TODAY IS HALF WAY TO CHRISTMAS! (read in your best shouting voice)

Today is my birthday, or as I like to remind my pal WillyT,Esq. - it's halfway to Christmas. He's a Christmas cheer fun-hater, so I like to rub it in. Because since I didn't have a brother growing up, I picked WillyT,Esq. to adopt as my bro. I never really asked him, just did it - with mind bullets. And you gotta raz your brother about all the little things that bug him, including premature Christmas celebration.

WillyT, Esq. has already personally delivered my birthday gift - the gift of bedazzling my blog. You like? But even more, I got to watch him hang out with my kids. Including the part where Max schooled him with some Sonic The Hedgehog video game. My 5-year-old kicked his butt. Lucy gave WillyT,Esq. great insight that indeed, she is me, but thank God she's way cuter. And that type of behavior, it turns out, is way more appropriate coming from a 5 year-old. The greatest gift was WillyT,Esq. spending time with my kids.It was just fun to watch. I've been telling him how cute and fabulous they are over the phone, but it's just best that he gets to see it for himself. Recognize the greatness in person. I think he called to check if he could get an earlier flight out, but to no avail.

Max and Lucy are driving me crazy. I've been home with them on their summer break for approximately 3 weeks, and the "I can't wait to spend summer with the kids and do so many fun things with them" has totally worn off. I'm guessing it's because we've been home waiting on this or that appointment, Max has had a bizarre stomach bug and it's been raining. Not all at once, oh no, if Max is feeling okay, then it's raining out, and if it's not raining out and everyone feels fine, then lo, we're waiting on the fireplace guy, chimney guys, the ac guy, or some other guy. Funny, we haven't waited on the laundry guy...maybe we should.

I find myself lecturing them...a lot. I'm sick of hearing myself. So, tomorrow, for my birthday, we will do something that involves activity and distraction, and perhaps access to a stiff gin & tonic - for me, not them. Maybe we'll just hang out at the gym all day. Workouts in the morning (the kids have a rigorous schedule too, you know). Then lunch, then swimming until they beg me to go home. I've requested a fancy dinner with the whole crew.

Usually, I like to prep everyone for my birthday. But this one has quite frankly creeped up on me. I suppose the more you celebrate your 29th birthday, the more complacent you get with it. I'm probably too young to say this, but due to recent events, I gotta say, I'm just happy to have another birthday. Every day with these kids, even when they are driving me crazy, is such a gift.

This morning, I woke up to my freshly brewed birthday coffee and discovered I was out of coffee creamer. To some, this may seem like no big deal, but it is to me, and it IS my birthday! So, I went to the store and got some more. Then I walked by CokeZero with Vanilla, YUM! So, i grabbed that. And hey, is that toaster strudels....it IS my birthday! As soon as I got home, everyone was awake and singing Happy Birthday to me. Max did a finale where he stood on a stool to kiss me after wards. He timed it perfectly. Today is indeed a gift.

That's how I roll.