Why don't I ever have a camera?

Michael's brother Matthew got hitched this weekend. We had a blast...and as usual, we forgot our camera. It was a crazy weekend--with lots of Alex Tantrums!

We left work early on Friday to drive to Spartanburg and get the men outfitted in their tuxedos. Yep, I said "men". Michael was a groomsman, and Jackson and Alex were co-ring bearers. The highlight of the tuxedo shop--Alex fell out because he did not want to wear a vest. After lots of cajoling and threats, he agreed to wear the vest as present for Laura. He has a huge crush on his new aunt.

The rehearsal was a rehearsal. I was not in the wedding, so I got to sit around and watch Alex fall out. He decided he was tired, and stretched out on the altar. He also got really pissed when he could not see what was going on in front of the other groomsmen. Notice a pattern here? Alex is an unmovable fortress when his mind is set on being a pain in the rear.

Michael's parents threw a fantastic rehearsal dinner Friday night at the Piedmont Club in Spartanburg. The highlights of the evening included Jackson passing out under the table after dinner! Alex kept going by and kicking him to see if he was still out. We debated putting a beer can beside his passed-out body, but we did not have a camera :(.

We all stayed in the Marriott in downtown Spartanburg, which features an Olympic-sized swimming pool. We spent Saturday in the pool. The boys really had a mini-vacation! The boys love to stay in hotels. They like to eat in hotel restaurants, ride in the elevators, watch pay-per-view, and swim in hotel pools. They were both (even Alex) really good Saturday.

The wedding was beautiful. I had an awesome dress that looked great on me...thanks to a 35 pound weigth loss. The boys sort-of cooperated. Alex was really pissed that he did not get to carry the real ring. He was also totally ticked off that the wedding director would not let him button his jacket. He ripped off his little flower and pouted down the aisle. My parents were there, and I was in the 3rd row just in case of any disasters.

Speaking of my parents, they are awesome! We had to stick around for pictures for about 45 minutes after the wedding. My parents headed straight to the reception to eat, and we met them in the parking lot with overnight bags and carseats. They took the boys back to Greenville so Michael and I could party down!

And what a party the Tate's threw. Laura Tate, my new sister-in-law, has amazing parents. The reception was also at the Piedmont Club, complete with yummy food, booze, and a great band. I could hardly walk when we left the reception at 11:30pm!

The highlight of the entire weekend for ME was that I finally felt like a part of Michael's family. I have been with Michael for 10 years, married for 8, but I have never been close to his family. Some of its my fault, some of its their fault, some of it is Michael's fault, and of course, we cannot forget that a big chunk of it is his ex-girlfriend's fault for telling his parents 10 years ago that I was a druggy, alcoholic skank. Michael's mom has NEVER treated me the way she did this weekend, and it went a long way toward repairing a 10-year divide.

I am a real lawyer today!

I have been a corporate lawyer for 14 months and 23 days. In my previous life, I was in the courtroom every. single. day. In a suit every. single. day. Corporate law isn't all that courtroom centered. In fact, my new job is business casual and today was the first day I have put on a suit in almost 15 months. I get to try a magistrate's court case today! I am so pumped, and really nervous. I used to try high-profile criminal cases, but today I am terrified to try a freight claim. Good luck to me! Let's hope I don't get held in contempt of court or lose too badly.

**UPDATE--My case settled. It was a good settlement for all, but I got to have fun tangling with the claimant prior to the settlement!

Thuggy 4 Year Old

Alex is sitting in my office right now writing "I will not hit" over and over and over again. He just whined to me that he is tired of writing. BTW--he has been writing for less than 5 minutes. I am tired of Alex hitting other kids!

Michael and I went to lunch together today. On the way back to work, he got a call from JCC. Alex was kicked out of day camp today. Just for the day. My son was suspended from day camp for repeatedly hitting his brother and not responding to redirection. Michael and I went straight to JCC to present a united front, parental unity. Alex was being carried kicking and screaming by some stressed-out counselor.

Alex got a spanking. He cannot watch tv or movies all week. Big punishment for Alex. Mommy will write over and over and over again "I will not fail as a parent and see my son off to prison."