Big Finale

...of "Family Birthday Month" which is what I am now dubbing the month of August.  Mom, Justin, Kevin, and finally Liam.

One year ago tomorrow...

I was 8.5 months pregnant, awaiting news of the arrival of my niece or nephew from Wisconsin.  I spent the entire afternoon arguing with Justin about me driving up by myself with Kayla.  I insisted I was fine and I wanted to see my nephew.  If I went into labor, who the hell cares because I'll be at a hospital.  He insisted I wait until he got home.  He won (rare), but we made it to see Liam (and Lauren and Kevin and a bunch of other people).

Happy first birthday Liam Wiley House!  And happy first anniversary of being parents to my little sister and my brother-in-law.  Time goes by crazy fast and only gets faster.  I love you all and am so happy my little man has a built in best friend! :)

Uncle Brendan

Dear Uncle Brendan,

Thanks for taking such good care of my while Mommy & Daddy go to work.  I couldn't ask for a cooler or more fun uncle.  I'm also glad I share my birthday month with you!  I hope you had a really great birthday!

Love Kayla

Traditions

I have "creating holiday traditions" on my 101 list.  I've been thinking about fun fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving/Christmas traditions I can start with Kayla.  I'm coming up blank, as is per usual lately for me.  My brain is filled to the brim right now and I can hardly think of simple words I'm trying to find.  Anyways, any lovely readers have fall/winter holiday traditions that are simple and relatively inexpensive we can start?

(Hawaiin vacations would be a great tradition, but slightly too expensive.) :)  3 days.

Another side note, Happy Birthday to Grandma Hales...still under the hill...below the hill....going up the hill?  Whatever, she's young! :)

Check off #33

Yesterday was Aunt Meg's 29th birthday...what?!?!  I kept telling her that it's her last hoorah before 30.  I came up with, what I think is a pretty great gift idea for her from my sister, mom, grandma and I.  You can read about it here.  Then she told me she wanted to go see Harry Potter 7.2.  We had seen 7.1 around my birthday so it just seemed fitting.  She wanted to see it in IMAX 3D.

I'm glad because it can check something off my 101 list, but I'm not gonna lie, I was kinda scared.  I've been to an IMAX movie.  Justin and I went to see Eagle Eye, and all I can remember is turning to him and saying, "Holy **** the screen is huge!" and "Is it just me, or is this REALLY loud?"  Does that make me old?  Well either way, I'd heard that the 3D can make some people feel a little woozy (spelling?) and I was a little worried.

We planned to go to the 9 am showing at an AMC (a great deal of $12 instead of the whopping $16.50- seriously I used to love the movies...)  We bought tickets ahead of time but didn't think it would be that crowded.  This is what we pulled up to:

Yes, you are correct.  That is people waiting in line to get in the door at 9 am.  Part of this was because they opened the doors late, therefore they started the movie late to accommodate everyone.  Well then we were worried about seating and rightfully so.  We ended up in the second row off to the side when I turned to Meg and said, "At this point, I think I'd rather be front and center than off to the side." (A decision I think we probably were glad for later.)  So front and center we were...no less excited.

Well, the movie was great.  I'm surprised at how much I remember from the books.  I actually kinda liked the 3D (unlike Megan) and the only complaint I had was my neck hurt from sitting in the very front row.  And I'm sad the movies/books are over.  I think I would see another movie in 3D, it would have to be a particular kind of movie though, nothing with things coming out the screen at me or too much motion.  

The one thing though, since I'm an analytical person, I couldn't figure out why every time I tilted my head slightly to either side, the whole picture became blurry.  The edges were a little blurry (which made me think about aperture and depth of field in photography) but everything got blurry if I tilted my head.  Which led me on this trail of thought at the beginning of the movie:

1. Why the heck would that happen when I tilt my head?

2. Damnit, now I can't move my head in either direction.  I have to stay perfectly still with my neck craned backward.

3. I can't believe people have 3D TVs and sit in their own homes with these stupid glasses on just to watch TV.

4. Wait...why can't TV companies just add a piece of glass or whatever at the front of the TV screen made of whatever these dumb glasses are made of so people don't have to look like idiots in their own homes just watching TV?

5.  Seriously Melissa, watch the movie you just paid $12 for (on sale.)

Now, I really want to read the books again.

And I need to make a "piggy bank" so I can save the $40 from my 2 completed tasks.

A little belated...

Happy Birthday Aunt Lauren!!

Saturday was my little sister's 25th birthday.  She is the most loving, smart, compassionate, feisty person I know and I'm so glad Kayla will grow up with one of so many great role models in her life.

I know she's a little lonely in Milwaukee, but hopefully not much longer.  We love you Aunt Lauren!!



Sorry for the lack of posting.  If I get a chance later today I'll update on my cloth diapering and my severe lack of sleep...sigh...

Happy Birthday Mom/Grandma!

Today is my wonderful mother's birthday!!  I won't tell you how old she is but she looks about 36.  I was going to send her a dozen cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcake, but I figured she wouldn't really appreciate them much since she would be eating them all herself!  I'll think of something good.

One of mom's friends said to me that "if I'm anything like my mom, I'm going to be a great mother."  I couldn't agree with her more.  She and Dad must have done something right because they raised 4 great kids (if I do say so myself) who all get along great and who couldn't say nicer things about their awesome parents.  Thanks for all the support and advice, Mom!  And like I already told you, I can only hope to be half the mom that you are!  I love you and miss you everyday!

Oh...Did I mention I have the cutest most fashionable mom ever?  I think she probably got that from her mom:) (my Nanny who all my friends just LOVE!)