Wow - what a day! First, I am officially no longer 40, I am "in my 40's". Um, gulp. My mantra is "it beats the alternative".
I stayed up far too late the night before, sucked into Law & Order SVU. I was definitely exhausted from many days strung together of Christmas, post-Christmas and 8 year old birthday mayhem. This created an inertia so severe that extended TV watching seemed easier and wiser than the exertion it would take to get into PJ's, remove makeup and get into bed.
Therefore, waking at 9am, which would normally be sleeping in, meant only 6 hours of sleep. I still had a lovely couple of hours of solitude, catching up online and drinking a pot of tea, before my kids woke up. Unfortunately, the crazy roller coaster schedule I have had my kids on meant, even though they slept in, they woke up cranky and difficult.
Happily, I was leaving cranky behind! Three of my favorite people in the world - my best friend, my sister and my mom organized an impromptu lunch outing to Good Girls Go to Paris - an amazing place that I have been dying to visit. I left my kids in their PJ's with a simple request that "for my birthday" they tidy up their toys so I would be able to vaccum when I returned.
The lunch was both delightful and delicious! I cannot recommend the restaurant highly enough. I will certainly go back. Since it is on the fringe of WSU's campus, probably more than I should! As a matter of fact, I issue an open invitation to my WSU friends to accompany me as I sample my way through the menu. (or anyone else who wants to meet me there!) And the company could not have been more perfect. A slice of the day I would like to freeze in time.
Then we arrived home. The simple request that they tidy? Hmmmm..... Not only was nothing tidied, the scene had digressed. The children were still in PJ's and in much the same position as I had left them.
I blame the lack of sleep. I lost it. Full on drama queen tantrum. "I rarely ask for anything.... Can't believe nothing was done..... It's my birthday...." Slamming doors included, tears plentiful, and embarrassingly all in front of my sister. Not that I mind her seeing the warts, but hated to put a cramp in her visit. Especially so near the end.
Soooooooo...... yelling, tears, door slam, lots of pouting.
Miraculously (and probably due in part to Eileen removing Natalie from the scene), my older two pulled it together and cleaned the living room and dining room (something I probably wouldn't have accomplished in the same amount of time). While this occurred I pouted and took a very cleansing nap. I woke up to my poor over-criticized husband having used his break to pick up a birthday cake and arrange take out chinese food (since he had to work until 9pm) for dinner. Oh, and he also organized an impromptu small party with my family. This all in the wake of a separate tantrum all for him.
So the evening ended with great Chinese, delicious ice cream cake, watching Up with my parents, my kids, my sister, and eventually my husband and brother in law. It also included a little wine and even champagne.
Although it may not have been a day that I am fully proud of, it seems a day that most accurately represents my daily life. Therefore, perhaps it can be considered an excellent 41st birthday!
