Contract for My Sons' Future Wives

This morning I ran into this article and found it absolutely hilarious, yet so true.  It makes me sad that all too soon, Ethan and Owen will be grown up and be getting married.  Anyway, here is the article:

The moment you bring a baby boy into the world, you start to wonder when he's going to leave you. That's right. You know that one day he'll leave you for another woman -- even though he'll propose to you all through toddlerhood and tell you that you are the only girl for him.

Liar.

You're already quite certain that the woman he marries will probably resent you for being so awesomely cool. And you're betting she'll do whatever she can to break the strong bond you have with your sweet prince. Women say it's good to marry mama's boys, but they don't really want to deal with the mama part. 

Wenches!

My husband has told me time and time again to cut the cord... no f*****g way! I'm waiting until that thing rots and falls off. I mean, for how much longer is he going to say "I love you" when he walks out the door, or hug me in front of his friends, or ask me to lie with him at night? Frankly, I don't know, but I won't be the one to stop it.

If he's 40 and wants me to lie with him and scratch his arm, I'll be all "Move over, Megan," or whatever his unappreciative, son-stealing wife's name is.

Let's be honest: he may be 5 now, but before we know it, he'll be shaving, and driving, and then he'll leave us to go to college somewhere cold. Then he'll get married and move to be near her mother, because that's what girls make boys do:move near their mothers! Then he'll be a father, and then one fine holiday he'll have "wifey" call us to cancel our plans. Then he'll try to make up for it by sending one of those Harry & David gift baskets filled with pears, because he'll remember that we love pears, but they'll be bruised -- like our hearts.

No, we can't go down that road. We have to take a stand against son stealing right now.

We'll make those Jezebels pay... no, sign! Yes, a contract for us to make them sign, besides the pre-nup. That's right, like using WiFi in Starbucks, they'll have to agree to our terms. 

This is a MIL-nup, and it goes like this:

• I will compliment my mother-in-law's (MIL's) cooking, her decorating, and, most importantly, the incredible way she raised her son, my husband.

I will marvel at my MIL's beauty and miraculously never-aging skin every time I see her.

I will acknowledge that my MIL's son is on loan to me so that we can make grandbabies, which will probably look like her and have her wonderful traits, which I will mention in conversation frequently and with great fervor.

I will remind my husband to call my MIL daily, saying, "Have you told your mother you love her today? You should, she rocks." Plus, I will throw in phrases like this:

"That amazing woman raised you! You should call and thank her... again."

"You can truly never thank her enough."

"Let's go over and thank her in person."

"We should bring her a gift when we go."

"She's so deserving of gifts."

"Let's take her on vacation with us."

"And get her another gift."

"Maybe a beautiful locket with pictures of you and our children."

"No, I don't need to be in the pictures; she didn't raise me... unfortunately."

I will tell other women that their mothers-in-law are not as fabulous as mine, and I shall be willing to throw down in the event that said women disagree.

I will take my MIL to her weekly hair salon appointment and shopping at Loehmann's, when it is deemed necessary by age.

I will spend all holidays with my husband's family, because they are so awesome and gracious, and I realize how much mine sucks by comparison.

And lastly:

I will move to be near my MIL, whether she has retired to Century Village in Florida, decides to live in a nudist colony in Arizona, or goes bat-s**t crazy and moves to Alaska for the fresh sushi. She is so wise and wonderful that I'm sure her choice of habitat will suit me and my husband perfectly!

Oh, and:

My MIL can so live with me and my husband when she's old and can't remember who I am.

There. You can print this to be signed when the inevitable happens. I just saved you from losing your sweet, sweet boy. You're welcome.

Surprise Party for Sean!

Sean took all of the C.P.A. exams when I was pregnant with Owen and in September, he received his Connecticut license and his Virginia one in January.  We never did anything to celebrate this huge accomplishment, so when we received his Virginia license I started thinking of different ways to celebrate.  I decided to ask his sisters (one lives in Falls Church and the other lives in Richmond) if they would want to come up and surprise him with a small party.  They both happily agreed!  So the planning began!  It was just the three families, but it was so fun!  

Sean always asks me to go with him wherever he goes on Saturdays (except for the grocery store, because we always spend more when I go there, haha!), so I knew that getting him out of the house without me would be tricky without getting him suspicious.  So, I asked Kevin from church to help.  He took Sean to visit less active members in our ward.  In the morning, Sean had looked at the online banking and was questioning the charges at Party City and Costco... It was so hard not to tell him what the purchases were really for!  

The boys and I left shortly before Kevin picked Sean up, and we got the balloons I had ordered earlier in the week, and Aubrey and her family came over and helped decorate.  Jennie and her family joined a little later, and we all waited in anticipation for Sean to come home!  They finally pulled up and we were all ready with our party poppers for when he came in!  

The kids all had a blast playing together and us adults enjoyed one anothers' company.  Good times, good memories:)

Sean's Completely Surprised!

Kiddos Eating

Hanging Out

The Babies!!!  Matthan and Owen

Aubrey and Matthan

Ethan's School Play!

Yesterday was the much anticipated school play for the second graders at Ethan's school!  For months we have been heard Ethan singing the songs around the house and have practiced his lines (it was his first play where he had a speaking part!).  I was excited to see how it all came together (and honestly, for it to all be over and for Ethan to magically forget some of the songs... I keep getting them stuck in my head when he sings them!).

My mom, Dave, Dad, and two of my friends from Mom's Group came with me to the 1:30 showing.  It was so awesome having everyone there to support him!

Here are some pictures

It's hard to see, but Ethan is standing behind the girl in the green shirt waiting for his turn to speak.

Ethan is in the middle with the button collared shirt on

And Ethan during his speaking part...  My camera doesn't take the best quality of video clips:(

Sean took him to the 7PM showing - we are so proud of him!!

Just Another Day in Paradise...

On the way to my sister's house the other day I heard this song on the radio called, "Just Another Day in Paradise."  I had heard it before but not for a long time.  

Fast forward to that night...  I am cooking dinner, Owen is crying because he is grumpy and not being held, and Ethan is singing (or should I say yelling?) songs that are in his upcoming school play very loud so he can be heard over Owen.  I smiled to myself..  this is just another day in my paradise!  I know that all too soon, the kids will be grown and our house will be too quiet and its moments like this that I will miss. <3

Here is the video and song for "Just Another Day in Paradise" by Phil Vassar: 

Owen and Hannah Meet!

On Wednesday, Owen and I went to Meg's to visit.  Owen didn't quite know what to think about little Miss Hannah!  I am so happy that they are close in age and it will be fun watching them grow up together!!

Love My Big Brother!!

The other night (February 13th) I had to get up to do something (I can't remember what) while I was feeding Owen...  He started fussing so Ethan took over.   This is what I walked back into the kitchen to see:

I am SO happy I had my camera right on the kitchen island so that I was able to capture this moment on film! Ethan loves Owen, and Owen equally adores Ethan! :)

Baby Girl Mason Has Arrived!!!!

Yesterday morning Mom called and told me that Meghan might have her baby so all morning I carried the phone in my pocket waiting anxiously for any news.  Around 12:30, I was at Wegmans to meet my friends for lunch when Meghan called me.  She told me that her doctor confirmed that her water broke and so she was heading to the hospital (home first, though, to get the camera!).  All afternoon I kept my cell phone in my pocket for updates from Mom.

Sean came home from Richmond around 8:30, and around 10:15, Mom called to say that Meg was all ready to have Baby Girl!  So I quickly drove to the hospital and waited with everyone else for her arrival.  Finally, at 11:11PM she was born weighing 5 pounds 15 ounces!  She is absolutely beautiful!

Pictures Coming Soon