Dance Recital, Romantic Movies & Mother's Day

The girls' dance recital was this weekend. Two dress rehearsals, two performaces--it was very busy. Everything went well. The girls each did a great job. The had six performances between the three of them. Lydia was in one--along with Emma. Emma and Eliza were both in the opening number both nights, plus a jazz routine and a ballet routine. Then Eliza performed with her advanced ballet class--sporting the traditional tutu and everything. It was fun to watch them. After all the running back and forth to practices all year, it is very satisfying to see all that they have learned. They really enjoy it. Jim took some video. I'll upload it soon and post some clips.

Mom and Gayle and I went out for lunch on Sat. (between dress rehearsal and performance) and got our traditional Mother's Day pedicures. I can always tell when Mother's Day or Christmas is coming--cause my heels get really calloused and snag on the sheets at night. I hate that. Now they're nice and smooth. Pedicures are the perfect Mother's Day thing--you're scraping off and smoothing out all the wear and tear from being a mom. Then you're ready to go back to neglecting yourself again.

If I am ever insanely wealthy--I'm not holding my breath for that one--in addition to curing cancer, feeding starving Ethiopian children and hiring special ops snipers to take care of a few little "projects" for me--I would definitely have a massaging pedicure chair in my bathroom...with the heated, jetted foot bath...with a TV in front of it...and headphones. And a really secure lock on the door. Seriously. So, if there are any insanely wealthy people out there reading this and you feel like giving some money away to "charity" for some tax write-offs--"Hi. My name is Charity. I can get you a receipt, no problem."

So I saw another movie to recommend. It's called "The Ultimate Gift". It's not the best scripted or acted movie ever made, but it's a really nice story.

We also went against our better judgment and saw a chick flick over the weekend. Mother's day and my birthday are the ONLY times of year when I can drag Jim to a girlie "romance". And sometimes Valentine's Day, which we no longer celebrate--3 of our 5 kids have birthdays 9 months after Valentine's Day. Go ahead, do the math...I'll wait.

Anywho...after having been burned by the modern "romance" enough times...we have a rule that we don't spend money to go see them in the theater any more. More often than not, they SUCK. We'll netflix them occasionally if I've read or heard enough to be assured that they might not be ridiculously stupid and/or skanky. (Thank goodness for Jane Austen!) So, like I said, we went against our rule and went to see the new Patrick Dempsey movie "Made of Honor". His last one, "Enchanted" was stupid, yes, but still cute and he was adorable. This one? Not so much. IT SUCKED!!! I mean, what the hell is wrong with people? There's nothing "honor"able about this character. The guy is a complete male whore, probably riddled with std's and we're supposed to be happy that the nice girl left the Scottish ROYALTY at the altar for him?!? That's not romance!! That's pathetic. I don't know why I am still surprised by the utter moral desolation in hollywood. Every once in a while they manage to squeak out a decent romance--but usually only if it's based on an excellent book that they didn't completely screw up. Books are better anyway. Oh, well. It was either that or "Ironman". Ugh. After having to sit through "Transformers" I was really reluctant to subject myself to another ridiculous film pandering to the basest instincts of 12 year old males. But alas! That would have been better, probably. It's like Jim said, "We should have saved ourselves $20 bucks and just gotten some sleep."

Speaking of which, I'm ready for bed. I think my system is in shock from getting to sleep in until 10 am and coming downstairs to a full breakfast on the table. I wish everyday was like Mother's Day--okay maybe just once a week? Once a month? Maybe? Sigh...now it's over. I have to put away the Mother's Day card until next year. I love the mother's day card--you know, the one I get to pull out every time someone is doing something I don't like all day long. The kids start whining at me and I can sweetly say, "It's mother's day." And they stop the whining and run off to Daddy. And Daddy helps them without complaining or sending them back to me. It's wonderful. Sigh, again. Until next year, my dear Mother's Day card...