Vince's 1st birthday went off without a hitch. He decided to spend the day by barely sleeping and growing new teeth. Nothing much new. Soon my mom and sister arrived. We cooked, ate and played with the baby. Matt ran around town getting everything in line for his big graduation. Then, because he didn't have enough going on, he picked up a couple of shifts at the bar and worked a one day project for one of his former instructors at the U, doing what he'd been actually trained to do. It was cool. I barely saw him.
We've seen so little of each other that at his graduation ceremony he shook his brothers' hands, sister's hand, skipped over me, hugged his mom, hugged my mom. It must have been that he didn't recognize me smeared in baby food and smelling of formula.
The actual graduation ceremony was awesome. It was a relatively small college, so all the families and friends cheering for the grads were really loud and enthusiastic as they walked across the stage. I was so proud. Matt had the second loudest cheering section. (The African family in front of us won by far - jubilant hooting and shouts - it was so cool.)
We all headed out to Skinner's after the ceremony - Matt staying in his cap and gown. Chris - another bartender, bought our whole table a bottle of champagne (Skinner's has champagne?) We toasted and then dug into our wings and bacon layered pizza.
The next day was Vin's big birthday party. Half of the attendees were hungover (though not me. I'd entered some kind of alternate exhaustion realm where no amount of greasy food or booze could do anything to affect me. Besides, I sorta sober cabbed the moms home.) I agonized over what food to make all day and ended up served PB&J's for the kids and turkey sandwiches with raspberry jam, double Gloucester cheese on rosemary, roasted garlic foccacia for the adults. Matt's mom served her award winning chocolate cake (Red ribbon winner at the Minnesota State Fair. She's kind of a big deal.)
At this point I've over thought, over worried and over done it to the point of idiocy. I could hardly enjoy myself because it was just too much. I did take a ton of pictures. I'll try to post them tomorrow - or soon. Really need to get the camera and the computer talking to each other again.
Vince loved the day with his cousins and his presents. I also got video of him daintily eating his little cupcake. He didn't get a single crumb on him. No frosting smeared anywhere or anything! Who's kid is this? He makes a bigger mess eating a saltine cracker. It was crazy.
The next day I completely collapsed. I've been sleeping ever since, but life has moved on.
Mom and Julie had to go home on Sunday for Jule's new job at a greenhouse. She's working really hard there and I think it's good for her. She'll soon have Michelle Obama arms. Mom was such a huge help to me that I never wanted her to leave, but I guess she's got her own life, too up there.
Matt had a little reprieve where the two of us were home, trading off and on with kid and errand accomplishing duties. Then came yesterday. He started his very fist real, full time (although only temporary through the summer) job. He's going to be great. He came home enthused and sunburned. I'm back to my usual routine and things are pretty good. Vinner's walking all over the place now. It's still not his main method of volition, it's still more of a novelty, but it's so cute.
So, I guess we're on to the next big thing. This weekend I'm taking a much needed vacation - only without my little family. I'm taking two girlfriends up to my old hometown of Grand Rapids, MN. Matt's going to be Mr. Mom. Should be interesting. I'm guessing the dishes might pile up, there could be a couple of bruises and lots of big, belly laughs. That goes for both of us.
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