us. Michael, having flunked yet another class, had lost his TV time. (News Flash to Mike: They email me your grades. You can run, but you can't hide. DO THE FREAKING WORK, it's easier on all of us.)

Brett turns to me and says "Mom, Lucas was on his way to bed when Michael stopped him and was giving him advice about girls."

I groaned. "Great, what in the world could Michael possibly feel he had to impart to Lucas?"

He shrugs "I don't know. But Michael told me he was going to die a 40 year-old aversion."

"A what?"

"A-version"

"Do you know what that is?" I ask.

"Yeah, it's someone who has never had...sex." He shudders. "I hate even saying that word."

"So you don't have an aversion to being a virgin?"

"Hunh?" He screws up his face and looks at me.

"Nevermind."

Apparently Cyndi Lauper was booked

The older four were headed for a visit with bio-dad this weekend. When he showed up to get them he was catching up on their week, asking about how they were. Since Michael had told everyone in a six mile radius about how excited he was to participate in 80's day at school this last week, bio-dad asked how it went.

"It was cool, I wore the sunglasses that you got me and a cool tee-shirt." he tells him.

Brett looks unimpressed. "Well, when I do 80's day, I'm just going to bring mom to school with me."