Get Comfy, This is a L-O-N-G One

Where does the time go? When last I wrote, it was just past New Year's. Now here it is just past Easter. Here are a few of the highlights of January-March (so far.)
Everybody was sick with something, bad cold, upper respiratory something or another, whatever, after the cruise. Took a couple of weeks to quit coughing up a lung. Even antibiotics couldn't kill it.
Number one son FINALLY got his much anticipated driver's license - and told no one. He was immediately given the task of driving his younger brother to school. Maybe that's why he didn't want anyone to know ; - )
Speaking of #2 son, he made his acting debut in a drama club production ( a small but crucial role) but discovered that he really enjoys the behind the scenes work of the stage manager. (He likes being the boss of everybody.) Just kidding. He actually got to do a little bit of everything during the weeks of rehearsal for the school's big spring production.
Hubby and I went to Las Vegas for a week to attend a convention. It was the first time I had been away from the baby for more than a few hours and let me tell you, it isn't any easier leaving the 7th child than the first. The rational part of my brain knew that he would do fine and hardly miss me; the irrational part resented the fact that I needed him more than he needed me!
Anyway, we had a great time. I love that town. It is the one place I really feel like a grown-up version of me: not mommy. I admit it. I like to let my hair down and relax, though not in the wild and partying ways I imagined in my youth. My tastes have gotten a little more sophisticated. I enjoy dinners that run into three digits even before the wine. I like sitting in a classically decorated room in a leather wing back chair having a glass of port and a nice conversation while my husband smokes a good cigar. Having said that though, I am still PISSED that the Spazmatics are no longer playing at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay on Friday nights! One of my favorite Vegas memories was a trip right after my 40th, seeing their show (they play the music of my people - 80's!!) and drinking margaritas from a plastic cup that never seemed to empty thanks to my husband's generous tip to the bartender. Needless to say, I was sick as a dog the next day, but it was worth it!
This trip was much calmer. Hubby did do something really romantic though. Back when he and I got married back in the stone age, we honeymooned in Vegas. We stayed at the lovely (ha) Imperial Palace and through a series of "unfortunate" events, we got a much nicer room than we could ever have paid for. It had a "love tub" in the main part of the room that was burnt orange marble (which matched the burnt orange shag carpet) and both the bed and the tub had mirrors on the ceiling. Impressive, huh? Since our 20th anniversary is coming up in a couple of months, hubby got us (more or less) the same type of room for two nights. Sadly, the hotel has been undergoing some remodeling as of late, so the place is more "tasteful". Think Holiday Inn in Paramus. The tub is still there (it is white though) as are the mirrors. I wasn't crazy about seeing myself first thing in the morning 20 years ago and that feeling hasn't improved with age and weight gain.
Daughter number two turned nine while we were gone. Boy, did she work that to her advantage. She practically weaseled an entire party out of the grandmother and aunt who were minding the children. SUCKERS! That girl has a great future in something. I just don't know if she will become a lawyer (she loves to argue), a politician (she can justify ANYTHING) or a nun (she takes her religion very seriously.)
The baby turned one this past week and has been walking for nearly a month, which in this house means he is gifted. My others have all walked from 13 months on up. He is such a cutie, but still looks so much like my oldest. I swear I think God really did send him to me to ease the separation from #1 when he goes off to school next fall. My almost 4 year-old looks like #2 son, so I am covered for a couple more years. By the time I get the three daughters off to school, I will be so crazed, I won't have as hard a time when 3rd and 4th sons leave. Heck, I will probably have GRAND KIDS BY THEN!!
This week I am savoring Easter Break. It is only Monday, but I am feeling like the time is racing by. We were off Thursday and Friday last week and headed to the House of Mouse for a day of fun celebrating our March birthdays. Saturday, hubby and I attended a THREE HOUR bilingual mass celebrating Easter Vigil and the baptism of his new God daughter and the confirmation of her father as a new Catholic. Hubby left for a week of travel yesterday, so it's just me and the kids.
I have so much I want to accomplish and I fear that at the end of the week I will have barely made a dent in anything. I swear I think I have adult attention deficit sometimes. I am just all over the house and nothing ever seems to get finished.
Okay, I have droned on enough. I have two little guys asleep on the bed next to me and their gentle little snores are making my eyes droopy. I just want to curl up with them and sleep. Good night all.