it's over...

my birthday is technically over today...where on EARTH did July go?? Coming up next is Barry's (Kurt's is first but he doesn't live in my house...so it's a minor technicality!) His birthday is this Friday...how old will the mighty Captain be?

Heatho is hosting a lovely family BBQ at Casa de DuBrink on the 12th for the boys...my little honey is going to be 32...can you even believe it? I can't...but before ALL of that...I'm having beach time with my girl Red & the kids on 8/10 I'm looking forward to that like a fat kid loves cake! I can't even wait...I'm at my very best with sand between my toes...well...if margaritas were involved & I wasn't called Mommy all day, I'd truly be at my best...but a day at the beach with my girl & our babies...that's good stuff right there!

Tuesday was great, got my Dragon Nest on for lunch (I wish Chinese people would put an "S" in their business names...I always call it the Dragon's Nest...it works better for me!)...that means I'm one day closer to the weekend...one in which I can just relax & just take it easy...at least for now I can...I know of nothing on the schedule & I'm LOVING that fact! This is going to be the first weekend in ages I've got nothing to do...except play on my laptop & make some changes to my FaFa rosters! Loving that business too...you should check it out...I wanna start playing for money...LOL, LOL!

Hoping you're all having a beautiful week...the kids are giggling in Katie's room...they're either starting trouble or having a blast...either way, I better go check it out! Love you all to pieces...thanks again for stopping by...leave some comments...I love knowing you're all still out there!

8/31...date nite at the Swedes...don't forget!

The Best Couple...

that's the award we won at the DHY Canoe Trip! :) Yep, that's us...the best couple...& 70 other people agree with me! :)

I admit it...I was wrong...yeah, we were soked to the bone & I was terrified that we were in an aluminum boat in a thunder & lightning storm...but I took a second to see the Barry they all see...& I know why I am completely in love with this man! I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard...my face hurt at the end of the day! There really isn't one thing he can't do...his first time canoeing & he rowed that boat like he canoes for a damn living! He was in & out...weaving us among the people who couldn't figure which end of the paddle to use...& laughing hysterically at them the entire time! He was steering & rowing & never once got mad that I was pretty much just there to laugh my ass off!

Of course, today is another story completely...my entire body hurts today...LOL! We never tipped over once, our food stayed dry..which was a miracle...nothing else in a million feet of us was dry at the end of the day! Which made the day even funnier...we looked like a bus full of drowned rats! His co-workers...just phenomenal people...they're so funny & relaxing & just really want it to be one BIG happy family & that's just what it feels like to be with them! I completely adore them all...& can't wait for our next excuse to get together and hang out!

I'm also definitely looking forward to next year's Canoe Trip...& I've got my Paddle Pirates DHY 2007 Canoe Trip t-shirt to wear next year! Just the cutest shirt ever...I can't wait to wear it to work on Friday!

I'm going to bed early again tonite...while I was in bed by 8 last nite...I had the glorious pleasure of listening to my beloved PUKE all nite...he just can't handle the vodka...he wasn't drunk at all...but the jello shots definitely got the best of him...they just waited about 10 hours before they did! My poor baby...he's feeling much better today...just his back is sore- not a bad gig for a man who rowed a boat for about 4 hours!

another one down...

one day closer to the Canoe Trip...not sure yet if that's a good thing or a bad one! While I'm very excited about spending an entire day with Barry just the 2 of us...no Mommy & Daddy...just us! I'm superbly nervous about being the girliest girl anyone has ever met & trying to remain calm...I don't do canoes, I don't do sports, I don't DO HELMETS, I certainly don't do pissing in the woods...or worse yet...Port 'o Potties!

I'm already contemplating how I'll react to a broken nail...or TAN LINES! I'm sure some sort of life jacket comes along with this territory...in case I become knocked unconscious before I hit the rapids...let me just say...if that happens & I kick the bucket (we already signed the waivers saying we wouldn't sue if loss of life happens...sounds like a good time to me)...don't let them recover my body! Who the hell wants to be laid out with tan lines, a broken nail & what's left of the helmet hair I'm sure to incur! Seriously...how much fun is a day with your love when waivers releasing the company you're "relaxing" with have to be signed in case you croak or...become a capper!

Do wheelchairs come in pink??? What will become of the other half of the Solid Gold Dancers if one of us gets wheels due to an unfortunate Canoe accident...how do you say...don't mind my chair...I was living on the edge...in a damn canoe?? I'm clearly not canoe material!!

What happened to him romancing me with a fun trip to New Orleans...now that's a good time! How about Vegas...CANOEING!?! I'm not going to be the bitchy whiny me you all know & mostly hate...I've been very brave to him...sure, honey...sounds like fun in my best "work phone" voice...the one people always say is just too sweet...at one point, Winters asked me if honey were dripping from my throat I was so sickening...but I've been sweet!

Encouraging him to embrace his new work friends...this is a new side of Barry...wanting to be out in public...with virtual strangers...wanting to make new friends...enjoying it even...so...I'll trudge on...I guess strappy heels...or flip flops are out of the question...what does one wear to die in a canoe? I want to look good for the rescue team! :)

It will be fun...once I get done busting balls...the last time I met them all...Barry's boss SWORE the following Tuesday that he introduced me to someone at the party as his girlfriend...& she grilled him, FIERCELY...& said she had every intention of telling his wife if she'd found out he was cheating...I love her for that! & Red says I should take it as a compliment...that I'm hot enough to be the other woman...so I'm going...& I plan on telling them all how much I hate his wife...& I really am his girlfriend...the wife is home with his kids...LOL! I gotta say...they were awfully sweet for a bunch of people who thought I was the dirty whore he drags around behind his old lady's back...LOL!

So...they're sweet people even if they think you're a skank who's the side piece...I love them for that...I hope I'm just being a big chicken...& I get to tell you all on Monday that you should polish up your canoe helmets & get ready to dig a hole in the ground to piss in because I'm booking us a canoe trip!

Hope you've got fun plans this weekend...Dawn is having Girl's Weekend...some much needed time with her peeps from PA...they invited me like the lovey girls they are...I probably wouldn't need a helmet for anything other than the initiation...but I could have handled that! ha ha ha...

Red & I are gonna plan our day at the beach with the babies for one day within the next 2 weeks...I hear the sea calling my name as I write...I love the ocean so much...& it's a great excuse to eat funnel cake...so is the rodeo...LOL!

Happy Tuesday, lovers...hope you are thinking of all the nice things you want to say at my funeral...don't forget to throw in some rock n roll...& some profanity...I'll love you immensely for it!!!

THANK GOD FOR LINDSAY LOHAN GETTING BUSTED TODAY...i'm now in second place in my celebrity gossip pool!!! ATTA GIRL LiLo!!!!

Happy Saturday...

well, aside from my massive cramps (I'm waiting until after NOON to have a glass of wine with my Motrin) it's a perfect weekend day...the weather is absolutley perfect!!

The kids are playing together & being nice about it...for now! Aunt Heatho is here...to drop off reinforcements & get her chairs for the DuBrink party today...& to peruse my newest People magazine!

Today...I want to be a boy...the fabulous manicure might make people look at me twice...but I hate this time of the month!!! Boys should have this pleasure...we have to give birth! Damn men!

Hoping Dawn has luck car shopping today...& anxiously awaiting our visit either today or tomorrow with Aunt Red!!

Happy Saturday...hope you have a cramp free weekend!

33

What a perfect few days we had at Club Thompson this past weekend! I have the most amazing & generous friends and family a girl could ask for! I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for an incredible birthday!

Saturday, Barry, Margie, Brandon & myself had a killer time at our very first Crab Out...I'm already looking forward to next year! The food was superb...so were the people. Zach, Dezi & Brent have the funniest friends...the stories I could tell about when Barry & I went back at 11 would have you in hysterics! Brandon, Ethan & I swam in the pool until I couldn't feel my toes anymore...it was just a little bit chilly out!!! It was so cold that when Barry & I went back, I was wearing jeans & a sweatshirt!!!

Then came Sunday...my 33rd birthday! It was a day I will never forget. I felt so special, loved & appreciated all day! I haven't had a birthday party since J.W. threw me my Sweet 16...yeah, it's been a while! To me...birthdays are this magical thing...it's the day you came & blessed me with your presence...so I always go way overboard...& Margie did that for me this year! I can't thank her enough for the perfect pink day...I also can't thank Red enough(not only for the bangin' pasta salad & her gracious gift...loves you...) but for just being you! You're both more important to me than you'll ever realize, I'm certain. I love you both for the rest of my life!

Meggie...the cake was gorgeous...& I love that you let Brandon & Katie help! Heatho...as always... making your list & checking it twice...u rock! Kelly & AJ...we miss you both so much...it was great having you there to laugh & play with! My incredible in-laws...where to start...Pop mowed the lawn, delivered chairs & tables...Mom made my absolute favorite potato salad ever & baked beans for Barry...no easy task...& was there being her beautiful loving self all day! Mom came to preach to us all about whatever she could...& we loved her being there...being Mom again!

Dawn & Kevin made it out to the first of many shindigs at Club Thompson & brought Savanna & Josh (Slip N Slide King of the Universe!)...which made Brandon, Katie & Tyler so happy!! I love hearing them play & laugh so much...it's one of my very favorite sounds! I love that Dawn is comfortable with my girls...that she's just one of us!

The usual suspects were there...Captain Kurt- Heathos' better half, Stevie, JoAnn & Myles...Gary & Tara with Jake & McKenzie (she's just so tiny), Uncle Teeve of course, Brucie, Celie, Zach & Dezi, Brent & Noel...I was just surrounded by love all day...I laughed so hard...had a quiet moment with my girls...talking about beautiful memories from our long past...of course I ended up crying!!!

I just think about that day & I'm so grateful...to all of you, for everything...I'm looking forward to at least 33 more great years of parties!!

Let me not forget to mention...Evel Kenievel Thompson & his crazy bike tricks...he's got some great scabs & the 4 of us laid in my bed last night having "story time" where the kids like to make up stories...they always start with "Once Upon A Time" or as Kate says..."Once upon A Story" & are usually something that happened with the details completely wrong...Kate nailed every moment of Bran's stunt about 5 times...that kept being her story...I think it's one of those things that's going to mentally scar her...LOL!

Thank YOU all...for a perfect way to welcome my 33rd year! I love you more than words will ever express!!

Happy Wednesday...sweets!!!

pics from Sunday...

so pretty...

Do you see the shock that I'm actually documenting this event??

I couldn't yell at her...I was the idiot that left the nail polish on the coffee table...& once I got it up off of the hardwood floors (& stopped crying out of fear that it wouldn't come up & I was actually going to be the one in trouble with Daddy instead of Katie) I found the humor & beauty in the situation!

I did learn that red nail polish doesn't come off of skin very well...which I assume is why my manicurist always takes it off immediately...she's still got a couple of pink spots this morning...her right foot looks like she's got some type of skin affliction!

She was so afraid by the mess she'd made that I was going to yell at her...OR EXPLODE right before her eyes...that she just kept apologizing. Once I hugged her & told her it was all Mommy's fault (but that she should NEVER touch nail polish again) her response was..."Isn't it so pretty, Mommy?!" ...& you know what...it totally was...she was gorgeous & perfect & 2!

I learned that Katie loves I'm Not Really A Waitress as much as I do...I just have to get a new bottle now...LOL!

Happy Friday the 13th my sweeties!!!!

oops...

so Kate didn't want the side bars on her big girl bed...at 4:40 a.m. I realized that was a mistake...the poor little sweetie was rudely awakened by what I'm sure was the shock of her little life (not that you'd know it by how her brother reacts in the same situation...) she fell out of bed! Now...her floor is the only one upstairs that is carpeted & Barry did fold up our old comforter & lay it on the floor next to her bed..."just in case"...but you knew how soundly she was sleeping by the great wails that were coming down the hall. I swear to God, I thought someone was in the house trying to take her...or something equally terrifying!

I don't know what came over me...Barry said the first entire cry didn't even make it out of her before I was up, running down the hall in the pitch black of nite & hollering, yet whispering at the same time..."Mommy's coming, baby!" She was just so shocked by the entire thing...she just looked at me like...who the HELL is screwing with me & how did they make me fall!

I scooped her up, snuggled her, got her some water & she was asleep in my arms in seconds. I swear to you...that cry...I can still hear it...I couldn't even imagine what was happening to my little angel...& where was the man I love you're all quietly wondering...her favorite man, Daddy of the UNIVERSE in this little girl's eyes??? In bed...just rolled over & went back to sleep...I couldn't sleep for about half an hour...just laying there...like the over-protective Mommy I am...thinking about my Kate & how I was certain some sort of tragedy had been averted by my running like a total idiot in the darkness! (well...that & the fact that i was so damn out of breath from panicking...& the smoking i'm sure...LOL...that it probably took that long for my heart to stop throbbing in my chest like a 13 year old in 1988 who had just gotten her New Kids On The Block "Hangin' Tough" album autographed by the entire band! & yes, I googled that to make sure my dates were accurate...1988...WTF...wasn't that YESTERDAY???)

On the other hand...my big man, Brandon- he falls out of bed at least once a week...on to the hardwood floor & doesn't even flinch...we hear the thud of what I'm sure is either a boney knee, elbow...or his noggin hitting the floor & just know it's someone's turn to go put the man back in bed. The child doesn't even wake up...or remember it in the morning...some woman is going to have the shit scared out of her weekly...the lucky thing! :)

That's it...the latest adventure at Club Thompson...Happy Wednesday!

my little sweet lady...

well...it's official...my baby is a big girl now! Here's the sweetest little girl I know...all tucked in...snug as a bug in a rug in her big girl bed!

where does the time go???

stay cool...Happy Tuesday!

Club Gill

last nite...around 7ish...we went to Club Gill...& what an amazing time we had!!! Brandon & Ethan were like 2 little fishies...I bet Brandon will be swimming all on his own by the end of summer! Katie rocked her new Cowgirl hat & her Dora Cowboy boots...it was the funniest little outfit ever!

I didn't get out of that pool until after 10...I could just swim for days! Kate loved the hottub...she's all girl that one! Barry didn't get to come in...Kate was only in the actual pool for about 10 minutes...she said the water was too cold...it wasn't!

But, we had a great time hanging with the newly engaged Zach & Dezi, Mr. & Mrs. Gill, Ethan & his other Grandmom...they're some incredible people...we've got great neighbors!!! We were laughing & splashing for hours...I told Barry I want a pool...his response was...you have one...it's at The Gill's house!! :)

Still have water in my ears...it'll be there for days...you would think that after almost 33 years with these ears I'd remember to get some earplugs...the water just never drains out of them right...but, it doesn't really matter...I LOVE to swim & hadn't done it since October...I felt like I was 6 again...playing with the boys & impressing Brandon with my ability to "go in the deep end!" Good times...good times! So looking forward to doing it again on Saturday!

Happy Monday my sweets...

i want to be a Cowboy...

Cowtown Rodeo is THE COOLEST thing do around here!! The kids had so much fun that when we got home around 10:30 they were still awake...they didn't fall asleep in the truck on the way home...they didn't even stop talking about what they liked best.

Katie liked her new pink hat best (thanks to our buddy, Dawn!) & the bucking broncos...when the men fell in the dirt! Brandon's favorite part was when they were doing steer wrestling...even though he though you might have to be stupid to do such a thing! :)

The kids loved seeing Savanna & Josh...& I was happy to have a little time with my girl Dawn. Both of our men were working but it turned out great...I had Pop Pop there & her Mom & Dad were there...someone to watch the kids when we wanted to take a walk, grab a puh & pick up a little funnel cake! LOL!

We decided next time we do it...no kids & I think we need to tailgate like those other people... & we need to start our day at the Cowtown market...I just love to do that!

It's a great time, folks...the people are so sweet & get really excited..you just can't help but get caught up in the excitement! We didn't know what we were cheering for...but loved it anyway! Check it out...you'll thank me for it...it's just too much stinking fun...& you can't get a Saturday night out for that cheap ANYWHERE else!

I think our next adventure is going to be the Delsea Drive-In...I've never been there...but Char says it totally ROCKS...we'll have to see, I havent been to the Drive-In since I was a little girl! Yes, I'm quite aware...it's been a very long time since then...LOL!

Happy Sunday, my loves...hope you have a fun day...it's going to be a HOT one!

Zach & Dezi...

got engaged last nite!! It's just been a beautiful July so far!! Trish, Mike & kids are on their way to their cruise...the pool table ROCKS...we're going to the RODEO with the Crowdings & the in-laws on Saturday...it's just the most perfect month EVER!!!!

LOVES IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy July...

yep...you know how I feel about July...it's all MINE! It's my birthday all month!!! It started with a bang!!!

I had an incredible nite out with my girls on Saturday...Dawn felt right at home which is all I ever expect from my ladies! She fits right in...not that I ever had a doubt, she & I were like peanut butter & jelly the first night we hung out! Meggie loved her...so much that she let her witness her puking...LOL! Mooshie is TAN AS HELL...& we got to see Tia which was such an amazing treat! Red & Meghan even made it out after a long nite the nite before...they've still got crazy skills!
Brent was his usual charming & beautiful self, treating my ladies just as well as he treats me...always the sweetie pie! And of course, Zach was there to round out my group of favorites from the Swedes! (also to invite Dawn & I back to Club Gill...only to stand us up & then harrass me when we didn't stick around!)

Our evening of laughing, drinking, eating & enjoying pretty boys was ended the ONLY way a perfect nite can end...AT THE COLONIAL DINER! I swear I felt 21 again...until I ran into 2 of my kids from Walnut...who are now 21!!! But, Justin did make a point to tell me I'm even more beautiful now then I was when he was a student!! THAT ROCKED!!!! So...my birthday is coming along beautifully...I feel great...hoping the next 33 years are this great!

Yesterday the guys came to put the pool table together...it's gorgeous! So, we had a super fun nite...I had serious flashbacks to the old days at the VCI watching Barry play pool...of course, then it wasn't with our son...but it was still very nostalgic for me...& he still gets that sparkle in his eye when he sees me watching him play pool...just like he did way back when! It was adorable...& he's still got it! I'm not half bad myself...having the 1st annual July 3rd pool tournament tonite (really, Barry was talking shit to Zach last nite so we're gonna play in the bar & relax!)

Looks like the Thompson BBQ for tomorrow is cancelled...can't BBQ with no grill...now I'm gonna be starving...GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! I was so looking forward to Thompson burgers & strawberry salad! Not enough time in the day to get everything done lately...what can you do!?

Hoping you all have a very Happy 4th of July...remember as you're enjoying your fireworks wherever they are...THEY'RE MINE!!! My Pop used to tell me when I was little & the summer days ran together...they were an early birthday present to me from everyone there watching...it always made me feel like a princess...get in touch with your inner princess this 4th...& enjoy...those fireworks are my gift to you FOR MY BIRTHDAY!

I love you all...say a little prayer as you celebrate our freedoms with those you love most...that God watches over our soldiers & ends this war quickly! & that someone has the common sense to impeach this PIECE OF SHIT turning our country into a communist nation! WTF...how did he commute Scooter Libby & Paris Hilton had to go to jail?????

*getting down off my soapbox now* GO HILLARY!!!!