Birthday Season by Numbers

Hi! I am happy to report that Part 1 of Birthday Season (the part in which I am the hostess/director/ producer/event coordinator) is now complete (except for one, which I will get to in a moment). And in case you don’t know what Birthday Season is, it is the time between the end of March to the middle of May where there are a ton of birthdays and holidays. . . kind of like Christmas, but waaaayyyyy a tad longer than the Christmas season. I would not say that I escaped unscathed, but I didn’t end up getting invited to stay in a facility that has padded rooms either, so I guess that’s a win for me.

Also, on a pretty big side note, I had an awesome experience with Macomb Patch this last week as Jenny followed me as a Stay-At-Home Mom for the Macomb Patch Spring Tour. Check out the video here. And please be kind. . . I was so incredibly nervous when she asked me what makes a good mom. Also, do not fear, I will not be vlogging anytime soon. Promise.

Instead of going into a long dissertation about the past weeks, I decided to give you a condesnced version in a format that is inspired by the lovely Aunt Becky at Mommy Wants Vodka. (She also has the awesome site called Band Back Together. This month is Mental Health Awareness month, and this site is doing some incredible things about breaking the stigma attached to mental illnesses. Please go check it out).

So without further ado, I bring to you, Birthday Season by Numbers:

7 – the number of family birthdays within Birthday Season

3- the number of Costco cakes I ate (well, not the whole cake, just a lot of it)

5 – the number of gallons of ice cream I bought

3- the number of family parties we did not attend to due to serious illness

1 - the number of events we did not attend to due to our illness

1 - the number of events left to be hosted at my house as a makeup to the said missed dates due to personal illness

1 - the number of events cancelled due to the monsoon season

4 - the number of projected events hosted at my house

2 - the number of actual events hosted at my house

523 - the number of Costco trips for essentials like cake, wine, and turkey rollup party platters

3 - the number of times I ate Mexican during Birthday Season

10 - the number of days Harrington was out of town on business during Birthday Season

250 – the number of near misses for having a nervous breakdown

1 - the number of bridal showers I attended and planned during Birthday Season

14 - the number of days that my Mom and I planned a bridal shower

476 - the number of times that it felt good to see my cousin and his wife-to-be since they live so far away

6 - the number of birthday parties left to attend during Part 2 of Birthday Season

1 - the number of princesses parties that Marie attended in which all 8 guests were jumping on the trampoline at once without a net

1,000,645 - the number of seconds I held my breath hoping Marie didn’t fall off, waiting for the hostess
mom to stop chain smoking long enough to say something, and when she didn’t, I finally told Marie to get off the trampoline

3- the number of parents that stayed at the party even though she said it was fine that parents stayed, but once there, the vibe suggested otherwise

0 - the number of times Marie will go back to that house without me

18 – treat bags of Mommy’s Special Snack mix (comprised of pretzels, raisins, and 1 table spoon of M&M’s) that I made for Marie’s birthday snack for school since I decided to be a kill joy and not bring in pop tarts or cookies since those treats are brought in on a daily basis as “healthy snacks.” (A side note: “Real Fruit Flavor” is not the same as “Real Fruit”)

1 - the number of parties at Rochester Play for Marie’s big 5 year old birthday

373,047,808,3748,374 - the number of smiles had by all the guests because the people at Rochester Play know how to throw The. Most. Perfect. Birthday. Party. Ever.

0 - the number of parties I plan on having at my house after such a successful offsite party. Really, Rochester Play, you are so, so awesome!

570 - the number of times I wanted to blog, but was too tired after planning

1,000 - the number of times I feel relieved to get back to blogging because you know, I love it and it makes me happy.

1 - the number of days we celebrated Easter with an awesome brunch and my brother’s delicious biscuits and homemade sausage gravy

1 – the number of days we celebrated Mother’s Day with my Mom, Mother-in-law, and Aunt Carol

0 - the number of days I planned Mother’s Day

7 - the number of days I wondered when Harrington and my Dad were going to start planning Mother’s Day

245 - the number of times I was thankful that my Dad made the perfect mojito and Harrington got me the book I was so desperately hoping for

5,783,754,870,734,087,021 - the number of I felt super lucky to be a mom to some pretty incredible Babes

1 – the times I went to Chicago with my Mom and Marie to visit my cousin and Aunt Diane to see my cousin’s end of the year project for her master’s program and celebrate the completion of Birthday Season Part 1

1,000 - the number of times I was thankful the the naviagation device on my phone delivered me from my home to Chicago safely and accurately

1 - the number of times we attended Kindergarten Roundup

5 - the number of times I stopped myself from crying because my little girl is Going. To. Kindergarden.

25 – the number of pounds I should have gained during this season (see number of Costco cakes and gallons of ice cream)

0 – the number of pounds gained thanks to zumba and yoga and IBS (mostly, the IBS)

9,578,402,183,659,120,978 – the number of times I felt lucky to have great family and friends

9,578,402,183,659,120,978 - the number of times I was getting down about the drama that often surrounds Birthday Season

Well, I think that pretty much sums up the past month and a half. So, what’s new with you? Anything good? Or not good but want to share? I’d love to hear from you!

Be sure to check out The Girl Next Door Grows Up!  She is so full of awesomness!

Hi!  I have been MIA because it's the holidays and like birthday season, I am The Producer of The Holiday Season.  The wardrobe, sets, props, and food craft services table don't make themselves!  So this little elf has been ingesting enough caffine to soar just like Santa's sleigh.  But let's focus on the happy things because it's Feel Good Friday.

And 'tis the season for reruns (so please enjoy my post about Christmas music again)! 
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My Favorite Christmas Music

Christmas music is one of the most essential ingredients for my holiday season. I remember listening to Christmas music with my Mom when we decorated the tree and baked Christmas cookies. I remember the skip in her Johnny Mathis album on the O Holy Night! song. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the feeling I get when I listen to Christmas music. And I LOVE how Marie gets just as excited as I do so now at least I have a partner in crime. However, I am very particular about what kind and who sings what song. So without any further ado, my favorite Christmas music list, condensed version:

There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays sung Perry Como
This song is great because I get all gushy for that going-home-to-my-parents-house feeling . . . even though I see them a lot and they live fifteen minutes away.

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of Year sung by Andy Williams
I think this song is loaded with irony. Like when Andy croons, “Everyone telling you be a good cheer!” Yes, be a good cheer when you feel like you are going insane with the Christmas Craziness!! But my all time favorite line in that song is, “They’ll be scary ghost stories and tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago.” Yes, scary ghost stories like the time Santa didn’t get to Christmas Eve until 9 p.m. and Marie, who was 8 months old at the time, had a SUPER meltdown (and I told her to be a good cheer, but that didn’t seem to cheer her up, ironically). And I know the lyrics say “glories of Christmases long, long ago,” but I like to think it really says “gories of Christmases long, long ago.” There are too many gories of Christmas past to share, but more recently (and on the tamer side) it would be someone saying something to the effect that I (when I was six months pregnant last Christmas) was big enough to wear a supersize garbage bag and maybe fit in the trunk of her car. Nice.

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing sung by Nat King Cole
The women’s voices that sing right before it cuts out to Nat’s voice gives me chills! This song reminds me of my all time favorite movie It’s a Wonderful Life. The whole angel theme just makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.

O! Holy Night! sung by Johnny Mathis
His voice is like butt-ah! I love it! Actually, I love this whole album. Plus it reminds me of my childhood; my Mom and I used to listen to this album when we baked Christmas cookies. And childhood and Christmas are enough to make anyone all teary-eyed! (And if someone else like Chris Groban tries to sing it, I get all mad because Johnny is the ONLY person who can sing it)!
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas sung by Judy Garland
This song is so sad and beautiful. Judy’s voice sounds melancholy when she talks about being light and troubles out of sight. This is another song when I get all upset when someone else tries to sing Judy’s Christmas song!

Winter Wonderland
Living in the Midwest, I am no stranger to snow storms. I love that this song makes snow storms sound like fun. Johnny Mathis or Harry Connick, Jr. both do this song justice!

Baby, It’s Cold Outside! sung by Al Hirt and Ann Margret
Speaking of songs that make snow storms sound like fun . . . I imagine in the old days when people used to listen to records and know how to make drinks like Tom Collins and Old Fashioneds.

Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters
I love all Christmas songs sung by Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters including the following:
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Mele Kalikimaka
Here Comes Santa Claus
Jingle Bells
Poppa Santa Claus
Jing-a-ling, Jing-a-ling

To be honest, the stress of the holidays is enough to kill any joy and merriment that can be so magical during this season. These songs help me find that place of happiness when all I want to do is cancel Christmas. It’s just like Buddy says in Elf, “The best way to spread Christmas Cheer is singing loud for all to hear!”

What are your favorite Christmas songs? What kind of memories do they bring up?

The Award for Best Producer of Birthday/Holiday Season Part 3

Blogger, I get it. You are trying to protect me from oversharing. I rarely share pictures, so let's try this one last time.


Here's Part 1 and Part 2 for those who may have missed it!

Part 3 of Birthday/Holiday Season

Marie's acutal birthday after her requested hamburger

Happy Meal be eaten in McDonalds.

Marie's Little Mermaid Birthday Party

The Producer, relaxing with a glass of wine to

celebrate the end of Birthday/Holiday Season.

Hope you all enjoyed my self-indlugent highligh reel and my big reveal of me!

So, Friends, enough about me and all my pics!  Tell me what you are gearing up for or winding down from?

The Award for Best Producer of a Birthday/Holiday Season Part 2

I love Blogger. Love it. I tried to help a friend use Wordpress and I failed miserably. As much as I love Blogger, it has its limits . . . like how many pictures it will accept at once. So here are the rest of the highlights from my Birthday/Holiday Season.

Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention all the food my MIL brought to my house to help with the celebrations. Thank you, you made hosting at my house so much easier!




More pictures with baby animals



Part 1 of Harrington's birthday. We always try and see a Tigers game for his special day.



More cake at My Nephew's birthday



Harrington's Birthday Part 2



Marie's actual birthday when she sees her new bike!

Another intermission provided by Blogger's photot limits. Part 3 coming soon!

And The Award for Best Producer of a Birthday/Holiday Season goes to . . . Mommy on the Spot

*Short programming note before the real post beings: Thank you, everyone, who burned me into your feeder and/or subscribe to my blog through email. I really, really REALLY appreciate it. And if you haven’t already, check it out on the right-hand side.*


*Approaches podium and graciously accepts her award

Thank you for this lovely award. For those who don’t know what Birthday/Holiday Season is, it is the time of year when there are numerous birthdays with one or more holidays during an extended period of time. For me, this season began March 27th and officially ended May 15th. During that time, I celebrated the following birthdays: Thomas, My Brother, My BIL, Harrington, My Nephew, My MIL, and Marie. There was also Easter, a family field trip to a farm to see baby animals, Tigers Opening Day, and Mother’s Day. Most of these events were observed on more than one day, and 80% were hosted at my house. If you break it down, we had at least one event every weekend. Believe me when I say that there was a lot of drama surrounding some of these events, but why focus on that when there are so many positive things that happened during this season. Birthday Season is awesome because I love, love, love family gatherings. I love watching the Babes play with their friends and cousins. I love all the bonding that went on during this season. Yes, it was hectic, but when I really look at it, I am pretty damn lucky to have a family to celebrate. So without further ado, I would like to thank those that helped make it possible for me to be the given The Award for Best Producer of a Birthday/Holiday Season. . .

Thank you for the many people I have in my life that I have the pleasure of celebrating their existence. The Babes and Harrington, this season celebrates you. You, too, My Brother, MIL, Nephew, and BIL.

Thank you, Jesus, for the Easter holiday. What’s there not to love about Easter especially since there are so many delicious chocolate treats and tasty hams to eat? My only thing about Easter is that it’s only one day, and I could use another two to make everyone happy.

Thank you, coffee bean growers in Columbia that supply Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, and thank you, Costco buyer who made the decision to carry this perfect product. You kept me running, for sure!

Thank you, California and French vineyards for the wonderful wine that you produced. Your product was an instrumental part in my down time, which is way more fun and inexpensive than that bite guard my dentist told me to get.

Thank you, inventor of the DVR. Words do not express the contentment that comes over me knowing that I can wait to watch Modern Family on my time or that my 5 episodes of Parenthood will wait for me when I can get to them. No pressure.

Thank you, again, Costco for making delicious and fabulous –looking cakes for only $15. I love you.

Thank you, Windex. While hosting many events at my house, you helped me make my house look shiny when I felt far from it. Shhhh, I even use you on wood.

Thank you, Crazy 8 and Target for helping me put together coordinating wardrobe changes for each family member for each of these scenes. Everyone looked incredible, and I didn’t go over budget.

Thank you, again, Harrington. You are awesome!! We got through it together!

Thank you, Mom, for helping me with the Babes and everything else. I couldn’t have done it without you.

Thank you, bloggie and IRL friends, for letting me vent.


Thank you, Real Housewives of New Jersey and New York. You soothed my tired mind, because for the duration of your shows, your circus was a nice break from my own.

Thank you, Wii Trainer from the Sports Active Game. Thank you, Saturday Step Aerobics Class/Core Express. Because of the both of you, I was able to go through 8 weeks of eating tacos, pizza, ham, cake, ice cream, chocolate, and more cake and LOOSE weight! How is that even possible?!

Thank you again, everyone! You are all awesome! Here are a few pictures of the different scenes of the Birthday Season Production. Please enjoy. (And here’s the big reveal of what I look like. I figure if I am going to Blogher, and you see me sitting alone, you now know who I am and can save me from feeling like the new kid at school who doesn’t know anyone, right)?




Before his big party!




Thomas and Marie at his big party!



Thomas did not like cake. . . at first.



Easter eggs



Easter morning



Opening Day



Meeting baby animals. The cow licked him, and he giggled and stuck his hand out for more!


Intermission of pics because Blogger won't let me add anymore. Look for part 2!