Grandma's, MIL's and Just Cute Photos

Blogger ate my last post. As in, it was here...and people commented so I know it was here (although I admit it was a lengthy train wreck of a crazed rant on moving. Or not) and now...it's gone. WTF??

Anyway, the boys had a birthday party at Grandma's house over Mother's Day weekend. She wasn't able to make it to their first bday party in January and she wanted to have one for them.

They had a great time--it was better than the party we had for them--and it's always nice to see old friends and family. They were much better at dealing with all of the 'strangers' this time around.

My mom insisted on making cupcakes for them. So...I finally gave in. They had sugar for the first time. Grunter wouldn't touch a single bite. W2 dove in

Although my mom and I have had our differences in the past, I will say having kids has improved our relationship 100%. Chicken is the one who pushed for this trip and I'm glad she did. I would not have suggested it at all. My mom went to great lengths to make this trip the best and easiest for us. She moved unsafe furniture. She cleaned out shelves and drawers. She bought baby proofing items. She borrowed pack n plays and high chairs. She garage saled for age appropriate and push toys and cleaned everything til it shone. She bought us diapers and wipes. She darkened widows and banned the TV in the living room. She requested a grocery list and bought everything on it--even though most items were not what she would have shopped for. She did laundry every day and made she we went home with a suitcase of clean clothes.

It was amazing. And they tried so hard. I'm really happy we went and I know it meant so much to my mother for us to be there on Mother's Day. Now that I'm a mom, I 'get' these things.

I think because my mom did SO much for the short time we were there (4.5 days) it only highlights the fact that Chicken's mom has done nothing. Well, she borrowed pack n plays and high chairs, so she's done a little. But her house is a death trap and there's not one safe space for the boys to play and there are multiple stairways of doom. Now that they are walking--almost running--and into everything on earth, they need to roam. We were supposed to go upstate this weekend, but I begged out. The time at her house stresses me out more than anything. It's the mean MIL plus the death trap house.

MIL did swing by the city for a few hours a couple of weeks ago, so she has seen them recently so I don't feel too bad. I just get sick thinking about spending $400 on rental car to go make myself crazy in the woods for 48 hours. She can keep on coming here.

I know it puts Chicken in a hard place, so she is taking the train up tonight and I have elected to stay home alone with the boys for the weekend while she does her family thing. Much easier this way. Until the boys are old enough for stairs and really listening, we're not going up there.

Here are some photos of last week in the Midwest. Gah, they look so big and old. I can't believe it. The time is going too darn fast.

Whoop Whoop sporting his birthday hat and a new patriotic outfit compliments of G'ma

Grunter Loves Hats

Mommy holding Grunter (notice the great effort he puts forth keeping his feet from touching the grass), my brother who is 8 years older than me, his 10 month old grand daughter (yup) and Whoop Whoop (notice his foot firmly planted in the grass).