Like everyone else, we think we have some terrific nieces and nephews. They are talented, sweet, intelligent…and perhaps a bit mischievous. Unlike most couples our age, in this region anyway, we are not knee-deep in our own child rearing. Because Jason and I have purposefully delayed that adventure we have more time, money, and patience for our nieces and nephews than most of our counterparts. Hence, we have an opportunity to be the “cool” aunt and uncle that every kid wants but few have.
The kids liked shaping the cookies, especially Miles.
As the glamorous auntie and uncle we like to plan fun activities for our nieces and nephew periodically. These activities hopefully not only give the kids something to look forward to but also provide a break for their parents. We thought my brother’s and sister’s kids would enjoy a little Valentine’s Day celebration so we schemed one up for them. However, due to sick children, this event got delayed until after Valentine’s Day. The kids didn’t seem to mind that the holiday had come and gone though as they baked and decorated heart shaped cookies and made paper airplane valentines.
Miles loved helping roll the dough. He called himself "the steamroller".
We had a good time laughing and making messes with the rest of the juveniles. They are special little people and we hope it will at least take them a few more years to realize that we really aren’t that cool.
Shopping with your woman: the bane of every man. As much as most men despise being coerced, guilted, or tricked into shopping with their girly there is something they find even more tedious: boutique shopping with their girly. Many men shutter just at the thought…excuse me while I roll my eyes. What’s so horrible about boutiques? Whole stores dedicated to marketing every form of baby bow in existence or establishments that smell of potpourri and old wood and are stuffed to the rafters with overpriced decorative doodads. What’s so awful about that?
Although I have no pity for you men that are feeling a little queasy right now as you envision such hells, let me give you a big pointer. There is an easy way to avoid such a loathsome experience and still be the hero of your woman’s dreams: Girls’ Day Out.
That’s right, all you have to do is suggest that your significant other go out shopping with her sisters or girlfriends to those doilie packed boutiques and you are off the hook. If you want extra brownie points simply recommend that they get together for lunch beforehand as well. The “Girls’ Day Out” ploy makes you seem like such a thoughtful guy and it gives your girl exactly what she wants: some relaxing time shopping leisurely with adults. (No, you do not count as an adult in this context. You know that you whine just as much as your children when forced into one of those cutesy stores; don’t try to deny it.)
I too like shopping with those of the female persuasion. Jason is an excellent husband and a very patient shopping partner; he doesn’t grumble like the 5 year olds everyone else seems to be married to, but he does have his deficiencies. When I’m shopping with Jason and I need a second opinion on something such as, whether this or that quilt is cuter, and I’m forced to asked him because I have no other companions, he usually pauses momentarily before responding, not to conscientiously contemplate the question but rather to give himself time to do “Eeny Meeny Miny Moe” in his head. Considering this, I gladly took my sister up on her plans for a refreshing girly excursion.
Simone, Madison, Tonya, and my mom...yes, they do have a lot of shopping bags.
Last Saturday my sister, sister-in-law, mom, niece, and I all went to Gardner Village for lunch and shopping. We had a great time! We laughed through our meal and enjoyed conversation that for once didn’t revolve around virtual hard drives, software, or network security. After lunch it was time to do some serious boutique shopping damage…for that, you men will find, is the one flaw in the Girls’ Day Out scheme. When girls go shopping together they will spend much more of their dough on items you might find frivolous or perhaps downright unattractive than they would if you were present.
Our men didn’t suffer too much wallet shock from Saturday’s outing though. Sure, my sister and mom may have come home with a few extra pieces of furniture, a rug or two, and enough doll clothes to dress a doll army but it was all on sale and every girl knows that when you buy stuff on sale the only thing that counts is how much you saved not how much you actually spent. I don’t know why guys don’t understand this basic rule; it makes perfect sense in girl world.
The girls having a laugh
Well, whether our husbands would have approved or not, we spent some of our money and had a lovely time doing so. It was great hanging out with the wonderful ladies in my family…and getting opinions that weren’t based on random number generators was pretty sweet as well.
So remember boys: send your wife out with her girlfriends and save both of you the misery of shopping together. It’s a win/win scenario; you look like an angel instead of a selfish prick and your lady gets to truly enjoy shopping for once. Your pocketbook may suffer a little but better it than you.
Party hopping: reserved for just the socially elite and the chronically noncommittal?
No, apparently it also for the super awesomest party people on the planet…yes, I’m talking about us…duh.
Although we typically get invited to a couple New Years Parties every year, this year we outdid ourselves in the invitee department. Our presence was requested at no less than 5 events. Yeah, you wish you were that cool. While we are not fantastic enough to somehow pull off going to five parties in one night, we decided to try attending three.
Here's Cody the seal. Kenny kindly offered to slide with him; there's nothing sweeter than volunteer idiocy.
We started our evening at the Rowley’s with some Killer Oompi. Killer Oompi is a game that has long been a tradition among Jason’s friends. It’s basically speed Uno with penalties. The loser of each round has to do something completely idiotic like go through a spanking tunnel or eating a carrot out of the winner’s nose. Visions of Cody sliding through the snow on his stomach while acting like a seal were fresh in our memories and still warming our hearts as we departed the Rowley’s for our next gathering. Good times.
Here's Jason with his harem of women at the Hughes' party. After all, what's more Italian than cavorting with a bunch of females?
We then stopped in at Cam and Fran’s. They adopt a different country theme for their party each year and this year the motif was Italy. Yes! Tiramisu: food of the gods…or of some fat Italians at the very least.
This is the Nothing Bundt Cake we took to my sister's house. It was nothing bundt delicious!
We finished off the evening by counting down to 2010 with my sister and her kids. The youngsters were a little loopy from staying up past their bedtimes but they were very excited about ushering in the new year and getting to drink sparkling cider from fancy cups.
Instead of turning into pumpkins this is what happens to the Marshalls after midnight.
We returned home at 4 in the morning after our night of social scattering. Man, being awesome is exhausting!
Happy New Years to us!
Many thanks to all of you who hosted, entertained, and fed us; you were the wind beneath our wings.
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