It's Just a Number

1977.  Canton, IL.  My 4th birthday.  I think my mom still has that tablecloth.  sidenote:  that's Little Todd Little sitting on the lap of the older boy.  He was my friend, and I really did call him that.  Not just Todd.  It was always Little Todd Little.  His last name really was Little, but the prefix Little was just descriptive.

Owen:  "Mom, today's your bIRTHday {sing-songy-like}, but, next time on MY birthday, I want everyone to hide.  Mom, you'll be behind the couch.  Then everyone will jump out and yell 'surprise!'  OK?  I can't wait!  When's my birthday?  No, I mean how many more days?  Yay, only 9 months!  Can I open your presents and blow out your candles when dad gets home?"

Owen has discussed the surprise birthday instructions with me everyday this week.  Yesterday was indeed my birthday.  He blew out my candles.  He opened all my presents.  Even one before the giver (or I) even knew about it, then hid the contents behind his back and made me guess what he was hiding.  He loves birthdays.  But in reality, he does not love being surprised.  What 4 year old does?  Does ANYONE truly love that?  Last night, Molly ran up behind him to surprise/scare him.  It did not go over well.  I think it just needs to be on his terms.  Like on Mothers' day, after I woke up, he told me he had to go do something.  Then I learned from Grace that that was code for "I'm going to go hide, and I want you to come find me so I can yell 'happy mothers' day!'"  So I did.  And he did.  And he was very happy with himself.

Not only did I turn the magic 37 yesterday, Hank and George turned the magic 6 months. I'm still waiting for the magic part.  I'm sure it will be something wonderful, like sleeping through the night (ah, the glory days of 3 months).  Or not spitting up on everything we own.  I might as well ask them to flip somersaults and do a little jig.

Hank in orange

George in green

They ALWAYS hold hands.  

i am out of touch. and i am old.

when mark and i went to watch the phoenix suns recently, i was reminded of the last, and only other, suns game i attended.  18 years ago.  i think.  it was a finals game.  with all the hometown favs:  danny ainge, charles barkley, tom chambers, k. j., thunder dan, kurt rambis, etc.  it was thrilling.

when i saw all those old favorites' retired jerseys on display, i felt really old.

the suns current lineup - nash, stoudemire, richardson, barbosa (these are the only ones that stand out to me right now) - is impressive, for sure, but nothing like the glory days of the early 90's.  is it just me?  is anyone with me here?

  

don't get me wrong.  the game was so fun and i loved cheering for the suns with my utah jazz boy.  but i am now older than most of the players.  i could be their...aunt?  maybe steve nash's slightly older sister.  it's just sort of surreal.  when did this all happen? 

don't be jealous that we sat so close to steve. or that thunder dan was within hollering distance.or that tom chambers sat within feet of us.  i was trying to be coy and snap this picture without him knowing. (great to have a little point and shoot for star struck moments.)  

I'll cry if I want to

It's my birthday. So I'm going to give myself some shameless plugs. My sister wrote a very nice birthday post here. She is all that and a bag of spicy cheetos. And my sister-in-law's friend wrote a nice post here, where she asked me, and several others, "What makes your life beautiful?"

yo yo fro

"Fro" - the hip hop master

Last night Fro schooled me and some friends in hip hop. I felt old, awkward, out of shape and excited to be dancing again. Popping, breaking, house: yeah, I'm down with the lingo. Can't wait for next week!

45

Last night on Oprah, Dr. Oz reminded me that I need to get in shape. I love that guy! I think he was talking directly to me. Minus the part about "quit smoking" and "no more diet soda;" I think I've got those two areas down. The woman on the show who went through his 90 day plan was 42 or so, but her "true" age was 56 based on her health habits. She never drank water, never exercised, etc. etc. SO....I am ready to follow his advice. No trans fat, bring it on! Pomegranate juice, I can handle the stains. Raw almonds, I will eat you! He recommended YOGA and WEIGHT TRAINING. I really like yoga. Stephanie gave me some good yoga instruction in NM earlier this month. Maybe, just maybe, she would come over everyday and be my personal yoga guru. Dr. Oz also said a 30-year old woman should be able to do 45 bent leg push-ups (that's girl push-ups). Every decade after that, she should be able to do 5 less. Let me tell you I got on the floor right then and there to test my skills. I pushed myself to 15 then collapsed on the floor. I need help! But really, if you are a NORMAL 30+ woman and you can do 45 push-ups comfortably (not counting Stephanie, she's twenty-ish) then you deserve a prize. Please tell me if you can do it, because I need some motivation!