I’m sort of ready for this final 3rd birthday post because, quite frankly, I’m running out of ways to title them, though hopefully inspiration will strike between now and next year. And aren’t y’all excited about another full week of birthday posts only 51 short weeks away?
All righty – here’s the thing with me and parties. I don’t really like them. So I always make a point to give people an out when I invite them to something, and really, no one is more surprised than I am when someone shows up. My wedding is the perfect example. We sent out a good many invitations because David and I grew up in the same town, belonged to the same church, went to the same college, etc. But for a couple of months leading up to the wedding, I was a completely atypical bride, assuring people across East Central Mississippi that really, it was okay, they didn’t have to come, and I would completely understand if they had something more important to do, like cleaning out closets or washing cars. I even scheduled our wedding for 10 in the morning, because it seemed like people wouldn’t want to wake up in time to be there, and maybe I could escape the bridal spotlight. Have I mentioned that I have issues about being the center of attention?
Anyway, since most of our family is in Meridian, and since Alex shows no signs at all of shunning attention, we invited all of our family to his party, though I had full confidence that no one would come. But you know what? They did. So many of them, in fact, that I had to make a mad dash to the grocery store right before the party so that we would have enough hamburger meat to feed the masses. Oh! That reminds me of a Tip For Entertaining: when you serve grilled hamburgers, consider using homemade pimento and cheese instead of your standard American or cheddar cheese slices. I stole the idea from one of our favorite restaurants, Jim N Nick’s, and it was a hit. But you must must must grate your own cheese – none of the pre-grated business, no matter how convenient it seems. Enough about that.
So Alex loved the whole event, even though he did get a little freaked out when everyone cheered after they sang “Happy Birthday.” Mama claims that she was the reason he settled down fairly quickly, but I think it had more to do with the Blue’s Clues cake. White cake with buttercream icing, Merritt – just like you like it.
And the presents? Oh my word. It was sort of embarrassing, the volume of them. I came thisclose to putting a “no gifts” disclaimer on the invitations, but I knew David would tell me I had gone overboard with the I-will-not-spoil-my-child mantra, so I let it go. Everyone was so generous – great books, adorable clothes, fun summertime toys, a funky MSU painting for his room, money, gift cards, etc. – and I was really very humbled by the thoughtfulness of this thing they call gift-giving.
After he opened his presents, Alex and the other kids went outside to play (I think I’ve discussed in the past that, despite my best efforts to the contrary, our child loves the outdoors). And everybody else stayed inside and talked and drank coffee and laughed and drank coffee and visited and drank coffee because apparently the more caffeine you introduce into a family gathering, the more successful said gathering becomes.
Sister had laryngitis all weekend, which actually made her the ideal audience for my mother-in-law’s 15 minute story about looking for a jacket at Steinmart, and I promise you that I overheard the words “turquoise” and “cutey cute” at least 10 times, along with “three-quarter sleeve” and, unless my ears deceived me, “sexy,” which I believe was the final straw in Martha’s decision to return the cutey cute turquoise three-quarter sleeve jacket. But I can’t be certain.
All in all, it was a fine Birthdaypalooza ’06 indeed. And it’s over. Really and truly. I promise. No more talk of Alex’s birthday.
Until next year.
Sounds like fun was had by all! I got a great visual of the Martha/Sister story, but I’m certain your ears deceived you: sexy? Thanks, too, for the pimiento cheese tip.
Happy birthday to a precious little 3 year old who looks just like his mama!
Thanks, Liz – and yes, I do think my ears deceived me re: Martha’s comment, but I got very tickled when I thought that was what I heard. But I’m not sure if Martha has ever used that word, and I think that Alex’s party would have been an odd time to start. :-)
BooMama,
I’m so glad you’re back and so excited for Alex. He really is TOO cutey cute for words! I wish I could have seen Ouida in action as the doting grandmother.
Leaving for Starkvegas tomorrow night for a mini-Spring Break for the boys. We’re hoping to see our “#1 in the nation” Bulldogs play Wednesday night at Dudy Noble.
I’m going to be on the road during Idol tomorrow night; I don’t know if I can handle it. I’ll need a detailed synopsis.
Daph –
I will blog while watching AI – probably start it around 8:15, as is my habit. I’m hoping we can get Alex to Dudy Noble sometime soon…I am just so very tickled about their success. Alex, by the way, is currently in the bed but not sleeping, shouting, “I AM THAT HERO!” once every three or four minutes. I am starting to feel very outnumbered in my own home. :-)
Sounds like this was the social event of the year in Meridian. I am so happy for Alex. He is just adorable.
Very excited about the Diamond Dawgs. Very excited!!
I’m with you Liz…. I got a great visual of the whole crowd hanging out in “the blue den”, drinking coffee and just being…you know, “southern”.
Glad Alex had a well celebrated birthday!
Yes, I was and am plagued with The Laryngitis, but I made a wonderful audience for anyone who wanted to talk. I just smiled and nodded. Smiled and noded. :)
As always, I was thoroughly entertained by the shopping stories and designer mishaps of BooMama’s M.I.L. Ears were not deceived, however, if they thought they heard the word “sexy” coming from her mouth. They did indeed. And, at that point, we (she) weren’t talking clothes. Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! She was telling a story about a funny mishap when she was dating BooDaddy’s daddy. Oh, and she told it to me twice (she told it to me twice)! ;)
Did she tell you twice?! Did she tell you twice?! Was it funny funny both times? Just funny funny?
I’m glad BooDaddy didn’t hear the story, or he would have run out of Mama’s front door, screaming, “MY EARS! MY EARS!”
Sister – now that is the funniest thing I think I have EVER read on this blog. Oh, how I wish I could have been there!! Do tell more.
If I’d have heard Martha say the word “SEXY” I would have spit my pimento cheese topped burger out of my mouth!!!
Since this is about his mama and daddy, please put blinders on BooDaddy so he can’t read this.:)
Those of you who know BooMama’s M.I.L. know that she is a “cutey-cute” person. However, there was a time she apparently tried to “up” that image (as we all have) and make herself um, shall we say, a little more “appealing” to the male species, or to be more specific, BooDaddy’s daddy.
The story in question was about being pushed into the lake while wearing a padded bra when she was on a date with BooDaddy’s daddy. Being in the lake was trauma in itself due to her dislike of a body of water where you can’t see the bottom. “Oh, the creatures that might be in there and the nastiness of that water being on your skin…oh, oh, oh, it’s just too much, it’s just too much! I’m just not an outdoors person! When I hit the water – oh, the sounds the pads made when they filled with water…they just went bli-lipt, bli-lipt, they just went bli-lipt, bli-lipt! Oh, I was so embarrassed! They just went bli-lipt, bli-lipt!”
All of this stemmed from talking about waterbras (not to be confused with Wonderbras), which is such a good story that I think I’ll save it for another time…or for my own blog-to-be! :)
“I’m just not an outdoors person!” YA THINK?
Because in the outdoors, where would your beauty operator set up her station so that she could fix your hair every single Friday of your life at 10 AM? Where would you hang all the clothes you’ve acquired while staking out all the Steinmarts in Mississippi and Alabama? Where would you plug in your coffee maker in order to maintain the constant 1/2 cup of HOT coffee that must accompany you at all points in the day? And what, what in the world, would you ever do with Mother-Mother-Mother, who just can’t take the heat, she can’t, she just can’t take it? I bet you a dollar to a doughnut that I know exactly what her hands were doing when she said, “Bli-lipt, bli-lipt.” That is hysterical.
Sister, thanks for sharing that. I have only been around her once or twice and have to rely on stories from you and Boomama. Oh, they are good. Can’t wait to hear the one about the waterbra…don’t keep us waiting too long, please!