a little update

So my birthday was really great. We barbequed at work, and while I was waiting for Adam to get off work because he got suckered into doing a print job for a rich attorney & had to stay late, the rich attorney gave him a $100 tip to "take the madam out to dinner". $40 went to feed the gas tank ($3.45 a gallon ~ how much to do you all pay?), and the rest I'm sure he'll spend while I'm on vacation. He earned that tip, he should get to spend it!

At mom & Mike's, we had homemade pizzas made on the grill, which you can read about here. Mom bought me a gorgeous banner from Jerusalem , which I plan on hanging every birthday for the rest of my life. It's that cute.

The only thing mom didn't write about, which is totally worthy of mention, is Bucky & Adam's "shopping" trip in mom's buffet. Bucky had walked into the living room with a funny look on his face, and said ~ My pockets aren't full! Michelle & I busted up laughing because we realized Bucky's pockets were indeed full ~ of mom's candles. Adam said he wanted to "get in on that", & he went shopping in the buffet, too!

Here's a photo of the guilty boys, and one of Michelle watching on in amusement. Isn't she too cute? The photos are slightly blurry because I couldn't stop laughing long enough to hold my camera still. I am so glad my husband is comfortable enough to steal from my mother.

Currently, I'm at Tanya's house in Seattle, and she & her husband Allen are getting ready to take her mom to the doctor's because she had foot surgery yesterday & is in quite a lot of pain. So, Auntie Tracy is in charge of Tanya's 2 boys, Jacob & Austin for the afternoon. Jacob, age 8, doesn't call me Auntie Tracy anymore, though. I am now "Trace". I remember the day that child was born, how is he 8 YEARS OLD already??

I won't lie & say I'm not a little disappointed that I can't go shopping this afternoon. I was this close to hopping a bus to downtown & all those glorious shops while Tanya looked after her mom until her step-dad got home from work. A couple years ago, this ~ a change in plans ~ would have sent me over the edge. Once I have it in my mind that I get to do something, go somewhere, etc, I will flip out if it doesn't work out that way.

Vacationing with Tanya, Allen, & their boys was not always easy for me because as any mother knows, EVERYTHING revolves around your children, especially when they're that young. And me, who just wanted to do what she wanted to do, couldn't hang with the constant changing plans. We planned everything around meal times & nap times, and even then, plans were subject to change without notice. But, I love her boys as if they were my own, and I have come to grips with the fact that if I want to spend time with Tanya & her family, I must learn to adapt. So I have to say, I'm pretty pround of myself today, for going with the flow, for not being selfish, for being there for my friend.

Anyway, I'm off to the park with the boys, who will hopefully be "extra, extra good".

Thanks for all the birthday wishes! So far, 32 is off to a great start.

TG

ps ~ thus far, I haven't discovered anything that I've forgotten to pack, AND I did it WITHOUT A LIST! Can you believe it??