I love movies. Every year, Lance and I fly to Chicago for an Oscar party. Now that we a lot of kids, I end up power watching all the Oscar contenders over a two week period. You can safely assume that I watch a lot of movies and I can promise you that there has never been a movie that I have been so moved by that I was inspired to clap at the end of the movie much less during the movie. I hate clapping at the movies so much that it can ruin the entire experience for me.

Tonight, Lance and I had tickets for a preview showing of Julie and Julia. A timely movie for us considering Lance’s new venture. The movie was fine, Meryl Streep was fabulous as always. It amazes me just how great an actor she is. The only complaint I have was the audience. They laughed at everything. Julia Child had a great sex life with her husband, let’s all roar with laughter and clap our hands. You can imagine what this crowd would have been like watching Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally.

Netflix, I love you.

The best part about my birthday is that it never seems to end. This past weekend, I celebrated my birthday with Cindy, Terese and Carter at Mia Bella. The food was spectacular. And the company even better. I have no idea what we talked about except my oldest son, see entry below, but we had a great time. At one point Cindy thought it was already 10:30, but then realized it was only 9:30. We still didn’t leave until 11:15. We can talk for hours and hours inside a restaurant and then talk for another thirty minutes in the parking lot.

Thanks for a great birthday dinner, guys! I love you all!

I do remember something we decided…I am going to South America and Terese is taking care of the kids!

Should there really be a difference to a fourteen year old about which of these movies to see? I don’t think so, but MY fourteen year old threw the biggest fit because we picked G-force instead of Ice-Age for our family movie this past weekend. I mean, really, what fourteen year old cares about either of these movies? They are both PG and both received below average ratings, not that ratings had anything to do with his aversion to seeing G-Force. So Squirt doesn’t look as ridiculous as I thought he was acting, I will say that he is dying to see Ice-Age because he has seen the other two Ice-Age movies, and he wanted to see this third one. Good reason, just go another day. The little kids had already seen Ice-Age, and I wasn’t about to pay movie ticket prices for a movie they had already seen.

My oldest was so upset about this and threw such a fit that he is now without his cell phone, laptop, iron gym, guitar and camera. We had had such a good week, being super patient and enjoyable all around, but when he couldn’t suck it up for the two hours total it would take to go to and from the movies and then said the following, “I am fourteen, I should be able to see what I want”, well, the week didn’t end well.

I was just so disappointed in his behavior, the pouting, the back talk…I’m also disappointed in the grown-ups behavior as well.

Last night, Lance made pork chops and rice for dinner. Everyone was happy except Goose who doesn’t like rice. Because you know, he has had so much rice in his five years of life. As in he has NEVER had any rice since I stopped feeding him rice cereal. Lance made him put one bite of rice in his mouth because we have a rule that you have to try everything on your plate. (Such mean, unreasonable parents.) Goose proceeded to cry and leave the rice in his mouth for more than ten minutes. Frustrated, pissed, and furious, I finally sent him to bed vowing that he would eat the rice for breakfast. Has anyone else used this move before?

I was calm for nine of the ten minutes last night, then finally lost it on minute ten. I really don’t mind if Goose eats peanut butter and jelly every day for lunch, but he has to eat what we make for dinner. We went through this same thing earlier this week when I tried to hide broccoli in his spaghetti sauce. He finally ate his food that night after everyone else was done and liked it. I reminded him of that experience during his fit last night, but nothing worked.

This morning, he had rice and pork chops for breakfast and loved it. No fussing at all.

My mom sent me an email yesterday telling me very sweetly that I haven’t posted anything lately. So for you mom…I love you!

I turned 29 39 this week. Squirt has been teasing me for the past several years that I am only 29. I guess I am starting to believe it. My husband made the day very special for me. Not only did he manage to surprise me with some great gifts, he hung up a banner and pictures of me and the boys all over the house before I woke up. He and the boys bought charms for my bracelet. The beautiful girl next door who is part of the family gave me the house charm telling me that she picked that charm because our home is like her second home. I also received a diamond L to wear around my neck from Lance. I have been asking for this gift for some time. How could Lance refuse me since I will wear it in honor of him and our love?

Lance bought an Italian Cream Cake from Empire Cafe for me. Italian Cream Cake is my favorite cake in the world. I’m not sure my kids liked it, but that’s okay. I have managed to eat all but four pieces. I’m not sure I should be proud of that fact.

We spent my actual birthday with the kids and then on Thursday, Lance and I celebrated by ourselves. We had an amazing dinner at Flemings Steakhouse thanks to Maeve and James. James is a huge fan of Lance’s show as evidenced by the dessert picture. Afterwards, we went to Cirque du Soliel and saw Saltimbanco. All this with a limo too. The night couldn’t have been better. Thanks, Baby!

This week I purchased the Discover America State by State series. These are alphabet books about each state, for example the Texas book is L is for Lone Star. I had already purchased Texas and South Carolina for Goose, then decided I had to purchase every other state he has visited all in the name of our homeschool. (Never mind the fact that he might be starting school the regular way soon). I sent several emails to Sarah discussing these books, and in the end we both spent more than $150 buying books that afternoon. These books are great and my only complaint is that the Oklahoma book mentions football and the Sooners and the Texas book fails to mention the Texas Longhorns. Anybody else see something wrong with that omission?

I have a massive poison ivy rash that is driving me crazy. I came home from vacation with it and it only seems to be getting worse. I am now trying to use whole milk to help with the itching. I have a huge outbreak on my neck, and it looks awful. Please, please go away.

Baby Hulk had pink eye this week. Poor kid. All he heard this week was “don’t touch” over and over. He was so good about getting his eye drops, well, mostly. It cleared up and nobody else in the house caught it. Yet.

My husband started a new show this week for Foodies called Southbound Food. The show airs at 6pm Saturdays on 1560 am. Bryan Caswell of Reef co-hosts the show and it is a great show. They give great information, but the show isn’t boring or snotty. They plan to have some of Houston’s best chefs as guests of the show. I guess Lance and I will have to try out new restaurants so he is fully prepared for the show. I think this would be considered a perk.

Just in case somebody kicks you while at the circus: Goose wore his shin guards to the circus last night.

One of my dearest friends in the world had a baby boy on June 26, 2009. Everett is so handsome and makes me want another baby right now. Stacy is one of my best friends for many reasons, but mostly because she knows all my secrets! Congratulations Stacy and Charles!

I think that’s it for now…everyone is waking up from their naps.