Three Times the Lump!

Sinatra, Jr.

Let me start out by saying that Lump, now 3 1/2, is a darling. She's really captured a place in my heart. She's very independent (we joke that she's a feral child), talkative and just plain adorable. I love her to pieces.



She can thank me for those eyelashes, thank you very much:





But those eyes, oh, you'll have to credit them to her Mom, who I nicknamed Sinatra not long after we met:





Beautiful, no? Just stunning (at least to this proud Papa)!

Ginger's 2nd Birthday Party

It is a tradition in the Slapinions household to hold each child's 2nd birthday at McDonald's, and make it an Elmo themed party. We held to that for the 4th and final such celebration. This year we kept it small: as Ginger doesn't have any friends her age outside of relatives, only family was invited.

Two things: you'll notice Ginger's a bit banged up for her shindig. Blame my folks, who allowed LuLu to 'walk' with her while wearing rollerskates.



Second, I'm a mess at these things. Have the party at a public venue, with people going in and out and you'll find me doing head-counts of the kids until your head spins. Thankfully, Lisa keeps my Nutty McNutterson routine (mostly) in check at those moments. My apologies to anyone who caught a whiff of my stress that day :)



It was a rainy day, and dang near everyone was horribly late for the party. So for quite awhile my kids just enjoyed the atmosphere.








McDonald's put up a bit of stink about us bringing in a second cake for the adults, but in the end they gave the ok.





Happy Meals were served for all





Then it was time to parade around the restaurant with noisemakers and instruments. I'm not sure why McDonalds feels this is a good idea for the rest of their customers, but okey dokey.









Then we played horseshoes







Here's my Ma



and my Dad



my wife's step-father



our nephew





Lisa and our niece



the kids enjoyed the tunnels






and then it was time to sing Happy Birthday and enjoy some cake











Later we lit the second cake and did it again for the latecomers!





then came the presents





(this one's from us)







It was a fun time for the kids, and a smidge bittersweet, as this will be the last 2nd birthday for us until the grandkids start toddling about.



Hope you had fun at your party Ginger!

Just a bunch of random junk. And corn dogs.

Less then 24 hours until the new season of Project Runway starts people! Set your DVR's now!

* * * * *

Regarding my Favre post: no, I don't think I was being extreme at all. I don't want the man to literally taste the fires of hell, but he can suck a** if he expects me to think kindly of him. I have respect for what he did on the field for us for more than a decade. But respect for him as a person? Nuh-uh.

Early in the year he says he's done, an outright lie that frees him of his obligation to the Jets. Then he starts his "maybe I'll play" routine. July 28th he retires and says a whole bunch of stuff about how he's done, physically and emotionally.

Then - he alleges - twenty days later the Vikings coach calls him on a whim (on a whim!) and poof! he's a Viking. A man that takes four weeks to decide whether to buy a Snickers or a Milky Way decides on the spot to move his family to Minnesota for six months. He's suited up and on the field within 24 hours.

Gag.

Here's the truth of the matter. He agreed to sign with the Vikings in June or July, (and I'll sell you a bridge if you don't think it's to take a whack at Green Bay.) But signing then meant he'd have to participate in the 2-a-day practices, and that ain't happening.

Soooo . . . he gets special treatment and is allowed to miss that time, but to cover their tracks and preserve the idea that he's not a prima-donna and the coach has control, they play dumb for a month.

As the Journal so eloquently put it: Minnesota, the Ego has landed.

* * * *

My friend Erv is in town and for two nights in a row we've played Halo on his X-Box, and have rescued the captain and are on the hunt. Great game, but I can see why Lisa bans video games from the house. They are addictive and would be a true sore spot in our marriage.

* * * **

I took the baby for her two-year checkup and shots the other day. I remember she weighs 28 pounds, but I forget her height. Anyhow, all is well. They asked me about he appetite and I told them what I wrote on Facebook:

How much can a 20#'er eat? Corn dogs, carrots, a granola bar, some salad, an apple, cereal, waffles . . now she just raided the fridge and brought me a jar of peanut butter and cream cheese. YOU ARE TWO. YOU DO NOT HAVE A TAPEWORM. GO WATCH ELMO. Ugh.
Update: she just walked into the room wearing a bagel on each wrist like they were bracelets.

* * * *

I went to a movie with my cousin Jon, the first time I've seen or spoken to him in more then three years. We were very close friends for a decade. I hope we can regain some of that friendship.

Midnight Birthday Wishes

These pics were taken at the stroke of midnight on the 7th, as I stepped into Ginger's room to wish her a Happy Birthday.