Old Man Grizzer.

We had an early birthday party for Grizz tonight, since he and Gigi leave on their grand tour of the continent the day he turns sixty. AKA, the worst case scenario. For those who haven't heard the joke, on Grizz's 50th birthday he was bitching and moaning about his age and how old he was, and frustrated, Gigi goes "dammit Jeff, you still have ten years left, best case scenario." She meant worst case, obviously, but we have drawn the joke out for ten solid years. Enjoy your birthday with Grizz, he's only got seven years left, BEST CASE SCENARIO. Last birthday with Grizz, BEST CASE SCENARIO.

But here he is, on his almost sixtieth birthday celebration, hanging out with his Itty Bitty, who was even more in love with him tonight than she usually is. We made him a lemon poppyseed cake in a 9x13 pan and then put sixty candles on it.

Thankfully he had two helpers, because that cake was engulfed in flames. Then Adam went back to his evening activity of crying and refusing to eat, until he finally had a few bites of cake and ice cream.

The best part was when Dad was opening cards, and he opened the one from the kids that said something like "do you know who's an awesome grandpa?" As he was reading it aloud Sara goes "you're not it," and we laaaaaaaughed. We laughed until we cried. Grizz promised Ellie he'd take the card along with him to look at in Europe. To be reminded that he's not the best Grandpa.

Good news, speaking of Grandpas, I think I could easily get 70 candles on the 9x13 cake. How nice that'll be come December, for Poppy. BURN DOWN ALL OF THE HOUSES!

Ellie did a great job during her first week of school. She loves it - loves her teacher, is making friends, is doing lots of good work. The worst part has been that we have to get up and fed and out of the house by 7:30 in order to get her to school with more than sixty seconds to spare (one morning we were running late and I had to serious hustle her to get her to the door in time.) Most mornings, we're not up and going before 8:30ish. I know this is going to be the reality of their school-going years, but it's tiring! I am trying to encourage the kids that Saturdays and Sundays are for sleeping in, but they don't appear to be getting the memo. The good news is that they've both been taking long naps, so I at least have a few minutes during the day to get my crap together. Plus I don't have to pack her a lunch. I'm looking forward to the coming weeks when MOPS starts back up and Mimi takes Adam for a bit on Tuesdays, so that I can have some real quiet time.