'Tis better to update with pointlessness than to not update at all

In two-ish weeks my mom and dad are leaving to visit their other grandkids. And a few days after they leave, Phillip's parents are headed to Europe for one of those crazy whirlwind Forty-Seven Cities In Ten Days! tours to celebrate their 40th (FORTY. ETH.) anniversary. Both sets of grandparents will be gone approximately three weeks, at the same time, and I have to say I'm sort of annoyed they didn't coordinate this whole thing a little better. I mean, this is really going to cramp my style.

(And those of you whose families aren't anywhere near: I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT. My inability to deal without grandparents is well documented on this website, therefore you are ALREADY aware that you are better people, not as neurotic, smarter, prettier and more talented. IT IS ESTABLISHED.)

I have nothing else to say about that. I just felt like complaining.

Oh wait, I have to tell you about my in-laws' European tour. Some friends of theirs, whom they met on previous tours and cruises (they are big on tours and cruises) suggested everyone do this big Europe trip organized by some Chinese company out of Vancouver. The reason they picked this particular tour? They will get to eat CHINESE FOOD. Like, when everyone goes out for dinner in the evenings, they will be going to CHINESE RESTAURANTS. My mother-in-law is telling me this, shaking her head and saying, "Who goes to EUROPE to eat CHINESE FOOD? We'll be in France! Italy! I don't understand these people." And of course I am all agreement, but then I look at my father-in-law and wonder: can he survive three weeks without noodles and rice? I am not so sure.

What's funny is that a few weeks later the friends backed out of the trip. Ha! My in-laws are going anyway (see: Forty! Years!) and I hope they have their fill of European Chinese food.

So what should I do today? Jack's chatting at me through the baby monitor and Molly seems content, for now, in the exersaucer. I think we need to head to the local party and costume shop to pick up some party favors for the tea party this weekend. Loooong time readers may remember my involvement in the church tea party fundraiser, which, I agree, sounds like the least fun time ever. Except it is AWESOME and this year I am co-hosting a table with a friend which means it will be AWESOMER. Our theme has sort of morphed from Super Cool to Maybe It Will Look Nice to Whatever, Let's Go All Out With The Gaudy and people I LOVE GAUDY. I DID swath my table the first year in pink and gold fabric, sprinkle it with confetti and glitter, and provide feather boas and rhinestone tiaras for my guests. I love this stuff. Any reason to go to the party and costume store, right?

The sunny weather has disappeared for the time being, which means our standard afternoon of Hanging Out In The Front Yard Digging Up All Of Mommy's Seeds is out. Good news for my garden box, bad news for me. The afternoons go by so fast when it's nice out. A sunny day in Seattle is the most beautiful thing- too bad the sunny weather doesn't really kick in till, oh, AUGUST.

Well, now, both children are hollering and it's Phillip's work from home day which means he is HERE but I can't ask him to DO anything so LUCKY YOU it's time to end this disjointed purposeless collection of randomness. Molly says: jdsfkljdcno9. See you later!

Comments

[Jen]

When I was younger and we lived in England, we went on a European tour organized by an English company. And they ate English food every night. But my sister and I were small and cute, so the chef would come out of the kitchen and make us a special pizza. (We were in Italy.)

[Jess]

European Chinese food is actually pretty interesting. I went to a Chinese restaurant in France with my host family there, and they had frogs' legs on the menu. The kids' menu, but STILL.

[Manda]

I feel your pain. We only have one set of grandparents nearby and when they go to see my husband's sister for weeks at a time I'm all "But what will I DOOOO?" And then get all snarky about them visiting their own daughter and other grandchild. It's official: I am a JERK.

[Sarah in Ottawa]

I feel you, kid! My parents are about to embark on a 2-week Transatlantic cruise, followed by a week visiting friends in Europe. They've been insanely helpful since the baby was born, and we will miss them.

However, to dull the pain somewhat, we're heading back to the town we grew up in to visit my in-laws for 1.5 weeks. It's a 5 hour car ride, but we're sucking it up. My inlaws are also celebrating their 40th anniversary; it's this Sunday (my parents, the slackers, will only celebrate 37 in June). They aren't travelling anywhere, but I am sure that if they did they'd only want to eat Newfie (i.e. Irish) food everywhere.

One of my girlfriends (who has a 9 month old) is sick and called this week to say "You are so lucky to have your parents nearby to help out when you are sick!". Hers live a 15 hour drive away. I felt both guilty and INCREDIBLY lucky!

[Elizabeth]

The only thing I want to know is if you're going to wear a tiara?! I certainly hope so.

[Andrea]

Boas + tiaras = party awesomeness.

[Elsha]

I think more parties need boas and tiaras!

[Sonetka]

I'm obviously a little old lady in an almost-thirty's body, because I think a tea party fundraiser sounds FANTASTIC, especially with the additional boa goodness.

The only Chinese restaurant I ever went to in Europe was place called the Golden Dragon in Tallinn, Estonia. The food tasted pretty much like what you'd get here except the portion size was so enormous that I could have fed a family of six with my dinner. Having no fridge to take the leftovers back to, I eventually had to slink away in shame at being such a food-waster. If your in-laws are going there, they can count on getting their money's worth at least.

(BTW - hi! I've been lurking for more than a year now and felt I should finally come out of the woodwork and let you know where some of those SLC hits were coming from :)).